Monster Cookies With Little Monster

Landon came over today and we baked monster cookies. 

He's quite the little baker!

Of course we've got to eat a good lunch first...

"Stir, stir, stir..."

What a cutie!

Trying to get a matching apron picture!

He was wearing mine from when I was little!

Apron man!

Focus, Landon. Focus!

A Tiny Turtle Story...

So, I have a completely random story to tell, but I plan to tell it anyways.

Friday, Chad and I left Rolla to go grocery shopping and babysit Landon.

It went great, by the way!

On the way home, we were going down one of the country roads close to his house when I saw a lump in the middle of the road.

It was a turtle, and since I like turtles, I freaked out telling Chad to not hit it!

Of course he didn't hit it, he's awesome like that.

As we continued down the road I confessed to him that I was worried about poor Mr. Turtle getting hit by a car and BEGGED (like a small child I might add) to go back there and move him off the road.

One catch? I didn't want to touch the turtle.

So, being the super boyfriend that he is, Chad turned the car around, went back to the turtle and moved him out of the road for me.

The only bummer part was that he wouldn't let me take a picture of him and the turtle he saved.

So, after moving it to the ditch, we headed down the road to his house.

Then something horrible, or just ironic happened.

We passed a mower.

You know, the kind that mow the grass in the ditch?

And was heading towards the turtle we had just "saved" by putting him in the ditch.

Oh, the sad irony.

On a better note, how about you take a look at me and Chad's first day of school picture?

Isn't he CUTE?!

A Reverse Date!

In all of the beginning of school madness, I didn't have a chance to put up the pictures of the date that I took boyfriend on this weekend!

Before we left, we took some pictures.

A closer up picture.

Eating at Macaroni Grill. Yum!

You can draw on the tables there. You're allowed to be jealous of my artistic abilities ;)

Trying on our cool 3D glasses.

We thought we were going to be the only ones in the theater! But then we were joined by some 13 year old girls. (Yep, we're cool)

Afterwards we got ice cream at Oberweis. It was so good!

The Start of School

Yeah for the first day of school!!

For my mom, and I'm sure many others, this day couldn't come fast enough!

This is how excited Jenna was to be starting 10th grade:

And this was how excited Joshua was to be starting 8th grade:

No, really, he does like school, just not getting up early!

Trying to cooperate for a picture!

But finally I gave up and went back to bed!

Give me a break, its still summer for another 6 days for me!

Landon Turns 2!

Cakes!

Saying hello to Baby Garrett

Snuggling Daddy for a little bit

Always the model :)

And again!

At the party

Cake time!

Yummy!

Opening presents

Playing with his new basketball hoop

The Icing on the Cake

Landon's cakes turned out as follows:

All the cakes together

Call me if you need a cake made and decorated :)

A Date With TWO Handsome Men!

Saturday was party day for little man.

Which means 2 things:

He was HYPER!

And Mommy and Daddy had a lot of things to get done this morning.

So I got to take him and Chad on a date that morning.

I know you're jealous!

Look at how cute they are!

French Fry Monster Landon!

Yum.

This look means that he's about to cause some mischief!

But really he was just modeling the Cards hat we got him for his birthday!

We wore him out!

Time Flies!

Landon is 2 today.

I can't believe it.

Time goes so fast!

I remember vividly the day he was born!

All the excitement of year one,

And before we knew it, it was his first birthday!

And his second year went even faster!

I loved watching his personality develop,

Seeing him learn to talk and walk (run!) ,

And all the other cute things that come with having a nephew.

It's been such a joy getting to see him learn and grow and I can't wait to see more!

Love you big big Landon :)

Sharing My Heart, Or At Least A Part Of It

The number of days until Team Chenzhou leaves again for China!

The number of times per day that I think of our Chenzhou babies.

Now that you know my normal daydream subject, let me explain...

Our team leaves in 325 days.

I would give anything to be a part of that team.

Because I love China.

Because I love the babies there.

Because...well...I could go on forever, so I'll make it short(ish).

I have a heart for the orphans in China.

Those lovely, fearfully and wonderfully made kids.

So full of life and energy and potential.

Who have basically no worth to their country.

Look at these beautiful faces...

They deserve all the love we can give them and more.

So, what's my point?

Pray, friends.

For two main things:

1. Pray for guidance for me as I try to seek whether or not God wants me to go again.

   (I for sure want to!)

2. And, now the "scary" one. Pray about joining our team.

    I truly believe that the Lord uses people from all walks of life, all personalities, all ages, to reach these kids.

James 1:27

New International Version (NIV)

²⁷ Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

For more info on Chenzhou 2012, click HERE!