Lunch of a champion!

Travis and I [well mostly I...Travis is a bit more nostalgic] have been on a big de-cluttering kick recently. I can't tell you how liberating it feels to get rid of things! Whewww I am feeling so much lighter! :) This pack n' play is one of those big items that is leaving our home. I pulled it out so I could clean it and when I came back in the room, these two goobers were in the 'changing table' reading!

Holiday Happenings

The Taflinger family travelled home for Thanksgiving. The weekend was filled with good times, including and possibly the highlight-Gingerbread House Competition!

Travis and Lisa-Manger Gingerbread

Linny and Steve-Frank L. Wright Falling Water House

Laurie and Mike- Log Cabin House

I listed them in order of winnings: 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place. I'm still working on self-esteem building activities for Travis and I! :)

Dinner with the sibs!

Ahh I love them!

Some of the Ohio girls had a little get-together at the Metz Home. This is baby Ava's first time meeting OHIO, I'm certain she loved it!

Oh yeah, Caleb and I went to Veggie Tales Live at Crossroads Community Church! As predicted, Caleb was dancing in the aisles during "Where is my Hairbrush?"

Oct 31st 2010

Fire Man 1 & 2.

Sorry this was my best picture!
If I haven't said it recently, we love our church. For starters we have a great puppet ministry! On Oct 31st we decided to take the boys to the church for our Trunk or Treat Event. We had our Geo filled with bags of popcorn to hand out and the boys enjoyed going around admiring both the cars and the candy. Then we went into the Sanctuary for the best puppet show I have ever witnessed. There were black lights, Veggie Tale Songs, and magic tricks! The boys were in toddler heaven. So much so that when the life-size puppet came onto the stage, Caleb jumped up, did a somersault, and proceeded to dance with the puppet throughout the entire song. I think he would have rushed the stage if I took my eye off him for a second! And the love and message of Christ was spoken. Waiting for the show with their friend Pooh. I also wanted to include the notes I took during our Sunday Morning Sermon. Now that we have kids, Travis and I are really conscious of what we teach and celebrate. Thanks Pastor Randy!

What Do We Do About Halloween?
Pastor Randy Blankenship 10.31.2010

REFUSE:
Duet. 8:9-13 …”Don’t imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there.”
1 Thes. 5: 22 “Abstain from every form of evil.”
Hosea 4:6 …”My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.”
Rom 12:2 “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of the world.
2nd Cor 2:11 “Don’t give satan entry.”
Eph. 6:11 “Put on the Full Armor of God.”
Lev 20:6-7 God will turn against those who commit spiritual prostitution by putting their trust in mediums or in those buried. Set yourselves apart.
Ex 11:7 The Lord makes a distinction.

Origin of Halloween. The Celtics celebrated the “Lord of the Dead.” They believed sinful souls of the dead were in animals [such as owls and cats] and the Lord of the Dead determined whether the souls of the dead would stay inside the animals or go back into human form. So people, out of fear, wore disguises to ward off the evil spirits and offer them food. None of the origins of Halloween have a biblical basis. Live in the light! Expose the dark! Be Different!

REMEMBER:
Remember the good reputation and hero’s of the faith. Think of Saint Polycarp who died a gruesome death being burned alive. He had the strength to stand up in a dark time.
Heb 11:1-2
Heb 11:32-40
Be imitators of Christ

REFORM:
Don’t shut your lights out and hide in your basement. Use this day to shine like a star in the heavens. For example- Trunk or Treat! Change our environment and culture to see Christ on this day.
Gen 50:20 states, ‘You want harm but God wanted it for good.”
Let’s not retreat-let’s contend!



Also, you can go to our church website to watch the sermon if you have time:
newlife4kokomo.org
Click on SERMONS and you will be able to pick which one. Pastor Randy also shows a clip from a church in Seattle- Mars Hill Church that is worth watching!

Things to do [continued]

Here was have our "Marshmallow/Shapes Creation." I did this today with Alli, Caleb, and Micah. Alli was the only one who actually used the marshmallows appropriately. Micah was a close second and I'm pretty sure Caleb's 'mallows' were gone as soon as they entered his work area!

2 cups corn starch + 1 cup water = hours of fascination or GOO

It looked like a liquid but felt like a solid. The boys could not get enough of it! Needless to say, it was messy but its texture makes for an easy clean-up.

Classic oil and water. We put food coloring in the water to make for a more appealing experiement.

Put OJ in the middle of a bowl of ice. We sprinkled 1 cup of salt on the ice and in one hour was had a OJ slushy that was delicious!

I really have to post these activities more for my sake than the readers. I seem to forget the really neat things we do so by posting I hope I'll be able to jog my memory.

Caleb Caleb Caleb. He's just so funny [I literally catch myself saying that over and over throughout the day!]. Today were were driving and I was pointing out various friends' houses on our drive. I said, "There is Casey's mom's house."

Caleb said, "Casey's mom. What is she like mom? What is her favorite color?"

I said, "Green."

Caleb, "Green....Just like Doula's. Mine is actually blue mom."

Although that may not seem funny- the way that little stud said just made me laugh.

He's loving preschool and I can tell he is learning a great deal about following directions, team work, and social skills.

On a different note, sweet little Micah gave us quite the scare yesterday as he fell off a chair and landed on his lip. His tooth must of poked through his lip...it took us awhile to stop the bleeding. It doesn't seem to bother him but it looks horrible today. I'm grateful that Travis was there when it happen. Lisa + Blood = Panic.

Bridges Outreach has a group of recent graduates who have been meeting at our house on Sunday nights. It's been great to see how God is taking hold of their lives as they desire more of Him. These students have been with Bridges from the beginning and I know that God has huge plans for them. If you think of it, lift them up as they continue to seek God's purpose for their lives!

It's late. I'm tired. Enjoy the back-to-back post bloggers!

:)

Things to Do

With Winter quickly approaching, I'm beginning to Brainstorm indoor activities for the boys. I was overjoyed to talk with a friend who provided a great activity that I will now share with you bloggers:
I wrote four different categories on notecards: Nuts, Vegetables, Fruits, and Grains.
I then attached those notecards to the back of a chair.
Fill the chair with the respected food
Assign a price to each food item.
Give child fake money, a shopping cart, and a hug.
Tell him that he has X-amount of money to use at the store today and if he wants more he much EARN it by putting his groceries away.

Caleb pushed his little shopping cart back and forth collecting his favorite food items and then paying me the respected amount. He loved it! When he ran out of money he would put his groceries away in the correct place in the kitchen.
This activity was not only fun but educational as well! Since I've introduced the shopping game, it's been a regular activity in the house.
Thanks Leah for the great suggestion!

Weekend Get-Away to Columbia City, IN

Travis and I were so blessed with a weekend away. We ventured up to Columbia City, IN with some dear college friends. We stayed at their parent's fully furnished cabin and were able to just relax, feast, enjoy eachothers company and play games! Pictured above is Travis and I on a quick canoe trip around their pond.
Jen and Eric at Winona Lake

B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L. Fall day!

Jen and I taking a little break from our shopping [poor Jen is 28 weeks pregnant but was such a good sport!].

These two studs were in the care of Pa and Grammy "Kokomo"...needless to say they enjoyed their time too!

Miami!

I'm a little behind on my blogging....
Regardless, Travis and I went to Miami, FL to celebrate the wedding of Tony and Rebecca Kinsey! She was a beautiful bride! The wedding was held on a Cruise Ship...needless to say the food was fantastic, the company was refreshing, and the entire experience unforgettable!

Relaxing at the reception

Shopping at Bayside Market

@ World Famous Venetian Pool- a unique historic treasure in the City Beautifulon an the National Registry of Historic Places.

Although we obviously missed our boys, we enjoyed this trip greatly! Travis and I really would have been content if all we did was sleep-in and watch cable!

Caleb just came in reporting he needs some batteries for his flashlight...off to hunt for some AAA Batteries- lata bloggers!