Cal Poly Pomona's Pumpkin Patch 2009...

One of our most favorite traditions is going to Cal Poly's Pumpkin Patch each fall. Cal Poly will always hold a special place in our hearts (spending so much time in one place will do that to you), but even more so, their pumpkin patch wins our hearts because it is one of the best in town! Really and truly! If you're local and you've never been... well, you're missing out!

Here's a Smilebox from our fun-filled day!

He said, She said...

People told/tell me, all of the time, to enjoy my kids while they're little because this time truly flies by. With each passing day I'm certain that they're telling the truth. Blake & Addie are both growing in more ways than one can document, but the newest excitement has been Blake's vocabulary. While Blake has been talking for awhile now, it has only been in the last few months that he's been blurting out silly phrases and comments that only a toddler can pull off. There have truly been too many "laugh-out-loud moments" to count, so I'm making a point to write down a few favorites from time to time and record them here for keepsaking.

And before we know it, I'll be doing the same for Addie... she already says more than her fair share these days. :)

Blake: "Halloween is coming Mama!"

Mommy: "I know! Isn't that exciting?"

Blake: "Yeah... it gonna drive here in the car."

Mommy: "Halloween is gonna drive here?"

Blake: "Yeah, it's coming."


And this one came after Bible Stories this morning... we were reading about Samson & Delilah...

Blake: "Mean man cut Sanson hairs!"

Mommy: "That's right. It was not nice to cut his hair while he was sleeping."

Blake: "Yeah..........Mama, he a girl."

Mommy: "No baby, he's a man with long hair."

Blake: "For a girl Mama."

Mommy: "Uh... yes... okay, for a girl."

Gremlins & Spider Cookies...

Simple instructions for making these fantastically delicious Spider Cookies:

1.) Find 2 eager gremlins to throw flour and sugar across your entire kitchen, while ensuring that a small tidbit of it lands in the mixing bowl... then mix!

2.) Next, teach the gremlins to roll the chocolate chunk cookie dough into beautifully robust spheres... without a hand-to-mouth motion. (Good Luck!)

3.) Put a couple of "sample" cookies on the cookie sheet wrapped skin-tight with foil... why the tin foil you ask? The head gremlin (Mommy) refuses to wash yet another dirty kitchen item! :)

**NOTE** If your robust spheres more closely resemble animal droppings, then you're on the right track! Let's keep it real here... if your 1 and 2 year olds can shape perfect spheres out of cookie dough... well... let's just say, nobody likes a liar! ;)

4.) Then, reward the gremlins for all their hard work and let them savor an unfrosted cookie to give them a taste of satisfaction without the sugar high that would inevitably follow a fully frosted cookie!

5.) And finally, put the tired tots down for a nap and enjoy the art of decorative frosting!

Amen to that!

(If you're looking for the real recipe for these delicuous cookies and other INSANELY cute baking ideas, check out a true baking genious at www.bakerella.com )

Happy Birthday Massimo!

Cousin Massimo turned ONE whole year old on October 3, 2009! It was a super fantastic time for a whole bunch of superheroes! We are so blessed to be a part of his life and look forward to all of the fun and excitement his second year will bring! XOXO Mr. Massimo!

We Made It...

One last trip to the beach before Fall enters full swing!

I must admit that it was much easier this time around... we managed to keep our main stomping ground on grass instead of sand! Thanks DAD! Laguna Beach is our new favorite!

We also didn't have to worry about packing lunches or snacks for the kids because Grammie & Grandpa Blake packed the kids sandwiches, grapes, watermelon, and other "beachy" foods! The kids gobbled their lunches and then we hit the beach!

It was a fantastic time! Thanks Dad & Steph!