Pumpkin Time!

I have been the world's worst documenting mother lately.  I barely have pictures from September at all.  I have been dying to get out and grab some pumpkins for us to carve.  Something just doesn't feel right about fall without a little orange (and I'm not talking about Clemson orange because heaven knows we've got plenty of that floating around).  

Emory has changed so much over the past year.  It's amazing to look back on pictures from this time last year at a tiny 6 month old and then compare them to the rambunctious 18 month old charging around the house today.  God is good!

This past Saturday we met my friend and her kiddos at a local produce stand.  They had an entire lot of pumpkins.  This, I can assure you, is a toddler's equivalent of paradise. 

PAR.A.DISE!

Blake was not so keen on having his picture taken.

Emory is all about "helping" right now.  Laundry, putting trash away, checking the mail, closing doors, you name it, he wants to help.  Obviously, pushing his pumpkin around was no exception to that rule.

 

 

 

My handsome boys.

His five minutes were up.  It was time for my sugar!

By the time we got home it was time for Emory to nap.  So we decided to hold off on carving our gems until after church on Sunday.  It's not often that we are all three together during the week, so we make the most of it during the weekends...even if it is doing yard work.  We have LOTS of trees on our half+ acre lot, so October through February is pretty much consumed with keeping the leaf situation under control.  

Ignore the mismatched outfit.  Homeboy destroys some clothes when he's outside, so nothing good goes outdoors.

Emory's trying to comfort his buddy.  This mama can only keep up with so many being when we're out there.

At some point Phillip gave up.  The wind has been crazy around here thanks to Hurricane Sandy and the backpack blower was no match.  So Emory decided to play with leaves in one of the piles.

It was all fun and games until Daddy threw him in the middle.

Paralyzed with fear.  Poor buddy.

Fortunately, a little time flying around the yard heals all wounds.

Love this little guy!  (Ignore my hair.  It is so far past due on some TLC that it ain't even funny!)

Sunday was a crazy busy day.  Normally, we just attend one service at church.  Emory doesn't fair well for 3 hours in the nursery.  We decided to go in early for the 9:30 service to support Tripp Helms as he was visiting with several classes and services.  He's currently running for re-election as a District Court Judge.  Take a look at his website for more information if you are registered to vote in Union County.  He's very involved at his own church, so I'm sure it wasn't easy missing his regular church family.  It was nice to adopt him into ours for a Sunday!  

Emory made it through most of the 9:30 service with us (thanks in large part to some books, apple cinnamon rice cake poppers, grapes, and some organic whole milk).  We can always bank on him doing well during the first part of service.  This kid loves some praise music (and that makes this mama's heart smile).  He claps, he dances (David did it, don't judge), he even squeals.  It's the part where it all ends that's a rough transition.  My dad came and took him to their Sunday school class for the last 30 minutes.  We checked him into the nursery for our Sunday school time, as usual.  He did great!  

I decided to make an attempt to appear at our church's Trunk or Treat this year.  The only issue is that I wasn't sure how I would feel and Phillip always works at night, so Emory had no costume.  Off we went with a tired tot.  Target had a cute little fuzzy bear costume that fit perfectly.  I didn't have time to be picky because I started getting sick, so the selection process became much easier.  After lunch we came home and Phillip got dressed like a mountain man to go out and stake some land.  Emory and I took FULL advantage of the weather and napped.  Had Phillip not opened the garage, I am almost sure Emory would have slept 4 hours (but 3 is nothing to complain about).  

The rest of our evening was spent carving away:

Two down, one to go!  And yes, the one on the left is the most pathetic looking train engine ever.  It's the thought that counts!

Emory pointed and said, "HOT!"  Good, at least we have that covered!

My hubs being...well, my hubs.

2012 editions COMPLETE!

 

How is Thanksgiving less than a month away?  We're adding another little one in two months!  Crazy how fast time is flying by right now.

Stay safe, stay warm, love Fall!

Kristin

Savannah (Days 4 & 5)

Phillip and I had a great time on Tybee Island during our first trip to Savannah.  So we packed up for the day and headed to what was suppose to be a day of fun visiting the fort, lighthouse, and beach.  

This day was pretty much doomed from the get-go.  The heat was literally suffocating!  We ventured out to the island, attempted to have lunch, which ended up taking forever and a day while we waited outside.  Oh...it was bad.  I don't know what you know about pregnancy hormones, but Sandra and I were grumpier than two wet hens.  We did our best to tour the fort and the look around the grounds at the lighthouse.  We didn't even attempt to climb it this time.  It was so hot that we even gave up on walking out to the beach!  Rough, I tell you.  Rough!

Daddy and sweet boy on top of the fort.

See, never works!

Aunt Sandra!

Don't let him fool you, he knows all too well what a time out chair looks like.

Portable library!  Every English major's dream!

Emory decided that he'd add a new trick to his arsenal while we were looking around the keeper's quarters.  He mastered the art of climbing stairs.  You would have thought it was Christmas!

All that climbing led to one tired buddy.  He took a nice little cat nap on the way back to Savannah.

What pregnant women don't love Mexican?  (And yes I realize everyone goes to Savannah for Southern comfort foods, but you don't argue with the craving gods.)  We ate dinner at a restaurant I completely forget on River Street and then walked the waterfront during market hours.  People were everywhere.  There was so much to see and do!

Daddy's boy!

 

Bestest

A little toasty, but a lot of cute.

Our last day in town was due to be short.  We were in for a lot of traffic, but we toured the Owen-Thomas House and visited Forsyth Park.  First, let me just mention that the Owen-Thomas House was nowhere near as nice (both staff and in grandeur) as we had remembered.  In fact, if there is a more pretentious group of employees anywhere in Savannah I would be shocked.  Emory was so not having the tour, so Phillip walked out with him.  I ended up crying because of how awful the whole experienced turned out.  I really wanted to enjoy this time with Sandra and Steven.  It seemed like the heat, the crowds, the nausea, and even the lovely staff at the OT House were bound and determine to ruin my plans.  God bless hormones and all that they entail!

I am in love with this picture of Emory and his Aunt Sandra.

All of us in Forsyth Park. 

I know I took pictures of Sandra and Steven together, but apparently I did so with their camera.  I am sad I don't have more couple/group pictures to blog.  It's ok though.  Since we're apparently living in a world full of boys we've already determined that one of our next vacations is a Disney cruise.  Fun times for kids and free time for mamas and daddys! Hallelujah!

Despite the obstacles that stood in our way, we accomplished what we set out to do: spend time with wonderful friends.  We are so blessed to have them in our lives and can't wait to welcome Baby Boy Caulder in January!  

Kristin

Savannah (Day 3)

I am beyond behind on getting this trip wrapped up on the blog.  For that matter, I am beyond behind on most everything in my life.  I suppose it's par for the course at the moment.  

Anyway, our third day in Savannah began with lunch at Vic's on the River.  Sandra and I were still having food aversions.  Let's just say that vacationing with two pregnant women, cravings, aversions, nausea, and 100+ degree weather with 200% humidity definitely qualifies both of our spouses for sainthood.  :-)  

One of my major goals on this trip was to have Sandra eat shrimp and grits.  This only halfway happen, but considering that she was even open to the possibility and she was pregnant is a miracle in and of itself.  Phillip ordered this Southern staple for his lunch, so she sampled a bit.  We are still hoping to take her to Red Bone Alley when they come back.  Nothing beats their S&Gs.  

After lunch we decided to hop on the ferry to visit the Waving Girl statue.  Emory was a huge fan of the ferry.  We attempted to get a decent family picture, but we learned long ago that those are few and far between with a squirmy tot.

Exhibit A

Check out the face on this fella. 

Excited, to say the very least.

We love the riverfront, so we decided to walk back instead of taking the ferry again.  Along the way we snapped a couple of pictures and visited a lot of shops.

 

One of Phillip's favorite finds.

Someone had a little too much excitement for one afternoon.  We were amazed that he napped in that heat!

If there is one place we L.O.V.E. in Savannah it's The Olde Pink House.  We headed there for dinner.  Do yourself (and the inner Southerner waiting to emerge within your belly) a favor and dine here if you ever have the chance!  After dinner we took a stroll about the historic district to take in some sites. 

Bad picture, but you can see where the name came from. 

City Hall

I forget the name because it's been a whole 3+ months since this trip, but I believe this is the oldest church in Georgia. 

Owen-Thomas House...more on this disaster later.

My backyard (in my dreams).

Davenport House

Should you want to stay in one of the most haunted houses in Savannah, here's your B&B of choice.  The Kehoe House has quite the reputation.

We stopped by Paula's store to look around.  Emory ended up getting a onesie that says, "Feed me y'all!"  Befitting.

I'll get Day 4 & 5 wrapped up in the next post.  It will be done!  Hope you enjoy!


 Kristin