Yearly Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Just for comparison sake.... this was last year.... Zander was only able to sit up at the time.

This year.... Zander was practically running to get into the pumpkin patch.  He had fun picking up his own pumpkins (a.k.a. "ball") and would even try to throw some of them on the ground or at mommy to catch them since he was convinced they would bounce like a ball should. 

 

 This is the throwing to mommy I was describing earlier....

Grannie and GranDan came to visit us for dinner one night last week!  Zander loves having them around and showing them all of his toys.  He also enjoys drinking from Grannie's straw and giving hugs to Grannie and GranDan.  Zander has learned this new thing where if you say "give me a hug".... he will hug your neck just as hard as he can! I absolutely love it!! It is my new favorite thing!

Our Week in Pictures

Zander continues to baffle me with his food choices! I made homemade lasagna one night and he wouldn't eat any.... then when we had leftovers he couldn't get enough of the lasagna and green grapes (which he has also refused on other occasions).  Why can't he just like all food like his mama?!;)

I took another sick day with Zander this past week.... he has all that coughing junk that is going around.....here he is waiting to see the doctor..... he started crying as soon as he saw the doctor.... I think he now associates the dr. office with shots!

 We love going out to breakfast on Saturday mornings.... this week it was Bojangles!

 I helped throw a baby shower on Saturday afternoon for one of my closest friends, Bri!  Their baby boy is well-loved.... we embraced the bowtie theme! ;)  Zack hung out with the daddy-to-be while we were doing "girly" things..... the boys played corn hole and watched football at our house....while our two dogs and Zander played too!

Zander started feeling better by Sunday...... just in time for the cold weather to set in.  His cough and congestion are still giving him a hard time but he enjoys playing with whatever he can find..... like mommy's crockpot!

 Daddy and Burke took it easy with us this weekend!

 Zander watched daddy do some yard work like trimming limbs off a tree and cutting the grass.

Zander is now facing forward and what a new perspective that is for the Houston Household!  He loves it so far!

We went to the fair on Sunday afternoon.... Zander's first experience.... he was able to see supersized vegetables and livestock!

 He even had his first milkshake...... strawberry cheesecake! (Mommy got to have some of it too!)

Happy Birthday!!

I love being able to celebrate birthdays with family.  We had three very special birthdays within the last couple weeks...... Great Grandma Nancy, Grandpa Buzz, and Uncle Boomer!  We were able to meet in Statesville for lunch today to celebrate these three extra special people! I wish them many more happy birthdays and may we have many more years of celebrating together!

Fun Facts about Mommy

So... I have been thinking lately about some random, quirky facts that I would like Zander to know about me one day.  These little facts are nothing special... they just make me who I am..... so here it goes....in no certain order....
1.)  I love the moment after the whole house is cleaned...... I wish I could live in that moment forever.
2.) I like running to Rascal Flatts (their music is not necessarily up beat so I think this is very strange..... I also like running to the Les Miserables soundtrack.... random... I know!)
3.)  My hair looks pretty terrible right after I have washed and dried it.... before applying a straightener to it!
4.) One of my favorite times of the day is picking Zander up from school and him stopping whatever he is doing to come to me.... he has gotten so good at looking at the door that I no longer have to even speak a word..... he recognizes me by my outward appearance... that is just crazy!)
5.) I love dessert and Mountain Dew and mocha frappes! I wish I could live off these things and they were actually healthy!  I definitely give myself permission to have as much as I would like of these three things while on vacation.  (I also like any type of sour candy).
6.)  I love the feeling of putting in a good run.... that moment I finish 7 miles and give my sister a high five.... signaling we are DONE!
7.) I love the way Zack cracks his knuckles for no good reason!
8.) My favorite season is summer.
9.) My favorite sport is college football. (Go Gators!)
10.) I could eat pizza every day of my life if that were healthy!

Well.... Zander has woken up from his nap.... so I will report back on some other fun facts later....
Until then.... here are some pictures from our week....

Eating some French toast for breakfast

 Keeping mommy company while she puts away groceries

 Just "chillin'"

 All dressed up for breakfast and waiting for daddy!

 Family night at the park