30

To borrow a custom from Beth, I've decided to list 30 things I would like to (or not like to) do before I turn 30 one year from today. Crap... I'm turning 30 one year from today! In no particular order, here we go:

1. Decorate for every holiday. Big ones and little ones. Even if it's just to bake cookies shaped like a flag for Memorial Day.

2. Make s'mores with Tommy.

3. Plan a trip for Dean and I. He always plans and does an incredible job. I'd like to return the favor.

4. Run a Tallahassee race (i.e., Jingle Bell Run).

5. Exercise, on purpose, at least once a week.

6. Make all of Ty's baby food instead of buying jars (except for travel).

7. Learn to make a different kind of bread. Maybe sourdough or french.

8. Check out more books from the library.

9. Return those books on time.

10. Begin reading Harry Potter (better late than never, right?)

11. Schedule a date for my Spring Recital before the spring semester starts.

12. Learn a new piece on the piano, just for fun.

13. Eat dinner at KoolBeanz.

14. Read through the Bible.

15. Send more snail mail.

16. Make tomato sauce from actual tomatoes. Not canned ones.

17. Make homemade popsicles.

18. Cold brew coffee.

19. Pick blueberries.

20. Buy and cook an artichoke.

21. Read at night instead of turning on the TV.

22. Learn how to use my new grill.

23. Cook an entire meal from a show on the Food Network. Preferably "Giada at Home"

24. Install the garbage disposal that has been sitting in a box in our hallway.

25. Get a houseplant.

26. Finish watching the other 4 discs of Ken Burns' Baseball documentary with Dean.

27. See a movie in the movie theater (last one I've seen in the theater is "Chronicles of Narnia").

28. Go to an FSU football game.

29. Eat a leek.

30. Read a good biography.

Happy 6 Month Birthday Ty!

A Week in Pictures

It started with Dean's Birthday. And ended with me being completely stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner part 2 (aka leftovers). Along the way I've had lots of hanging out time with my boys. Here's the best from this week.

Happy Belated Birthday!

Yesterday was Dean's 30th birthday and I'm so sad that I didn't get a chance to blog about him on his actual birthday. So here I sit, as the boys are sound asleep, listening online to him preach live at The Well. And I am more proud of him than you can imagine. And I love him more today than I did almost 7 years ago when we got married!

Some things you may not know about Dean (I wanted to list 30, but that's a lot!)

- He makes fun of people who like Harry Potter but he loves professional wrestling.

- Every day, many times a day, he and Tommy have a wrestling match in our bedroom. Complete with entrance music played from YouTube.

- He has incredibly clean feet, since he hasn't worn open-toed shoes or even gone barefoot outside since 2002.

- He has amazing luck. We stopped by the hotel that the Clemson football team was staying at last week because he wanted a particular player's autograph on a mini helmet. There were three buses and about half the team was already on the bus. The players were coming out of the hotel a few at a time but we didn't see the one he wanted. We gave up and started driving away. Crossing the parking lot, by himself on the other side of the hotel was this player. Dean jumped out and got his autograph. Only Dean would be able to pull that off.

- If he were not a pastor, he would be coaching football in some capacity.

There are many more things about Dean that I could share. The fact that he is an incredible husband who loves me and our boys more than anything, or that he is an amazing friend. Or I could share that his greatest passion in life is to preach the Gospel to as many people as possible.

But you already know that.

Just When You Think...

I was cleaning this afternoon while Ty was sleeping and Tommy was playing quietly with his blocks, just thinking about how I'm really getting this mom thing down. The kids were fed and happy, the kitchen was getting tidy, and I even cleaned out my pantry a bit. I didn't notice what was missing.

A few minutes later, as I whistled to myself and was feeling all on top of things, I began to switch Tommy's bedding from the washer to the dryer. I noticed that there were pieces of something in the washer with the sheets. And it had an odd, almost sickening smell. Then I found a plastic lid. I tried to figure out what could have fallen in the washer (which is in the pantry, so I have to work extra hard to make sure I don't wash food on a regular basis). There were teeny tiny pieces of cardboard everywhere and everything felt sticky. Finally I realized what had fallen in: an entire large canister of Italian bread crumbs. The only thing left in tact was the plastic lid and a metal ring that was somehow attached.

I started to freak out, but realized that would solve nothing and so I took everything outside and shook as many breadcrumbs and cardboard pieces out as possible. They all landed on me. I smelled like chicken parmesan. Then I proceeded to re-wash everything and clean out the washing machine. It got most of the mess out, but I haven't gotten the guts to see how they came out in the dryer yet.

I'm officially withdrawing my name from the "Mom Who's Got it All Under Control" contest.

Inserra Family Happenings

The Well now has three services to choose from: 9:30 and 11:15 am and 8:00 pm. I will probably never attend the 8:00 due to two little sleepy boys. But I'm loving the great new opportunities in our Well Community!

Sally and Bennett came to town this weekend with Mac and she and Mac have been here all week. We've had lots of fun, and Tommy and Ty are loving spending time with their aunt and cousin.

We had our first parent-teacher conference for Tommy. I could not be more proud of my little boy!

I currently can identify more professional wrestlers than you can. And it's embarrassing.

I was getting incredibly frustrated with Tommy's 5:45 am wake-ups every day for the past month or so. But now with the time change, it's 4:30ish. I can't believe it, but I'm asking for 5:45 back!

I had to have a cyst removed from my elbow yesterday. There is now a hole in my arm and it's gross. But Tommy kissed my bandages and that was adorable.

Halloween

The day started out with jack-o-lantern pancakes made from real pumpkin. They were adorable... and gross. Tommy and I both spit them out.





Trick-or-Treating was a huge hit this year. Tommy literally sprinted from house to house and knocked incessantly until someone opened the door. This kid wanted his candy and had a hard time waiting for someone to get up from the couch, walk across the house, find the candy bowl, and open the door. Ty just chilled in his banana costume. It was a bit small so his legs were cramped, but it was one of the cutest things I've ever seen! We're still eating candy and Dean and I have been sneaking pieces every day. That way Tommy won't rot all his teeth. It's one of the sacrifices of parenting.