Pumpkin Patch

When we lived in State College, we had the most magical falls that included the BEST pumpkin patch.  We would wear a sweater or light coat, put a hat on James, grab a pumpkin coffee on the way and go for the morning.  The leaves would be turning, and it is still one of our favorite memories.  Since moving to Houston we have tried a different pumpkin patch each year trying to find something that resembles the one in State College.  Most are dusty, crowded, commercialized and HOT!  While the sweaters and coffee have been replaced with shorts, tank tops and ice cream, we may have come as close as we ever will to duplicating SC.  

James didn't have soccer this weekend, and two other friends joined us Saturday morning at Blessington Farms (about 30 minutes west of Houston).  Jordan's wife Ashleigh is sick (may have caught my stomach bug), and Elizabeth's husband Matt had to work.  These are sweet, dear friends, and we all had a great time.  Anna (Matt and Elizabeth's daughter) and Luke are in the same class, and we just adore sweet Ella (Jordan and Ashleigh's girl).

Natalie wanting to go slide rather than take a pic

The weather was typical Houston: HOT, HOT, HOT!  I'm talking 90 degrees.  Brad and I refused to wear shorts to a pumpkin patch, but we regretted it soon after arriving.  We all had a blast!  I think the big slide was the biggest hit for everyone.  In fact, at one point we couldn't find Natalie, and I knew just where to find her.  She was going up and down the slide--perfectly happy and without a care in the world.

James humored me and agreed to take a picture with his coordinating pumpkin shirt.  HOWEVER, he brought an extra shirt to change into as soon as I was satisfied with the picture.  He said it looked like a pj shirt, and while I agree, there was a lot of back and forth trying to convince him to wear it.  

James loved the hamster wheel, but Natalie wasn't much help.

 

I loved the scene that surrounded this train ride.  Brad had a little difficulty getting his long legs into the car.

tight fit!  

Jordan and Ella, Elizabeth and Anna

We took a break for corn dogs, which may or may not have been a good idea.  As I mentioned, it was 90 degrees, and as soon as Natalie finished her last bite, she went back to sliding.  Well, as she was getting into the car to leave, she threw up.  She felt fine after (and never got sick again), but I think we learned our lesson: maybe fried food isn't the best.  But let's be serious, it's hard to pass up a corn dog.

Heat, sweat and sick child aside, we had a fantastic time!

Perks of being sick

This past week I developed a nasty stomach bug.  What I thought was food poisoning lasted four days, and death crossed my mind more than once.  However, staying home from work did have a couple of perks: I got to pick the kids up from school (one of my favorite parts of the day), do bath time, and I got to see Natalie's Tippi Toes class!

This prissy princess loves Tippi Toes.  Most mornings she wakes up and asks "Is it Tippi Toes today?" We have some work to do on the technical side of things, but she could not be more excited about ballet :)  I never took ballet, but I do hope Natalie will continue to love it.

the alligator move--yes, it's a technical term

don't you just love her excitement!

Our evenings can best be described as utter chaos.  Brad walks in at 5:30 and is met with three hungry cutie pies.  I don't get home until 6:00-6:30 most days, which means bath time is more of an assembly line than play time.  So this week we enjoyed longer baths.  I tried to get a smiling picture, but it ended up being silly faces.  Check out Luke!  

Brad seems to be the only one (knock on wood) that caught my bug, so here's hoping the kiddos don't get sick!!

Luke is 2!

Last weekend we celebrated this little guy turning 2!

Luke is the most joyous little boy.  He is so stinking funny and laid back.  He has the cutest little white man underbite smile, and in the past two months he has developed a wide range of expressions to convey his excitement (see below).  He is David Wall's mini-me and a little pigeon-toed which makes his run more of a fast waddle.  He is extremely resourceful in getting what he wants, food in particular (climbing on his table, opening the pantry, moving his chair over to the counter, etc.)  We adore him, especially James and Natalie.  Basically, he can do no wrong.  :)  I took these pictures the morning of his birthday: couldn't you just eat those chubby cheeks.

 
Luke LOVES car and school buses.  Every morning on the way to school, he yells "BUS! BUS!" at the sight of a school bus.  Since I started planning this "party" the Wednesday before, we did a small get together with a few of his friends.  I added multiple photos of the same shot because he is just irresistible---look at him going after the cupcake!

please notice his little tongue

I could go on and on about this happy baby boy.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LUKE!

Cabo!

The night before I accepted my new job Brad told me that he had a birthday surprise: a planned trip to Cabo!!  We usually just do card and dinner, so this was a total shock!  Allison and Mrs. Georgia came into town to keep the little ones, and we couldn't have been more grateful.  Sidenote: mom ditched us to go see the Pope.

Brad and I were basically as lazy as we could possibly be for five days.  We slept in, had late and long breakfasts, took morning and afternoon naps, read a lot, drank some beer, ate amazing food and just had the most amazing time!  The weather was unbelievably beautiful--so much so that one day I commented that there were actually some clouds in the sky.  Yeah, it was that perfect. 

from our balcony

We ate dinner out two nights, the first being at Flora Farms.  This is a farm in the middle of no where (think dirt road), and everything that they serve is grown on their farm or range.  It was the most fun atmosphere, with a great bar and a fantastic two person band (American music).  This is the same picture (the second being cropped), but I loved the scenery.  We literally were on a beautiful farm in the middle of these lush mountains.  

The food was incredibly fresh and tasty, and the highlight was definitely the pork belly that Brad ordered---basically it was a huge slab of bacon.   Such a fun birthday celebration dinner.  Oh, and the BEST chocolate cake that I have ever tasted!! 

For our last night we went to dinner at Hacienda Cocina, which is on the water overlooking the arch.  When we made the reservations we didn't realize that there was a lunar eclipse!!  We witnessed the entire eclipse, and everyone at dinner was captivated by it--as were we!  That is the moon, not the sun, in the first picture.  

Meanwhile in Houston........

bounce house fun! 

worn out!

Dollar Tree finds

no words needed

wearing James's cleats

Caroline doesn't know what to think of these crazy kids

Popsicles!

tv with grandmama!

Allison said Luke and Natalie really missed us, Natalie in particular.  This picture kinda breaks my heart.  For some reason I couldn't crop it to zoom in on her face, but she seems so sad.  

James won his team's first "Wolfster" award at his soccer game.  It's the award for the player who really listened to the coach and made a great play.  Grandmama told me that James said Wolfster is 47 years old and is Kitty's dad.  

Allison said that every time the phone would ring, Luke would say "Mom! Dad! Mom! Dad!"  

A great weekend for all involved!!