Where I saw the "Glowing Jack-o-Lanterns"

Here is the link to the pumpkins/jack-o-lanterns I made....you can see them a few posts down. They are super easy, and who doesn't love home-made decorations!

Freecycle Friday - Glowing Jack O'Lanterns

Jalapenos....

Who doesn't love these things....in dishes, on nachos, etc.....jalapenos just say "party food" to me. And apparently Cooper is a fan of 'em too. Lately, every time I open the fridge and am rummaging around for something I hear wild giggling and little feet padding down the hallway----I now know that it's my handsome little man making off with my jar of pickled jalapenos. He always picks the jalapenos...no matter if I move them to the back and put other thing in front of them. Note to self--must rearrange fridge and move jalapenos higher in fridge door.

My first Fall craft....

I really do love Halloween....even if I haven't had the energy or time to really decorate the last few years. Here is my first craft of Fall...hopefully not the last. Sure, I had to rummage around in my pantry/fridge/recycling can for almost empty or empty glass jars---but it sure was fun. :) And I think they turned out really, really cute! I found this cute craft floating around a few different blogs....I'm going to try to find them again and link it up to give credit to the people who deserve it just as soon as mommy-brain subsides.

Multi-Purposing Things....

So, you can see him using the car garage correctly down below, but usually this is what you get from my boy----climbing. Don't you love the "what??" look on his face in the one picture. And I think he just may be thinking "Can I fit on this sliding board/ramp thingie??" in the other.

Here's proof...

that sometimes he does use his car garage for the intended purpose of playing with his cars on it.....and not as a step stool.

On the 4th day of...

Sarah's Blogoversary look at what she is generously giving away to one lucky reader....a piece of jewelry of your choice from The R House. Go check out ( the r house ) right after you go to enter the giveaway. I am in love with quite a few of the necklaces (the cherish, fear not, courage)....hint, hint--the holidays are coming up honey. :)

Day 4 Giveaway: the r house necklace

Day 3 of Giveaways...

So, look how talented Sarah is....aren't these blocks priceless?? Day Three of her giveaway is a set of personalized blocks---think of all the great things you could say without saying anything at all. :)

Day 3 Giveaway: Name Blocks

More Giveways...

The Blogoversary celebration continues all week for Sarah who is unfortunately feeling under the weather. So when you go to check out the giveaway be sure to leave her some get well wishes. This giveaway is for some awesome paper products--- great black, white, and red designs. Love it.

Day 2 Giveaway: Paper Products

Fun Giveaway!

Go check out this blog....Sarah is great for lots of different reasons that you'll find out if you explore her blog, but it's her Blogoversary and she is giving away some great stuff to celebrate. Today it's these adorable vinyl chalkboards--you get to pick from three great designs if you win.

Day 1 Giveaway: Uppercase Living Vinyl Chalkboard

This would explain it....

yep, these pictures will definitely show you why Cooper is all dinged up. #1--he is a dare devil and #2 I'm taking pictures as I half-heartedly say "Cooper, get down" instead of running over to help him down. My goodness....take a gander at those thighs! Oh, and I guess I should apologize for the baby in a t-shirt and a diaper....but you can see how sweaty he was---he sure does play hard! And yes, this is the last post of the night....so that's 4 out of 4 for the day. :)

The cutest towel ever...

I found this at Sears of all places...I was wandering through (Okay...so I was cutting through to get to my car) and saw these on a clearance rack. Had to get one for the little man for his birthday. I swear...I didn't think he could get any cuter, but I was wrong. :) So, after this particular bath I put the towel on him and he hates having the hood up, but I insisted because it's so darn cute up. He found Elise's brush and thought he should give that a whirl, and then his next find....the toilet paper on the wall. Oh Lord help me....it's now a rule that bathroom doors MUST be closed at all times or else you're likely to find one giggling little guy running wild through the halls with one end like he's roping off a crime scene. I had to try to salvage what I could of his first run in with the TP--it's a bit sad looking--all torn and rolled up half-heartedly, but the kids didn't mind and they're the only ones who really use that bathroom. And then there is the picture I took as I found out that Cooper can in fact reach and open up doors with lever handles. Guess I have a trip to the baby aisle in store for me...need lever door handle covers, huh? Sorry it's a bit dark--I was trying to get a good picture of the back of the towel but as soon as I saw he could reach and was going for it....I moved my hand and ended up blocking part of the flash. Safety over cute pictures.

The tub seat...

This little thing is a life saver....or should I say a back saver. Letting Cooper play in the bath is a bit of an easier decision....I don't have to worry about sitting on the floor so I can be within reach of him because let's face it-- how clean can an 11 year-old and 9 year-old be...?? And I don't have to sit on the toilet seat which means I have to reach down to get him which isn't fun for my back--it's already doing double duty toting this chubby fella around. And I love, love, love things that have a dual purpose...you can flip the lid around to make it taller (so it can be a step stool later for brushing teeth, etc.)....and the lid removes completely so you can store stuff in it. Who doesn't love things that you can put things in...??

Big Boy Bath...Take Two!

So, here are some shots of Cooper when he's having more fun in the tub. He loves the basketball set---and tries to put EVERYTHING into it. He's quite the character. And look at those cute little yellow spots on his head.....something left over from dinner or something on the camera you might ask..?? Nope...those are his badges of honor---learning to walk does come with a price. I think I may need to get him a helmet....I'm sure I could find one in the equipment closet at work to borrow for a few months. :) He's especially cute when he takes his sharks, dolphins, etc. and makes them swim in the water-- he moves them up and down and makes noises while he's doing it. Have I told you how in love I am with him...?

The Big Boy Bath-tub....

well, for those of you who don't know...we just recently starting giving Cooper a bath in the big bath tub. We were a kitchen sink kind of family until I realized with a tear in my eye that he's just too darn big for the sink. So, in preparation he got some bath toys for his birthday to make it a fun transition. Well, here are some pictures of the first one...right after dinner which is why his face is a mess since Mr. I Can Do It By Myself isn't as accurate as mommy or daddy with the spoon. So, the pictures....DO NOT show the horror that was on Cooper's face when I first placed him in the tub, or how he was a screaming banshee for the first fifteen minutes of being put in the tub and clung to me like he was in the Pacific Ocean and I was his life-ring. If I wasn't laughing and shhing him so much I might have felt really bad for him and would have been knocking my mothering skills by not putting him in the big tub sooner...but it made me laugh so I never got around to it. He did eventually calm down and played with some of his toys---but if I so much as twitched an eyebrow he would shoot outta that water like a cannon had shot him out of it for the fear that I was going to leave him alone in that gigantic vat of water! Please ignore my unruly hair in the bottom corner of the picture... I'll have to get some more of him now that he is enjoying the tub more (and will let me move about the bathroom while he sits and plays so I could get a safe distance from splashing hands with the camera). I also need to get a picture of this little stool/bench/storage thingie I have....LOVE It!

Finally....

So, these pictures of Cooper and his Grampa were taken a few weeks ago (during his 1st birthday celebration) and I'm just now getting around to posting them. Look how tan my dad is and how pasty white Cooper is....yikes....guess that sunscreen is doing it's job! And check out that chubster....and I'm not talking about my dad! :) And just what is he up to in that one picture...there is something going on in his mind....something that is likely to get my finger waggin' and me saying "no, no, no"...only to get it done back to me by one chubby little finger.

Christmas Ornament Giveaway!

Who doesn't just love Christmas?? Well, go visit this blog and get in on a fabulous Christmas Ornament Give-Away, and look at all of those gorgeous trees!! I think we may try for two trees this year (to get more of our ornaments out) by adding a smaller one upstairs too. We'll see how it goes with three kids and two dogs. :)

this Christmas Blog