Notable Weekend Occurances

1.) Auntie Shellie came from Virgina to spend a few days with us before she moves to California and turns into a hippie:)

2.) Kalaya got a RAGING case of pink eye in both eyes and closely resembled a Betty Ford patient for a few days. (Note the pink eyes reflected for your viewing pleasure in the House of Mirrors at the fair- see #3)

3.) We went to the Dekalb County fair in Alabama. This was Kalaya's first fair and she LOVED it. This child loves the night life. (I'm slightly scared)

4.) My cousin Chase is single and ready-to-mingle ladies. (Questions and more importantly, mental concerns about said cousin can be directed to our Help Desk located here)

5.) We also took Kalaya to the Down on the Farm pumpkin patch in Rainsville, Alabama. One of the attractions was a " cow train" ride--- on which, Kalaya informed me " Mom, cows are not very good drivers".
6.) Kalaya picked a SUPER special pumpkin. We walked in the field and she picked a pumpkin out randomly. To our suprise- a frog was sitting in a hole right beneath it. She picked him up and placed him on top to remember which one was hers. When the guy came around to cut the vine he asked " Which one do you want?". "The one with the frog", she said. I wish you could of seen his face.
7.) I was throughly buried in corn. Which, by the way, is extremly tiring and quite uncomfortable when you get out of it later. Corn is in every place imaginable.

8.) I was quasi-sprayed by a skunk. And yes, I mean a real live skunk. It was a blessing to say the least.

On to the next weekend.......

Tis A Duel, Sir! (Slapping Opponet With Glove)

Three important life lessons:

1.) Share with your friends. Even if they are your favorite cookies. If you don't- there's a good chance that she will make sure your Matchbox cars "magically disappear" or just bottle up her toddler frustration until many years later when you are on your first date and then pull said date into the living room to see a slide show of your naked pictures from when you were a child. Complete with Right Said Fred's "I'm Too Sexy" soundtrack and high-gloss tri-fold handouts for easier comprehension.

2.) Avoid any party faux-pas. Don't be the one to do anything unsightly or crude within the confines of the party space and most assuredly do not offend the party boy lest you will see your way quickly out of the party scene and onto the floor/gutter/jail. (depending on your age at the time of the party foul)

3.) Never, ever, ever, ever start a prank war with Kalaya's mommy. This WILL NOT end well for you.

I know where the after season deals are for everything and I'm not afraid to buy an extraordinary amount of pumpkins for your car at the cost of 25cents a pumpkin just to be the first to "pumpkin" a car.

"Poopkins" and Pony Rides

We took Kalaya to Pritchard Farms and the pumpkin patch this past weekend. We had planned on going to Pettit Creek Farms in Cartersville. But since gas costs me Kalaya's freshman year in college each time I fill up- we decided to stick closer to home. I didn't even realize there was a pumpkin patch so close to my house. Pritchard Farms is literally 6 miles from my house! With Kalaya being so little- we figured this could be our bye year and we could get away with going to this one.

The farm was back in the country of Aragon, GA. It was such an adorable little farm- reminded us alot of being at Nana's house. In fact, Kalaya kept walking around saying that we were at Nana's house.

They had quite a few things for her to do there. First, she went to see the petting zoo.

She got to feed the goats and the chickens. They were all babies and looooooved following Kalaya around ( she had the food you see).

After that, of course, was the pony ride. At first she didn't want to get on the pony. You would think that maybe it was because she was scared right? Think again, it was because she didn't want to ride the 2yr old sized pony- she wanted to ride the adult pony! We finally convinced her that her pony was just right for her and she sat down and held on.

Needless to say, it was a huge success! She loved riding " her pony" and talked about it all weekend long.

She also got to paint pumpkins, ride swings, and take a hay ride.

It was a great day and she had a blast.
Last night, we decided to carve our pumpkin. Daddy said this would be his job and immediately took over. Kalaya wanted a Mickey Mouse pumpkin so he had alot to deliver this year.

We were hoping that this year she would actually stick her hands inside of the pumpkin and get nice and dirty. Last year, she wouldn't have anything to do with it. So, holding our breathe, we took the top off of the pumpkin and told her to look in and see what she could see.

At this moment- she leaned over- looked in- and promptly informed us " It's poop". You should feel sorry for us, we bought a pumpkin full of poop. Do you think Wal-mart will do an exchange if we explain that to them?

We explained it was "pumpkin guts" and she soon got all into it.

Of course, that's not to say she didn't let us know what she thought about the whole process:

In the end though, we had a masterpiece.

You have to admit- Daddy's got skills.

Now only 3 more to carve- think we can do Minnie and Pluto too?

Kriss Kross Will Make Ya JUMP JUMP!

( Does that title make anyone else think about the movie Mrs. Doubtfire or is that just me?)

We took Kalaya to Monkey Joe's this past weekend. It was kind of a 'spur of the moment' thing. After playing shy and coy, Kalaya eventually got the hang of it and really started to enjoy it. Of course, I couldn't leave her side or the tears of abandonment would ensue. Which, in turn, meant that it was necessary that I fit my 6foot tall self into places no one bigger then Elmo should attempt to squeeze into.* Bubba and Lolly dropped by too and got to see her climb the big kids slide.

Needless to say, it was the place to be. The place got overrun with kids in no time. Of course, just to ease your sense of worry about me- I wasn't allowed to play on the bigger slides with her because - and I quote this from the 15yr old running the front desk- " Adults can only play on the ones marked for 3 and under because an adult was on the bigger ones in Wisconsin and slide down and killed some kids" Thank you, Miley Cyrus, for that concise and to the point explanation. I feel loads better about my 25lb 2yr old jumping on the inflatable monkey of doom.

The day before we went to Grana's house and got to visit with Aunt Sandy and Uncle Doug. Bubba and Lolly came over as well for a hotdog dinner. We got to spend some quality time outside in the Fall weather.

I just love fall! I love the leaves, the cool mornings, the smell of hay being cut, our neighborhood cows, pumpkins, cinnamon smells, bonfires, fairs, scarecrows, hayrides, leaves----sigh--- basically everything.

I hope to get my yard ready for a bonfire this fall. I want to get Nana and Grandaddy to come help me cut some bushes down and dig out a good spot for it. Maybe circle it with some of Nana's rocks she has in Alabama- maybe build a couple of benches. I can't wait.

Check out this neat idea for pumpkins-- http://www.bhg.com/holidays/halloween/pumpkin-decorating/decorating-pumpkins-without-carving/

I want to get started on making those pretty soon. I think it's a totally neat option for kids. Maybe this year, when we do carve a pumpkin, Kalaya will get good and dirty in the pumpkin guts. Last year she wouldn't have much to do with it.

For Halloween last year, Kalaya was a punk fairy. This year she's going to totally rock the skunk costume.

She'll be debuting it at the Fall Festival at County Line! It will be October 25th from 6pm till 8pm if anyone is interested in joining us! I'll be dressing up as well but I can't tell you what it is right now- you'll just have to wait to see it!

Kalaya's first cousin Justice Wayne Maynard is due this Sunday October 12th!! We can't wait till he gets here. So far they are expecting him to be a big boy at 8lbs. Poor Lolly.

I get to spend the first few days with them, helping them around the house and with Justice. What an honor! I can't wait till he gets to see his favorite and most gorgeous Aunt Sara.

Pray for Lolly and Bubba and Justice. Pray that the Lord will take care of them and keep them in his hands.

Justice couldn't pick a better mommy and daddy to come home too. What other lil boy gets to come home to an Alabama babyroom! Roll Tide Roll!

Lolly is going to kill me for posting this picture.

* Footnote: What happened to when this was all fun and easy? Nowaday's blow-up boucy things equal excruciating back pain and headaches. Don't even get me started on trampolines! That's like a death trap for anyone over 21.