Struggling with Six!

My baby is six. The little girl who made me a momma came into this world six years ago (and a week). For some reason, this year more than most I am struggling with her getting older. That is the reason these pictures have been sitting here on this computer for a week now and i have not posted on her birthday. She is getting older....she can do so many things on her own....she is coming more into her own personality....she is my Pumpkin.

My Dearest Daughter,

You are now six years old. You have grown up into a beautiful, amazing, smart girl. You have a fierce determination in this world. Once you let someone into your heart, you love them to the core. You care so much for the friends and family you have. You want to protect them from any harm or insult. This year you started Kindergarten. You have had some struggles with kids not being nice to you and those around you. Daddy and I have tried to shield you from that for your life, but can not anymore. You are excelling in all you are doing in school. You LOVE science and music, but you don't realize you love science you just know the stuff you like. You finally got your wish of getting your ears pierced. I have been telling you that you needed to stop sucking your thumb in order to get that done, but we caved for your birthday. Not too sure what the next bribe will be to get you to stop the thumb sucking....

I am so proud of who you are my dear daughter. We have had a lot of moments lately where we butt heads, but that will continue for our lives together. I hope you grow up knowing that I love you. I may not agree with you or do as you wish, but I love you. If I am wrong about something, I will admit it. If I do something to offend you, I will say I am sorry. You will not always like me, but that means I am doing my job. I love you my dear daughter...Happy Birthday...

Pumpkin got to spend her actual birthday morning at the baptism of one of her favorite little boys! :) Our dear friends made sure there was a cupcake there for her so she could blow out candles. It was a really sweet morning. Then....we get home to this! The house was covered in balloons for her :) She loved it. The balloons lasted over a week and were lovely in her room after we took them inside. It was a very special thing for her.
What is better on a birthday than a birthday donut! We stopped at a donut place on the way home and had donuts at night for her bday!

I look at these pictures of her, and I wonder where my baby went. She has grown into such a beautiful person. It was so much fun taking her pictures this year. She picked out her outfit, how she wanted her hair, and where her pictures would be. It was a lot of fun.

Our girl at her bday party. We are flipping bday parties starting this year. Pumpkin had a small family only party and Critter will get a big one. Next year, they will flip that. It was really nice to plan for just the grandparents. She picked everything for the day. She wanted sausage, peppers, pasta for lunch and lemon cake for dessert. Let's just say the grandfather's were quite happy with the dinner menu! :) It was a really nice day and she had a great time.

I can't wait to see what excitement and adventure this next year holds! ;)

A short weekend trip...

It has been ages since we have all been able to go to Flag to visit Hubby's brother and wife. Last time we were supposed to go, Pumpkin got a little sick so just Hubby and Critter went up there. This time, we were all supposed to go. Normally we just go for the day, since we spend the night at my parent's house either the night before or the night of the trip. This time, my dad got sick though. So...we stayed at Aunt M & Uncle R's new house. It was so much fun. In the past, the kids were scared of their dogs. After a few minutes, those dogs were these kids best friends. We took them for a walk in the woods...both the kids and the dogs. Everyone was chasing each other. They were so cute. For city kids....our kids do pretty good in the woods!

On our walk in the woods....
Critter was holding on of the leashes in his hands. He of course thought it was fun to play with it. For him, that meant hitting himself in the head with the metal clip! He got a lovely bump on his head and then had to be carried by momma. I love cuddles from my boy...but at 40 pounds he kills my back!

The next morning we took a drive to go for a short hike near the mountain. It had snow on it at the beginning of the day, but melted off by the end. At least this documents the fact that we were close to snow! :)

He was loving this! Except when we would not let him eat everyone else's snacks and then a major meltdown occurred. That is what we get from him when he misses a nap 2 days in a row! :)

Even though the kids do not see this Aunt and Uncle often enough, the adore them! It is so fun to see them bond over a hike and the littlest things.

The kids got tired at the end of the walk...luckily there were 2 tall guys to give them rides! :)

Our beautiful girl....who is just as happy in the woods as she is in her princess dress up clothes!

Tired at the end of the walk and wanted momma....he was off for a snack and a nap!

It was such a nice getaway to the woods. Even though it was only for a day and a half, it was nice to visit just because. We usually get together for family events, and it is hard to hang out and relax. The kids, and us, had a great time. I did not realize how good it is for me to get out of my environment and relax.

We did so much during Pumpkin's fall break. It was a lot of fun, and there are still posts to come on other things. This trip was one of my favorite things we did. I am hoping we can make an effort to head up north a little more often!

A fun time at the zoo...

Pumpkin made a list at the beginning of her 2 week fall break of things she wanted to do. There were some that just could not happen, but all those that she wanted that we could....we have been trying to check off. One of the places she wanted to go was the zoo! It had been awhile since we went since it has been so hot. It was the perfect day at the zoo with Nanny :) We tried to go to areas we don't always go to...

For some reason we don't usually go down to the children's area...so we did! The kids loved climbing all over these animals. Luckily the zoo was not too crowded that day so not too many crowds.

Since my mom was with us...I got a picture of me and the kids! I really need to make an effort to get in more pictures with the kids. I am always behind the camera and don't hand it over often enough. I want the kids to remember not only all the fun stuff they did as kids, but that I was there too! :)

Since Nanny came with us, she treated us to a train ride. I don't always do them with the kids just because it is usually melt down time when i think of it. They had cute pumpkin stamps this time. Critter really liked his! Yes, that is a band aid on his head....yes he fell...yes again....but no stitches this time!

It was a really fun morning. Even though we have been crazy busy, it has been nice to be crazy busy with Pumpkin around. I love my fun times with her. I know Critter is going to be really sad when she goes back to school next week. I guess it means we will just need to make more fun plans for Winter Break....I should be ready for more of this fun by then! :)

A huge storm...

Our fun October got interupted by a huge storm! Last Tuesday we had one of the biggest storms I have seen in my years here. It was a nice day, Critter was taking a nap, and Pumpkin was playing in her room. Then the storm hit! It was crazy! Hail, garbage cans flying down the street, trees falling down....it was nuts!

We normally don't see much hail here...especially kind that stays for more than a few minutes. This stuff stayed on the ground until the rain came again...
The piles were quite large...for here anyway!

Can you see the lake that covers the rocks in the front yard? Plus the rain flying off the roof? It was nuts!

This was an addition to our back yard for a few days...our neighbors tree! Luckily we tore down the playset that used to be in this corner otherwise the tree would have taken it down. The wall is now fixed, but it was strange.

I am used to Monsoon seasons here, but this was such a different storm. We needed the rain, but not that much in a short period of time! Luckily we were home and there was no major damage to our home or our friends homes!

The first of many posts about our October...the wedding...

Our crazy month of October started off super special. A dear friend of ours got married! It was super special for us because Hubby was a groomsman and Critter got to be a ring bearer. He has had his outfit for quite awhile and each time we hung out with the bride/groom he would ask to wear his outfit to "be handsome". So...he was actually excited to wear it the day of the wedding. I did not put the bow tie on him until we got to the church....

Trying for a nice picture before we left...
My beautiful girl....

Of course he has learned he should pose for pictures from his sister. Not sure this is the way to land a modeling career though! Don't you love the shoes and socks :)

Again, posing! It was hard to get a serious or nice picture from him. He was so excited at the church. All he wanted to do was hang out with the groom. That worked well until the wedding needed to start though!

My handsome boys! The church is beautiful, it is a brand new church and our friends were the first wedding in it! That is pretty neat. I did not get any pictures of Critter walking down the aisle. I had to go in the back and help usher the kids to the aisle. The good news is he made it down the aisle, walking and holding the flower girls hands. It was cute from behind....I am sure it was more adorable from the front :)

She got cold, so had to wear Daddy's tux jacket!

My dancing fool...he has some nice moves :)

This is how they spent most of their evening...on the dance floor. The lasted a long time...until 11pm! That was a little bit crazy, but they were having so much fun!

My other dancing fool :)

So...my girl takes after my Aunt. I looked over and she is leading the conga line! She got the other girls to line up behind her and dance. It was really cute. She could not convince adults to join in just the kids...but it was cute anyway!

Me and my boy near the end of the night. It was a really long day, but a lot of fun. The kids had a great time and they are memories I will never forget.....now onto more memories from October!

Dunking booth...

To say this past weekend was busy....well is the understatement of the year! It was the busiest weekend i can remember. There will be a post coming on the exciting wedding, which both Hubby and Critter got to be a part of. I just barely downloaded the pictures on that one!

Then...there was the fun event Hubby took a part of this past Sunday. He was a part of a Dunk-A-... booth at an Oktoberfest celebration. The booth was for a very special boy. Hubby works with this boys dad and has melted our hearts with his story. What better reason to get dunked by your family and friends :)

His brother was the first to give it a go....the taunting by both was lovely...

Critter had to get in on the action. This video is his first time. He did it again and actually got him in with his own shot. I have pictures of that and not video. Critter thought it was cool either way.

Pumpkin talked the entire morning about going to dunk daddy. Apparently on one of her shows they had a carnival and a dunk tank. But...when we got there she got a little shy. So, after her brother went she was all excited about it! Again, this is her first try at it and she did it herself later one, but I don't have video of that. She also got to go up and "fall" on the button when another person was up there.

It was a really nice event. Unfortunately, the weather was hot and then a little windy so it was not as successful as past years. We had fun though.

Much more to come on the craziness of our lives from the past few weeks. Pumpkin is on Fall Break for the next 2 weeks, so we will have lots of stories from this time as well...