A Tale of Two Pumpkins...

Okay, I wrote out a whole cute (?) little blog and then tried to format it and it was all gone. Now, Max needs a bath and I've had hot dog puked down my back (just keeping it real here). So, our trip to the pumpkin patch and some pumpkin carving in pictures:

Luke rode the horse. Seth did not.

Luke fed the goats. Seth did not.
Luke jumped, like the crazy child that he is, off the bales of hay. Seth eventually warmed up to the idea and did some jumping too.We trekked through this cornfield maze. My sole purpose here was to convince Max that sleep was a good idea.This was achieved by keeping the stroller moving. As an added perk, Luke was kind enough to point out EVERY ear of corn he saw in the cornfield, and even pull us back, sreaming at us to look, if he figured out we were just nodding patronizingly.We headed out to the patch o' pumpkins. I believe the plan was to get two nice big pumpkins. But Luke became quite attached to a third smaller pumpin, which he painstakingly hauled through the patch. [And, Seth and I were headed back to the patch less than 48 hours later for a school field trip where I knew Seth would be getting another small pumpkin so it only seemed fair that Luke get his own little pumpkin too.]Proof that I exist. And that I went to the pumpkin patch. And that I need to lose some weight.That seemed like a lot of pumpkin - 43.1 pounds! Of course, all paid for by the pound.

About double that amount of even better looking human "punkins." I'd pick these three anyday!

And now, for the carving....

Seth wasn't so sure about the insides of the pumpkin.

Luke was equal parts grossed out and hamming it up for the camera. Please notice the power tools on the table. In the end, the pumpkin was carved sans power-chorded tools. But you can't blame a guy for trying!

The final product, pre-lighting.

And finally, the final product all lit up. If you have boys the ages of mine, you no doubt know these guys!

5 months old...

This is a look we see all of the time - thumb in the mouth and one eye covered. So sweet!

Knowledge is power...

I started this post a while back and never posted it, so sorry to withhold such value information. hee hee

Just some things I've learned in the last month or so...


1. Just getting everyone to the gym for me to visit with the treadmill is a workout in itself. Bag for Luke. Bag for Max. Shoes for Luke. Paci and clip for Max. Check them in. Have them lock up Luke's epi-pen carrying bag. Cringe about the little girl waiting to be checked in and eating peanut butter crackers. Pray she doesn't touch your son once they are in the same play area. Uugghh!!


2. I need cuter work out clothes. Perhaps if I looked even a little more put together and less like I was dragging out of bed, I would go more often.


3. Never ask your two year old to put his own shoes on and then send him to the car without looking at him until you get to the restaurant. There is a chance that I know better and was not the parent who did this. There is also a chance that upon opening the door of the car my honey exclaimed, "Luke!" and then got him out of the car wearing a right shoe, and another right shoe. Oops.


4. If it sounds like your infant is exploding spit up, it's a very very bad sign.


5. The car seat cover can be washed and dried in under two hours (see #4). Disregard the "drip to dry" tag.


6. Eating brunch at CrackerBarrel will make you feel half your age, since everyone else there is twice your age.


7. It is physically impossible for me to run into Target for "2 quick things" and come out with less than 8 things. This is true even when my whole family is sitting in the car waiting for me.


8. I need a Sonic closer to my home


9. Starbucks Toffee Mocha is amazing. And it makes an awesome frappuccino too.

My 'punkins' working on projects...

While unpacking my Halloween decorations this year I decided I was bored with them. It seems Seth is at an age where he could "help" me make some new stuff. Kid-type stuff, of course, but just some new stuff. So, last Friday, Luke and Max joined me on a trip to the craft store and we bought some supplies. Then this Tuesday we got started on our project. We bought a big vat of those foam pieces that just stick together. Tons and tons of little pieces. These are on a normal sized paper plate to give you some size perspective. Seth promptly made a very cute little pumpkin with a mask and a bat. Then he replicated it three more times. The exact same design. Out of a package that provided tons of options. Okey dokey then. Luke was quite intent on his project. He was quietly working and I thought he was accomplishing great things. Then I realized his pumpkin was just riding on the skateboard out of his fast food kid's meal. But he was happy.

Someone else wanted in on the action. Can't you just see him eyeing all those wonderful tiny glittery objects? Soon enough sweet boy.

I wanted to make some sort of halloween banner for the backdoor. I had bought a couple pieces of larger cardstock at the craft store (2/$1) and some cool black glitter stickers ($1). Embarrassingly (?), I already had the rest of the supplies. So, after Luke and Max went down for their naps I started painting clothespins. I had leftover clothespins from a Christmas project last year.

About this time, Seth decided that resting was overrated and that he would like to make some more of the little stick together pumpkins. Until he noticed I was painting and then he decided that looked like a lot more fun. Feel free to picture me sitting on my hands, biting my tongue, and attempting not to re-do all of his little white clothespins. I must admit, he really did a pretty good job for his very first time. I think you can see he took it very seriously.

And made sure everything was covered in white.

Here is the finished project. I am pleased to announce that my hubby even noticed it first thing when he came home!

The best birthday gift...

was not the chocolate chip muffins my hubby baked for us

was not the warm coffee when I came down the stairs Friday morning

was not lunch out with my boys at our favorite pizza buffet

was not the beautiful mums they bought me at the orchard

was not the gorgeously sunny 85 degree day in early October

was not the refreshing apple cider slushy

was not leaving my 3 little boys behind for nearly 3 hours of alone time with my hubby

was not the fantastic purse, wallet, and "epi pen holder" (aka cosmetic bag) that my hubby bought for me on our date

was not the gift card to Starbucks, nor the gift card to my favorite scrapbook store

WAS the super sweet person at the orchard who watched me snapping lots of pictures of my boys and kindly came over and said, "Show me how the camera works and I'd be glad to take a picture with you in it." I must admit that I think this is the first photo of all five us together.

[But I did really really appreciate the gifts too honey!]