Feelin Crafty

In order to get us in the mood for fall, one of my friends organized a Fall Swap with her fellow bloggers. There are 18 of us participating. The rules were to make or buy 4 small gifts coinciding with the letters F-A-L-L. The gifts plus postage were supposed to cost $25 or less. I only knew about 3 people involved and word around the blog was that there were some pretty crafty cats out there. So the search was on for 4 really creative gifts. The sign up came to an end and the names were drawn. I got one of my friends sisters. The pressure was almost too much! So here's what I finally came up with.

F-Family napkin holders



A-All occasion handmade cards


L-Lighted Monograms


L-Luscious Homemade Caramel Sauce


I finished the other initial for the lighted monograms and shipped them off to my Fall Swap friend. She was happy with everything! Shew! It was definitely a fun way to get in the fall spirit! I can't wait to receive my gifts! I will put pics on the blog as soon as I get them! My mind is already racing for the winter swap.

But that's not where it ends. Still feeling crafty, I decided to try a decoration I had seen on another fall swapper's blog. She had a picture of her fall decorations on her blog and I just couldn't help myself. I went to Micheals, got what I needed, and worked for a couple hours. I was pretty happy with the outcome. It's more of a Halloween decoration. Here's my rendition.



The blogger I got the idea from has a website with some cute stuff on it. Check it out. www.hogwashdesigns.blogspot.com/

North Carolina Fun

Well, we're home. Our trip ended too soon, but don't they always! We had a lot of fun and relaxation. We stayed at a family members cabin in Maggie Valley. We've stayed there many times before, but never with our children. My dad had to tie pieces of plywood up around the stairs so baby Tyler wouldn't crawl right through the slots and fall down into the basement. He would, too! He's a little daredevil and everywhere! We could not have asked for better weather while we there! It was PERFECT! We had one day that was a little dreary, but that's it. We went on nice walks everyday. My dad has a walking stick and he made Tyson a matching one. He loved it! I packed Tyson 2 pairs of tennis shoes and when I went to put them on him in North Carolina, they didn't fit! Poor kid!!! All he wears in Florida are his Croc Flops. So, his aunt Kristyn took pity on him and bought him his first pair of red Converse. They are sooo cute! And he has always had a shoe fetish, so he LOVED them! I am a picture freak and took about 500. I won't bore you with all of them. Here are a few highlights! And yes, I take white shirts and jeans for the whole family everywhere we go, just in case I can get a good family shot! I'm obsessed! How bout that new family pic at the top of the page. I love it! I try so hard and that's what I get. It might be used for our Christmas cards, so pretend you didn't see it!

Fireproof Your Marriage!

***Update to Love Dare start date! The new start date is Monday, September 29th.

Just a reminder to go see the movie Fireproof this weekend. It comes out on Friday. Hollywood judges the success of a movie by how it does opening weekend. So, we need to get out there and support this movie, this weekend! Get a babysitter and go! It's very good. Derek and I saw the sneak peek a couple weeks ago and it was great. A church, about the size of South Biscayne, did the movie. They did Facing the Giants, which was good, but Fireproof is better! Speaking of the movie, let's start the Love Dare girls! I am so excited! How about Thursday. Here's a list of who is taking the Dare. Angela, Summer, Brandy, Heather R, Sara L, Jen B., Mandy S., Janelle, Christy R., Robin, and Tricia. So spread the word. I'm in North Carolina, but I have my book with me. So, start the book Thursday and go see the movie this weekend!

Bye Bye!

We are leaving for a much needed vacation this weekend. And you know the best thing about it? Derek's phone doesn't work up in the mountains!!! Life will be forced to go on without him. We'll have him ALL to ourselves! We're going to Maggie Valley, North Carolina. And the weather is going to be WONDERFUL! We might just get jobs up there and stay! Here's some pics from this week.

Tyson and Daddy grilling up some dinner


Tyler hanging out, waiting for a burger.

Tyson trying to punt the ball on top of the roof

My little dare devil

Flipin Around

Tyson and I went to gymnastics this morning. He really comes out of his shell there. We have SO much fun! We look forward to Tuesday's all week! I'm going to be really sad when he's in the older class and I have to just sit and watch! Here's some pics and video from today. Table Top! Stretching

The Love Dare

**Update to Love Dare Post

It's not like a book you sit down and read for long periods of time. It's more like a daily devotion. They are only one or two page devotions with a dare at the end and room for journaling. It shouldn't take very much time. 7 girls have already responded with yeses! I'm excited!

Remember the movie premier Derek and I went to last week? Fireproof. It was a great movie! It comes out Friday, September 26th. The movie is about a husband and wife that just can't seem to make their marriage work. She files for divorce. His dad asks him to take The Love Dare before signing the papers. The Love Dare is a 40 day challenge for husbands and wives to understand and practice unconditional love. It dares you to do things that you probably did when you were dating and you probably have let them fall to the wayside in your marriage. Whether your marriage is hanging on by a thread or healthy and strong, The Love Dare will help you learn the keys to finding true intimacy and developing a dynamic marriage. Will you take the dare with me? I went up to Sarasota yesterday and bought 5 books. I was hoping that some of you would take the dare with me. I am going to start it without telling Derek and see how long it takes him to ask What's going on? Poor Derek! He'll probably know somethings up the first day. I didn't tell him I bought the book, so please don't mention it to him. I will post some of my stories that happen because of the book and would love to hear some of yours too! Let me know asap if you want a book. They are normally $14.99. They were on special yesterday for $11.97 + tax = $12.81 I'm going to wait to start it with whoever wants to do it. I can always go get more books if I need to. I think this will sweep the nation after the movie comes out. I'm very excited to take the dare and also to have it later to give to someone else who really needs it! You can email me at dattfam@verizon.net or leave a comment on my blog if you want one! Show your man how much he means to you, take the dare!!!

The Night Derek Got Into My Pants

Not that way you perverts! I AM a minister's wife! Derek came out of the bedroom tonight and said, "Honey, what do you think about these jeans?" I said, "They are a little tight across the front." He has lost 62 lbs in the last 6 months. He went on to say, "So maybe in a little while?" I said yes. And then he told me they were mine. I proceeded to call him a jerk! I also let him know that they are too big on me and I need new jeans. They are only a little big on me though. I'm not sure I like wearing the same size as my husband!

Peek a Boo

Tyler started playing peek a boo a few weeks ago. It's sooo cute! But isn't everything a 9 month old does cute? Well, not everything. Like when he crawls around the house and puts every spec of dirt and who knows what in his mouth. That just grosses me out!


Tyler walks behind things across the tile floor. I, of course, think it's soo cute!


My mom and dad got this cute little wooden table at an Amish furniture shop in Sarasota. Tyson is such a big boy, sitting at the kids table for meals. And Tyler can't wait until he can too!

Tyson had a friend over to play a couple weeks ago and they sat at their table for lunch and ate out of their dishes. So cute!


My dad got this pic of Tyler playing in the clothes basket. Since I've already worn out the word cute, I'll just go ahead and say it, he's soo cute!

$1 movie rentals

Ok. Does everyone know about Redbox? It is soooo cool! We have PayPer View and it's horrible. We never get to sit down and watch a movie, but we had time to one night this week. So, I looked at Pay Per View and there were about 10 choices and nothing good. We settled on one of their stinky movies and then couldn't sit down to start watching at exactly the right time. So we were out of luck. No movie for us. I know Video On Demand is sooooo much better. Mom and dad have that. There are a million choices and you can start the movie whenever you want and pause it when the phone rings and rewind it when you didn't hear what they said. But for those of us not fortunate enough to have Video On Demand, there is the Redbox. My cousin first told me about this a month ago but I had forgotten about it. A friend reminded me of it last night. It's this big red vending machine with movies in it. How cool is that? Supposedly they are popping up everywhere. I think the only one in North Port is at Walmart. But I read that McDonald's are getting them too. So, I went online, reserved a movie, paid $1.07 with my debt card, and Derek went to pick it up. He stuck his card in the machine and it spit out the movie! You have to return it the next day by 9pm or they charge you another $1. But it would take a few days to rack up enough charges to equal a pay per view or video on demand. We will definitely be doing this more often! Here are some pics of the kids. Tyler loves Hannah just as much as Tyson did when he was little and still does.


Tyson baking my grandma's famous cookies

I'm trying to teach the boys to work together to get the house work done

Tyler started saying mama a couple weeks ago. I was very happy since Tyson said dada first.

Hurry, Hurry, Hurry!

As I sit here at midnight, today seems a blur. You know when you have an appointment that you have to rearrange your whole day in order to make it on time? That was today. Tyson, my 2 year old, usually goes down for a nap around 1 or 2. We had a hair appointment today at 2:30 in Sarasota. Now, this isn't just any old hair appointment. This is with my stylist who I have been using for at least 10 years and I have to book all my appointments a year ahead of time or I can't get in with her. So, think about a year ago. Tyson was 1 and we were on a totally different schedule. But it's not like I can just call and reschedule. My blondish hair would be half darkish and half fading blondish by the time I could get another appointment. Hopefully I'm not the only one who isn't really sure what color her hair is. Anyway, I had to put Tyson down early and he didn't want to go. So, he cried for a while before he fell asleep. He usually sleeps about 2 hours. Today we had to wake him up after about an hour. He wasn't happy. He was crying and I was flying around the house trying to get everything we needed to take with us. Sippy cups full of juice, snacks, nobody has had lunch yet, diapers, baby food for Tyler, medicine, they aren't feeling well, find Tyson's shoes, etc. As I grabbed the jars of baby food, one fell and shattered on the tile floor. I may have cussed at this point. No, I'm a minister's wife, I didn't cuss. As I was trying to get dressed, with Tyler, my 8 month old, crawling after me and trying to climb up my legs, my chest was tightening and I felt as if I were going to start screaming or crying or both. Does anyone else have this much trouble getting out the door? The night did end well though. Derek and I went to a private viewing of Fireproof. It was a great movie about marriage! I think it comes out Sept. 26th. Everyone should go see it not only to see a great movie, but to support the wonderful men and women of God who made it. More about the movie later.

Feast and Flips!

We didn't use all the hamburger meat last night at our cookout, so mom put it in the freezer in the garage. Dad went out this morning and something caught his eye. It was the freezer door, open a few inches. We had to cook everything! So tonight we had: chicken, pork tenderloin, halibut, salmon, brauts, hamburgers, steak, fillet mignon, sweet potatoes, green beans, and company to help eat it all! We called in the big guns! The 2 biggest eaters I know, Jon Knott and Reppard Gordon. They got the job done! Tomorrow night we will have a 20 lb. turkey! Wow! What a lot of food. It sure was good!

Today was Tyson's first gymnastics class of the new session. He has had a 14 week break and he was ready to start again. He's been practicing all summer. He did awesome! I was so proud of him. My dad went with us and I think he was even prouder than I was! The instructor was impressed, too. He has come a long way since his first class!

Labor Day......Literally!

Today was a great day of work and play! Derek and I got a lot done around the house that we've been wanting to do for a long time. He changed all the air filters, cleaned the kitchen, moved things around in the garage so I could walk in front of my van when I park, cleaned off the desk and emptied all the boxes from under the desk, hung hooks in the laundry room for my diaper bag, purse, and keys! I vacuumed, washed the dining room and kitchen floors on my hands and knees, did laundry, and more! It feels wonderful to accomplish things around the house! This evening we went over to mom and dads for a cookout. We had fun swimming in the pool and then had hamburgers, hot dogs, cheese brauts, and more! The boys were wiped out when we got them home! Tyler didn't even want to stay awake to nurse! Tomorrow is Tyson's first gymnastics class for this session. I think he is going to be even better than last session! He's been practicing this summer. I'll let you all know! Here's some pics from tonight!

Tyson and Abby flying high!


Don't forget Baby Tyler!


Tyler was walking his cousin Madison. It was so cute! I wish I had gotten a video! She is 4 months younger than him and out weighs him by far. What's up with all the big baby girls in his life? They make him look like a little runt!