The Sweet and Salty Life

Days of Disney

2010-11-26T15:35:00.000-08:00

Jalen, Jameson and Jacey here! Did you know that Mommy and Daddy took all three of us to Disney this fall? We know what you're about to say..."What were they thinking?" Well, we promised to be on our best behavior and we think we did a pretty swell job! We started the excitement by creating a countdown calendar that Mommy put on the fridge. Each morning before school, one of us got to do the honors of marking off another day. Finally, the big day arrived. We could hardly squeeze the four suitcases, diaper bag, two boosters, a car seat, a stroller and 5 people inside but we made it work...Barely! Jacey was super excited to be on an airplane for the first time. She loved looking out the window and watching the clouds go by.

When we arrived at our hotel room we discovered that Minny and Mickey had been waiting for us to arrive! They even left us surprises in our room to show how excited they were to have us there.

The next 6 days were nothing but fun as we were up at dawn and out til dusk ensuring that we didn't miss a single thing.

We visited Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney. Because our Mommy tends to go overboard at times, she took over 400 pictures which means that we can't possibly post them all here but we do want to share them with you! Click Here To Take A Peek At All The Fun We Had!

Fond Memories

2010-11-26T15:06:00.000-08:00

As we sit here today stuffed to the gills, watching football in our cozy new slippers, I can't help but think "Where has the last few months gone?" Yes, I realize that I have not posted anything since August and yes, I'm about to give you a few good (what I think are good) excuses as to why. This seems to be a pattern doesn't it?

The end of August was a season of change for us as Jalen moved on to first grade and Jameson started Kindergarten!
How could this be? The sweet little boy stripped down to his diaper with his face covered in finger paint, was now a handsome little boy with backpack in tow, standing as proud as a peacock and about to embark on a new adventure. Needless to say, he loves every minute of it and is one smart cookie if I do say so myself. Sometimes too smart. Here's a proud picture of his first day.

To celebrate the end of summer and the start of fall, we asked Daddy to take us out to the ball game! Chicago here we come! It was such a great day as the Cubs were able to pull off a victory which we all know doesn't happen all to often.
The weather was hot but the fun was cool and even Jacey was snug as a bug as we enjoyed our only game of the year.

We of course have our fondest memories from this year's vacation to Disney World! There is so much to share that we will make a separate post so that you can share every moment of joy with us. But first, we are about to say goodbye to The Sweet and Salty Life. With three kiddos competing for attention and my desire to share recipes and frugal finds, we've decided to move to a new website that will include a page for each of us. Jalen, Jameson and Jacey will each be able to share their favorite moments with you while I'll have a separate page for updating freebies and deals. We are still in the construction process but we will keep you posted on our progress.

Okay, Miss Jacey is becoming impatient. Days of Disney on the way!

Yo Ho Yo Ho, A Pirates Life For Me

2010-08-07T15:29:00.000-07:00

Ahoy Mateys! It's Captain Jameson here. Did you know that I am turning five next week? Shiver me timbers, time flies when you're havin fun and that's just what I've been havin this weekend. Its all hands on deck as we tossed anchor in celebration today. Granny and Papaw even sailed the seven seas to join us! Mom and Dad hid gold all around the place and we went for a hunt. My lad Jalen tried to steal some of my coins and had to have him walk the plank. Aaarrrggghhhh!

Mom made me a great cake complete with two ships battling it out with whopper canon balls and an inlet with lots of treasure to be found.

Before the sun set, Dad gave me a map that pointed me in the direction of the real treasure...my presents!

An Iron Man mask and glove! Blow me down, I was excited! Yo Ho Yo Ho A pirates life for me. Well, thar she blows! I'm sure I'll have lots more to say in a week or two. I'm starting Kindergarten me hearties! Until then...

Art Appreciation - Day 3

2010-07-15T13:30:00.000-07:00

Today we learned about Vincent Van Gogh. Did you know that he was a Christian? He at one point gave everything that he owned away to the poor. He was an art teacher and a preacher! I'm sure you already know that he was a great artist too. He is most famous for his painting "Starry Night". This is one of our Daddy's favorite paintings so we made him our own version today.

When we were finished we looked outside and it was pouring down rain. Mommy looked at us and said

"You wanna go outside and play in the rain today?" Was she joking? For a few minutes we just gave her a confused look, not sure if we should run for the front door or if this was just a mean trick. Great news, she was being serious! We went outside and ran through our driveway, laid down and made "rain" angels and splashed in puddles upon puddles! It was soooo much fun. Mommy said our neighbors driving by must think she is crazy but if this is crazy then crazy is fun!

Art Appreciation - Day 2

2010-07-14T14:05:00.000-07:00

Day two of Art Appreciation Week! Today we learned about Pablo Picasso. We tried our hand at Cubism which was just okay. Did you know Picasso used very little color during this time? BORING!

We had to spice it up a bit so Mommy let us helmet paint. Yep, that's right! We strapped a paint brush to the top of a construction hat and painted with our heads! What a hoot! Can't wait to see what's next. Hope you are all enjoying the week with us!

We wouldn't want to leave Jacey out so here is a picture of her just being cute.

"All children are artists. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up" ~ Pablo Picasso

Art Appreciation Week - Day1

2010-07-12T16:33:00.000-07:00

Hey everyone. This week is Art Appreciation Week at our house and it all started today. Each day mommy is going to teach us about a well known artist and we will get to model his work. We also get to do something fun and messy with paint which is our favorite part! Today we learned about Michelangelo. He painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel on his back! We thought that must have been awful tough so we thought we'd give it a try.

Next, we got to splat paint. Now that was exciting!! We stuffed panty hose with unpopped popcorn and dipped it in paint. Then mommy let us stand on a chair ( I know right? That never happens!) and drop the paint bomb onto the paper. Guess what happens? SPLAT!

We can hardly wait until tomorrow. We are going to learn about some Picasso guy and cubism, whatever that means. Stay tuned...more fun to come!

My Fearless Leader

2010-07-12T16:05:00.000-07:00

Jacey here! This is a picture of me and my friend Brayden. His mommy and my mommy are great friends and so are we! Brayden was born 2 months before me so he knows his way around the world a bit more than I do. I don't mind though because he always shares the latest and greatest with me.We had a sleepover last Friday and he brought this cool new blanket to lay on. It had swinging monkeys that made cool noises, things to grab at and things to kick..it was the best! Our mommys and daddys hang out quite a bit which means that we get to see a lot of each other. We even went to see our first fireworks show together. Mommy thought that I would be scared but I was such a big girl, I didn't even cry at the loud noises. I loved all of the pretty colors and best of all, I got to hang out with my good pal Brayden. I have so much fun with him and something tells me that he'll always look out for me.Well, it looks like my time is up. My brothers are wanting the computer so they can brag about some silly art thingy they did today. I can't wait until I'm bigger so that I can have fun with that messy stuff, mommy says it won't be long!

Loads of love:) ~ Jacey

Take Me Out To The Ballgame

2010-07-12T15:40:00.000-07:00

A couple of weeks ago, our life group headed out to Victory Field to catch an Indian's game. Who won? I have no idea! I'm not sure how many of us actually watched the game as we were too busy socializing but we all had a great time. Jacey and Brayden did a great job at their first official baseball game. What good sports! The boys as always had a blast and James and I loved hangin with family. Here are a few pics from the night.

Legoland

2010-06-25T06:15:00.000-07:00

Hey friends, it's Jalen! Sunday we celebrated my 7th birthday! I know, I know, you can hardly believe that I'm growing so fast right? Instead of getting a ton of presents that Mom says will end up in next year's garage sale, my brother and I always get one or two small gifts and our choice of a family mini trip. Mom and Dad tell us that the memories will last longer than the toys and I'll admit, I sure do love traveling to new places! This year, I chose Legoland Chicago.

We started the birthday morning just as we always do with cake for breakfast! This is one of my favorite family traditions:P

Once inside the museum, we were able to walk through lots of exhibits, all made entirely out of legos!

We entered a jungle with hippos, tigers, monkeys and snakes all constructed of tiny plastic bricks, pieced together one by one. I wonder how many hours it took to build such a masterpiece? I hope they stopped for snacks!

Mommy and Daddy's favorite exhibit was the mini replica of Chicago. It was amazing! Every tiny detail was there from the sears tower down to road construction being completed in the middle of Michigan Ave. There were dog walkers on the beach, shoppers galore and lights that shined through the stained glass windows of the beautiful churches. The pieces even moved so that the whole city was in action!

We rode a hanglider and we even took a tour of the lego factory where we made our very own souvenir lego. I was in charge of pushing the button that stamped the factory name on top.

My favorite part was when Daddy helped us build a giant tower out of lego bricks.

Jacey took a little nap while we worked on our project.

It took a long time but we finally finished! Can you guess who's inside?

Before heading home we stopped at my favorite restaurant, The Rainforest Cafe! Thanks Mom and Dad for such an awesome birthday! I'm already planning for next year.

Hmmm...an African Safari sounds like fun! Do you think we could make it there and back in a day? Probably not huh? Well, let me know if you have any ideas. I love exploring new places!

The Perfect Morning

2010-06-24T20:04:00.000-07:00

Five years ago, my perfect morning would have consisted of my favorite black suit, a starbucks in hand and my favorite song on the radio while driving into to work. My agenda for the day would include managing a staff of 25+ people, 140 children, answering telephones, returning emails, scheduling, problem solving, answering questions and addressing concerns. My how things change! Last week, my day started out with my alarm clock going off around 7am. (a hungry baby crying for her bottle) I then decided to take my work outside to the front porch. There I sat, feeding my newborn baby and sipping on a glass of ice tea. A warm summer morning breeze was blowing and dew drops were still on the blades of grass in my front lawn. A cardinal was perched in the tree and a chipmunk was running through the mulch. Across the street my neighbor was wearing a straw hat and landscaping his side yard. Ah yes, now this was the perfect morning! I love that life has slowed down for me to enjoy little moments like these. It's days like this that I am reminded of how grateful I am that God is in control and not me, that He knows what is best for me and that my life is going according to His plan and not my own. I thought I had it all figured out, that I had a 5 day, 5 month, 5 year plan and that I was happy. That was before giving my life completely to him. Wow! What a difference it has made.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. - Jeremiah 29:11

Out and About

2010-06-13T17:16:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody, it's Jacey! My brothers aren't here this week so I thought I'd steal the show. Now that I'm getting a little older, Mommy and Daddy have been taking me out to see the world! Friday night, I went to my very first strawberry festival. There really wasn't a whole lot to do there but Mommy insisted on taking me for an hour and fifteen minute drive just to get a picture of me in some dress that she bought before I was even born! Well, here it is folks. You can see how excited I was to be there. I guess I did look pretty darn cute huh?

Saturday I was a big city girl as Mommy and I went downtown Indianapolis to my cousin Sarah's graduation. She's a graphic designer and made me some super fun note cards with my name on them! Sarah says that I'm her little princess in training. I guess I might as well learn from the best:)

This is my cousin Halley, she's a soccer star! Mommy says that she will show me how to do my hair and makeup when I get older.

And this is my Aunt Alyce. Isn't she pretty? Mommy has looked up to her since she was a little girl. She says that she is very smart and talented and that I will want to be just like her.

My cousin Steph and Uncle Steve were there too but they were busy mingling and somehow we didn't get a picture with them. Maybe next time.

After the graduation, Mommy and I went to see the girls in her Life Group. My friend Jani was there but Brayden and Josh had stayed home. Bummer, I really wanted to see them. We were celebrating my new friend Zack which is suppose to join us sometime in the next couple of weeks. Then baby Russell will be here in November. Her Mommy isn't telling us her name just yet but I'm already excited to meet her. I just know that we are going to have so much fun together playing dress up and having tea parties.

Well, I'm starting to get hungry so I better sign off and let the parents know that it's time for my bottle. Trust me, it won't take them long to figure it out. Mommy says that the neighbors usually know when its time for me to eat. I hope you all have a fantastic week! Love, Jacey

What's Cookin Good Lookin?

2010-05-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

This morning Jameson came running into the nursery and asked if May was over yet. "Only one more week!" I told him. Why did he ask? Apparently, he just remembered that Topper's birthday is in May. Who is Topper? Ah yes. Topper is a beanie baby giraffe from a McDonald's happy meal that we were blessed with three years ago. Let me add that the tag is no longer attached to tell us his date of birth so when Jameson said that it was in May, I figured that he was just trying to find another reason to eat more cake! Lo and behold, after doing a quick search on Ty.com, Topper's birthday is in fact this week. Our little guy will be turning three which means a celebration is in order. Jameson wanted to do it up right so he decided that Topper would enjoy some confetti cupcakes with lifesavers on top. Okay little man, if you say so! Chef Jameson in the house! He did it all by himself from start to finish and I must say...not too shabby. He told me that he thought the first "patch" turned out better then the last...no that was not a typo, he said "patch" not batch. We are still trying to learn the kitchen terminology but we may just have the next Emeril on our hands folks!

Comes the End of One Season and The Beginning of the Next

2010-05-25T11:25:00.000-07:00

It seems like yesterday that I was posting a picture of Jalen, standing on the front porch with his backpack on, wearing a proud smile upon his face as he loaded the bus for his first day of Kindergarten. Throughout this school year we were introduced to the letter people, we learned how to tell time and how to add. I attended two field trips and made lots of yummy treats for our designated snack days. We began reading and we have become more independent then any 6 year old should be. A mommy wants to feel needed you know!

Jameson stayed home with me this year with the exception of attending a mother's day out program once a week, for a little socialization more suitable to his liking. However, that doesn't mean that he wasn't growing measures academically. This year we worked together to learn everything needed for our big debut in Kindergarten. He is counting in the hundreds and reading books! We've enjoyed afternoons in the park, baking cookies and learning our site words. He even became quite the helper around the house.You would be surprised at how well a 4 year old can dust!

As I sit here today and look back on the past year, I realize just how fast the time flew by. The boys and I had so much fun during this season but as life goes, it's time once again for change.

Last month, little Jacey was born and the Gilbert house will never be the same. A house that was full of nails and snails and puppy dog tails now has a dash of sugar and spice with everything nice. I must say, the two are blending perfectly! The boys love their new little sister and the protective instinct has already set in.

This is the last week of school and then the season will change. This fall, Jalen will move on to first grade and Jameson to Kindergarten which will leave just us girls. I'm excited to have this mommy-daughter time but also sad at how fast the boys are growing. Tomorrow I will wake up and they will be in cap and gown! Slow down my little munchkins, you've got plenty of time.

Here are a few memories from this school year including Jalen's last field trip that was today.

Jameson was Lucky and Charming for St Patty's Day

Jalen with his lead as a fish in the school play "Carnival of Animals"

Field Trip Columbian Park Zoo

Jacey Noel

2010-05-14T11:55:00.000-07:00

She's finally here! Jacey Noel Gilbert was born on Thursday, April 22, 2010 at 10:09pm. She weighed 6 lb and was 20.5 inches long. As you can imagine, time and sleep are hot commodities around here so I must be brief for now. We were blessed to have had a natural delivery with no complications and she is a healthy and beautiful baby girl who loves to be held. The boys are adjusting well and love their new baby sister. They are quite the helpers! I am enjoying every second with her, even at 2am. She is such an amazing little miracle. Here are a few pictures of our precious little girl.

Three Men and A Baby + One Mommy of Course

2010-04-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

Let's just say that with three boys in the house, I am beginning to feel a bit out numbered..but not for long! We only have 3 weeks left until Jacey Noel joins our family, making it a party of five! The nursery is completely finished and James did an amazing job. It took several hours and lots of patience to finish this "Practically Perfect Paris in Pink" project but he pulled it off.

All of her little outfits are washed and dried, hanging in the closet anxiously as if they are saying "pick me, pick me, wear me first!"..Okay maybe that is the voice inside my head that is beyond excited to finally have pink clothes in the laundry basket. Do you have any idea how long I have waited for this day? Our official due date is April 26th but I wouldn't be disappointed if she decided to surprise us with an early delivery. I've had fun with the upset tummy, restless nights and now the "oh so swollen are those really my ankles?" but I'm ready to put all that behind me and hold that precious little girl in my arms. All there is left to do now is wait.

Okay, I have a confession. At first, I was completely against taking maternity pictures. After all, do I really want to remember what I looked like over these past 9 months? I hardly even recognize this person! Then it hit me. What I see as chubby cheeks, a double chin, big hips and cankles, is really a beautiful miracle and gift that God blessed James and I with. This is an experience like no other that I may never have the opportunity to embrace again.

The past few days I have found myself looking at my tummy thinking wow...there is a little person in there that will soon be in my arms. The same little person that I will rock in the rocking chair, take to her first day of kindergarten, shop with for her first prom dress, drop off at her first year of college and look at her beautiful reflection in the mirror of a bridal boutique as she says "mom, this is the one". Okay, I'm tearing up. The point is, yes, there have been moments over the past month that I have thought "I am so done being pregnant" but as the end (or shall I say the beginning) draws near, I remind myself that God has blessed me beyond belief with this miracle of life and I am overjoyed at the opportunity to be a mother to this little girl while humbled that God would entrust her life to me. I wouldn't trade the past 9 months for anything in the world. Here are a few maternity pics that we took over the weekend. We can hardly wait to meet you Jacey Noel. You are already loved so much. See you soon:)

Eggstra, Eggstra..Read All About It!

2010-04-06T09:05:00.000-07:00

This weekend was amazing as we spent lots of time together as a family celebrating the precious gift of eternal life that Jesus has given us through His death and resurrection. Friday evening we attended a special Good Friday service at church which was a reminder of what the weekend ahead truly meant to each and every one of us.

Saturday we colored Easter eggs and went to an egg hunt in West Lafayette. Unfortunately, it was rained out but our friends at Bethel Church were kind enough to stand out in the wet weather and give each child a bag full of candy filled eggs and a free lunch for the family at Chick-Fila.

Sunday we went to Mammaw Kim's house to have lunch. She even made a special bunny cake for dessert. The same cake that she use to make for mommy as a little girl! Mommy said it tasted just like she remembered...scrumdidilyumptious!

Spring Break Day 4 and 5.. All Fun and Games

2010-04-06T08:48:00.000-07:00

After so much traveling we decided that there truly is no place like home. The last two days of our spring break was spent enjoying the beautiful weather and the comforts of home.

We had game night tournaments which included Sorry, Trouble and Connect 4X4. We even displayed great sportsmanship which is something that we need to continue striving for...it's a work in progress:P

We jumped for joy on the trampoline showing off our skills

and we even did a little work preparing the garden for this year. It sure was a great week and we enjoyed all the time together as a family. Praise God for the beautiful weather that He blessed us with.

Spring Break Day 3 - Just Chillin

2010-03-24T18:09:00.000-07:00

Hey friends, today we are tuning in from our next destination where the temperatures here are well below zero and the only dinner served is that of which you catch!

When we first arrived, we had to build our own igloos. Sleeping on ice blocks sure is hard on the back!

By the time we finished we were absolutely starving! What, no room service? Luckily there was a pond just outside of where we set up camp. Grab the poles boys, we need to catch us some lunch!

Wow, fresh tuna sure does make a good sandwich.

We then decided to check out the area with our binoculars in hand. We even met some new friends which seemed to be a bit overdressed for the current weather conditions. Tuxedos? We were dressed from head to toe in appropriate apparel and we still couldn't feel our fingers or toes!

Before calling it a night, we enjoyed some family time around a quick game the locals like to call

"Don't break the ice".

Although we enjoyed the adventure, I'm not sure that we could handle another night like this. We're on vacation and it was just too much work having to build our own igloo, catch our own dinner while freezing our tootsies off to boot! Not sure where we are headed next but you can bet it will be a warmer climate. Thanks for checking in with us. Until next time.....stay cool:)

Spring Break Day 2 - A Rest Between Destinations

2010-03-24T07:57:00.000-07:00

Well, day 2 of our spring break was yesterday and we were still exhausted from all of the beach festivities from the day before so we decided to take it easy.

We surprised Daddy by making him his favorite cookies and meeting him at the park for lunch.

We even threw around the football a bit.

That night, we fired up the grill for the first time with homemade milkshakes which were the perfect pairing to a long awaited summer (well almost) burger. The boys picked between chocolate chip cookies, chocolate syrup, m&ms and fudge for their mix ins. Okay, who are we kidding, they picked all of them which may sound like a bit much but after all... we are on vacation and they sure were yummy!

At the end of the day Jalen said, "I've had fun at the beach mommy but I was thinking that we could try the opposite now. Since we've been somewhere warm, how about we try somewhere cold now?" I was less than thrilled with this idea as I was more than content staying at the beach and working on my tan. However, it is their spring break so we packed up the suitcases and headed for the artic region. We arrived this morning and we currently have less than desirable weather conditions. Our accommodations include a small igloo just beyond a frozen pond where they expect you to ice fish for your dinner? Are you kidding me? Well, my fingers are freezing by the minute and a penguin keeps pecking at my toes so I better run. We will update you this evening on the day's events.

Spring Break 2010

2010-03-23T08:07:00.000-07:00

So Friday Jalen comes home and asks where we are traveling to for spring break. Why do teachers do this? Has it ever occured to them that maybe not all families take an extended trip during one of the few weeks per year that moms get to sleep in and not have the morning school rush? Honestly, its not that I didn't want to take a trip this year but the doctor wouldn't allow it this far along in the pregnancy. So.. I had to get my creative juices flowing! Each day this week, I will attempt to think up some sort of fun for my kiddos to participate in. Yesterday was day one and we had to kick it off right. Since we can't go to the beach this week, by golly, the beach came to us! We woke up early and departed the plane with warm temperatures. Immediately we shedded our Indiana clothes for some swim trunks, flip flops and a pair of shades. Ahh...much better.

Then we headed down stairs to start the festivities. We made hand print octopus, other sea creatures and oceans in a bottle.

We even made sea urchins. Watch out! They'll stick you!

For lunch, we headed down to the beach and had a bbq picnic with sandwiches, lemonade and popsicle treats. Our good friends Kristina and baby Brayden even came by to visit during the afternoon. It was great fun sharing our trip with them! As the day began to settle down, we had a family corn hole tournament which Jalen and Mommy reign as the champions. Then we hunted for sea shells!

After using up all that energy, we wanted to relax so we headed to the day spa where we each enjoyed our very own pedicure. This was a first for the boys and quite frankly it scared daddy a bit that they enjoyed it so much ...lol...

For dinner we enjoyed chicken nachos and ice cream cones for dessert. We had to eat them fast as the sun was melting them right before our eyes!

To finish up the almost perfect day, the Resort de Gilbert offered a beach front showing of Finding Nemo. We sat in our beach chairs and enjoyed the show under the stars with the cool breeze from the ocean tickling our toes. We all had such a fantastic time and enjoyed the change of scenery. Stay tuned for day 2 of spring break 2010....

St. Patrick's Day Fun

2010-03-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

The day started with quite the surprise as we awoke to a colorful gallon of milk! A note was attached that said "Haha Hehe your milk is green!". That silly little leprechaun. How fun is he? Next, we filled our bellies with a healthy and bountiful breakfast, a bowl of Lucky Charms of course! Jalen headed off to school while Jameson and I took Uncle Jake and Izak with us to the St. Patrick's Day parade dowtown.

We saw the Colt's mascot Blue and the Pacer's mascot Boomer. We filled our sacks with lots of sugary candy and enjoyed the sunshine. On the way home we drove by the canal to see for ourselves if the rumor was true. Yep, it sure was, the whole canal was flowing green! When we finally got home from quite the long day, we made an Irish dinner complete with roast, green beans, green mashed potatoes and cottage cheese. We finished up the night with some double chocolate chip cupcakes served along side some minty green ice cream. What a great day.

Taste the Rainbow Cupcakes

2010-03-16T07:02:00.000-07:00

Several weeks ago I was sitting in the doctor's office flipping through the latest edition of Family Fun magazine, when I saw an "oh so cute" recipe for the month of March. I made them yesterday for Jalen's Kindergarten class and they were a hit! I've included a few pics and the link to the recipe through Family Fun. Make sure that all you Moms make the most of tomorrow's St. Patty's Day fun! The St. Patrick's Day Parade starts at 11:30 am in downtown Indy for those of you feeling a little ambitious. Jameson and I will be there with ~~bells~~ shamrocks on! If you decide to stay at home you can still create a great day of fun. Think outside of the box and be creative. Looking forward to posting our day of celebration with you tomorrow complete with a leprechaun hunt and an Irish dinner.

Click Here For Cupcake Recipe via Family Fun

A Family Stitched Together With Love Seldom Unravels

2010-02-20T14:42:00.000-08:00

This afternoon I was sitting in the nursery as James finished painting. The room is dusted in pink and smells fresh like baby powder from the open candle on the bookshelf. The chandelier is hung and gives the room the perfect touch of ambience needed for our little girl's big debut. As I sit here, I am flipping through parenting magazines that have a wide array of vendor advertisements from florists, to cake decoraters to photographers of course, just waiting for their phone to ring so that they can be the one to capture that "perfect moment" that you as a parent will cherish forever. As I think to myself, "wow, so many options and so overpriced!", something caught my eye that made me think. In the middle of the page was a small ad for a family photographer. It had a sample photo of a loving couple and their three children, all smiling perfectly. The family was beautiful but it was the phrase below that really captured my attention. "A Family Stitched Together With Love Seldom Unravels". Hmmm..now here's a thought to ponder. I began to think about the similarities of a family and a quilt and how this simple advertisement had much more meaning behind it then most may realize. Picture a quilt, maybe even one that you have at home or that has been in the family for years. The quilt is unique and there is no other like it. It is probably loved by many. Each piece of the quilt is essential to completing the whole. Each piece is tightly bonded to the next with boundaries on all sides. It took time and an investment to make this quilt. Someone stitched each piece together with patience and love, paying special attention to detail. Someone has cared for it over the years and preserved it. The quilt is designed to provide protection, warmth and comfort to all who use it. It best fulfills it's purpose when used and not just on display. It may get tossed around a bit throughout the years, it may get dirty or even a little worn but it somehow makes it stronger. No matter how old it gets, it is still the one thing that you think of when you think of "home". To touch it and smell it brings a sense of peace and security. To see it represents a lifetime of memories made. Sounds like a precious and valuable piece of fabric doesn't it? As James and I embark on our next journey as a couple, raising not two but soon three of God's precious children, I want for our family to resemble the quilt. We will work together side by side to build a heritage that will hopefully be passed down from generation to generation. One created with love and patience and the investment of time. One that will be loved by many and one that will hopefully bring joy and comfort to many as well. One that can take a beaten and get dirty but no matter the circumstance, will forever remain strong and never unravel. This is my prayer for our family and for yours. Life goes by so fast and we so often forget the importance of raising our families. We get side tracked by our to do list for the day which I am learning may not necessarily be God's to do list for our day. There will always be a load of laundry to do, a rug to vacuum or a table to dust but the window of opportunity to stitch together our quilt will soon be gone. Children grow up so fast and we only have one chance to raise our family. As we stitch together our quilt, let us do it with love, with patience, intentionality and with God guiding our shaking hand.

Heart Stolen Today By Two Young Men

2010-02-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

The heart of a mother was stolen today by two young men. The first, a dashing young fellow, age 6, treated her to a gourmet meal in the Rossville Elementary School cafeteria. They gazed in each other's eyes with love and appreciation over a dimly lit room (teacher turned the lights off for talking:P) while enjoying heart shaped ~~cold~~ chicken nuggets, green beans, ~~frozen~~ succulent strawberries, a glitter dusted sugar cookie and milk a la strawberry. The second gentleman to wisp her off her feet was a soft spoken little man, age 4, who sang to her a new and improved version of Mr. Golden Sun while enjoying an afternoon of games complete with ISpy, Guess Who and Connect Four. They shared a bowl of raspberry frozen yogurt over a piece of Valentine's Day Cake provided by the fabulous chefs at Target Bakery. It was an amazing afternoon for the young woman as she tried to appreciate every moment, knowing that next year will be much different and that these young men will grow up quickly and soon ask another to be their Valentine for the day. What an honor it was to share this special day with them. A day I will never but they may soon ..forget. Loads of love to the two youngest men in my life...Jalen and Jameson. Mommy loves you now and forever. Happy Valentine's Day.

Now We're Cookin

2010-02-10T13:40:00.000-08:00

Do you ever look at the clock at 5:00 and think, ugh, its time once again to fix yet another meal? Well, that happened to me last week so I decided that I wasn't going to do it this time. Nope, it was someone else's turn to do dinner duty. Needless to say, Chef Jameson and Chef Jalen did an outstanding job filling in for me as they prepared a handtossed meatlovers pizza with a fabulous little minty number for dessert, also known as "Mud Pie" which is featured in this week's recipe section to the right. Here are the chefs at work along with their finished masterpieces. I think I'll take the night off more often.

Back in the game

2010-02-10T07:59:00.000-08:00

Oh friends, yes I do realize that it has been since October since I last posted. I figure by now, you have all but given up on me, but wait! I'm back! Yes it's true that I did have a season where I just simply could not muster up the energy and motivation to post. Who knows why really? It could have been that the holidays hit, or that my munchkins were sick, I was feeling a little blah due to the pregnancy..I can give you excuses if you really want them but why don't we just let the past be the past and pick up where we left off? As I sit here this morning, I feel a bit like an oompa loompa straight out of wonka land with my short legs and oversized belly just waiting on my next piece of chocolate or the perfect time to explode, which ever comes first. Only 11 weeks left until our little girl gets here and I am beyond ready for the big moment to arrive. Really quickly to bring you all up to speed, we are now 29 weeks pregnant and expecting a little girl on or around April 26th. After much debate, we have decided on naming her Jacey Noel. We are currently enrolled in Bradley classes and plan on delivering at Clarian North in Carmel. Moving on...I decided to update the blog to make it a bit more fun and friendly. I will continue to post adorable pictures of the kiddos and stories to go along side but I wanted to do something more. In the left hand column, I've added a few new additions! Frugal and Free will be an area that I post upcoming deals and community freebies on. This is my new addiction. What can I get a really good deal on this week or better yet for free! I'll share each week's discoveries with you in Frugal and Free. As most of you know, I truly love to cook and have a deep respect for a new recipe that is warranted "a keeper" from my fellow Gilbert critics. Each week I'll post one or two new recipes that have been tested and approved. Beyond the above, I'll also add craft ideas for the kiddos, any good books that has my attention or links that I think a wife and/or mother cannot live without. Wow! I suddenly feel better and although I'm sure you all have your doubts about my upcoming plan to be more diligent, I feel like I've redeemed myself for being a slacking blogger for the past 3 months and that our online relationship can sky rocket to a whole new level! Having that said, I hope you'll give me one more chance to prove myself as your fellow blogger. Enjoy reading and catching up with the Gilberts via The Sweet and Salty Life - The New and Improved Edition:)

Gilberts on the Green

2009-10-05T07:02:00.001-07:00

As most of you already know, my husband has quite the obsession with golf. He recently decided that it was time to share this passion with the boys. Early one evening, he loaded up his golf bag along with a set of plastic clubs and they headed out the door. After a brief practice session in the front yard, they were ready to hit the greens! What an amazing father my husband is. God has truly blessed him with a gift of patience and love. It brings me so much excitement to see him setting examples for the boys and raising them to be Godly men. Being a father is such an important role and James seems to do it effortlessly. Once the boys made it home, dinner was on the table. They were so excited to tell me how they did. James quizzed them on how many shots you have to make par and they were proud to know the difference between a birdie and a bogey. So cute. I thank God daily for blessing me with these three wonderful men.

Scrub a dub dub...a guinea pig in the tub!

2009-08-19T16:20:00.000-07:00

Tonight was Tommy Rodger's first bubble bath! We dried him off with the blow dryer and put him in a nice clean cage with fresh bedding. I didn't think that I was going to like the little critter but he has quickly became part of the family.

Kindergarten..Here I Come!

2009-08-18T04:35:00.000-07:00

Well the day finally arrived. My big boy started full day kindergarten yesterday. Our agreement was that Mommy and Daddy would take him to school the first day and then he could ride the bus home each day after. About 5 minutes before we were to leave, Jalen informed me that he wasn't a baby and that it was boring for Mommy to take him to school, he wanted to ride the bus. Poor guy. I felt bad so I told him what any good mom would say. "Jalen, you are going to be riding the school bus every day for the next 10 years, I'm taking you to school on your first morning of kindergarten. I'm going to completely embarrass you and cover you in kisses and cry as I leave the building." We finally compromised. Daddy and I took him to school and he rode the big boy bus home. Here are some pics of his big moment.

Mountain Madness

2009-08-07T11:38:00.000-07:00

Feeling brave, we loaded up the car a few weeks ago and took a 8 hour car ride to the Smoky Mountains. The boys were so excited, they only slept for an hour the whole entire drive down.The first couple of days we just relaxed and made a splash at Dollywood's Splash Country. The boys had never been on a waterslide before and after they did it once....the rest of the afternoon was history. "Again, Dad, I wanna go again!".

Mid week we packed a picnic and headed to a site along the river where the boys were able to jump in and skip rocks.

Since we were in the mountains, the trip wouldn't have been complete without a hike. Friday we hiked up to Laurel Falls which was roughly 2 miles up and 2 miles down. Along the way we saw several black bear which was the best part of the trip according the James and the boys. The week went fast but we all had such a good time. Lots of wonderful memories made on this trip.

This and that

2009-07-06T18:52:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more pics of our summer so far. They include a homemade teepee that James made with the boys and a bike ride at celery bog nature center.

Circus Night

2009-07-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Last week we had planned to hit the water park but mother nature didn't have the same idea in mind. It rained all day and we were stuck inside with only our imaginations so....we had decided to create an indoor circus. We created our very own popcorn boxes, made snow cones, had elephant rides (compliments of daddy), face painting, played animal charades, and had a balloon bust. The boys had so much and they can't wait until the next rainy day so we can do it all again.

A Day In The Windy City

2009-07-06T18:00:00.001-07:00

A recent road trip to the windy city blew in lots of good times with the Lincoln Park Zoo, The Museum of Science and Industry and a grand finale at The Rainforest Cafe.

Just for Kicks

2009-07-06T17:43:00.000-07:00

The boys had their first kick at soccer this year with Challenger Soccer Camp. We met each day at the local park, rain or shine and when I say rain....I mean pouring down, get drenched and have to run to the car without an umbrella rain. They both had such a great time and did exceptionally well at the clinic. Now that the fundamentals are set, they are scheduled to join the fall league in August. As you can see, Jameson had his little mind on more than just soccer. Her name is Emiline and she went to preschool with him last fall. It was so precious, the last day of camp her mom came running up to the car and asked if Emiline could say goodbye. She was upset crying and laid her head on his shoulder as she hugged him goodbye for the summer. He pat her on the back with his little hand and told her that they would meet in the park to play sometime. So cute!

Lions and Tigers and Bears Oh My!

2009-07-06T17:19:00.000-07:00

The month of June brought plenty of adventure to the Gilberts. I was scheduled to teach a class in Ossian which is only 20 minutes outside of Ft. Wayne, so the whole family packed up and with me! Here are a few pics from the Ft. Wayne Zoo.

Five and Fearless, Six and Scared

2009-06-01T16:45:00.001-07:00

Well, today is the last day that my big guy will be five. It has been a fearless year for him with many firsts. We rode our first roller coaster, lost our first tooth, took our first camping trip and played our first game of town tball. We converted from bath time to big kid showers and we often call for "mom" instead of "mommy". I can hardly believe what we have accomplished. Jalen finished his last day of preschool on Friday and he will be turning six tomorrow. Each day he teaches me something new and I look at him in amazement wondering "how did he know that?". The time is going by so quickly and I'm scared to death that I'm going to wake up tomorrow and be blogging his graduation. Okay, maybe I'm getting ahead of myself as I sit here in tears and reminisce on the past 365 days that were the best of my life. I have so much fun with my little guys and each new day brings new adventures. Jalen wanted a dinosaur birthday cake this year but not just any cake would do. He carefully instructed me that he wanted a home made cake and not one from the store. The cake should include dinosaurs ("not made out of icing mom"), trees, sand, a pond and oh yeah...a volcano! Well, here it is. I'm sure that Walmart would have done a much nicer job with the assignment but it wouldn't have been made with nearly as much love.

Tent Tales

2009-05-25T16:50:00.000-07:00

Well we did it. We had our first camping trip as a family. What fun! When we first arrived at the campsite, James and the boys started by putting up the tent. Each of them helped contribute by putting in the stakes.

All went well!

Then it was time to gather firewood before for dinner! What hard work!

Tada!

Let's cook!

Ahh...the finished product! Yum! There's nothing like an ooey gooey smore!

While hiking through the woods we found a slimy little friend. Jalen loved him but as you can tell by the look on Jameson's face...yeah, not so much. He jumped out of his chair higher than the frog did! lol..too cute.

And what camping experience would be complete without a little shadow puppet performance. We had such an amazing time together and cannot wait until our next camping adventure. It was great bonding time as a family and a great learning experience for the boys. I have to admit though, I am looking forward to cozying up in my bed tonight without a tree root sticking me in the spine!

Over the river and through the woods to Granny's house we go!

2009-05-25T16:39:00.000-07:00

Well, it wasn't over the river but it was definitely through the woods! The Gilbert's took a road trip to Granny and Papaw's this weekend for a sleepover! Aunt Sally was there too and we all had a blast! Granny made a yummy lasagna for dinner and we had cheesy brats for lunch the next day. Then we had some of Aunt Sally's birthday cake! We rode four wheelers, played phase 10 and learned our new favorite game "sequence"! Before we left, Papaw loaded us up with lots of camping gear so that we could have our first big adventure overnight in a tent. We loved spending time with everyone and cannot wait to do it again! Thanks Granny and Papaw for such a great time:)

Batter Up!

2009-05-25T15:50:00.001-07:00

I cannot believe it. My little guys are playing tball! Okay, maybe they are bent down most of the innings drawing in the sand with a stick, but they are on the field and they are in uniform right? They really are doing well so far. It's a brand new experience for both of them and so far they're doing great. It is a short session this year for only 6 weeks with practices on Fridays and games on Saturdays but that is enough to get their feet wet...and ours! Their schedule has quickly became our schedule! Here are some great pics of the boys and a video of their first big hits!

Where has the time gone?

2009-05-25T15:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not sure really how to start. I haven't blogged in over two months now and I'm not sure where the time went! I'm thinking that it probably slipped right through my little fingers as I was finishing up the spring semester with school, shuttling the kiddos back and forth to preschool each day, doing tball practice on Fridays, games on Saturdays and holding down the fort in between. Needless to say, things are not really calming down for me but at least summer is here! I am so excited to spend the summer with the boys. We have a full calendar of activities planned and I promise to be more diligent about posting. In fact, I think I'll start today!

Wacky Wednesday

2009-03-11T04:56:00.000-07:00

The boys are still celebrating Dr. Seuss at preschool this week. Today was Wacky Wednesday so we went all out for the occasion. Here are some pics.

Oh yeah, now that's stylin'.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

2009-03-02T17:40:00.000-08:00

Today was Dr. Seuss's 105th birthday! We all love the classics, One Fish..Two Fish..., How The Grinch Stole Christmas, The Cat and The Hat and of course Green Eggs and Ham. Jalen surprised his classmates today with a Dr. Seuss birthday cake for snack. He told me that he got a round of applause:) (I didn't even know that he knew what that meant!) Once we made it home we continued the celebration by watching The Cat and The Hat and having a make your own sundae party complete with crazy blue frosting. We even had our drinks "inked" for the occasion :O Finally, we read their favorite Dr. Seuss books before heading off to bed to dream of Whoville. Oh how I love my little thing 1 and my little thing 2. Without them I don't know what I would do. They are dear to my heart, to my heart they are dear, being a mommy is such an awesome career!

" Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one.”

~Dr. Seuss

Will You Be Mine

2009-02-11T16:49:00.000-08:00

The boys and I had lots of fun today making valentines to send to Granny, Mammaw and Grandma. Jalen addressed the envelope himself and put it in the mailbox. They were both so excited! Jameson called his friend Ry Ry to see if she would be his Valentine. Then Jalen got mad and said that he didn't have a girl to be his Valentine. When I told him that I would be happy to be his, he informed me that I was too old and that he needed someone that was only 5.

In making our valentines, we realized that a lot of our crayons were broken and missing wrappers. We've been trying to recycle all of our plastics at home but why not recycle our crayons? Sounds like fun to me! We sprayed the inside of a muffin pan with PAM and placed an assortment of colors in each tin. Then we stuck it in the oven on 400 degrees for 5 minutes. After cooling in the freezer, our new crayon buttons popped right out. Aren't they cool?

Four Hours of Fun

2009-02-02T10:16:00.000-08:00

Today was Jalen's first day of preschool. Unfortunately, they didn't have availability on the same days that Jameson attends so I'm dropping off every day Monday - Friday, just alternating kiddos. Craaaazy!

Although the schedule of it all is some what chaotic, it allows me to have one on one time with each of them for a few hours each morning and that has been amazing. Today, since Jalen was in school, mommy and Jameson ran a few errands and then had some fun.

First we went to library and read a book about Groundhog's Day.

Then we did a puppet show!

On to Uniquely Yours pottery to paint a dinosaur!

After pottery, we went to the post office, the ups store and grocery shopping before picking up our brother. Jalen had a great 1st day, loved his teacher and learned a lot.

Look mom, he saw his shadow. Six more week's of winter!

Can I taste it yet?

2009-01-28T15:44:00.000-08:00

Well, the boys and I stayed home for the majority of the day. We watched cartoons, cleaned the playroom and practiced the alphabet. Then, I realized that I needed several things from the store. Yeah, only one problem. I had already given them baths, they were in their pajamas and James wasn't going to be home for a few more hours. So, we threw on our shoes and our coats and headed to the store. Fortunately, there was only one other person inside and we didn't look too lazy. It's a snow day right? Pjs are totally permitted. When we got home, our neighbor had plowed our driveway as well as the other houses on both sides of us. How sweet is that? We hardly know them but everytime it snows, he makes sure that our driveway is clear. I couldn't even tell you his name but one thing is for sure, acts of random kindness are far and few between in today's world. Jameson and I decided that it would be nice to bake a warm batch of brownies to take over as our way of saying thank you. With each step of the process I heard "Can I taste it yet". Finally, I gave him his wish. He licked the spatula clean. He's always mommy's little helper around the kitchen. Love him!

"Can I taste it yet?"

"Can I taste it now?" " Is it almost ready to taste?"

"Can I taste it? I just want to taste it."

"Yum. It tastes really good, our neighbor will like it. " I like it too. "

Girls Night Out

2009-01-28T15:35:00.000-08:00

The ladies from our Covenant class enjoyed "27 Dresses" night at The Melting Pot on Tuesday. The weather was horrible and the snow just kept coming but that wasn't going to stop 12 chocolate lovin women from their night on the town. We all dressed up in old prom or bridesmaid dresses and headed to The Melting Pot for a night of fun. We paraded around the restaurant in the fashion show all competing to win 12 free months of chocolate fondue! Well, being the strategic team that we are, we all voted for our fearless coordinator for the night and she won best dress! Since there were 12 girls total, she divided her winnings amongst all of us and we all received a certificate for a free chocolate fondue! The food was amazing, the chocolate was even better and the company was the best. We all had a great time and cannot wait to do it again:) Thanks girls!

To God Be The Glory

2009-01-21T18:00:00.001-08:00

Well, there are no pictures to go with this post but every happy face posted this year will be as a result of what you're about to read. In February of 2008, James and I filed for full custody of our two boys. Month after month, hearings were set, rescheduled and drawn out. Our lives were under a microscope for the past 10 months with vultures just waiting to find something that they could attack us with. We remained faithful to God, following His path and speaking only the truth throughout the process. There were days that we questioned why we were going through this and days where we cried with frustration. The past week was the most difficult. It was finally down to the week that the decision would be made. James and I called daily as the secretaries at the court became more and more frustrated, finally asking us not to call back until we received notification by mail. We continued to call daily. Finally, today at 12:45, James received a phone call at work stating that we had been awarded full custody. I could go into great detail as to how the decision was made and why we were concerned for the children in their other environment but none of that is important. What is important is that our God is a faithful God, an unchanging God and a remarkable God. Looking back we can see how His hand was at work all along. He knew what His plan consisted of and His plan was one to not to harm us but to give us a future and hope. He could see what was best for His children and the results had to come in His timing and not our own. Throughout the past year's trials, we've learned a lot through perseverance and through our love for Christ and especially through His love for us. We are honored that He has entrusted the boys to us and we vow to raise them to be followers of Christ and to teach them about His word and His love for us. We are both so excited to start our life together as a family. I look forward to many posts of happy times and happy faces. To God Be The Glory!

Welcome to the family Tommy Rodger

2009-01-08T20:05:00.001-08:00

I now realize that Christmas was over two weeks ago and I haven't posted since December 20th.
Ahh...so much to share. We spent Christmas Eve at James's parents house down south. Good times. I made homemade caramel corn which was a big hit that paired nicely with my apple dumplings for dessert, yum! The boys were so excited. They were amazed that we made popcorn on the stove and that it didn't come from a brown paper bag with steam rolling from the microwave. It was great to spend time with family that we don't see very often. Christmas morning was a hoot! I tried to sneak in the shower before the boys woke up but as soon as Jalen heard the floor creak it was "Mommy, did Santa come?". We headed downstairs only to find that Santa had ate our cookies and that the reindeer were quite pleased with their carrots. We even left Santa strawberry milk this year! Jalen thought that he would like to try something new.
We started the morning with a hearty breakfast...it was our Happy Birthday Jesus cake what else? Then it was on to the presents. Jameson opened his oh so wanted tool bench (not what it sounds like when he says it ;),Jalen was thrilled with Sorry Slider but that was only the beginning. Oh yes, what was that tall present under the quilt? Ahhhh.....IT'S A GUINEA PIG...SANTA BROUGHT ME A GUINEA PIG, OH I KNEW HE WOULD, I KNEW HE WOULD, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT SILLY SANTA BROUGHT ME A GUINEA PIG! ......priceless. Tommy Rodger is his name and messy is his game. That's right, we are the proud new parents of Tommy Rodger, a 1 month old calico guinea pig that the boys believe came straight from the north pole. I hate to admit it but the little guy is sort of cute. Against better judgement of course but what do you do when 1 week before the big day you hear "Dear Santa, if I only get one present this year, I hope it's a guinea pig"? After all the boys have been through this year..I figured what the heck. I'll be sure to post some pictures of the newest addition to our family very soon.

Not my gum drop buttons....

2008-12-20T13:34:00.000-08:00

The boys and I spent most of the day together today as James was tutoring all morning and afternoon. We first went down to church and delivered the gifts from our giving tree. It was so cute to watch the boys load the presents into the car and sort them at the community center. I'm so proud of them for doing God's work. We then made a quick stop to help some friends from our small group move. After some chicken nugget action, we headed to walmart to battle to crowds all for a loaf of bread and a gingerbread house kit. I must say that it was worth the hussle and bussle though. The boys did a great job building their gingerbread house and it turned out great. Here are a few pics.

A Time To Remember

2008-12-18T18:24:00.000-08:00

Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace, good will toward men (Luke 2:14).

Behold...I bring you good tidings of great joy. Luke 2:10

For unto us a child is born...Isaiah 9:6

All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him. Psalm 72:11

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord.Luke 2:11

And there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. Luke 2:8:9

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16

And suddenly there was the angel, a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest." Luke 2:13

She shall bring forth a son, and thou shall call His name Jesus; for He shall save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21

We have seen His star in the East, and have come to worship Him." Matthew 2:2

Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name. Philippians 2:9

All kings shall pay Him homage, all nations shall serve Him Psalm 72:11

The Song of the Angels: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth, Peace." Luke 2:14

They lifted up their voices with ...instruments of music, and praised the LORD. 2 Chronicles 5:13

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy...Hebrews 4:16

He put a new song in mouth... Psalm 40:3

Thy face, Lord, do I seek: I believe that I shall see the goodness of the Lord in the Land of the Living! Psalm: 27:8, 13

Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among the peoples. -Psalm 96:3

The Book of Love

2008-12-08T10:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was quite an eventful evening for the Gilbert family. We started the night at church where we enjoyed a Christmas play put on by the elementary students, followed by a cookie reception with a few of our close friends. We then began our 45 minute journey home which would include a brief detour to the Frankfort Park for their annual Christmas Light Display and Santa's House. I must say that the conversation that took place during our car ride home was even more eventful then the actual events themselves that night. Let me explain....I'm not even sure as to how the conversation came about but we somehow arrived on the subject of love. We were discussing how you were suppose to treat someone that you love and in what ways you could show someone that you love them. Our 5 yr old then proceeds to tell us that he knows all about it and that he wrote a book about love. "It's called the book of love" he said "and its for kids my age". Oh how we could not wait to hear the details. "The first thing that I would do is take her to eat dinner in one of those long black taxis" We can only assume that he is referring to a limousine which is a nice start, lucky girl. "Then I would give her flowers and a ring" Well what can I say, he's a quick mover but then again ....he is his father's son:) Our 3 yr old then decides that he would like to share his opinion of the perfect date...again our 3 yr old! "I would like for her to have pink hair and blue eyes and I would take her to the beach and I would buy her candy and she would love it" The boys then continued to talk amongst themselves about what the perfect scenario would be as James and I listened from the front seat. We treasured this precious moment of the little voices in the back, knowing we would someday watch them pull away in that long black taxi with the girls they described by their side. Hopefully without the pink hair of course. We are realizing that time goes by so quickly. Each day a new word is added to their vocabulary and each day they are one step further from needing us to wipe their nose, wash their hands or tuck them into bed. I've been trying my best this month to make the most of every possible second that I have with my children, knowing that each day with them has been a gift ; a gift that cannot be purchased by standing in a bustling line of grumpy people, maxing out their plastic and expending all of their energy on ribbons and bows, but a gift that has been given by the Lord and one that should be irreplaceable and indescribably of value and of worth. A gift that is an opportunity to make memories. I encourage all of you to make your own memories with your children this Christmas. Teach them the reason for the season and savor the flavor of every precious moment that will soon be gone; from changing a dirty diaper to having snot stains and boogers on the shoulder of your favorite sweater. Read stories, bake cookies, live, laugh and love them....and they will in return forever love you and their memories . "To be in your children's memories tomorrow, you have to be in their lives today"....Barbara Johnson

Frosty with a little Fruit Loop Fun

2008-11-30T15:18:00.000-08:00

Well, today started with snowy surprise! James and I had no idea that it was even in the forecast. Who has time to watch the weather with two rugrats and their father competing for attention right? As soon as the boys, and I do mean all three of them, were awake, they were bundled up and out the door! Frosty only lasted for few short hours but he sure was fun to make!

Then we came inside to warm up and decorate our tree. Our living room is so bright that we need to wear shades:)

Jalen and Jameson had fun stringing fruit loops for the tree. Unfortunately, more ended up in Jameson's mouth then on the string.

Tis the Season

2008-11-30T10:17:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we decided to kick off the Christmas season with a full day of fun. First, we made a quick visit to the library to get some holiday books. Then it was off to the tree farm! On the way, I read the boys "A Trip To The Tree Farm" so that they would know just what to expect when we arrived. We started with a hayride back to the field. Then we searched for the perfect tree. James was your modern day Clark Griswald let me tell ya. "Ahhhh...as the beaming rays shined down on the tree of his choice". I decided to keep searching as his tree was only 4 feet tall! After finding the perfect one, we cut it down and threw it on the cart. The farmer then loaded it on the wagon and drove us back to the shop.

Once we made it home we watched a holiday movie and enjoyed a cup of home made hot chocolate. Yum!

Good Times with Good Friends

2008-11-28T21:10:00.001-08:00

Tonight was a great night! James and I took the kiddos over to Jen and Shelby's for game night. The kids had a great time playing Xbox and Leapster while the rest of us tried our luck at Taboo and Racko, which if I may add is my new favorite game. Unfortunately, the girls were defeated in both:( Hardly fair with all of the distractions that the men provide though. I'm convinced that their only strategy to winning is by making us lose through loss of concentration. There's always next time I guess. It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you valued the time with great friends. Thanks guys!

Oldies but Goodies

2008-11-28T20:58:00.001-08:00

Okay, so I've been horrible lately about blogging. I mean really, this is only my second post this month! Things have obviously been busy with the holidays and I still do not have a camera! As I mentioned earlier, ours stopped working after our honeymoon. Hopefully Santa will bring me a new Canon for Christmas as I have been such a good girl this year:) Then I'll be on top of my game. Until then I thought that I would post a few of my favs, oldies but goodies. Boys will be boys:P

Like...Yikes Scooby

2008-11-03T17:30:00.000-08:00

Trick-or-Treat! The Gilbert's decided to be the scooby doo gang for Halloween this year. Jalen was scooby, Jameson was scrappy, James was Shaggy and how would we be complete without yours truly...Daphne. James and I felt ridiculous as the only 2 adults on the block who participated but the kids had a great time and that's really all that matters. I can say however that I won't be dying my hair orange any time soon!

The Search Is Over

2008-11-03T17:25:00.000-08:00

Well, the search is over.....at least for one that is. We finally were able to find a car that will fit our needs and our budget. Our garage is now home to a 2006 Buick Rendezvous. The boys love it! It has third row seating which is great and our favorite feature so far has got to be the Onstar package. I'm not sure who likes it more, the boys for the "our car talks" feature or James for the "woody" interior as he would call it and the great gas mileage. As for me...I'm happy; 4 doors?..check...Radio?....check ...Room for groceries? check...and oh yeah...cheap full tank of gas? check...We're good to go. One down...one to go.

Mummy Love

2008-10-26T16:19:00.000-07:00

Last weekend a few of our close friends and family members gathered for a fall frenzy. The kids had a mummy race, played with spaghetti brains and painted pumpkins. Unfortunately, my camera is still down so I had to steal a few pics from you Jen :P Jalen was so excited to see the picture of him and Logan. He printed it off to hang in his room. "Yep, that's my bud Loag" he said. So cute!

A little on the salty side

2008-10-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

Wow! Where do I begin? The recent times at the Gilbert's have been a little on the salty side. 2 kidney infections, a torn ACL which will lead to a knee surgery in a few weeks and one of the cars giving out on life....you would think that things could only go up from here right? Well, James hit a deer on the way to work this week and totaled our other car. Now we are car shopping for two!
Fortunately, he wasn't hurt. Poor guy, it was only his second day driving since his knee injury. Our insurance was gracious enough to provide us with a rental car for the next 30 days. Yep, if you see an electric blue Austin Power's PT Cruiser on the road...that would be us:P Ah...all you can do is laugh really.
It's amazing at how small the big things seem in life when you give it all to God.
I must say though...I'm so looking forward to the revealing of His plan.

Recruitment

2008-10-22T06:50:00.000-07:00

So I was thinking, I'm a blogger now..great! There's only one problem. The only friend that I have that blogs is you Jen. Therefore, I am recruiting others that I know this week to start blogging! My goal this week is to get at least 3 other friends to join the fun. Hopefully I will be successful. Otherwise, it looks like it's just you and me kid. It's also sad times that my camera broke a couple of weeks ago and I cannot add any pictures until I get it fixed. I think that I got sand in it on our honeymoon. Oh well, what do you do? Last night James and I went to Mason's championship football game. It was so cute watching 2nd and 3rd graders run the field. Mason's team won which put them undefeated for the whole season. Way to go Mace! After the game, we all went to DQ for dinner. Let me just tell ya, I have a new weakness. During this time of year, I normally go for the oh so favorite pumpkin pie blizzard. However, last night my heart found something new. The Georgia Mud Fudge. Oh my goodness, chunks of brownies, chopped pecans and cocoa fudge. It is definitely a must try. As for today, I have two classes to teach and then I'm test driving a new vehicle! Wish me luck. We are looking at an explorer and an expedition. We may also consider a van although I swore that I would not make that move until I was at least 40! I know that you love it Jen but I just can't bring myself to do it. Unfortunately, I may have to in order to have the room that we want without the gas mileage. We'll see. Hopefully something will be in the driveway by Sunday morning. Fingers crossed!

First Day On The Job

2008-10-20T11:34:00.000-07:00

Well, today is my first official day on the job as a blogger. How exciting!
I'm quite the talker for those of you who know me so I shouldn't have any problem finding something to say on a daily basis. Today has not been all that exciting though. I did make sock puppets with the boys this morning and I've completed 3 loads of laundry. Now that's what I call progress! The rest of afternoon looks like more of the same. Cleaning, cleaning, and oh yeah.. cleaning. Then it's dinner and the oh so awaited new episode of Prison Break!
I'll continue to work on my layout this week to hopefully make my page a little more exciting. Happy Monday!