Pumpkin Patch Fun

A couple weeks ago we were driving home and saw a cute pumpkin patch getting ready to open for the season! I was instantly excited and anxious to make time to take Klayton-I was sure he would have fun! I was not disappointed...it was more than just pumpkins-it was an afternoon of fun and games!
At the pumpkin patch you were able to choose to pick your own pumpkin from the patch or get one that had already been picked. It wasn't a hard decision, especially for Klayton as he ran over, grabbed a wagon and off to the patch he went!

We had decided that each of the boys would get a pumpkin and we quickly discovered that picking out pumpkins is a difficult; but fun task!

This pumpkin looks acceptable for Justus and thankfully Klayton is willing to "let" Dad be the one to cut it from the patch!I should confess here...that the original pumpkin chosen for Justus never made it home. A certain big brother dropped it and therefore it became damaged goods...

Now we have to find the perfect pumpkin for Klayton!

Maybe this one?

Nope, it was only good for a picture and the search must continue!

And, finally the perfect pumpkin! Daddy gets to help cut it from the patch once again!

When we had started our search we had told Klayton if he could pick up the pumpkin we could get it and as you can see he knew how to handle it and loaded it in his wagon!

Off to our next adventure!

Like obligatory pictures!

And can I just say that getting pictures taken of TWO boys is TWICE the work now?! Ha! Apparently, my little guys were looking at a different camera?

I was really impressed with all the extra activities the pumpkin patch had like, pumpkin ring toss! And no Klayton does not realize that those rings are actually hula hoops!

Bean Bag Toss!

Pumpkin bowling!

Corn shucking!

A corn kernel sensory bin!

The cutest scarecrow EVER!

We also enjoyed a hayride; but no pictures to prove that we ALL enjoyed-and yes that includes Justus. He, however, wasn't too thrilled with the bumps on the path!

We spent two hours at the patch, left with two pumpkins, a bag of popcorn and a caramel apple-all for $10! Not to shabby if you ask me and it was money well spent...in fact Klayton keeps asking to go back for more pumpkins!

Wordless Wednesday-My Little GQ Model

Ten on Tuesday-Moments with Klayton

1. "I am king!" We hear this often lately...whether Klayton has climbed to the tallest part of a jungle gym or simply accomplished something. His ego does NOT need to be stroked!
2. "Catch it with hand!" After watching an episode of the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse where I believe Goofy or Mickey caught a fly with their bare hands...it is now expected that Daddy, Mommy or Grandma and Grandpa can do this as well.
3. "Klayton gone. Paint Klayton on picture." Klayton is really fascinated with Joseph and I's wedding picture and that he is not in it. He has come up with a solution to paint himself into the picture...I suggested that maybe I replace it with a family picture someday!
4. While at Wal-Mart a few weeks back an older woman began unloading her shopping cart behind us and my little gentleman without being asked or told to began helping her. I was SO proud.
5. "Road broke the wheel!"

6. "Mommy, you cute!" Yep, he knows how to melt my heart!
7. After finding out we were not having tacos for dinner. "Mommy store get tacos with coins!" He refers to all money as coins and is pretty demanding about the food he eats! He also makes his own tacos now-seriously he is so independent.
8. He now recognizes McDonalds and shouts for it! I think every kid at some point in their life becomes excited about Happy Meals! When we go there he will ask for a Coke.
9. I may be repeating myself on this one; but a few weeks ago we went to lunch at Red Robin. The waitress came for our drink order and without prompting Klayton ordered his own drink and food! He said, "milk, burger and cheese!" As he ordered each item he pointed to it in the menu.
10. "I fix it!" and "I help!" are two phrases that my Mister utters often! I am literally on the sidelines watching this boy going from believing he can do anything and not being afraid of anything to learning, "I scared."

Be still my heart.

Justus-4 Months Old

Justus, you are 4 months!

YOU:
*Wear 0-3 and 3-6 month clothes.
*In size 1 diapers.
*Don't always like to cooperate for pictures, therefore this months pictures were difficult to get done and find a decent one. (Maybe I should devote a post to all the outtakes?!)
*Laughed for the first time!
*Still hate tummy time.
*Are a restless napper. Not good.
*Love to "chat". I love talking to you because you respond back.
*Have such a good grip when holding onto things.
*Like to grab.
*Enjoy being snuggled close.
*Still a good eater; but are no longer enthused with taking a bottle-especially from mommy.
*Enjoy looking at bright colors.
*Love the outdoors. If you are crying sometimes simply taking you outside helps.
*Have lots of smiles!
*Hate the sound of the vacuum cleaner. Whenever it is on your eyes bug out and tears fill your eyes.
*Seem to be teething, that is the only thing I can think of with all of your drooling and chewing.
*Still completely in love with your Great Grandma Barnhardt.
*Want to be held as much as possible.

Hey Chunky Monkey,
This month has kept me on my toes with you from colds to blood blisters and to what appears to be teething...we are definitely increasing the mommy knowledge. Yesterday, I was at my housekeeping job and thinking about you. I suddenly became overwhelmed-once again-that I GET to be your Mommy and that I GET to have you as my baby. I am SO undeserving of you; but I am not going to argue with God or get upset at Him for blessing me with you! I love you little guy and I will cherish all these days with you!

Love Ya, ALWAYS,
Mommy

Apple Picking

There is a family owned apple orchard just east of town that opened last weekend. I thought it would be fun to take Klayton apple picking and wanted to go last year; but never made it. So, I was thrilled that we were able to go on the second weekend of the orchard being open!
We decided on picking a "peck" of apples-10 lbs and were excited to be directed to the trees with Cortlands and Liberty. Actually, all we cared about was that we needed RED apples!

Klayton has never been apple picking before and as we started picking our peck he quickly filled his bag to about half way. We decided to head over to another area and as we neared the unpicked trees he dumped his bag of apples...I guess its confusing as to if they should be kept or not because there were SO many apples on the ground as it was! We had to explain to him that apples in the bag are meant to be kept.

Klayton also enjoyed tasting the fresh apples. And I am not exaggerating by using the word taste-he would take a bite of an apple and quickly toss it to the ground. Further "apple discussion" was made about how we couldn't on purpose put the yummy apples to waste! I should mention that I was loving every moment of our time together!

Our final lesson was taught by daddy on how to properly shine an apple before eating the WHOLE apple!

We are excited to make apple dumplings, apple cinnamon muffins and eat our peck of apples!

Ten on Tuesday

1. I came across this quote on Pinterest tonight, Family is supposed to be our safe haven. Very often, its the place we find our deepest heart ache. So, sad to me that this is often the case. Why do we bring heart ache upon the people we are closest to?
2. Klayton is just cracking me up. This past weekend he has started proclaiming himself, "I am king!" We have no idea where he picked that up from; but we hear it often!
3. Tonight we went to K-Mart and they had a bloodied costume hand. I pretended it was my hand and showed Klayton, he stared at it for a minute and then decided to be scared. It just cracked me up as after a minute long pause he looked at me and said, "I scared." I don't think he was, its just that he has become very aware of the meaning of the word scared in recent weeks.
4. I am thankful for God's provision. I was able to pick up a house keeping job to pay for Klayton to attend preschool. Its only for a few hours a week; just enough for me not to be away from my boys for to long but enough to provide the preschool bill.
5. Yes, I revisited the 80's and got a perm; but it's a life saver! I still don't know how to completely function with two kids so anything that can become a time saver is worth it and having a perm has cut my self-prep for the day to not very long at all...too bad I can't use that "extra" time for sleep!
6. I love good deals. This week I bought a wooden toddler bed for $5! I am SO excited! The woof finish has some scratches so I plan on stripping and refinishing the wood; but seriously other than that its in great shape and still a steal of a deal! Can't wait to get to work on it this weekend!
7. Reading? How I miss having time to read and when I do have the time my eyes are so tired they can't see the words. So, I will just ask, "what are you reading?" Please share!
8. In less than a week my littlest guy will be 4 months old? Um, how is that possible?
9. Sometimes I really appreciate this Tuesday post because I really want to blog; but don't have much to say and this gives me the perfect opportunity to be completely random.
10. Please pray for me and some very important unspoken requests. Thanks and have a Happy Tuesday!

Wedding Fun

Well, my Cousin-in-law Andrew married his girl today! Joseph was able to be in the wedding and we arrived into town yesterday for the rehearsal dinner and some fun!

Klayton was able to do a little swimming; but when he spotted these chairs he was done!

Justus was able to enjoy some cuddle time with his Great Grandma Barnhardt! And I should mention that she was holding him when he laughed for the FIRST time! Loved it! I have been waiting for his first laugh so it was special that she was able to share that memory with us!

Great Grandpa Barnhardt and Klayton are acting a little suspicious here and I think they could get into a lot of trouble together.

I LOVE weddings and to see how good everyone looks dressed up! Haha! Check out the hottie on the left! Andrew is in the center-he's the groom!

Some pre-wedding pictures!

Oh, look who has my littlest guy again! I think they enjoyed each other this weekend. Joseph and I were once again in awe of the special touch she has with Justus-he has NEVER cried with her and that is no exaggeration! And if he is fussing when he goes to her he instantly calms!

And just a few more pictures before we get to the wedding!

I love watching couples interact at their marriage ceremony...the expression on the grooms face when he sees his bride for the first time and how the bride just radiates!

The first kiss seals the deal...

until death do they part.

Bestie Fest 2014

I am sure you are wondering, "Bestie Fest? Is there really such a thing?!" And I can assure you there most definitely is! It is a place and a time where you don't forget your role as a mommy, wife, adult; but yet you can just sit back and have some fun! At least that is what I think of during my first-of many-Bestie Fest's with my bestie BobbiJo! Our little guys had a blast as well and I think our husbands were just there out of obligation! Ha!

I got a late night perm and enjoyed a chat with my bestie until 4 a.m!

Our boys did a little wrestling.

We ate Snickers Cheesecake for breakfast.

Did our nails and enjoyed a shorter night of chatting...I think it was 3 a.m.-rather than 4!

We spent just a couple of days together that went by way to fast. I am so thankful that God gives friendships and the HE KNOWS the people we need. BobbiJo and I met in college and simply had 'being from Wisconsin' in common. But it gave us a basis! She spent Thanksgiving break with my family and I-it was a blast that launched many memories! After college we lost touch for a while; but God allowed us to get back in touch. We have shared many seasons of life and I am thankful for a friend that God knew I needed to walk text right along side of me. As she says, it's like we are co-workers-except for we actually like each other-as we text on a daily basis and share uh-oh moments about our kids, hard moments, silly moments, times of venting...and simply being a friend.

And, how does Bestie Fest becomes a reality-just look at our shirts!

Yep, we have our own t-shirt! Keep your eyes out for next years Bestie Fest 2015!

Checking the Time

Klayton goes to school for three hours on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. This is a brand new experience for all of us so what does a Mama do for three hours without her Klayton? I should add that it seemed like a lifetime.
My first day with Klayton at school was filled with: a drive around town, checked the time, fed brother, checked the time, fed daddy and checked the time. Not even an hour had passed. Made beds, blogged, checked the time-again. It was slightly after 9:30-finally-this means that an hour HAD passed and I just had to wait another hour and forty-five minutes. So, what did I do? Talk to Justus about how much I missed big brother, cleaned, checked the time, played Candy Crush, checked the time, peered at Facebook, checked the time...do you understand yet that I checked the time A LOT? I'm hoping that this is normal survival mode for a Mama sending her child to school for the first time?

And, yeah Justus is bored to sleep without his big brother.

Ten on Tuesday-Preschool Edition

1. I cannot believe that this day is even here...my little boy is going to preschool!

2.

3.

4. Technically he misses the cut off for preschool since his birthday is in October. However, his preschool is in its first year and offering a 3 year old program. We thought it would be a great experience that would also help his speech to flourish!

5.

6.

7. He went in without a backwards glance and I don't think he even noticed that we left him there.

8.

9. There are 5 kids enrolled and I couldn't be more thrilled with that class size! I think its just the right size with three girls and two boys! I'm hoping that he will become great friends with Blake!

10. And this was my last glimpse (sneaky picture) before we left...

...its going to be a long 2 1/2 hours for me.