Pumpkin time

This week, the kids and I met our friends Megan, Peyton, and Graham for some pumpkin patch fun.

This was no ordinary pumpkin patch, it was complete with petting zoo, goat food, tractor ride, all on top of picking your pumpkin. The kids loved it, and we were glad, because it was freezing. As soon as we got out there I just knew everyone was going to be crying for warmth, but they were all troopers and loved every second of it! The only one crying, wishing they were have brought their jacket, was me (duh) but don't worry...I survived.

They weren't too sure about letting the animals eat out of their hands at first, probably because most of them were covered in mud.

But it didn't take them long to warm up to the idea.

Then we were off to pick out the perfect pumpkin. 

(say that 10x fast)

He found it.

And loved it.

and was VERY excited about it!

And She found hers.

And one for Peyton too!

And Peyton loved the pumpkin that Abbie picked for her!

And we found ours too!

Next, we were off to the tractor ride, for which they all sat so still and were so good for!

Graham obviously liked it too!

Ahh, sweet boy!

On our ride, we found some Jack-o-lantern hay bails

And Farmer Rick who they said had been missing for a long time, glad we found him!

We tried to take advantage of the little photo areas, but Jaxon couldn't roll his pumpkin to the spot that he wanted, in just the way that he wanted, because that is just the type of fun stage that he is in right now. And frankly, it was freezing and I was desperate to get my hands in front of a heater. As soon as this picture was snapped, we were out!

We had such a great time, totally worth cold hands! Next time we will come dressed more appropriately for the weather, and bring something other than our phones to take pictures! Thanks for inviting us, Burgess Family!

10 weekly goals

I'm joining Money Saving Mom in her weekly goals link up, so here we go!

Last weeks was a little different since the Hubbs was on vacation. Pretty shocked that I got anything done, since it's near impossible for me to be motivated when instead I could be hanging out with him, but none the less I accomplished quite a bit!

Big Projects

1. Finish painting bedroom

{hallelujah, we did it! It only took 2 months, but it is done (thanks to my wonderful husband who pitched in and helped)

2. Work on flower beds and mow lawn.

{That was a way bigger task than we realized. Uprooting 3 large bushes and cleaning out two flowerbeds took us most of Saturday afternoon. And we still have the largest flowerbed to go! Thankfully we were done in time to come inside and watch the Rangers :) }

Home

3. Get caught up on laundry

{Done and DONE!}

4. Clean out fridge

{I didn't do this all at once, more like a gradual process throughout the week. But it got done, so that's all that matters.}

Super boring stuff

5. Consolidate student loans

{The boringist of all borings. Glad it's done and hopefully it will take effect soon. This road towards debt freedom is a long one!}

6. Get burrito scam taken care of

{Being the sweet little wife that I am, I bought my husband some burritos from his favorite little burrito place back home. Instead of charging me $7.00 they charged me $70.00. Long process to get fixed, since it's 3 hours away, but thankfully my his Mom helped us out by taking our paperwork up there and we got it accomplished. Thanks Susie!}

Family

7. Get out!

{We didn't do this every single day, but more days than not, we went to the park, or for a walk around the lake, or something to get us moving as a family. I always feel so much better knowing that we're being an active family and that our puppy is getting the exercise she needs as well. The more she gets, the better behaved she is, and same goes for the kids!}

8. Leave the list and make memories

{I won't cross this off, b/c I definitely could have done this more. It is so hard for my type-A personality to leave my list alone and just hang out and enjoy, but I did it so much more this week than I have in a long time, and I loved it!}

9. Don't let any unkind words towards my husband and kids leave my lips!

{Again, I wasn't perfect. Can't cross this off. But I did really make a conscious effort to honor my family with every word I chose. Sometimes were MUCH harder than others. It has been on my heart lately, about how this season won't last forever. Someday not far away our little's won't be so little anymore and I don't want to have regrets about how I left my selfish words get the best of me. I want to speak love and grace into my Husband and kids, and I want them to remember me as a happy Mommy.}

Me

10. Read morning devotional every day, and spend quiet time with the Lord

{I probably did this 5 out of 7 mornings. Better than nothing, but I notice the days that I have the hardest time with #9, are the days that I didn't do #10. Obviously.}

This week's Goals

Big Projects

1. Finish big flowerbed and mow behind fence. 

2. Order missing part for weed eater

Home 

3. Keep up with Laundry, finish 1 load all the way each day.

4. Eat every meal at home, and double at least 2 recipes to freeze for later.

5. Do Zone cleaning everyday

Family

6. Family trip to our churches Fall Festival

7. Use kind words that honor my family

Me

8. Devotional and prayer time EVERY MORNING

Other

9. Get Josie her shots so she can start puppy training class on Wednesday

10. Pick final paint color for Abigail's "Big girl birthday bedroom re-do" and finish details for sleepover party.

That's it! It is Tuesday, and so far so good. Praying the rest of the week stays that way!

3 weeks in 5 minutes. Impressive.

Obviously we have been a little busy the last few weeks, but is that REALLY enough to justify not updating for over 3 weeks? Probably not.

We have made 2 trips back to A-town within 10 days (yikes!) Any trip with two kids and a puppy isn't easy, but it's made even more difficult when the hubby can't come. He missed the first trip but was there (thankfully) for the second. In addition to the two trips, the past 3 weeks has also included 2 cases of strep, 1 case of croup, potty training 1 little boy, crate training 1 little puppy, hosting a baby shower, school volunteering, play dates, bible studies, menu planning, freezer cooking, along with the ever so daunting task of cleaning up after my crew (which is like shoveling snow while it's still snowing, if you ask me.) So yes, it's been a little crazy, but that's just part of this life I am so blessed to live! Wouldn't trade it.

Prepare yourself for the biggest camera/iphone dump of the century.

Back at the beginning of the month, the little country town to the north of us had a peanut parade and festival. We had just gotten over strep-round 1, so we were all PUMPED to be out of the house

Abbie, and her two gal pals, Madison and Makenna

Jax, and his little girlfriend Marley. They are obviously in love.

Vanessa, love this girl!

The high school marching band brought back some good memories for us both!

After the parade, we walked over to the festival, and couldn't pass up the train ride. What good is a festival if you don't get to ride the lawn mower pulled train?

Then later that evening, our neighborhood had it's annual fall-fest, complete with bouncy houses, snow cones, and a karaoke machine that it's users would surely live to regret.

At some point in the past few weeks, their matching "batman" and "batgirl" costumes came in. The packaging was immediately ripped off, clothes thrown on the floor, and costumes on.

(She obviously takes her job as bat girl very seriously.)

(And he takes his job as Mommy's baby boy very seriously)

We have play date's often, but this day I actually remembered my camera! I don't think we were able to get one with every kiddo in it, but they certainly didn't mind.

so happy to be with mommy, ha!

Poor guy had a steroid shot (to make the barking-like-a-baby-seal-cough get better fast) he was promptly loaded up with a sucker from the nurses, and the donut holes that were promised (before said sucker entered the picture) for breakfast. Something tells me he would take the shot all over again if this is the kind of treatment he receives as a result.

Thankfully we got everyone's sickness cleared up in time to head west to host my sweet friend Erin's (sister from another mister) shower for Currie #2!

I made it my goal to have a baby in my arms at all times during this shower, since there was a surplus of them. Hoped for Michael's sake that it would cure my severe case of baby fever. It did not.

Sweet baby Leighton. I LOVE her :)

Hostess gifts, thanks Erin!

Three of my favorite ladies on the planet! Love em!

Meg, Erin, and Nat (get a blog girl!)

My girl, Shayne, and her big sister gift from her God Mother :)

When we came in town for trip 2, we immediately took the kids to spend the night with GeeMom and Grandad, and headed to dinner! We intended on having a quiet date night, but you know...it's Abilene. We ran into Michael's good friend, Chris, who was being deployed the next day. We went to Chelsey's to visit with him for a short while. Glad we got to see him before he left, and we are praying safety for him and his troop!

We tried date night again the next night, and it was much more successful at being a little romantic getaway for the two of us. In fact, it was probably the best date we have EVER had, and that's saying something. It involved dinner, ice cream, walking around a lake, and a little league game. Doesn't take much to make this girl happy :)

Wow, I feel slightly exhasted from making a 3 week trip through my life in one short blogpost. I will make it a point to keep things a little more current so I don't get so far behind!

**before I forget, please keep my brother and Mom in your prayers, they are both in surgery as we speak, and my brother especially is having all kinds of complications. Thanks :) **