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Sunflower State of Mind

Archives for October 2013

Kansas in October

Since moving to Texas 3 years ago, we’ve made it a point to take a trip back to Kansas every October. 
Why?  
Because it’s amazing. 
 The weather is perfectly crisp, the leaves are changing, and being caught in anything other than boots and a scarf might as well be considered a sin.
Since Chris was in hardcore-study-mode for his PE test (which is now over–hallelujah!), Arden and I made the trip back for a week of fun at Gigi and Papa’s…and was it ever fun!. So fun that I could probably break it up into 15 posts…but I’ll spare you…how about I just overload you with cute pictures instead? No, for real–I think this is the definition of picture overload!!!
So I guess we’d better get to it!
My nephew Luke provided the entertainment for the week…Arden laughed at just about everything he did!  I think he was at the other end of the table making barfing noises when this picture was taken. Boys!
My parents were watching Luke while my brother and sis-in-law were in Hawaii (and we lived vicariously through their pictures!)  I’m not sure if it was the air mattress or all of Luke’s cool stuffed animals, but Arden loved waking him up a couple of mornings.  
Luke didn’t care for it quite as much… 😉
Seeing friends is always one of the highlights of my trips home…meeting those friends’ new babies and getting to see them as mothers? Icing on the cake 🙂  So glad I got to spend a little time with adorable baby Will and his sweet momma! 
On Wednesday we met one of my high school BFFs at Deanna Rose Farmstead. 
Gosh, I love this place!!!!

Arden and Evie–two peas in a pod.  They don’t know it yet, but they WILL be best friends…just as soon as they stop pulling each other’s hair 😉
Cowboy Luke…in heaven!
Remember what I said about Kansas in October?
Um yeah…

Destined to be besties…
Such a fun day with one of my dearest old friends 🙂  I can’t wait to meet her baby BOY in December!!!

I got to spend Thursday morning as an honorary parent at Norah’s preschool “Parents Day”.  Is she the sweetest or what??
(And for the record, being asked repeatedly if you and your sister are twins is not a cool thing when you are SIX years younger.  Live it up, Lindsay! Ha!)
That night Arden and I went to Brittany’s (amazing new) house for dinner and catching up!  Brittany, Emily and I could easily talk for days if someone would let us–but unfortunately these two kiddos and their bedtimes didn’t.  However, I’ll take whatever time I can get with those girls…I miss them so much!
Oh and I guess the later it is, the harder it is to share?!?
Drama Queen…

New rule–if you come childless, you have to take care of ours 🙂  
Glad we got to Skype Jack in for a little bit!

 Friday night was spent at the local Mexican restaurant, where we celebrated 3 birthdays–Maren (7), Luke (4), and Gigi (25…right?!)
Arden showed off her new-found dipping skills…or should I say double-dipping skills? Needless to say, she got her very own salsa…
And then we went home and had a dance party…but it didn’t take long before Barney Fife was on the scene, breaking things up.  It just never gets old…
And these two?  They love each other…
Saturday was gameday…

And party day!  Luke’s birthday party is always highly anticipated in our family…
costumes, pumpkin carving, and hayrides…what more could a kid ask for?!
And come on…how cute are these desserts???

Of course, no 4-year-old’s party is complete without a giant sling shot…right?!?

He’s one of the cutest, funniest little guy I know…but these days he goes by “Officer Luke”!
Speaking of cute? Check out this piglet…
…and her cousins: Cotton Candy, Officer Luke, and of course, Gnomeo & Juliette. 
I love every single one of these characters!

…and cut!
As always, Luke’s party was a blast…one to remember for sure.

Can’t Sleep. Must Party.
The day after he was still rocking his costume…and he cuffed himself to his new Glow Pet.  I guess that means he liked my gift?!? Best. Aunt. Ever. 🙂
We ended the perfect week with some low-key family time.
Hanging out in the basement, watching videos with Gigi…

And playing outside with cousins…

Saying goodbye is the worst–especially after a wonderful week like this one.  But just as I told my nieces and nephews, Christmas will be here before we know it 🙂
Plus this little traveler was seriously missing her Daddy…and vice versa!!!!

Thanks for the great weather and good times, Kansas…you outdid yourself once again! 

Arden: 14 Months!

 
 
 
Height: 33 inches
Weight: 25 lbs
Clothing size: mostly 18-24 months
Shoe size: 4
Number of teeth: 11
 
Dear Arden,
 
I have to be honest…the last month has been the most challenging so far. Between teething, an ear infection, and learning to walk–we’ve had some pretty interesting days (and nights!)  But in a weird way, it’s also been a lot of fun.
 
You’re a little sponge–always observing, studying, and then surprising us with what you’ve learned.  You went through a phase where we would ask you, “where’s your mouth/belly button/ear/etc?” and you would always stick your finger up your nose–usually until you coughed. Oy! Thankfully, that little trick got old for you and now you usually point to the correct body part and then try to repeat the word.  You’ve added some new words to your vocabulary too: pumpkin, chicken, tractor, out, up, scarecrow (seriously?), poopoo (hmmmm), Lila, Hazel, Violet, banana, and Maren.  Speaking of your cousin Maren…I think you two are kindred souls or something.  When it comes to personality and attitude, you are a carbon copy of Maren 6 years ago–and you look a little bit like she did too 😉  She makes you laugh so hard when we FaceTime and when she leaves the room you always sign for more.  A couple of weeks ago you pulled a picture of her off the bookshelf and said “Mar-Mar”…it melts my heart seeing you love her so much because I do too.  I think you’re going to be pretty fond of all of your cousins after our week back in Kansas though 🙂
 
You’ve started a new “excited gasp” thing this month that’s just adorable.  You see a pumpkin at Kroger–gasp!  There’s a squirell in one of your books–gasp!  Your dad comes home from work–gasp!  I want to see the world through your eyes…because it sounds awesome 🙂
 
There may have been some rough spots, but the good times we’ve had this month far outweigh the bad.  You took your first steps for cryin’ out loud…and it was amazing.  You’re becoming a little person before our eyes and I’m so happy I get to enjoy the ride with you…tantrums included.
 
I love you my little pumpkin.
 
xo,
Mom
 
 
 
 



Halloween PJ Linkup!

 
Today I’m joining two lovely ladies–Darci & Meredith–for a Halloween pajama party link-up! 
 Halloween and baby jammies are two of my favorite things on God’s green earth–so really, how could I miss this?!

 
Since becoming a mom I’ve developed a slight obsession for holiday jammies. I’m not sure why festive sleepwear sucks me in every time…
 
Oh right, this is why… 

kitty mask sleep set
I mean…have you ever seen so much cuteness in your entire life?!
 


 
My other holiday-themed obsession? Books. If your kiddos don’t have Where is Baby’s Pumpkin by Karen Katz– get it!!! It was a gift from Gigi on Arden’s first Halloween and she pulls it off the shelf to read every. single. day.  Her new thing is to make an excited gasp every time we open a flap. I guess she shares my enthusiasm for Halloween books 🙂 Our other favorites are Five Little Pumpkins, A Pumpkin Prayer, Baby Loves Fall & Duck and Goose Find a Pumpkin (thanks Henry!).
 
Oh and after sharing some hilarious PJ outtakes with Darci & Emily last night, we decided they had to make a debut in the blog world too.  So now I give you “Mad Pig Kitty”. 
Clearly, Arden is SUPER pumped for Halloween! 😉
 
 
 
Happy Wednesday, friends! And happy 8 days until Halloween 🙂
I hope you’ll join Darci & Meredith for the pajama party too!
 


Fall House Tour

 
I always look forward to adding a little fall flare to our casa.  Nothing over the top, just a few Autumn touches here and there…with a Mulled Cider candle burning in the kitchen, of course 🙂
 

 
Happy fall. Happy mantle.

 
 
 
Hoo Hoo…
 
And last but not least…our pretty pumpkins displayed on the front porch.  You almost wouldn’t believe it was 90 degrees when I took this picture 😉
 

 
I’m happy to say though that our 90 degree days may be behind us! We had a great day at the pumpkin patch on Satuday and it was in the low 60’s…SIXTIES, I tell you!  It was glorious–but more to come on that soon! 🙂
 


Pumpkin Patch–yes please!

When the high for an October Saturday in Texas is 65, you simply have no choice–you must go to a pumpkin patch.  I’m pretty sure it’s a law 🙂
And that’s exactly what we did! I really didn’t think Arden was old enough to enjoy it, but boy was I wrong!  She loved the slide, the hayride, the train, the chickens–she loved it all!  She just toddled around pointing and saying “pa-poo” (pumpkin) and “chi-ten” the whole time.
As we drove home yesterday my heart was so full.  Our first real pumpkin patch experience as a family of 3 was in the books–and it was perfect.  Is it crazy that I’m already looking forward to doing it again next year? 🙂

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