Halloween, Part 1

Last night we attended the first of three fun Halloween events this year. Our church had a "trunk or treat" in the church parking lot. I was very excited for Halloween this year because last year Charlotte was adorable, but didn't have any idea what was going on. I was a little scared that she wouldn't like trick or treating because she can be very shy in large crowds or when people she doesn't know walk up to her. However, this mama did not have to worry! Considering trick or treating involves getting to carry around a bucket (which she loves to do) and receiving candy, she caught on really quickly!

Here is our adorable Goldilocks with her three bears

"You mean all I have to do is walk up to people and they will hand me candy?"

We paused for a moment to take a family picture. Charlotte is eating a Skittle!

This little miss was not shy at all! She would wedge her way in if there was a large crowd and went back to several cars more than once!

Of course, we had to pause for a popcorn snack break!

We were also very excited to run into a few good friends!

What a great time! Charlotte will be so excited to find out there is more to come!

Mommy's Little Helper

One of my favorite things about this time of year is that it gives me an excuse to make (and eat) my favorite iced sugar cookies! Yesterday, Charlotte got to share her first experience with me in making these cookies. I'm sure there will be many more to come! She was beyond excited to put on an apron like Mommy, and get to crawl up on the step ladder to see all of the action.

Hard at work

The finished product.

For now, she simply got to watch and think she was helping to cut cookies. She had no hand in the actual decorating process. As she gets older, it is going to be hard for me to give up some control and let her actually decorate. I sure do like my "perfect" pretty cookies.

Pumpkin Patch Extravaganza

This morning we had some family fun time at the Owens Farm pumpkin patch in Richardson. It was great! It is geared towards little kids and there was lots for Charlotte to do and plenty of space to run. The weather was beautiful and we all had a wonderful morning together.

She was so happy to find pumpkins just her size. She can say pumpkin. It doesn't sound much like pumpkin, but she says the same thing every time she sees one, so I know that is what she is trying to say.

We have noticed some very OCD tendencies in Charlotte. Here she is lining all of the pumpkins up.

Here Daddy got some great pumpkin pictures of her.

We got to go on a short hay ride around the farm.

There were also plenty of animals to see.

We had fun with you, baby girl! You are growing so fast and we are having the best time getting to watch it all!

For nostalgia sake, here is Charlotte in October last year at the Arboretum.

Training her early!

Charlotte has the right idea!

Look alikes

Last week at church Charlotte wore this beautiful dress we borrowed from her friend, Mallory. On the same day, her friend Ty wore his borrowed outfit from Jake. Jake and Mallory are twins, so these two blonde buddies were matching for the day.

P. S. It is hard to get two kids under 2 to stand still side-by-side!

New Car

Charlotte got her first car today. They grow up so fast! She was given this wonderful, gently-used car from her cousins, Anna and Ben, She tested it out in the driveway after school today. What a great way to spend a lovely afternoon! Char loved getting in and out and closing the door. She is a little too short to be able to push it with her feet very much, but she was getting the idea. She loved it so much she cried when she had to come in!

Indoor Picnic

On Saturday night we had an indoor picnic and watched the Longhorns play football! Go Horns!

A PW kind of day

A few years ago my mother-in-law got me hooked on the blog "The Pioneer Woman". If you have never been to it, you should check it out. She has sections on her family's life on a ranch, cooking, photography, home & garden, and entertainment. I have tried a few of her recipes here and there and they have always been wonderful. Her lasagna recipe makes my mouth water just thinking about it. Recently, she has been on the Food Network doing a 6 series Saturday morning cooking show. This past Saturday I was inspired. Since that happens so rarely with me when it comes to cooking, and since I even more rarely getting the "cooking bug" I decided to spend Labor Day making the three recipes she did on the show.

We started Monday morning with Lemon Blueberry Pancakes. Yummo. I froze the extras and had them this morning, and they were just as amazing.

Then, for dinner that night we had sliders and homemade mac 'n cheese. Mark and I decided we would serve sliders at any cookouts we host from now on because then people can graze the other food as well and not feel guilty. The mac n cheese was good but I think I overcooked the macaroni and it got too mushy. My fault, not PW's.

Overall, it was a great day full of yummy food and relaxation!

Time at the park

It was such a beautiful morning! We could not be happier about the "cold" front blowing through. Anything to not have 100 degree temperatures! This morning we walked to the park that is about a mile from our house. Since the weather was so nice, I pushed Charlotte in her stroller so that I could get in my exercise for the day. She is a very proficient walker and getting quite good at running as well. She can also walk up the ramp, climb the stairs, and slide on her own. All of that add up to much less work for Mama at the park!

Charlotte sliding by herself. She also learned to slide in the tube slide to her left. I didn't get any pictures of that, but I got a great video.

Swinging is so much fun!

Then we fed the ducks. Normally you can't get this close to the water, but the water level is so low you can walk right out there.

Then, it was snack time, of course!

It is so sad to see how low the pond is. Normally the water comes all that way up to the tree roots. We desperately need some rain.

Here are some cute videos of our playtime at the park.

Mission: Impossible

It is absolutely impossible to get a good picture of Charlotte at this age. There are two stumbling blocks in my way:

1) She won't stay in one place for longer than a half a second.

2) If she does sit still for 3+ seconds, she refuses to smile upon command.

This morning I was trying to get a picture of her in her cute Longhorn outfit to commemorate the first game day of the season. The pictures are below. I will let you be the judge of how well our photo session went. (P.S. It probably doesn't help that she was hopped up on sugar from the donuts she had just consumed.)

"What, Mama? You want me to be still for a picture? I thought you said to run around."

You can't catch me.

This was my attempt to get a picture of her sitting in the chair.

The mischievous look on the her face says it all, little rascal. And, why yes, that is a Longhorn cheerleader doll she is carrying around. We took a trip to the Dallas co-op for a burnt orange bow and somehow Char ended up with a doll!

Then we tried to get Daddy involved - nothing but stone face.

Oh, well. I hope those Longhorns are running as fast as this little Longhorn was today! Hook 'em!