Thanksgiving

Before I dive into a Thanksgiving post, I thought I would promote Chad Madden who did family Christmas pics for the Vining Family this year. I only have two so far because mom ran into some issues e-mailing the rest.

This pic really is worth 1,000 words. Dalen's out of control and Livi

is crying from being tortured and from a lack of nap.
The Hoods

Chad did a great job taking the pics and was SUPER patient. I'll try and post the rest when they come through!

After 5 1/2 days off from work, I really have nothing to complain about. Our Thanksgiving was great! It was spent traveling, visiting with family, eating, sleeping and no I didn't shop. We traveled to my Grandparent's house in Ocala, Florida for a few days. I hadn't been to their house in ages! We typically stay with our aunt and uncle or cousins. This house is a house full of memories. Memories like being able to strip down to our underwear and run in the rain or memories like us getting paddled with what seemed like Granny's white wooden 2x4 (another post for another day). It felt so great to take Dalen there and share a place I grew to love when I was younger.

I just have to brag on Dalen. He was an amazing traveler! He was literally perfect on the way home. We had a few set backs on the way there. He learned that if he held his private and whined, "something's hurting!" we would stop. After a while of that going on it was just tough for Dalen's hurting parts. He fell asleep at about 7:00 and slept the rest of the way. We had a great time with family and just having time off to ourselves. Here are a few pics of Thanksgiving.

Dalen swinging at my Great Aunt and Uncle's.

Dalen found binoculars and these kept him SO occupied!

The New Us

Well, I finally figured after blogging so long, I should revamp the look of Rookie Parents. I absolutely hate change but for some reason I just new the look of my old blog wasn't what we looked like anymore-so I chose something masculine with a touch femininity (hence the gerber daisy). Thanks to my awesome husband who helped me figure this out. I am so not tech savvy.

I keep checking my blog and every time the page appears its somewhat shocking but I love the new page. Hope my readers like it as well.

PS-The family pic at the top is the pic I took of us on the carriage ride at Dalen's school festival. You can go back a few if you missed that post.

Matter Much??

Ever seen a threesome aired on television?

Am I seriously writing about to blog about one of the most controversial topics ever?

Does it really matter what we watch or listen to?

Should we be mindful of the foundational themes that discreetly underline films, performances, TV Shows, music?

As a Christian, mom, wife and leader I feel like what we watch, listen to and consider entertaining is not only important but says so much about our character and spiritual life. Go ahead, stone me. Call me old-fashioned, super spiritual, conservative or even weird. I've been called worse.

Personally, I am sick and tired of hypocrites sitting on my pue and casting verbal stones about homosexuality but ignoring the teenage pregnancy rate. It's confusing how parents can sit and wonder why their teenage girls do nothing but back bite and gossip while Gossip Girl is anticipated on their television screen every Monday night (I know when it airs b-c I used to be one of the idiots that watched it).

This blog isn't to say I am perfect or that I haven't ever struggled with what I watch or listen to but it is to challenge you as a spiritual leader to be cautious what you allow in your mind and in your home. (Phil. 4:8)

Isn't it sad that there are tolerable sins? There are actual sins that are sending people to hell everyday and yes, we are comfortable with them. Did you know that the penalty for every sin without repentance is the same? If you lie, you will reap death. If you steal, you will reap death. If you are unfaithful to your spouse, you will reap death. If you worship other gods before the one true God you will reap death. (Romans 6:23) We tolerate gossip because it makes us feel important and better about ourselves. We love to hear about our unmarried girlfriend's sexual experiences because it's interesting and liberates curiosity. We are comfortable with these things and tolerate these things because they occur so often they have developed a sense of normalcy. But what about those risque things that creep into our lives and television sets ever so discreetly? Why does that put the Christian society into an uproar.

I have so many girlfriends that watch Gossip Girl. Gossip Girl is built upon a young society of "Manhattan's elite" who love to do nothing more than make other people's lives miserable by spreading their live's worst behavior through text messages. They back bite, cheat on their significant others, engage in drugs, alcohol and sexually explicit acts but it's ok because those sins have somehow become tolerable and normal. Recently this show aired a threesome between Vanessa, Olivia and Dan. This is when you find the Christians going wild! Their facebook statuses talked about it, blogs began to picket against this show. So now all of the sudden this show is off their television sets because they saw two females kissing. What happened to sin being sin? If you are just now bothered by this show, you now more than ever need to repent for your insensitivity to sin-period. You are a cowardly hypocrite for just now turning the channel from such non-sense. That's something you should have never turned on. I know, because I once too watched this show.

So does it? Does it matter what we consume in our everyday lives? Does it matter whether its Adam Lambert shoving another male's face into his genitalia on television or whether its Fergie prancing around in a risque corset that's barely there? Seriously, does it matter? Who cares that Twilight is about vampires (a dead person that comes alive late at night to drink the blood of the living and torment their souls)? Who cares most movies say GD and have underlining themes that deal with demonic activity?

I was so disgusted by the comments from "Christians" who wrote on their facebooks things like "Get that smut off our television" (uh I think that would be your job. it's as easy as pushing a button buddy) " "If facebook had a Adam Lambert just ruined my television set I'd join it" (betcha wouldn't join one to protest Carrie Underwood and her half dressed performance) or what about this one "Adam Lambert is a disgusting queer" (way to lead them straight to the altar!) I am just disgusted. Disgusted by a generation who thinks they know everything when literally we know nothing. Disgusted by people who choose when to be disgusted instead of allowing conviction and burdens to disgust them.

"Titleful"

Dalen and Mario in between time outs hanging our holiday wreath.
Picture text I got at the annual fundraiser.

My clearance dress that was more like a girdle.

I have thought and thought of what to call this blog. I almost titled it "Titleless" until I realized the problem wasn't that I didn't have a title but that I had too many titles and couldn't settle on just one. So I am calling it "Titleful". Other titles I considered were: Disaster Relief, When Perfect Went Out The Window, Terrible Twos, or I Quit.

As I shared earlier, we had a great and exciting day planned for Saturday. My, oh my, Saturday. The day I can't forget but pray I could! Dalen woke us up bright and early. I drug out the ornaments, lights and Mario dug out our artificial tree. This tree was bought in a really nice carrying box however, it fell to pieces and had to be trashed from getting so wet in our storage shed behind our house. Mario had to run to the church to set up the stage and while he was gone I decided to make breakfast. Nothing fancy just some muffins. They were perfect on top until I got them out of the pan and realized they were complete mush on the bottom. I then realized the bottom of our oven still isn't working only the top is heating. You can imagine how delicious these were.

While waiting on Mario to get home, Dalen became so curious with the ornaments. He began throwing them and luckily none busted. After several times of him doing this he was placed in time out. After getting out of time out he sat on the box of ornaments as hard as he could. How none of them busted, I will never know! He was then placed in time out again. Finally, Mario got home and we proceeded to put up the tree. You would think Dalen would be fascinated, excited in awe of this family event but NO he was everything but. He jumped on our strand of lights making half of the strand go out. There stood our tree. Tall, lightless, topperless and skirtless. Let me tell you-she is a beauty.

After finishing the tree, Dalen went down for a nap without lunch because he ate breakfast so late. He kept napping and napping. Finally Mario woke him for his movie and buddy I wish we would have never broken the golden rule of waking a sleeping baby. He was in the whiniest worst mood EVER. I suggested he be taken to a later showing but Mario insisted it would be fine. They ventured off to Planet 51 as I ventured off to the Blind Side- a movie I have waited months to see. The theater was PACKED! My seat was on the 2nd to last row and two kids kept crinkling their popcorn bag as they fought for the next handful. Ugh.

I decided to go get my own snack where I found Mario and Dalen waiting in line as well. Dalen asked me to hold him and I did. After sometime of waiting I put him down and felt something warm and cold on my left side where I held him. Yep, you experienced moms guessed it. Dalen had peed all over me. How this happened I do not know. He had just been asked to the bathroom and had on a fresh pull up but urine always finds a way to get the best of you. There I stood, not knowing what to do and still wondering if this day was really happening. There was no way I could sit through a movie after being peed on. We all left and Dalen never finished his nap.

Saturday night I had to work our annual fund raiser at the 5 Points Museum. I put my lovely clearance dress on and proceeded to hold my breath for the night. I was placed working the door which was nice because it was somewhat quiet and I got to sit while eating on food catered by one of the best in town. After about 30 minutes of being there I notice my foot felt heavy and I heard something behind me everytime I took a step. I looked down to find the complete sole of my shoe had fallen off. Perfect. PERFECT! Not only do I have on the cheapest looking dress ever, I now get to walk around bare foot!

The noise level increased as more wine and beer was consumed. The check out table was bombarded with drunks ready to pay for their auction items that I am sure they don't remember ever bidding on. One man (who had red wine spilled all down the front of him) said, "oh my, aren't you so pretty! You look like a black velveteen goddess." Then there was a long pause as he awkwardly cocked his head to the side and asked, "Did I used to trim your hedges?" Honestly, there is nothing more unattractive then a man who is so drunk he has no idea what he is saying or so obnoxious he looks completely foolish. Another man approached the check out line completely intoxicated and said, "Hey, you pregnant?" I told him I was and he looked to his wife and said, "See, it was that easy to ask and she didn't even get mad." His wife's face grew redder by the second.

I really wish I could realize that there will never, ever be a perfect day. As long as I live, I will endure mishaps, drunks, urine stained clothes, curious onlookers but it still shakes me. I want to live an unshakable life. I want to endure these days with stamina and defense, defeating every distraction and illiminating every frustration by gripping peace.

Sunday came around and before noon Dalen had had his fingers smashed in the church door, fallen off our bed and skinned his back on Mario's bike, fallen down the church steps and bitten a chunk out of his tongue in nursery. Yes, when perfect went out the window may have been the best title.

2010 Just Say No-Part II

I took this picture at the Hamilton Place playground on Saturday. I wish you could see a clear shot of how terrified Dalen was, once he climbed all the way to the top of this dog. He absolutely insisted he do it all alone but once he saw how high up he actually was he began to cry and insist I help him down.

Since I have already been getting my feet wet concerning my Just Say No campaign, this is a little how I have felt. Like I am too high up and saying, "No" leaves me with no way back down. I have never in my life-EVER-had a hard time being decisive or confident in the decision making department. I guess it's just taking me a long time to realize I have way to much I value. Of course, friends and family come first but I have realized I think I value more than I do. Lately I have been asking myself why do you value this event or that outing and I have can't come up with a valid reason I decide right then and there that I don't go or participate.

I have also realized that I lack priorities. Nothing in my life has value and I feel bad making some people more important or certain events more important but it has to be done. This is the only way I will find myself ever saying no. Tomorrow I am so excited to be going to dinner with friends and then to a benefit concert. This is the last Parent's Night Out Mario and I have somewhat separate plans and I am so happy about that. I haven't gotten to spend good quality time with two of my closest friends in what seems like so long so I can't wait to catch up on everything with them.

Saturday is going to be super fun! I can't wait til Saturday! My husband doesn't know it yet but Saturday morning we will wake up and decorate our Christmas tree! WAHOO! SURPRISE MARIO! haha. I can't wait to plug the lights in and see how Dalen reacts! Then I am going to see The Blind Side with Sandra Bullock at the early showing. I am going to sit in peace, alone. I can NOT wait! I have been waiting for this movie to come out forever. While I am in The Blind Side Mario is going to take Dalen to see that Planet 51 movie. I feel ok about us seeing separate things because they still get to enjoy something while I am. Then later Saturday I have to work at our agency's annual fund raiser. It's a dressy event and can I just protest that someone out there make maternity dresses for nice events!! I bought this dress off the clearance rack at TJ MAXX for $20 and it screams, "I was cheap and meant for someone NOT pregnant!" I am still trying to decipher if it looks more like a piece of spandex that got caught in a lawn mower or one of those shredded rag things that the drive thru car wash spins round and round. Trust me-pics of Saturday will come as long as you laugh with me and not at me.

This weekend is full of things I have chosen. Things that have to be done for family or work or things I want to do and it feels SO good. I can't wait to leave Tuesday for Florida and see my grandparents and cousins and rest of my family. Dalen is going to have a blast!

So just so I am not feeling alone...anyone else feel the need to join my campaign?

Bargain Babe*

Just in case you are wondering what the significant of the * by babe is- I totally know that at this point in life and current weight I am not using that word in a literal sense it just sounded good for the post.
I was so excited about Saturday morning. I snuck out of the house before Mario or Dalen woke up and ventured off to look at all of Olivia's old clothes my sister has been selling in yard sales. YAY! Don't you just love good quality clothing at great prices?! I must admit I am pretty picky about who I buy baby hand-me-downs from. There is just something about the thought that another baby has worn clothing and probably puked, drooled and possibly pooped on something that I will one day put my kid in, that totally gags me. But since it's my niece I guess I can handle the thought. I also gladly buy Hicks hand-me-downs b-c they have the cleanest house and mom EVER.
Anyways, I sorted through tons of clothing weeding out what wouldn't match up with sizes (let's pray she stays on growing schedule!). I ended up with tons of clothes and I just can't wait to get Cola's room and closet cleaned out. Friday night I happened to run into a WHOLE shelf of shoes at Wal-Mart for $1-$2-$3! WAHOO! Every single pair of these shoes were under $3. I do wish they would have had a broader selection of colors. But I guess if you can throw in a little purple with a plethora of pink you are doing well.

Here are a few outfits I scored. The brown and cream dress is super special. Last year when shopping for Olivia Mario picked this out for her on his own and now it's Cola's. I think it's super cute when he picks outfits for her. I am hoping the little red dress will fit her for Valentine's Day. It's a small.

After sorting for a while, Olivia woke up and teetered down the sidewalk. She was in such a perky mood and her hair was hilarious. Bless her heart it was all over the place and mixed with the wind it didn't stand a chance at laying down right. Here are a few pics of her this weekend.

Here she is asleep on Sunday, after lunch.

I put her hair in a pony tail to try to get it out of her eyes.

Smiley Girl.

Camera Shy.

Hilarious Hair.

2010: Just Say No

You know, the real world has a harsh way of letting you know you are there. Somedays it slaps you in the face with bills you don't know how you are going to pay, a schedule so crammed you don't think you will survive and demands that make you just want to give up. This is where I am. I am in the REAL world. Let me share with you a little about my week. (Does the week start with Sunday or Monday?? I'll start with Monday.)

Monday-Worked 9-5. Rushed home to be dressed to leave for dinner with a college student by 6:30. Dalen was already gone to my parents and I didn't see him until about 9 p.m. and he was already deep asleep.

Tuesday-Worked 9-5. Rushed off to pick Dalen up from school, grabbed dinner, ate at home, changed into pajamas and was woken up three times in the night by crying Dalen.

Wednesday-Worked 9-8. Prepared Thanksgiving Dinner for clients at work. Left work at 8 and struggled to stay awake until Mario and Dalen made it home from church at about 8:45. Changed Dalen into pajamas and let him fall asleep with me just so I could feel like I had, had time with him.

Thursday- Woke up an hour and 10 minutes early to spend time with Dalen and get him ready for school pictures. Will work 9-5. Leave work right at 5 pick Dalen up, grab dinner and be to the church for college service. Attend service, go home, get in pajamas and go to bed.

Friday- Will work 9-5. Leave work, go home, change clothes, meet family to eat for my sister's birthday (which was on the 11th).

Saturday-Wake up at 8. Get dressed for book club meeting. Attend book club. Go to Chattanooga and get fitted for a bridesmaid dress, shop for a white shirt for family Christmas pics on Sunday and hang out with our worship leader who is soon moving.

Sunday-Attend church, go to my parents house, eat lunch, get family pics made with them and HOPEFULLY then take a nap!

AH! Thats exhausting just typing all that! I'm to that point where I feel like I share every part of me with everyone and everything! I have been asking myself over and over how will there ever be enough to go around, especially with Baby #2 soon coming! I try my best to not be selfish. It is by far one of the most unappealing qualities I feel any person could possess but I have to admit I'm so tired of sharing! Somedays I feel I am sharing things that aren't even there and it leaves me drained!

I am a wife, mom, sister, friend, minister, aunt, employee and after sharing me with all of these roles and people there is just nothing left. This morning while getting dressed I asked myself again, "How long can I keep sharing so much of me that is just barely there?" This time it was different. I felt an answer, heard something so liberating come from the deepest part of my being. This is what I heard, "You will learn to say no."

Wow. After reflecting on this profound revelation I realized I am not so good at using that word anymore. So in 2010, I will be saying, "No". Nicely, but quite frequently. There are a few things that will be MY things. I will not feel obligated to share these things with ANYONE. It will take me a while but I will get used to it and soon enough it will be normal!

Today I have been thinking a lot about what I am absolutely obligated to do. By obligated I mean things that I absolutely have no choice but to do. What are the things that would cause my family or myself to fall apart? Wow! When you really think about it the list seems to gradually decrease! It was as though I began weeding out old clothes from my dusty closet that were worn, unflattering and no longer fit. You know, just because you USED to do something doesn't mean you have to hang on to that role forever! Roles change with time and it's time for me to move on from somethings.

I will hang on to friendships that are not taxing.
I will let go of people who place unreasonable demands on me.

I will attend church on weeknights.
I will say no to activities that occur on weeknights if my family can't come with me and if I don't feel like going.

I will never schedule anything on Parent's Night Out.
I will spend every Parent's Night Out with my husband and solely my husband.

I will not feel obligated to share my personal devotional time with others.
I will hide the words of God in my heart and speak these private promises only when I feel spirit led to do so.

I will not return calls or pick up calls when it isn't convienant.
I will only call friends when Dalen isn't around. It just isn't fair to the person on the other end.

I am sure there will be so many more things I will have to do and not do the more I think. I want to be the best person I can be and when you are constantly running on E it's hard to give the best or get the best...the best just ends up getting you!

Blog-O-Mercial...With Cola In Mind

This last Saturday I went to the Craft Fair at North Cleveland for about 20 minutes...it was all I could take with Dalen getting into every booth, begging for a hotdog at 10 a.m. every 2 seconds, and insisting everything I picked out for his sister should be for him. I think we have surely got ourselves into something BIG with a new baby coming!!

Anyways, my friend Cortney Wheeler had a booth and she is with Frogs & Frills Baby Boutique. Everything they sell is made personally by them. Here are a couple things I bought from them.


I just loved this handmade hat!! The thing I like about it best is that the little flower is actually like a barrette so you can remove it and add a different one or wear it as a hair bow. I am not into the HUGE flowers and bow little girls wear, you know the ones that make them grow like the leaning tower of Pisa because the bow is SOOOO big it makes them walk with a lean. I love simple and delicate.

This looks like a wallet BUT it's actually a diaper wipe case! It has little pieces of fabric and ribbon around it and I thought it was super cute! So now I can walk to the bathroom with one diaper and the diaper case in class!

And last but not least...I bought this from Razzberry's (a super cute little boutique downtown). I thought this would be SUCH a fun overnight bag or diaper bag. It looks a lot smaller in the picture than what it is. Also, the fabric is so thick and the inside is doubled with more fabric and a few pockets. I love this bag that I scored for ONLY $14.95!

If you like anything you see you can check out Frogs and Frills at http://frogsnfrills.etsy.com/ or shoot them an e-mail at frogsandfrills@gmail.com

Razzberry's is located downtown right beside Gardener's Market and their number is 478-7300. This is also where I scored Dalen's super cute Halloween costume at. They have tons of personalized gifts for children and adults.

I have a small corner in Dalen's room where Cola's things are accumulating quickly. We are keeping her stuff in there because we haven't decided what room to use for her yet. Dalen is constantly and secretly picking through her things trying to fit his massive size 8 feet into her NB size shoes and has been warned if he tries to stuff his bushy fro in her new hat one more time he would score 4 minutes in time out.

He has started to LOVE pulling my shirt up (anywhere we are) to talk to Cola. I have tried to explain she can hear you with my shirt down but it doesn't stop him!! He loves feeling her move and finds it quite hilarious when she gives him a good kick. Yesterday, I made him lay down on the couch with me to start winding down for bed and he's already jealous that she doesn't have to be still and he does. His back was pressed against my belly & everytime she would move he would shout, "Hey! Be still you! Go to sleep!" He also gave her a few "love taps" that weren't so loving.

Date Me, Mommy!

After the three of us being sick, I thought I should write a nice blog on some funny and bright things that have happened recently. Of course, all the funny things are about Dalen. He knows just how to keep us laughing!

The other day an advertisement came up on Mario's computer for a new movie. It was a kids movie and the character's are green (I TOTALLY forgot the name of it). Dalen began laughing hysterically, jumped off the couch and began clapping as he screamed, "Date me, Mommy! Date me!" I didn't get it at first but then realized when we went to see "Cloudy Meatballs" I called it a date, then I realized he wanted me to take him to the movies again. I guess I am good movie date! I told him I had to check it out first-does anyone know what movie I am talking about??

Here is just a pic for entertainment. It's Dalen

at lunch Sunday being goofy.

Last night one of my parent's good friends came to North Cleveland to do a concert. Mario was off at another service and so I told Dalen we could go. He was TOTALLY out of control. It didn't help that his cousin was there-everytime he gets around her it's like waves of excitement that possess him to act ridiculously silly. He jumped for probably 15 minutes straight...with this hands raised and eyes closed, shouting HALLELUJAH! Can you tell he's being raised pentecostal?? haha

After falling the step he was standing on one too many times my Dad got a hold of him telling him to stand still. Yeah, that didn't work. The sanctuary was super cold but because he kept jumping he was literally sweating and took his jacket off. My dad asked him if he were cold and he said, "No I'm not cold!!! I'm happy!!!!! WAHOO!!!!" Yeah shortly thereafter he was taken out for spanking number one and then to class where he could be obnoxious and it not matter.

Here is Dalen before church. I loved this outfit!

After church Sunday night I pulled through Wendy's quickly. They were taking quite a while and Dalen began rolling the window up and down. I occaisonly let him do this to keep him occupied. Once we got to the window there was quite a bit of smoke coming from the french fry maker and I notice Dalen was staring intently at it and not playing with the window anymore. Then out of no where he shouted at the cashier, "You best stop that smoking, lady! Stop it! Stop it now!" WOW! Can we say mortified?! How does he even know what smoking is? It's not like people smoke in restauraunts anymore! The lady didn't find him humorous and didn't respond.

Last funny story...So I have come to realize that Clark Campbell, College and Youth Pastor (and good friend of ours), maybe isn't the best example for Dalen. He snuck and gave him cupcakes and taught him bad words. Mario went to lunch with him the other day and Dalen tagged along. Somehow Clark began talking about frogs and how they pee on your hands. Yeah, so now Dalen makes it a point to warn me frogs pee on your hands-EVERYDAY. Thanks Clark!

Here a few pics Dalen had taken a few weeks back...enjoy!

Festival, Halloween & Cloudy Meatballs

Last weekend was one of the absolute BEST weekends we have had in a LOOOONG time. Thursday Mario came down with a sudden fever and severe pains in his side. Friday I took the day off to care for Dalen but luckily by noon he was feeling better. So that night we took off to his school's Fall Festival-where we had SOOOO much fun. Dalen was in the best mood and didn't have any tantrums or meltdowns-Yes, I do believe in miracles! I haven't uploaded all pics from this night yet but here are a few.

Dalen rode a horse named, Cowboy.
He literally jumped on the back of the horse with no
fear or hesitation and laughed the whole ride.

The absolute best part of the WHOLE ENTIRE night was getting to go on carriage ride just before dark. Town & Country Carriages were there giving rides. You have to understand why this was just SO great. The night Mario proposed he was supposed to take me on a carriage ride in downtown Chattanooga but because it was so cold none of the carriages were running that night! But don't worry-I still had THE best proposal EVER. Anyways-ever since that night we have wanted to do a carriage ride but just never got around to it AND they are super expensive! This ride we got to take for 4 tickets ($1)! We all three sat snuggled on a burgandy, velvet- covered carriage seat, handmade by ammish as a 9 year old horse, Flash, took us on a pretty lengthy ride all around the school's campus. What was even better is that on certain parts of the ride all you could see was acres of fall's best. The colors were AMAZING! Mario and I kept talking about how perfect this was. Who would have ever thought that 3 1/2 years later we would be a family of four! It was definitley worth the wait being able to take the ride with Dalen and Cola.

Saturday came fast and I realized that our free movie tickets I had won from 104.1 were expiring on the 31st! My parents were out of town and it was just too last minute to ask anyone to keep Dalen. So, Mario decided go see Law Abiding Citizen while me and Dalen went on a date to Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs. Dalen gorged on mini Oreos the whole movie (as you can see around his mouth pictured above) and literally stood COMPLETELY still. I was shocked! But not as shocked as I was when the movie said, "hellhole". So ridiculous. My two year old has repeated this word twice and hopefully he won't say it again! Why does every kid movie have to say things that are just not appropriate for kids? Dalen finally fell asleep after deciding to finally sit down on my lap. I left right before the end to beat the rush of everone leaving and Dalen looked up at me and said, "But Mommy I was watching cloudy meatballs!!" And I responded, "But Dalen, you were sound asleep!"


Then of course that night Dalen got to be a lobster! He was super excited about dressing up and had a blast at North Cleveland's Halloween event.

Dalen and his friend Charis.

This is too cute!

Dalen and cousin Livi!

Here is Aunt Mary, Cousin Livi and Dalen going down the inflatable slide, just minutes before some little worm pulled the plug and made it collapse while Dalen was inside. He wasn't scared or crying but he was SOOOO mad! He has talked about it everyday since then and says, "Someone pulled the string (extension cord) from the doggy's butt and messed it up!" Will he ever get over it?!