Pumpkin Patch 2008

I love the fall!! Cooler weather, beautiful leaves, caramel and spice smells and pumpkins everywhere! One of our favorite things to do in the fall is head to a pumpkin patch. This year we headed down to MS again and spent a fun-filled morning at Cedar Hill Farms.

We prepped Luke the night before by telling him we were going for a hayride to find pumpkins and he was SO excited! However, once we got off the wagon and went to the middle of the pumpkin patch, Luke was obsessed with looking for squash!! One of his dear little friends gave him a book called The Ugly Pumpkin. Turns out, at the end of the book, the pumpkin discovers he was a squash all along and exclaims, "Oh my gosh! I'm a squash!" Luke thinks the book is awesome and now has a HUGE interest in squash. So, back to the pumpkin patch---he's running along finding "squash" and squealing with delight. Honestly, we have no idea the difference between a gourd and a squash, so we just called them all squash! He how has 3 of his own and carries them all around the house calling them his toys. Yep---not looking forward to when his toys have to disappear because they rot! Yikes. As for Charlie--he was all smiles--as usual. We bundled him up since it was a little windy, but he was a trooper! I can't wait to see what his reactions to pumpkins are.

Anyway, the day was a blast---including the one hour wait for 1 hot dog and the 20 minute delay in leaving due to us being stuck in the mud. We are big fans of Cedar Hill farms. If you live in the area and didn't go this year, make plans to head there next fall!

Walking through the pumpkin patch

Daddy and Charlie

Taking a breather from all that running around!

Our little pumpkin!


Okay, so Luke was excited about the pumpkins too!

The fam!

a little piece of college football family history

So it's almost Saturday and around our house Saturdays are referred to as "College Football Saturday!" Yep, we love college football and this year just happens to be a HUGE year for us. I thought I'd give you a little history so you can see why we cheer for who we do!

Chad and I both went to Baylor University for undergrad. We met, fell in love and cheered on our Baylor Bears. The only problem with Baylor is they play in the Big 12 and against teams like Texas and Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska, etc., so they are lucky to even have a winning season. Boo hoo! For those of you who only focus on the SEC, Baylor is like the Vandy of the SEC---except for this year, when Vandy is actually doing well! We still cheer, but it's rare that their games are shown on TV in Memphis!
We then got married and decided to go to grad. school. We chose Indiana University and became Hoosier fans right away. Now, Indiana is well known for their basketball program, so college basketball season is lots of fun for us thanks to Indiana. However, IU's football team isn't so great either---maybe a little better than Baylor. Indiana also plays in the Big 10--typically a tough conference, so they too, often have trouble during their season--except for last year, when we did really well! Fortunately we have the Big 10 network so we can see more of their games.

BUT, here's the part that makes Saturdays "College Football Saturdays." I grew up cheering for Penn State! My dad went there and ever since I was a little girl, I have been in blue and white ALL the time cheering on our Nittany Lions. My sister eventually went to PSU too, so as you can see our family's blood runs blue and white. You've NEVER seen a college football game until you have been in Happy Valley at a PSU game. With 110,000 people (that's right) cheering and screaming, the atmosphere is electrifying! So this year, our beloved Penn State team is currently ranked #3 and we are pumped for tomorrow's game at Ohio St. It's ESPN's College Gameday too--awesome!!
So, why does Chad care about "College Football Saturdays?" His dad went to the University of Texas. He was raised a Longhorn fan. I still think I'm more of a Penn State fan than he is Texas, but that's beside the point. He loves the Longhorns. AND---currently, his team is #1!! As a Baylor girl I quickly learned that Texas and Texas A&M were the enemies, but once I married Chad, I had to accept Texas, as he had to accept Penn State. So, right now, I have no problem cheering on his Longhorns. Plus, I think Texas' quarterback is awesome!
The big question is (and I really am NOT trying to jinx our football situation here--there's a long way to go in the season still) what will happen to our family if Texas and Penn State play in the National Championship???? Lots of you SEC fans have this happen to your families at least once a year, when Auburn plays Alabama or UT plays someone and so on. But for us, with Penn State and Texas in two different conferences, this could be a first for us!!

Chad and I have already discussed what will happen with Luke. Luke loves to cheer for his Nittany Lions and has recently attempted the Longhorn sign too---poor child might be put right in the middle!! At least for me, my family had decked both the boys out in Penn State attire, so we might have an edge!! :)

And since I'm writing this blog--I'm posting a picture of my boys and me all dressed in PSU!!!

it's Charlie's turn!

So, a few days ago I gave you an update on Luke since he just turned 3 years old. It's Charlie's turn now. Charlie--and you might need to sit down for this--is 6 months old!! Okay, maybe I just need to sit down as I feel like I've been doing the exact opposite since he was born! I'm in shock that 6 months have passed so quickly! A half a year already???

A little about Charlie. . .
He's so content--except for when he's not! :) Okay, really he is a super content baby! He THRIVES on eye contact and loves to give out smiles for even the quickest glance his way. Just yesterday he was sitting in his bouncy seat at the dinner table with us and I was talking to Luke but turning my head looking at Charlie and he just started giggling! It became a game. I'd look away and then look right back at Charlie and he thought it was the funniest thing ever. He loves attention!

Charlie also thinks his big brother is pretty cool. We'll be reading a book to Charlie and if Luke is bouncing around the room--the book loses and Luke wins out! I think it's adorable how Charlie will just watch Luke move around and laugh at different things Luke does. Luke, on the other hand, can take or leave Charlie on any given day. Some days he has to know where Charlie is at all times and wants him close by, while other days it's the opposite. In fact, yesterday, while Charlie and I were playing the fun look-at-him-look-away game I mentioned earlier, Luke popped out with "I want Charlie to go back in Mommy's tummy." Hmmmm, sudden jealousy? I hope not---but I guess it's to be expected.

Sweet Charlie just mastered the art of rolling over both ways. He's had the tummy to back down since month 2, but the back to tummy just occurred a couple of days ago. He's also enjoying fruits and veggies baby food now! He's actually much more of a veggie fan at this point, but I'm wondering if it's because I combine the fruit and oatmeal in the mornings. I don't think he likes the oatmeal. I've just started noticing that Charlie is responding to music now too. He's enjoying our singing, but is very aware of and calms to music on toys or classical music, etc.

It's been so much fun watching Charlie grow--from a totally different perspective than the first time around. In some ways it's hard not to compare Charlie to Luke (at what age did Luke roll over, do this or that, etc.) because Luke is the only reference point we have. But, from the other perspective it's so amazing to see how this little cutie is his own self. Does that make sense?

I was recently told that I am "too thankful." I don't think that's possible. Chad and I have SO much to be thankful for and can never thank the Lord enough for everything he has given us--especially for sweet and beautiful little boys!

6 months old! Notice the wet ring around his neck---teething perhaps??

Mommy, are you sure about this??

Luke wants to take a turn feeding his brother!

Yummy carrots! These things are delicious!

Adorable little Charlie!

Luke is 3 years old!

This past week our little Lukey had his 3rd birthday! I've been mentally prepping for it for several months now by saying he's almost three, but there was still that moment of us going in to sing Happy Birthday to him when he woke up on Friday, that made me teary! In a good way though---we are SO proud of him and love him beyond comprehension! What an amazing boy the Lord has blessed us with!

I took Luke and Charlie to the zoo on his actual birthday and he had a blast. For our family celebration we had a party at Gibson's donuts (at his request---he actually said he wanted to have his birthday party at Gibson's--I couldn't believe it)! He filled up on sugar and icing and was bouncing off the walls! Thankfully at 5:30pm on a Friday night, there weren't many customers in for donuts! We all went back and enjoyed pizza and Luke began opening presents. It seems that on big occasions we always manage to have late bedtimes----we don't ever try to do this, but it always happens and attitudes go downhill! So at the end of his birthday night--we were all ready for him to be in bed! :)

Luke's friend birthday party was at Ben & Jerry's ice cream shop. They put on a cute, inexpensive party if you are ever looking for ideas. After being a little overwhelmed at the beginning of the party, Luke warmed up and he and his friends had a great time! Two days in a row of pure sugar and bouncing off the walls make for a tired Lukey. He took a great nap on Saturday!

A little about Luke's personality. . .

Luke is definitely an encourager. He tells Charlie, "Good job, Charlie" when he rolls over. He tells me "Great singing, Mommy" when I sing in the car (not sure if that's encouraging or being tone deaf), he tells Chad, "Good juggling, Daddy" when Chad's playing with him, etc. We're always hearing encouragement from our Lukey. He's also a BIGTIME negotiator. If we say 2 more minutes until bedtime, it's 3 more minutes from him, or if we tell him to go do such and such, he starts this cute story about how "Scoop" (a toy of his) has to drive around the block, around the traffic, and then to get his friends so he won't be lonely, all before do the such and such we ask. Yes, that's disobedience because he doesn't obey right away, but sometimes Chad and I just laugh to each other at hearing these little negotiations that come from his mind!

Watching him grow and develop has been such a blast. He's such a sweet and sensitive boy. He still loves to cuddle and I, of course, eat that up!! He loves books and wants to read all the time. We hope that's something he never grows out of. Luke is easy to excite and has the most genuine adorable reactions to things! He's also very cautious about things and is only comfortable with some things if Mommy and Daddy make it seem okay. He's going through a "fear" phase where so many random things are scary---bed knobs, clocks, certain wall lights, occasionally people, etc. At the same time he's cautious about things, he loves to explore and learn. We're definitely in the midst of the "Why?" stages.

Just a few more tidbits about Luke. . .
Favorite color---He'll tell you it's red--just like Aunt Mary's and just like her car
Favorite food---blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries---supply him with berries and he's a happy camper! I'm not sure what we'll do during the winter when the berries aren't looking their best! He really likes pizza and Cheez It's too!
Favorite toy---he'll say cars, trucks, trains and planes---but currently it's his Bob the Builder vehicles
Favorite show---Bob the Builder
Favorite song---the Bob the Builder theme song----noticing an OBSESSION??? We hear this theme song for hours (I'm not exaggerating) on end. He sings it for 30 minutes in a row while playing with his toys, for 30 minutes at nap and 30 more at bedtime. He loves Bob and friends--and really, it's quite adorable!!

Devouring the blue donut he picked out!

Our family!

In the middle of his sugar high--posing in front of the trays of donuts! Yummy!

The Bob the Builder cake for his friend birthday---isn't our cake lady awesome??!!

Aunt Mary, Mimi and Charlie in all the fun too!

Some of Lukey's friends trying to see what flavor of ice cream they want!

I unfortunately didn't get a group shot with all the kiddos, but we managed to corral some of them! Happy Birthday Lukey--you are our angel!!

Playing at the beach

We're back from a vacation at the beach! Chad headed off to NYC and London on business (poor thing), so my parents invited the boys and me on a trip to Destin (poor us I know). What a wonderful treat it was!

The weather was perfect---I highly recommend a Florida vacation in October--and it was really relaxing. Luke had a blast playing on the beach with his trucks and shovels. He loved the waves and though he wasn't quite sure of the seagulls at first, he grew to think the baby seagulls were cute and had fun chasing them down the beach! Luke and Grandpa also had fun building sand castles, but I think Luke had more fun destroying their creations with his sand plow! Charlie is still a little young to appreciate beachlife, but he was able to enjoy some fresh sea air. He actually picked up some bad non-sleeping habits on this trip, so I have a feeling I'll be spending some time trying to break those!

I'm normally a fan of posed pictures, rather than candids, but I've quickly realized that with a toddler who has a mind of his own and a 6 month old, good posed pics are hard to come by. Here are several of both that captured our fun! Thanks Mom and Dad (Mimi and Grandpa) for a special beach trip. We love you!

Mimi and Luke playing in the sand!

Grandpa and Charlie trying to get comfy on the beach!

Luke digging a hole and watching the water fill it up!

Luke showing Mimi and Charlie his cool seashell!

I love my boys!

Grandparents and their grandsons--such love!