Happy Halloween!

We started Halloween weekend off with a Parade at AJ's school. The kids were really cute. Despite not having a great angle for pictures, I still got to take some pictures. Here is AJ's class, this is the shot I got before AJ saw me and ran out of line. You can't really see him, but he is behind the girl (his girlfriend) in the green:

And then the next shot I got, AJ was running towards me! He saw me immediately and then came running towards me saying, MOM!

So as you can probably guess, AJ was Super Mario. We looked and looked for costumes and AJ didn't like anything except the Super Mario costume! He loved the mustache, but didn't like it so much when it was on.

Here is a picture with his class:

I was pretty sick Saturday and Sunday, but after some much needed rest, I got myself together to go trick-or-treating. Our Halloween night didn't start out so well. Daddy took AJ to Pop-Pop's house for the game and so AJ didn't a nap. Needless to say, he wasn't so happy. By the time our first trick-or-treaters came to the door and AJ got to see what they were doing, he was ready. Here he is all dressed up:

Me and my boy:

Waiting to say, "TRICK OR TREAT!"

And me and my boy again, this time at the end of the night. We managed to keep the hat on!

So overall, it was a great Halloween. AJ was really good at knocking on the doors and saying TRICK OR TREAT! He mostly enjoyed when we let him eat to his heart's desire in candy. We stood outside talking to neighbors as we waited for trick or treaters. He had a brief sugar high during his bath, he couldn't stop laughing. As soon as he got in his PJ's, though, he was ready for bed. He fell right asleep!

Hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!

Haircut time!

AJ was due for a haircut, so we took him to Cartoon Cuts. We have had just OK haircuts in the past, so we were reluctant to go back. The last time was perfect though. Despite John's gut, he listened to me to go forward (big mistake!). AJ's cut was TERRIBLE. We got home and the front was uneven, so I had to fix that. Then we noticed a mullet type back. John got out the trimmers and carefully trimmed the awful long hair off.

AJ was very good for Daddy:

So now we are left with some hair in the front that is just going to have to grow out before we fix it--but at least it's better than before! John said from now on, we take AJ to his guy.

Updates ADDED!

I am determined to be better at blogging our family's life! I have updated from the last 6 weeks. Boy, we have been busy. I have added AJ and I's date, apple picking, Cox's farm, John and I's LA trip, Renn festival, Great Country Farms, and pumpkin picking!

P.S. If you got this by email, I have learned how to email everyone updates. If you wish to be removed, please let me know (no offense will be taken--I understand!). If you didn't get this by email and would like to get updates by email, let me know and I'll add you!

Pumpkin Carving and Redskins game

We got the chance to carve our pumpkin this weekend. It was a wonderful day outside, so we decided to carve outside (plus the mess stays OUTSIDE!). After John opened the sucker up, AJ and I stuck our hands in to get all of the gunk out. I must admit, it's my favorite part. I love cleaning, so I take it on as a challenge! AJ, on the other hand, took a bit to warm up to it. Right after this shot, he came out and said, MOMMY, I NEED TO WASH MY HANDS! I love that my little boy prefers to stay clean!

AJ waiting patiently after cleaning out our pumpkin:

It works out perfectly--I like cleaning the pumplin out and John likes actually carving it. This year it only cost us the pumpkin--because we had a battery operated carver from years past. We got our template for free online. I traced it and we were good to go! Here is John carving and AJ patiently watching:

I actually don't have a final picture yet of our pumpkin (why I didn't take a picture is beyond me!), but here is a good carving close up:

Three generations of Redskins fans watching the game together. Note: yes, that is a redskins couch in our basement. It's also a pile of blankets and pillows next to it (excuse the mess!).

Some Pictures

For now... taken by someone at work yesterday at a work picnic...

Ever have one of those days?

Yesterday was just a very odd day. On the mornings I work out, John is able to make breakfast, feed AJ, get him ready for school, all in addition to getting himself ready--all in the hour or so that I'm gone. I get back and take my little one to school before coming back home to work. Well yesterday, John had to go in to work super early--which meant that if I wanted to make my training class in time, I had to get up early and do everything he usually does for me. It was important to me to workout-because I was a little sick earlier in the week and already skipped.

All was good...until....AJ was just a little stubborn boy. The bibs I gave him (and he wanted one) was not what he wanted, the food I made him was not what he wanted, the clothes I picked out were not what he wanted...and so on. Usually I'm able to distract him or get him to cooperate, but he just wasn't having it. So we were fighting and I screamed at him :(. I felt so guilty all day long.

Fast forward to finally getting him to school and being 10 minutes late for my class--which isn't a good feeling--and my workout just sucked. I couldn't get my mind right and I felt overall very uncorrdinated.

When I got home to get myself something to eat, clumsy got the best of me and I made huge messes. Then the clumsy never ended.

After our evening was over and I was getting ready for bed, I realized that my underware had been inside out and backwards all day long. Why didn't I notice this during the millions of times I had peed (because I drink over a gallon of water everyday!)? Crazy, but I think it threw me off during the day. Of course, I did shower, so at some point that morning I might have had correct underware, but regardless--I think I'm turning into my mother!

Great Country Farms and Pop-Pop's birthday

Happy Birthday Pop-Pop! We celebrated as an entire family (all 9 of us) by going to Great Country Farms in Bluemont, VA. I was able to talk John out of skipping some football games--I'm so thankful for him!

GCF is my favorite place for pumpkin picking. They have a great festival with tons of activities (slides, bounce pillow, animals to touch or see, toddler area, etc.) and a ride to pick your own pumplin--RIGHT OFF THE VINE! Most pumpkin patches are pumpkins already picked off the vine, but not GCF. John and I are thinking of joining their CSA next year--we get all of their festivals for free plus weekly U Pick opportunities (think, pints and pints of strawberries!) as well as of course, the actual CSA veggies and fruits delivered to our house weekly--organic and sustainable--a great way to support our local farmers!

Here is AJ on the bounce pillow. He didn't like this at all. He LOVES trampolines, but not this thing.


AJ pushing Roman on one of the kid tractors:

Everyone loaded into the 'hayride' (better because there is no hay!) to go pick pumpkins. Don't look so excited everyone!

AJ and Roman sitting like big boys waiting to get to the pumpkin patch!

My brother, David, and AJ:


Roman and Nicole:

The three of us. Look at that view (and we weren't even in the best spot!). My next place to go wine tasting is right across the street--a winery on top of the hill. I can't wait to see their view!


AJ and Roman sitting on pumpkins:

And attempting to pick one!


Pop Pop showing off his $17 pumpkin!

John showing off our pumpkin (smaller then above though!)

Afterwards we all went to my house for some dinner and cake. I made a yummy fall-off-the-bone beer butt chicken with all of the fixings. I then made my favorite organic carrot cake and homemade icing. I used Sucanat for the sugar in the icing and I will never do that again. Some things are just so much better not clean (although everyone else loved it, I personally prefer the white refined sugar!). Here is Pop-Pop about to blow out his candles. Doesn't he look great for 55? The boys are singing to him: