October? Where Did September Go??

I cannot believe it is already October! Where did September go? Honestly....where did it go? I feel like September whizzed by. Yes, school was just starting up, but September is a big month for us. It is Cullen's birthday. It is our anniversary. It shouldn't be a month that is so easily passed. But, it did. Once again, it did. It escaped me.

The only plus side to September being over is that October is here. October being here means that we are so much closer to our SUPER VACATION we are taking at the end of the month. Woo woo! We are going to sit on the beach, pina coladas in our hands, dreaming of how to waste our days. Heavenly.

Here are some things that have allowed time to pass at warp speed:

• School has been great. It is my favorite year so far. I know I have a very short career in teaching, BUT this is my favorite year by far! My kids are tough, and give me a run for my money every day - but I love them, I love teaching them, and I LOVE my job. It makes the time pass quickly too. 
• Noah - my gosh he is so fun recently. He laughs at himself because he thinks he is so funny. It will say something that only he can understand and then laugh hysterically for many minutes at a time. I can give him directions and he not only understands, but follows through with what I ask him. He is so loving. He has a genuine personality. He is a lover. He gives hugs and kisses when he leaves your company. He blows kisses; he snuggles. He can show you he is one using his fingers. He loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Chuggington and Little Einstiens on TV. He looooves being outside (much like his momma). AND - he is all boy. He beats anything he can reach with a golf club. He runs manically through the house screaming and giggling. If you ever need to see what a tazmanian devil looks like - head on my way. He has a best friend, whom he loves. Kylie and Noah have play dates. Kylie and Noah are the picture on the background of my phone. Noah asks to hold my phone, then points to Kylie and says "Kah". He loves his Kylie. 

Other than school that takes up 80% of my days, and Noah and Cullen that take up the other 20%, I blinked and September was gone! However, With October here, THIS is what is on the calendar for the next 24 days:

• This weekend: Visiting momma in Austin, girl-date with my co-worker to watch The Biebs on the big screen (yes, you read that right. We ARE watching Never Say Never, and yes. I am 27.)
• Next weekend - Pumpkin Patching with our favorite little friends. 
• Weekend after, October 22nd - UNT Homecoming! 
• October 26 - VACATION! 

 SEE. October is practically over too. Where does the time go??

100% Rough N' Tumble BOY

Thank you Lauren, for inspiration on blog titling! Last night, Cullen, Noah and I played in the living room! Oh man, he is ALL boy. Chaos ensued! 

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did watching...which you won't, because he isn't your son. I just hope you get at least a chuckle out of them!!

Many mini-posts.

My friend, Leah, posted a blog with many little topics in it... I loved it. Half the reason I don't blog more often is because I don't want to write an entire blog for something that takes me 3 minutes to write. WELL - she solved that problem.

AND, without further ado - here are many mini-posts:

1. I read a blog called Lil Blue Boo. She posted the most amazing house cleaning to-do list. Guess what I am doing in "all my free time" this week?? CLEANING, and scratching things off this amazing concoction!

2. Cullen's car got towed this weekend... I think the amount of money you have to pay to get your car out of impound is LUDICROUS! Unfortunately, They can do that. It just sucks.

3. If you are wondering, Noah still calls Cullen "Mom". I will say, "Say Dada". Noah says, "Ma ma". He is a little stinker, and we are convinced it is on purpose!

4. We went to the park on Saturday morning, just him and I. We had such a great time. Here are a couple pictures from our fun time:

5. Aunt Kelly - I want you to know, Noah has PERFECTED this face: 

Remind you of anyone?? He makes this face prior to pouting or when he is saying silently - "Are you NUTS, Momma??"

That is it for now. See, it would have been silly to add each of these to their own post. Thanks, Leah, for the great idea!!

Happy Anniversary To The Man I LOVE...

Today is Cullen's and my 4th wedding anniversary! Four years ago today, I anxiously awaited the moment I said "I do." I said it with tears streaming down my face; and through my water filled eyes, I kissed my husband. 

Want to know my favorite moment of entire day?? Hearing the pastor {who also married by parents 32 years ago, this coming January} turn us around, and introduce us for the very first time, as

Cullen and Erin Mills

I love you to pieces, my dear. I have loved every minute of our lives together... I look forward to every minute more.

Labor Day Weekend.

You know, I tried to come up with a really catchy title.... I just couldn't. 

Noah and I got to spend the WHOLE, ENTIRE weekend with Cullen. This doesn't happen often - Cullen works Saturdays. SO, we took FULL advantage of the situation and spent as much time together as possible. Noah did his part by being in an amazingly, wonderful, perfect mood. Cullen and I were able to sleep in until 7:15 both Saturday and Sunday. Woo! 

Saturday, Cullen and Noah cuddled on the couch together and watched NCAA football. 

Sunday, we went to church and spent the afternoon together, outside, enjoying the beautiful weather. 

So, Monday, mid-day, we went to the Sue Mayborn Children's Museum with the Durbin Clan. OH MY GOODNESS, it was so much fun!! Better than a long, verbal story, I will give you pictures! So many, fantastic pictures. 

 

There are so many more pictures to share....but that is a post in itself! Happy Wednesday!

Hello Spaghetti Face.

You know those pictures that every mother owns?? Yes you do. If you have children, you have them too... 

• The one with the newborn infant is asleep on their sleeping, bare-chested daddy
• The one where the one-year old is slamming cake in their own face on their first birthday and
• The one where the kiddo is eating spaghetti and gets it all over their face? 

Well, I  am now the proud owner of all three pictures. Yep. Collection complete. Happy Wednesday.

I Love You, Noah.

Noah is talking non-stop. Even if Cullen and I are the only ones who can understand every bit of it, he makes noise, mimics your every move and attempts it all!

Yesterday afternoon, Noah and I are in the car driving to JSL. I gave him an animal cracker and said, "Noah, say thank you." "Tans." (That is how Little Bit says thanks.) I followed up with, "I love you, Noah."

From my review baby mirror, I see him follow my "I love you" with big blowing kisses. As if he is saying, "I love you back."

Be still my heart.

I am the proudest momma. My heart is overflowing. I am proud that he communicates so well, and more, I am blessed he said "I love you" back....even if he didn't say I LOVE YOU.

Uh Oh -

Guess what Noah found??? 

Momma's apron...

...and he loves wearing it. 

Cullen thinks he looks like the guards from The Wizard Of Oz. I don't see it... I think he looks precious.

Surviving Week One -

School started back this week... hence the absence of blogging. I think this year is going to be amazing. I have a SUPER co-worker who has an undeniable passion for students with special needs. She is going to be a breath of fresh air around my portable!!

I only have a few new kiddo's on my case load this year (so far) and they are so special to me. I have one little boy, a third grader, who has won my heart already - and he isn't Special Ed, through label. I bet he is soon though. Little stinker has a SERIOUS anger problem; I get the privilege of working with those kids too.

On a home front, Noah has really grown up all of the sudden. He can mimic almost anything we do. He holds conversations with me, even I can only make out about 1/10 of the noises he says. I ask him a question and he answers me with 8 or 10 words, all of which have different tones and inflections - none of which can be made out. It is amazing to me that he "talks back". He also will say something and then laugh, like he thinks he is soo funny.

Part of night-time routine, is a bath.  Cullen sits on the outside of the tub and plays with Noah while ensuring his safety, of course. When Noah gets squirrely and starts to act like he is done with bath time, I hear Cullen say, "Okay, time to get out? Tell the tub "Night Night." Then I hear Noah say "Night Night" and pull the plug under the water. It is so sweet.

Okay, you have been updated on school and updated with Noah... what more do you want from me!? :)

I will blog soon. Promise.

Be Encouraged.

**Note, this is an emotionally heavier than usual post.**

Recently, I have been approached by friends with heavy burdened hearts. Something in their life just isn't right. One's husband is having heath concerns, another's sister is moving in because of heartbreak. I have a friend who is struggling with family matters - deep, painful family matters. Do you want to know the commonality? They asked me for words of encouragement. 

A side note, I was sitting in church this morning, surprisingly not interested in what our guest preacher was preaching about. Instead, I opened my Bible and had a mini-lesson of my own. I turned to several verses in the Bible and read about strength, friendship and encouragement. When church was over, Cullen and I picked up Noah from the nursery and went to lunch. I told Cullen about my non-attentive bible study of my own and didn't about it much after. As it turns out, God was preparing me for a conversation later in my day. I was asked casually by a friend to keep her encouraged. Pass along words of encouragement regularly was her request...possibly even hourly; don't let her get discouraged at a time that it would be all too easy. Thank you God, for letting my ears be open to your words. 

I read this verse earlier today, and want to share it with a mini, but heavy, message. Be encouraged; stay encouraged. Lift yourself up and boost others.

Philippians 4:6-7 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.