Buy me some Peanuts and Crackerjacks...

...or a Sno-cone! Last night about 150 people from our church went to a minor league baseball game. Eleanor enjoyed her tasty treat along with friend Felicity, and Will enjoyed NOTHING, as you can see in the picture below with Elizabeth!





Speaking of peanuts, Will is our little peanut! He had his 9 month well-baby check-up yesterday and has not grown much in the past 3 months. He is a good eater and developmentally right where he should be...he is just little! The Dr. ordered some bloodwork although she didn't seem too concerned, and I am praying that he is fine and will have a good growth spurt here soon. God knit Will together in my womb, and I am confident He is in control now!

Stay-At-Home Mommies, Check This Out

"Not Her Best" over at Girltalk

Feel Good Friday

Some things I am feelin' good about this week:

*A few consecutive days of health for our family...finally!
*The amazing progress in Eleanor's speech. From not trying to say even single words to talking about EVERYTHING! Saying things like:
"Can I be all done now please Mommy?"
"Eleanor's not hungry"
"Can I have some of that stuff?"
"One sock off, one sock on."
ETC!!
*Will, in spite of his busyness and curiosity (which I LOVE so see), is still a cuddler
*My friend Amanda and her little girl Abigail popped in for a visit this morning. So nice to have some adult company for me, and someone to play with Eleanor and Will!
*Twice, Todd got to come home from work for 2 1/2 hours in the evening before heading back for rehearsals or meetings...longer than usual!
*We have a swamp cooler
*I have the wonderful privilege of being a homemaker

Some Recent Finds

Not too long ago I got to spend a couple of hours at an antique marketplace with my friend Amy. I was pleased with what I came home with!

A 1950's cake plate. I have a couple of beautiful cake stands, but nothing with a lid. I love this!

A cute apron for $2

Blue enamelware pot, which I am keeping my collection of napkins in, handy to grab on the kitchen counter. I also found a little blue enamelware cup for small items on Will's changing table.

I Have Ideas for about 7 Posts Running around in my Head...

...but for now, here are some pictures of our trip to Hazleton, PA. For those who were confused by my last 2 posts with no background, we went back east for my cousin's wedding (Todd and I sang) which was also kind of a family reunion, as weddings often are! We stayed at my aunt and uncle's home, the Vinatiari house, along with hoards of other relatives. We stayed up late, last minute wedding madness you know, and just having a good time. Eleanor and Will adjusted well and were flexible and I enjoyed the change of pace. We were encouraged by all the fellowship we experienced! Three illnesses hit while we were there, Todd and I were touched by one, but E and W stayed healthy. Whew! To read more about our time - from a very HUMOROUS perspective, you can read Polly's posts (she has like 5 of them). Well, here's the good stuff.













Well, I am obviously so occupied taking pictures of my children that I have no good pictured of the bride and groom!! Or of many of my dear relatives! Once again, I direct you to Polly's blog.

Let Freedom Ring!

Cousin Annie's wedding is tomorrow. We have had a busy, wonderful time at the V's house. Eleanor and Will are having fun and sleeping well, I'll post more about our time later, but for now I have to say two things:

1.) Eleanor has had a LANGUAGE EXPLOSION!!!! She is talking in phrases and sentences, saying new words every 3 minutes. We are having so, so much fun!!

2.) We just finished standing on the sidewalk, watching fireworks. In the words of my sister, "Let freedom ring, from Hazleton and beyond!" Happy 4th, everyone!

A Debaucle of a Day.

Our big trip to PA began this past Wednesday. Monday we seemed back to health, finally, after 2 weeks of illness. UNTIL Will began throwing up Tuesday morning. But he slept well after throwing up the last time around 9 p.m., and we decided to head to the airport first thing in the morning. At check in we were informed that Eleanor was on the TSA WATCHLIST and that we would have to wait in another line to get her checked in. Eleanor on a WATCHLIST?? What are they thinking, deadly weapons in her Hello Kitty underwear?! Anyway, we waited in the other line, only to be told that we actually had to go all the way to the gate to check in our little would-be criminal. And at the gate they told us that they had NO SEAT for her! What happened to that seat we (my parents) paid big bucks for, I ask you that? They asked for a volunteer to stay behind. And they asked, and asked, and asked...until just about everyone had boarded the plane. So my own dad had to stay behind and get a late night flight into Philly. By this time there were no seats all together on the plane, so we all split up....Todd and Eleanor, my grandparents, my mom, and Will and I. We got into Philly on time (3:30 p.m.) but could not pick up one of our rental cars because it was in my Dad's name and apparently my mother could have been an imposter. After 3 hours of haggling, pleading, crying, trying to rent other cars, ETC, we crammed everyone but my mom (who stayed in the airport until my dad flew in at 11:00) into one car. After a 2 hour drive made longer because of a dinner stop, a baby food stop, multiple potty stops, and an oops-we-went-the-wrong-way stop, we arrived at my uncle and aunt's house. Actually, almost. We got pulled over first for running a stop sign (it sure looked like a merge) and speeding (Todd is not usually a maniac driver, but it was a long day...). And THE COP HAD MERCY. We got to Hazleton and took a 30 minute late-night tour as my grandparents directed us in an attempt to find the right house. And eventually, it worked! We stumbled in and got the kiddos -who had really been troopers - tucked in at 11 pm. Dad and Mom arived at 2 am. It was a debaucle of a day, but I have to say, it really wasn't that bad.