One of the many great things about moving so close to family is the last minute opportunity to do something fun together.  Kristin and I made last minute plans to take the little cousins to the pumpkin patch together.  Hughes had not been  yet, and I wanted to take Smith to this pumpkin patch anyway.  Millie Janalee's class always take a field trip to this one each year, and we have a great time!  Plus it was FINALLY a cool fall morning!

The kids were so excited to see each other!  It really cracked me up.  They were screaming and running and squealing over the fact they were together at the pumpkin patch.

This big bouncy pillow thing is probably one of Millie Janalee's two favorite things at this pumpkin patch.  I worried the boys would be too young.  But I was SO WRONG!  Smith got up there and bounced around like he's been doing it for years.  Y'all.  This boy is nonstop!  Non. Stop!

It wasn't long until the tractor was ready to take a load on a hayride over to the barn and the pumpkin patch to pick out our pumpkins, so we loaded up!  The kids enjoyed seeing the animals, feeding the sheep, and riding the pony.

Millie Janalee meets Elsa the cow

Talking to the chickens

Petting the stray horse.  We didn't find out until later that he had escaped and no one knew where he was.  Ummm...right here with us acting like he owned the place.  Haha!

Millie Janalee LOVES riding a horse!

After all the families had time to enjoy the animals at the barn, we loaded back up and rode over to the pumpkin patch.  The funny part is that this is the reason we come, but I know it's gonna be the hardest part.  Everyone wanted me to hold their pumpkin while I was holding my camera, our bag, holding hands, and sweating.  Kids were crying because they kept dropping their pumpkins.

But aren't the pictures cute?!  Hahaha!  Looks like a walk in the park through my camera lens...

You can kinda see some of the pouty faces when they had to carry their own pumpkins.

I decided after that ordeal that we would take all the pumpkins to the car before we went another step.  But first...photo op for the cousins!

And, of course, more time on the bouncy pillow followed by lots of time on the playground sliding down the super slide.  Even I slid a time or two.

My babies are growing up so fast!  Some days I am grateful for a new phase of life and new phase of childhood.  More independence each day.  Then some days, I look back and pictures and long for those baby rolls and toothless grins.

The days are long, but the years are short!  Cherishing our pumpkin patch days while I can.

Family Pumpkin Patch Fun

Our schedule has been all over the place since school started, and it seems that October brought so much more.  Then November happened.  And I know December will be wild.  Russ and I looked at the calendar and found one day - 2 hours in one day that we had available to go as a family to the pumpkin patch.  We have a small pumpkin patch right by our house, so we took the kids one morning for a couple hours of fun and memories.

It really was perfect for the time we had and the ages of our kids.  We took a little hayride around the loop and around the corn maze.  There were several classes on field trips there, so we basically planned our order of activities around them.  First stop was to see the rows of pumpkins laid out for us to browse.  This is what you call a "man made pumpkin patch" I suppose.  Ha!

In another corner, there were a few animals to see and pet.  The kids enjoyed stopping by there occasionally to say "hello."

We found a few other fun things to do as well.  Riding the inflatable bouncing horses was pretty funny.  It never takes Smith long to catch on to much, but Millie Janalee took some coaching.  I have a picture of her and Russ on one of those things somewhere, but for now all I have are these two.

The rope spider web was fun to climb, but I'm not sure the kids loved it as much as I just knew they would. Still, it made for a great photo opp.

I always thing these swings are fun!  The kids agreed, and we spent some time swinging and enjoying the "wheee"s and giggles as they flew threw the air.  I'm really thinking it would be a fun swing to add to our own little swing set actually.

We can't go anywhere without Smith finding a ball.  And he must put his hands on them.  Every time.  The boy loves any kind of ball - baseball, football, soccer ball, tennis ball, plastic ball, rubber ball, bowling ball - any kind.  He's been known for getting in trouble for taking the balls from games at the Halloween carnival.  So we played with the footballs a while too.

Probably the highlight of Millie Janalee's day was this zip line.  Russ was a good sport and rode with both the kids before Millie Janalee decided she would ride alone.  I had my doubts.  She's never one to try new things without some sort of strategic encouragement.  But she did it!  And she was so proud!  If there weren't 30+ kids in line from the schools, she would have ridden it over and over again.

She's getting so big!

We finished up our morning at the "pumpkin patch" and all picked out our favorite pumpkin to take home.

It may have only been two hours squeezed into a busy schedule, but it was two hours making memories with our little family.  And our kids are still talking about the fun they had at our little dinky pumpkin patch day.

Football Season Lows…and a High!

We are here!  We are alive and well...well, actually we've had some sick little people most recently...but for the most part, we are well.  We are also very busy!  I can't even tell you exactly WHAT we are busy doing.  It kinda blurs together with lots of buckling car seats and lots of babysitters and holidays approaching quickly.

Add to that...college football season!  Smith joined the family this year for a most uneventful season. That is, until last weekend!

We began our weekend spending Friday afternoon and night in Starkville.  My brother lives in Starkville, and Russ had to work last weekend.  So the kids and I took advantage of an opportunity to spend the night Friday night.  My parents went too, and we took the kids to walk around campus without all the craziness of game day tailgating.  I have always thought MSU campus is so pretty.  Smith was most concerned with finding "buwwy!!"

So we found a Bully.

Russ worked in Starkville on Friday so we were able to meet up on campus with him for a little while also before going to eat dinner with Dustin, his fiancé, and my parents.

There are some things you need to know about Mississippi State fans.  Mississippi State football doesn't have the most exciting history.  We have, without a doubt, had some thrilling seasons.  But a true Mississippi State fan is a proud one.  Deeply rooted with tradition and lots of maroon.  Win or lose, we are true maroon.  Being a bulldog is never easy, so not everyone can handle it.  It's all about how you raise 'em.  So, I'm doing my best!

These pictures are from Homecoming, but the spirit is the same.  We did not tailgate before the game this past weekend.  It was an early game, and to be honest there wasn't a ton of excitement going into it.

But, OH, the surprise we enjoyed!!!  A thrilling game from start to finish.  Mississippi State dominated the game start to finish, and we looked like a brand new team.  Both my kids basically slept through the game - which blows my mind!  I was a crazy person.  I have no idea how they do that!  We finished strong with a win against #4 Texas A&M!

It was a fun day in Starkville made even more perfect with a WIN!  That, my children, is the thrill of SEC football.  You just never know!  I can't say I have huge visions of our upcoming game against Alabama, but I do know that we sure do LOVE wrapping it in maroon and white!

Go Dawgs!

First Day of School 2016

It's that time again!  The summer has come and gone at lightning speed, and here we are sending our little loves off for their first day of school.

Millie Janalee will be starting her year in the four year old preschool class with most of her same friends from PreK3.  It is such a sweet class, and they have all missed each other this summer!  The child is a girl after my own heart when it comes to waking up early for school, but once the initial trauma was over...she couldn't wait to go to Mrs. Kaylee and Mrs. Catherine's class.  I know she will have such a wonderful year and learn so much!

This is the first year Smith has gone anywhere away from home.  It has taken a year for him to not cry hysterically when we drop him off at the church nursery, so I have been very nervous all summer about him starting school.  He will be starting the toddler class with two sweet ladies.  I have heard mothers singing their praises all summer, so I know he is in good hands.

I packed his little backpack with a lunch, a zippy cup, change of clothes, extra paci, lovey and blanket for nap time, and his little class folder.  Russ is off work this week, so he was able to go with us and be my moral support.

I have looked forward to having a couple mornings a week all to myself all summer.  I just knew I would be waving goodbye before I even got to the classrooms.  But the more I thought about how precious it is watching them go together to the same school, my heart became full!  And I realized how sweet this time is.

I envision many more years of saying, "Take care of your brother today."  I hope Smith doesn't actually see her today, because I'm sure that would leave him devastated that she couldn't stay in his room.  But knowing they are together in the same building makes me feel a little better.

We decided to take Millie Janalee first since we expected Smith's drop off to be traumatic.  She led the way while we followed behind...me taking pictures of her sweet little backside with that sweet backpack.  Until she said, "Mama!  That's enough."  Haha!  Oh, the threenager is still in there - inside that four year old body.

She was a little hesitant at first, but I held her hand and led her into her new classroom where all her friends were playing.  Her teacher showed her where her little cubby was, and she put her backpack away.  When she turned around, she had a smile on her face.  So I know she's good for the day!

We absolutely love our preschool!  For so many reasons.  But the teachers there are just precious!  They love our babies like their own and I know they are teaching them so much!  Not just educationally, but spiritually.  Our preschool really is one of our biggest blessings - if not the biggest - of our move here.  Very thankful!

I gave Millie Janalee a kiss and moved along to the toddler room.  Smith started crying the second we walked in.  As expected.  I was able to find the farm just like our farm at home, and he sat right down and started playing.  I sat awhile and took a picture or two before sneaking out.

And that's when the surprise emotion came! I cried myself to the car.  I kept picturing his little face when he looks up and realizes I left him.  Waaaahh!  I just left my baby!  The one I was so excited to send.

The days are so long.  But the years are TOO SHORT!  My little babies.  Wild or not - they are mine!  My wild ones.  And I love them so!

Praying over all the teachers, staff, and children this year as they begin another amazing year!