Beautiful day in the neighborhood.

Today the weather is

GORGEOUS!

The sun is shining

the wind is whipping,

and the first chill of the season has set in.

We went to a birthday party in the neighborhood.

The perfect day to spend outside with my boys!  

Oh how I love these 3.

Baby Bear is now The Dude.
sniff.sniff. 

2 boys.

Hey lady. Can you give me a boost please?

Who are you calling a baby?
I'm The Dude.

Hanging with the big kids.

Now for the best part of the party.
Cake and ice cream.

Yummy squishy cupcake face!

Happy 1st birthday Sara and Emily.

Thanks for sharing your special day with us!

Pumpkin Patch

Last weekend we took the boys to our annual visit to the pumpkin patch.

It goes a little like this.

Get there.

Run.

Beg for a picture.

Leave exhausted.

This year my boys did not disappoint!  

Baby Bear king of the pumpkins.

Griff climbing to the
highest spot on the pumpkin mound.

Partners in crime.

Quick picture with MiMi.

Baby Bear stopped for a second
to check out a pretty girl.  (true story)

Can you PLEASE sit a little closer
and pretend to like each other.

Time to pull out the big guns.
If you sit next to your brother for 1 good picture
we can go to Chick-fil-a.
Notice Griff had to contemplate this bribe.
Is it really worth Chick-fil-a?

And here you have it folks,
Cheese!
Now you owe us Chick-fil-a Momma...

Killing for the Crown

The Beauty Queens

Once a month some of my college girlfriends get together for DZ dinner club.  The location rotates around town.  Each month a different girl gets to pick the place according to her birthday.

Last night I hosted the lovely ladies of Delta Zeta for a murder mystery dinner party.  The party was titled "Killing for the crown."  Seriously who doesn't want to dress up in a ball gown, put on eyelashes,  and tease up the hair to compete for the title of Miss America?!?

I dreamt  up the idea in July and we have been talking it up ever since.  I am happy to say that these Queens outdid their selves.  The arrived at my front door dressed to impress and ready to WIN!

MiMi helped me set everything up.  She helped to set up the packets for the contestants and also to get the house ready.  We had just enough people to play, but were short the pageant director.  MiMi stepped in and took over the role as Peggy Pageant~ pageant director.  Thanks to MiMi for being such a help and guiding us through the night.  Also thanks to Satch and Big Pop for entertaining the boys while we had the dinner party.

the tablescape

the centerpiece

the place setting

Miss Texas

Miss California~ Queen of the "Wine Country"

dinner is served

cheers!

Miss California

Miss Idaho

Miss Alabama and her Oscar

GASP!  It looks like a murder has taken place!

Peggy Pageant presenting the evidence.

Let the backstabbing and finger pointing begin!

Miss Idaho.... scandalous!  

In the end it was all good fun!

Thanks Queens for being such good sports and for sharing such a fun night!

Locks of Love

A couple of months ago I realized that my hair had gotten pretty long.  It just sort of grew over night.  I then decided to let my hair grow over the summer so that I would have enough to donate 10 inches to Locks of Love.  This organization provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the US and Canada under the age of 21 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.  Most of the children helped by Locks of Love have lost their hair due to a medical condition called alopecia areata.   

It just so happens that my brother was diagnosed with alopecia areata at the age of 2 and was totally bald by the age of 5.  My life was personally touched by this condition.  The least that I can do is give back... because I can.  I have learned over the years that it is "only hair."  My hair may be a little shorter than I like, but it will grow back.  Some child out there needs my hair more than I do.  That is worth more than my vanity and truly makes me happy...

10 inches donated with love.

Carnival 1st birthday party

Yesterday we went to a really fun carnival themed 1st birthday party for our cousin, Analeyse.  The party was adorable and lots of fun for the kids.  There were lots of fun games to play and we left weighed down with prizes that the boys won.

Welcome to the carnival!

First up, a ride on the carousel.

Griff spent the majority of the day at the skee ball game.
Look at his position.
His comment, "this game is easy."

Baby Bear clowning around.

Serious partying going on.

$1,000,000 smile.

Griff helping the "cus-toe-mers."

the cake

Baby Bear sorting his loot.

They both loved fishing for ducks.

Hanging with MiMi.

Finally the sucker game is left unattended.  Time to load up on SUCKERS!  

Snack time with Pop.

Thanks Analeyse for such a fun day!

Pumpkin Patch and a picnic

This morning Roman and I headed out to meet some of our MOPS friends.  First we played at the park and had a picnic lunch.  We then headed over to the pumpkin patch for pumpkins and pictures.  I took so many fun pictures of the kids today it is daunting to try and only pick a few.  I'll do my best to keep it to less than 100 10.

Baby Bear splashing drinking in the water fountain.  

Griff's girl, Emma, making a move on Baby Bear.  

No wonder my boys are ga-ga over this one!  

Next up.... the pumpkin patch.

We hurried up and took a group shot of the kid.
You know before the wheels fell off!  

This little beauty was with us too.
 She was catching up on a little beauty rest during the group shot. 

Hummm.... desicions, decisions.

You say pay per pound?  I'll pick the BIGGEST one.  Pretty please?

Claiming their prize as we headed out.

He fell asleep moments later on the ride home.  Sucker still in hand.