A Birthday to Remember-the big 3-0!

Well, I've finally turned 30.  Seriously, where does the time go?  Wasn't so bad as some people make it out to seem.  I feel like I should have made New Year's resolutions or something...but I didn't.  I usually don't keep them anyway.  I did however, have a very memorable day.

My family are HUGE...and I mean HUGE...K-State fans.  Ever since I can remember, we've had football season tickets.  My parents met there when they were in college...my sister went there...even I took a few classes there (I went to a Christian college in the same town)...so you could say we bleed purple. :)

We are a fans of a very "legendary" Coach that turned the football program around after many losing seasons.  He "retired"...and then came back to coach last season.  The stadium is even named after him for goodness sake, so to us KSU fans...he's a legend. :)

My dad listens to sportstalk radio everyday and listens to the Bill Snyder show (during the season) that is on later in the week.  He is one to call in to those shows every once in a while. He is quick to defend his Wildcats or just to keep encouraging the team. 

Last fall, he called in during the coaches show to thank Coach Snyder for all that he has done for the football program, and that he and my mom were glad he was back coaching.  My dad also told him that since his wife is battling cancer, they sometimes can't make it to the games. Coach Snyder thanked my dad for the compliment and told him to call his secretary in the morning so he could have their address.

So my dad calls the next day and gives the secretary, Joan, their address.  Within a day or two my mom received a very nice letter from Coach Snyder inviting us to come meet him and that all we had to do was call Joan to set up a time.

Well, my mom ended up being pretty sick during last fall/winter due to some chemo stuff, so the timing of us going to meet him just didn't happen.  It was until just a few weeks ago that my mom finally got a thank you letter written to him.  In that letter, she had mentioned that if possible, we would like to meet him on my 30th birthday (never mind the fact that the players were reporting back and that it was media day that same week).

A few days later Joan called my mom to set up the appointment on August 6th.  At first my mom told her that I had already planned to go shopping in Kansas City so that day wouldn't work.  But after calling me right after she told that to Joan, I had her quickly call her back to tell her that I would love to meet Coach Snyder on my birthday (my mom says I "yelled" at her...but I was like hmmm...shopping or meeting Coach Snyder?? Duh mom!!!). :)

So mom called her back and we had our visit scheduled for 1:30 on my birthday!  It was an amazing experience.  I was the first one to walk into his office and he was standing behind his desk autographing a football (which we thought was for us...nope!)  When he saw me come in, he put the sharpie (I guess?) and came around and shook my hand with a nice smile.  We all introduced ourselves, and then for about 30 minutes we just sat in his office and talked.  He asked how my mom was feeling and then chatted with all of us.  I thought he might have offered Allan a job on his staff...but no luck. :)

Caeden was hilarious.  He was climbing on the couch, looking at every Wildcat logo that was in his office (and saying Cats...Cats), and then got down on the floor and starting spinning in circle.  Coach Snyder just smiled and laughed (he has a grandson named Caeden too). :)

The whole thing was just surreal.  Even seeing the football players just walking by was crazy.  It was truly an honor meeting him and he even told us to come up again!  He also wished me a Happy Birthday and then told Allan to take me out to dinner!!

 He was very nice, and genuine.  We probably visited him on one of the most busiest pre-season days ever and yet he was still kind enough to sit down with us and visit.  We will always remember this day...and will cheer on the Cats to victory this season!  Go Cats! :)

Seven Prayers A Day

I have been following a blog called Bring The Rain.  She has a post named Seven Prayers A Day (which was written a while back) and it is about praying over your children throughout the day.  She selected seven events during the day that would be a reminder to pray for her children.

I have challenged myself to do this for Caeden.  I will post the different scriptures throughout the house so I (and my husband) will be reminded to pray for him.  We don't make a habit of it now, so it's something to help get us started.

To see her post, go HERE or click on the Pray 7x7 image below.

If there is ever a time that our children need to be prayed over...it is now!

Tiny Talk Tuesday

Caeden is currently 26 months.

Now that Caeden is starting to really talk, with actual sentences and words, I thought I would start recording the Tiny Talk that goes on in our house that makes us smile.

All About A Dad:

He is in LOVE with his Daddy lately and constantly talks about him.  Here are some things I hear Caeden say on a daily basis about his beloved Daddy:

Me:  "Good morning Caeden!"

C:  "Daddy? Where Daddy?  Daddy...shhhhhhh....sleeping?"

Me:  "No, Daddy's not sleeping...he's at football practice."

C:  "Yeaaah."

Last week when I went to get him up, this is the first thing Caeden asked me:

C:  "Take Daddy to zoo?  Take Daddy to zoo?"

Me:  "What?  You want to take Daddy to the zoo?"

C:  "okaaay..." 

Me:  "Well, we'll have to wait when he gets home."

C:  "Take Daddy to zoo?"

Caeden also has become aware of when Daddy burps or toots. :)  After hearing Daddy toot, he says:  "Daddy toot?"  Even when we dropped him off in Sunday School he told his teacher, "Daddy toots?" And so it begins...

I also hear these everyday:

"Daddy home?", "Daddy work?", "Where's Daddy?", "Daddy at twactor store?"

So, as you can see our conversations lately have been all about his Daddy. :)

To hear more Tiny Talk, head on over to Not before 7: Tiny Talk Tuesday!

To see Caeden's Blog click on the button! 

Please follow his blog too!!

Caeden's Photo Shoot

I wanted to do something different for Caeden's two year photos.  We usually go to Sears to have them done, but knowing how active Caeden is, and how I can hardly get him to sit still for a picture...I thought we would have a difficult time getting anything accomplished in the studio.

I asked my friend from church Nicole if she would take the pictures.  She is a college student, who attends our sunday school class.  She does photography stuff on the side and is really amazing at it.  She was very patient with Caeden, and was very personable to work with. 

I told Nicole I wanted these pictures to capture how Caeden is everyday.  I wanted him to feel comfortable and not forced to sit here, or there, in order to get a good picture.  Trying to give directions to a two year old on how to sit, and which way to look was not something on my list to do.

I love these pictures because they are simply the way he is.  I believe they show his personality. 

So, turn your speakers on and enjoy the slideshow!

www.capturephotographybynicole.com

I ♥ Duct Tape

I had a VERY memorable moment while visiting my Grandparents this evening.  First of all, I want to say that before Caeden and I even left our house to see them, I debated over how many diapers to take.  I should have gone with my first instinct.  Which was, take 3...just in case.  I usually take way too many diapers and I thought to myself, well...he's already pooped twice today so he should be good.  'Should' being the key word.

Did I take 3?  Nope...I took ONE diaper. ONE.

So of course, Caeden poops two more times (thanks to the grapes, and juice) at my grandparents house.  The moment I realized that I had no more diapers, I was like..."uh."  There was no way I was going to keep that diaper on him.  So, my Grandma and I brainstormed. 

Solution #1:  Safety pins + towel

As you can see...this did not work because my child does not have hips for the towel to stay up on.  It immediately fell off, which was a green light for Caeden to run around half naked. :)  We attempted this solution again trying to make the sides tighter, but still no good.

Solution #2:  Duct tape + towel + tea towel

Success!  This stayed on until we got home.  Boy, he really is cute in anything! :)

Even after playing with his Great-Grandparents, he still had it on...un-phased by the event. :)  My Grandparents sure got a kick out of this.  I don't think my Grandpa stopped laughing even after we left!

I learned a few lessons tonight:
1.  Always take more than one diaper with you.  Always.
2.  Keep duct tape with you.
3.  Keeping towels in the backseat or trunk may not be such a bad idea.
4.  Stash your camera somewhere because you never know when Kodak moments like these will happen.
5.  Keep a supply of diapers in the car...or at the places you frequent the most (ours being family).

So...to the makers of Duct Tape...I salute you.

Almost Famous...

Caeden is featured as a Cute Tot on the Totally Tots blog!

Click on the button to see the post!

New Favorite Thing (at least for today)

I went to a Sew'n The Bag party over the weekend and I was instantly "in love"!  They had some VERY CUTE things....handmade diaper bags, totes, purses, bibs, burp clothes, appliqued shirts, hooded bath towels, etc!! Check them out! You can custom order anything!

Click here to visit their blog: Sew'n The Bag

Here are a few things I loved:

I know my hubby will be thankful that I didn't have the check book that day!! :)