We are 'marking' Halloween as a holiday around here if nothing else because we remember so clearly where we were as a family a year ago. His mercies abound and we are celebrating constantly...in ways big and small! Here are a few pictures from today.

Yummy Fall Goodness

I am not usually one to think I have recipes worthy of sharing over the world-wide-web, but I get seriously into fall treats. If you haven't received any food gifts from me (if I'm your neighbor, bc I don't ship!)...it's because I ate them. Sorry. Make your own.

PUMPKIN YumYum BREAD

• 3 eggs, lightly beaten
• 1 c. white sugar, 1c. brown
• 1 cup canned pumpkin (or more)
• 1 cup butter or margarine, melted
• (I used 1/2 applesauce)
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• (1/2 whole wheat)
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• (squeeze out water)
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 c chopped fresh cranberries

SKIP ICE CREAM TO HAVE THESE APPLES

slice golden delicious (lots) with skins on and place in iron skillet. top with pats of butter, honey, pancake syrup, cinnamon, and brown sugar. cook until you can't take it anymore (or it starts to look like applesauce). eat them here, eat them there, eat them everywhere. yum.

DIRECTIONS

1. In a mixing bowl, combine eggs and sugar. Add pumpkin, butter and vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Stir in zucchini and nuts and cranberries. Pour into two greased and floured 9-in. x 5-in. x 3-in. loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-50 minutes or until breads test done. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Remove to a wire rack

L has a new bath chair!!! It's a 'normal' (i.e. non-handicapped) infant seat that I ordered online. Until last week, I'd been bathing her in the kichen sink, in an newborn tub, where both her head and feet hung over. Something about babies 'bathing' together warms a momma's heart.... and it's something I never thought I'd see. Which, speaking of something I never thought I'd see, is happening around here a lot these days--so often that one of Garrett's (more pleasant) phrases-of-choice is...... "I caaannn't believe it!".

Here are some things I'm in shock about lately:

1. L sat for 40 seconds, unsupported, today. She is sitting:)

2. We generate more trash than some countries, I am certain.

3. Why did no one warn me that 3 is so much more....uhm, challenging?!...than 2?

4. When will I learn there is no such thing as finishing my to-do-list?

5. L is off oxygen. (I will be praising this miracle until she's 30!)

6. Why is football season sooo long?

7. How is it that it takes me at least 2 hours to get out the door some days?

8. this is random, but...Why would Cover Girl make Ellen DeGeneres their cover model? Not

that their is anything wrong with her:), but she's not really my beauty inspiration.

9. The healing powers of Zicam (the nose spray). I have avoided many colds by faithfully using this when I feel one coming. The only small catch is: my doctor says there have been some incidents of olfactory loss...but I'm willing to take the chance!

As always, thanks for keeping up with our lives and praying faithfully for our sweet girl. It is such a privilege to be parents to any children, but we feel blessed in incredible, extraordinary ways. I can't believe how God has lead us out of the darkness of the last year into a joyful celebration of His love and miracles--but, I am more certain of it each day.

I've never been a runner. I was the girl who quit soccer in my youth because it was too much running. Later I decided that basically applied to all sports, and that's when I decided sports weren't for me. I did take up an enjoyment of gym-going in gradschool, looking for a way to replace the parties with a more suitable plan to meet people. I got hooked when I graduated and realized exercise was my only hope of survival for actually making it 9-5....and I dropped a few pounds, too. SOLD! When we had kids, my normal gym-going routine wasnt and I needed another plan. We bought an elliptical and I love it. But, child #2 comes and now I need to exercise in PEACE! So, running (darn it to pieces!) fit the order (fast, cheep, high calorie burner, etc.).

So I'm been running very slowly for a very few months and my husband suckers me in a *race*. The rules were 4K run, 30K bike, 4K run (i run, he bikes) and P insisted he was not in-it-to-win-it and that there would be soooo many less qualified people than you. And, a day to spend together in the outdoors sounds great, right?

Race day was freezing but I was prepared with my Mossimo stretch pants from Target and my zip up 'performance hoodie' also from the big T. I chose all black because, clearly, it would make me look fierce. I'm a bit nervous on the way, but calm myself by organizing my iPod, reapplying lipgloss, and folding my 2 papertowels that I always run with (to pat my brow).

We get there, late of course, and we see you have to park without eyesight of check-in. So, P goes ahead on his bike and I carry all our gear (this is amateur flag 1, everyone else had special 'gear bags'). I start trudging up this huge hill will all this 'stuff'', and it's so steep, and I'm carrying so much, that Paul has to come back for the car to pick me up. We arrive at the top of what I'll just call 'the mountain' and see people dressed like this, running sprints to WARM UP, and patting each other on the back with things like, "hey man, that was an incredible time at last weeks mid-week-double-marathon-in-the-artic-circle".

I contemplated making a run for the county line just so I didn't have to humiliate myself in this manner, but I didn't have time b/c I was too busy pinning together my running costume to make sure it didn't fall off and attaching my iPod perfectly....ooh and stretching. Time to start and they say "no iPods, it's against race-day regulation!"--and, also, the course is the 'mountain' I walked up to check-in. I almost starting screaming "boo! Hiss!" until I realized I was the only one hearing the news for the first time.

I was hoping for a gun at the start line, but my disappointment over that faded as I saw every other racer fly past me at lightning speed. By the time we reached the first "bend" I was racing all alone....but I kept going....with a serious "loser" chant playing between my ears. I finished 3rd to last! Paul did great. I am wearing my t-shirt with pride....telling everyone who will listen (clearly).....and telling myself to try new things.....because humility is good.

**This just in--the final results were posted and Paul and I finished 4th in our division!!!!

subscript: only 4 in our division:)

Love this girl...we could eat her up! And, she knows it and plays us like a fiddle--which pleases me to peaches because it seems so normal.:) Here are her latest poses....

Lilah in her 'stander' (to help her learn to bear weight on her legs) and her cousin Owen (who has apparently seen more exciting toys in his life) She has special leg braces and shoes that she wears to give her legs and ankles support and she 'wears out' in about 10 minutes right now.

L and cousin Maggie enjoying some 'encouraged' snuggles

happy halloween! L is going to be too big for that shirt by halloween! she has gained 2 lbs in 2 months!!!
look at her sitting!!!!!! she is supported here, but she sat unsupported for 40 seconds today!!!!! I think we are a long way from 'safe sitting' (i.e. won't fall over and hurt herself), but on the right path for sure. Watching her struggle so much to reach, get-to, and manipulate toys makes me sad for her that it's so hard, but it certainly reminds me not to take anything for granted. Seeing her breathing hard after turning pages of a book or a successful roll-over keeps me from complaining about much (or at least less). Sweet , precious girl....gives us so much encouragement....always thought it would be me encouraging her!

random pictures here...but I don't want to forget them....

G has worn out his whoopie cushion (courtesy of my father) this summer...BIG fun. I always wondered why little boys in junior high were so fascinated with bodily noises and now I know the reason: when those boys were 3 and precious, their mammas laughed everytime. I can't help myself....he's still baby, but all boy at the same time. look at that face:)

posing on the 'stage' that is his sister's ottoman in "this is a cool shirt, dude" (cool shirt being vintage momma, dude also referring to momma) and 'webbing' like Spiderman.

these are leftover beach pictures of my sweet boys.

Equal coverage for sister coming soon!

Me and my two sidekicks have just returned from a week-long adventure to Indiana to visit my parents. Great fun was had by all (except P, who pretended he was pained by our absence). Here are some highlights:

1. On the way up, we stop at McDonalds for sustenance (if you can actually call it that), and most importantly, for momma to potty in a place that is NOT as gas station or the parking lot or her car (don't ask). My oh-so-precious-newly-three-and-owning-it sees the display of the kids' meal toy and declares/demands that he want the car with the blue stripe. I think "here we go" and begin explaining the dynamics of the not-happy-meal prize to G (who is, clearly, chosing not to hear me). To make a very long drama shorter, he recieves something other than the 'desired' (b/c of course, McDs has moved on) and throws a huge fit. I threaten his life and promise this is the last time I will leave the house without my spanking spoon and and emergency Excedrin...and then I haul him outside to explain my position further. When.....the McDs worker follows us out with not only 'the' car, but 5 others. My attempts to teach thankfulness and gratitude are destroyed. I will blame this good-intentioned worker for all my future parenting flubs.:)

2. We visited my ailing grandparents, where the kids showed off their current skills (G: pottying, roughing up L, and 'webbing' like spiderman; L: patting, clapping, peek-a-boo) and my grandparents fretted about like we were royalty. As one is in a wheelchair and one toppling over her cane regularly, I was saddened by their physical condition (won't even go into mental:), but their demands from the walmart deli case (5 slices colby-jack, 2 slices old fashioned loaf, 1/4lb ham) kept me on task. I have the feeling my weekly Kroger bill beats their yearly grocery tally. One of the benefits of having a sick child is a total perspective change....sick grandparents (that are so far away) would have broken my heart years ago and now I just think , "Ah, they are old. They had their time".:)

3. The West Side Nut Club Fall Festival. It's a legend. An experience....and G's first fair-type go around. He loved it! Swings...Slides...Old Fashioned Cars....the kiddie rides were much more prolific and favored than I annticipated. This is why I dropped a supbstantial amount of cash buying little bits of tickets at a time instead of the $15 bracelet. Lesson learned. You my have seen me there...I was the neurotic mom with antibacterial wipes in both back pockets:). By the time we were done riding the rides, the food lines were so long that we missed out on most of the 'delicacies', including chocolate covered bacon and fried twinkies.

I know you all are jealous of the exciting life that it ours:). But, honestly it does seem pretty normal, if not exciting, lately---and that is exciting. Things like medicines, therapies, and equipment seem normal....G & L are having a few sibbling squabbles(which cracks me up b/c I never thought I'd see it)....we are able to engage in life (albeit with a bit more difficulty). I am beginning to feel a bit of balance. She's easier to take 'out' and loves going anywhere. I'm going to apply myself to learning how to put some video on here so you all can take a glimpse of Lilah in action soon--her grateful spirit and gentle heart are contagious!

So, I went shopping today and I'm feeling like I might as well have stayed in a dark room, smoking a cigarette and watching Married with Children (or the emotional equivalent; i.e., something totally depressing). Why is it that just when I decide I'm ready to part with a little cash, and my faded yoga pants and stretched out sweaters no longer pass as 'effortless casual' (think jJill).....there is nothing I want to buy???? Seriously, who is the deranged wo/man who comes up with the 'styles'. I am thinking someone like Tim Gunn from Project Runway.....who clearly does not understand, nor appreciate the (post-2-baby) female figure??? Sweater dresses were not my friend in the 80s and now they are my enemy--right behind leggings. And skinny jeans.

This is a similar vibe to my 'swimsuit dilemma' post, I realize--but it's a reoccurring theme for me in this phase of my life. Before I had kids, I was all 'Banana Republic' or 'Ann Taylor'...clothes that looked great and could be worn 5 times before a trip to the drycleaners. Clearly, dry-clean only clothes are not my favorite these days. There have got to be more options out there for people who are not ready for Chicos but are far past Express. I am a huge fan of The Loft...but it's like reading 5 books by the same author in a row...sometimes you get bored.

Also, where does a girl find some jeans that are a happy medium between Rachel Zoe and Michelle Duggar (the mom from 18 Kids and Counting)? I think I'm going to sign myself up for What Not to Wear....right after I start going to I-Watch-Too-Much-TV-Anonymous.