The "Scary House"

I have always been a scaredy cat. A big one. I slept with a night light in my room until I left home and got married. And I still always leave the hall light on now. As a child, I was terrified of the dark and slept with the covers over my head. As an adult, I still have to have my feet covered so nothing grabs them!

My son fortunately did not seem to inherit these tendencies. Rather, he LOVES all things scary! Last year at age 1, he'd laugh gleefully and clap his hands at all the spooky skeletons and singing/dancing ghouls in the stores. This year, he continues that tradition with a love of all things Halloween. I mean, the kid is terrified of Chuck E. Cheese and the Easter bunny, but give him a good goblin and he's in heaven. Our friend, Bill, also loves Halloween and plans new decorations for his yard all summer long. Holden calls it, "The Scary House," and it has become a weekly tradition to drive by at night and explore. The place is pretty spooky, but Holden charges out with his Halloween flashlight and is tickled to death. Maybe I should be worried about him??

Bill did get him pretty good the last time we visited. He usually works nights, but happened to have the night off. He dressed as one of the characters and stood there, waiting for us to walk up the path. Then he dropped a shovel right in front of us. I (of course) screamed, and I think that freaked Holden out more than the shovel!! He started bawling, and Bill quickly pulled his mask off and showed him it was just him. However, if you ask Holden about that little episode now, he'll shrug his shoulders and nonchalantly declare, "He not scare ME!!!" :)

29+1!

Yes, I have left the 20's behind...sigh! I remember when 30 used to sound so old. So far, it hasn't been too bad. :)

My parents and Jay's parents came over last night after Kindermusik. We had Chili's carryout and Mom and Dad brought my favorite cake from Denny's Donuts. Yum! They have the best frosting. It was very nice and low-key.

Holden couldn't wait to help me blow out the candles! (Mom was nice and just put 3...decided we could count by 10's!)

My buddy and me. He loves celebrating birthdays! Isn't the cake pretty?

The whole group. (Allie was home sick with a cough so she couldn't make it...I am sure she is so bummed to have missed the photo session! Ha!)

My boys and me

Note how Holden is swiping the frosting while we're busy posing!

Guess his own piece wasn't enough????

Opening gifts. I mainly got spending money which is perfect because I want a new winter coat. Can't wait to go shopping!

The day before my bday I was off school for Columbus Day. (God bless that man! Ha!) My best friends, Bridget and Kara, too me out to lunch at Logan's Steakhouse. Yum! I meant to get a picture of the three of us but was so enamored with sweet Baby Corinne, who joined us, that I completely forgot. Oh well, she's the cutest of us anyway! Here is a little collage to show you what I mean:

Can't wait to see what 30 brings along with it this year...including meeting my precious new little one this spring! (Our sonogram is scheduled for Nov. 9th...can't wait!)

Monticello Train Ride!

We had such a fun day today, despite the chilly fall temps! After church, my parents, Jay, Holden, and I all bundled up and headed to Monticello, a little town about an hour away. They have an old-time train that runs from a depot/train museum to the downtown area and back again. Holden loves all things trains, and was so excited to get to ride a REAL one!

While we waited for the train to come, Holden had fun playing at the Thomas train table in the depot. Then we posed for some pictures on the bench out front. I just love him in his new puffy red Osh Kosh coat. He looks like Ralphie! :)

Papa took Holden up by the tracks to watch for the train to arrive. It backed in to the station, so they spotted the red caboose first. Holden was excited to hear the whistle blow!

Here we all are inside the train before leaving the station. Right after this shot, we realized Holden hadn't been changed since before church, so I rushed him off to the depot restroom real quick before our ride. My family assured me they'd make sure the conductor knew we were coming right back. The entire time we were in the bathroom, Holden was yelling at the top of his lungs, "DON'T LEAVE WITHOUT ME, CHOO CHOO!!!" Hilarious.

My parents on the train.

My two favorite guys!

Holden loved just looking out the window at everything. He was tickled that there was a little chipmunk eating a nut before the train took off, and when the whistle blew, it bolted for cover. He kept saying, "Dat chipmunk was SCARED!" I thought he looked so precious kneeling next to the window and gazing out at the scenery.

Papa took Holden to the back of the train to look out at the caboose. Holden thought they were hot stuff walking down the aisle while the train was moving!

At our stop, we climbed up on the engine so Holden could see the front of the train.

My cute hubby and me!

Holden and his Papa

We got to ride back on the caboose!

It was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon. Now I have a feeling that every time Holden sees or hears a train, he will ask when we can ride the choo choo again! :)

A day at the pumpkin patch

"Hi, everybody! Know why I'm smiling? Well, for one thing, Papa is off to the side, honking his horn over and over and driving the neighbors nuts because it makes me laugh and Mommy gets good pictures. But also because I went to Rader's pumpkin patch today and had a blast!"

"Yes, I do know that I am cute. Mommy says some days it's all I have going for me when I have been just a bit ornery. She put me in this fall outfit and is making me take 10,000 pictures. I'm hoping if I cooperate, she'll forget about nap time."

"Do you like the pumpkins I picked out? I decorated the painted one all by myself...until my attention span ran out and I ran off to play and Mommy had to finish it for me. But I put all the paint on. I also did the window clings on the door. I love Halloween time!"

"But back to the pumpkin patch! Come on, I'll give you a tour of our day. "

"Rader's is right down the road from our house, and since it rained Saturday, we took Grammy and Papa with us after church on Sunday. Mommy kept going on and on about what a beautiful day it was and how blue the sky was. I just couldn't wait to explore! Mommy was extra proud of me because I befriended a real live scarecrow (bottom right picture) and am getting over my phobia of characters. Maybe I'll survive on Halloween."

"There was so much to see and do! I loved the caterpillar train made up of barrels, and playing in the corn box was a big hit just like last year. Mommy and I climbed way up high on some haystacks and I could see everything!"

"They had the coolest kid area with little buildings just my size! Here I am at the market."

"I spent a lot of time in the two little buildings, shopping, ringing up other kids' items, cooking, and peeking out the window at people."

"There were animals, too! I really liked the ducks, and really did NOT like the scary turkey! I am not a fan of turkeys ever since one gobbled at me at the fair this summer and I almost pooped my pants. The other animals were all nice."

"Papa and Grammy had fun watching me. If you asked me, they were missing out on all the action, but Mommy really likes this picture of the two of them sitting on the bench. (Grammy, Mommy says thank you for holding her purse so she could stalk me with the camera.)"

"I was all business digging in the corn box and the sandbox. It was hard work! Mommy loves how concentrated I look. At one point, the scarecrow girl played with us, too. She remembered my name and was really nice."

"Mommy and I had so much fun together! She calls me her buddy because I am her favorite little person to be around. Can you blame her?? I got to pick out a pumpkin to paint, and I picked it up all by myself even though it was really heavy! She also made me stick my head through something and then everyone laughed and talked about how cute it was. Give me a break!"

"Grammy, Papa, Mommy, and I rode the hay rack ride way out to the pumpkin patch to pick out some pumpkins. I loved waving at everyone! We got stuck twice in the mud but we made it. "

"Then I got out and walked all by myself like a big boy to pick out the best pumpkins for Mommy and me. The vines tripped me about 10 times but I kept getting back up and brushing it off, because I am so, so big this year!"

"Look how strong I am! I just marched out there and manhandled those pumpkins."

"It was a tough job, but somebody had to do it."

"I decided to let Papa pull me in the wagon on the way back to our van. All that walking was hard work, plus somebody had to look after the pumpkins."

"Then I helped Mommy pack the back of the van up with all of our loot. Happy fall, everybody!"

*Mommy says to tell you this was last weekend. Now she is only a week and a new weekend behind. And you know her, she's taken a million pictures since then. So stay tuned..."

Belly Pics: 13 weeks

I've had several requests for belly pics, so here they are! At 13 weeks today, I do have a little bump already. The two left pictures are Holden's interaction with Baby Hobson. He likes to lift my shirt up and try to "see" the baby. He also kisses and talks/sings to the baby. He was giving him/her goodbye kisses in the bottom picture before I left for school. (I made Jay take these this morning while I still looked halfway decent!)

We got to hear the heartbeat at 11 weeks and everything looks great. That is such a neat moment and makes the pregnancy feel real. We are so blessed! We can't wait to find out if Holden will have a little brother or sister. That appt. is sometime in November and I will be sharing. We are too big of planners not to find out; plus we don't keep secrets well! :) I can't imagine loving another as much as Holden but I know I will.

Fun Sept. Weekends!

This is actually 4 posts in the making, and you know me...that means a picture overload! You've been forewarned. Now that school has resumed, I have to take blogging moments when I can get them. :)

We have been keeping busy on our weekends, making the most of the beautiful weather while it lasts. A few weekends ago, Mom and I took Holden to the Ropp Dairy Farm down the road. I haven't been there in years. I was amazed at how much smaller it seemed to me as an adult! Our perspective changes so much. Holden was really excited to get to see cows, among other animals. That morning, he kept singing, "Old Macdonald." He cracks me up because instead of singing, "With a moo moo here...a moo moo there.." he says, "Cows are here! Cows are here!"

He loved petting goats, seeing the baby cows, and observing the llamas. (He was too afraid to touch them although they were very friendly.) :) He was petrified but fascinated by this giant turkey waddling around, stealing the baby cows' food. He made Mom carry him right up close to it, but then stuck to her like glue. That's why he looks so scared in the picture of her and him by the cow; the turkey was nearby!

He also enjoyed watching cheese being made through the observation window.

And he and Grammy were visited by a friendly barn cat while I enjoyed my dairy fresh ice cream across from them! (Holden is not a big ice cream fan. I don't know how I birthed him.)

The big tractor was the highlight of his day! He looks so tiny up there!

Can you hear him saying, "Vroom! Vroom!" ??

That Sunday was the annual Sutter family reunion. The Sutters are Jay's cousins, and Holden and I always enjoy going to Miller Park to eat, see relatives, and enjoy the zoo/park. Here are some cute faces from this year:

I loved how Holden walked through the zoo with his hands in his back pockets! I love me a little boy in bibs.

"Driving" at the park

The following Saturday was "Airport Days" at the local airport. Grammy and Papa came with us. It was a gorgeous day to be outside!

This was our first time at Airport Days, and definitely won't be our last! What little boy would not love climbing in all kinds of planes and helicopters? Holden was in hog heaven. So was my dad! You can just barely see Holden's little head peeking out here.

A fun day to be a boy! (Or a boy's Mommy!)

The whole group in the Vietnam helicopter. It was in charge of "smoking out" large jungle areas so the enemy couldn't see.

Holden and Papa waiting for their turn in the cockpit.

"Finally! A plane my size!"

Look at the gleam in his eyes.

Watching the airport firetruck with Papa.

This picture somehow resulted in his face being way too bright, but I love how little he looks in the Army plane!

He was excited to try on the helmet.

This is him watching his balloon being made. He had such a fun day!

Continuing our "fun to be a boy day," we headed to a local fire station that was having an open house. Holden is fascinated with fire trucks. He was thrilled!

It was a very hands-on day. He got to climb on all the fire trucks and also an ambulance.

They gave him his own fire hat (And complimented him on his shirt.) :)

Papa helped him climb way up high on the big ladder truck.

The thing he still talks about the most is getting to spray the hose! He pulled the big lever all by himself, while a firefighter helped him aim. :)

"If I could walk in your boots..."

It was such a fun day, and boy did he nap hard that afternoon after all the action!