The Rest of the Weekend.

Friday night Caleb had to work late and Brady spent the night with Papa and Gigi. Presley and I headed out for a costume party.

I was hesitant to go at first. I didn't know exactly who was going to be there and I didn't know how Presley would do.  However, when I was leaving I was so happy I went. I laughed and laughed!  Presley did fine, she didn't even cry on the way home! :) It does my heart and mind good to spend time with friends. I love having friends in all different stages of life. I am a mom and wife. I love my husband and kids more than I can describe, but there is so much more to me. I love this life I live and wouldn't take anything for it. BUT, I don't always want to talk mom and wife. I love getting a chance to just be Amber and talk about something outside the world of mom and wife life. I didn't realize how much I needed that until I was driving home. I felt relaxed and rejuvenated. Ok. Ok. Enough of that.

I was a bank robber and Presley was my bag of money! So easy!

Saturday morning, Presley and I headed to my friend's baby shower. I went to college with Amanda and was a bridesmaid in her wedding. The shower was at another friends home that I worked with at Maggie Moo's in college. It is always nice to see these sweet ladies. I met a few new ones as well. ;)

We had brunch and it was so good! It didn't take a picture(should have), but they had little make your own yogurt parfaits in mini mason jars. I loved them. I was a little too excited about them.

The simple, cute cake.

We also made tie onesies. (no pictures) They had the tie already drawn on, we just drew in a design. It was pretty serious.  They also had a "photo booth" with mustaches. We took some of Presley with a mustache, but I don't know whose camera they ended up on. Hopefully they will show up. It was fun and funny.

She got a lot of diapers and essentials. She got a few new sweet boy clothes. My friend Jessica made these for Liam's room. So cute!

I always enjoy seeing Amanda. I am so excited for her family to welcome baby Liam in a few weeks.

Of course Saturday night was trunk or treat. You can see the post on it here, in case you missed it.

Caleb worked Sunday afternoon. We went to worship service as a family and quickly grabbed lunch. Caleb headed to work. Brady and Presley took long, long naps. I was lazy and may have watched a couple lifetime movies while they napped. Ha!

It was a good weekend.

Trunk or Treat

A few things to note about Halloween 2012
1. This is the first year I have had 2 kids at Halloween.
2. My mom happened to be out of town this year.
3. I LOVE Trunk or Treat!!!

Our church had Trunk or Treat Saturday night. I think Trunk or Treat was the best idea ever! Brady's first Halloween(2009), we attended a different congregation that had Trunk or Treat, but we didn't go. Our congregation now(which is where my family attends and always have) didn't have Trunk or Treat. So... We did the whole drive to each family members house with a 10 month old in a dinosaur costume to Trick or Treat. We did it and it was fine, but we were all DONE by the time the night was over. Costumes and car seats don't mix!

The next year(2010) we went to Trunk or Treat at my parents church(our church now, also) and was thrilled with it! The next year(2011) we invited Caleb's family to join us and they did! They also loved it! This year we continued with the Trunk or Treat thing. They encouraged Caleb's brothers to also come.

It makes it so nice that we can say we will be at Trunk or Treat and if you want to see the kiddo's in their costumes then come by. Also we get maybe 10 trick or treaters at our house and Caleb LOVES to hand out candy so he really enjoys Trunk or Treat.

Brady's friend Aubry and family. This family always does a great job!

It was cold this year, but we kept Presley bundled up and Brady is never cold. Really he sweats more than any person. Strangers are always commenting on how much he sweats along with friends and family. It is so crazy! Back to it...

Our Baseball setup.

I asked Caleb what he could dress up as without buying anything and we came up with a baseball player, so that was our trunk. I had bigger ideas, but waited way to late to start on it. Oh well.

Best Buds!

Caleb manned the trunk, his parents held Presley, while I took Brady around for candy and to the bouncy things. I also had invited my grandparents to come, so I was trying to make sure they all saw the kids dressed up. I got a call that Presley was having a meltdown and I needed to return. I left Brady to bounce and dealt with Presley. I thought she was under control so I ran back to check on Brady. She wasn't so I came back to get her. She was not having the bottle, so I had to feed her in the front of the car while Caleb gave out candy out of the trunk. Ha! I could have gone inside the building, but she was screaming and I just went to the closest covered location. No one noticed, not even the girls in the car next to us. Success!  I then strapped her into the Moby around me and she went to sleep. I had quickly told Brady to stay near my sister, so I went straight to them when I was situated. She didn't have him. So I went back to where I left him and there he was bouncing and getting right back in line after each turn. No worries. I went to get something to eat, but ended up standing to eat it, because I was talking and trying to monitor Brady. I finally coaxed him away from the bounce house, but without his shoes. (I did NOT want Pres to wake up and it is hard to put on his shoes with the Moby on without waking her.) He was running around without shoes for the longest time, until Caleb finally got a chance to put his shoes on him for me. Did I mention it was so cold and he had no shoes on! Caleb's brother and family finally made it, but my SIL had forgotten Carleigh's costume. She was so upset, but Carleigh didn't care. It was CRAZY!!! Needless to say, I didn't get as many pictures as I would have liked, but we still all had a great time. Even with all of all this, I really am so thankful for Trunk or Treat. This is so much easier than getting them both in and out of the car at a million different stops and taking costumes on and off at each stop.

Presley and Papa

Brady and Presley both did really well considering. I was a little concerned about Presley. But I don't think she could have done much better at only 3 months old, well except for her screaming the entire way home. I have come to expect that though. She doesn't always do it, but she does do it and it is awful, but we persevere.  I was so impressed with Brady. He didn't ask to eat his candy and was very pleasant the entire night. These things always run the risk of major fits and meltdowns.

My cousins little girls came. They were cute and cold.

 Life is just much more chaotic with two, much more than I thought it would be. Despite the crazy, it is so much more sweet with two. I mean look at them!

I really missed my mom being there. We have a great support system all around.  Everyone was helpful when I asked, but my mom just does. No asking needed.



Sweet Noah.

I think if I didn't have a sense of humor I would drown in Parenthood. Caleb and I usually stay up way to late laughing about the craziness each day brings. In my opinion, it is the best way to survive.

I had a few more pictures, but my camera is being silly and won't load the rest onto my computer.

Happy Halloween! 

Jack-O-Lantern

I have so much to catch up on...

Caleb and Brady carved a Jack-O-Lantern Thursday morning. Caleb didn't have to be at work until later in the day, so they got to enjoy some time together in the morning.

 

Brady picked the design. I didn't see him clean out the "guts", but I am told he did. He said, "they are squishy."

 

Caleb went inside to get some scissors and Brady started carving into the pumpkin on his own. He is so independent it is dangerous some times. Luckily, it was just the jack-o-lantern kit knifes, not a real knife.  We have had them for several years so they aren't that sharp and they are small.

 

I can't say that carving pumpkins is my favorite activity. I don't like the cleaning out the guts and getting all sticky and yucky. I will do it, but I would rather paint the pumpkins! Caleb is such a good daddy.

 

Brady was so proud of his pumpkin. He carved the nose all on his own. (Ignore the real spider web in the back ground. Obviously I didn't sweep the porch or remove the cobwebs before the picture.) He looks huge in this picture.

A little glimpse.

We have spent the last week or so doing a little...

 

 

playground playing...

 

sleepy time lullaby-ing...

 

gummy smile grinning...

 

baby snuggling...

 

 

bedtime Bible reading...

 

Bounce house jumping...

 

fun friend time spending...

 

recliner silly-ing...

 

no nap- recliner resting...

 

pre-bath posing...

 

remnants of crazy, no nap day findings...

 

friend birthday celebrating...

 

playtime cooing...

 

and Sunday napping.

 

I realize I made some of those words up. I don't care, spell check, don't care!

 

Note: The trash picture was what I found in my car when I went to pick up a pizza one night this past weekend. I was like "whoa, it was a crazy day the other day!" I meant to clean it up then, but had my hands full and I forgot once I got inside. (It is not uncommon for me to start something else and completely forget what I needed to do in the first place these days!) Well, I forgot until the next morning when Caleb came in from loading up our car for church. He said, "what in the world happened in your car." I said, "Oops, I know! We had a crazy day the other day." To which he replied, "Apparently". We had to laugh. Laughter is how we get through most days. :) It is all picked up now, but it happens from time to time. ;) In fact, it is more often than I would like to admit.

Painting pumpkins

We picked up a couple little pumpkins at the Pumpkin Patch last week. I had told Brady we could paint them one day next week. He literally asked every day and some days multiple times a day to paint his pumpkin. Monday I decided we would paint them. The weather was perfect outside.

 

I painted Presley's while Brady painted his.

 

His is definitely unique!

 

 

Presley just watched all the action. Brady said over and over, "I think Presley really wants to paint." I kept telling him, she can paint one next year.

 

 

 

 

 This may become a yearly tradition. I enjoy this much more than carving. We did get a pumpkin gor carving. I think that will be a Daddy/Brady project closer to Halloween! :) Next year, I will have to get my own to paint.

 

I love fall decorations.

Weekend Randoms.

The kids and I made a quick trip to Target. We picked out Brady's costume for Halloween. All month he has talked about being Iron Man. We got to the costumes and he wouldn't even consider Iron Man, He chose the black Spiderman. Yes, he was Spiderman last year. He may end up being Spiderman every year for a while. Oh well...

We got to see Sue Sue and Poppi while we were there. They just happened to be next door at TJ Maxx! Brady was pretty excited!

We all headed to a bon fire, cook out, and singing with Caleb's parent's church. I am not sure what it was, but it left me feeling very blessed. Something about singing praises around a fire under the stars gets me. Fall does something to me. So strange. 

 

Brady had to take a picture of me and Presley. This was the best one. The others we didn't have heads. ;)

 

His dinner consisted of Cheetos, Sprite, an Oreo, and 3 marshmallows. Unfortunately this is what happens at stuff like this from time to time. I was busy with Presley when he fixed his plate. I cut him off at 3 marshmallows. He wasn't pleased.

We came home in time to catch the Tennessee game. Brady has really embraced football this year. I think Caleb loves it. Brady had to go to bed before the game was over, though. Actually we all went to bed before it was over.

I love to see my littles on Sunday mornings all dressed up. I may be a little biased, but I think they look so cute! How can Presley be that big already???

Sunday afternoons have become one of mine and Brady's favorite times. We have our little routine at my parent's house and we like it. :)

Thursday Fishing!

Brady got a fishing pole for Christmas this past year and has begged to use it since. He hasn't really had the opportunity. Caleb decided that would change while he was off from work.



I told Caleb about 20 times to make sure he takes pictures. I am so glad I did. Look at this sweetness. There may be a Christmas present coming out of this baby. ;)

Caleb, Brady, and Papa had a boys only fishing trip Thursday. (Brady did say that Presley could come too when she was bigger. I love his heart for his sister!)

Brady was so excited when Caleb got out his tackle box. Brady oohed and awwed at the different hooks and bait. He said,"Daddy, I can't believe you have all of your own stuff!".

Caleb told Brady the only rule was that he had to be quiet or the fish wouldn't bite. I added another rule that Brady could not touch the hooks with out help from Papa or Daddy. :)

I packed them a lunch and they enjoyed the day fishing off the bank. Papa caught three fish, but no one else did.

Brady came home exhausted. I woke him up at 6 pm! I think it is safe to say they all had a wonderful time.


I love having a boy! I really do! I love the sweet relationship that Brady and I have. I also love that Caleb and Brady have this bond that I will never fully understand. With that I am so excited for what the future holds for Presley and myself. Days like this make me so excited to spend "girl" days with her. I have big plans for things we will share together. I am also excited for the different relationship she will share with her daddy. Neither gender is "better or worse" than the other, they are just different and uniquely sweet!

Apparently all this family time has made me super sentimental this week. We have really enjoyed having Caleb home, but there is something nice about being able to get back to our normal routine.

Pumpkin Patch

We decided to go to the pumpkin patch while Daddy was off work. We decided Wednesday would work best for us, so I checked the forecast, picked up some coupons, and planned on Wednesday.

I had a dental appointment early that morning, so as soon as I got home we loaded up and made our way to Lucky Ladd Farms.  We went to this same location last year.  I avoided the slides last year due to a little nausea and a strong suspicion of pregnancy.  ;) A few short days later we learned our family of three would be a family of four. Here we are a year later with an even more perfect addition than I could have imagined!

Brady and Presley looked so cute in there Halloween shirts!!!

The forecast said sunny and 66 degrees. It was not hardly 66 degrees and the sun was no where to be found. It was much cooler than we expected. The sun finally peaked out about the time to leave.

Even though it was chilly, we still had a great time. We could have stayed a lot longer, but it closes at 1:30 through the week. It was fine, because it was nap time. We didn't get a chance to go on the hayride or go through the corn maze, maybe next year.

 

 

 

 

 

I am trying to do better about being in pictures.  I am way to critical of pictures of myself. I would much rather see the pics of the kids and Caleb. However, I want my children to be confident with themselves and I think that starts with me being confident with myself. It would just break my heart if I heard one of my children criticize themselves. I think they look just perfect just the way they are. I like to think that this is they way God thinks about us; his heart is breaking each time I criticize the being he created.

 

 

I also want to remember that I was also there. They will know Caleb was there, because he is in every picture. They need to know I was there also. :) That I loved, played, laughed, and experienced life with them. I wasn't just confined behind the camera.

 

 

 

 

We had such a good time! Brady is so much fun. Presley just took it all in and was so so so good. Caleb is fun, great dad and husband.

Sometimes we have days where I just feel so blessed. The blessings all come crashing down on me and I am left overwhelmed with thanks. It is funny how something as simple as a trip to the farm can do that!

 

Happy October Friends! :)