Did I Mention THIS?

Let the fun begin!!

HA!

Pumpkin Fun!

This weekend is the Annual Fall Festival in my hometown.  Usually I try to compile a bunch of handmade stuff to set up my own table as a vendor.  In previous years, I've sold pottery, 

stationery stuff (handmade envelopes), Handmade bags, wristlets and other things...

 and last year I sold Baby Shoes!

Well, this year I have NADA!  Having 2 girls has been a blessing, but it leaves me with little time to do much crafting!  I don't really mind since I know that they will be grown in the blink of an eye and I'll have lots of time later to sew and craft.  BUT... I did have a little time to do some painting, thanks to my awesome neighbor who watched the girls for a couple of hours!  I am sooo excited that I had to share the pictures with you.  It's not every day I get a chance to paint and I truly enjoy it! 

 So I hope you enjoy as well!

This mural is going to have holes cut out on the pumpkins so that people can get pictures of their little pumpkins' faces!  I can't wait to do it with my girls when we get there on Saturday!

My neighbor's husband is so awesome, he supplied the board and the primer for me to get started!

This was all done free-hand... with only a little picture I doodled on an old envelope as my guide!

Here is a look straight-on!  I'm really happy with the results!  

Here are some pumpkins I painted for them to sell also!

So fun!

Have a great day!!

Take THAT Cancer!

Just a brief update on my father-in-law.  

You can read my previous post about what was going on HERE if you'd like a refresher!.

Yesterday was his 2nd Gamma Knife Surgery on his brain.  We were surprised to get the call that the doctors wanted to schedule it so soon.  We weren't expecting anything until October!  My in-laws had to leave in the wee hours to get to the hospital in time for his 6AM appointment.  My mother-in-law called with updates and he got prepped and was in the actual surgery a little after 9AM.  We finally got a call not long after that... that they were able to "zap" the new tumor and that they determined that the other tumors which they thought were re-growing... were only swollen from his previous surgery!  (Gamma Knife can have effects on the brain for many months following surgery).  

We are thrilled!  This is great news!  

Of course, we would like him to NOT have tumors at all!  

But the outlook is very optimistic! 

Thank you for the prayers!  We are so very grateful!

Pampering!

I got a little pampering this evening from one of my best girls!  Of course, there was more nail polish on the skin of my left "pointer" toe (not sure what it's technical name is!) than on the actual nail... but she had fun and it was nice to spend a little time together while Daddy watched the Dinah-monster!  *LOVE*

Our Trip to the Zoo!!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Cory was able to take a (rare) day off work earlier this month and we took the girls to the Erie Zoo!  It was about a 3 hour trip one way... so it made for a loooong day!  But it was a lot of fun, especially for Eloise!  Here is a little memory book I made of our day.  Short, simple and sweet.

Each Day is a Gift

The days come and go.  Sometimes, when dealing with the frustrations of parenthood (potty training is not on my top list of wonderful parenting moments!!)... and well, life in general... it's hard to remember that each day is a gift.  Today I was once again reminded.

Cory's dad had a scan on his brain this morning.  If you remember (or are a new reader and haven't heard), he was diagnosed with Esophageal Cancer in 2011.  Chemo and surgery helped to get that taken care of, so to speak.  Then, just before our youngest, Dinah,was born in early January, he found out he had lesions on his brain.  We were heartbroken!  My blood pressure was up pretty high when I went in for one of my last prenatal appointments.  He had Gamma Knife surgery and came home from the hospital the day Dinah was born.  What a blessing!!

We have been going through the past 8 months with the upcoming MRI in the back of our minds.  (Though I'm sure it was in the forefront of Cory's mind at times.)  So, the results came back that he has a new lesion and also that one (or more) of the old ones is still growing.  He will be able to have Gamma Knife surgery again... but after that, if they keep growing... there isn't a whole lot that can be done.  

We are always praying for a miracle... but mostly I find myself praying for his soul.  That no matter what happens, no matter how much it will hurt when he is gone... that one day we will see him again in Paradise.  Because, though being together on earth is wonderful, being together in heaven will be more magnificent than we can ever fathom.  I pray that we will all be reunited there when the time comes.

Your prayers are appreciated!

I would also like to ask for prayers for miss Eloise.  We have had a baffling summer.  She has food allergies... but it also seems as if she has seasonal allergies and/or asthma.  We can't seem to pinpoint the triggers.  They are so frustratingly random!!  Thankfully we are able to get her into the Allergist on October 3rd.  We are praying for answers for our sweet girl.

And little Dinah turned 8 months!  She is crawling and pulling herself up like crazy.  She has taken a few wobbly steps too!  Tooth #3 is making it's debut and #4 will be soon to follow!

I love these little stinkers!

I hope that their Pappy will be around a lot longer to watch them grow!