Painting Gourds

Fall is upon us, which means Grandpa & Grandma Sanders pumpkin farm will be in operation before we know it.
I get the fun job of painting every year...painting pumpkins for display at the farm and painting birdhouse gourds to sell. And it really is fun for me because I do love to paint and do crafts!

Of course you can't start painting and expect the kids not to join in. So I taped old newspaper to one end of the table and let Cooper paint on white paper while I got a few gourds painted.

He had so much fun! I think for Cooper, the more paint you end up having on your body, the more fun you have. By the looks of Cooper's hands, he had a blast!

And while Cooper & I were painting, Chloe decided to have some fun of her own in her new hideout: the wet bar cabinets. She always chooses the same cabinet, the one that houses the cereal boxes. Smart girl, play and eat at the same time :)
What is it about kids and hiding in cabinets? I have a photo of Gabe and Cooper doing the exact same thing {not in our current house, but in Urbana} at about the exact same age as Chloe is now.
Of course, I would display those photos on this post too, but our hard drive is still holding our photos hostage, so I can't.

U Got Questions? I Got Answers

I have to admit, I stole this idea from another blog. But I loved it so much, I just had to steal it!
You know how sometimes you're stalking another person's blog and you have all these questions you'd like to ask about them. Maybe questions concerning a post they wrote or something I've addressed through this blog, or maybe a completely random question about me or my family or my opinion on something, etc.
Well, here's your chance to have your questions answered.
Just leave your question in the comments section under this post, and I will provide the answer as best I know it in a future post.
So, please, allow me to satisfy your curiosity!

Ear Tubes

Gabe had tubes, Cooper has tubes and now Chloe will have tubes.
After 6 months of back-to-back ear infections, she will have tubes put in her ears next month.
Jason and I both had many ear infections when we were young, but that was back when the doctors weren't as eager to put tubes in so neither of us had tubes. If it was in today's world, I think both of us would have had tubes, just like our kids. Our poor kids were doomed to have ear troubles because of their parents.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to this hopefully putting an end to Chloe's infections. Tubes sure benefited both boys greatly, so I am praying they will have the same effect for Chloe. It makes me so sad to see her in pain and to be able to do nothing about it. And what's worse is when she's been on antibiotics for 10 days, yet is still running a fever and still has an ear infection.
All I can say is, hooray for tubes!

Look-A-Likes?

Ok, this is just getting weird, and I have to share it with someone!!!
So, I'll share it with all of you! Let me explain...
It happens to me all the time. It seemed to start happening in college, and has continued to happen quite frequently ever since. I've heard those words so many times, from so many different people, that it's become a regular occurrence in my life. I'm talking about the words...
"Do you know who you look like?" ...followed by their opinion of who they think I look like.
At first I thought, 'I must just have one of those faces.'
You know, one of those familiar faces?
And maybe I do.
But then, it really doesn't make a lot of sense, because I'm not told I look like the same person every time. It's different people, who really don't look that much like each other. Actually, the only thing they have in common is dark hair.
It happened again today...a complete stranger stopped me and said,
"You look just like that American Idol girl...Katherine McPhee."
Actually, she's one of my so-called "look-a-likes" that's been referenced on more than one occasion. I remember, right off the top of my head, four different people who have said I look like Katherine McPhee.
And it's not always celebrities...one time my brother actually posted a Home Depot ad on his refrigerator because a girl in the ad resembled me.. And another time, he called me because he thought a girl on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition looked like me. And another time Jason got a vacation magazine in the mail, and it looked like I was captured in a photo sitting on a surf board off the coast of California. But of course, none of those people were me...just look-a-likes.
So what you think? Below is a photo of one of my alleged look-a-likes, Katherine McPhee, and one of me.
Side note: The photo of me is one that Gabe took while playing around with the camera. He's still into telling me how to 'pose,' so you'll notice my face resting on my hand. Yup, Gabe's idea :) What a little photographer that Gabe is!
Anyway, what do you think? Should I start a new career as an impersonator?
Katherine McPhee

And me...

Cooper the Cubbie, Gabe the Sparkie

The Awana program at our church started up again this week. Gabe graduated from being a Cubbie to now being a Sparkie. And Cooper started Cubbies this year, so we had a big night.
Cooper in particular was very excited to start Cubbies. Ever since Gabe was a Cubbie, Cooper has asked when it's his turn. Wednesday, his turn finally came.
Cooper looked so little out there with all the other kids. He was so cute standing in line next to the other Cubbies saying the Pledge of Allegiance. They were all so clueless (Cubbies are ages 3 & 4.)
Gabe enjoyed Sparkies, and especially loves that his group's leader is Miss Rhonda, the Sanders Kids' favorite Sunday School teacher ever!!!
My job on Wednesday was to take photos of each of the Sparkies and T&T students...that's over 80 photos! So I was busy and forgot to take many photos of my own kids. But I did get a closeup of Cooper right before the night began.
Look at that handsome little Cubbie!



















And the only photo I have of Gabe from the night is his Sparkie mugshot, but better than nothing...




















Now, we start learning our bible verses for next week. Cooper already knows his, that little over-achiever. Gabe isn't quite as into learning the verses, which are more involved as a Sparkie, so this could prove to be a little challenging. But I pray that both of the boys can not only memorize their verses, but really hide God's Word in their hearts and live what they learn.

Fall Fashion

So it's no secret that I love shopping.

Not shopping for just anything, shopping for clothes.
I LOVE CLOTHES!
There, I said it again for the record.
That being said, I got the new Fall Boden catalog in the mail
and I'm loving this outfit!

The problem is, the shirt, skirt and boots that make up this outfit...

Come to a grand total of...

*drum roll please*

$414.


Oops. Jason always says that I can walk into any store and, without looking at the price tag, whatever I'm drawn to is most likely the most expensive item in the store. He's right. It's been proven time and time again. But I can't help it that I have expensive taste, right?

So, I got a dollar...anybody got $413 to spare?

Football in Heaven

Verle H. Sanders
1915 - 2008
{I would post a photo, but our hard drive where all of our digital photos were stored crashed. Great, I know.}

Jason's grandpa died yesterday after years of living plagued by chronic pain. Knowing that he knew the love of Jesus and is now living an eternal life wrapped in that love is a comforting peace we can all rest in.
Verle was a sweet, kind soul and he will be missed greatly by everyone who knew him. His grandchildren will miss him as well, but as Gabe so genuinely put it, "Now great-grandpa has a new body and he can play football in heaven."
Now keep in mind, that's exactly what Gabe said yesterday. Flashback now several months ago to a conversation I had with Gabe.
We had been talking about old people, and he observed that great-grandpa Verle is very little. I explained that sometimes when people get older, their bodies shrink due to aging.
Gabe: "Is that why he walks like this," proceeding to show me how great-grandpa walks hunched over.
ME: "Yes, it's because his bones are old and week."
Gabe: "Is that why he's so tiny?"
ME: "Yes, that's part of it."
Gabe: "But maybe in heaven, when he grows up and gets a bigger body, he can play football!"
For a five-year-old to say the exact same thing several months later when we haven't talked about it since is pretty significant. I'm thinking maybe there's something to this whole idea of Verle playing football in heaven...Gabe's pretty adamant about it anyway!
So now, as we think of Verle, we can picture him up in heaven, with a new bigger body, all grown up and playing football.
Thanks Gabe :)

I'm a Hottie

Did that post title get your attention?
And NO...I'm not referring to myself. The title is in reference to something Cooper informed us of last night.
Cooper & Gabe had been tucked in to bed at their normal bedtime, 8:00 p.m. Gabe went right to sleep, but Cooper didn't. He kept thinking of reasons to come out of his room...I have to potty...I need a drink of water...I'm scared. This is totally unlike Cooper, he always goes to sleep when he's suppose to and never makes excuses like this, so we figured it was because he was excited about school.
Jason said, "Cooper, are you just having a hard time sleeping because you're thinking about school?" Cooper said, "Yeah, I want to go now!" He said this with a HUGE smile, so it was really hard to get upset at him for not falling asleep like he's suppose to.
Finally, the last time Cooper came out of his room, he said,
"Mom, I'm a hottie."
Jason and I looked at each other, and both replied at the same time, "What did you say Cooper?"
He repeated, this time with more excitement, "I'm a hottie!"
We of course started laughing, and so did Cooper, although he didn't know why he was laughing. It turned out he was trying to tell us it was hot in his room, but it came out, "I'm a hottie!"
After that last attempt at stalling bedtime, Cooper finally fell asleep at about 9:15 p.m. But he won't be living that one down for a long time!

Cooper's First Day of Preschool

Today marks another first. I know, there’s a lot of those in our family lately!
This time it’s about Cooper...his first day of preschool!
Cooper is going to preschool at the same preschool game went to, and has the same teacher Gabe did, Mrs. Ferguson. He’s so excited to finally get to go to school, ‘just like Gabe,’ Cooper says.

Now to have a perfect first day of school, you must make sure you have all of the necessary ingredients...

The student {a.k.a. Cooper.}

A cute smile.

The right clothes.

A new backpack, complete with monogrammed name.
{Perfect for all that homework preschoolers get!}

A few welcomed distractions on the way to school.

And viola! You're ready for school!
Mom will miss ya Coop, but I'll be there to pick you up...I promise...hopefully soon...is it 11:30 yet?

The Fun Must Go On.

Tired.
Headache.
Fever.
Sore Throat.
Achy.
Chest Pain.
Sinus Pain.
Sick.
Sounds a little like one of those commercials, but those are some words to describe how I have been feeling the last few days.
I went to the doctor on Friday, and not only was I sick, but Chloe ended up having infections in both ears.
Yuck.
So, it's been a long few days. But we couldn't cancel all our plans, so the fun went on without me.
On Friday, Jason & Gabe went to a baseball game with some other guys from church. I made Jason take the camera and take a few photos...gotta have some blog material even when I'm sick, right?!?
{Below, Gabe with buddy Brayden and Brayden's little bro Easton. Quite the team they make, especially if Cooper had been along!}

Here's Gabe & Brayden what looks to be like talking to a giant ice cream cone. Huh...I'm not thinking that's the Kernals mascot! Should someone check that cone's Id? Also pictured to the left is Molly, the only girl that went along on the outing. But I'm sure Molly had a good time anyway. Gabe was sure glad she went...he likes Molly...a lot!

Molly was chosen to go on the field with some other kids and play a game where she had to throw a frisbee at a target. She was awarded a piggy bank and t-shirt for her efforts!

So let's now fast forward to Sunday. I was still feeling terrible, as was Chloe in the morning, so the guys went to church and we stayed home sick. Then after naps that afternoon, I was still feeling terrible, so Jason, the boys and Chloe went on to the Labor Day Party at his parent's house. They ate food, played volleyball and watched fireworks while I laid at home, sick.
Good times.
{Below, Gabe & Cooper riding the four wheeler with their buddy Doug, who fits in quite nicely with the boys...wonder why that is? No, but seriously, the boys do love Doug! }

{Chloe begging for more root beer float. Looks like she's already had a good helping...love the foam mustache!}

{Chloe, despite the messy hair, was feeling so much better last night. Her medicine must be working...I can't say the same about mine yet!}

So, it's Monday and I'm still feeling terrible. But this can't go on for much longer, right?!? Anyway, I'm glad the kids and Jason had a great weekend!