Pumpkin Carving

Halloween is right around the corner which means... it is time to stop procrastinating & dreading the big mess and carve Ledger's very first pumpkin!

He was pretty excited although he had no idea what we were doing. I made pumpkin chocolate chip cookies while the boys carved which I'm sure contributed to his excited energy (sugar high).

He helped scoop out the seeds and wasn't afraid to get his hands dirty.

We let him go to town and get elbow deep since we planned on bathing him before bed anyway.

He was really excited that daddy let him use a butter knife, it didn't work too well but he didn't want to put it down. He like to try to stab it through the holes that were cut.

Our cheering section was less than excited.

And there you have it... Ledger's very first jack-o-lantern.

He was so excited to see it lit up he wanted to give him a kiss!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN EVERYBODY!!!

A Rainy Saturday Afternoon

Ledger was so excited to use our umbrella on a little outting today. I'm sure he'll get used to it before long.

My boys watching a movie together. All three of them were hypnotized for a good 30 minutes but I didn't get Marq in the photo.

BREAKING NEWS!!!

I am excited!!! This is BIG... for us.

After much experimentation and waiting we believe that Ledger has FINALLY outgrown his dairy allergy. He has been drinking cow's milk for over a week now with no noticeable symptoms. A few days ago we gave him cheese for the first time and so far, so good.

Tonight... we celebrate! I cannot tell you how nice it is to go to dinner and be able to order what we want and even share our food with him. A night out with my boys is just what I needed. Cheers!!!

Chillin

It is starting to get cold & rainy here in the Northwest.

Luckily we have each other to keep us warm (and use as pillows).

Spirited

Ledger is spirited. I get that and I try to embrace it but I still try to work on improving his attention span. This is why we go to storytime at the library. He has no interest in the story the librarian is reading and he would rather run around and pull books off the shelves or climb on the couches but still... we go.

After storytime I let him play on the kid's computers because he is so interested in them. He knows how to move and click the mouse and type on the keyboard just like he sees us do.

Lunch with Daddy

Today after the pumpkin patch we met Marq for lunch.

We don't eat out much because we live so far away from everything so lunch is a special treat.

Ledger loves his dad! He lights up as soon as he seems him :)

Pumpkin Patch at Baggentos Farm

This morning Ledger & I went to a local pumpkin patch with our friends from M.O.P.S.

They had a little haze maze for the kids that Ledger thought was a blast. He loved running and chasing all the other kids through the hay.

The tunnel was fun too.

Climbing in and out of the big tractors tires helped get his jeans nice and dirty.

We took a hayride out to the pumpkin patch to find our pumpkin.

In search of the perfect pumpkin.

Looks like he found one.

He loved the hayride, he sat so still and watched all the other kids.

Ledge loves to make piggy sounds. It was the very first animal noise he learned.

Guess we'll be back next year to see how much he's grown.

Portland Zoo

This morning we met Kim & the kids at the zoo. The weather so far has been warm and beautiful but the forecast says the rain will be here later this week so we decided to soak up all the sunshine we can.

I am starting to panic a little about the rain. Everyone keeps telling me how unusual this dry weather has been, " usually it's muddy by now." I feel like after Friday I may never see the sun again!!!!

"Melmo"

Childcare

I recently joined a local group for mothers of preschoolers in our community. My neighbor is a member so I joined with her hoping it will give me a chance to meet some friends, learn something new and give Ledger a chance to socialize.

This morning was my first meeting so Ledger got to spend a couple of hours in the childcare while I had brunch with the ladies and heard a speaker.

I was a little nervous. I have never left him with anyone but family before but he loved it. He didn't even notice when I left and was totally excited to play with the kids and toys.

After the meeting I picked him up and it was like he never knew I had left. I am thankful that he is such a social, well adjusted kid.

Cousins

This weekend we went camping again with a couple girls from Marq's office and their families. Marq's sister Kim brought her two kids out solo because she is one brave-pregnant mama! We were so glad they got to come camp with us and the kids had SO much fun.

They played in the dirt/gravel for hours.

Ledger loves having his cousins around. He gets so hyper and giggly when they play.

These two are quite the team!People have asked us more than once if they are twins. Nope, just cousins... and partners in crime.

They had so much fun pouring dirt through the window of our tent that I didn't even try to stop them.

Ledger found Cutler's helmet.

He wanted to push the scooter but the wheels kept getting in the way.

Played a very giggly game of hide and seek with Cutler.

We have no idea what was so interesting or fun about this sink disposal but they played there all night. Looked into it, through gravel down it...

yelled down it and laughed their heads off.

After tin foil dinners we headed over to our friends campsite for a campire, ladder ball and MARSHMALLOWS!

Cutler was trying really hard not to catch the mallow on fire.

Mmmm... sugar! I can't begin to explain how grateful I am that we are close to family. I grew up next door to my cousins, they were our best friends and I want that connection for Ledger. Although I miss my nieces and nephews more than anything I am so very thankful that Ledger has Cutler & Kapri to play with, learn from and grow close to. Although I miss my sisters and Tahna more than I can say, I am also very thankful to have Kim nearby to spend time with, learn from, do my hair, take our photos, be a great Aunt and an amazing sister.

Portland Children's Museum

Today Ledger & I went to the Portland Children's Museum with our new neighbors. It was the first time we've been there and we had a blast. There is SO much to do and see we didn't even get through the whole museum.

Ledger liked the Veterinary Hospital. He loved putting the stuffed animals in the kennels and taking them out. Maybe Ledger will become a vet so that he can take care of our dogs :)

He said the bowls were for Koko (that's what he calls Koda)and the leashes were for SheShe (Chevy).

After we finished exploring the vet's office we were off to the grocery store.

He loved cramming his shopping cart as full as he could get it and them emptying everything onto the conveyor belt.

I'd say his favorite part of the whole museum was the giant Light Bright. He loved it! He giggled and his moved the pegs around, wanted to climb in the bins and kept going back to play with it over and over.

Here he is in the directors chair working the lights for the stage.

They had lots of light boxes and shapes but Ledger was more interested in climbing around on the stools.

This is what happens when he gets out of my field of vision for literally 2 seconds. Finger paint!

A colorful end to our outing today :)

We are excited to have great neighbors and especially glad they have kids around Ledger's age.