From Our Gnome to Yours!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!!!

 As you can see...by his shades...he's a California gnome!

Hope you have fun "trick-or-treating!"

It is yet to be determined whether we will be a gnome or tree frog...wish us luck!

Pumpkin...disliker?

I warned you in my last post...I wasn't joking...of course I had to take another stab at the pumpkin patch this year! If you remember, last time...he HATED the pumpkins...this time...well, I think we have improved a bit...now we just dislike them. ;o)

So many people had been talking about a great place in Reedley...Hillcrest Farms. So, today we headed out. Yes, I was able to talk Chad into spending part of his Sunday at the pumpkin patch. :o) I have to say...it is an adorable place...and like the Avila Barn...we will be back next year...and many more after that!

Hillcrest has all of these adorable little spots just waiting for crazy moms like me to stick our children in! :o) As you can see...we started off on a good note!

 Yes, the binky is in our mouth...no, we are not smiling...but...we certainly aren't screaming...yet! :o)

 One of the many cute features of this pumpkin patch is an adorable, old, vintage truck that they have loaded up with pumpkins and hay. Perfect for adorable pictures of your little ones...or even the whole family. We chose to visit on Sunday...the day before Halloween..yup...lots of people...all wanting pictures of their child or family on the adorable, old, vintage truck. :o) So, I wasn't able to get a picture of the whole truck...partly because I didn't want strangers in my picture...and partly because I didn't have the patience to wait for it to be clear...we would still be there! :o)

And now...cue the tears. Yup...we had reached out limit...no more pumpkin pictures!

 "I said...no more pictures!"

 "Fine...I'll touch it...but I'm not going to be happy about it...no matter what you do!'

 Did I mention that this adorable little place has a train? Yup, a really cute little steam train! Did I mention it only cost $3 to ride it? Of course we rode the darling train!

Handsome and me

 Handsome and Daddy

 Listening to the conductor blow the whistle...ALL ABOARD!

 Landry thought the train was pretty cool at first...then he seemed kind of bored by it. Wonder who he gets that from? :o)

 Hillcrest Farms is really too cute for words! They have a fun little path that you can walk through their forest. They have the adorable train, perfect picture spots, hay rides, corn paths, pumpkins, and even food. Um...yup...they have corn dogss! Not just any corn dogs..."fair" corn dogs! Um...yup...you better believe we bought one! :o)

"You think my tractor's sexy?"

 (Sorry...I know...slightly inappropriate using the word "sexy" in a caption for a picture with my sweet child in it...but I couldn't resist! :o) This is just another one of the 5,678 adorable photo spots they have!)

All in all it was a great afternoon. Like I said...we will definitely be back next year...until then...we get to have this cool dude in the backseat! :o) It's how he rolls!!!!!

***I was able to use the word "adorable" 8 times in one post. You don' have to thank me! :o)

Pumpkin Hater

This past weekend my mom, sister and I took Landry to the Avila Barn. A friend of mine had told me about this place last year...it is where she got the pumpkin that gave us this picture.

I have been so excited to take Landry there...and thought that it would be a great tradition for my mom, sister, and I. So, we booked the hotel room, packed up the car, and headed to the beach.

If you have never been...you have to go! The Avila Barn is awesome!!! They have all kinds of farm animals that the kids can feed and pet. There is a hay ride, country store, roasted corn, lots of crops that you can pick yourself...and more importantly...every kind of pumpkin you can imagine...and a TON of them!

I immediately tried to get Landry to pose for a picture on one of the many mounds of pumpkins. Low and behold...Landry HATES pumpkins! Yup...HATES them...with a passion! He screamed every time I tried to take him over to them. I tried to get him in a comfy spot. SCREAMED. I tried to pose with him. SCREAMED. I let him walk around, explore, went back to try again. SCREAMED.

So, they had this darling bench with a scarecrow...I plopped him down...then added a small pumpkin...and here is what I got.

"Haven't I made it clear...I don't like pumpkins."

"Um...hello...did you not get the memo...no pumpkins!'

"I'm not joking...I. DON'T. LIKE. PUMPKINS!"

Of course you know that I am not going to give up that easy. I made him a special shirt afterall...for the perfect photo op. So, after some more walking around...I tried again...and here are the results.

 I'm not sure that I have ever met a child that dislikes pumpkins...and especially not with the passion that my child has. I finally had to throw in the towel...he was not going to budge on his opinion of large, round, orange squash! Here are some pictures we got of each of us...you can see that he still isn't happy about the situation! :o)

Landry and Nawnie

Landry and Auntie Kaitlin

Landry and me

And in true Landry fashion...he allowed one smile to sneak out while he thought no one was looking! :o)

So, until next year...we will try and avoid all pumpkin patches. I say try because don't think that I'm not going to try again...I wonder where he gets his stubborness from? :o) Avila Barn...look out...we will be back next year...and many more after that!

Mommy Moment Monday - Organizing

So, it has been awhile since my last Mommy Moment...life has been a bit busy...and I haven't been able to get a picture of many of the "moments" that have come our way lately. Most of the recent "moments" involving kicking, screaming, stomping of feet, and even a bite or two. Fun...I know...you're jealous! :o)

I thought that I would share with you Landry's idea of organizing things. We have gotten very used to finding things in very surprising locations around our household lately. Every cabinet, drawer, bin, really anything...is always an adventure to open...you never know what you might find.

So, here is a bit of organizing tips from the world of Landry...enjoy! :o)

Are looking for a place to store those left over plastic Easter eggs...well...they are plastic...so why not put them in the tupperware drawer?

Can't find the remote...well...look in the bathroom cabinet...isn't that the safest place for it?

Think someone might be stealing your snacks...lock 'em up...or just leave the padlock in the pantry!

And the most recent discovery...just tonight...keep the Swiffer Duster in the veggie drawer...in the fridge...duh!

There you have it...the world of organizing according to Landry. I mean, I can't believe that you haven't thought of any of these places before. :o)

I also have to add that I have been "collecting" these photos for a week or so...and just last week I read on another blog that I stalk follow...that her son does the same exact thing. So...it is good to know that we are not the only household that has a padlock in the pantry! :o)

Go Dogs!

Yesterday was the first home game for the Bulldogs football team this year. We  I LOVE Fresno State football games...and we I especially love a good tailgate! There is something about the energy, food, friends...preferably good weather like yesterday...that I fall in love with. This year we got season tickets...and I know that I am way more excited about them than Chad...I know, you're shocked...Chad isn't excited about something...it's true! :o)

Last season we took Landry to his first Bulldog game...you can read about it here. This year we I am hoping to be able to take him to all of the games. As always, Landry was such a tooper...and of course, the main attraction!

Chad and Landry...Landry has his "game face" on!

Let me help out with the game, guys!

Me and Handsome!

Of course the best part of tailgating is the food...someone thought he was in heaven!

Landry even got to meet a real bulldog...Bruce! Apparently Bruce is the grandson of the bulldog that was on the field for the games during the David Carr years. Always gotta love the fun facts you learn!

Giving Jake pounds...I think Landry thinks that Jake might have food in his hand! :o)

Us girls...me, Sheri, and Kelley. Normally I am the only girl at the tailgate/games so I was so excited when we pulled up and the girls were there, too!

Landry had the most fun when we threw him in the truck bed while we got everything cleaned up. He ran all over, stomping his feet...and of course, tried to throw everything out of the truck that we kept putting in!

Landry had the best ride to the game...daddy's shoulders!

Family picture in the game!

Landry and I spent most of the game going up and down the stairs and walking around...which was ok because it wasn't the greatest game ever. He made friends with everyone around us...and everyone fell in love with our little man. One gentleman LOVED that his name was Landry! "What a great name for a football fan...he's going to be on that field someday...and we will nickname him THE COACH!" he said. I thought it was too funny...a complete stranger already excited about my son's future!

Just for fun...here are some "then and now" pics to show how much Little Man has changed since last year:

tailgate last year:

 and this year

Family pic last year

and this year

Here's to a great season with lots of fun, food, friends...and hopefully WINS!!!!

So Proud!

Landry has been cracking us up lately! We pretty much spend our days laughing at the things he does...but one thing in particular is especially funny...and so sweet at the same time.

He learned how to clap about two months ago and it is his new favorite thing. The best part is that he claps for himself when he is proud of himself...so sweet. This past weekend I was able to catch a few bits on video.

Getting off the couch

Closing the dishwasher...yes, he had just taken a digger right before...hence the big bump on his head!

Closing the refrigerator door

This week he has moved on to clapping for anything WE do. If we close a door, put leftovers away, hang up our clothes, fold the laundry...we  get a very enthusiastic round of applause. I'll be honest...I will take any round of applause I can get...and it does make housework a lot more enjoyable!

Another Gift Idea

As you know school is back in session...which means my life is crazy! Don't get me wrong...I LOVE being back at work...but every year I wish that we could ease into things a bit...just a bit. With that being said, there are several things that I have procrastinated on...one of which...a Back to School gift.

 Each year I like to get the girls in my grade level a little something to celebrate the start of a new year. Of course I love something that is personal, crafty, cute, and let's be honest...pretty inexpensive. It may be a month late...but hopefully it is worth the wait! :o)

I started by getting 5 of these...I had to make one for me, too!

Then I used this...which I am in love with!

And I created these:

I used the adhesive vinyl, wrapped them up with some cello and polka dot ribbon...and they are ready...four weeks late and all!

I hope that the girls love them as much as me. A Monday morning gift always makes the day better...right?