Get your pumpkin patch on!

Just recently we made a trip to a local REAL pumpkin patch with some friends. You know me, I love me some fall so I think I was more excited than most of the kids! We met two other friends with their kids there. Adam didn't have to work like the other husbands so we had him tag along with us to be a extra set of hands.

It was SO fun. They had a petting zoo, hayride, corn maze, and the kids even got to pick out their own pumpkins to take home. I just loved seeing how much fun Kolton was having with his best friends, and how much of a big boy he is. It still boggles my mind how fast he's growing up! The weather was perfect for the day too! After all the awesome pumpkin patch activities we walked to the country store they had on the "farm" and ate some ice cream. I got the pumpkin soft serve and it was DIVINE! We were in such a great company, and had such a great day.



And of course Emma was there with her best friend Avery. I ADORE seeing these girls together. I just know they're going to be best friends!
Isn't this the cutest picture ever? It looks like Emma is telling Avery a secret and Avery is saying "Whaaat?" Ha! I love it!

We had such a great day, and we're already planning our next pumpkin patch trip!

I've got a feeling..

that I have some pretty amazing friends. A very dear friend made me a video of Emma's first year. I'm so thankful to have such close friends who care enough about me and my kids to do something like this. The thought of making one for her crossed my mind, but honestly I completely forgot about it with the manics that go on daily. Having this given to me as a gift makes my heart do backflips. It reminds me that I have some awesome people in my life that I wouldn't trade for a million bucks. Two million... maybe we'll talk. ;) Ha! Kidding.

Anyhoo, she did an amazing job on capturing all my favorite pictures, including Kolton, and picking out the perfect song. To my amazing friend --I owe you big! :)

Emotional

My husband and I were talking last weekend about life before kids. I asked him if he remembered what our weekends were like pre-kids, and he just laughed. At that very moment we were on our way to a friend of Kolton's 4th birthday party . So that very moment my husband was missing college football. We then laughed about the irony of birthday parties, zoo trips, and whatever else you do to keep kids from going stir crazy in the house taking place of college game day, shopping, going out with friends, and whatever else adults do to have fun. To remember the days where we could just pack a bag for us and drive 3 hours to the beach and not have to worry about 28 bags of diapers, bottles, snacks, juice, and then make that 3 hour road trip turn into 6 because someone is sick, wants out of the car, or needs a potty break (that's usually me ha!). But also do you know how many times I'll ask Adam "What was life like before kids?" ...boring! Sure, I'm sure all the stuff we did was fun, but none of that has much substance once you have kids. While we're cracking up at Kolton doing a funny dance or Emma growling like a monster, or Kolton wearing his rainboots to bed and Emma dancing to the Calliou theme song, or even when Kolton is throwing a fit because his Mr Potato Head wont cooperate (as he's doing right now) or when Emma is keeping us up all night because her teeth are coming in... even THEN I can honestly say I wouldn't change a thing.

And I'm sure you've all noticed we have two birthdays coming up. Kolton will turn 2 on the 29th of October and Emma will turn ONE on November 3rd. Have you noticed that I haven't talked about it AT ALL. Other than talking about her party, I can't bring myself to talk about my babies getting older. I'm VERY emotional over it. I want Emma to stay the sweet cuddly baby she is, and it seems like every day Kolton gets more independent and doesn't need his momma anymore. Of course it makes me very proud that Kolton is growing up and becoming a smart little boy, but really where does the time go? Kolton is starting to say so many more words and it make me so proud. Emma is so close to walking it's unreal. Didn't I just bring these babies home?! REALLY!

Another thing I'm emotional over? NOT having a teeny tiny baby in the house. I know, I know.. we wont even go there.

So, anyhoo. I had a friend say to me yesterday "Adam must really love you because he's missing football!" ha! I had dragged my husband out to DC for the millionth time this month. He did miss football, but I guess it's because he realizes that football doesn't matter when you have family.. No? Okay, well I'm sure it's because he has the ESPN APP on his phone AND the fact that the most important game to him (WVU vs LSU) didn't come on until 9pm.. lol

So, yes.. we do devote alot of time to our *FAMILY* but we wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Our Awesome Little Family

Pumpkin Muffins Recipe

I'm pretty sure there isn't one individual that doesn't LOVE pumpkin. Well, maybe a few here and there, but you have to admit yourself it's pretty good. I'm not sure if I love it more because it's yummy or because it's a sign of fall. Have you ever had Dunkin Donuts Pumpkin Muffins? Holy, moly. They're the bomb. My husband was genius enough to find a copy cat recipe and made them this weekend. And they were as well THE BOMB! The recipe makes 24, and I'm pretty sure Kolton ate 15 himself! They were THAT good! So I just had to share the recipe with you.

Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

1 box of spice cake
1 15 oz can Pumpkin Pie
1 3.4 oz box vanilla pudding
2 eggs slightly beaten
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1 tbsp. sour cream
1/2 c. vegetable oil
2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
1/2 c. brown sugar

DIRECTIONS:

mix cake mix, pumpkin, pudding and vanilla

Add sour cream, eggs, oil, spice

Once combined scoop one large scoop(pampered chef large scoop)into lined cupcake cups. sprinkle each one with brown sugar and place on stone, or cookie sheet. bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 30 min or until toothpick comes out clean.

We found the recipe here. If you notice it calls for a 30oz can of pumpkin puree, after reading reviews that suggested that it was too much we only used a 15oz can and it was PERFECT! You have to try these. It's easy and I swear you'll feel cozy just smelling them bake!!

DC Housewife

All of my friends are probably tired of hearing me talk about my love for Washington DC, but I can't help it. I LOVE that city. Any chance we have to go there, I grab it. Adam had an extra day off after my family left so we decided to head into the city and see what we could get into ( I mean there's only a million things to do!)

First we hit up the Smithsonian National Zoo. This zoo/park is pretty cool AND it's free! That's right, you only pay for parking! Kolton has been to Disney World, but he was only 6 months, so now he's at the age where he can enjoy things like this, and boy did he! I forgot my good camera at home, because this was a last minute decision. But you know what, I'm actually glad I forgot it. I sometimes consume myself with trying so hard to snap every expression that *I* don't actually get to enjoy it. I did snap some with my camera phone.. you couldn't really expect me to not take ANY pictures!? But for the most part we walked, we talked, we took notice of everything, we really enjoyed everything, and we enjoyed watching Kolton&Emma enjoy everything. Have I said that I love my little family :)

After we left the zoo we headed to Georgetown Cupcake and grabbed lunch at a yummy BBQ place named Rocklands. It was SUCH a good day, and I'm so lucky to have such a beautiful city at my fingertips and a beautiful family to enjoy it with. I don't want to leave here feeling like I didn't take advantage of it. I tell Adam our future plan is to have our beautiful house in Savannah, Georgia and a condo in Georgetown. The kids will go to college in Georgetown and they'll stay there and we'll come visit them. :) Who knows maybe you'll see me on Real Housewives of DC one day.. ;) Ha!

Labor Day Weekend.

For Labor Day weekend my sister and her family came to visit us. We always love having company, but I enjoy having my sister and her family so much. She has 3 kid, my niece Mackenzie and my 2 twin nephews Maximus and Matthias. Kolton LOVES playing with his cousins! We took advantage of the weather and mostly played outside. It was also the opening day of college football, so Adam grilled and we watched more football and played outside. And of course we did the mandatory Bert's Diner milkshake run! The house is pretty loud when all of the kids get together, but they all play SO well together, and I LOVE it. I wish they could have stayed longer, but they'll be back for our traditional Thanksgiving dinner. :)



While they were here I snapped some pictures for them. They haven't had professional pictures taken since before the boys were born, and I wanted to take some for them. I'm sure you can imagine with having 3 kids, a full time job, my sister just finished up school -it'd be a little hard finding time. Plus, my sister pointed out, everytime they had it planned, someone would fall and get a bruise, black eye, scratch or something and then they wouldn't be able to have them taken.. so I did it! I'm in no way professional, but I've had several of the pictures I have taken printed, and I think their pictures turned out great. Here's a few..





We had a great weekend with my family, and I can NOT wait until they come back until Thanksgiving. Emma will probably be right in the mix of chaos with them then!

More (very) little projects..

I'm probably the least crafty person you will ever meet in your life. Really, ask my friend Jenifer about a lamp shade I made out of bamboo.. it was AWFUL. I'm pretty sure she's still embarrassed for me over that lamp. I did however win Ms Art my senior year... but it was kind of a joke. And the art teacher was FURIOUS that my classmates voted me. So yes, I'm horrible with anything crafty. So when I do get something that is a little decent -I'm pretty proud. It helps that I read lots of DIY blogs and copy their steps word for word (and my stuff still isn't as good as their's) but I'm pretty happy with two projects I did.

First is a canvas that was in our kitchen. When we first moved in the previous owners left all their decor for us and it was a chef themed, but when we redid the kitchen we took it all out. So I tried to fancy it up.

The before


The after


and here's this another I did today.


I've been trying to figure out something to do with that wall. I was telling Adam the unused wall space in this house drives me nuts. I knew that I wanted to get that picture printed. I was thinking about getting it put on canvas but I wanted to see it on an 8x10 before I paid that much money. The picture was taken with my Canon Rebel and I just wanted to make sure the picture wouldn't distort being blown up that big. (and it didn't!) I like this so much, I might not even get it printed on a canvas! I found the decals around the frame on clearance, so between the 12 dollar frame, the 3 dollar print, and the 5 dollar decals I did two projects today for 20 bucks! ( I had everything already for the first project)