Pumpkin Patch

Last night we took the kids to the pumpkin patch and were somewhat successful. We got some pictures, but getting Jace to look at the camera and smile was just not happening. I knew he would love the tractor, but what did not occur to me until we got there was that the tractor would be such a distraction that all he wanted to do was ride the tractor. I will attribute this to my mom's side of the family- there must be a farming gene in there somewhere. So we got some pics and were only mildly exhausted in the end. Then we went to dinner which was more of an ordeal than the pumpkin patch. It is a local place that we had not been to in a long time, so we thought we would do something different. Well we were seated right away, but were still there an hour and a half. This is just not easy to pull off with two little ones. Plus while the place was busy it was quiet, which does not work very well since Jace likes to break out in song with his ABCs and he does not know how to sing quietly. Luckily most people thought it was cute, but we were exhausted by the time dinner was over. Jace passed out on the car ride home, since he had already had a long day because we had a birthday party earlier that day. I wish I could have passed out on the car ride home too.

Steve took Jace to Bass Pro Shops for entertainment purposes last weekend, but I know he just wanted to brainwash him a little more into believing we need a boat.

Kylie is just doing fine. She is so easy going, it is a blessing!

Vegas trip and work woes

Well I am catching up on posts- my first week back to work and already behind- not a good sign.

Last weekend Kylie and I went to Vegas to visit Grandma and Grandpa and left the boys at home. Boulder City has a great annual art and craft festival and I have not been in years so it was a great excuse to take a short vacation before my maternity leave was over. The weather was great and we got lots of shopping in. Grandma got Kylie her first Raggedy Ann doll, though it is a Christmas gift so she has to hold out a little longer to play with it.

Then it was back to work for me on Monday. Work was so chaotic. I had stayed caught up with email while I was out so I thought I would come back and just slide back into things- wrong. Well I think everyone was saving things for me so it was crazy. The only good part was that it left little to no time to miss Kylie, but her picture sits right in front of me, so I did get sad a couple times. Kylie did well at school- that is what the teachers say at least, though every time I went to get her she was content.

Jace and I went back to the zoo today. We had a cold front come in yesterday so while we were there it was in the 60s. He was better this time- did not have to chase him around so much. He still wanted to run, but kept in a closer proximity and never really went the other direction. He passed out hard on the car trip home so I think he had a good time. We took them both for a walk tonight when we got home. Kylie tried out her new jacket from Grandma and stayed snugly warm.

Our October is going to be so busy- hope it is not a trend for the rest of the year!

And despite our best efforts to support our football teams the Aggies and Bulldogs are not doing so hot. But we enjoy brainwashing the kids nonetheless. Jace now knows his Aggie and Bulldog t-shirts- next is the fightsongs (ha-ha).

Fuzzy Hair Kind of Day

So in a last attempt to cram in as many pictures as I can before I go back to work here is the last two days.

Last night after Kylie's bath her hair was very fuzzy and it carried into the morning. Made for some cute pics.

Yesterday I took pictures before a feeding and it went better than expected. Though in the end the hands had taken over...

I have to give credit to what I call my "big" camera- it takes pictures so quick that I can catch some of these smiles. The small, but convenient camera just was not doing it.

Have you noticed the pictures have shifted from Jace to Kylie? I somehow need to balance this out a little better. He is still around. Today he had to go to the opthemologist because his eyes were so red the last couple days. Doctor said it is allergies- poor little guy.

Depressing

Well sadly next week is my last full week at home with Kylie before I go back to work. The following week we are going to Vegas mid week (just me and Kylie) to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Can you believe she is already 9 weeks old?

I like my job, but who would not feel bad taking this face (and those cheeks) to daycare?

I think the last one is saying "enough already"

Fun with playdough

With all of the rain this weekend I had to come up with some indoor activities to entertain Jace. So we got out the playdough kit he got for his birthday. He loved it and the mess was not too bad. His favorite was the scissors, though teaching him how to hold them was difficult, and eventually he just went to using two hands.

This week has been a lot more relaxing. We had purchased storm panels that can be bolted on in the case of another hurricane, and last week they came to install the bolts. Those suckers were at least 6 inches long and it was so loud in my house every time they drilled. They were here three days, so my nerves were wearing thin trying to find quieter spots in the house where I could semi-relax and Kylie could nap. So this week I have been cleaning/organizing closets- not fun, but necessary. Amazing what you find. And taking pictures of Kylie daily. She is such a smiler when you talk to her- just trying to catch it on camera is a little more challenging. Here is Monday's results.

I am afraid I am jinxing this as I type. Kylie has been sleeping from 9P-3A the last week which I was happy with, but last night was 10P-5A. It would be nice if it continues, but we will see.

Yeah they are here at last...

We got the professional pictures of Kylie yesterday- Yeah! Here are some of the favorites..

Just another day

Not too much excitement around here and that is the way we like it!

Jace is healing from his face-first encounter with the sidewalk. He decided to get out of the wagon while I was pulling it (unbeknownst to me), and when we went over a bump I just heard lots of crying and saw him face down. Luckily it was not too bad and he got over it pretty quickly- the hardest part was getting him not to pick the scabs. Someone told Steve that was good- less scarring that way. Really? I thought it was the other way around. We went for another walk this week and he stayed strapped in the whole time- lesson learned by mommy. Another funny part to this story is that right before we got back in the wagon to head home he had picked a flower for Steve, well after the accident it was really wilted and full of snot, but he still was proud to give it to his dad.

We have hit the whiney stage with Jace and he does this face where he scrunches his nose- drives me nuts. So we are working on saying please more often. He is good about it when he wants a cookie, but we are trying to extend the application. Surprisingly he started saying "bless you" after we sneeze- must have gotten this from school. "Excuse me" is also in the works, but Steve needs to work on that too (as Jace said it for him after he burped)....

Kylie's sleep habits have been a roller coaster still leaving us guessing as to handle bed times with her. Two days she slept most of the day and then 7 hours at night, but that was short lived so I am chalking it up to a growth spurt. Most nights it is 9P-2A and then up again at 5. The doctor said at her 6 wk appointment that is pretty good, so we will be happy with that. Just hope it gets better before I go back to work, which seems right around the corner at this point (October 5th). At her doctor appointment she weighed in at 10lb5.5 oz(75%) and 22in(75%). She has officially shed her little peanut status.

College football started this weekend and Steve was really excited. Here are some pics of us all wearing our gear. Jace can say Gig'em and Go Aggies though he is lacking coordination for the thumbs up still- maybe by the end of the season.