Turn Around

On friday evening, my friend Arliss and I had the opportunity to attend Omaha Christan Academy's fundraising dinner held at the Embassy Suites! The grand ball room was gorgeous and the food was D-Lish! Being as how OCA is where we plan to have Sawyer go to school, I was very excited to attend one of their functions. I have to admit though, the main attraction for me were the key note speakers, Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy! They are the adoptive parents of Michael Ore (Offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens) of last year's hit movie, The Blind Side. In the movie, Sean and Leigh Anne are played by Sandra Bullock & Gavin Degraw. Ms. Sue (Michael's tutor) was also there that evening! They are such tremendous, inspirational, real-down-to-earth people!

They shared what a life changing experience it was bringing Michael into the family and what a whirl wind of events have taken place since the movie was released. I have always wondered how closely the movie was to the real story and I was so glad to hear them say that it was 99% accurate! One of their biggest joys was that it was like Christmas everyday having Michael in their home! Seeing him experience what to us are everyday things, to him were just so exciting and new!

The Tuohy's main message was based what Leanne said when they first drove past Michale walking down the road in shorts and a T shirt , in the snow, "Turn Around." Those two little words changed their lives and that of Michael forever and how easy it should be for all of us to have 'Turn Around' moments everyday, whether it be large or small. I know for certain that God gives me opportunity moments like that everyday, but I'm so focused, late or distracted I don't even notice....that's sad and something that I really need to change.

So at some point today, TURN AROUND!

Pirate Sawyer Rollins

Jack Sparrow at your service!!!! (Pirates of the Caribbean)

The hunt for this year's Halloween costume almost sent me over the edge. Since Sawyer's birthday was just last weekend, I hadn't really even put any thought into his costume at all.

(Mistake #1-Unprepared)

Then at his party with his little friends, one of them gave Sawyer a Buzz Light Year costume and Sawyer L-O-V-E-S Buzz! I cringed at the thought of him being Buzz because I knew there would be one hundred other Buzzes on our block alone.....

(Mistake #2-Pride & the Need for my child to look unique.)

After seeing his excitement over the costume I had decided that he would be Buzz this year and he was beyond excited.

(Mistake #3-Blabber Mouth)

....that was until I opened it up for our Day Care party and realized just what a pathetic version of Buzz it really was.....it was like a limp body suit. Back to the drawing board! It's now the day of and I don't have anything remotely ready.....so after church we hit a few Goodwills, thrift stores, Nobbies, Spirits and finally ended up at Mengolsens. I was tired and hungry and so was Sawyer and we both were ready to be done.

(Mistake #4-Going out shopping with a four year old on little sleep and an empty stomach)

After searching through everyone's leftovers and trying to find one that still had all the pieces to it......we found it! Well, actually Sawyer found it and loved it and so did I!

We completed the ensemble l with a beard and long dangly clip on earing that I made and I gotta say-He looked SO GOOD! We did a few houses in our neighborhood first and then headed to Nana & Papa's house.

We headed over to Nana & Papa's after a quick trip into the gas station to see our friend John at work...and of course to pick up some candy from him too! Uncle Alex had a bunch of his buddies over that night for pizza and they all thought that Sawyer looked so awesome! After a slice of pizza and a bread stick we headed off down the block in search of some bounty-arrrggg!

Taking a quick break...lugging around all that candy takes it's toll!

He loved trudging up to the porches and shouting Trick or Treat unless there was any sort of scary ghost, witch, cat or zombie.....and of course when they held out the bowl instead of politely taking one, he would thrust his hand in and grabbed as many as his little fist could hold!

After hitting quite a few houses in Nana & Papa's neighborhood, we headed over to our friend Chase's house to make one last stop and it was a good thing! Sawyer like doubled his candy stash at Chases! Once we got home, he wanted to sit down and pour out his loot and admire all of his hard work :) And we didn't see one other pirate (let alone Jack Sparrow) the entire night! Not too shabby for a last minute costume in a bag!

Nebraska City..Here We Come!

You can find a pumpkin on every porch, fresh apple crisp on menus, and there's a chill in the air....which means...It's FALL!!!! We decided to take advantage of this gorgeous weather and head to the Lied Lodge in Nebraska City for the day! We headed out this morning with Nana Kathy for a day of fun!

The foliage was just bursting with color and just immediately got you in the 'fall mood' :) We arrived at the Lied lodge and looked around their beautiful set up that's nestled in as if it was just meant to be there. Kathy treated us to a delicious lunch along with some of the BEST apple cider we've ever had! It tasted just soooo fresh!

Next on the agenda was to hit the family fun activities, but not without a trip to the gift store! And of course Sawyer convinced Nana Kathy of just how much he desperately needed these "noculars" :)

We embarked down one of the trails in high hopes of some pretty views and a memorable family stroll......but instead ended up in a full fledged competition of who could spot the 50 yellow wooden birds that were hidden along the trail! Nana Kathy held the lead with Bill close behind and then I would only play whenever I would see one. (And when I was about 8 behind the other two, which was most of the time, I just claimed that I was't playing!)

Figuring out just how to use these noculars....

One of the main attractions along the way was the 50ft. tree house and look out deck! It was a stunning view but a little unnerving as the whole thing would sway if you rocked it....

Any place that Sawyer spots to jump off of, he does it-be it stairs, poles, the gigantic red balls outside of Target or tree stumps!

Now jumping from one stump to the other took a little convincing from Daddy and I think I over heard some bribing of a dollar in there at some point :) But in the end he did it and looked very proud of himself!

Yes.....I did the entire two hour hike in high heel boots! Who says you can't be stylish in the woods? :)

Bill and Sawyer climbed up into a fort that some boy scouts had built and were contemplating jumping out of this little window but decided against it...thank God!

Sawyer reminding Daddy to keep all the safety rules in mind :)

There were a couple of these really neat bridges that were made of cedar and smelled SO good!

Trying to spot more of the yellow birds....

The BEST Mother-In-Law EVER!

We stumbled upon the chairs of the three bears....they must have still been out waiting for their porridge to cool.....so we took a seat!

We can add huge wooden chairs to the list of Sawyer's jumping off launch points!

We stopped at a few antique shops and an apple barn for apple cider doughnuts on our way out of town! It was just such a memorable day to spend together and something that I would like to become a yearly tradition!

Nana Jane's Surprise

Sawyer has been dying of curiosity about this surprise Birthday gift that my mom had sent...

She ordered it online and had it shipped to the Walmart near our house. Bill picked it up and assembled it and kept it hidden downstairs in our storage room. We tried to use our i-touch with my mom so that she could watch the unveiling, but unfortunately it wasn't connecting.....

What in the world could it be?!?

Sweet!!! A BIKE!!!!!!

Look out world! The streets are no longer safe!

And Sawyer's Great Aunt Mary sent him some money to go and pick out a new helmet and any other bike accessories! Safety first! :)

It's a Family Affair!

Sunday Evening we had the great honor and fun of having Sawyer's extended family over for another birthday celebration! We had chicken enchiladas, Mexican rice, grilled veggies, salad, chips, salsa, queso dip and guacamole!

We spent most of the evening down in the basement where there was more room for everyone to spread out! After dinner, we headed out to the garage to carve some pumpkins! (I recruited Bill and two of his friends to hollow them out the evening before so we didn't have to get messy!)

Sawyer and Daddy working on their master piece!

Aunt Lynn, cousin Halie and cousin Ashley hard at work!

Uncle Bruce and cousin Mya (She and Sawyer are only a few months apart and just have the best time whenever they get together!)

(L to R Top: Great Grandpa Rick, Hailie, Ashley, Papa, Daddy, uncle Jeff & Aunt Lynn.

Bottom: uncle Mike, Nana, Sawyer, Uncle Bruce & Mya)

Time for Presents!!!! He opened up the card that Mya brought and when it opens, it says, "Happy Birthday Super Hero!" and being as how Sawyer, LOVES talking cards, it totally stole the show! Every other card after that just couldn't hold up :) He got completely spoiled with all the wonderful and thoughtful gifts that he received! (puzzles, jammies from Maine, Handy Many construction kit, dominoes, matching games, leapster map and an awesome game system from Nana and Papa!)

The other big gift that he got was this fun train table that his great grandparents got for him!

Once again Nana Kathy blew us out of the water with this awesome Jack-O-Lantern cake with glowing eyes and leaves made out of sugar cookies and chocolate molds! It was a carrot cake with cream cheese frosting! D-Lish!

We had such a fun time hanging out with the family and catching up on what has been going on! Thank you all so much for coming and celebrating Sawyer's 4th Birthday with us!

It's Party Time...McDonalds Style!!

Every little boy wants a Birthday Party at McDonalds at some point in their young lives, and this was Sawyer's year! He was so excited to make up his guest list and plan what sorts of things he wanted at the party. My friend Rachel, who is oozing with creativity, so graciously offered her services and created these AMAZING McDonalds invites! They were shaped like a Happy Meal but were called, "Happy Birthday Meals" :)

We wanted his friends to have a goodie bag with their name on it that was filled with some of Sawyer's favorite things: a sticker book, crayons, a paint set, a card game, capri sun, fruit snacks and a baggie of chocolate chippers from Paradise Bakery!

Saturday finally came and we headed off to McDonalds with our laundry baskets full of party supplies, a dozen helium balloons and a VERY excited Birthday boy! We covered the tables with plastic table cloths and each one had a container with crayons and markers and all sorts of stickers and sticky foam shapes.

Once the kids arrived, they got creative decorating their Birthday crowns!

Sporting the birthday crown!

The kids munching away on their happy meals :)

We were so lucky to have some friends from our Thursday Night Dinner group that came to celebrate with us!

Then it was on to the play place! They ran in and out and jumped and screamed and slid down the slides! They had such a BLAST!!!

Then it was time for cake!!! Bill's mom always makes these incredible cakes for Sawyer's birthdays and this year she really out did her self! She made this great hamburger cake along with sugar cookie fries and a side of frosting ketchup! It was such a hit!!!

Blowing out the candles!

Sawyer was SO cute opening up his gifts!! His little friends would come up and hand him the gift that they had brought and he would say, "Oh! Great!!!" then he would find the card and say, "Card First! Remember Mom?!?" then he would open it up and shriek, "OH COOL!!!!!!!! I LOVE THIS!!! Thank you so much!"

He made off like a bandit! He got puzzles, books, board games, clothes, a buzz light year costume, nerf gun, sword, shield and helmet, a dinosaur tower and a HUGE remote control car! (Daddy has taken then out for a spin in the drive way already!)

The party was a HUGE success and fun was had by all!