Creepy Crawlies...Well really just toads

One day back in August, we were moving some things around on our patio and out jumped about 5 toads. Jarred and his buddy Christopher were playing out in the yard so we called them over to check them out. Christopher's daddy picked them all up and put them in a bucket so the boys could "observe" them for a bit. Of course they wanted to touch them and try and pick them up. They really had a ton of fun with these little toads. The toads however, I'm sure felt like they were being tortured! (Note: No toads were physically hurt during this activity :) )

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Beach and SCC

NOTE: I have been trying to upload pics using blogger for the past 3 days and can't seem to do it. So, I have resorted to using a slideshow...sorry. If anyone knows what has been going on with blogger, I would love to know how to fix it :(

Back in the beginning of August, Dan and I took my sister (otherwise affectionately known by Jarred as 'Tito') and her friend to a Steven Curtis Chapman concert. Since the concert was right by a beach, we decided to make a day out of it and hang out on the beach before the concert. Dan's parents were so nice as to meet us at the beach so they could take Jarred home with them while we went to the concert. We had a blast at the beach that day!

Jarred and Skylar

Kung Fu Tito

Daddy and Jarred

The concert tickets were a gift from my inlaws for our 5 year wedding anniversary. I absolutely loved the concert! SCC is such a great musician and christian. His songs are so spiritual yet fun and really make me want to have a more personal relationship with God. SCC was on tour with both of his sons and you could tell how absolutely proud he was to be on stage with them. They all show such strength as a family in the way they pulled together following the tragic death of their little girl Maria. SCC sang 2 of his songs that he wrote in the time right after the accident which will be on his new album coming out in November. Let's just say I can't wait to get my hands on that album. It will be absolutely AMAZING!

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Let's go State!

Last weekend I was so excited to have a nice college football Saturday and cheer PSU onto their 2nd victory! The weather was so cool that it just felt like the perfect "fall" day to watch college football. I did panic a bit when I looked at the TV schedule and realized that the Penn State game was on the Big 10 network which we did not get. Have no fear, my wonderful husband went ahead and ordered the Big 10 network just so I could watch my Nittany Lions this football season. Isn't he great?!?! I decided earlier in the week that I am going to try and make a new dip recipe every football Saturday that we are at home thanks to a fellow blogger's (BooMama)wonderful idea to do a 'Diptacular Blog Carnival' on her blog. The first dip I chose to try was a 'White Rotel Dip'. I have heard so many praises about Rotel on other people's blogs...mostly some wonderful southern ladies...and have been wanting to try it :) This dip was so easy to make and so fast! We ate it with tostitos and fritos and it was just wonderful! Here is the recipe if you want to try it out for yourself.

White Rotel Dip

3 packages of pork sausage (mild or spicy is fine - but use at least 1 maple-flavored)

4 packages of cream cheese

2 cans of Rotel tomatoes

Brown sausage and drain. In a large saucepan, combine all ingredients and heat until cheese is melted, being careful to stir often. Serve with tortilla chips.

While the dip was a success, we did have one minor disaster. We DVR'd the game so we could watch it while Jarred took his nap. So, Jarred was just finishing his lunch and getting ready to go down for his nap while I was finishing up the dip and other lunch foods. Since we wanted to watch the game while we ate, I set up some TV trays in the living room with the dip, chips, wings, etc. Well Jarred wanted some chips so he climbed up on the couch beside me. Soon thereafter he says "Mommy, what's this?" just as he leans forward and the tray table tips over sending the dip and my soda flying across the living room! It flew so far that it splattered all over the white carpet and wall. I really should have taken a picture of the mess! Needless to say, it was time for Jarred to go take his nap :) It did all come out of the carpet so that was great news for us!

(even the cat wanted some :) )

On Sunday we celebrated my father-in-law's 60th birthday by throwing him a surprise party. I think he was actually surprised! Happy Birthday, Grandad! Here are some pictures from the party. Enjoy!

We Are...Penn State

I know I am so behind on blogging. So, I'll start from now and try and post things from the past few weeks over the next week or so.

This past weekend we took Jarred to his first Penn State football game. Going to PSU games was such a tradition in my family. I went to my first football game when I was 9 mos old! So, I have always dreamed of the day that I would be taking my kids to Penn State games! Saturday was that day. It was the first game of the season against Akron. I knew it wouldn't be that great of a game. I also knew that Jarred probably wouldn't make it through until even half time. Putting those 2 things together, made it the perfect game to take him to. We also took my sister, Hannah with us which was an extra special treat!

The day started off by meeting my grandparents and aunt, uncle and cousin for breakfast at the Corner Room. They have the best grilled sticky buns ever! Then we went up to the Lion Shrine to get Jarred's first picture on the Lion. The whole morning he kept talking about seeing the lion. I'm sure he probably thought we were going to see a real lion. Once we got him up on the Lion Shrine, he didn't want to get down!

Then we started the long walk out to the game. We got in there just in time for the pre-game band performance and Jarred was quite overwhelmed with all of the noise and sounds. Luckily, we had a very nice older man in front of us and 2 empty seats. He was so patient and nice to Jarred since just last year he took his 2-year old grandson to his first football game. Jarred only made it halfway through the first quarter before Dan and I had to start taking turns running up and down the ramps with him while the other one sat with Hannah and enjoyed the game. We weren't alone chasing him up and down the ramps though. I quickly came to realize that there is a whole other football world of moms and dads chasing their toddlers around while the other parent gets to enjoy some of the game. We ended up leaving the stadium at half time which was ok with us.

After the game, we walked out to the PSU Creamery. Penn State has a great food sciences program and they make some of the best ice cream ever! Think Ben and Jerry's but with minimal additions to the ice cream. Actually, the founders of Ben and Jerry's learned how to make ice cream at PSU! My favorite flavor of all time is the Bittersweet mint. Jarred just had "white ice cream" (otherwise known as vanilla) and he loved it! We bought some ice cream, put it on dry ice, and took it home so we can enjoy it for a few weeks :)

Overall, it was a great day and I am so glad that I got to take my baby to his first PSU football game! I look forward to many more football weekends with him and Dan!

We Are....Penn State!

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Check Out These Great Giveaways and Help a Sweet Family Bring Home their Baby Girl from S. Korea

One of the blogs I read is written by a sweet woman named Adrienne. She and her husband Jim have travelled quite a long road to having children. She has had numerous miscarriages and heart breaking failed domestic adoptions. During this journey they have adopted one sweet boy from Russia named Owen. Now they are on another journey to bring a baby girl home from South Korea. They are a great family and Owen will be a wonderful big brother! A hard part of the adoption process is all of the fees that go along with it. They will have to raise somewhere around $25,000 by the end of the adoption process! Through Adrienne's journey, she has made many "friends" in the blog world that really want to help her and her family to raise money so they can bring their baby girl home soon. Go check out her blog to hear more of her story and to get to know their family a little better and offer support during this adoption process. If you feel compelled to help in a bigger way, check out her left sidebar for various opportunities to donate to their adoption fun through buying some great items such as mosaic crosses, baby blankets, jewelry, photography, etc. She has also had a bunch of items donated to her to raffle off. So, she is doing three great giveaways with a bunch of items in each giveaway. By donating, you can be entered to win some of the items of your choice in the great giveaways. This week's great giveaway ends tomorrow, Thursday, so hurry over and check it out by following the button below.