Oh how I love my boy...

Drew pulling up for a closer look out the window.

When you see this...

sitting up on his knees looking down into the floor...

You know it is time to lower the pack 'n play.

Sorry Drew

It's Here... Halloween Week.

If you could not tell, we have been a little busy with Halloween festivities around here. 

Between Addie's activities and my school activities 

we have been knee deep in pumpkins, candy corn, and more.

Addie and Drew before her halloween party at "Preschool Camp" as she likes to call it.

She looks so sweet in her candy corn dress.

Kyle was the parent of the year because he juggled Wednesday court (his busiest day) to make it to her party.

Addie making silly faces with her friend Makayla.

Waiting to decorate a pumpkin.

Hammering and pulling out golf tees of a pumpkin... 

who knew it could be so much fun.

A Pirate and a Purple People Eater...

This week at dance, Addie's week of Halloween festivities kicked off.  She got to wear her pirate costume and show off all of her dance moves.  This is the first time I have posted pics of Addie at dance because it took this long for her to adjust and get comfortable with the idea.

I cannot express how proud I was of her on visitor day.  Addie usually has a hard time with crowds and "new" things but today she marched right in... got on her circle... and let me sit and enjoy the show.  No pulling on my leg... no "mommy come with me"... just Addie doing the right thing.  This is a huge step for Addie and I can tell we are getting closer and closer to being four years old.  She has changed so much in the past 6 months.

    This past month, the class has been learning a Halloween dance to the song, Purple People Eater.  This is now Addie's favorite song and it is pretty darn cute to hear her sing it.  You can find it on my music list on the side of the blog.

Addie warming up her little ankles.

Miss Amy helping Addie... 

Addie is a little lazy during warmups.

  

Addie's first position arms.

A born entertainer Miss Alli as a princess...

The little dancers working on skipping and slide hops...

Addie jumping over the magic can and doing her curtsy. 

 

Addie doing the Purple People Eater... she cannot dance with her tongue in her mouth.

Nothing is better than dancing in a circle with a bunch of girls!

Please notice the paparazzi parents in the mirror... too funny.

The pirate and the princess did not 

get eaten by the Purple People Eater.

But he might come back for 1 of the 6 treat bags Addie got that day!

It's The Great Pumpkin Patch?

I ask this question because we go to this pumpkin patch and never leave with a pumpkin.

A couple of weekends ago, we went to Gentry's Farm in Franklin with my brother, sis 'n  law, and nephew for some hot autumn fun.  We played in the corn maze, dug in corn, looked at some goats, climbed up ladders, went down slides, went on a hayride, and everything else in between.  

A rare occasion... she is looking at the camera and smiling!

Climbing in the tobacco barn.

Drew taking it all in...

Drew's first hayride.

Watching the tractor wheels go around and around.  

I think Drew's back is bigger than Addie's.

Out and about with Baby Hayden.

Well, Hayden was able to find a pumpkin.

All the little people.

Wordless Wednesday...

Seven Months... Already!

Drew ready to roll for a fall walk.

This chunk of a boy we like to call "Drewy" is learning about the world in a rapid pace these days.  He has mastered the army crawl and is making use of it by cleaning our hardwood floors.  Do they make a swiffer onesie?  Drew has also cut his first tooth.  I discovered this milestone one evening as I placed a speck of a green bean in his mouth, only to get my finger nibbled with a chicklet tooth that is as sharp as a razor.  As for food, we have only found one thing so far that he does not care for and that is mac 'n cheese.  

Drew getting all suds up in the kitchen sink.

This month Drew has done some fun things like go on a hayride, pumpkin patch, visited the zoo, and walked a 5K... all in one month.  It is amazing what being the 2nd child is like.  You get to go EVERYWHERE!  Wonder the places we will go next month?

Happy Birthday Nene!!!!

We had a great time celebrating Nene's  birthday last night with family and friends.  

And if you are wondering no the cake is not on fire, that was just me trying to write a 52 in candles!!!

Addie will always be front and center when buttercream icing is involved... she gets that from her mommy and daddy.

The tale of the Halloween costume...

For about a month now, we have been asking Addie what she wanted to be for Halloween?  She started out this conversation with, "I am going to be Minnie Mouse. Like last time."  Last time is Addie code for last year.  As a mother who likes to "steer" her daughter to make the right choice and wanted a cute NEW Halloween pic, I said,  "You can't wear the same costume.  Nobody will give you candy.  You have to choose a new costume."  So I come to my three year old with a costume catalog that came in the mail.  We cuddle up on the sofa and look through it.  We see witches, pirates, fairies, and superheros but the clouds parted and the angels sang when we came to the page of Disney princess costumes.  There they all were Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Jasmine, Ariel, and Snow White all in a row.  Addie then proclaimed, "I want to be a princess!"  So I asked, not remembering who I was talking to apparently, "Which one do you want to be?"  Addie's reply, "All the princesses."  Trying to out smart my three year old, I ask, "Which one is your favorite?"  Addie simply states, "All of them."  

So that is where we have been on the Halloween costume front for about three weeks now.  Addie has been telling everyone she is going to be all of the princesses. Which always leads to the question, "How is she going to do that?"  

  

So last night, we had to go golf shopping for my hubby and I decided to set out to get a princess costume.  After taking Addie to every store down Nashville West trying to find a costume to her liking I was about to give up.  I mean who knew a three year old could come up with so many excuses.  

The witch costume- Addie stated "too spooky"

The fairy costume- Addie stated " too green"

The candy corn costume- Addie stated " too sweet"

The princess costume- Addie stated " no button with a face on it"

As we were leaving one store, Addie even said, "Halloween isn't my favorite season... Valentine's Day is.  I don't need a costume."  Which made us laugh.  

My last hope was T.J. Maxx.  I went in by myself just to take a look.  All they had that would fit Addie was a pirate costume.  I thought it would be great for Addie to be a pirate.  She LOVES to play pirates.  So back out to the car I go.  I get in and Addie asks, "Where is my costume?"  I tell her the store did not have a princess costume but they have a great pirate costume that looks like Dora's.  Addie gets all excited, especially when I tell her it has boots to go with it and that is the end of the story.  I went back in to T.J. Maxx, got the costume, and learned a lesson... a three year old does not need to go shopping for a costume:)

A zoo day...

We headed to the Memphis Zoo to take in the "real" zoo as Kyle likes to put it.  I love the Nashville Zoo.  It has some great things about it.... the playground... the African animal space... the Meerkats... but it has nothing on the Memphis Zoo.  We had a great day of exploration and discovery at the "real" zoo.

Addie asking Drew if he is ready for the zoo animals?

The Memphis Zoo has a great Cat Country.  

Addie did not know where to begin.

Nene helping one very excited little girl see over the fence.

The Red Panda that we NEVER get to see at the Nashville Zoo because he is always sleeping.

Addie in the monkey house.... needless to say it was a little stinky.  

Now for a little background.  This picture is too funny because according to my parents this was me 27 years ago.  My mom and dad took me to the Memphis Zoo when I was 3 years old.  For educated people, they did not plan the best time to experience the Memphis Zoo.  They chose to explore the zoo on a great July day... in Memphis... where Tarzan could not take that kind of heat!!  As they tell the story, I was not a happy camper with the heat and the smell of the zoo.  I held my nose the whole trip through the monkey house and was proclaiming how bad it smelled.  Other people thought I was SOOO cute holding my nose they asked my parents if they could take a picture of me.  

Fast forward 27 years and we have Stinky Zoo part 2.

Addie running to the pandas in China.

These Pandas have the life.

Addie on her favorite animal and Kyle being the brave parent to get on the carousel.  

This momma does not do spinning rides well. 

Addie the Ferocious Beast

After about 3 hours of exploration and going through the stinky Once Upon A Farm portion of the zoo, Addie needed a little pick me up.  This sucker bought us 2 additional hours of zoo fun for the low cost of $2.  As for her momma's treat, a diet mountain dew ~ 20 oz mind you, $3.50.  Yes, zoo food is a big rip off and I will plan better next time.  

Drew just taking it all in and enjoying a "little rest" as Addie put it.

Who knew a sucker could be so good.

Addie looking at the zoo map and checking off all the animals we had seen 

and making a list of the ones to come

She shares with her mommy...

Addie's favorite animal.

Addie watching the sea lions.  

She thought they looked like mermaids.

If you are wondering, the sucker lasted for two hours.  Addie dropped it as we were walking out the gate going to the car.