Thomas Carves His First Pumpkin!

 Please excuse the laundry that is everywhere in the background of this post. Sometimes housework has to go so you can do fun stuff with your family. :) So we carved a pumpkin the other night with Thomas. Or I should say, Daddy carved, and Thomas and I played.

Checking out the top Daddy cut out.

Not really sure about touching the goop.

Here Daddy, put that back in the pumpkin.

Reaching inside.

Papa is a big help. Again, excuse the sheet over the doors. The sun puts a glare on the TV. Blinds have been ordered.

Reaching in again.

Thomas and his finished pumpkin!

Thomas and Daddy with the finished pumpkin. Thomas didn't really want to pose for this one. He had better things to do.

So at first, Thomas really didn't want to put his hand in the pumpkin. We would try to put it in, and he would jerk it out. But after a while of watching Daddy do it, he decided he would give it a try. Then he furiously was putting his hand in and out over and over again. He really thought he was doing something. Occasionally he would even come out with a bit of goo. We tried to get it on video, but of course, when you get the camera out they stop. Here is what we got. Seriously, he had us cracking up!

House Update

 The house is moving right along. I'm beginning to believe Cory when he says we will be in by the end of November. I'm hoping at least the first of December! The have all the Sheetrock up and mudded out. The brick is done. They are supposed to start painting on Monday and have cabinets by the end of next week!!

Living room

Kitchen

Master Bedroom, I think...

My humongous closet. I know it doesn't look big from the pic, but trust me. It is.

Brick! I love it!

And the little man. Just cuz he's cute!

Excuse the poor quality pics. iPhone 3G specials. Again, I'll gladly accept any donations of an iPhone 4G-S!

Thomas Visits Barlow Hill

Last weekend, Mom, Thomas, and I went to visit mom's family in Hazlehurst, MS. We drove all over Copiah county but got to visit with all of her sisters that live there and several cousins I haven't seen in awhile. Thomas was such a trooper as there was a LOT of time spent in the car seat. He was very sweet and let everyone hold him.

Thomas and Uncle Jerry

Thomas and Aunt Jane. He LOVED rocking in this chair!

Thomas is sitting where my grandmother's trailer used to be and where the house my mom grew up in was before that. Lots of memories for me there.

Thomas with my cousin, Guy, meeting his first horse, Shrek.

Thomas is not so sure about Shrek.

 Funny story. So My Aunt Charlotte lives up the dirt road from where my grandmother's house used to be. Guy lives across the street from my grandmother's old house. So when we stopped to take pictures he came out to chat. When we got ready to go up to Aunt Charlotte's, mom asked if we were putting Thomas back in the car seat. I said no, just let him ride up front with you. He's gonna scream if we put him in the car seat. (Don't freak out, its a short road, and they are the only other people that live on it. This was perfectly fine.) Anyways, it didn't matter because Guy whisked Thomas up and said he wants to ride on the Gator, Mule, or whatever brand machine it was. And then he disappeared with MY CHILD! I waited very patiently for several minutes for him to reappear with my child on the Gator/Mule machine. Luckily, he had gotten his wife which made me feel much better about the whole situation. Not that I don't trust Guy, but let's just say when I was a kid, he wasn't the most responsible feller there was. My most vivid memory of him from childhood is of him ramming cows that had gotten out of the neighbors fence with me and his daughter in the truck one night. I was terrified! Anyways, I digress, Thomas really enjoyed his ride! I was totally surprised that he let Guy take him away from me without crying. He's quite attached lately. But he did, and they said he just grinned the whole time!

Guy and Uncle Happy (Crazy Happy, Happy Jack, whatever you want to call him!) Thomas was very unsure of him at first, but warmed up quickly. He's never seen so much facial hair before!

Thomas and Aunt Charlotte

Thomas and Aunt Jane again.

Thomas and Bonnie (Guy's wife)

We also visited my Aunt Lee and Uncle Wayne as well as Uncle Ken, Aunt Dot and my cousin Neil. We didn't get any pictures with them. :( We were lucky enough to get to catch Aunt Dot's daughter and her husband and daughter (Nick, Rhonda, and Maegan) on a quick visit from St. Louis. To give you some perspective, their daughter is about 13, and I don't think I've seen her since she was a little older than Thomas. So it was great to get to visit with them! All around it was a good but VERY quick visit.

Thomas Goes to the Pumpkin Patch

 We took Thomas to the pumpkin patch, Country Pumpkins, in Caledonia Monday afternoon. 

I'll let the pictures tell the story! WARNING: Lots of pictures!!

How Tall This Fall. The sun was directly in his eyes. He would not stand against the wall to get a more accurate idea of how tall he is.

Looking handsome with the fall backdrop!

He LOVED riding this tractor. When he's actually old enough to do it himself, he definitely needs one!

Farmer Thomas!

Giddy up! He was way more interested in watching the kids next to us than smiling for the camera, but we managed one good shot!

um, Daddy, what is this stuff?!

Okay, I'll throw it everywhere!

Not a big fan of playing in the corn. He was really tired at this point.

One last ride on the tractor before we go pick out our pumpkins!

Sitting on a huge pumpkin!

Daddy and Thomas!

Hey dad, who is this guy with the funny face?!

Surveying his options.

The chosen one.

Feeling (more like tasting!) the bumpy pumpkin

Off with daddy to pick out our big pumpkin!

Mommy and Thomas, a rare photo!

Family shot!

Thomas and all his pumpkins!

The damage!

We really had a good time. I was so impressed that Columbus actually had such a nice place to take him! He will definitely enjoy it as he gets older and can really play! It was totally free except for the pumpkins that you purchase!

House Progress

As you can see, we now have a roof, insulation, and some brick! My brick is called St. Augustine. How fitting for this seminary grad! They are supposed to hang sheet rock this week and start painting next week! Picking out paint colors has been the most stressful thing so far! I'm so glad I have a friend like Alyson who likes to do interior design stuff to help me out! Its still hard to believe that that house is actually mine! I've waiting so long for this! Today has been one of those days when I've been totally overwhelmed by God's goodness to me. I'm just so thankful. Its not really about the house either...more about my family, husband, and sweet baby boy. Life is just SO good right now! I pray that I remember to praise Him when the trials come because I know they will.

Pumpkinpalooza!

 Starkville hosted its annual Pumpkinpalooza the other weekend. We attended with Grammy, Papa, Luke, Uncle Fatty, and Aunt AE. Nana, Pops, and Matthew also joined us! While the kids would probably have enjoyed it more if they were older, we all still had a great time! I think Matthew had the most fun trick or treating at the downtown merchants and building up his candy stash. Thomas and Luke didn't really know what they were doing, but they sure looked cute doing it! As Stephen said, at this age, its more the please the parents than the kids. Thomas dressed up as a dragon, and Luke wore his cute "Happy Fall Y'all!" overalls that his Mimi made him.

Thomas and Luke at the pumpkin patch in Downtown Starkville.

Thomas was not a big fan of his hood. Every time we put it on him, he leaned to the side and cried.

Notice the lean, he's beginning to smile.

There's the smile we know and love!

Checking out the pep rally (which was a dud!) from daddy's shoulders!

First time trick or treating at Polka Tots with our soon to be neighbor!