Beautiful Weekend

It was a beautiful sunny weekend...although it was a little too hot to feel like Fall!  The weather has been so up and down...we've had the heater on last weekend...and the air conditioning back on this weekend!

October always seems like such a busy month, though, no matter what the temperature!  It's usually full of field trips and trips to the park and pumpkin patch!  I'm so glad that I'm able to enjoy this time with Alex and Emily just before the baby comes and try and give them as much attention as possible!

Friday I joined Alex and his class and a few other 2nd-graders to play Putt Putt.  Their gym teacher takes them on little trips during the year and he is such a fun and crazy guy...it's so funny to watch him get those kids to listen and shape up!  He means business!

Alex scored 3 holes-in-one!

They had a great time and then got to eat lunch in the gym with extra play time!  That was the highlight for his day...extra gym time!  Ha!

Saturday we looked forward to a visit from my mom, sister and my little nephew Hunter...he is such a character and they all get along so well!

It was probably about 88 degrees that day...so hot and so dry...we have seriously had no rain this summer!  But we had fun riding the wagon, picking out pumpkins, and playing a few games!

{Emily and Hunter...the two little peanuts in the family!}

I'm so glad my mom was willing to help haul pumpkins for us...although I told Alex and Emily to only pick one that they could carry!  And I'm sure they thought I was trying to smuggle one under my shirt!

{I'm not sure...but I think Emily has room on her fingers and arms for a few hundred more silly bands!  Geesh!  They are not allowed to wear them to school...so she makes sure to get plenty of time with them otherwise!}

Sunday brought more visitors - my cousin, her husband & cute baby Lily...and my second cousin Lindsey & her fiance.  We went to the state park for another little photo shoot and the kids had a ball collecting acorns and rocks and running in the leaves...and even posing for a few pictures...

{Emily loves little Lily...I know she'll be a great big sister!}

{Aren't they the cutest family...}

And the sweet bride-to-be...

It was such a beautiful weekend and a fun time spent with family!  I took 300 pictures on Sunday...wow!  At least the odds are good that there are a few keepers!

We also made time for those pumpkin cookies that we look forward to every year...

...and the kids gathered all the blankets they could find to build this fort...

...they slept under it last night with their sleeping bags and the camping lantern!  Ha!  Somehow they both fit under there...and I didn't hear a peep from them once it was lights out! 

We're looking forward to a short week with Fall Break coming up after a long weekend! 

What Can I {Tulle} You...

I'm still adding little touches to the nursery and I found a crib skirt that I thought was so sweet...it looked just like a tutu ballerina skirt...so girly!

It's light and frilly...perfect!

And because I love polka dots...I couldn't resist this whimsical tree either...

...it might be a little busy for this small space...but I decided it was perfect for me...since I am known to get carried away with hanging pictures and then moving them and creating swiss cheese out of the walls...so a large decal was a better choice!  I can easily take it down...move it...and leave no marks behind!

{I found this little birdie nightlight at Target...and it makes a cute little addition to the side table!}

...and a few more decals here and there...

Now...if we could just agree on a name...sigh...I am anxiously awaiting to hang her name above the crib...or maybe hang the letters in the tree...I'm sure I'll change my mind many times before the room is complete!

{Since the baby's room has been getting special attention lately...it was only fair to add a little something to Emily's room too!}

She has been asking for a canopy over her bed for a long time...telling me how much she loved the ones in the Pottery Barn Kids catalogue {of course we love everything they have...but not the prices!}  I finally found one at Bed, Bath and Beyond for a much more reasonable price at $25...so I surprised her with it...on my birthday...and didn't tell her about it...until she discovered it just before dinner.  She was so excited!  She said..."Mommy!  It's not my birthday!"  She was thrilled and was so happy to surround herself with it at bedtime!  It was the best birthday present I could ask for to see her so happy!

...every girl should sleep like a Princess!

{don't worry...Alex isn't feeling left out...I asked him if he wanted a canopy too and he said "No way!"  But he did get a moon light that lights up with the different phases of the moon...right up his alley!  He loves to play with it at night...plus, it comes with a remote!}

Wordless Wednesday {The Best Birthday Gifts I Could Ask For!}

{big hugs}

{big smiles}

{and a big cupcake to share with them!}

{Fall}ing in Love

I love, love love this time of year!  I've been decorating for fall and halloween and it always feels so warm and cozy.  Although it's a little more minimal than last year...it's still fun to have the lights, pumpkins and ghosts about...and there's still time to add to it!

{I've already filled the candy jar a couple of times!  I love candy corn...darn it!}

I love the happy halloween blocks...{from Target of course!}

...and the glow of jack 'o lanterns...

 

The weather is finally cooler...and it's really feeling like fall now!

...and a few yummy fall aromas in the air make it even more perfect...

...and the smell of Dan's favorite cookies {the one thing he loves this time of year!}...

Pumpkin Cookies

1 1/4 C margarine

3 C sugar

2 eggs beaten

1 - 16 oz can of pumpkin

12 oz bag of chocolate chips

6 C flour

3 tsp of cinnamon

1 1/4 tsp of pumpkin pie spice

3 tsp of baking soda

1 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar

- Cream margarine and sugar

- Stir in eggs, pumpkin, chocolate chips and mix well

- Combine dry ingredients in a separate bowl

- Gradually stir in dry ingredients into pumpkin mixture and mix well

- Drop by teaspoon onto greased cookie sheet

- Bake at 350 for 12-15 minutes - Don't overbake

I can smell them already...I think I will make these for my birthday {tomorrow!} instead of cupcakes!

{...and don't let her expression fool you...Snowball is thrilled beyond words for fall too!}

...love the leaves changing color, warm sweaters, and a warm cozy fire too!

What do you love about Fall?