Pumpkin Carving

These obviously aren't pumpkin carving -- but had to post a picture of Thomas on his half birthday!  I can't believe that big boy is 18 months.  He is showing a bit of toddler-like behaviors (i.e. tantrums) but overall, I could just eat him with a spoon on any given day.

 For whatever reason, we've never carved pumpkins for Halloween but we took the plunge this year and they both loved it!  Pulling out the pulp and seeds was obviously the favorite step for the critters.

 E would dig a handful out and then have to wipe her hands off -- she repeated this process 10-15 times until the pumpkin was clean.  People often ask me how I can send her to school in nice clothes without them coming home ruined, and this is the reason...she does not like getting dirty.  At all.  

 and all three critters (notice Gracie in the window) posing with the pumpkin!  Thanks for carving it, Daddy!

Boo at the Zoo

We made our annual trip to Boo at the Zoo last Friday night!  My uncooperative children wanted no part of pictures.  Every year I fear it's my "last year" that I will choose what they'll be for Halloween so I had to a coordinating set this year.  I sure do love Halloween and I get the greatest kick seeing E and T in their costumes!

 T had to get used to the head piece but once we were at the zoo he made no attempts to take it off!  It was toasty last Friday and I know he was super hot in that get up.

 The tail was a favorite.  

 E LOVED trick or treating.  She can't wait until Halloween night!

 and the big bad wolf was pleased with just a pop and a coupe ride.

Farmers Market

We woke up Friday morning and the weather was fall perfection so we made the most of it and headed to the Farmers Market to search for some pumpkins.  

 These critters love their Grammy!

 by the time we left, the kids had somehow acquired cucumbers and plums -- the sweet employees just kept giving them produce!

SC State Fair

We made an impromptu trip to Columbia a day early to head to the fair with Grammy.  We hope to go back this weekend with Daddy but we were worried about the weather and didn't want to have to miss 2 straight years.  The kids did great and couldn't have loved it more!

 Our first stop was the petting zoo -- Thomas' favorite by far!  Sweet baby loves animals and wanted to touch them all.

 Ellie loved the rides and rode all that she was tall enough to ride.  She says the caterpillar roller coaster was her favorite but she cried through the drop.  She said she's going to be braver next time she rides it with her daddy (who is not a fan of roller coasters!)

 Poor Tom Tom had to just watch as Ellie rode.  He was a pretty good sport -- he did get to ride the carousel but it was FAST and I'm not sure he was a fan.

 After corn dogs, Fiske fries, lemonade, cookies and milk and ice cream...their bellies were beyond stuffed!  I think Ellie's favorite food was the corn dog and Thomas' was the milk.

Fingers crossed for a repeat Saturday!

Our Week

I'm trying to keep the blog current and seem to fail weekly -- Instagram is more our blog these days.

Dressing E and T in orange is my favorite thing to do on Saturday -- they were long in bed before the Clemson/Notre Dame game started but I was happy to tell them Clemson won when they woke up Sunday morning!  What a game!

 Ellie spends a lot of time coloring and writing and now Thomas is absolutely obsessed.  He wants to do absolutely everything that Ellie does and he loves scribbling on paper whenever Ellie's coloring.

 We skipped church Sunday morning -- all exhausted from staying up and watching the Tigers Saturday night -- but we weren't too tired to celebrate our good friend David turning 40!  Stacy did an awesome job pulling off a wonderful surprise.  The kids loved climbing on the tractors.

 We woke up late Monday and inevitably got in traffic and we were crazy late for school and work -- but I was overly thankful on Monday that our morning was routine, as so many of my friends woke up to a terrible reality in Columbia.  We have been thinking and praying for them all week.

 I came home early on Tuesday from work with Ellie not feeling well.  She begged to lay down and take a nap and she fell asleep immediately.  

 Of course I made a doctor's appointment and then the medicine kicked in and she was bouncing off the walls by the time Dr Jones came in to check her out.  Everything was fine and she was back to her usual self with another dose of Motrin.

 Wednesday we decided to bust out the Halloween outfit of the month!

 and Thomas rocked his first pumpkin of the season.  My sweet boy, please stop growing up.

 their favorite place is Gymboree.  Ellie still loves it as much as she did when she was Thomas' age and T is just in heaven when he's there.

 We made it to Friday and Ellie was proud as a peacock to carry her cup full of insects for "I" show and tell.  You can stop growing up too, my big girl!