Hello,Twenty Eleven!

Wow! 2011....It's still hard for me to wrap my mind around the past decade...it went by so fast!! The past 10 years of my life were probably the most significant in all my 28 years and it is a bit frightening to think that the upcoming decades will continue to fly by taking with them Katelyn and Logan's childhood's and so much more. I don't mean to sound depressing, but I've just been reflecting upon events that took place throughout the previous 10 years and I feel like I just rushed through them. Let me explain...my entire life, since I was a little girl all I wanted to do or be was a wife and mommy. Ask my mother those of you that don't know me and she will tell you that those 2 things had always been the goals for my life. So, when I look back on my wedding to Jeremy in 2006 and the births of Katelyn in 2008 and Logan in 2010, I feel like I was just rushing through everything else that took place those years and the other 7, that I didn't appreciate all the little things. So, I'm making a resolution to be more deliberate and to fully experience all of life's little moments. I'm praying that this resolution will develop into a revolution in my life, so that in 2021 I don't have to look back over the years and wonder what little things (and aren't the little things usually the most important) I completely missed. I want to be able to smile looking back on Katelyn and Logan's 1st day of Kindergarten, remembering what they looked like sleeping the night before and I want to remember what Jeremy looks like the night we go out to celebrate our 5th anniversary and everyone after that...
I'm done making silly resolutions that I can't keep past February. I just want to enjoy life and grow in love and relationship with my Heavenly Father. I'm so excited for what this new year holds and I can't wait to see what "little" things I will cherish for a lifetime at the end of 2011!
May your 2011 be so much more than you could ever imagine!

2010 Christmas Card

Here is what some of you may be receiving in the mail very soon! If you don't receive a card, but would like one leave a comment and I will get in touch with you to put your address on our list! Enjoy the quick preview! Merry Christmas!

Scarlet Letter Christmas

Shop Shutterfly for elegant custom Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Halloween and a Haircut

Well, it has been a busy week or 2 for the Vastola's!! I love how this season brings such fun things and memories being made...I just do not like how quickly it all passes by!

Halloween came and went but not without a camera happy momma...here are some pics of our Dorothy and Lion!!
I love this little boy! Isn't he a cutie?!
This big girl didn't want to have anything to do with pictures...this is the only one I have of just her....that stinker!!
Their faces are priceless...Mom, are we done yet?! Ha! Love it!!!
Okay, now momma's happy...look at that sibling love!!

We had 2 Halloween's this year because Jeremy had to work on the actual day. Saturday I made my "Witches Brew" and invited the grandparents over. We ate, dressed the kids up and did a practice round of trick or treating at a few neighbors homes' so daddy could carry Logan up to his 1st houses!!
On Sunday I took the kids to Jeremy's grandparents house so Katelyn could trick or treat with her cousins...Jeremy's sister and her family live in a neighbohood that doesn't get into Halloween, so they trick or treat every year at the great grands. It was fun and good not to be alone, but I am so thankful we live in a neighbohood full of kids! I made sure we got home in time to pass out some of our candy...
I love K's face here (she's showing us her favorite treat of the night)...I am so glad my kids will have memoies with ALL of their great grandparents!!

The Thursday before Halloween K had a Fall party at school! Jeremy got to be there and it was so fun to see Katelyn in her school enviornment! I learned that day she is the youngest in her class, although many have late spring birthdays...it brought up all of my questions and thoughts inside of whether or not we should wait on Kindergarten until she's six...one of my least favorite things about parenting is the stuff you have to think about and consider years before it is ever an issue!!
Do you see our big girl at her class table with all of her little friends?!
We got to do a fun pumpkin craft...it was the cutest craft I've ever done...totally saved that one in my memory file!!

After a busy few days of party's and get together's, I took Katelyn to get her 1st haircut!! I know, long time coming...she did pretty good for her fist time and the cut is so cute!
Right before...bye, bye baby wispy's!!
During...look at how grown up she already looks!
All done...love it!
Look at my not a baby anymore little girl!!

I told ya we've been busy!! I still am not used to seeing Katelyn with a big girl hairstyle...Jeremy just commented yesterday about how there really is no trace of baby left...boohoo! Good thing I have Logan...and Lord willingly no more!! I love babies, but I'm finding that I love when those babies get bigger!!
I hope the start of this holiday season has been just as wonderful for you, and I pray it only gets better!! I can't wait to turn on some Christmas music...we're less than 3 weeks away!

Revolution Church

In August we started going to a new church, Revolution Church in Canton. We had been attending and were members of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta for over 4 years. We enjoyed Pastor Bryant Wright so much and had made some good friends as well! Unfortunately, living 40+minutes away and adding child #2 made it very difficult to stay involved. Jeremy and I talked about looking for a new church when Katelyn was a baby, but driving back and forth with a baby didn't feel like such a big deal back then. As Katelyn grew and the reality of Logan set in, I knew that realistically driving back and forth every Sunday and atleast one other day a week for biblestudy would not work. I also began longing for Katelyn to have Church friends that lived close and would most likely go to school with her in a few years. Once Logan was born and Jeremy started his new 24/48 schedule, we stopped going to JF or anywhere....after 5 months of no "community" I told Jeremy it was time for us to bite the bullet.

I have to be honest when I say that the thought of visiting new churches and finding a new church home scared me and annoyed me all at the same time. What I mean is, Jeremy and I were so lucky to grow up at Fellowship Bible Church. I think in my overly romanticised mind I thought that I would always go to FBC...I remember imagining being married and having a family that attended FBC when I was young. I don't doubt that this could have been true, but FBC became broken when I was in highschool, and it shattered when I was in College...all because people put their faith in a man, not God. This really shook my world and I didn't even realize it until the first few times Jeremy and I visited JF. Bryant is such a wonderful teacher...easy to listen to and he knows the word and the Lord speaks truth through him every week. I vividly remember sitting in parking lot traffic, telling Jeremy how afraid I was about getting plugged in at JF and the same thing happening there that happened at FBC. After weeks, months really praying about it, the Lord gave me peace that even if the same thing happened He would be there to redeem it, just as he was at FBC. Today, FBC is a new church, not like when I was a child, but still a wonderful bible teaching, God loving place with an awesome new pastor in Crawford Loritts.

Fast Forward to August....we had known about Revolution for years b/c of our neighbors. I was hesitant to visit...what if we didn't like it? I didn't want to offend our good friends!! Well, J and I decided to go their first since we would know atleast some people...and I am so glad we did. It took hearing Jason, the pastor a few times, but I could tell he knew the word. He is a very talented teacher and the Lord quickly put my heart at ease.

Revolution was broken too(completely different situation than with FBC), but the Lord is healing it and has brought Jason to lead the church in it's recovery and new life. I am so excited that we are apart of this! I am most excited b/c Rev reminds me of FBC when I was a child....and I am so pumped for Katelyn and Logan! I have prayed that they would be able to experience the same wonderful Christ-filled Community as Jeremy and I and I can see the Lord answering!

Through all of the twists and turns my church life has taken He has been faithful and I know that he will continue to be...."And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." (Phillipians 1:6 ESV) Praise Him!! How awesome is it that even when we mess up or a church becomes divided that He is always holding us and refining His creation, for to Him be all the GLORY!!

I hope you all have a Church you call home and if you don't and live near Canton come to Revolution!! I cannot wait to see the way God uses Rev and our family in continuing to impact this community and His kingdom...b/c that's what it's all about!!

Hayrides and "Punka's"

I thought I would draw ya'll in with a cute pic of Logan...I know, I'm a little desperate...but don't you think he is adorable?!! We're startin' him early with the football...or "shoeball" if you ask Katelyn! I definitely think he could be KSU's quarterback in 2028!! His daddy is an Owl!

Anyway, this month has been full of fun things, traditions and new experiences! I just LOVE this season and I only hope my children grow to love it just as much! Lord knows I will do everything in my power to make sure they enjoy the autumn traditions just as much as Jeremy and I!

The first Thursday of this month Katelyn's Preeschool had a Fall Festival where the children got to go on a hayride and then pick a pumpkin to take home! I am so thankful that I am a stay at home mom and get to experience these firsts along with her! It was so much fun!! Katelyn loved the hayride and she was hilarious when picking out her pumpkin...or punka as she refers to them. I love where we live, it's close to everything, but still out in the country, so the land is just beautiful! Mt. Zion Baptist Church, where Katelyn goes to school has such beautiful property....the hayride was about 10 minutes long and it took us through beautiful woods and hilly pastures! It was better than any other hayride I think I have ever been on! I enjoyed getting to meet some other moms and watch Katelyn interact with her classmates! I also liked seeing how much Katelyn enjoys her teachers and they enjoy her!


That first weekend Jeremy and I took the kids to the Apple Festival in Ellijay! This is one thing Jeremy and I have done since we dated and we really love it! We used to go to the Apple Orchard and get our apples and then to the fair, but this year Jeremy wanted to just go the fair...it worked out wonderfully, b/c it's a long day already for two little ones! Every year we bring home such fun "fall" treats....we love the apple cinnamon doughnuts and apple cinnamon bread, pumpkin bread and apple cider....and of course apples-we love Stayman Winesap and Pink Ladies. Katelyn and Logan were such troopers riding in the wagon...all day!

Then, last weekend we went to good ole' Berry Patch Farms to go on another hayride as a family and pick out punka's to carve!! I really enjoy Berry Patch b/c it is not only close, but it is where my family went when I was a child...not only during October, but also during the spring and summer to get blackberries and then blueberries! This is another thing about where we live that I just love....we are in the suburbs, but while at Berry Patch, it doesn't seem like that at all!! I am so thankful I get to make the same memories with Katelyn and Logan! It was fun watching Logan take in all the orange and he was so cute grabbing onto each pumpkin stem! Katelyn was just so excited to be free to run around all the punka's and as far as the hayride, she was in heaven....always screeching with delight as we went bumpity bump!


This past week after Katelyn got home from school on Thursday we made the drive back up to Ellijay, this time to enjoy another tradition Jeremy and I started while we were dating, but my family did when I was a child as well...and that is eating at Colonel Poole's!! It is by far the best bbq ever and even if you don't like bbq, you should just go once to take in all of the pig memorabilia!! We usually do this the same day as the festival, but this year we decided to break it up and it worked out great!! I think we are gonna do it like this again...it gave us an excuse to take a mid week break and enjoy each other away from home for a little while and we got to go to the orchards and get more apples!! Katelyn loved the bbq...last year we got her a hot dog and Logan was just drooling and wishing he could have some too-next year for sure!

Well, I told you this month has been packed!! It's not over either...Katelyn has her first set of school pictures this coming week and her first class party! I'm excited for her and will definitely take pics and tell ya'll everything about it next weekend!
I hope this season is stirring in you the way it is me....the glory of God just shines in the mountains this time of year with all the magnificent colors and I am in such awe of Him!! So glad I get to share my heart and our happenings! Hope ya'll have a happy fall!!

Why, Hello....Have we met before?

Oh my! When I look at the date of my last post, I cringe....I really fell off the old blogging band wagon. It happened not out of lack of interest, but out of a sheer loss of control over any "free time" I possibly came in possession of over the last 15 months!
The Vastola household has changed a lot since last June, why don't I fill you in quickly...Shortly after my last post Jeremy and I decided to try for baby #2, well that didn't take very long! I was pregnant by the end of July and the Lord blessed us with a BEAUTIFUL baby boy, Logan Tyler Vastola on March 13, 2010!! That's not the only thing that has kept us busy since then...Jeremy graduated from EMT school in October and received his firefighting certifications in February. This was a HUGE blessing because his school and extra time volunteering took a lot of time away from Katelyn and I, my pregnancy with Logan was interesting to say the least when most of the time Jeremy was wrapped up in studying for something! Little did we know that the busyness of school and firefighting training was nothing compared to what God had in store for us!!
On March 8, 2010 Jeremy accepted a job with Puckett EMS, which was an answer to prayer as Jeremy's construction business had almost come to a complete halt! The frightening thing was that his 1st day of work was March 15...the day we brought Logan home from the hospital!! Needless to say, I was thrown into a world of single parenting every 3rd day immediately. As of August 15th, Jeremy has been working for Rural Metro in Roswell, which has been a much better fit for our family. I'm not going to bore you with any more details...all I will say is that the Lord has really been doing a work in Jeremy and I individually, as a couple and as a family.
Another BIG thing that has occurred since our last "visit" is, we left our church home of 4+ years and have found a new church family that is much closer to home and has just felt like home since our first Sunday! Revolution Church is in Canton and is just taking off....it's very exciting to see everything that the Lord is doing there....so glad and thankful to get to be a part of it!

I am so looking forward to being able to update you all on our "Happenings in Harmony" more regularly!! Katelyn and Logan are both at a place where my nights are now my own again, and being a mom of two has definitely lost it's "newness" and all of the craziness that comes along with it! I'm gonna leave you with a few pics from the last 15 months...enjoy!!

My sister Melanie took photos of K and L while she was in the states in April...Logan was 1 month and Katelyn was 22 months. K has been such a wonderful BIG "sissy" to her "bubba"!



Yes, this is my 2 yr. old at her 2nd Birthday....I know she looks about 13...she is such a little woman! She had a pool party b/c she absolutely LOVES to swim...it was a wonderful day! You can see her "Chi-Chi" in the background...one of the highlights in Katelyn's week is dinner with Chi-Chi and Toe-Toe at Buffalo's! (They are Jeremy's grandparents.) How cool is it that she gets to spend so much time with her great-grands?! We are so happy they are able to see our children grow!


Don't I have adorable kids?! I have no idea how that happened!!
Seriously, I think it's fun that J and I have mini me's in our house...
I LOVE being a mommy!






We were so glad to go to the beach atleast once this year...we visited Myrtle Beach for the 1st time, well Litchfield Beach and really enjoyed it....I'm glad I made sure my children and husband looked good for this pic, too bad in this pic I'm wearing day old makeup and my hair is nappy from waking up only 40 mins. before hand!! Ugh!


Katelyn started a 2 day Preschool Program this year! It's been GREAT for her and it's been really nice to have one on one time with my Lil' Man!! This was her saying "Hi Daddy"...unfortunately this is a day Jeremy had to miss.

Isn't Logan such a cutie?! He is 6 mo. old in this pic and it's the day before his first 2 teeth came through! He is getting so big, I can hardly believe it!! I know, I know....he is a little Jeremy!!

I'm so glad I got back into the saddle of blogging....I will not allow another 15 months go by...here's to the "Happenings" to come and letting you all in on them!!

Katelyn's 1st Birthday Party!

Saturday afternoon we had Katelyn's 1st Birthday Party! It was so much fun and Katelyn had a blast!! Here are some pictures from the day.


I made the cake all by myself...I will never do it again...It was a DISASTER!! Thankfully Katelyn is only One and doesn't know how horrible the cake actually looked, all that mattered is that it tasted YUMMY!


She didn't have any fun...j/k, she was a ham as always and had everyone laughing!!





She started off slow with the cake...but by the end, she was standing in it!!








This is where we decided it was time to get cleaned up...Daddy and Katelyn had other plans!






I was a little flabbergasted as I watched Jeremy and Katelyn have their fun...thankfully God sent me a wonderful neighbor, Teresa who cleaned the highchair while Jeremy and I ran upstairs to clean Katelyn!

As you can tell Katelyn enjoyed being the center of attention...and I enjoyed watching her have so much fun! She is definitely like her daddy...always the life of a party! I'm glad next year won't be so messy! I still can't believe my baby is 1! Here's to a 2nd year of fun, laughter and memories!!