Pumpkin Patch

So, when you have a new house, a new puppy, photos to edit, save the dates to design, photo shoots to actually do, two kids who aren't feeling well, boxes to unpack and a studio to decorate the most logical thing to do is take the kids to the pumpkin patch, right? Right!

I'm all about experiences. I would rather give my kids fun experiences (like going to the pumpkin patch) than buy them all the toys in the world. We got there about half an hour before it closed for the evening, which was plenty of time to find our pumpkins and take a few photos. I may have spent so much on pumpkins that they decided to stop counting. Ha!

I had a reason: our front porch has these two large urns that were just crying to have some short and stout pumpkins lying on top (white ones with orange veins, of course) with some rustic looking tall skinny ones standing in front. And then Auds had to pick out little pumpkins for everyone in the family. So we got 4 huge pumpkins and 4 baby pumpkins.

I'll try to take a picture of the pumpkins out front tomorrow, but it's cute. I'm a little giddy. We had a great time tonight. If I weren't so busy on the weekends, we'd go then because they do hayrides and face paintings and games and all sorts of stuff.

But I needed a nice relaxing evening. The kids have both had coughs for about two weeks now so I took them to the doctor this morning. Typically I don't go to the doctor except for well visits, but a lingering cough deserved a check. The culprit? Severe drainage due to insane allergies. At least it wasn't anything serious. But, I cancelled a major photo shoot this afternoon while I was on my way to the doctor just in case - I didn't want to spread any germs.

Then it was a typical two-year-old-living-here day. Auds hit the dog in the head with a curtain rod that hasn't made its way up yet. Then she got caramel all over the table and refused to eat her pickles. She wouldn't let Tony go down for his nap so he was cranky and fussy. Then she got so tired she had an accident. And I'm talking an accident. It was the Hoover Dam of accidents. Soaked herself, her clothes, the couch, HER HAIR. This required a bath.

While I was bathing her, the dog pooped in the living room and then ate it - in like 30 seconds. I smelled it happening and ran out there to find him eating it. So I had to clean the remnants and the dog - with a toddler in the tub who decided to get out, run around naked and wake her brother (who just went to sleep 30 minutes ago) up. Add to that my husband worked late and it was just peachy. Life is getting back to normal. ;)

So, all of that to say that I needed to spend some quality time with my precious little family and make some positive memories. I think we accomplished that.

Look at this beautiful girl. I can never stay mad at her.

The "Mommy" pumpkin and the "Audrey" pumpkin.

Steering the wagon.

Climbing on the pumpkins.

Checking out the petting zoo. Yes, a petting zoo with a sign "CAUTION: ANIMALS WILL BITE." How much sense does that make?

Auds getting out of the wagon. You can see a couple of my big ones there. Let's call them Bertha and Maude.

There's no pictures of little man coz he was here with me.

Happy National Babywearing Week!

My perfect little family. :)

I'm Alive!

My house(s) are covered in boxes and things are here there and everywhere. I've got two kids with fevers, one screaming right now (her daddy's tending to her, I'm not neglectful). I'll be spending the rest of the night packing coz the big and final move is Wednesday. 25.15 hours from now. That's how long I have to get this place livable-ish for the next person.

But, I just wanted to say that I'm alive.

These past few weeks have been wrapped up in packing, packing, packing and, uh, more packing. Taking a trip to the zoo coz to get away from the boxes. The kids accompanying me on an engagement shoot and an al fresco lunch of maque choux there. Making slides out of the boxes. Play dates to get away from said boxes. Birthday parties, church activities, and general all around craziness. In addition to slowly moving things over to the new house. Not to mention the fact that my husband is working at the firm like crazy and I've been booked since the end of August and this train ain't stopping until December.

I have pictures on my iphone of all of these and will upload when things calm down. That'll happen soon, right? Please tell me that'll happen soon? Oh, and tell me that the dust bunnies will move out on their own and the resident country spiders will move their webs from my windows (the tops of which are a good few feet above my head... I'm not that lousy of a housekeeper) before I move.

What's that? No, they won't. Well, that's no fun.

Our Pup

Well, the black lab that I was initially interested in adopting likes to chase cats, and since we have two Katrina babies, that wouldn't be such a good mix. I can picture it now:

"Mommy! Desi is eating Cheeto!"

Explain that to a toddler.

So, I asked for recommendations from the rescue society and gave them some information on us. Well, they recommended this little (big) guy:

Say "hello" to Fitzgerald Fitzwilliam. Named after F. Scot Fitzgerald and Fitzwilliam Darcy. We're so literary. We'll call him Fitz for short.

I was supposed to go meet him the end of the month, but due to scheduling conflicts (I took on another family photo shoot) it wouldn't work out. I had a cancellation this morning (the dad got stuck at work out of state and couldn't make it back in time) so we made an impromptu appointment to see him.

It was love at first bark. He is such a sweet puppy and a goofy gentle giant. He was a puppy - running all over the place and acting spastic - but was very, very gentle with the kids.

There he is holding hands with Auds. She did get a little overwhelmed just because it was a new place, a new dog running around and there was another two year old there (that explains the extra arm in the picture) to play with. But, she's been talking about him ever since.

We're gonna be filling out the adoption paperwork and all soon and will be bringing him home after we close on our house. And we're closing in less than three weeks! Eeeek!

I Am Insane

So in addition to buying and moving to a new home, we've decided we're gonna adopt a dog. I'm nuts. But after Tuesday's incident, we decided that after we move we're gonna get a guard dog to let us know if something is going on outside.

We found a beautiful black lab who was rescued and is very mild tempered and patient with kids. I'm hoping her foster mom will hold her for us until November, after we move and get unpacked and settled in and whatnot.

So, now we need to pick a name. Eurydice, Desdemona, Eliza Doglittle and Ouiser are the top contenders.

Perspective

My van was broken into today. While in the driveway to our house. Or, rather, shot at with a pellet gun by a delinquent youth according to the sheriff. It's not the first call they got. They didn't take anything, coz there's not anything in there but car seats and outreach stuff to take.

It's also pouring down rain in a storm of epic proportions. I hope my husband secured the plastic around the hole well enough.

And Auds is sick and has a fever.

But I could be in Job's shoes.

Honestly, I hope whoever it was took a care package and comes to church. I'd greet them with open arms.

I'm thankful to God for some much needed perspective on the situation. This could easily be a situation that could get me down, fester, and cause bitterness in my soul. But He has provided me with enough mercy and grace to not allow that to happen. For that I am grateful. $325 poorer to fix it, but grateful.

God is good.

My Girl

This is my future worship leader after choir practice tonight. Ain't she cute?

This is What Happens

While we assemble packages for community outreach. Amazing what kids do to entertain themselves!