Pumpkins

But of course... the obligatory pumpkin pictures...

This past Saturday we went to the Farmer's Market at La Centerra.  I wanted the kids to pick out pumpkins and I love getting fresh produce from the local farmers there, and there's always some yummy homemade jams or bread.  Kaden saw the pumpkins as soon as we walked up, and ran straight for the "big, huge, giant one."

"I want this big, huge, giant one mommy!"  He could not get over that big pumpkin.  I was really tempted to get it for him, as happy as it made him.  I asked him what we would do with a pumpkin that big and he said, "We can get lots of seeds from it!"  I'm still tempted to surprise him with one.  And in that case, I'll be baking pumpkin pies for everyone we know and we'll be eating pumpkin seeds for months!  Look how happy that pumpkin makes him!

 And amazingly, I actually got a shot with all three kids smiling!

I also found a treat for myself at the Farmer's Market.  I joined an organic produce co-op.  I've been wanting to join one for a long time, but it seemed so complicated.  But it turns out there's one that brings the orders to La Centerra every other week.  The Co-op works where you get organic food at better prices, and you get a selection of whatever fruits and vegetables are bought locally for that week.  So, you find out what you're getting the day before. It'll be good for us because we like lots of variety, and it will help introduce me to some new veggies I haven't tried to cook before.  This week, for example, they had bok choy.  A friends sent me a yummy recipe to use it with shrimp and vermicelli pasta (something else I've never cooked before) and it was so yummy.  Incredibly, all the kids loved it.  Even Linc, who has been avoiding most vegetables lately.  I love how fresh the produce is, knowing that it's locally grown and that it's all toxin-free.  We'll see what other food adventures I have with my next order in 2 weeks.  We ran into Bama and Great-Grandmother Carol at the Farmer's Market.  GG Carol laughed at me as I fed Linc a chocolate chip cookie one of the vendors gave to the kids, while paying for my healthy organic produce.   Linc enjoyed every bit of that cookie - well, the bits that didn't end up on his face.

Last week, my friend Erin took Tayla along with her two daughters Avery & Charli to Enchanted Gardens to take pictures with the pumpkins.  Look how great they turned out!  Thanks Erin!

Then Saturday night we had a Halloween Party at the Smith's.  Here's a sneak preview of the cutie patooties' costumes this year...

our "Glam Witch" (but, of course), Hulk (this would be the 2nd year he's been Hulk - what can I say, the kids loves big muscles, like Daddy), and our adorable little skeleton.

I mean really, have you ever seen a more adorable skeleton?  I love him in this costume.  He wasn't really sure what to think of everyone in their costumes - but he did LOVE my wig.

 

I was The Octomom... really didn't have to add that many kids to play the part. :-)

We had a nice lazy Sunday. We played at the house, then went to the park.

 

I LOVE this picture of Linc.  He was having so much fun putting on his construction hard hat and using his little saw.

While Kaden cozied up and  watched Caillou.

Then it was Kaden's turn to play...

while Linc cozied up.

Tayla had her first Brownie meeting that afternoon, then we went over to Frammy's house for dinner.  The kids love playing at Frammy's because they get to spend hours on the four-wheeler and now they also have her new golf cart to ride around on.  Tayla got to drive Kaden in the golf cart all by herself - Mom and Bama were a little unsure about that idea, but Frammy was sure it was just fine.  Turns out, Tayla's not a bad driver and she avoided crashing into a tree or throwing her brother off (fortunately the golf cart doesn't get going very fast!)  Here are some pictures of the kids running around outside and Linc exploring on the golf cart.

Linc found this tiny acorn and he threw it and chased it around over and over again for the longest time.  He was adorable as he'd run around looking for it.

Linc loves his big brother and he's starting to want to do everything Kaden does.  Outside, Kaden would run around in circles, and Linc would just follow right behind him, not quite understanding the game, but knowing that if big brother was doing it, it must be cool.

Oh, hello again!

I envy all those moms with their cute pictures uploaded and blogged every day.  I tell you, these kids I've got here are so stinkin' cute, and I know the entire world wants to ooh and ahh every their every milestone each day.  I just haven't been able to make it work lately.  So here's a quick catch-up!

4th of July - What a cute bunch!

Tayla's 1st Day of School

Our beautiful 7 year old.

Linc started walking at 9 1/2 months, he learned to say Dadda at 10 months, wave bye-bye and  snap.  That's right.  At 10 months old, our baby genius started snapping.  I'm sure there's a huge future for a child snapping-prodigy.  All of these things I have adorable videos for.  Yet, I think Blogger has changed and now I can't figure out how to upload videos.  Hmmm... next post I guess.

A Tooth!!

Lincoln cut his first tooth today! We were sitting on my Mother-in-laws patio chatting, when he started chewing on my hand, and suddenly something sharp grazed me. I looked and his bottom right tooth had cut through. Yay! It's no wonder he was so unbelievably needy the last two days and not sleeping through the night anymore. I'm happy it's just the teething, and hopefully we'll go back to sleeping a little more normally again. Although, I think the tooth next to it might be working it's way up next.

He's also started pulling up to stand on everything! So cute b/c he's so tiny. And it's the saddest thing ever when I put him down for a nap, and go back in to check on him and not only is he crying, which tugs on my heart, but now sometimes he's standing up, holding the bars, tiny little legs wobbling as he cries to please rescue him from his prison! Almost impossible not to swoop in and pick him up when you see that! He's also started standing on his own for several seconds at a time. He gets so excited, and he knows he's doing something cool.

Ah... the Beach!

Splash Day @ Preschool

Kaden's Preschool had Splash Day on the last day of school. This is RIGHT up Kaden's alley. They had a table covered in shaving cream - so simple, but I think I've now found our go-to Summer Activity. He LOVED it. He's always getting into Shampoos and Lotions and Creams at home, dumping out whole bottles and rubbing them all in his hair and on his belly. This was perfect for him b/c he could cover himself in slimy stuff and not get in trouble!

They also had sidewalk paint, Kiddy pools with tons of toys. Kaden didn't pay much attention to all that though - he was content to spend the entire time covering himself with Shaving Cream and Blowing Bubbles. He LOVES bubbles. Going to have to get him one of these huge bubble wands.


And what a better end to the day, than a popsicle with all his friends. Perfect Day for our little Kaden and a nice end to his first year of Preschool. He loves his teachers Miss Jennie and Miss Susan and he'll miss them. His favorite parts of preschool are recess & music time - he's always coming home singing songs, and I can't always tell what the words are, so I was happy to see that the music teacher gave all the kids a CD with her favorite songs from the school year. Kaden loves it and we dance and sing to it all the time now.

Memorial Day Weekend

Ken was working, as usual, so I took the kids to dinner with several girlfriends at Clay's Restaurant. They have a sandbox, and tons of animals, and a big open field to run around it, so Kaden was loving it.


Here are our 2008 Babies - Lincoln, Brooklyn & Avery, they're all just a few months apart.

My friend Shanna, with her sweet baby girl Avery, and Me with Linc. Shanna and I saw this picture and realized we look a lot like sisters here!

Little Miss B trying on the worlds largest bow!

Miss B, Kirsten & Sara

Buddies

We had a really nice day Monday, playing at the park. We took a break to relax in the shade and it was so fun watching the two of them start to play together. Lincoln is developing such a little sense of humor, I think he will be our little comedian. He's always so happy, and laughing. He thinks his big brother is hilarious. This video has me cracking up every time I watch it. Almost as funny as Lincoln's reaction to Kaden, is me - panicking every time b/c I think he's going to get hit in the head, but then not stopping it b/c he's laughing SO hard. Fun over safety, I guess!