The Pumpkin Patch, 2011

We had the most beautiful fall weekend here in the Lou last week, just perfect! We spent so much time outside and it was just lovely, our weekend rounded out with a trip to the pumpkin patch on Sunday. We went with some friends and had a great time. It was a new place and I think we will definately go back. We got to pick the pumpkins off the vine and it was way too much fun. It got me so exciting for Christmas tree shopping!!! I seriously think I could decorate the house tomorrow for Christmas and be totally content :)

My little stinker, I totally made him pose at the entrance with the pumpkins, he was actually somewhat compliant, haha!

We rode on the wagon over to the field where we picked out our pumpkins and waited to drive back. It was just such a pretty day and we found some good looking pumpkins!

He was totally over the smiling and posing for pictures, he wanted to run around with his friends. But, paparazzi Momma couldn't resist taking a few more pictures of my sugar :)

We couldn't leave without a little "tiny" pumpkin for Connor to carry around. He wants that one to go in his room to match the pumpkin lights we put up. I am pretty sure he is the sweetest thing in town.

Our sweet little family, we had such a nice day! After the pumpkin patch it was time for naps and powerwashing the porch! It was a great weekend and we are just so thankful for this gorgeous fall weather!

Brookdale Farms

We have been blessed with some great neighbors and I just love them! We all have kiddos around the same age, like to be at home and have fun - it works out perfect! I love being able to have a great time with Bj and Connor - have both of them have a great time, and not have to go anywhere - haha! Friday was a beautiful day so we decided to head to Brookdale Farms for a little fun with the kiddos! None of us had been, but it was really cute. It was just the right size for the kids to have fun and the Momma's not to panic about losing a child :)

This was a hit for everyone - the corn box. We were so lucky and got there at the perfect time, we almost had everything to ourselves! I seriously must have put Connor's shoes back on about a 115 times this day :) It was so entertaining in fact, we said someone needed to put one in the backyard! I believe I was elected, we shall see if it happens!

 The cow train was pretty fun, so fun in fact the Momma's got to ride too! The kids were laughing, they kept going - it's fun and bumpy!

 Connor was fixing me a delicous breakfast of corn - what can I say, he is pretty good to his Momma!

They were so sweet on the hayride, they loved it! It was just such a fun day and the perfect little fall outing. Have I mentioned that I love the fall? I seriously can't get enough of it. We are going to hit up the pumpkin patch tomorrow, woo-hoo! When I was putting Connor to bed we were talking about the best parts of our day (this is usually the best part of my day, I LOVE hearing what he says!) - here is Connor's best part of the day:

"Driving in Miss. Jess's mini-van because the doors open and I can help Reese out" Hahaha! Maybe a mini van is in my future?! :) 

My Favorite...

My favorite little boy and my favorite little picture of him this summer :) We had such a fun little day at the park...it was a HOT day and we were the only ones there. We just couldn't resist a little chik-fil-a lunch and park date though :)

Feeding the Goats!

I couldn't resist a few more Grant's Farm pictures - we went back to feed the goats again and had a wonderful time. Connor keeps asking me when we can go back and feed the goats and visit Miss. Budweiser the donkey! :) I love cool weather and fun family outings!! And great Groupons that allow for free parking, goat feedings, carousel rides, lunch and snow cones!

Notre Dame Weekend

Last weekend we were excited to head out of town for the opening game at Notre Dame. My father-in-law went to ND and is a huge fan - Bj was excited to go back and I was excited to explore the campus and see a game in the stadium. I love college campuses and it always fun to explore a new campus. It was gorgeous and the history was so neat - I of course said it was no Elon, but really what is?! :) I loved looking at the chapel and the grotto (we lit a candle and said a little prayer, bj said it is FULL on game days). The main campus building with the dome was SO pretty with a huge open rotunda looking up to the dome. The dorms were so neat and so was the stadium. They needed more seats so they built an upper level around the excisting stadium which was just so cool. I learned this weekend when we were watching the game that it was modeled after the stadium at Michigan.

The grotto was so neat, as a Catholic it was really cool to see the Catholic elements all over this Catholic school. The dorms all have a chapel in them, and there are no fraternities or sororites because they are all one big family. For the first time they let people walk through the tunnel that the players run through in the stadium. It was so fun to walk down and imagine what game days must feel like for the players. We saw the "Play like a champion Today" sign - though my hubby was being a stick in the mud and wouldn't pose for a picture :)

It was so neat to be down where all the action takes place and then see it again for game day the next day. We walked around for awhile but it was HOT. After lunch and a few purchases for Connor in the bookstore we were off to get ready for dinner. We went to Tippecanoe Place and it was SO NEAT. It is the old Studebacker mansion turned into a restaurant. You eat in all the different rooms of the house, we ate in the library that was pretty much the size of our house :) It was then time to get rested for tailgating bright and early the next morning.

We started tailgating at 8:30 - and it was HOT, really hot. By the time we left the stadium at almost 10pm it was almost cold! After extreme heat in the morning, half of the football game, a two and a half hour rain delay followed by more football and another rail delay - we said it was the longest day of tailgating/football we had ever had!

We were dipping wash cloths in the cooler to cool ourselves off and I had a water bottle in my shirt between my boobs, it really was that hot!

It was such a fun weekend - we are so thankful we were invited to go! It was such a neat experience and definately makes watching the games a little more exciting when it's a place we have been. We were so excited to get back home to our sweet Connor and the doggies - Nonny was a saint and watched all three of them for us this weekend! We are so thankful for amazing parents who take us places and watch our "children" :)

First Day of Preschool!

Ah, I can't even believe I am typing the words "first day of preschool" in association with my baby. Wasn't he just born like 6 months ago?! The time has come and we couldn't be more thrilled with his new school, but it's still a little tough for this momma :) We have been talking SO much about school and he has been so excited. We went to the grocery store Monday afternoon and picked up his requested breakfast (2 eggies, saugit (sausage), cinnamon rolls, and oranges.). Sounded good to me! I woke up before everyone Tuesday morning and got everything started (how I wish, wish, wish I could do that every morning) while my boys were still snoozing away. Then it was off to wake up the little man and get our day started! 

We went to a preschool play date last Thursday so it was fun talking at breakfast about his friends and who he would see again at his first day. I also told him we were going to take some pictures like Momma and Uncle Davey did before their first day of school every year - with the dreaded paper bag, haha! He was actually SO excited about it and was cheesing it up for the camera. 

He wanted his first picture taken with Frankie Doggie - totally happy to oblige :) Doesn't he look cute in his first day of school outfit? I have seriously had it out and ironed for like two weeks :) He had on his little tennis shoes and was just looking too sweet for words!

There he is, my sweet, sweet little boy - all ready for the adventures of a new school, new friends, new teachers - so many exciting things await my sweet Connor!

He wanted a picture with the doggies - the smile was too cute not to share, I loved that he was waving his sign in the air so fast, haha!

He was getting tired of the pictures by the time I made him stand on the front steps at school - he would only sit and I was going to take what I could get! He loved his little school bag, it is getting his name and a little car on it this afternoon. I was not about to pay $7 for monogramming when I can do it myself, haha!

Meeting Dottie the fish and checking out the classroom. We literally had to drag him out of there to go outside, which is HUGE because he loves playing outside. We met lots and lots of really nice friends, teachers and parents. We are so excited to be a part of the ECNS family.

They have cozy coupes, need we say more?! The playground is so fun and since it's in an older part of town there are lots of big trees with great shade and coverage. We are just so excited, nervous, proud and happy for our sweet boy and this big milestone. We know he is going to LOVE school and I can't wait to hear all about his adventures! I asked him as I was putting him to bed last night (he was so tired he was sound asleep at 7:15)! what his favorite part of the day was: seeing his friends, playing outside and watching Dottie the fish. TOO SWEET!

The Park

Bj and I have always loved camping, going to the park, taking the dogs to the river, etc. It is something that we haven't done much of the last two years with moving both years and getting settled in St. Louis and then our house. So, we decided one day a few weeks ago to find a little place to maybe do some hiking, and letting Connor and the dogs run around. We thought we had a spot in mind but after driving for awhile couldn't find it and then happened upon this little place. We had the best time playing in the water, watching the dogs and eating a little picnic.  

I just had to throw this one in there - he cracks me up with his hands in his pockets. Sweet little thing.

He pretty much loves terrorizing the dogs and being able to do it out in the open was heavenly for him, haha! He was jumping over the logs and having the best time. I seriously love that little stink pot.

Sedona is like a little old lady swimming in the water - she loves it. She just can't get enough of it, she just kind of glides through the water and you don't know she is there. Scout on the other hand doesn't love the water, he looks like a horse jumping through it and he prefers to bark at/make sure his sister is safe from the shore! Connor loved throwing the sticks in for them to "fetch".

Doesn't he look cute in his Elon shirt? (thanks Bush!) I just love it. I asked him if he was going to go to Elon for college and he said yes. I then said but you are never going to leave your momma, are you? He said YES (I think he was mistaken, ha!) and said he was going to leave me for high school. Silly goose - he cracks us up.

I finally pulled our good camera out for the first time this summer and had a lot of fun taking pictures of the little man - I laugh because you never know what you are going to get when you tell him to say "cheese!".

It was such a nice little morning spent with my sweet family. We had the best time and already can't wait to do it again! Oh, if you are wondering what he is doing in this picture, he is asking Daddy to go and get his shoe that he threw in the water, even though we repeatedly told him not too - stink pot :)