Another Drew & Claire story.......

Tonight Drew was telling Claire he had to go home. Claire was fine with him going home but she wanted the marker that he had in his hand. She had one but it was a little smooshed on the end. Drew's was much better for drawing a dinosaur with cavities! So, Claire was asking ever so nicely for the marker when the conversation turned to this.........
Drew: You have to say "please" in Spanish!
Claire: Nanny, I don't know how to say "please" in Spanish!
Drew: I'm sorry but you have to say "please" in Spanish!
Steph: Drew, do you know how to say "please" in Spanish?
Drew: No.
We laughed forever.........

(Mom, I can't wait to see you..........)

"The Jesus People Are Here"!

This morning Drew and I had driven thru McDonalds so that we could take breakfast to that really cute family that we know (http://www.claireandcocosmommy.blogspot.com/), when Drew yelled out "The Jesus people are here!" Even though it was morning rush hour, I whipped my head around to see what or who he was talking about. Out of the corner of my eye on the property of McDonalds was a nativity scene already set up. I laughed to myself and once again thought between Claire and Drew who needs to pay for entertainment! I recall last year that Joseph was referred to as Josie and Mary! And I remember very distinctly last year when Drew and Claire were talking on the phone, Claire talking about a caterpillar that she had that would soon turn into a chrysalis and Drew said ever so confidently, "I have a Christmas List, too"! Does it really get any cuter than that? Well, let me tell you that it really does. There is nothing cuter than Cohen, who just turned 2, when asked who is the president of the United States and he replies, "Barack Obama"! It actually sounds like Rock Amama but if you could see his cute little smile you can't help but kiss that beautiful little face! Which is exactly what he wants, our little love bug! Have I mentioned that Mr. Nanny and I get to keep these cutie pies for about a week? I'm sure there will be pictures and stories to tell! Oh.....and to my beautiful mother, I have the kids on video saying there prayers and "hi" to their Grammy! I've not posted a video before but I'll work on it! This cute picture is of our ever so cute, Cohen praying!

We have a climber.....

In case you're wondering if I'm talking about a plant that survived the freeze we had, I'm not! I'm talking about Livi! Of all the grandbabies, she is the only one that is on a mission to climb on top of or in anything that looks like fun! Seriously, she couldn't be any cuter! Jarad, Ashley, Brian, Cohen, & Kenneth took off on Sunday to our land in Conway. They all had a blast together and my day was made by spending a little one on one with Livi! Chrissy and Claire were having a little girl time and I'm sure Claire was also enjoying the one on one!

Sarah Ravencroft for Prez!

I betcha didn't know that we had a female RUNNING for President! Drew and Claire were running around telling us that they were voting for Sarah Ravencroft for President! Drew's parents informed me she was a character on Scooby Dooby Doo. We laughed pretty hard on that one. My day started early so that I could take Drew with me to vote before he went to school. He crawled right up on my lap and insisted on connecting the lines. He thought voting was very easy, right? I hear that we have officially elected a new president, Barack Obama. Look on the bright side.....Oprah believes in him and hey, I wouldn't want to answer to Oprah! She's watching........he better get busy! Goodnight!

Today Matters......

I think I have decided that my everyday slogan will be "Today Matters". I choose this because it made my forever friend, Steph want to own her very own cute, tight fitting shirt that states very simply "Today Matters". One of her players was sporting this very trendy shirt from an upscale shop from downtown when she decided she wanted one of her own. Player (who I adore) gifted her the shirt. We realize that every day is a gift from God and it MATTERS! My goal is to make sure I don't miss a thing! So from this day forward I will not worry if my posting is mundane or that it doesn't matter because to me it DOES!

My blessings from last week and there were many..........

This was the first week that Hunter was able to come over right after school. Now that football is over he will be with us right after school until Wednesday morning, when I take him to school. He got to the house in time to help me make an apple dumpling dessert. He's quite handy in the kitchen! I cooked a roast, sweet potato casserole, salad, and some veggies. Steph and the boys ate with us, also. We left around 7:00 and headed to the mall where we got this lined hoodie that is warm and COOL! Isn't he handsome? I love that boy!

Wednesday was my stay at home day with Drew. I love these days! Ashley & Livi stopped by to visit and after they left Chrissy & the kids brought Drew and I some of that great cuisine that is purchased from a window! They were there until probably 3:00. Okay, back to these cute pictures.....Thursday started with the annual costume parade at Mother's Day Out! Cohen is dressed like a cowboy and then we have our superheroes' Drew & Claire as Batman & Batgirl! Chrissy has mentioned on her blog many times and I will iterate, We LOVE our Mother's Day Out program but especially the people! They are truly angels of God!

Chrissy & I took the kids out of school at 11:00 so that we could take them out to Mr. Nanny's office for a retirement luncheon. We were joined by Jarad, Ashley, & Livi. We aren't sure how it happened but we managed to get a picture of PaPa with his babies! We must have bribed them, surely....

Chrissy picked up the kids from school and brought them home so that we could do some fun Halloween stuff! Chrissy made sugar cookies with the kids while I worked on dinner for the 23 people (kids & adults) that I fed later that evening! Here are some of the goodies that we made......

After dinner, all the kids took their little ones out trick or treating. Kenneth and I stayed behind with a few others and relaxed until the candy eating crew came back! Here are some pics of our little trick or treaters..........



Ashley, Alivia, & Jarad, cute huh?

Drew, Garrett, & Claire - cutest superheroes you ever did see!!

I tried to get a picture of the whole gang....

Levi and Cohen just being cute!

So to sum up my week, I feel so incredibly blessed and know that God is with me everyday! When everyone has gone home, I just sit and BE in my beautiful home and thank My Heavenly Father for all that I have and all that I can do.

Times Are A Changing.......

Does your life just fly by? Mine does and I don't like it! Maybe it flies by because we cram so much into a day. One thing I do know and I say it constantly....I'm livin' my life! What has happened in October? Just let me highlight some of the best times!

We watched the oldest grandson, Hunter play football every Tuesday night! He also spent every Tuesday night with us. Have I mentioned that I love this boy?

We also went to Las Vegas and spent 4 days with these crazy people! Let me proudly introduce Mr. Nanny's brother and his wife. She may be my sister-in-law but I love her like a sister. We treasure any time we get to spend with them. Back in the day, we spent all holidays and vacations together. Now that our kids are grown and we have grandkids things are a changin'!

Much to Claire & Drew's dismay the pool has closed! How crazy that they were still swimming in October? They love the pool, especially because it is heated! We closed the pool on October 23rd. Here's a little before and after, how sad!

This is Jarad being Jarad! This is what it looks like now......

Spending time with my babies.........

Drew loves to spend his days stripped down after preschool lets out!

Cohen is having a bath in the kitchen sink. My little secret is that this is a great place to put my little ones while I'm cooking!

On Sunday, PaPa went and picked up Claire so she could see the fish at Bass Pro. She came home with a new coat and Prancer!

Which reminded her that Christmas is near, so we pulled out a Christmas show (before Halloween!

The things I love about the fall......

And it's all inside of my favorite place............

We have fallen.......in LOVE!

This boy holding this baby hiding the face of a beautiful girl is Jarad! Jarad is my baby boy and I still fondly refer to him as such! So for all you young momma's (what he always called me) out there the answer is YES, your baby is always your BABY! Even when he is twenty six and a daddy, and a husband. So Jarad called last night and had to change his mind about our attending the Sarah Palin rally. They moved her speaking back an hour so that would put him getting out of town too late. He is leaving today for Atlantic, Iowa to quail hunt. This will be the first time that Mr. Nanny will not be going with him. I'm not sure that I feel great about that! Refer back to the "always your baby" part! Once I get better at this blogging thing I will post way better pictures, I'm sure. But, back to this one.....so the faces that you can't see are my beautiful inside and out daughter-in-law, Ashley and youngest grand baby, Alivia. My love for Alivia is a given! Falling in love with a new baby is never hard! But Ashley......picked by my son to join our family! I publicly announce and will always stand by the fact that we think she is PERFECT! I thank God. He picked her just for Jarad! I love so many things about her. I love how they are best friends. I love how she mommies. I love her assertiveness. I love her loyalty. I love how she loves her parents and sisters. I love how she sings. I love how un-materialistic she is. I love her faith in God. I love how she reminds me of ME and love that Jarad picked someone with similar qualities. I love how she has bonded with Mr. Nanny and that they do things just the two of them, actually it's usually 3 (Alivia) of them. I'm sure I could go on and on if I was truly awake! So just let it be said, WE LOVE HER!