The Final Countdown

31 days and counting until we leave for Disney World!

Yesterday, Avery and I made a countdown calendar so she could visualize how many more days we have to wait.



Each day she will put another smiley face sticker over the next number and when they run out she'll know that we are oh, so close.

I'm not sure who is more excited...Avery or her Mom!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

Over the weekend, Ty, Kelly, Mady & Morgan came to town and we spent the afternoon together at another Pumpkin Patch. The sun was shining, it was a beautiful day.


I love pictures this time of year...the beautiful fall colors always add such a nice backdrop. We rode on a hayride out to the middle of a cornfield. We were dropped off at an entrance to a corn maze. After the girls led us through the maze, we ended up in a field of pumpkins.


It took the kids awhile to pick the "perfect" pumpkin...all the while the hayride driver was waiting for us patiently. They really enjoyed stomping on the pumpkins that had already rotted.



Finally, they all found suitable pumpkins to take home.



Even the guys enjoyed themselves, a little!



There was a fun playground and petting zoo with sheep, pigs, a miniature horse, ducks, peacocks, rabbits, and goats.









We ended the day back at our house for dinner and more playtime for the kids. Thanks for the fun day, guys...hope it's not too long before we can get together again!

8 Things

I was tagged by Jamie and Susie to give 8 answers to the following questions...

8 Things that happened yesterday:
1. I had to wake my children up to get them off to day care (not fun getting someone dressed that wants to still be sleeping)
2. Had a discussion with my good friend on the presidential debate from the night before (and we don't agree on everything and that's okay)
3. Worked all day (could list hundreds of things that I did, but won't bore you)
4. Took Austin to the Dr. (thought he had an ear infection, but PTL he didn't)
5. Stopped at Target on the way home
6. Had dinner with the family
7. Gave my children a bath (and I ended up more wet than they were!)
8. Wathed too much TV (see below)

8 Favorite Places to Eat:
1. At home w/my family (much less stressful than eating out)
2. Mom's house ('cause I don't have to cook and the food is delish!)
3. Carolyn's house (same reason as #2)
4. Hacienda
5. Logan's Steakhouse
6. Carraba's
7. Chipotle
8. Panera Bread

8 TV Shows I love to watch:
1. Desperate Housewives
2. Dancing with the Stars
3. Jon & Kate Plus 8
4. Lipstick Jungle
5. Survivor
6. The Office
7. ER
8. anything on HGTV

8 Things I am looking forward to:
1. The weekend
2. Halloween
3. Our trip to DisneyWorld (not sure if I'm looking forward to the drive though)
4. The holidays
5. Seeing Kevin & Heather again soon
6. When Austin is finally potty trained
7. The Cubs winning a World Series someday(whenever that may be)
8. Retirement (someday in the very far future)!

8 Things on my wish list:
1. Happy, Healthy Family
2. Strong Economy
3. A Minivan(can you believe I just said that?)
4. The Cubs to win a World Series!
5. A New Digital Camera
6. Less work, more play
7. A New Vacuum
8. For someone in a loving home to relieve us of our Cat (seriously-does anyone want a cat?)

People I tag:
1. Anyone who's reading that hasn't already been tagged.

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Indian Summer always comes along about this time of year. The weather was cold just a few weeks ago, and this weekend felt like summer all over again. We played outside in shorts and t-shirts and enjoyed visiting with all the neighbors again before everyone retreats inside for the winter months.






We made a trip to a pumpkin farm on Saturday. We'll be going again this coming weekend with friends, but needed to get some decorations for the front of the house.

We Think the World of You!

A dventurous
V ibrant
E nergetic
R isk taker
Y outhful

M otherly
A ware
D arling
I ndependent
S ensitive
O ptimistic
N eat


A thletic
U nique
S queezable
T alkative
I nteresting
N utty

C opy cat
O bservant
O rnery
P olite
E asy going
R espectful

Love you, Mom & Dad

Changing of the Seasons

Are anyone else's kids having trouble with the changing of seasons and their clothing? After a summer of flip flops and crocs, it's hard to get socks and shoes on their feet. Austin doesn't seem to like the long sleeves and Avery would still like to wear shorts outside. I don't even want to think about Hats and Boots.

Because they grow so fast, the kids' closets get a makeover with each season. Wish I could get a new wardrobe each year.

We broke out sweaters this morning for church and I think it's finally time to get the shorts and tank tops put away.

Fall is here! I'm ready for comfort foods, apple picking, pumpkin carving, and hayrides.

Boiler Up!

For the second Saturday in a row, Jon and I had a date with the Purdue Football team. And for the second Saturday in a row, Purdue lost, but we won't dwell on that!

Last weekend we were at Notre Dame, but yesterday we made it back to West Lafayette to watch the Boilers at home.

I love being on the campus during the fall. It brings back such great memories. All the way back to childhood, when my parents (both alumni) took my brother (also an alum)and I to Slater Hill to watch the band play prior to the football game and as recently as last year when I met all of my former roomates for a pre-game tailgate in the parking lot at Purdue West.

It's hard to believe that we were students there 10-14 years ago. We parked the car and walked hand in hand through Chauncey towards the Union passing all of the breakfast clubbers and snickering a bit. We've come so far since those days!

We walked past the fountain and over to Slater Hill and watched the band march into the stadium. It was a beautiful day for a game and it was a wonderful day with my hubby!

Acting My Age

So I'm driving home from work today, by myself in the car.
It's a beautiful day, I have the windows down and the music cranked up.

I'm sitting at a stoplight in the left turn lane with a car to my immediate right that has a 20something girl in the driver's seat.

I look to my right...I smile and she smiles back.

Only then do I realize that I've been singing along and head bopping to:
(wait for it)

Hannah Montana!!

Of course, the 20something girl was smiling at the 30something Mom driving in the car by herself singing every word of the Disney Channel teenybopper!

I'm Nervous

If I could for a minute...I'm going to talk politics without getting political. Is that possible?

If there's one thing I've learned in all of my management classes it's this:
Don't get involved in conversations about politics and religion with co-workers.
I can't say that it's never happened, but I try to keep professional and personal issues separate. If you've ever watched The View, you know how nasty it can get.

I suppose you can say that I would consider myself a Republican that could be easily persuaded to side with the Democrats.

I'm undecided right now and I'm sure many of you would be willing to share your thoughts with me for one side or the other. I'm not neccesarily asking for that.

I wouldn't consider myself a feminist, but I was proud when Hillary Clinton was so close to the Democratic ticket. I'm not one to vote for a woman just because I'm a woman, I was just proud that a powerful woman is recognized by her peers.

This is where I want to talk about politics without being political. The following thoughts aren't based on what the person believes about foreign affairs, or the state of the economy, etc. Maybe it's more about equal rights.

I'm nervous for Sarah Palin on Thursday night! Boy-that woman has received some bad press! Some of it is probably deserved (did you see Katie Couric's interview?).

I'm proud that a mother "who works outside the home" is in a position to potentially become the Vice President of the United States. I think that sends an awesome message to every woman in America and all of our young daughters whose future is uncertain.

I know firsthand that a woman in corporate america is still looked at differently than a man. If we are soft spoken, we are timid and meak. If we are too outspoken, we get labeled as a B*&$%.

Qualified or not is yet to be determined, but I hope Sarah Palin is getting prepared for Thursday nights' debate. She will be critiqued harder, she will be looked at differently, be expected to know more than her counterpart, and still be expected to look beautiful w/the right color of lipstick!