Trick or Treat

Halloween may be one of my favorite holidays.  Since living in a condo we don't see near the trick or treaters that I would like.  Thanks to my good friend Katie, I got my fix this year! We headed over to their house for some chili, costumes, meltdowns, and sugar.  This was E's first trick-or-treating adventure. She was unsure at first but by the end Chris had her rolling. Oh and another friend made this little number.  Maybe one of the best things I have ever put in my mouth.  Try it!

Yup, that about sums up the first hour.

Thank you Katie for the festivities!

apparently this nurse just finished her lunch break....hellloo chili face

sweet Addy breaking her in

Rootin' through her loot

the mens

sweet princesses with their rifles

It was a paci kind of night

and they are off

I'm sure we have this picture from 6 years ago...just without the babies :)

chilled out

And of course a little clean up to end the night

Just a friendly reminder...Get out and VOTE tomorrow.  If you're in town and need someone to watch your kiddos I am more than willing :) Seriously, no excuses people.

All Things Fall

I am a sucker for any holiday.  Seriously, a marketer's dream when it comes to seasonal stuff.  Fall is just the start of it.  And having a kid makes it even more fun.  And gives a good excuse to do all the ridiculous stuff I think up.  So we were obviously at the pumpkin patch on Saturday.  We got there as soon as it opened hoping for cooler temperatures so I could at least pretend it was fall.  Emerson loved emptying the baskets with the little pumpkins and seeing the animals.  But she was far more enamored with the plans overhead.  A small airport is just a few miles down the road so she had constant entertainment.  So did the other guests as I frantically ran around like a crazy person trying to give her the best view of the planes.  Its a good thing my husband is not easily embarrassed.  Once the planes died down we  ended up with a big ole pumpkin by the door that Emerson happily greets each time we come in :)  Emerson also got to try out Chris' favorite BBQ spot.  She was all about the okra and tomatoes.  Who knew?  Guess I'll have to add that to the line up.

plane watching

making her pile.  

Apparently the fence is as equally exciting as the pumpkins

she LOVED him.  

Her shy face.

first JB's meal

Last Year.  This blows my mind. 

16 months and confessions

Baby girl is 16 months today.  She is a million miles an hour.  Which may explain some of my absent mindedness that is to blame for my confessions today.  I already find myself forgetting some of the early things and am so glad I wrote things down.  So for the sake of documentation and because she's pretty fun, this is what she is in to at 16 months.

She would make her great grandaddy proud.  She can spot a plane before I even hear the sound.  We spend most of our time outside chasing down a better viewing of them.  Her newest word that we hear on repeat is "moonie" (movie).  Each time we put her in the car seat we hear it requested.  Poor thing is so used to all car rides being long ones she is having to readjust to just listening to Momma sing.  Trust me I feel pretty bad for her and will give into a moonie every now and then.  Her favorite snack is veggie sticks and blueberries.  Gotta love stocking up on out of season fruit.  But the girl knows what she likes.  I may or may not use them to bribe her into eating broccoli.  I'm pretty sure we will potty train with them.  Oh and we are officially adults.  We have discovered kids night at Barberitos.  Hello Tuesday night hang out.  I fear they will know us by name.  She learned how to "dip" her food in salsa/hummus this week and its hilarious.  She is so gentle.  But then the next minute she is on the ground at the park trying to pick up the worm.  I'd say she's a pretty good mix :) She still tells us "night, night- all done" when she is ready for nap and bed and I am forever grateful for her sweet sleeping self.  I think she too is scared of me before 7 am :) She has transitioned in to the new living space like a champ.  I wish I was as flexible as she is.  We love that baby girl!  

While she is running on all cylinders apparently I am not. 

In case you are wondering, a Keurig can do many things.  Opening cans is not one of them. So don't mistake it for a can opener.

Also, even if your car isn't supposed to lock unless you are in it...Be assured that if you put the keys in the ignition and close all the doors it does not know that you are not in it.  45 minutes, a patient husband, and AAA truck later I was able to retrieve the diaper bag, phone, and house keys.  Needless to say the errands never happened.  

I have also been very spoiled by DVR.  While we are in this transition period we decided we would do without.  So when a commercial comes on it looks like someone shot off a cannon as Chris and I both spring up to go get a drink or check the laundry.  Pathetic.  

Oh and on Saturday, I drug  Chris and I  went to see Pitch Perfect.  It may have been the best thing I've seen in 6 months.  Don't judge me too hard.  Chris actually liked it too.

On days I work, the alarm goes off and I sit there and debate if I want coffee or more sleep.    One of them has to be sacrificed.  This week it was coffee, and apparently it shows.  

Apparently she inherited my space estimation problems

Something in These Hills

Cliche? Yes.  True? Absolutely. There is almost nowhere else I would rather spend a weekend. Especially a fall one.  I know I am sentimental, but Clemson has my heart. No kidding, I would pack up and move there in a heartbeat.  It still feels like home.  Chris reminds that it could possibly feel a little different than it was when we were in college, but I believe I'm up for the challenge.  :) We were able to get up there on Thursday and re-lived our Thursday night tradition of Mexican and FCA.  Sitting back in Tillman at 9:19 is one heck of a reminder of how incredible the community is up there.  It was almost surreal being back in the same seats but with life looking so different than it did 6 years ago.

Thanks to one of my "travel agent" roomates, we were able to enjoy a townhouse on Lake Keowee for the weekend.  I threatened locking myself in the garage and not leaving when check out time rolled around.  But Chris had to have some Walhalla Steakhouse , so he dragged me out :) It may have been the most relaxing weekend we've had in over a year.

Alum

of course, seeing how its made

catching up on the latest Clemson news

hunter/gatherer

Midweek Confessions

Its that time again.  Its Wednesday, so here goes...

-While talking to a good friend about life updates, she asked if I felt overwhelmed.  I quickly responded with "No, I really don't think so, not at all"  However the next sentence out of my mouth was "How many benadryl do you normally take to sleep?"  She quickly pointed out the irony.    *side note- No, mom I do not take it every night...only the nights I want to sleep:)

-My mom kept incredible journals and calendars from when we were growing up.  I confess that Emerson is 100% my child.  Wow genetics.  Its for real guys.  Like down to picking every single piece of lint off the floor.  And a healthy disdain for the car seat.  Yeah sorry Chris, that was from my side too.

-As Emerson was trying to finish her breakfast yesterday I told her to "Please finish her M&Ms".   She was eating oatmeal.  We don't even have any M&Ms.

-We now officially have to spell the word "milk".  How are we already there yet.  You try saying the word while reading the grocery list and see what happens.  I dare you.

- I got a little teary eyed last week at the new Parenthood.  When Hattie left for college.  Let's get serious my child is not even two.  This mom thing really gets you.

-Next Friday we are moving into an apartment until our house is finished.  I have not done one single thing to prepare for that move.  Not one.  And I am totally ok with it.

On that note I'm on to organize E's pictures.  I'm feeling a little slack after reading my mom's  baby books :)

15 months!

You are zonked out after a big morning at the Children's Museum.  You loved all the kids and getting to climb on everything, especially the tunnels.  You couldn't have cared less where I was.  You were off.  That is until you wanted your milk.  That is your latest infatuation. Last week you discovered the word, "muk".  I hear it about fifty eleven times a day.  And you don't say it as a suggestion. You mean business.  Which makes it a little difficult between meal times :) Aside from your "passion" for milk, you have the sweetest personality.  You LOVE babies and like to give all of your animals and us kisses throughout the day.  If you see a speck of anything on anybody it is automatically a "boo-boo" and receives a kiss.  You have begun being very clear about your bedtime.  We put you in your pj's, read a book, and as soon as we start a song you kiss us on the cheek and say "night-night, bye bye".  I think that may be a reflection on my singing.  You are talking to everyone and everything.  You do not discriminate between animate and inanimate objects.  They all get a little mandarin.  You are one funny thing.  Here's your latest...
You weigh 21.8 lbs (54%) and you are 31 inches (66%). You were not a fan of the shots and immediately began your "bye bye" routine as soon as the nurse walked in. You recovered quickly though:) We love you!