Happy Pumpkin Day

Princess Diaries

While Rebecca and Mike were in town, we also visited the Diana exhibit at the Frazier museum. The exhibition chronicles the life and work of the Princess of Wales through 150 personal objects, including her famed royal wedding gown and tiara. Also on display are family jewels, heirlooms, paintings, personal dresses, photos and more. The historical context associated with each item is helpful in understanding her childhood, appreciating her charity work and viewing her marriage in the public eye. The exhibit is in town until January 13.

Batter Up

It's hard to believe that I had never visited the Slugger Museum until this weekend. It's especially hard to believe since I actually played softball my entire life. And used a Louisville Slugger bat for the majority of my career. Our friends from St. Louis and huge Cardinals fans were in town so we decided to be tourists for the day. The bat factory did not disappoint and we got to see them produce bats for Giants during the World Series. Pretty cool.

Throwback Thursday

Husband and I were a little premature with our amazing Angry Bird costumes in 2010. Not everyone recognized the now world~renowned animals {Drew was a green pig} from the number one grossing app of all time. I'm proud of this Halloween attire because I'm not too creative and/or willing to put a lot of time into creating a look {special thanks to Sara for the borrowed feathers}; but this one was original and fun!

Pumpkin Cheese Ball

Guests were asked to bring a dish to the party this weekend so I found a fun recipe in last month's Food Network Magazine. It was really simple {I had most of the ingredients in my pantry}. Everyone thought it was cute and said it tasted great, too!

Halloween Brunch

My friend Meagan hosted a wonderful brunch on Saturday. Eli and I enjoyed some quality time with lots of other mommies and babies. The Halloween decorations were fabulous and all the kids looked great in their costumes!

Pumpkin Patch

One thing husband and I do together each year is visit Joe Huber's. We love the drive up north through the beautiful countryside. We love the tractor ride to pick the perfect pumpkin. We love stocking up on apple butter, blackberry preserves, and apple cider. We love spending a cool, fall afternoon as a family. Yesterday was the perfect fall day with my boys :)

Throwback Thursday

In honor of basketball season officially kicking off this week, here is a pic of me playing ball in high school. My team was packed with talent and we had a lot of fun, too. I miss the game and teammates, but definitely don't miss the suicides, intense practices, weight training, or heartbreak over a loss. 

E's Fit

Heidi Klum recently released a baby clothing line, Totally Scrumptious, for Babies R Us and I'm obsessed. The girls' stuff is ridiculously cute but I bought some pretty adorable things for Eli too. If you're a Project Runway fan like me, then you probably recognized E's dedication outfit. One of my favorite challenges this season was definitely the one where the designers had to create a look for Heidi's new line. Both the winning boy and girl looks were produced for stores. I happened to love the cute, little suit Sonjia Williams made and knew it would be perfect for E. I changed the onesie underneath because a tie is more appropriate than monsters at church. Isn't it {he} precious?!

Welcome Baby Cruz

Let me introduce you to Eli's new buddy, Cruz Robert. He was born 10.10.12 weighing 8 lbs 15.5 oz and has a full head of hair. He's just perfect. Mom and Dad are doing great! Congrats Raias!

God Bless Eli

What a blessing to be able dedicate our precious baby boy to the Lord at church this weekend. Husband and I participated in Family Dedication at SECC and vowed to raise Eli in accordance to God's Word. Nobody has a greater potential to impact our son's spiritual development than us as his mom and dad. As E's parents, we promise to encourage him in his walk with Christ. Today we pledged to come alongside the church to build spiritually healthy homes and children. We believe that a relationship with our heavenly Father is the number one goal in life and we pray for God's guidance in leading Eli {and any future children} to Christ.

After the church service, we celebrated our little man with a family brunch at our house. It was the perfect day honoring Eli and recognizing God's sovereignty in our life. Thank you, God, for blessing Andrew and me with baby boy and allowing us the opportunity to show Eli your abundant love for him.

Throwback Thursday

One of my favorite things to do each year as a family was to carve pumpkins. We weren't very original in our decorating, but did love jack~o~lanterns. To this day, pumpkin picking is a fall must!

Praying Eli grows to be:

Trustworthy Matthew 25:21

“Well done and good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share in your master’s happiness!”

Loyal Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.”

Helpful Philippians 2:3-4

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Friendly Ecclesiastes 4:10

“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.”

Courteous Leviticus 19:32

“Stand up in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the Lord.”

Kind Isaiah 25:4

“You have been a refuge for the poor, a refuge for the needy in their distress, a shelter from the storm and a shade from the heat. For the breath of the ruthless is like a storm driving against a wall.”

Obedient Romans 12:2

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Cheerful Proverbs 15:30

“Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.”

Thrifty Hebrews 13:5

“Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”

Brave Psalms 23:4

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

Clean 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Reverent 2 Timothy 2:15

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Wise Proverbs 2:6

“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

Discerning Philippians 1:9-10

“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”

Leader 1 Timothy 3:1-4

“Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect.”

Respected 1 Timothy 4:12

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Humble Ephesians 2:8-9

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Beach Memories

We are home safely from a great trip to South Carolina. Baby boy enjoyed his first trip to the beach and loved listening to the crashing waves on the shore. The weather was nice the whole week, too. Thankful for our time away as a family, but always good to be home.