pumpkin patch. part 1

we have been pumpkin patching with these guys for 3 years now.

they live in LA- so instead of meeting up at Bates like we did the past two years

we met half way- in Irvine- at a pumpkin patch with a train.

and rain.

not that it is always raining there,

but when we went it was.

so we got very few pictures.

reecie slept through the whole thing.

we took a little train ride.

we ran round thier little patch.

jules and i stood in the rain and talked about potty training

while the boys jumped their hearts out in the bounce house.

the boys got a pumpkin and then

we finally packed up to find an indoor play place to eat lunch

cause we weren't ready to part ways yet,

even if it was pouring rain.

we ate chick-fil-a and chatted while the boys played some more.

they are such great little buddies and

even after a few months apart they pick up right where they left off.

it's really cute to see how much fun they have together.

ollie smiled through it all.

then puked all over his momma.

i wish they still lived half a mile away
cause i love 'em all!

if you mustache why...

we would say beacuse uncle pat's birthday makes you want to put on a mustache or two and take a photo shoot.

easiest kid ever!!

no, not elliot-bless his energetic spunky sassy little heart.

but benny, his cousin.
he is not only adorable, but as sweet as they come.
the kind of kid that makes you want to have 20 more.
ben is the baby in his family. 
he follows a very stubborn and challenging, 
but also adorable brother.
the Lord gave them ben as a tender mercy after collin. 
ben is such an awesome example and buddy to elliot
he teaches him 
how to share
how to not cough in your hand, but in your arm fold.
how to catch polie bugs
what a pirate ship is made out of
how to eat all your dinner
and 
best of all how to play for HOURS without mom!! 

we like to invite benny over as much as possible. (but he's a big preschooler now)
we'd even pay him if we needed to.
but lucky for us, he thinks elliot is pretty great and comes for free! 
we also get all benny and collins wonderful hand me downs. 
so every time elliot get dressed he comments,
"that's so nice for benny to share his shirts wif me, huh mom?" 
it's true, benny is really nice.

three favorite words

it makes my heart so happy 
when e comes running into the family room after reading stories with dad and says,

"TIME FOR FRIP-SHURES!" (scriptures)

because that means we made it through another day.
it means dinner was decided and eaten (i struggle with what to fix for dinner. A LOT)
it means baths are done
jammies are on 
and bedtime is less then 5 minutes away.
it means that even though i may have done lots of things wrong 
at least we are ending the day with something right.

JACKPOT!!!

i love that when a baby starts smiling you feel like you have won the lottery!!

nesting

reecie boy came 24 days early.
i was in MAJOR "nesting" mode when my water broke.
so did my vacuum.
so i went to my parents and borrowed theirs cause
i was not going to bring a baby home to a dirty house!
i had done my big shop to fill the pantry earlier that week
(i did the same thing when i was nesting with elliot-
it's the only time i ever shop at stater brothers. a week before i go into labor. strange.)
and i did have a box of diapers and a car seat to bring him home in.
we had just pulled down the bassinet and baby clothes from the attic.
i had to wash them still.
so even though my water broke- well started to leak around 8 am- i cleaned and did laundry and went to target and the library. finally went to the hospital at 4pm.
i digress.
this is not about reece's birth, but about fact that he came early
and i was NOT finished nesting!
i felt like i was going to be about 24 days behind for the rest of forever.
the pile on my dresser was as tall as me,
and reece's clothes were in little piles here and there and everywhere.
i learned it is VERY hard to nest when your baby bird has already hatched!
so i took a deep big breath and counted 1-2-3.
and soon enough that sweet baby bird of mine was sleeping more than 2-3 hour stretches at night. even 10 hours sometimes!
so when i too got some sleep i could finish a project or two. or five.

this mirror is now a HAPPY
shade of yellow and hanging
above our "linens" dresser

this dresser was originally my dads
oldie but goodie
a few cans of spray paint later...

all this nesting and our "baby bird"
sleeps in the closet
just like harry potter

the boys got our old dresser
cause it has two even sides
that works perfect for keeping things in order

i even managed to find an "arfor"
i.e. an R for reece

now the nest is in order and the baby bird is chubby and sleeping
i will have to soon go back to work. :\

3 months

he's cute
he's fat
and i want to eat him!

he goes to bed about 6:30
is up about 7ish
and only wakes once to eat

during the day he likes to
eat every 3 hours
at least.

he smiles
he coos
and he loves his bouncy seat