The Secret

This is some of the stuff we have been up to lately

My reclaimed wood island!!

-I have been so busy this summer trying to re-do our kitchen.  Here are just a few sneak peeks into the transformation.  I will post more about the kitchen makeover in a week or so.  I'm ALMOST DONE.  Yes...you can see from the picture that I painted the cabinets an off-white/creamish color.  What a difference.  I'll share soon.  Josh was a huge help with this reclaimed wood island and changing out outlets.  It is so nice to have a handy husband!

-I do need to tell the sweetest story though.  This morning Brooks came downstairs and saw some cabinet doors on the kitchen table drying.  He was a big help cleaning it up so we could have breakfast at the table.  While I was getting the food ready, Brooks was standing by the table just looking around the kitchen and family room.  Then he simply said, "The house is so pretty.....Momma, The house is so pretty".  Can you even imagine my reaction?  My heart smiled and I gave him the biggest hug and kiss.  All my hard work was appreciated.  Isn't that what we all want in life?  To feel appreciated and validated?  Well, my 2 year old son has already figured out the secret.  Let's pray he keeps that honesty, sincerity and sweetness throughout his life.  Thank you God for my little man.

My buddies

-This past weekend was very special for me.  It was my first time joining the Buddy Walk activities.  Josh, Brooks and I went down town to help support the Down Syndrome Foundation.  Many of the kids on my caseload have Down syndrome and are very near and dear to my heart.  It was super crowded, so we did not get to do everything we wanted...but it made me feel so good to support my families and these amazing kids.  Brooks just enjoyed running around and of course the huge balloons!

Pumpkins galore!

I love pumpkin time!

Waiting for the tractor to get back

I was so excited to take a hayride!

Check out all these pumpkins!  I was looking for a little one, Daddy needed a big one and Mommy wanted to find a medium one.

I found it!

Ugh...it's heavy and stuck!

Can I get some help here?

-The last weekend of September we took advantage of the beautiful weather and visited Spencer Farms.  It is a simple family farm with great pumpkins and mums.  Brooks enjoys the free hayride, Josh enjoys the HUGE pumpkins and I enjoy the beautiful (but cheap) mums.

Heading to my school hayride with my partner in crime, Rome.  Please don't pay attention to my hat.  My teacher put it on me and she didn't know how it was supposed to fit.  Oh well!

This is my friend Ada.  We all took a hayride around the church's 80 acres!

I was keeping an eye out for those pumpkins

Here they are!  I found one!

Grandma was there too!

Along with my Mommy!

  

-Brooks had his school hayride and pumpkin patch on Thursday.  He was excited to hang out with his friends as well as Grandma and me.  Unfortunately, Josh is super busy with work and could not make it.  We had fun taking a long hayride and then picking out a pumpkin.  He would pick one out and say, "Is this a good one?'.  He really seems to like this time of year.  He is excited, instead of scared, this year about Halloween.  He is really interested in the ghosts, witches, and monsters.  He likes them from afar and likes to talk about them.  One of his favorite things to do with me is go on a walk.  He takes a bag and picks up all the pretty leaves.  He is sure to pick out the pretty ones so we can then decorate the house with them.  It's kind of sweet and I'm sure the bugs like the new home too ;)

Family Time

I like to cozy up with PaPa after I get up from my nap.

I sometimes think I'm one of them...

Grammy and PawPaw V. came to visit last month.

I had fun "driving" their BIG truck!

This is me sick.  I don't feel too good when I start wheezing. I fell asleep on Mommy's chest.  That's one way to spend some family time.

I'm starting to think Baby Oliver is pretty cool.  He is sitting up and starting to move around now.  Oliver likes to watch my every move.  We are going to be buddies!

-Brooks is big on spending "Family Time" these days.  He will be sitting at the table between Josh and I and reach for our hands.  He then says, "Can we play family time after dinner?".  He likes for Josh and I to wrestle with him on floor.  He really loves to play "Monster Daddy".  Brooks and I have to find a way to get the Monster.  Brutus likes to join in so we named him, "Dragon Doggy".  Ahhh...the joys of a little boy.  Could life get any better ?  ;)
-Last month both Josh's mom and stepdad, as well as his dad, came to visit us.  It was a fun month.  We went to the park, went shopping and went to an Arts Festival.  Brooks really enjoys his time with his Grammy, Pawpaw, and Pops!  He is always so sad to see them leave.  He usually asks to go to St. Louis too.  We are so lucky they all live close enough to see each month.  It means so much to us that they take the time to visit us too!  It can be a challenge at times to travel with Brooks, Josh, and two dogs in a small Jetta. Looking forward to our next visit....