Pumpkins

Last week we ventured to the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins for Halloween. I only got a few pictures because my camera batteries died about 5 minutes after we arrived.

The pumpkin patch had several of these wagons to pull your kids in and haul pumpkins around with.

Of course the kids had to take turns pushing/pulling the wagon.

This week for Family Home Evening, we carved the pumpkins. Well, Brent and I carved them. Drew saw the pumpkin guts and dry heaved and ran inside to watch cartoons. All I could get him to do after that was draw his smiley face on the pumpkin.

As soon as Avery saw the guts, this is about as close as she would get.

She would run up and touch the pumpkin from arm's length and then run away. Due to their fear of pumpkin guts, I ended up carving out the kids pumpkins.

Brent printed off some templates on-line and we attempted to carve out our masterpieces. I opted for the spider and Brent chose an Albert Einstein picture. Needless to say the Einstein carving did not work out. I don't know how people carve out intricate little designs in a big fat pumpkin with a steak knife. After quickly realizing that the Einstein carving would be next to impossible to create, Brent scrapped the idea and wound up with an improvised contemporary design. Here's how they turned out.

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Random Picture

I have seen this on other blogs and the tag has finally come to me. Thanks Liza. I have been tagged to post a random picture. Well, it's actually a specific random picture. I am supposed to go to my 3rd picture file and post the 4th picture. So here it is.....

This was taken 6 months ago. Drew and Avery were in her crib just playing. Just for kicks, here's the next picture in the file. I call it drunk baby on a potty. Avery is 9 months old here. It was fun to go through all my old pictures and reminisce. We have a few different photo folders so I could have chosen any number of "3rd file, 4th photos" to share. I'm feeling generous today so I will share this next picture in case you need something to laugh at. This is what I found in the 3rd file, 4th picture of another photo folder we have.

I know, right? I was freaking huge!! I was 9 1/2 months pregnant with Avery and going to be induced that morning (I was 2 1/2 weeks over my due date before I was finally induced). I was talking to my mom on the phone finishing what turned out to be my last meal for the next 2 days (gotta love an unexpected C-section).

And yet another file folder had me posting this picture. This is a 3 day old Drew. I call that the cross-eyed goo goo look.

Now I tag Erin, Traci, and Danielle. Have fun going through your old pictures! I know I did.

If there is such a thing as Death By Whining, I think I am going to die a slow and painful death.

Out of the Mouths of Babes

We had a Primary program practice in the chapel today. All the Sunbeams were right in front and Drew chose that opportunity to announce to everyone that

"Avery is a turd bucket!"

His teachers thought it was quite funny. I guess we need to be more careful with our nicknames around here.

Wee Ball

Drew started tee ball a couple of weeks ago and has already played a couple of games. It is a 3 and 4 year old league so they call it wee ball. It's funny to watch these kids in action. Most of the games are spent chasing one or two of them around the field with them screaming that they don't want to play anymore. Kids are playing in the dirt on the in-field or picking their nose. When the batter hits the ball, everyone (including the batter) chases the ball. They forget they are all on the same team so it turns into a knock down drag out fight for the ball. Then someone is sad that they didn't get it so more tears are shed. It is truly a league where everyone is a winner because I don't know how you would even keep score of the mayhem on the field. I don't even know if there are any rules in this league. It's fun to watch because it's total chaos but the kids have fun.
Drew is no more focused than the other kids. While your team is on the field, a parent has to be out there with the child at all times. Drew spends his time on the field going under my legs like a tunnel over and over and asking if it's time for treats yet. His favorite is when it's his turn to bat.

Their team name is the Rowdy's so my ever crafty friend Danielle had the idea to make t-shirts for us that say "Rowdy Mom." We even made shirts for our kids. Avery's says "Rowdy Sister."Avery loves going to the games but wants desperately to run around the field with the other kids. She's always trying to make her get-away through the dugout and onto the field.

The season will be over in a couple of weeks but it's been so fun to have Drew play on the team. His best friend, Jacob is on the team with him and together they are having a good time. Next year they will be the veterans on the team!

Out of the Mouths of Babes

Exasperated Mommy: Go play in the other room and close the door!!!



Equally frustrated 3 year old: Augh!! What the heck, mom?! You're freakin me out!



I guess we were both having a stressful day.

Colorado

A couple of weekends ago we went to Creede, Colorado to spend the weekend with my family. It was a quick 9 hour drive and only one bunny rabbit was harmed in the making of this trip (but that's what happens when a 10 pound bunny plays chicken with a one ton SUV. Not my fault the bunny had a death wish.) We got a cabin at Freeman's Ranch and enjoyed a simple life for a few days. It was a great trip and we had lots of fun. It wasn't as cold as I was hoping it would be but it did get chilly so it was a nice break from this Texas heat. Drew enjoys any opportunity to wear a hood so he was thrilled with the cool weather. We didn't come across any wild animals but we saw a rattlesnake at a rest stop. (As a side note, there was a big sign that warned of snakes in the area. My dad happened upon the rattlesnake when he and Drew ventured off the beaten path. When he yelled to us that there was a rattlesnake, there were about 10 other travelers at the rest stop with us. ALL of the men went around the railing to go look at the snake and ALL of the women stayed safely on the sidewalk to respect the deadly snake that was coiled, rattling and ready to strike. That's how people die. I'm sure my dad poking it with a stick didn't help. Sheesh. Men.) Anyhoo, here are a few pics from our trip.

(One of the kids' favorite things was the swingset at the Ranch.)

(The kids enjoyed hanging out by the creek. Grammy showed them how to step on big rocks to stay out of the water. They thought it was pretty fun.)

(This trip began Avery's love affair with rocks. She would hold them all day, sleep with them and carry them around the next day. She would tap them together, throw them, or just hold them. A girl and her rocks.)

(She loved to pick them up.)

(Throw them.)

(No matter the mess)

(She didn't go anywhere without her rocks.)

(Papaw and Avery surveying the horses before our ride.)

(I was surprised--my fearless child did not want to be on that horse.)

(But Drew was ready to ride.)

(Avery ended up falling asleep for most of the ride.)

(But woke up for the last part. I was glad Papaw took her with him because a few times, the horses got a little jumpy and I don't think I would have been able to hold on to her.)

(Nyah was brave and rode around the stable all by herself.)

(Slumber Party! Since there was no tv and it was too cold at night to be outside, when the sun went down, we played games. Nines and Mexican Train dominoes were our favorites.)

(The kids even got to go fishing for the first time.)

(They didn't catch anything but they had fun trying. I think Avery's rock throwing scared the fish away.)