I Need a Place to Record These

These are things that Caleb says that just crack me up.  I need to record them somewhere so that I won't forget.  I may update periodically.  Especially since I can only remember three!

yes ham=yes ma'am

Das-ca-car=Madacascar

cup colder=cup holder

mare-cra states=United States of America

me good helper=I'm a good helper

mommy, you doing?=Mommy, what are you doing?

efanant=elephant

hotter-cotter=helicopter

grav-ti-ty=gravity

Busy, Busy, Busy

We've had a full week!  Full of family, full of turkey, and full of blessings.  

We drove to my Granny and PawPaw's on Tuesday night just in time to go to bed!  

On Wednesday, Jadie played golf with PawPaw while Granny and I cooked the afternoon away!  We waited for mom to arrive before we ate a late dinner at The Dinner Bell in town (think small East Texas town).  Yummy!  And the decorations were fun to look at.  Throughout the year, this restaurant is plain jane, wood panelling with next to nothing on the walls.  Around mid-November the owner goes all out decorating for Christmas.  And every year is a different theme.  Absolutely beautiful!

Thursday was, of course, Thanksgiving day with my family.  I had so much to eat, but I paced myself well.  Jadie enjoyed getting Caleb to say "Pukin Cookies" for every member of the family.  That just isn't getting old.  We managed to leave by 5pm, which was later than Jadie had hoped because he was looking forward to watching the UT vs. A&M game at his dad's house.  We made it home in time to watch the second half of the game with his dad.  As you may know, the game went terribly.  Jadie claims that he's a true fan because he keeps hoping for them to play well, even though he knows it's not going to happen.

Friday I ventured to Kohl's for about an hour just for a tablecloth and a candle to give as a gift.  Yes, the line was long and the store was crowded!  We went to lunch with Jadie's dad, Fran, Vanessa and her boys.  In line with the traditional home-cooking of Thanksgiving, we went to Luby's.  It was delicious!  We relaxed for a while when we got home, but then we stepped it up and got to work!  Jadie and I finished painting the living room!  It has been incomplete for over two months, but not anymore!  Jadie really worked fast!

Today we enjoyed Jadie's mom's side of the family with Jadie's grandma, mom, sister, and cousins.  Caleb really enjoyed playing with his cousins.  And I do believe I really enjoyed hosting!  

Jadie has really been, dare I say, cooperative lately.  And I really appreciate his efforts!  I'll have to think of a way to return the favor!

Six Things

1.  The Bible, God's instructions for how to live

2.  Cooler weather that still gives us nice warm afternoons

3.  Speaking of afternoons, I'm thankful for afternoon naps

4.  An opportunity to visit mom this weekend

5.  God's provision for our family, in times of abundance and in times of need

6.  A message at church tonight that has challenged reflection for myself and Jadie...see Hebrews 5:11-14 and Hebrews 6:1-11

Six Things I'm Thankful For Today

My friend Stephanie started this on her blog.  I love the idea and will try to keep it going on here.

1.   A helpful, dependable and encouraging co-leader for my BSF children's class.

2.  Bubble Baths...I'm about to go take one!

3.  My sister who makes me a priority in her life.  I am so thankful for the oodles of time we spend together!

4.  God's instructions for us given through the Bible...they are for His glory and our good.  Honestly, think about the commandments and Jesus' instructions...aren't they all for these two purposes?

5.  Dollar Menus

6.  Blogs to waste my time reading...although it's not always a waste of time! 

Six Things for Today

1. Overall good health for my family

2. God's grace and mercy...however undeserving I am, he continues to lavish it on those who love Him

3. A resilient son...who had his fingers smashed twice today at Chick-fil-A...by two separate children in two separate instances...and who also face-planted during that same trip to Chick-fil-A...but he couldn't wait to go back and play!

4. Sweet Tea...there's a reason we aren't stick thin around here!

5.  Sleeper Sofas...where we spent almost the entire afternoon yesterday.

Inappropriate

We've been teaching Caleb the difference between appropriate and inappropriate.  Usually it pertains to commercials on television (such as the Altel commercial where they continually call Chad a ding-dong) or Caleb's behavior (such as hitting).  

Here's what Jadie and I cannot stop laughing about...and I'm trying to get him to enunciate better.  I think we're the ones who are inappropriate in this case.

So there is an inflatable pumpkin and an inflatable turkey in a yard in the next neighborhood over.  Caleb LOVES to drive by to see them at night when they're inflated.  During the day when we drive by, he notices that they are laying in the yard and he says they're sleeping.  Every night, no matter where we are, he makes note that it's dark outside and he says, "Pu-kin Turkey On!!!"  He's so excited, but Jadie and I can't help but hear something a little inappropriate as he says it.

For the record, Jadie was the first to notice that it sounded inappropriate.  As a mom, I was automatically decoding his speech, not noticing what it might have sounded like!

Baylor Whoops Texas A&M

We went to the Baylor vs. A&M game today.  Although Jadie has been complaining about how terrible the Aggies are playing this year, I still didn't expect the Bears to pull out a win.  It was quite an exciting game for me as the Bears intercepted the ball FOUR times and there were several multiple pass plays that were fun to watch!

Baylor was up 41 to 7 entering the 4th quarter and ended the game winning 41 to 21.  Today I was proud to be a Baylor Bear!  (Hey mom, thanks for my hat...does it look familiar?)

My boys in their hoodies!

Potty Training Update

We have been trying to motivate Caleb to use the potty.  Of course, that's not really new news.  I've already tried several methods.  We're trying another one.  I'm not pushing things, just trying to provide a little incentive.

Here's the completed potty chart.  In case you can't make out the words...1 sticker for tinkle and 2 stickers for poop.  Every single sticker was earned by tinkling.  And every single time Caleb tinkled in the potty it had been prompted by someone asking him first.

His reward or goal that he was working toward was a trip to Temple to play at Whistle Stop Playground.  In his words:  "Me fill up chart, me go to train park."

Caleb's Potty Chart

Caleb and Jadie in front of the real locomotive.  Not only is there a really nice playground, but there is a locomotive engine complete with a bell that children (and mommies and daddies) can ring by pulling a cord from the engineer's seat.  So simple, yet so exciting for the little ones!

Whistle Stop Playground in Temple

I have taken Kristin's suggestion for the next potty chart and Caleb will have to poop in the potty at least 3 times to fill up his new chart.  The reward this time will be a special trip for ice cream at the suggestion of Granana.  Thanks for the input, family!

Amusing

Tonight is leftover night and Caleb just heard me tell Jadie, "You're having leftover spaghetti and I'm having leftover chicken tortilla soup."  

Caleb said, "Daddy, spaghetti.  Mommy, soup.  Caleb ice cream."  

Not quite...but nice try!

My Six Things

1. The fresh air of fall

2. A lower electricity bill this month...under $100!

3. Local playgrounds and parks

4. A sister who loves me even when I'm feeling exceptionally moody

5. Fifty Five years of life for mom!  Today's her birthday!

6. Coffee, especially with sugar and caramel and whatever else goes into a caramel macchiato!

Today's Spirit of Thankfulness

1. God's Patience with me

2. Compassion International--this organization provides such an easy way for people like you and me to make a difference in the lives of others...halfway around the globe!

3. Friends who pray when I am in need

4. God is in control...I am thinking specifically about our upcoming presidential term.  "The king's heart in in the hand of the Lord, he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases." Proverbs 21:1

5. Naptime

6. The Bible

I'm Thankful...

I am doing this post because a good friend challenged her blog readers to list 6 things that they're thankful for.

1. my God, my Abba Father, my Comforter, my Shield, my Strength, my Peace-giver, my Deliverer, my Savior, my Friend, I AM, my Rock, my Salvation, my Daily Bread, the Living Water THE Way, THE Truth, THE Life

2. Jadie: my husband, my friend, the one person who I choose to love each and every day

3. Caleb: my precious son, the one person I can't help but love, the one who God uses to teach me patience, the one with whom I am trusted to raise by God's grace

4. my family: Mom, Kristin, my memories of Dad, these are the people who have shaped the person I have become, these are the people who love me most, and whose love I feel every day of my life

5. my friends: I could not possibly list every friend who has stood beside me for a day or for a lifetime.  I am thankful for Melanie who trusts me with her heart and encourages me in my walk with the Lord.  I am thankful for Nicole who is a constant in my life, always waiting in the wings to share in my joys and pains.  I am thankful for Desiree, Stephanie, Abbie, Tiffany, Lori, Tracy, Amy, Aimee, Shannon, Tracy, Bonnie, and many more...

6. my opportunity to be a home-based mom.  I thank God for blessing our family with a job for Jadie that provides a steady source of financial stability so that I do not have to work.

I can go on, but I think I'll reflect on other areas on another day...

Jadie's Mom

Please be praying for Jadie's mom.  Her doctors have found that she has an irregular heartbeat.  It is significant to the point that they are trying to get her a cardiologist appointment ASAP, and trying to cut through the red tape that usually takes up to 3 months.

Pray that she will rely on God's power to heal her body and her life.  She has been dealing with other stresses for a while and this is a HUGE deal on top of everything else.