Pumpkins

I braved the pumpkin patch alone this year while Rob was moving stuff to the river.  I reviewed the "rules" in the car - no running near the street, no candy or playground until you pose for a nice picture, and we went over the pumpkin "budget."  (Sorry, but I didn't want to spend a fortune on pumpkins that we will have to throw away in 1.5 weeks before we move!)  Fielder stayed strapped into the stroller until we had paid for our pumpkins and then all hell broke loose.  Luckily I got 1 kinda cute photo of the 2 of them before my camera battery died.  Also before Fielder became one giant sticky mess from his lollipop and before he ran wild!  They have a little playground which is always a highlight of the trip and Claire even ran into a friend from preschool days. 

 

Midlothian Fall Parade

I am so happy Meredith talked me into the parade on this drizzly drab day!  With the exception of a major traffic back-up trying to get home, we had a fun morning and the kids loved it.  Thanks Mere!

Nothing says fall like pumpkin-picking in the Little Ceasers parking lot.  Fielder loved running around, falling in the dirt, and trying to pick up all the pumpkins. 

(check out my muscles ladies)

We walked over to a spot for watching the parade - it's not everyday you can walk down the middle of Midlo Turnpike. 

Claire got very excited when she realized that they throw candy at this parade.



What's up with Santa at a fall festival?? Even Claire said "that's weird."

 

Boxes everywhere

 

It's starting to get real....we have 2 weeks left in our house.  Rob is making a trip to the river to store some things and I've been stashing stuff away at Mom and Dad's house.  I have a whole room in the house blocked off from kids where I have boxes, bins, and things ready to be packed up.  I might have been in denial until now....but we are actually doing this?!  Gulp.   

Messy Boy

Fielder having some pudding....and of course refusing any help with the spoon.  Mmmm....

(awesome hair-do from wearing sister's headband all afternoon)

Build-a-Bear Birthday

The birthday fun continued on Saturday with the Masons.  (Unfortunately Fielder was sick so Rob had to stay home with him.)  Claire had hinted that she wanted to go to Build-a-Bear a while back so Mimi and Papa gave that to her as a special birthday gift.  She didn't know where we were going until we picked Mimi up and she told Claire the surprise.

And even more fun, Samara, Uncle Andy, and Aunt Tara met us there!

The girls each picked out their animals, helped stuff them, put hearts inside (each bear got a heart from each girl) and they washed and brushed them.  Claire named hers Lucy Anna Colors.  (Lucy has been in bed with Claire each night since.)

After making their bears, we decided to do a quick train ride before leaving the mall.  We didn't realize the whole process would take about an hour, but the girls loved it once they finally got their turn on the train.  Afterwards Claire and I dashed off to Cold Stone to pick up some ice cream cupcakes and then we headed back to Mimi and Papa's for a pizza lunch.  The girls at that point were totally wired and were having too much fun to even eat their pizza.  Claire got some very nice gifts from everyone including colored pencils, tattoos, Littlest Pet shop dolls, and Zoobook magazines.  Thanks to everyone for giving her such a special day.



This picture cracks me up.  Papa was giving rides through the house in Mimi's wheelchair.  I love the girls in their matching skirts!

 

Birthday Surprise

This year at school was kind of a bummer......for me that is.  I'm not allowed to send in cupcakes or treats and it's too early in the year to come have lunch with her.  But I did send in a little surprise for her and her classmates.  Papa picked out a bunch of pencils and I taped them onto these pictures (idea stolen from your Valentines Danielle!)  She thought it was cool.  And she got to wear a crown all day so she was thrilled!

Claire is 6!

I've gotten behind on here because we've been just a little busy!  Did I mention we sold our house in 2 weeks, removed the contingency for the new house, found an apartment, had a huge yard sale, and now we move in 4 weeks?  Yikes!!

So I think I forgot to blog about Claire's birthday.  Oops.  Rob was out of town unfortunately, but we made her day a happy one.  She woke up and I gave her a present and made her sprinkle pancakes.  Then she had a fun surprise on her way to the bus stop - Mimi and Papa drove by to say hello and Happy Birthday!  (Papa was still driving Mimi to work everyday then due to her injury.)  She got a nice birthday hug and Papa found 60 cents in the car so she could buy some chocolate milk to have with lunch.  :-)





It was Abu's day to babysit while I worked.  When I got home, we had a pizza dinner (Popa came too), cupcakes, and presents.  Popa and Abu gave her a Lalaloopsie doll and a princess sticker book - both were big hits.  Even Aunt Alison stopped by on her way back to Roanoke - a little surprise visit and a gift!  I let the birthday girl stay up late playing with her new toys and finally made her go to bed since it was a school night.  She had a great day and still more celebrations to come...