hot pumpkins

For the 3rd year in a row, we made the 40 mile trek to Burt's Pumpkin Farm. Each year our group has grown larger. The first year it was D, The Mayor, PopPop and me. Last year we added Mamie and Meega to the mix, and this year Uncle J, Bennett and Uncle J's parents joined in on the fun. This year we also tripled the amount of kids...triple the kids, triple the fun. It's exciting and bittersweet to see how much has changed in these past 3 visits to Burt's. The first year, The Mayor couldn't even walk. He was content to be carried and wheeled around in a wheel barrow. Last year, Meega and myself were pregnant and The Mayor could definitely walk and was content in picking up every pumpkin he could find. This year, Bennett and Love Bug are here and The Mayor had big fun running through all of the pumpkins, attempting to drive the wheel barrow and just soaking it all in.

We arrived at the same time of morning as we did last year, but apparently everyone else and their mother had the same idea. It was packed. Usually, D can walk right up to the ticket booth, purchase our tickets for the hayride and we walk right onto the ride. This year, we had to stand in line for about 30 minutes to get our ticket, but luckily once the tickets were purchased we walked right onto the hayride. After we got off of the hayride, we had heard the wait was up to 2 hours. Next year, we will be arriving as soon as they open the gates.

Meega and I purchased matching long-sleeved Halloween shirts for The Mayor and Bennett, and by 10:30, it was almost too hot for them to be in those shirts. I am not sure where the fall weather that graced us last week went, but I sure hope it returns soon.

Regardless of the warm temperatures, we had an amazing time. There is just something about this time of year that makes me so unbelievably happy...and sharing that with family is just icing on the cake.

night time fun

Lately, our night time routine has become the same. Dinner, serious playtime, bath and bed. The serious playtime usually entails The Mayor riding D around the family room like a horse, The Mayor begging D to spin him around and around, The Mayor begging D to throw him up in the air, D and I following The Mayor around the family room and kitchen like we are airplanes and Love Bug jumping in her jumperoo with an expression that I can only assume translates to "is this seriously my family?". But I wouldn't have it any other way. The 3 people I love the most all in one room smiling and laughing.

The Mayor wanted his daddy to ride on his back too

seriously??

peas please

Love Bug loves peas. Again, not shocked. After peas, we have green beans and then we are done with stage 1 foods and on to stage 2.

On a much more important note, Love Bug is getting her first tooth! I can't believe that precious gummy grin will be gone soon. There is nothing sweeter than seeing your baby give you the biggest grin and just seeing gums. I love that stage...and I am sad to see it coming to an end. Her lower left tooth is just starting to cut through and I am sure the other teeth will be sure to quickly follow.

Today Bennett came over to play and The Mayor was thrilled. He just adores his cousin. Playtime with Bennett took us straight to nap time. Both children took long naps and as soon as they woke up, D arrived home from his business trip. He has been gone since Monday and we were excited to have him back home.

The week is now half way over and we are looking forward to the weekend. A family trip to the pumpkin patch is on tap and the weather is going to be amazing. Hayrides, pumpkins and The Mayor pulling his sister and cousin around in the wagon...won't get any better than that.

love her

My precious Love Bug is getting so big. In 5 short days she will be 7 months old and we are closer to celebrating her first birthday than we were to the day she was born. It really does go by so quickly.

She loves to sit up, roll around, laugh and smile. She is a bundle of happy, and for as much as she is a squealer and loves the sound of her own voice she is a silent child. She is perfectly content in just sitting, observing and taking in the world around her.

She is extremely laid back and rarely gets upset. Tears will flow when she is extremely hungry or extremely tired. Other than that, she usually has a smile on her face.

She is more than we ever expected and makes us so happy...all of us. We couldn't imagine our lives without our Love Bug.

love her new sassy jeans

like father like son

This made my heart smile. This week we are hosting our small group Bible study, and since we have not had one spare weekend to get our dining room put back together since the termite damage was repaired, we decided we would just clean the room and everyone can deal with our bare wall. D took down the drop cloths, put away the air compressor, put away the loose trim and decided to help me out by cleaning the room for me. Not one second after he got the floor mop, The Mayor came running into the room ready to help. He went to the pantry to retrieve the broom and promptly assisted his dad. Love it...looks like I am going to have another neat freak in the house. I know that makes D VERY happy.

he did it!

D's first triathlon was this morning...and man, it was awesome! PopPop, Meega, Uncle J and Bennett came to cheer D on. And that made it even more awesome. It was an early morning but totally worth it. D had to be there at 5:30 AM and his age group started at 7:34 AM. I woke up two sleeping babies so we could get there in time.

I was a nervous wreck for two reasons: 1. I was running about 15 minutes behind schedule this morning and was so nervous we were going to miss seeing D start and 2. I was just nervous for him. But I got there with time to spare...I was really nervous during his open water swim and the bike portion. Once I saw him return from the bike and he was on his way with the run, I settled down. It was a 400 yard swim, 13 mile bike and a 5K run. According to his watch, he finished in 1 hour 14 minutes and 47 seconds! His goal was to finish under an hour and a half...and he did it! We are still waiting on the official time to be posted for him...but we are so proud.

Even scarier...this has kind of inspired me to attempt this triathlon next year. I am going to take the full year to get ready...and Lord knows I will need that year. I am so out of shape!

We are so proud of you D...you were awesome today!

and they're off!

coming out of the water on his way to the transition point

done with the bike...on his way to transition to get ready for the run

almost done...a few yards from the finish line!

so proud of our D

too tired to blog

It is now 9:26 and both kids are now finally asleep. We had an unusual night; Love Bug cried almost for 2 hours solid tonight. She cried through her feeding, she cried while she was rocked, she cried after Orajel was given and she cried after Tylenol. About 10 minutes after the Tylenol, she finally sucked her thumb, laid on my shoulder and passed out. She was asleep for a solid 20 minutes on me and still catching her breath while sleeping. Not sure what was going on there...so not like her.

The Mayor had to have 3 additional visits from D and myself. And finally after 1 minute of additional rocking with me, he went to sleep. Not sure what was going on there either. They better not be conspiring against us. Needless to say, I am exhausted and had only the energy to type the bedtime events...and that was purely so I would look back on this one day and smile??