Carving Kids

Let's just go ahead and mark this Pumpkin Carving day down in history.  All three kids {okay, Lucy was assisted} cleaned out their own pumpkin guts, designed their pumpkins, and carved them.  What?!?!  

I assisted, as needed, and honestly had the best pumpkin carving experience to date as a mother of three.  It was amazing to watch the independence at work.  You go my FAB carving kids!

So for a near week it has been raining cats and dogs around here.  My kids have sorrowfully stared out the windows wishing for sunshine in the hopes that we could go outside and get to work on our pumpkins.

Finally the clouds broke and the sun actually shone through this afternoon.  We took the opportunity and bolted outside with our carving kits.  The ground was sopping wet so I spread out a picnic blanket for us to sit on.  Post carving it went straight to the washing machine.  Can you say yuck...pumpkin goo...everywhere?  

I was in such awe and amazement that Jack and Maggie cleaned out their pumpkins solo {and Lucy really tried} that I took about a zillion pictures of proof.

{And yes, this really happened...Jack chowed down on raw pumpkin} 

All three kids knew exactly what they wanted their pumpkin faces to look like.  I was truly enjoying that I didn't have to do one of those intricate patterns they usually find in a book.  Instead they each grabbed a Sharpie and drew classic Jack-O-Lantern faces.

With the use of a few kid friendly carving tools, they each carved out their own Halloween faces too.  {With the exception of Lucy, of course, we all chipped in and helped her out}   Jack wanted a GIANT mouth, which I will explain later.

They each posed so proudly with their pumpkins.  And I bet you will never guess who is the clown in our family?

Please take note of how shiny Maggie's pumpkin is.  She must have scrubbed it off 52 times with equally as many baby wipes.  She even disappeared once only to return wearing an apron "to keep from getting dirty".  That's my Maggie.

Okay so the explanation for Jack's GIANT mouth...he wanted his Jack-O-Lantern to look like it was eating something.  If you take a close enough look you may catch a peek at all the stuff he threw in there...a gourd with a painted face, a piece of pumpkin that he painted to look like a candy corn, and some other odds and ends.  Can't deny...he's a creative kiddo.

Lucy's pumpkin was a result of a lot of teamwork.  She cleaned it out {sort of}, Maggie drew her face on, Jack carved it, and then Lucy proceeded to add additional scribbles sketches all around with the sharpie.  It's almost as cute as she is.

Our front porch is ready!  Now, all we need are some Trick-or Treaters...

T.S. 1989

We've got Swifties in the house!

Okay, so I've been a huge fan of Taylor's since her first song came on the radio eons ago.  Tim McGraw was the title, for all of you non-country music loving folks.  I've always loved her music, loved what she stood for and have been so bummed to be her only fan living under my roof.

Until recently.

Rewind about a year ago, Maggie stumbled across some of my old T Swift CDs.  Maggie was enamored with the "pretty girl" on the cover and asked to listen to her music. I obliged knowing the message Taylor sends to young girls is priceless.  Not to mention one of the songs had always reminded me of Maggie...Never Grow Up.

From that moment on, Maggie didn't turn back.  An immediate Taylor Swift fan was born! It blares in her room, she sings every lyric, its on repeat in the car {all 5 cds}, she puts on an endless amount of Taylor concerts in the playroom, she's got a Taylor costume, and has managed to turn her little sis into a Swiftie too!

Finally someone to share my Taylor obsession with!

You can imagine how excited we both were to hear Taylor was coming to town with her 1989 World Tour.  Mags and I made it a total Mother/Daughter date night with a hotel downtown and a whole evening of T Swift.

We were both beside ourselves...WE ARE GOING TO SEE TAYLOR!

How amazing is this ensemble?...chosen especially for Taylor Swift.  I just adore my fashionista.  We spent some girly time getting ready in our hotel room.  So fun!

We then Ubered down to the Dome.  Maggie requested "selfies"....where does she hear this stuff?  I swear it's not from her camera phone illiterate mommy.

We made it just in time to catch Taylor's opening act, Vance Joy, who was fantastic.  The crowd went nuts over Riptide.

Then it was time for T.S.!

I could list about a bazillion things that are amazing about Taylor's performance.  But what I found incredible was that she gives every person in the audience a glow bracelet that syncs to her show.  It literally flashes to the beat of the music and changes colors for songs.  It was fascinating to look out across the crowd and see the all the lights simulatanously blinking.

I was also thrilled that she played about three or four of her old songs {which are still my fave}.

I can't deny, our seats were pretty high up {boo!} and Maggie did indeed fall asleep for one song.  This was a reeeeaaaallly late night for my sweet girl.  But every time I thought we may just need to scoot out of there a bit early, Maggie would say, "wait!, after this song..." and so, somehow, we made it until the end of the concert.

After an absolutely amazing show...no one does it like Taylor, we departed with a bag full of loot.  A tee for Maggie, a tee for Lucy, a keychain for Maggie's backpack, a glow stick, and a Taylor Swift book.

We were both exhausted as you can clearly see in Maggie's eyes.

When we got back to the hotel, I tucked Maggie in to bed and right before she dozed off, she said in the sweetest girly voice, "I can't believe Taylor is real".  And just like that she was sound asleep.

Such sweetness!  I'm so lucky that I got to share that evening with my first baby girl.  Just pinch me...girls are so fun!

Thanks for a great night Taylor!  From two of  your biggest fans!

Happily Ever After

October. 17. 2015....the day my "little Jon" married his dream girl.  I'm pretty sure I will never forget this day for as long as I live.  If you know anything about me, you know how much I adore Jon.  He means the world to me.  And as happy as I am for him, in some mysterious sort of way, it is as equally hard to let go of him.

What lessens the blow is that I have found myself more enchanted with his bride than I ever could have imagined.  She is kind {truly}, beautiful, gentle, caring, and a happy soul.  I couldn't have picked out a more perfect bride for my Jon.  God surely answered my prayers.

With that being said, he we are at the wedding of Jon and Bailee.  The start of many great years and memories ahead....

So the kids and I arrived to the wedding venue just in time for pictures.  My girls were flat worn out {I mean weren't we all?} from the night before.  I napped both of them and it nearly killed me to have to wake them from their beauty sleep.  Needless to say, we missed the fun getting ready part, and hit the sand with the wedding party & photographer.

Jack and the groomsmen hung out in their "getting ready" room.  Pictures for them were later.  I had to enlist the babysitting skills of one of my male cousins as I parted ways with Jack.  Please..."don't let him hear any cuss words" or "let him see the guys get too crazy" or "taste/smell/look at any alcohol".  

And with that, I crossed my fingers and took the girls out to the beach for pictures.

Both Maggie and Lucy nearly dropped their jaws when they saw Aunt Bailee.  She was literally stunning and was wearing the most beautiful smile to match.

My girls were in an utopia with all these big girl beauties surrounding them.  The bridesmaids were simply gorgeous and so absolutely lovely to my girls.

After pictures, I was able to snag Jack up for a few pictures. {spoiler alert}  I thought for sure I could use one of these for Christmas cards this year.  I'm not so sure I lucked out.

Before the ceremony, I was elated to see the groom and all the guys hanging in the reception area.  I was able to wish my little Jon luck {he was so nervous} and get a little love from him before he was officially a married man.  What?!?!

I refused to take my sunglasses off.  I had my makeup done {not sure I will ever do that again} and was waiting for Clay to arrive with my personal makeup bag to fix it.  Not to mention every photo had to be from the waist up.  Totally forgot my heels in the mad dash and was sporting a pair of flip flops.

Ahhh...wedding craziness!

Come ceremony time, I snagged a front row seat, put on my longest zoom lens and prepared as best as I could.  I just knew I was going to lose it.

Here comes the groom...

And shortly following...this precious little crew of the bridal party.  Oh my, melt my heart.

My kids performed just as expected.  Maggie was bashfully beautiful but pushed through.

Lucy lapped up all the attention and looked as equally stunning.

And Jack raced down the aisle in hopes it would speed up the ceremony, so he could get his button up shirt and bow tie off....ASAP.

The kids watched the ceremony while standing with the wedding party.  We weren't sure if they would end up sitting with me or not.  But, they made it!

Lucy just about squealed with delight when Bailee came down the aisle.

The ceremony was beautiful {and extremely windy}.   Yes, I cried, and yes, the rest of my row cried, and yes, I'm pretty the bride and groom did too.

Post nuptials, I tried one last time for a picture of my threesome.  All I asked for is three smiles and three sets of eyes.

Hardly any luck.  Please don't judge our Christmas cards this year.  There is no way I'm squeezing in a professional photo session after our entire October has pretty much been sabotaged.

The family shots were even worse.  I mean seriously, the wind?!?! Oh, and lest I mention, I still hadn't got a hold of my own makeup yet.

I called it a day and happily made my way into the reception.  It was time to celebrate!

We welcomed Mr. & Mrs. Dumbacher and then danced the night away.  Lucy was in the center of it all.  That girl was busting out some moves.

An amazing evening with family and friends celebrating a beautiful couple.  Welcome to the family Bailee!  We love you Jon and always will! xoxo

With that behind us we are on to the rest of the October madness...