If you send a mom to the store for milk....

If you send a mom to the store for milk,
she'll decide to buy some cereal to go with it.
Getting the cereal will remind her that she's out of orange juice.
When grabbing the orange juice, she'll notice there's a great sale on toilet paper,
so she'll want to stock up.
Saving so much on toilet paper will make her think of the coupon she has for diapers.
In the diaper aisle, she will spot another mom and they'll chat about how school is going.
Talking about school will remind her she needs to buy fruit snacks for the lunchboxes.
Buying fruit snacks for the lunchboxes will make her think of her kids.
Thinking of her kids will make her realize that she needs to hurry to be at the bus stop on time.
When she meets the bus her kids will ask for a snack.
They'll decide they want cookies.
While eating the cookies, they will ask for a drink.
And chances are, if they ask for a drink,
Mom will head back to the store
for milk.

Pumpkin Patch

You can see these pictures now at www.stephwhittington.shutterfly.com.
Click on the album Pumpkin Patch.

My Life

You may have noticed I am not posting as much. I just have a lot going on right now. All of it is good, just time-consuming! Here's what's going on:

1. Bible Study--In September we started back up, and we're doing Beth Moore's study on Paul called To Live is Christ. Beth's studies are awesome, but they involve a lot of time and dedication to complete. I'm actually leading the study this time (well, I lead the discussion then push PLAY and let Beth teach). I like to tell people I am "knee deep" in Paul.

2. Sparrows--We have started a class during the 11 o'clock worship hour for children with special needs at our church. The class is called Sparrows. Right now I am the lead teacher and doing all the planning for each week. That is taking MUCH time because I have to search for ideas, books, crafts, etc. We have about 4 kids in the class with various needs, plus a few peer helpers that join us. It's going well.

3. Keeping Whitt--I keep my nephew Whitt (he is eleven weeks older than Andrew) one or two days per week. It's great because Andrew and Whitt are becoming best buddies. But of course, I get less done with two toddlers running around!

4. Reading--I'm still leading book club and reading for enjoyment, but I'm only reading about one book a week now instead of 2-3 like I used to. This getting up early for school is making me fall asleep earlier than I used to, so I'm losing my book time!

And, of course, there are the PTA meetings, school fundraiser nights, doctor and dentist appointments, and deacon meetings that come along all the time!

I'm not complaining. Life is good. God is good.

17 Months

It's Andrew's 17th "monthaversary"!

Here's what he is up to:

obsession with wheels....trucks, cars, school buses, tractors, you name it

still not talking very much, but does say "kay" as in "okay"

loves going to Sunday School and childcare at church

enjoys books and being read to, current favorite is Five Little Pumpkins

best buddies with his cousin Whitt

We love you, Andrew! You're growing up TOO fast!

Weekend

Rick, Abby, and Grandaddy (my dad) headed to Blacksburg bright(actually it was still dark) and early Saturday morning. Abby had a great time. She is her daddy's girl. Apparently she told Rick "Boston College has a big fat zero" at halftime.

Abby and Daddy about to leave.

Abby and Grandaddy

Meanwhile, Mom and I loaded Andrew in the van and headed for Toys R Us to do some Christmas shopping. I am happy to say I am done with Abby and only have one more thing to get for Andrew!!!!! Then we took him to the "Touch A Truck" event in Short Pump. He LOVED it.

What shopping does to a little guy

I'm awake now! See that truck?

He pretty much ran from truck to truck.

Big wheel

Driving

Hair blowing

Really big wheel

Favorite Kids Halloween/Fall Books

So I managed to hold Abby off the Halloween and Fall books until September 30th--she's wanted me to get them out since they first started putting the costumes out in the stores!

Here are our 3 favorites:

1. Two Little Witches: A Halloween Counting Story by Harriet Ziefert
"If one little witch meets one little witch, that makes....two little witches going trick-or-treating."
Really cute illustrations and great math examples make this a great book! Yes, it does include witches, but they are kids dressed up (there's also a clown, princess, bunny, and astronaut to name a few). Even in the end of the book, where they see a monster and run away, the picture is such that Abby could tell it was a person dressed up.

2. P is for Pumpkin, God's Harvest Alphabet by Kathy-jo Wargin
A cute ABC book. A is for Apple, B is for Barn, C is for Corn, etc. Cute pictures and rhyming words make this a book Abby asks for over and over.

3. Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
This book is held together by tape because I read it so many times when I was teaching. It was a favorite with every class. It does include your typical Halloween characters (witch, vampire, ghost, etc) but the illustrations aren't particularly scary. The witch grows a huge pumpkin and wants to make pumpkin pie, but she can't get it off the vine. Several come and try to help her, but the pumpkin is only removed when they all work together. The text is very predictable, so kids can join in the reading once they have heard the story one time.

Peanut Festival

An Emporia tradition.

Mr. Peanut leads the parade.

Abby and Gaga watch the parade.

Abby with her crown.

Andrew loves the parade AND the snacks.

Ronald McDonald

Aunt Julie, Billy, and Abby

Aunt Julie, Abby, Billy, and Grammy

We didn't forget it was Hokie GameDay!