Rejects

With all the pictures I took, you know I have some rejects from the pumpkin patch! Enjoy!

And my personal favorite:

Texas Style Pumpkin Patch

Ya'll are so lucky. Seriously- I have seen so many great authentic Pumpkin Patches around the country over the past few days and I am jealous!! Here in Texas, we pile a bunch of pumpkins together in a parking lot and call it a "patch"!

Ok, it's not that bad, but it's certainly not on a farm with rolling hills and beautifully colored trees in the background. I managed to find a local nursery that was having a fall festival on Saturday, so I piled the kids up and off we went. So the visit is more for mom to get the obligatory fall pictures of the kids, but you'll see in the following pictures that the kids had fun!

First, we had a gourd hunt- similar to an Easter Egg hunt, but you search for gourds. My kids managed to find a few, but there were families that hogged them all up. Seriously? What are you going to do with 30 tiny gourds? Save some for the rest of us!! Oh well, kids enjoyed it? Check!

Next, we have a hay ride. So what if it goes down an alley and back again. Do we have a tractor and some hay? Yep! Kids enjoyed it? Check!
Now, for picture time- little bubba just wasn't in the mood- no smiles from him, but he still looks precious. Kids enjoyed this one? Not so much, but they are a patient bunch when it come to me taking pictures.

Lastly, Daddy helps the kiddos carve and does an excellent job on getting exactly what Jack wanted...a skull and crossbones!!

Happy Fall Ya'll

Texas Style!

Post It Note Tuesday- Facebook!!

I had too much fun with this one last Tuesday. Click on the above link to join in. And enjoy my ode' to Facebook...post it note style.

5 Months

My how time flies! I can't believe my precious baby is already 5 months old! Man!! I know I have said this a thousand times, but I really do feel like it was yesterday that we were bringing him home from the hospital.

And look at my chunker- he looks so big in the below picture- might just be that his pumpkin onesie is a little baggy on him.....

He is starting to sit up with help- he was on his way over while I snapped this shot.
What else have we accomplished this month? Well, he is now eating rice cereal- these shots are from his first try- everything that went in his month promptly came back out. I scooped more off of his chin than what he actually swallowed. He'll get the hang of it.

Even Grandma & Papa Illinois gave it a try....

He had a fantastic visit by his Illinois Grandparents- they spoiled him every minute of it.

And this baby can smile at everyone- stops people in the store with his mega-watt grin. He has a precious dimple in his right cheek that I hope he never loses.


Happy 5 months Bubba Boy! We have so enjoyed having you in our lives!!

Post It Note Tuesday: Family Time

Jessica over at This, That, & My Blog introduced me to Post It Note Tuesday hosted by Supah Mommy. Love this concept- check out their blogs to see some funny post it notes. Can't say mine are funny, but I had a lot of fun doing them....

Happy Tuesday my Friends!

One Bored Saturday Night....

we did the mash.......

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

I love Scouts

My sweet boy just joined the Boy Scouts. And his big sister has been in the Girl Scouts for the past 3 years. Can I just tell you how much I love this organization? I know, it has a horrible connotation with being "dorky" and when kids get older they won't readily admit to being in Scouts, but it is a fantastic program for kids.

Where else do you recite these fantastic words?

On My honor, I will try

To serve GOD, and my country,

To help people at all times,

And to live by the Girl Scout Law.

-Girl Scout Promise

I, (say your name), promise

to Do My Best

To do my DUTY to GOD

And my Country

To help other people, and

To obey the Law of the Pack.

-Cub Scout Promise

I was a girl scout for several years, so naturally I wanted to get Sissy involved when she was old enough. We have done so many fun things like learning to ice skate, visiting a pumpkin patch, cooking, crafts, but most importantly making lots of new friends. Yes, I have complained numerous time about the cookie time...I was the cookie mom 2 years in a row (the first year to 20 first grade Brownies!!) so I had a right. But I do feel it is an excellent organization that teaches our girls self-confidence, morals, and right from wrong.

Brody is now old enough to join Cub Scouts. He expressed an interest right away to join. Matt and he went to the first meeting where he made a boat out of 2 pencils and a piece of styrafoam- he was hooked. And when they talked about camping...he was over the moon! Matt? Not so much. But once he was able to see what a great opportunity this was for Brody, he warmed up to it all. And now he and Brody are busy working on his Bobcat requirements and out selling popcorn in the neighborhood! Whew! There is a lot to do with the Boy Scouts!!

Most importantly, the Scouts organization is rich with tradition, Boy Scouts starting in 1910 and Girl Scouts starting in 1912. And much of the foundation remains the same, including "duty to GOD" and "Serving GOD". What other public organizations for kids still have God in their by-laws? Still discuss the importance of God in our lives? Not many. And I like it.

I dropped out as a Junior Scout because we moved and we never picked it back up. I hope my kids ride this one out. I wouldn't mind my son joining the ranks of these former Eagle Scouts.....Gerald Ford (US President), Steven Spielberg (Producer/director), James Brady (US Press Secretary), or Walter Cronkite (TV personality).

Halloween's-a-comin! FMM

It is Friend Makin' Monday Time! Join in the fun with Amber at AEFilkins- just blog about the topic of the week, join in fun with McLinky, and go make new friends by visiting other's posts & commenting on them. I have met so many fun people on Friend Makin' Mondays!

This week's Friend Makin' Monday is all about Halloween! Specifically, what are we going to be for Halloween? It takes all the energy I have to figure out what my kids are going to be, so I don't have any left for myself. Which is fine by me. I'd much rather see my kiddos having fun!

So we were prepared this year! Months ago, Sissy and I decided what we as a family were going to be. I always wanted to do our costumes as a theme. And as big fans of Star Wars Clone Wars, the kids wanted to go as these characters:

We were even including the baby as Master Yoda:
And our sweet puppy resembles as Ewock.
It was going to be perfect. Until peer pressure hit my girl. You see, all of her friends are going as fairies from the Rainbow Magic series. And so, Sissy picked 5 that she "could" be and we spent all day searching the internet to find an outfit to resemble one of them. This is the one we came up with. A cute purple dress from Target and purple knee socks to match. All we need now is a handmade necklace and flower for her hair, and we are set to be:
Her brother, of course doesn't want to be a Jedi Knight without his sister, has changed his mind to be an "army guy". So he & Dad will head to the local Army Surplus store soon to get something similar to this:

And everyone is happy at my house. Whew!