happy halloween.

SWEET. heavens. to. betsy.

This is cream cheese caramel dip with Heath bar. 

In other words, this is insanely delectable and you need to drop everything you're doing, run to the kitchen and make this IMMEDIATELY.

Victoria & I made it this weekend, and I am slightly obsessed. 

[there is an embarrassing chance that i may have eaten 2 apples when i got home from school just so i could dip them in this divine delight.]

Directions

Beat 2 8oz pkgs cream cheese, room temp til smooth and creamy. Blend in 1 16.5oz tub Marzetti's carmel dip. Stir in 2 crushed up Heath bars. Eat your heart out.

So. Good.

I am planning the master of all culinary experiments for this bad boy tomorrow night... stay tuned...

Oh, P.S. - Zooey says she's Tom Selleck for Halloween. I told her it's not as believable without the chest hair protruding from a Hawaiian shirt...

family/friends.

Victoria & Jeremy & Colden visited this weekend!

So blessed to have family members who are such incredible friends.

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[1] Zooey's always a little skeptical of tiny visitors, but she warms up quickly.

[2] On a morning walk around Cherry Hill Village. [geez, model much?!]

[3] The boys watched Colden so V & I could run to IKEA for a bit. I bought some new pillow covers, finally. This room has needed some color for quite some time... still in the works, a year later...

[4] While the boys & Zooey hit up some local trails, V, Colden & I enjoyed lunch (Mom's mac n' cheese!). I whipped up some honey mustard dip for pretzels, and Colden tried some... and ended up loving it! We were dying laughing - he was essentially using the pretzels as spoons for the mustard, which he kept calling "soup". 

[5-8] On our way to Three Cedars Farm, Colden fell asleep and we drove by a pretty field... so we did an impromptu photo shoot! Jer was our obliging photographer , while...

[9] Doug stayed in the car with the sleepy babe.

[10] At Three Cedars - Colden modeling a pumpkin.

[11] "Hi, 'carecrow"

[12-13] C enjoying a plain donut; though, not as much as he'd enjoy Mommy or Daddy's sugar donuts...

[14] Family!

[15] The Gerhardt men. 

[16] Mama & her boy.

[17] Priceless expression!!

[18] Uncle Dougie & Colden check out the chickens.

[19] Little boys love their tractors!

[20] Jarritos to go along with our enchiladas - yum.

[21] Cider n' Donut party: Three Cedar cider & donuts, pumpkin spice cheesecake, pigs in blankets, and cream cheese caramel dip with apples. The insane gluttony...

Such a fun weekend with people we love so much! 

when i look at the works of Your hands...

For everything created by God is good... -I Timothy 4:4

i'm annoyed; quick, someone affirm me.

Just logged into Yahoo, and saw this article about how to "avoid embarrassing your child on Facebook."

Some of their suggestions? "Don't pry. Don't get too personal. Don't assume your child can chat with you just because he's logged in. Never, ever reply to comments for your kids."

Seriously??

SERIOUSLY?!

I'm trying to give "Tecca" (the author of the article) the benefit of the doubt, and hope that she's talking about children who are grown up, out of the house, with their own families.

Parents. As a teacher who interacts with teenagers daily (and, incidentally, as someone who has parents) - please, PLEASE pry into your children's lives! It's your responsibility to know what goes on in your children's lives!

I know, I'm so old-fashioned, and I'm totally repressing the freedom of teenagers across America. But having been a teenager, and being around teenagers all day everyday... they could use some more repression. Facebook stalk away, parents.

today...

... I posted a new onesie (already sold, sorry!).

... I picked up my friends from the airport, returning home from Paris.

... I had some of the best chocolate I have ever had in my life (thanks, Ellie!).

... I mailed our application to CHI! Hooray!

... I cried in excitement, realizing that every day we are a day closer to our baby.

... I cried in pain, thinking what our baby's birth mama is going to sacrifice.

... I prayed for our baby's birth mama.

... I prayed for our baby.

... I prayed for us as parents.

... I snapped this picture of these amazing trees in our back alley.
    Little glimpses of God's beauty.

**Edit: Finished editing these senior pics.