Pumpkin Pickin' at Hubers

Today was the perfect day to hit Hubers for our annual pumpkin pickin'. It was beautiful outside and we actually didn't have anything going on which never happens anymore, so up the hill we went. :) Pardon the picture overload here but I just had to try out my new camera lens and I must say, I think I'm going to love it! Some pics are a little blurry, but some are so vibrant so I'm pretty excited! You can't beat a beautiful background with pretty cute boys to capture either. :)

We always take the boys pictures sitting on the wagon full of pumpkins

A little tractor riding....or "choo choo" as Ethan kept saying.

Getting ready to go

Always looking for the perfect pumpkin

I had a ball watching Ethan this year! Last year he wasn't walking yet so I packed him on my back in a moby wrap-not much fun. This year he was all in, checking it all out. I loved watching him explore.

Braden was saying here, "Ethan you go that way, and I'll go this way and we'll find the perfect pumpkin. "

Braden thought he'd plant this seed. :)

Such big muscles!

These faces are just too cute to me! It's a two year old for sure when you ask them to say "cheese." Love it!

This is when he really gets into the smile and laughs with his Pee Wee Herman laugh

Their perfect pumpkins

All ready to go

Waiting on the wagon and checking out the scenery

Sure do love my boys!

Just boys!

Soccer Pro

Tonight was our second to last soccer game of the season. Braden and his teammates got their medals after the game and Braden was so excited! I am so proud of my little guy. He has really played hard every single game. :) Tonight he actually got 4 goals and so we stopped and got him a blue slushy after the game. Way to go buddy!

Excited about his medal and his snacks of course!
Braden's buddies Jacob and Jace play too!

Not soccer, but after soccer. :) Braden borrowed the hermit crabs from school today and he loves them! They completely creep me out but ya know....trying to be a good mom! ha! Just hoping they don't escape before we return them tomorrow to school. Maybe if I get one of these it could take the place of the endless begging for a dog???? hmmmmmm, it might just work. :)

SOOO precious!!

I'll be honest...these pictures do NOT represent what is typical in my house! My boys want to play together... they just haven't quite figured out how to do it yet. ha! Somebody is usually crying. :) So last night when I walked in the room and saw this first image...I could have cried! It was precious! Ethan had crawled in Braden's lap so Braden could read to him (which by the way, Ethan is so big, Braden was struggling to see around him to read-ha!). They did this for 30 minutes with several different books! I couldn't take it so of course I took 50 pictures and seveal videos. Just precious, precious moments reminding me how blessed I am!

New accessories

My parents went in together and helped get me a new portrait lens for my camera! I've been wanting a new one so that when I take close ups...or family shots, it will bascially pop the subject in the picture and blur the background. I haven't had time yet to really play with it but I did snap this picture quickly to try it out. I think I'm going to love it! Thanks mom and dad!! :) Also, Ethan is sporting his new hat from Harvest...he loves it! He wears it all day in the house and pets the dog on it. ha!

Big Wheel Race

Last year at Harvest Homecoming we put Ethan in the baby crawling contest for fun. :) During the crawl Braden noticed the big wheel contest going on nearby. He really wanted to do it so we told him maybe next year. :) We asked him this year and he said he wanted to do it. The only problem was, we really only had one of those miniature big wheels so we borrowed a CARS one from our neighbor and headed on down. You know how these things are though...some super competitive parents were there with some super fast big wheels! ha! It seems like everyone was sporting the same brand of this certain big wheel that was speedy fast. Right away Chris and I looked at each other and knew he didn't stand a chance with his little cars bike. It didn't matter that he didn't make it out of the first round though...he had a ball "practicing" and got a ribbon. I'm not even sure he knows he didn't win! Gotta love the age of 4. :)
Mom was with us too since she had spent the night the night before. :) She usually gets to go to Harvest Homecoming with us since it falls on my bday.

Practicing

Look at that determination! hee hee. The little boy behind him happens to be in my preschool class...he's riding one of those cool big wheels I was talking about. He told me today in class that he got a trophy so he must have won!

My fast number 3 boy!

Good job buddy! We are so proud of you!

My birthday

Friday the 7th was my 29th bday....again. :) It was a fabulous birthday, so much fun with family and friends. :) Chris took the day off so we could do whatever we wanted. Ethan had his 2 year check up in the am (which by the way he's exploding off the chart of course-36 pounds and 37.5 inches and healthy as a horse. :) and then we headed down to Harvest Homecoming. I LOVE festivals! I just love me some fattening festival food. :) It was a perfect, beautiful day!

After Harvest, we put the kids down for naps and I went shopping by myself which was sooooo nice! Instead of just looking for all clearance stuff like my cheap butt always does, I just went and bought what I wanted (since it was my bday afterall!) which was so fun! I got some new cute clothes that were much needed. :)

Then for the evening festivities, we met at Amber's and hopped in the limo to head to dinner. We went to August Moon which is a super yummy chinese restaurant-think PF Changs, but local. It was soooo delicious! Then we went back to Amber's for a little fun and karaoke. ha! If you know me, you know how GREAT I can sing so I just love some karaoke! It was such a fun, fun birthday! Thanks to my mom for watching the kids so we could go out and to our wonderful friends for finding sitters and going out with us. :)

Amber, Christy, me and Carrie...oh and Lydia being with the girls :) Jenn met us later :)

Hilarious! Carrie's gma went through some of her "things" and sent these toys to Carrie's kids to play with. ha! So Carrie was gracious enough to share the love with me for my bday. Really?!?! What are these things? ha!

Heading to Louisville

My hubby who always helps plan the best bdays ever!

Eating...well actually we look done-lots of boxes :)

This picture pretty much says it all! Hee hee! Carrie was really getting serious with her karaoke! We had so much fun and even had hoarse voices the next day from all our super talented singing. :0 Thanks everyone for such a fun birthday!

IUS fall festival

Last weekend we went to IUS' annual fall festival. The food and games are fun but the highlight for us is always the balloon race. I knew Ethan would go crazy for the balloons this year but unfortuantely they didn't go up this year due to the wind. :( Bummer! It was still a super fun afternoon!

Checking out the firetruck

Use those muscles!

We always meet the Rousters at the festival...since there were no balloons, the kids just had fun rolling down the hill. :)

Hangin' at home

Boy am I behind on this blogging business!! Here are a few pics of my boys around home just being cute!

Before church...this is Braden's new smile (lips closed). He said Isabella up the street smiles like this so he wants to do it like her! Where do they get this stuff? ha!

Helping Daddy work on the yard for new seed

Good work boys!

Our fall party

Last night was our annual fall outdoor movie night. Chris and I love this party because it's pretty easy to throw together, inexpensive and the kids have a ball. We had hayrides at the beinning, popcorn and hot chocolate for snacks and when it got dark we played "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" on the garage door. Thanks to everyone that got to come and help make it so much fun!

Ethan didn't get off the hayride until the last one. He loved it! And sweet Natalie held onto him like a big girl for every ride. :)

Even sporting the shirt for the event-love it!

Ava and Ethan got in some dancing before the movie started

You can see Braden squeezed in on the left. He was in heaven with a big movie, all his buddies and snacks! Right up his alley! :)