Happy Halloween!

Trent was an adorable Peter Pan for Halloween this year. I followed a tutorial that I found online and made his outfit from scratch. He looked pretty cute. My creative side is definitely starting to show more as a stay at home mom than it ever did as a financial analyst. I love how much fun I am having creating things! Yesterday, we went and trick or treated at Grandma and Grandpa K and Great-Grandma J. Tonight, we went to the annual Tailgate Party at church. It was a lot of fun! Trent played on some of the inflatables and tried his first lollipop. He's a fan! We had a great time hanging out with friends, eating good food, and soaking up the fun, family atmosphere.

Mr. Peter Pan

Oh, those blue eyes!

Family of 3.5 ;)

TJ and Uncle Dave

Tailgate Party at Church

Midweek Menu

I did not plan a menu last week and I hated when it would hit 4pm and I'd be scrambling to figure something out. I was bound and determined not to let that happen again this week.

Yesterday, we picked up our veggie box. In it, we received green tomatoes, collard greens, cucumbers, and oranges. We doubled up on oranges and cucumbers instead of getting carrots and lettuce. Once I know what's in the box, it's time to figure out how to incorporate it into a menu. The oranges are delicious! I'm not sure what variety they are but all three of us have been eating them with breakfast and as a snack. They don't peel easily so Trent is learning how to eat the flesh off the orange smiles.

Monday - Lentils and Veggies

(basically a clean out the fridge day of the veggies we have left from the previous week's vegbox. I loosely followed the recipe, but instead of spinach, I used butternut squash and sweet potatoes.)

Tuesday - Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff with sliced cucumbers on the side

Wednesday - Pork Chops with Collard Greens

(Thank goodness for southern friends because I had no idea what to do with collard greens!)

Thursday - Chickpea and Parmesan Pasta

(I have been wanting to try this recipe for weeks and it keeps getting put off - tomorrow's the day!)

Friday - Homemade Pizza

So that leaves me with green tomatoes... I like fried green tomatoes, but we have more tomatoes than I want to fry. A friend suggested green tomato salsa, so I may have to try that and see how it turns out!

Auburn 8-0 After Beating LSU

Are you ready for some football?

Mollie attempting to play

It's not a tailgate without FOOD

Tri Delta's New Hall

Family Pic on Samford Lawn

Today we took Trent to Auburn for his first tailgating experience. It was so much fun to walk around the campus, spend time with friends and take in the Auburn game day atmosphere. Both Jesse and I love the time we spent at Auburn and are looking forward to sharing our Auburn pride with our children. It was such a great day and Auburn pulled off a 24-17 win over LSU! War Eagle! Below is a clip of one of my favorite plays of the game. Auburn has a great quarterback this year named Cam Newton. He's an excellent athlete and a lot of fun to watch.

TJ Reprimands the Nurse

Trent had to go to the pediatrician for two shots today. He was such a brave boy. He didn't cry at all. However, after the shots were given, he stood up on the table, looked straight at the nurse and started loudly "talking" to her a mile a minute. It was like he was telling her that the shots were so uncalled for and she did not have to do that again. Both the nurse and I were laughing at how adamantly he was expressing his point. If only we understood baby talk better! :)

Pray Expecting Results

How often do we pray half heartedly, not fully expecting God to answer? Are we praying because we feel we should or in hopes that He hears us?

I've been thinking about two verses this week that really hit home with me at a bible study I'm in at church.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." Ephesians 3:20-21

Do we want God to do more than we ask or exactly what we ask and no more? God knows the ultimate plan for generations to come and yet he listens to (and answers) our prayers. We often only see a tiny little window and don't realize the much bigger picture. What a great reminder to pray with intention and expectation!

Pumpkin Patch Tradition

Every fall, we make a trip to a pumpkin patch outside of town. It is always one of my favorite family day trips of the year. They have a corn maze, a hay ride, a petting zoo, horse rides, kiddie tractors, and of course picking out a pumpkin! It's bunches of fun for the kids! Last year Trent was only about 7 months old when we went. He did the corn maze and picked out a pumpkin, but it wasn't really a 'hands on' experience. This year, Trent was interested in everything. Grandma and Grandpa Reiersen came down for the weekend and joined us for the trip. It was so much fun to have them along. Grandpa even escorted Trent on his very first horseback ride. Trent loved it! He has no fear of animals and loves all kinds of animals. He spent forever in the bird barn (there were coups full of chickens, ducks and geese). He even pet a baby chicken.

Pumpkin Pickin'

Hayride!

TJ's first horseback ride

Petting a chicken

Riding a John Deere for Uncle Eric

Thought of the Day

Today seems to be a particularly messy day. At various points throughout the day, I've had sidewalk chalk, grass, rocks, lunch, cleaning products, and bodily fluids (mostly toddler snot, thanks to the change in seasons) on me. In spite of all this messiness, I still believe I have the best job in the world!