Jackson's (and my parents!) visit!

I was so thrilled that my parents were coming back up to visit and bringing Jackson with them.   I missed that little guy and that was the first time I went 3 months without seeing him.  I'm REALLY looking forward to getting home and seeing Gracee.  (and everyone else!  ;) )

 Running off energy during a rainy day!

 It worked!  :)

 This picture was to make his dad jealous.

 She loved Stuart.  

 This girl loves, loves basketball.  

 Mason's favorite game!

I tried to get more of Jackson, but he was running around doing his own thing.  

 We picked the coldest day to head to the ocean.  :)  Jackson's 1st time!

 He wants to come back for his birthday so he can swim!  

 The horses were so neat!

 Dead Jellyfish

 Cheering on K-State on the East coast!

 Pink ice cream for the pink lover

 Mason fell asleep chewing on his water gun.  Tough life!

 We made a detour to NYC

This little sweetie slept good once they left.  So much fun!

School Pumpkin Patch!

On Wednesday, Maddy and I got to go on a field trip with Mason to the pumpkin patch!  Maddy had asked to go back a few times since we went as a family, so she was so excited to get to go again.  Mason was excited because he got to ride the bus.  (Why does the bus excite kids so much?)  Since the night before Maddy hurt her foot and couldn't walk, I dug the single stroller out and away we went.  Which, by the way, I have to point out that having a 38 pound non walker is NO fun.  AT ALL.

It was so fun to see Mason with all of his friends who were also excited to see Mason's mom and Mason's sister.  ;)  I love the mentality of little kids.

Here are a few pics........

 Mason's class.  I think there were a few missing!

 Mason didn't want to have his picture taken.  Playing in the play area was more fun!

Happy Halloween!

We had so much tonight Trick or Treating!  It just gets better every year, seriously.  So much more fun than actually doing it ourselves.   I was a little worried this afternoon, it started raining and then went from a rain to a downpour which continued for the next two hours.  The rain let up right as we were venturing out, but then started again while we were out.  To be honest, it was actually a lot of fun walking and playing in the rain.  Maddy didn't miss a single water puddle.  ;)

I asked Mason when we got home if he had fun and he said "so very much fun, but it was really kinda scary."  HA.  I had to laugh.  Our last house we went to had a yelling skeleton on the door and it scared both of the kids, but not so bad that they didn't go up and get candy.  Mason is still talking about the "monster"

I couldn't get enough of how they said "Trick or Treat"  it was so adorable.  Maddy would also say "good bye pumpkins, good bye black cat, goodbye scary monster" to each of the decorations at eeevvvveerrrryyyy house.

After we got home, the kids warmed up in the bathtub.  As Chris was answering the door to greet little trick or treaters, Mason ran around the corner full fledged, stark naked and right up to the door of a handful of kids and parents....that was a greeting I'm sure they won't forget!

Here are some pictures of our Halloween festivities including pumpkin carving!

 I'm glad I took pictures the night before

 Maddy and her Minnie "baby" pumpkin

Yummy!  Warm, Fresh Krispie Kreme donuts!

 Ready to go!  

 Mason was excited because he got a new spiderman raincoat!  I guess the rain was good for something!

 And I realize just now that we didn't put on her mask.....at all.  oops!

Oh Memories!

We were walking to the park today, and I looked up ahead and there was Mason stopping at the stop sign, looking both ways and then crossing the street by himself in a rush to get to the park.  Then I looked behind at Maddy tagging along enjoying life to the fullest, stopping to tell me the numbers she seen painted on the curb (She can say and identify up to 20 now!)  I always say to myself that they are growing up before my very eyes, or talk about how big they are getting when i put the too small clothes into the storage box, but I really don't think too much about it.  Today though, was different.  They literally grew overnight.  I have a four year old and a almost three year old.  When did they get so mature?  Maddy is talking up a storm now, just a short year ago, she was toddling around getting into anything and everything!  I can take them out in public by myself and not lose my mind (most of the time) something I couldn't do without crying at this time last year.  They buckle themselves in their carseats, play together all the time, look out for each other, and can express their thankfulness for things that we do for them.  Nothing quite melts a momma's heart than when you do something nice and you hear a reply "aw, tanks mommy!"  With Maddy, it always starts with a "Aw!" She says it all the time, which makes me feel like I'm doing a good job raising her even though sometimes I sit back and wonder and worry.

Most of my life I couldn't wait to be a mommy, I dreamed of the day all the time.  

Now that I'm done with my sappy post, I'll leave you with my favorite videos that I found lying around.  Why, oh Why, do they grow up before our very eyes?

Might be a overload with the videos, I can't choose one a piece!  :)

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=5336776243

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=551729757753#comments

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=541464055303

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=540232767813

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=554840723353

Pumpkin Patch!

This weekend we headed to a Pumpkin Patch!  It was so adorable and super nice....the kids loved every minute of it!

Mason sitting in all of the pumpkins!  The sun was shining right into his face...that was his excuse for not looking!  ;)

Poor Mason.  The night before he threw up, so we decided not to go this weekend.  The next morning he was acting just fine, said he felt fine, didn't have a fever, so we went ahead and went.  He was really quiet the whole time we were there, but still smiled and had a good time.  We got home, he wanted to take a nap, and then woke up with a 104.0 fever...and still has it.  Pretty much exactly what Maddy had a few months ago.  Lovely!  The poor little guy is miserble and so is his momma's heart!

Mother of the Year award, right here!

  See?  He smiled!  ;)

I love patriotic people.  Love. Them.

Maddy with her favorite person in the whole world.  

The M's with their loot!

They had a play farmers market there.  Like I said before, this place was adorable!

Uh-Oh!  

Sorry Grandpa and Uncle Jason!  If it makes you feel better, Mason refused to sit on a RED tractor...only GREEN! 

 *Ginger and Dusti, enjoy!  ;)

"Vegetables are good for your tummy!"

Mads milking her cow that she wanted to take home with her.  Thankfully, "Maybe Santa can bring her for you" worked like a charm!  Hopefully, she has already forgotten!