Pumpkin Patch

Immediately after LT's brithday madness comes the insanity known as "Sew-Your-Kids-Costumes" in time for Halloween. I started last Sat night and finished this Sat night. Not bad! About 5 hours for LTs and 2 hours for DTs, not including the shopping for the supplies. I'm especially proud of LT's shirt as I had to construct the pattern. I'm glad I finished them because we're pretty busy the next few weekends and we definitely wanted to go to the pumpkin patch! It's our 3rd year at this pumpkin farm.

The pirate and his parrot






Don't you just love cutouts?



The Whole Family (for once!)


The parrot flies!


LT took Grandma on the train and on the "Bootsie the Bee" path through the cornstalks. As he reasoned, she hadn't seen it before and Mom & Dad have. It was such a beautiful day!

I was hoping to see the pumpkin weigh-off, but it's next Saturday and we have our street block party. Can't miss that!

Present Surprise

After everyone left, we gave LT his present.
Eyes closed

What?

Wow!

Inspecting the present

Yes!

And finally testing it out


Meanwhile, DT was learning how to float in the hot tub thanks to Great Auntie J!

The big "4"!

LT had his birthday on Saturday. It's hard to believe how grown up he is already ... sniff, sniff. He had a big party - 11 kids came - and they all had fun going down the water slide, playing water balloon toss, water squirters, bubbles, coloring and sidewalk chalk. The weather could not have been better for a water party - mid 80's! It was a success!

The favors - towels with initial appliques and goggles (the goggles were LT's request!):

Water squirter targets on the left and the water balloon toss on the right - LT drew the whale shark on the right. I was pretty impressed! I did the painting, though. ;)

The water slide!

Action shots - the kids really enjoyed squirting the targets and especially liked tossing the water balloons into the mouths. I should have done even more balloons! I think we had about 75-80. The kids were good about not doing them all at once and letting others get a chance.


Cupcake time! I ordered these from a woman who bakes out of her home and I think they came out awesome. I love how the letters stand up on the cupcakes! They were delicious.

Enjoying the cupcakes at the coloring table!


It was a lot of fun. Thanks to Gma and Great Auntie J for helping out - watching DT and actings as "lifeguards" by the climbing wall to the slide. It was getting a bit crazy at times.

It was a big hit. On Sunday LT asked when his next birthday was. I told him it was in 364 days and he said, well, this is the 1st day. Yeah!

First Food

Not only did Damon try his first swing this weekend, he has his first solid food! He tried a little bit of banana smashed up with milk (mommymilk).



It seems like he really liked it! We were trying it because he hasn't been drinking much from a bottle while Mommy is at work. It seems like this week he's "turned the corner" and is now drinking about 10oz over the day, so we'll probably wait longer to really start solids. 6 months is the current recommended age.

Tuesday Virtual Vacation

Inspired by dogsburger.

I decided to join in on the escape!

First Swing

DT had his first swing today! He liked it!


LT wanted to get in the swing, too. He really had a great time, even though he looked a little big. He was saying, "No daddy, don't push me too high! Mommy you look small from high up." Funny guy.



They even went on the teeter totter.


From 3 years and 7 months ago...

ZooZooZoo

We went to the zoo, zoo, zoo, how about you, you, you?

Grandma and her favorite animal! No, not LT!



DT likes it, too!


Peacock? (They had these up for all different animals, so fun!)


Riding the Grizzly!


In case anyone was interested, the new barriers were all up for the tigers/lions since the tiger, um, incident from Christmas. Also new barriers at the polar bears.

Strawberries!

Some commenters were wondering where all the strawberries went... we ate them! All of them! Some were used in recipes. Most were just eaten straight.

Here is one recipe we followed:


And the most delicious result!


One other recipe we made:


Rather decadent, but oh so delicious!

Strawberry Pickin'

Well I've gone back to work. That will explain the lack of posts.

We did have some lovely visitors last week - Grandma & Grandpa! Grandma is still here giving DT & LT lots of love and attention.

We did manage to get in one fun day outing while Grandpa was here. We went strawberry picking down by Santa Cruz along Highway 1, overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful!

Running to get started


TT shows off a perfect specimen


Grandpa proves to be an excellent picker


Tasting the goods (this was allowed)


DT & I pose with the fruits of TT's labor


This berry farm also sold tea, coffee, lemonade, pastries, a most delicious loganberry truffle, and lots more in their farm store. They have a famous "honor til" where you just pay yourself for what you bought. It was very nice. I see return trips in our future! Kiwi U-Pick starts in Decemeber!

Vacation Video

LT Swimming on the first day


The last day - he got more fearless everyday!




Even DT was learning new things on this trip.

We're back

In case anyone noticed we were gone, we were on vacation!

We went to Puerto Vallarta and had a great family trip. Here is a teaser picture until tomorrow when I have time to upload some video...



Can you believe it? I did it! I finished their outfits while DT could still fit in it! Just in time for the trip.

Mom-mobile

Well, I gave in and got a mom car. Sort of. A sporty mom car. A mini-minivan. I think they call it a crossover? It does have 3rd row seating, so we will be able to get 6 in. I will have to rearrange the carseats, though, for that. Probably put LT in the back row behind DT. Plenty big, though, for everyday and just the 4 of us.

I don't know if it's just because my old car was 8 years old and economy, but wow! This car feels so luxurious!

My favorite feature is built-in bluetooth. Perfect because, you know, here in CA we have to be hands free cell phone while driving now.


LT got a new carseat, too.

DT seems to enjoy the ride!


And here's DT enjoying LT's heart pillow landing on his tummy yesterday...

Visitors

Possibly LT's most favorite person in the whole wide world came to visit ... cousin JT! They were a bit crazy. :D

Dueling airports


A sprinkler ball series.

One boy

Second Boy

Three Boys


This was followed by some relaxing in the hot tub. LT never stops swimming now.


And the little one got to enjoy the exersaucer for the first time.


The first weekend we were here we went to a birthday party and one of the other moms asked how often they saw each other (LT & JT). When we said just a few times a year, she couldn't believe it because they seemed so close! After that birthday party, we had a preview of LT's birthday party back at our house. I think BLTSr took some video on the other camera, so I'll have to download that...

100 Days

Happy 100 days DTT!

100 days has gone by so fast and yet, it seems like you have always been with us. I love watching you laugh and smile at your brother's antics. You also love it when Mommy gives you kisses or pumps your legs. You like to grab toys now and put them in your mouth - if your hand isn't already in there! You smile and laugh easily. We love you!

I took DT in for his picture to celebrate. Do you know which 100 day old baby is which?




***

An aside:

Mel wins the blog contest! You all may have been thrown by the sword. I don't think Indiana Jones has a sword necessarily, but he does have a dagger sometimes. LT said he needed a rope to play Indiana Jones, so I asked him if a ribbon would do, and it did. LT hasn't seen the movie, so what he knows is based off what he hears at daycare. It's amazing that he knows the tune and words to the Spiderman and Ironman themesongs and the tune to Indiana Jones themesong, all without hearing the actual songs!

Who is this character?

Here's a bit of a blog contest. Guess who LT is protraying in this "show"! First commenter with the correct answer wins something! (Not sure what yet. :D)