FALLin' In Love!

Yes it may be 102 degrees outside today but it is still FALL and I'm loving it. We went to another pumpkin patch over the weekend and had even more fun than the weekend before. Partly because our best buds were there to share the experience with. Braelyn and Drew compliment one another's high energy and spunk perfectly! Those two are just like those toys that you wind up and let loose, except for they never slow down. I wish I could say the same for me. Just think about how much I could get done if I had endless amounts of energy!

"I take it," her response for anything that she likes lately hoping that I will let her take it home. No Braelyn you cannot have a goat. This was only seconds before a swarm of goats bombarded her and knocked her to the ground hoping that she had some food for them. Her response quickly change to, "Bad goats! No more goats!" and then she walked off.

Just admiring the ass on the ass.

Right after Ben and Braelyn went down this slide, which was quite steep, Braelyn ran back up and went down the slide herself. What a brave little girl!

I love this next sequence of events. As her mother, I know that Braelyn can freak out in out of the ordinary stiuations, but then she calms down. This is how rides are to her. She freaks out for a minute and then loves it. As you can see:

"Yay I'm on an airplane!"

"Looking at the beautiful view."

"What?! You expect me to ride this airplane?!"

"I'm so traumatized. Look at the tears coming down my cheeks."

"Okay, this isn't so bad!"

Again, as her mother I knew for sure she would also enjoy riding the bee ride, so we headed on over. Here is this sequence of events:

Okay, I was wrong. She hated the whole thing. There is no sequence of events. Only one event, screaming!

And this time we did end up with a cute little pumpkin just like Braelyn. I think we might have to make this pumpkin patch trip a tradition . . . including the rides!

I Love Groupons!

I got this groupon over the weekend to DeWitt Stables where they have a pumpkin patch, hayrides, and a little petting zoo. It only cost $5 for the whole family to go. Score! We had such a blast. Braelyn could hardly be torn away from the petting zoo once it was time to leave. Can I also just say that I am loving the fall weather. Okay, so it hasn't quite stuck around, but I'm sure it will be back . . . soon . . . I hope.

"Can I please have this pumpkin? Please?!" Just look at that face? Can I tell her no? Well, I didn't exactly say "no" to the three dollar pumpkin. I just waited until she became disinterest. Mom - 1, Overpriced Pumpkin Patch - 0!

Loving me some Braelyn Boo!

Braelyn surprised me and was really interested in the horses. Usually large out of the ordinary things freak her out, but she was totally petting the horses right on the nose. Okay, so maybe the horse didn't make it in this picture, but I promise she was petting it!

 There's the horse! Behind us. I told you there was one. =)

And she even sat on the miniature horse for a picture. I'm telling you, this is a milestone! Okay, can I tell you what a ripoff this picture was?! I have to confess I bought the upgraded groupon for $9 that included a family picture. I was thinking "professional, sitting on hay bales, cute family picture". Nope, this totally antisocial girl stuck Braelyn on the horse and snapped a photo with her digital camera while she kept saying to Braelyn, "Um, can you look at the camera?" Then she printed it off and handed it to us without saying another word. Ummm . . . thanks. I could have done that.

So originally I put Braelyn on this ride by herself. I though it was just going to circle the corral. She started crying so the driver said since I was small enough (not sure how to take that) I could ride with her. So I hop in and it turns out the ride went all around the stables and pumpkin patch. Haha! If I would have sent Braelyn alone, I don't think she would have made it back. She probably would have jumped out somewhere along the pumpkin patch. I'm such a good mom.

Braelyn's favorite was the petting zoo. She kept trying to put this hat on the chickens. I'm seriously laughing out loud right now remembering this hat. First of all, we have no idea whose it is. With that said, if I were a good mom, I probably should not have let Braelyn put it on . . . not too sanitary. So I guess I'll recant that previous "I'm such a good mom statement". Second of all, when Braelyn was finally over playing with it, Ben set it down next to him on the hay bale he was sitting on. Before you know it, the goat jumped up next to Ben and started eating the hat. Ben had to rip it out of the goat's mouth. He then carefully returned the hat where we found it as good as new . . . with a huge hole . . . from a hungry goat.

 

And finally we made our way over to the lasso station. Ben was practicing some mad skills on the fake bulls. He actually roped two of them. What a stud. Anyway, the next thing we hear is, "Eww yucky boogers!" We turn around to find Braelyn with both her fingers in the bull's nostrils. Haha! I love it.

Growing Up!

I can't stop thinking about how much Braelyn is growing up. She is not my little baby anymore. I know everyone says that about their kids as they are getting older, but I never realized how true it was. It's like their little personalities just transform right before your eyes. They turn into these little people with opinions, preferences, and a couple doses of attitude!

I haven't really sat down and recorded a "like" list for Braelyn at this age. I write in her baby book here and there about things she is doing, but here are a few recent favorites . . . for today at least:

1. Her princess book. It is a huge book and she has dropped on her toes a few times trying to carry it around, but she loves the stories and the pretty dresses.
2. Playing with kids. Everyday she asks, "Play with kids?" We go to library story time twice a week and aerobics the other days, so she gets her fair share of playing time. She especially loves the days we go back to Anthem to play with her best friend Drew.
3. Applesauce. Those on-the-go applesauce pouches are a gift from the heavens!
4. Elmo. No comment.
5. Purses and shoes. She'll put my shoes on, swing her purse over her shoulder and yell, "bye Babe! See ya later!"
6. Hippo. This will probably never leave the list. This girl cannot function without her stuffed hippo. It is her cuddly bedtime buddy.
7. Sweets including: ice cream, cookies, cake, banana bread, cupcakes, chocolate, jelly beans, and plain old sugar. We like to bake a lot!
8. Daddy. She squeals as soon as he walks in the door. Ben gives the best rides ever!
9. Phones. The little squirt is always trying to snatch them up.
10. Music and dancing. She can really twist and shout to the music!
11. Diapers and wipes. If you leave her alone for one second she has grabbed all the diapers and scattered wipes everywhere. She pretends to change her baby's diaper and she dusts the furniture with the wipes.
12. Bubble baths. We've come a long way since that first bubble bath she took where she was in a complete panic watching the foam inch it's way closer and closer to her. Now she strips her clothes off and jumps in the tub before I can even get the water started.

Oh boy, there are so many other favorites. The list can go on and on: babies, books, songs, slides, chalk, rocks, etc. She is such a fun loving sweetheart. I have such a great time playing with her and listening to all the funny things she has to say.

 Always helping mommy bake. She loves licking the batter!

 

She loves playing outside in the backyard. Of course, I have to come outside too. She always needs a sidekick.

 Cheeseball! She likes it when you take pictures, even if you are faking it with no camera. Haha!

Visiting the aquarium. Braelyn wasn't too sure about the fish that day. She kept requesting, "All done fish! All done! No like fish!"

 Having fun on the merry go round trying not to barf.

Dressing up like always.

I know most parents are sad to watch their kids grow up so quickly, but I am loving it! Every minute she gets cuter and funnier. I know someday she'll be out of the house and on her way to bigger and better and then I'll be sad, but for now the growing up is great. She's my little punkin!

Love you stinks!