Alex's favorite past time

It is Pumpkin Time

Since it was a beautiful day today, after Alex's nap, we went to a Fall Festival. What I was really wanting was pictures of Alex with pumpkins to go with the pictures I have of him from last year. Not only did we find pumpkins but we also found, pony rides, hayrides, a haunted barn, tilt a whirl, petting zoo, and much much more. We made a mental note that Alex will love to go back there when he is two! There was not much for him this year. Here are some pictures of our afternoon!

When we first sat Alex down...he really did not want to touch the pumpkin. Here is is being so brave.

He is just so cute!

This pumpkin weighed 319 lbs! That would be 16 of Alex!! I will stick with just one, Thank you! (A note from Dave: The pumpkin being referred to is the orange one.)

Taco Soup

I had a request for the recipe for Taco Soup. So, I decided to share it with my faithful readers. Dave found this recipe in a magazine during our first year of marriage and we have been eating it every winter since!

1-2 lbs of browned ground beef (or ground turkey)
2 cans whole kernel corn, undrained
2 cans chili beans (hot or mild), undrained
2 cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 envelope Taco seasoning

Dump it all in a pot and cook it until hot. Serve with cheddar cheese, sour cream and tortilla chips or anything else you put on a taco.

I always make this in a crock pot so that it simmers all day (like chili, the longer it cooks the better it tastes). This last time, to get more veggies in it, I browned the meat with sauteed onions and green peppers. I have also used half the amount of meat and a can of back beans (increases good fiber and reduces the saturated fat without getting rid of the good flavor that ground beef adds to the soup). Change and adapt this for you family. I am sure it will be your family favorite!

Birds

So it all stared in Tuesday. Alex and I ran out in the morning to run some errands. As we were getting out of the car at home I could hear a bunch of birds singing. I went looking for them, but could not see them. I thought that it was strange for it sounded like a huge flock of birds, I should have been able to find them easily. That afternoon, during Alex's nap, I happen to look out our back door and there they were, hundreds of some kind of black bird. They were covering our backyard and our neighbor's. They soon flew off and disappeared. Until Wednesday, I heard them again. There in our front yard, hundreds of that same bird. It was freaky, when something would spook them and they flew off, your could he them taking off. I am sure that if I would have been standing outside, I would have felt them taking off. I watched them move from one yard to another like a dense fog. Then today....gone...did not see them. Not even a stray.

Thankful Thursday

Here is what I am thankful for.....

1. I have recently found the joy of Garage Sales! Alex and I go garage sale-ing every Friday. I love it b/c it gets me out of the house and every so often I find a really good deal. Hopefully the rain stops for awhile tomorrow so we can get out.
2. Taco Soup. This has been a favorite of Dave and mine for awhile. Now I think Alex is very thankful for it. He loves it!!! The best thing....so easy to make.
3. Breakfast with friends. A few months ago some friends and I started going out for breakfast one Saturday a month. This past Saturday was the morning. Dave was in Bloomington...but I really wanted to go. So I got a babysitter and headed out for a relaxing morning with some good friends!
4. My brother and sister (in-law) are having a baby! It is so fun to think about Alex growing up with their son! I can not wait to met him. They are due at the end of November.

Go Team

Well all the hard work that the Wheaton Academy Golf team put into this season paid off. Thursday they headed down to Bloomington IL for the State finals! So Alex and I said Good-bye to Dave for a few days as he went to cheer on his team!!! For those who don't know, along with the communication duties and teaching classes, Dave also coaches golf. After two days of golfing....the team placed 5th in the State. They were a little disappointed, for they did not play well the first day. They stepped it up the second day and finished well. But I say, for being a young team. they did great!!

Yeah for Mars!!!

I can not believe anyone would want to mess with Chocolate. I am guessing that not a lot of women were a part of this decision, for the majority of women would know better!!!! Click here to find out what they wan to do with our sanity. Last I heard, there was not word on what Nestle was planning on doing.

Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for.....

1. Golf season is almost over. Dave has been very, very busy with work and golf for that last two months! Alex and I will enjoy having him home again! Alex does not get up until after Dave's leaves for work and is asleep before he gets home. I think Dave will be welcoming the change of pace also!

2. Fall is finally here.

3. Pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks! Sooooo good!

Brownies

OK, I found a great little way way to make already great brownies into even better brownies. Make up you favorite box mix or make your own if you want to, then spoon in a few dollops of peanut butter (I used creamy, but crunchy could work also). Using a knife, swirl the peanut butter around and bake according to the box directions! Enjoy them hot with glass of milk!!! Our small group enjoyed them on Sunday and then I enjoyed them the rest of the week!

Look what I can do

We took these pictures today...but Saturday night, while Dave was at Wheaton Academy's Homecoming, Alex accomplished something big!

Funny

I found this in a Reader's Digest. Maybe I will use it in a few years!

"Even through the toddler was having a furious tantrum, his mom was unfrazed. "You may as well give up on the crying," I heard her say as she lead him to the store exit. "You're stuck with me for 18 years."

Cute?!

How could I forget about my son

Here is a picture of Alex at the wedding. He did a great job. It helped that the wedding was outside. The little noises he did make were not noticable. His new thing in life is the throw everything overboard and then sign "please" to have me pick everything up so he can just throw everything overboard again. Let me tell you, it is great fun! At home or in the car...he does without, but at the wedding when I wanted him quiet...his wish was my command! When I got sick of picking everything up, I got out some snacks to munch on. He did not throw those overboard! Thanks Melissa for the use of the stroller! Thanks Kim for inviting us to celebrate with you and for letting Alex come with me!

On the road again

Well, as you read in the last post, Alex and I made a trip to Ohio this past weekend. My friend, Kim, from youth group got married this weekend. I was not going to miss it. Dave had a golf match on Saturday and the wedding was not until Sunday, so he could not go with us. We left him in Chicago Mia! I think Mia enjoyed the uninterrupted time with him! She had a lap and a side of the bed all to herself! Cat bliss!

Anyways back to the wedding. Kim was a beautiful bride. The wedding was sweet and simple. Those are often the best! Her best friend Bekah was her maid of honor. Bekah arrived in town from Disney World that morning. Needless to say, she was a little tired by the end of the day! She married Jake Reeder. They went to the same High School, but did not hang out in the same crowd. So they did not know each other until recently. They started talking at gathering at a mutual friend's house. They have been happily together since. I hope I have the story straight. If I do not, please let me know.

Mary, a friend from Church, watched Alex during the ceremony so I could get some pictures, but I was unable to figure out how get take pictures, talk with friends and take care of my son during the reception. I figured, taking pictures was the least important, so no pictures of the reception. Here some on pictures of the ceremony...enjoy!

Kim and her Dad

Jake and Kim Reeder

Home Sweet Home

It all started the weekend before when Dave, Alex and I went to Indiana for our niece, Julia's Birthday and Dave's Dad's Birthday! After School on Friday, Dave come home, we ate dinner finished packing and we were on our way. Alex must of been to excited to sleep, for he us awake for the whole three hours! Mind you, we left at 7:00, which is his bed time! We had Dave's Dan's Birthday Saturday morning and Julia's Sunday afternoon. In between, we had a blast with family. Alex decided that playing with his cousins was more important then naps.


After Dave's Dad's Birthday, Alex decided not to nap. So, we all got to go watch Jack play football Saturday afternoon. Isn't he cute in his uniform?
Sunday afternoon, we packed up the car again and headed home just in time for Small group!

Alex and I spent that next week getting ready for our weekend trip to Ohio. Dave had to stay in Illinois for golf. So, Friday morning, I packed up the car and headed out yet again. My friend, Kim was getting married and I was not going to miss it! Alex spent the weekend visiting great grandparents and playing with my friend Melissa's two kids. By Monday morning, Alex and I both were ready to go home! With a short stop in South Bend to visit a friend, we completed our 11 hour trip home with much relief. I have never seen Alex get so excited to be at home and play with his toys again! The boy went down for the night like butter!!