Winter Weather in the Air... and on the Ground...

Well, it's finally here... our first taste of winter in Northern Michigan. All day it has been sleeting...then sunny...then sleeting again....then sunny....then rain/snow mix...then sunny....then fluffy white flakes...then sunny....and now...sleeting again. You get the picture, I'm sure... but here are a few pictures of what it has looked like today. I'm sure it won't stick around for long. But the fact that it's in the air, means it's going to try to come. And NO, I'm not ready for winter yet!

Ooh.. and Uh-oh...

Here is Ethan "sporting" his new winter coat. I bought it last year on clearance at the end of season sale. It fits him great and should fit him all winter long. Here's what he thinks of it, "Ooh!" That's what he said the last two times I pulled it out for him to wear.

He likes his new coat!

Then there's the frequent sound of... "uh-oh!" Yesterday morning, I came out to the kitchen to find Ethan playing and found this...

I'm not sure he could do that again if he tried! Although I won't put it past him. He threw his football up into the top of our Halogen lamp the other night also.

Special Gift...

I received a special package in the mail last week, from my Mom. She made me this beautiful black shrug sweater. Being pregnant, I didn't have anything dressy, but warm, to wear with my dresses, etc. So she made me one. Isn't it beautiful?! Thank you, Mom! I wore it to church yesterday morning. I admit I had to take it off for the service though, because I was too hot. (Those pregnancy hot flashes, you know, which yes, even I get.)

Ethan's Room Phase 4...

Ethan's new crib finally arrived yesterday. Babies R Us called yesterday afternoon, while Bart was in GR in his class. So it worked out perfectly! He picked it up last night on his way home. We put it together today.

Daddy's big helper.
"Let's see, I think the screw goes in like this..."
All assembled, Ethan is trying out his new crib.
"It feels nice laying down."
"I like my new crib. Thanks Dadda & Momma!" (I'm sure that's what he was thinking anyway.) ;-)
"Is it time to get out already?"

"I want to get back in and stay for awhile." "Later at nap time," Mommy replied.

I told Ethan he was going to be napping in his new bed in his new room. I laid him down in his crib, and he stood right up, not quite sure what to think. He cried for about 1 minute or so. This was the end result. Good Boy!

Test #1: Naptime: a Success!

Test #2: Tonight: We'll see?! Hopefully he does as well tonight.

Trip to Geers Farm...

This past Saturday we had a Young Adult family activity at Geers Farm in McBain. We had several young families come join in for the fun. (I didn't post as many pictures on this blog, as I did on Facebook. So if you have Facebook, you'll have to check that out to see more pictures.)

Ethan sitting on a pumpkin.
Watching the horse-drawn-wagon-ride go by. (I think this is a cool picture.)
Daddy & Ethan behind the "school bus".
Peek-a-boo through the window.
Mommy & Ethan eating their YUMMY homemade pumpkin donuts. (David L. waited in line for 1 hour to get these donuts. Thankfully he bought 3 dozen to share with all of us.)
Our Lil' pumpkin.
This pumpkin is just about his size. (Although we did not bring any home, unless you count one we found - the size of a golfball.)
This looks like a nice pumpkin.
"Neighing" at the horses going by (with MUCH emphasis).
Ethan and his friend Emma hanging out.

A Celebration of Birthdays...

Last week we were able to go to Grand Rapids and celebrate the 6 Glupker October-ish birthdays (from Sept. 29th - Oct. 20th.). We headed down Tuesday morning, went to Babies R Us, finally ordered our crib to replace the one we have that has been recalled, and then Bart went to his class at GRTS. Following his class, we had dinner with his family. Everyone was there, except his brother and his family (Chadd, Sarah & Hayden). Chadd called right before dinner, with their good news that he and Sarah are having another boy. So we will have 6 boys and 2 girls in the Glupker family by next spring. We had a delicious supper, opened gifts, and had birthday cake.

This is just a picture of the cake I made for the Jr. Highers Wed. night and then another one for the Pastors & Wives meeting we had on Thursday morning. It is his family's favorite - Ho-ho cake. I made it in 2 9x9 square dishes, so I could use it for two different days and occasions. It worked out perfectly.

The 6 honored birthday guests: Aunt Judy, Gramma Glupker, Bart, Hudson, Taylor and Dad.

The birthday cake.

Gathering in the basement to open gifts.

Gramma & Judy got Bart a picture frame (for Ethan & Littlefoot) for his office, some peanut M&M's and a case of his favorite pop, Barq's rootbeer. He also received money to put towards a new I-pod.

We all went in together and bought Dad a new table saw.

Uncle Lance painted Taylor's headboard/footboard. Are those Michigan colors? ;-) (No, they're "Hudsonville's" school colors. He's a Michigan State fan, as you can see.)Hudson, opening up his gifts of toys and clothes.Ethan was drawn to Uncle Lance's portable basketball hoop in the basement. He wanted someone to lift him up all night so he could shoot hoops. Ethan & Hudson, cousins, born just 6 months apart.

Taylor, Emily, Hayley, Hudson & Ethan. At the end of a long day and a fun party, Ethan wasn't ready to sit for a picture with his cousins. He LOVED playing with them though!Good-bye, Aunt Judy. We love you! See you all at Thanksgiving.

Top 10 Predictions No Matter Who Wins the Election

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.
2. Prayer will still work.
3. The Holy Spirit will still move.
4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.
5. There will still be God-anointed preaching.
6. There will still be singing of praise to God.
7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.
8. There will still be room at the Cross.
9. Jesus will still love you.
10. Jesus will still save the lost when they come to Him.

ISN'T IT GREAT TO KNOW WHO IS REALLY IN CONTROL?!!

I definitely know who we're voting for, (hopefully you do too) but the fact of the matter is we're not really in control, God is! We need to do our part and VOTE, but God controls even the outcome of this election. Granted it IS a BIG election, but let's keep our focus on God, the Author and Creator of our Universe, not just the ruler of our Nation.

Peek-a-boo Sunshine...

A couple of days ago, Ethan sat directly in the beam of sunlight shining through the sidelight by our front door. He thought it was fun, but it was definitely bright.

Another haircut...

Well, if you noticed Ethan's LONG, whispy hair in the most recent pictures, you were probably asking yourself, "when are they going to get his hair cut?" I took him to "Uncle Mike" and he cut his hair for him Thursday afternoon. Ethan does so well, and sits very still. Well, as still as he CAN sit at this age. Thank you, Mike, for your generous helping hand! Ethan's hair grows so quickly and it is so out of control. His hair looks much nicer with his big boy haircut again.

"Cheesing" for the camera.
Is he practicing ice skating already?
Eating "O's" and teasing Spencer. "I have some and you don't."
My big helper. Ethan knows that his stool is in the bathroom. (He figured that out after only ONE time of using it in the kitchen and noticed it on his own in the bathroom. We have not used it in the bathroom yet. He is SO smart!) So whenever I tell him I'm getting ready to make sandwiches, he will go to the pantry and bang on the door. He knows that's where the peanut butter is. Then he will walk down the hallway and bang on the bathroom door, asking for his stool, so he can watch, and "help." He is such a BIG HELPER!
Making Ethan a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

18 months old already!

Ethan is 18 months old today already! My how time flies! He has brought so much joy and happiness into our lives that we cannot thank God enough for blessing us with him. We'll attempt at getting some professional pictures taken here soon, as soon as his bumps and bruises are gone and his hair is cut. :-)

Our big happy boy!

Ethan is watching Randy plow down the back half of our yard for us. He was quite intrigued by the tractor.
Aw, best buds... maybe someday... when Spencer can fully tolerate him. :-)Trying to walk in Mommy's shoes, literally. (Wrong foot, son.)
Ethan was playing a game that he made up yesterday. He pulled both stools out of the way and began throwing the soccer ball at the back of the cupboards over and over again. He was having fun scoring goals. Although he was using his hands this time, he does run around the house kicking the soccer ball also. (Sometime I'll have to post the video we have of him running around and kicking the ball.)

"Look, Mom, I can reach the counter." (I know, because he grabbed the salt shaker the other day off the counter and ran to our room with it.)