Pumpkin Carving

We decided that Sunday was the perfect day to carve our pumpkin! It was a breezy fall day and just great to be outside. Ryan designed it this year and we both love it's simplicity! Samuel LOVED sticking his hand in and scooping out the goop inside! He also enjoyed eating the seeds. Samuel even decided the best way to end the event was with a popsicle while we lit our little pumpkin, and we figured why not!?

Deep in thought designing our pumpkin

Samuel has been very into pushing the button. Here is the result of his handiwork!

Getting messy. He liked pulling out the yucky stuff, and then quickly wanted a towel to wash off his dirty hand!

My 2 favorite men!

Samuel was a good scooper!

I just LOVE this smile!!!

I decided to help too!

While I was carving Samuel pulled his basketball goal down on himself!

Admiring our handiwork, popsicle in hand!

Fall Festival

Last night was our fall festival at church. Samuel had a great time dressed as a pirate. Of course he wore his hat all around our house before we left, and refused to wear it at all the whole night, but life goes on! He LOVED the "jump house" and spent most of his time there. Samuel also went up and down the bouncy slide lots with our neighbor that was there, thank you Maddie for playing with Samuel!!!

Ryan and I entered the Corn Hole tournament, and quickly realized we hadn't practiced quite enough! We lost in the first round 24-3, but we did have fun!

We also have a "trunk or treat" and it was great. Each of the participants decorate their cars and pass out candy to the kids! It was so much fun. One of the cars was a cow and they borrowed our cow costume to make it a little more realistic, another car was a truck full of goats and chickens (real ones!). There was even one where you had to actually fish for your candy!

He would have stayed in here for hours!!!

Having fun on the big bouncy slide

Charlotte was an Indian princess, but decided she also wanted to wear Samuel's pirate hat!

"Samuel, I'll hold you and keep you safe". It was so precious (unfortunately the picture is aweful!)

Trying to keep Samuel safe.

Charlotte trying to help Samuel sit up on the hay! She was glad to be helpful!

Are they loving on each other, or just playing hard. Sometimes it's hard to tell, but this time Charlotte seems to be enjoying it!

So excited about his "pitate candy" (at our house most candy is considered "daddy's snack", so Samuel was super excited to be getting his own candy).

Checking out the chicken and giggling at how it moved!

Samuel got to feed the goats

Shaunna (the pumpkin) and I are due just 2 days apart, her with her first son, Gus, and me with #2, still no name!

Proof that I was there. Check out that bag, Samuel's RuRu sent that to him when she heard he was going to be a pirate. It's SOOOOOOO cute!!!

Samuel sharing his dog with the cow!

Baking with BeBe

My mom (BeBe) and grandmother (Grandmommie) are here for the weekend. We have already enjoyed an excursion to the park this morning and were busy this afternoon cooking and cleaning around the house. Samuel was so excited about our visitors that he didn't take a nap, so we let him help us with out task!

He was excited to see the box of pumpkin "fuffin" (muffin) mix on the counter this morning, so he was happy to help pour, measure and stir the mixture. He loves to cook in his cooking class, but really hasn't been able to help me in the kitchen, so maybe this will be a start to a new activity for the two of us!

Checking out the measuring cup

Big Smiles

filling the muffin tin

oops, we got a little on our measuring cup

getting a true taste test

BeBe even taught Samuel how to lick the spoon!

As Samuel would say "fuffin nummy" (translation muffin yummy)

Samuel's New Ball Pit

Thanks to my great and creative friend, Stephanie, I have found a great way to use or kiddie pool in the "off season". Samuel spent the evening with his buddy Oliver the other night while Ryan and I went on a much needed date! When we got back she said that Samuel LOVED the ball pit she had made! All she did was fill up a kiddie pool with balls. Well fortunately (I guess) I had both at home!

My wonderful mother bought Samuel a bag of 150 balls (yes, I said 150) when she stayed with him in February. Needless to say that bag of balls has been sitting nicely tucked away in the closet since she left! Samuel found it a few weeks ago, and I have spent many an afternoon picking up all 150 of those balls (I did have a little helper that picked up maybe 5 or 6).

Well this afternoon we had LOTS of fun dumping out the balls and jumping, falling, "swimming, and throwing the balls in our new ball pit. I can't believe I am saying this, but the pit is a bit empty, so I am thinking about getting another bag! It's all in the name of fun, right!?

I thought this totally captured the essence of Samuel's fall (blurry and all!)

The Pumpkin Church

We met up with some friends today for some fun at the Pumpkin Church. We went last year and it was fun and CRAZY. Well, I can't say it was much different this time around! We tried hard to get a picture of all the kids, but it wasn't the greatest attempt! Samuel had a great time climbing on the pumpkins and saying "cheese" with every move, though often he wouldn't look at the camera and smile! Nonetheless, fun was had by all!!!

Another photo filled post!

Isn't she just beautiful! And LOVES to pose for the camera!

LK and Samuel stopping their climbing to take a picture! Can't believe they are actually both smiling!

Samuel and Charlotte love each other and push each others buttons ALL THE TIME! Sweet Char was just laying on the ground and Samuel felt it was a good time for a tackle! Charlotte just giggled each time he plopped down on her!

Telling me with great enthusiasm that he is sitting on PUNKINS!!!

Samuel and Charlotte chased each other all over the pumpkins!

The big kids! I loved this picture because of how excited Charlotte was!

The only picture of Samuel and I together. Obviously he was ready to move on to the next pile of pumpkins!