Pumpkin Patch

 

We finally made it to the Pumpkin Patch on AJ's birthday.  That is what he wanted to do that day.  That followed by lunch at Pizza Plus!  OK!  I'll take it!

 

Riding the train.  Nate got kinda nervous.

 

The silly signs.

 

Can anybody see me? -Nate

 

AJ was just about done with pictures at this point.

 

Smile, you're in jail!  If only...for a day.  Just kidding.

 

Mining for precious stones.  Pop Pop would be impressed with us I'm sure.

 

AJ found some!!

 

Looking for some more.

 

The boys loved to climb and play on the huge tires.

 

We almost left without picking out pumpkins.  We were so tired, and HOT and hungry for pizza.

 

AJ looking for the perfect pumpkin.

 

We found it.  Everyone help dad pick it up.

 

Nate! Nate! Where are you going?

 

Apparently, Nate changed his mind and wanted THAT one!  So we got both!

Here's our jack o lanterns!

 

AJ wanted a robot pumpkin, which Taro drew and cut out.  Of course.  Isn't it awesome??!!It's a father and his robot son according to AJ and the designer.

 

I, on the other hand, opted for an easy design.

A Year in the Making

AJ's 4th Birthday Party

My son has been talking about having a pirate birthday party since before his 3rd birthday.  I'm NOT kidding.  I was shopping for his truck party LAST year at Target and we saw some pirate swords in the party section.  I told him it was too bad he wasn't having a pirate party because we could get some swords for all his friends.  He told me right then that his next party was going to be a pirate party.  I thought he would forget all about it, but he did not.  Instead, he talked about it all year long. So here's the party that he's been waiting for all year.

A closer look at some of the fun stuff.

 

Ocean Water (Blueberry jello) cups with Orange Pirate Ship slices.  I made tiny black flags from cardstock and placed a sticker on the front.  I glued those to a toothpick and stuck it in the orange.  In the background, I used a glass trifle bowl to fill with goldfish.

 

Chocolate Pirate Ship cupcakes.  I found the pattern for the sails and the cupcake wrappers online for free.

 

Taro MADE this treasure chest!  It was awesome.  The kids carried it all over the back yard.

 Grape Swords.

Pirate's Booty in a homemade crate.  Tootsie Rolls to go with our red, black and white theme.  I also cut down large red and white popcorn boxes I had to make for little snack sized chips boxes.

 

 Lemonade Cups with Pirate Stickers

 

The unfortunate cake mishap.  Okay, more like disaster!  It WAS a really cute pirate ship with a tootsie roll "wooden" railing.  I had chocolate Whoppers ready for the cannonballs and some huge white sails to put on top.  I made it the night before and when I woke up I found it like this!  EEEK!.  I had to send my husband to the store to find something else. Note to self:  Use cake supports next time when trying to make a fancy, shaped cake.

 

It was a beautiful morning, so the kids played outside.

 

Walking the Plank.

Birthday boy didn't want to get in the picture!

Arr!  Matey!

Goodie bags that say "Aye! Hands off me loot!"  I filled them with Hershey's Gold nugget bars and chocolate gold coins.

The birthday boy in his pirate's outfit that my mom made for him.  So cute!

I've already been told that next year's party will have a Knight theme with shields and swords.  Oh, dear.  I may have started something here!

Yum-o!

This little guy is starting to feed himself.  Big boy.  Most of it lands on his shirt though.  He doesn't seem to mind.

Nate was so excited to wear these Elmo overalls.  He calls him "Melmo"!  He's also been saying a few other words lately:

Peppa (Pepper)
Mama
Dada
AJ
Bath
Nack (snack)
Wow Wow (Yes, he loves Wow Wow Wubbzy too.  I wonder where that came from?)
Pocoyo (another tv favorite around here)
Bubble

There's probably more, but I can't think of them right now. 

When did this little baby turn into such a big boy?

Nate loves cars and trucks. 

He decided he was going to ride this one.  A wheely??  Not a good idea Nate.

Oops!  Happened before I knew it.  But somehow managed to capture it. 

No worries.  He got right back up.  All boy.

Police Parade

 Every year in October, Ripon has a Police Car Parade with lights and sirens flashing!  It is LOUD!

It comes right by our house.  We heard them coming and ran outside.

There were probably 30 or so police motorcycles and cars from all over the state.   

And some old timey cars too.

 

Who ya going call?  Ghostbusters!!!

 

Or maybe Starsky and Hutch???

AJ LOVED it.  He was talking about it all week.  He didn't want to miss it.  Then he talked about it all day afterwards.

What we've been up to

 

Here's a couple things we've been up to lately.  AJ has been writing his letters.  The left to right thing something trips him up still.  Sometimes he writes A, and then J on the left side. Still learning.

 

 

 

The playground still provides hours of fun!  We've taken down the Pirate flag and changed it to the Don't Tread on Me flag.  It used to be hanging in Taro's office.  So AJ thinks it's very cool.  But don't think it's not a Pirate Ship anymore.  We spend lots of time running from the crocodiles on the grass sea and find safety on the pirate ship.  Then we usually have to replace the engine, and or lots of miscellaneous engine parts before we can sail away.  It's alot of work running a pirate ship, matey.  Rrrr.

 

We have another addition to the backyard.  It was completed this afternoon. 

 

Wait for it.  Wait for it...

A playhouse!  Made from an old pallet and huge wooden box that was shipped to Taro's work.  He cut out windows and added a door in the back.  The kids love it.  AJ is already calling it a rocketship.  HA HA!

 

It just needs a few coats of paint and it will be a great place for the kids to have adventures.

And of course, we swing the night away!



Watch Him Grow!

I finally got all these month by month pictures together.  I lost a few pictures when my computer died when he was 3 or 4 months old.  Luckily, I got them all back together again!  These just make me laugh!  Look at the chunky monkey in Month 4 and Month 6!

Each month it got harder and harder to get this picture.  He would cry and roll over before I could get a picture.  So I got what I got! 

Summer's Almost Over

Seems we are getting use to the 90 degree weather.  But it's a lot easier when you can jump in the pool.  They were too excited to wait and get in their swimsuits.

 

A little naked bike riding break.  Why not?

 

My smiley boy.  Getting so big I can hardly stand it.