Friday MishMash

*I haven't written anything since the election...I'm not really sure what to say & contrary to some other people on various social media sites, I still try to abide by "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."  Honestly, I still feel pretty much exactly how I felt after the last election, which you can read about here. 

*Elyse has had a cold for the last two days & it's really just pitiful...it's times like these that the hardcore sleep training momma in me disappears & the soft, sweet, cuddlebug momma wants nothing more than to make her baby girl feel better. 

*Due to Elyse's cold & me snuggling her for her nap yesterday afternoon, I somehow managed to burn an entire batch of homemade applesauce...I honestly didn't even know that was possible, but trust me, it is. 

*I'm in charge of organizing the food for our family Thanksgiving again this year...I assigned myself the homemade rolls.  I finished up the first batch on Wednesday & popped them in the freezer.  YUM...I love homemade bread!

*My Grandma Smart (my dad's mom) had to have unexpected surgery this week and the recovery is going slower than normal...say a quick prayer for you if you would.  She gets to come home today, but is still quite uncomfortable.  I think as soon as Elyse is feeling better we'll go visit. 

*I won a giveaway at one of my favorite local boutiques...and yesterday I went to their store to claim my prizes!  I'll definitely post more once they come in, but they had to order in my size. 

*Elyse is 4 days shy of being 11 months old...YIKES!!  I better get to party planning! 

*I am doing something crazy tonight & am participating in the "Run to the Lights" with Hubby and some of our friends from church. It's a 5k race held every year at Silver Dollar City in Branson and the race doesn't even begin until 10:10pm...yeah, I'm normally in bed at that time. Not to mention that the "run" to the lights will most likely be more of a walk, or a slow jog...considering I've never actually RUN a full 5k in my life. Yeah, could be a very interesting night.

*Tomorrow night is girls' night out with sushi followed up by drinks & dessert back at one of my girlfriends' house...it's gonna be a blast! 

*Happy Weekend Everyone...it's going to be gorgeous here! 

Election Day 2012

It's election day & as with every major election, I honestly can't hardly wait for all the election hoopla to be over.  I know that voting is an incredible right & something that every citizen should feel privileged to participate in...but my head is so tired of hearing all the negativity about this candidate or that candidate and all the misconstrued stories about who did this or that. 

Hubby & I already voted today, as I hope you all will as well.  Vote for your values, your morals, those things you hold dear to you in your heart & soul.  Regardless of the outcome, God tells us to respect our leaders...whether we agree with them or not.  He asks us to pray for them and to pray for wisdom as they make decisions that affect our entire country.  So as the numbers come in tonight, I hope to have prayer on the mind...that whoever is selected to lead our country would do so with their eyes & ears turned toward God. 

Weekend Rewind~Ready to Run

This weekend was pretty much all about Hubby.  He had his big 1/2 Marathon race today so that's pretty much where our thoughts were focused when planning our activities for the weekend.  

Friday night we had a family date night for the first time in several weeks.  After work we headed to downtown Springfield for dinner at a favorite spot, Blu Sesame.  It was a nice evening & still fairly early so after dinner we went for a quick walk around downtown, and grabbed dessert from The Cup to go.  We hadn't had a relaxed evening out with just the three of us in awhile and it truly was perfection!  

Daddy & his girl!  

Saturday morning Hubby had to work so I stayed home with Elyse & made a trip to Walmart.  Elyse actually still enjoys trips to the store so it's not a big deal to take her...I'm sure that won't last forever.  Elyse & I both took naps while Hubby went & picked up his race packet & then it was time to get ready to head down to my parents' house for the evening. 

For some reason I think they look just alike in the photo...maybe one of my new favorites!

One quick outtake...we almost always take Bogey with us when we go to my parents' house & this time was no different.  Hubby let him out of the backyard & he ran around to the front just like always...I was standing near the back of the Jeep encouraging him to jump in when something completely unexpected happened.  Apparently Bogey thought a closed trunk on the back of our other car, looks EXACTLY like an open hatch on a Jeep & he actually jumped into the back of our car!  Like he almost jumped up on top of it...I can't even hardly explain it to you...but it's in the running as one of the most ridiculous things I've seen him do. Of course then he wouldn't jump in the back of the Jeep for fear of rejection again, so Hubby ended up having to lift him up...silly dog.  

We had a wonderful dinner with my parents & brother & sister-in-law...a carb heavy meal so Hubby could get energized for his race.  

Today was race day.  It was honestly a good thing that daylight savings time ended today...because it definitely made the 7:00 start time, 5:10 alarm seem not quite so early!  We might up with Hubby's parents & waited for the official start.   We were able to see him along the race route 3 different times and then we made it to the finish line as well.  He finished in 1:56:43...a little over 3 minutes under his original goal of 2 hours!  Way to go Hubby!

Having a stare down before the race...she really wasn't excited about pictures today!  

The National Anthem before the race began. The race was part of the Bass Pro Fitness Festival .  

"Running" across the starting line...more like a slow walk with the crowd of runners!

Doing good @ about the 4.5 mile mark...the first time we caught up with him...

Hubby's cheering section, Myself & Elyse, Hubby's parents, & my parents--next year we're bringing obnoxious signs & noise makers! 

Still smiling at mile 7...

Waiting on daddy to cross the finish line...

Running to the finish (& a really crappy picture because I was trying to take pictures & cheer at the same time!)

A family photo with a less than cooperative Elyse!  ha!  

I am so proud of him for reaching his goal...I'm definitely not a runner, so I have so much respect for all of those people who are!  I'm more into cheering instead of running!  ha! 

Another shot at a family photo @ Steak & Shake...Elyse just wasn't feeling it today!  

My bestie made Elyse a cute onesie for her first race experience and since it was chilly I forgot to snap a photo...just further evidence that Elyse was not excited about being in front of the camera today.  Her shirt said Run, Daddy, Run & then said Team Layman on the back.  Super cute...but apparently she did not want to show it off! 

Moms & Babies~Through Clouded Glass

Today I'm being featured over @ Callie's blog~Through Clouded Glass for her series about Moms & Babies. 

Callie was one of the first blogs I started reading consistently & she has such a precious family.  Go check out my guest-blog & check out everything Callie has to say...she's such an awesome blogger & momma! 

Elyse's 1st Halloween

So this is going to be a post simply full of lots of ridiculous cuteness...but a girl's first Halloween must be properly documented, so just bare with me or "mark it as read" if you want.  

We really don't go all out for Halloween at my house, but of course Elyse had to have a "My first Halloween" onesie & some Halloween books!

& Papa decided that Elyse must have the obligatory "baby in a jack o' lantern" photo shoot...

& then of course there was the costume.  Which in the spirit of full disclosure...I DID NOT MAKE! Yes, someone did make it & we bought it off veryjane.com from an Etsy seller.  Do I wish that I could break out my non-existent sewing skills and whip something like this up...yes.  Did I?  No.  

We actually went trick or treating two nights in a row so we could catch everyone before Elyse's bedtime.  We hit up my family last night, starting with Papa & Gigi's house. Her treat included Goldfish, yogurt melts, & some orange halloween toys...all perfect for a 10 1/2 month old.  

Next up was my Grandpa & Grandma Smart's house...where Elyse picked up two cans of puffs!  

& then my Grandma & Grandpa Herndon's house...where Elyse got 2 rubber ducks.  

& finally we made a quick stop at my Aunt Belinda & Uncle Clyde's house...where we got some treats for the adults!  

drool much?

We started again tonight about 5 & hit up our neighbors across the street first, who are pretty much our adopted grandparents!

  & she was excited...until their precious puppy started barking!  ha!  

She quickly calmed down & made friends with the puppy...and then we headed to my in-laws house...

 ...where Elyse met up with another creature in costume!  Poor Lucy!  Elyse had already received her "treat" from Mamaw & Pappy, an adorable U of Michigan track suit and stocking cap!  She'll be breaking it out for basketball season.  

 Uncle Nick even stopped by to see his sweet peacock!  

We finished off the evening with a stop by our church's trunk or treat...but it was really basically time for bed already & Elyse was OVER having her picture taken in such a ridiculous outfit!  

Overall I would say that Elyse's first Halloween was a major success...but we have set the bar high for her costume next year! My only failure...not getting a picture of Elyse with Papa & Gigi, we might have to dress up again this weekend for a quick photo shoot...so get ready Papa & Gigi!

Happy Halloween from Elyse!

Happy Halloween from our little pumpkin...

who also happens to be a peacock!

 

Weekend Rewind~Just What I Needed

This weekend was just what we needed.  After a somewhat busy week, we had a weekend with very few actual plans & plenty of time to just relax & enjoy our precious family.  

Due to some scheduling issues with our babysitter, aka Gigi, aka my mom...I worked on Thursday this week instead of Friday.  No complaints here, Friday was a yucky cold day so I was more than happy to stay at home!  Elyse & I didn't leave the house all day and it was honestly quite refreshing to just relax indoors.  

Call me crazy, but I don't think this is how you're supposed to ride in a car seat!  ha!  Silly Monkey!

I felt incredible productive for the day as I was able to check several things off my to-do list, while also fixing a nice dinner for our family on Friday night. We had lasagna, Caesar salad, & garlic bread....and Elyse even got to enjoy some of the yummy lasagna.  After dinner, we had some playtime with Elyse before it was time for bath, bottle & bed.  

Elyse & Daddy reading...yeah, Nick couldn't see a thing! ha!

Hubby & I finished off the evening cuddled up on the couch with chocolate chip cookie sundaes & a movie.  We watched What to Expect When You're Expecting & we were both pleasantly surprised.  Definitely an entertaining way to spend the evening with the man I love most.  

Saturday morning I did have to work so I headed off & Hubby stayed home to play Mr. Mom.  Seriously, he did.  When I got home practically all of the laundry was finished & folded & lunch was on the table.  He definitely knows the way to a busy momma's heart!  Elyse went down for her afternoon nap while Hubby went for his long 9 mile training run, & I made dessert for a gathering on Saturday evening with friends.  I made these Peanut Butter Snickers Brownies & they were so yummy!

Love this photo of me & my little ghost!

I tried to get a similar picture of Daddy & our little ghost...yeah, not so much!  ha!  

After Elyse woke up, we headed out to drop her off at Mamaw & Pappy's house for the night.  She had a sleepover with them while we went and hung out with some of our old small group & some of our current small group.  It was a fun relaxing night of the boys huddled around the tv bouncing between football & baseball & the girls sitting around the kitchen table chatting about everything under the sun & possibly consuming a little too much wine.  I love these girls so much & my bestie Andrea put it best..."I love these girls.  Iron sharpens iron.  And I love when iron gets the giggles."

These girls are such an incredible blessing!

The most I've laughed in a long time...oh how I needed that!   

A fun self-portrait!

This morning we went to church without Elyse & then went to my in-laws house for lunch.  We ended up staying most of the afternoon just relaxing & napping.  It was just what we needed...we can relax at home, but the laundry to be done or the toys to pickup or the other household chores sometimes get the best of us. With not being at home, all of that stuff was out of sight, out of mind...at least for a few hours.

Tonight we headed to small group and had another fun evening with friends.  We're reading through the book "Overcoming Overload" by Steve & Mary Farrar and man does it slap you in the face.  Our lives are so busy and we're always so on-the-go that we can't even take just a moment to stop & enjoy life.  So that's my goal this week, to STOP...even if it's just for 5 minutes, and really enjoy the precious blessings that are surrounding me.