Orange Dinner and Pumpkin Carving Fun!

I wanted to do something fun tonight...something different! So, I surprised the kids with an Orange Dinner Breakfast...in honor of the upcoming Halloween weekend.  And no...we are not die-hard Halloween fanatics...I just thought it would be exciting!  The kids were a bit skeptical at first, but when I assured them that it was only orange food coloring, not orange flavoring, they dug right in and came back for seconds! They thought it was pretty cool...mission accomplished!

Orange pancakes

Payton enjoying his orange pancakes and eggs!

Yep...Jordan was loving it too!

Vicks Vap-O-Rub smeared all over her nose and all, Rylee still loved her dinner breakfast! LOL

Next up for our fun-filled Friday night...pumpkin carving!  I can't stand, eh...I mean, I love to carve pumpkins! That's why we waited until two days before Halloween to carve ours! LOL!!!  Really, my Honey wanted to carve pumpkins this year so I did it all for her!  She was such a trooper and even cleaned them out.  Funny girl...that's her favorite part!  We had fun and the kids all had a go-round at carving but guess who finished the job? Yep...that would be me!  It's all for the kids...all for the kids! :)

Look...it's Elmo!!! LOL!

Surprise!

I was looking around online last night trying to think of something fun, yet practical, to send to Marcus while he is in the hospital this week.  Flowers would be nice...but for a 4 year old, really?  A cookie bouquet would be so yummy for both Meghan and Marcus, but oh, so pricey!  Actually, ordering anything online from balloons to cookies, to be delivered, is rediculously expensive! Anyway...I enlisted the help of Aunt Tara today and with her assistance, we picked out a beautiful arrangement of three "Get Well" balloons that Marcus could at least look at and a cute teddy bear that he could love on!  Check it out...

God does work in such mysterious ways...I'll have you know!  Meghan had been having one of her most emotionally-challenged days yet, on this journey with her and Marcus.  When she was called down to the first floor of the hospital, she was expecting to pick up a wheel chair...what else could it be?  To her surprise, the ballons and bear were waiting for her! Might I add...less than three hours after we placed the order (not bad service if you ask me!)  According to Meghan, that surprise could not have come at a better time!  It made me happy knowing that even though I am 1400 miles away, I could bring a smile to her day.  And Marcus just loves his little bear!

(He's happy, really! He's just having a serious moment! LOL)



Aunt Tara and I love you Bubba!  Come home soon!!! (((((HUGS)))))

My Little Football Fan!

I was cooking dinner tonight and noticed that Jordan was abnormally quiet.  I turned around and there he was...sitting on the floor in the kitchen, "reading" Payton's football magazine.  I'm telling you...this kid eats, sleeps and breathes everything football!

Update: Marcus is doing well!

Day One:  Marcus successfully made it through neck-fusion surgery today with no complications.  Praise God!  He is resting well in the PICU right now and will remain sedated throughout the night.  Please continue to send up prayers for Marcus; as the recovery and healing process begins.  The next several days will be difficult, but I know Marcus is a brave little boy and he's going to be just fine!  Aunt Jennifer loves you Marcus!  Get well and come home soon!

Praying for Marcus!

Please pray for Marcus!

Meghan and Marcus leave tomorrow, October 25th, for Philadelphia and Marcus is scheduled to have AAI/AOI (unstable neck) surgery on Wednesday, October 27th.  This is, without a doubt, a MAJOR surgery and with only a few days to prepare, lots of prayers are in order. 

Please pray for Marcus!  He is such a brave boy, but his life is about to change, as he knows it. 

Please pray for my sister Meghan.  She is traveling alone, as her husband will initially be at home caring for their three older children.  I couldn't imagine going through a surgery with my child of this magnitude alone, much less 1400 miles from home!

Please pray for the surgeons, nurses and staff who will be taking care of Marcus!

I spent a few hours with Marcus last night as I needed to see him and love on him just one more time before he left.  He is such a great kid...so sweet and so funny!  (Don't worry Marcus...Aunt Jennifer is going to learn the "quack, quack" song before you come home!)

Having a snack!

"Enough pictures Aunt Jennifer."

Aunt Jennifer & Marcus

We love you Marcus!  Go to Philly, get all fixed up and hurry on home!  We'll be thinking about you and your Mommy while you're gone...we miss you already!  Love, Aunt Jennifer

It's Fall!

I was sitting in the living room, checking e-mail, stalking Facebook, looking at homework, etc.  Rylee came running inside and said, "Mom, come here. Quick! I have something so cute to show you."  This is what she did to Jordan...buried him in all of the leaves that are quickly starting to fall.  He loved it!

It's A Girl!

I am so excited!  I received a phone call from my sister Meghan today in which she shared the most amazing news with me.  She and Wayne have committed to adopting a beautiful, three-year old, little girl named Masha!  She is an orphan living in Eastern Europe, in desperate need for a Mom and a Dad...a family!  Oh...and she has an extra-special 21st chromosome!  They heard God's calling, are stepping out in faith and preparing to give this precious little girl exactly what she deserves...a family, lots of love and the opportunity to not only survive, but thrive! 

To follow along on this journey, please go to http://www.thenewdickinsonfamily.com/

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:27


Congratulations Meghan, Wayne, Taylor, Tanner, Macey & Marcus!  I am so proud of you all and I promise today to walk this walk with you all and help bring Masha home!