Pumpkin Time & Fire Time

We didn't exactly make it to our normal Pumpkin Patch this year.  We have either been on the go or sick, and last Saturday Justin went to the Alabama game and I needed an easy activity since I was flying solo with the kiddos.  So we went to a church pumpkin patch that is only 20 minutes away vs. the other one that we like to go to which is about an hour away.  But this one isn't actually patch at all but had the biggest and best pumpkins I have ever seen.  But considering I had two kids and a stroller we settled for a precious little pumpkin instead.  The best part was both kids LOVED the hay ride and Collier wore himself out on the jumpies!  Kenley got in for just a few minutes but wasn't quite as interested.  The weather was perfect and it was the perfect outing that was close and easy to manage!

Last night we finally got to carve our Jack-o-Lanters and it was so fun.  We missed our Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Hunter, but with Kenley being sick we did a quick family carving instead.  Collier got to carve his very own little pumpkin...he had to clean it, draw his face and then cut it out (well the cutting part was mostly me, but he helped a little)  His favorite was getting to push the eyes and mouth out once we got done carving.  He was so cute, excited and proud!  As was I!

LET THE CARVING BEGIN!!!

And just for the record, last Friday night we had our first fire of the season....earliest fire ever!  Never have had one in October but it was a good one to kick off our season.  The reason we love winter is a cozy fire.

Kenley has been sick this week.  Our first experience with croup..and I don't like it.  The labored breathing is enough to scare me and I just want to breath for her.  But thanks to a steroid shot, from our doctor visit, she is getting better. She isn't exactly well yet but is getting better with each day.  Nasty cough and a good bit of fever and I am praying that it will clear up soon!  Unlike Sunday night, she has slept good the past two nights...so I am thankful for that!  

My Run - 4 BridgesI

So, last weekend we traveled to Chattanooga to stay with our Cousins, The Tuckers for the weekend.  It was packed with fun and laughter and ended with huge achievement and sore legs/calves!

We got started at the Aquarium on Friday afternoon. Collier's favorites were the huge sharks and the gigantic catfish!  I loved the sting rays and the jelly fish were quite fascinating.  The penguins were way too cute too.

After lunch on Saturday we went and rode the carousel and enjoyed a yummy ice cream.  The weather was so wonderful and was glad to enjoy being outside for most of the day!  Then headed to the funnest park ever up on Signal Mountain.  It is amazing!! I think that we all enjoyed it...Plus having Taylor to climb and slide and adventure with made it all that much better!  Then we wrapped up our evening with lots of football (watching and playing in the back yard) with the family.  It was a house divided for the Tucker family since FSU played Clemson!

Sunday I ran the 4 Bridge Half Marathon with my friend Christen.  It was a good race and I ran it in a record 2 hours for me!  Christen got into a quick pace and finished about 3 minutes ahead of me, but I enjoyed the race and was very well pleased with my time.  Plus having my family there to support and cheer me on was extra awesome!  That always is the PERFECT way to finish the race!!

After the race, we got packed up and were so sad to leave Taylor, Aunt T and Uncle Randy.  But they toured us to the apple orchard and Signal Mountain Look-out before we headed home.  It was such a fun and amazing weekend.  Special memories made with our family, who we love so dearly!  Thankful that they were willing to open their home to us for this weekend of fun.  

Can you believe...

..how life gets so busy and how now matter how often I think about a post in my head finding the time to sit and type and upload photos just seems almost impossible.  I want to do better, but just can't seem to stay committed.  Work changes in the past 6 months (the company I have worked for the past 8 years was acquired by a larger company...CHANGE!!) have had me a little more distracted than normal.  I was just thinking this morning about how this is just a season in life and before long it will be different distractions and different ways of being busy.

First, Kenley is officially 18 month!  She is cuter than ever and growing all to quickly.  She is 25LB  (65%) and 33" Tall (75%) and doing great.  She knows the sounds for dog, cow, kitty, sheep and chops her hands for alligator and gives you the cutest nose wrinkle for a bunny.  She is still taking two naps most days!  She keeps us all on our toes as she loves to push buttons on any and all electronic devices she can get her tiny fingers on.  She is a mess!  She also adores Ceadermont Kids, just like Collier did (and technically still does) and will give her daddy the best snuggles..enough to make this momma a little jealous.  Either way it just melt my heart so watch the two of them.  She is very independent in her picky eating...she wants to do it all by herself and that normally ends up in a total mess.  Her favorite foods are crackers, apple sauce, yogurt, apples and bananas.

Collier has been doing amazing in school.  He is learning so much so quickly, and I know this has a lot to do with his wonderful teachers.  He loves to practice writing everyones names, and does great with his letters.  He does Soccer Shots and Bible study on Monday which makes for a long and busy Monday...especially for Nammy (Mom)!  He recently got to be on TV - Soccer Shots was doing a promo for an event and he and two other little boys (one of which is one of his best buds - Ethan) were playing soccer in the background, his big TV debut!  He continues to be a hard worker and loves any task that he can do.  He likes to help and be involved in any way possible.  Just today he wanted to work outside.  So he helped me clean out the tomato plants, put away all of the empty pots and containers and then decided to clean the filthy dirt covered table, all the way down to the legs.  He is great at doing dishes and vacuuming the house.  He is such a sweet little man.  He is also a good big brother 80% of the time...he has his moments when he just needs his 'space' but for the most part is realizing that she can be pretty fun if he will play with her.  She is never too far behind him anyway!

I love and adore this family that I have and am more than blessed to call them all mine!