Pumpkins and Popcorn

We carved our first ever pumpkin as a family on Thursday night and we had TONS of fun! Charles informed me that he had never carved a pumpkin before, and he says that he doesn't ever remember even sticking his hand inside one until that moment! I let Carsen choose which design we should use and he wanted the "scary ghost".... so the scary ghost it was! I think Charles did a great job for his first attempt at carving. Carsen would NOT stick his hand inside the pumpkin, and so Charles would scoop out the "guts" and put them into his little pumpkin scoop. I tried to make some yummy toasted pumpkin seeds, but I left them in the oven too long and they were a little too toasty! Parker was the only one adventurous enough to taste them! Charles came to the rescue, yet again, and made us some very good popcorn in our stove top popper. We enjoyed our treat and watched some cartoons with the boys. It is nights like this that make being a parent worthwhile! The boys truly enjoyed playing with the pumpkin guts, outside of the pumpkin of course, and they are still enjoying the scary ghost that daddy carved for them!

Carsen's Party

Sorry it has taken me so long to post these pictures, but our computer at home completely died! I don't understand how we EVER lived without computers to begin with! Carsen's party this year was construction themed.... he wanted a "dirt" cake and so I took the idea and ran with it.

This was the front door, and the entrance to the "construction zone"

This was the food table

The "dirt" cake that started it all! I must say that it was SO yummy!

The Birthday Boy with his cake

I have more to post and I will do it just as soon as our computer is up and running, for now I need to run. We are at my moms house and the boys are getting a little crazy!

Tate Farms and Old McDonalds

The day of Carsen's birthday we went to Tate farms and the boys had a BLAST! Grandma Wight was kind enough to go with me and help out with the boys, and by the time we left I think we were both worn out! Carsen had a great time playing in the corn cribs... that's right it's plural because he had to play in each and every one of them. He also really enjoyed riding the trikes around the track and he was even brave enough to jump out of the hay loft. Unfortunately, mommy is too slow with the camera and I missed getting a picture of him! We did however find some very nice pumpkins to bring home and Carsen and Parker very much enjoyed the whole experience.... here are a few pictures from our day.

After our Tate Farms fun, we went home and cleaned up... I felt so bad because as I took Parker's diaper off a hand full of corn kernels fell to the floor. And his poor little bottom was covered in indentations! He is lucky my camera battery died or I would have proof of this to share with everyone!

Our fun evening then continued as we went to "Old McDonalds" for dinner and some fun at the play place with Grandma and Pa Pa. Carsen had a great birthday even though his daddy was out of town! I will post pictures from the party as soon as I get them onto my computer.

Happy 3rd Birthday!

(I am posting this a day early because tomorrow is Carsen's day and I won't have time for getting online to post!)

I can't believe that my baby is already three years old! I can't remember my life before he was born, and I can't imagine my life without him in it.

He is a curious and energetic little boy who has taught me more about patience than I ever wanted to know, along with many other things such as....
*tags on your clothing are offensive and MUST be removed before wearing
*toe fuzz is the enemy and must be picked out and examined as soon as it is discovered
*toy phones aren't nearly as cool as the real thing
*little ears are ALWAYS listening, even when you think they aren't
*little mouths are likely to repeat the things the little ears heard at inappropriate times
*public restrooms are much more fun to use than the one at home
*the true use of toilet paper is to be strung from one end of the house to another, or, if the amount is insufficient to complete this task, it should all be stuffed into the toilet at once.
*if in doubt of the safety of an activity, try it out on your little brother first
*you should absolutely under no circumstances sleep all night long, you might miss something interesting

And most of all from Carsen I have learned what it is like to love someone with absolutely all of your heart!

Younger Carsen

Younger and More recent-- as you can tell he has a favorite shirt

A new baby

Last night I was watching tv with Carsen and he says I want one of those... I asked him what he was talking about and he proceeds to tell me that he wants a baby. I told him that he has a hard time being nice to the baby that we already have. He tells me that he is going to be nice to Parker and that he will be nice to a new baby too. I am very amused by this conversation and so I ask him if he would like a boy or a girl baby. He thinks for a second and then tells me he would like a plain baby. :) By this time I can't help but start to giggle. After explaining that they don't come in "plain" he decides that he would like a boy baby. That was the end of the conversation and shortly thereafter he went to sleep.

Well, this morning when he woke up he was on a mission to be extra kind to Parker and so he could get his new baby. He loved on him and after he helped him eat his breakfast he walks over to me looking especially proud and asks, " can I have a new baby now?". He is too cute!

Some people have been blessed with children that can fall asleep anywhere, doing anything, at any time.... I am not one of those people. It takes a carefully planned evening, including, but not limited to, a warm bath, quiet play, a story, and the better part of an hour trying to convince my boys that falling asleep is a good idea. So imagine my surprise when I look over at Parker who was eating his afternoon snack to find this...

The poor little guy was so tired that he just fell asleep while eating his banana. This is honestly the first time that this has ever happened and so naturally I am in shock, not to mention slightly amused. He has been sleeping for about 20 minutes, and as much as I want him to sleep, I also know if I don't get him up soon the above mentioned routine will be extended by about an hour... ugggghhh what's a mom to do? :)

Thank you Mom and Dad!

With Charles being out of town so frequently, and for such long periods of time, it would be very easy to go completely crazy! However, I have been blessed with wonderful parents, and in-laws who know when I need a break, and are always willing to give me the much need relief that is necessary for me to maintain my sanity. My parents came to the rescue this past Friday when they took the boys and I to Chattanooga, or Chaganoota as Carsen calls it, for a couple days. We had so much fun at the Aquarium, and then we also went to the Discovery Museum for a couple of hours. The boys thoroughly enjoyed themselves and so of course so did I! Here are some fun pictures from our trip... enjoy :)