The Great Pumpkin Patch

Today we decided to go and visit a pumpkin patch at St. Monica's Church. It was a beautiful morning and it was great to be outside once again.  The kids were supposed to pick out two pumpkins, one a piece.  However, we ended up with six or seven.  Our total was only six dollars so I guess we didn't do too much damage.  The kids had a blast and maybe we'll go back one more time and get a great big pumpkin that daddy can help carve.  For now we stuck with the small ones and we plan on decorating them this weekend.  I'm sure those will be some good pictures to post!  For now, here are some from our fun morning!

The cutest brother-sister duo in town!

 Lexi searching for the perfect pumpkin!

Found it!

Devin's turn to find the perfect one!

Devin showing off his strength! LOL

Starts with a little itch on the upper leg...

 Then it moves to the whole leg...

 It ends with dirty, itchy hands! I don't think Lexi likes hay!

Now this is much more comfortable!

Not sure if they liked the scarecrow at first

Devin is still unsure about the scarecrow...he doesn't trust him!

 Joanne and Miah Jane joined us today too!

As you can see we had a fun time at the pumpkin patch today.  It's nice to do some fall like activities in Southwest Florida!

Susan's Baby Shower

Sunday afternoon we showered Susan with lots of love, advice and baby gifts.  She and her husband Brian are expecting their first child, a boy, at the end of January.  It's unfortunate for us that they live on the opposite side of the country; Sacramento, California.  We will miss the play dates with them that all of us look forward to on the weekends.  Somehow I'm going to have to get my family of four out to California for a vacation once their baby comes.  We have two excuses to get out to California...The Boyd's and The Purdy's...enough said!

As mentioned previously, this past weekend was so much fun.  We had such a nice time at Susan's shower and then headed to The Naples Beach Club for sunset.  It was the perfect way to end the weekend.  Here are some pictures from Susan's shower...

The first two are pictures of my floral masterpieces.  I have not one creative bone in my body; combine that with my touch of OCD and having to have everything perfect and you get a huge fight between the left and right brain!  I was getting so mad at myself but I have to say I was very happy with the results.

The beautiful mother to be and her tiny baby bump!



Susan's sister Kristina made this amazing diaper cake!

Miss Kelly who helped keep my mimosa fresh & full!

Leah with baby Charlie, Susan with Miah Jane, Joanne, and Kara

Kara, Susan and Jo Jo

The whole gang who helped us celebrate with Susan.

Beautiful Sunset with Beautiful Friends

Sunday after Susan's baby shower we headed to The Naples Beach Club for some much needed running around and dancing (for the kids) and relaxing and talking (for the adults).  The weather couldn't have been more perfect, the company couldn't have been better and the sunset couldn't have been more picturesque.  The kids had so much fun running around on the lawn and dancing to live the music and even got to blow (or eat if you're Lexi or Adrey) bubbles.  It was a perfect way to end an exhausting but fun and eventful weekend. 

I was feeling a tad bit of disappointment in myself for not doing anything with or for the kids this past weekend.  On Saturday I shopped for the shower that was on Sunday and then had to get ready for the wedding while the kids were napping.  Shortly after they woke up for naps we left them with Grandma and Grandpa Schaps so we could head out to the Schimmel wedding.  On Sunday morning I made floral arrangements for the baby shower and didn't do anything fun with the kids.  Well mommy made up for it because the kids had a BLAST at the Naples Beach Club!!  They were so exhausted by the end of the night that they sat in the wagon waiting on me to pull them back to the car.  Usually I have to beg and plead to get them to leave somewhere fun.  I wore those little boogers out!  Woo Hoo...There was no complaining from them the rest of the night and I forgot that I was once disappointed in myself.

These pictures mostly come from my friend Leah as I did not snap any pictures myself.  Some of the pictures come from Kristina, Susan's sister.  So thank you dear friends for letting me 'steal' your beautiful pictures of our perfect evening to share with my friends and family.

Joanne's happy and beautiful sunflower Miah Jane

Another beautiful and happy toddler, Adrey

 Tried to get a line up of the kids and as you scroll down you'll notice they drop like flies!

Devin, Lexi, Presley and Adrey

            And one down...three to go!

I love this picture...I think the look Lexi is giving Presley is priceless!

   And now we're down to my two little hams...

The last one standing...Mr. Devin Andrew...as happy as could be with his balloon.

The most adorable and perfectly content baby you'll ever meet...Adrey's lil bro Charlie

Lexi love her pita and had one in her hand practically the whole time.

Lexi blowing bubbles with Susan.  Nice face Kara! LOL

Devin blowing bubbles with Susan.

More blowing bubbles with Susan!

Joanne and MJ checking out the gorgeous sunset!

Sunday was so much fun...from the shower to the sunset at the Beach Club.  I love and appreciate my friends so much!  Weekends like last help us remember how lucky we are to have each other.  I hope to post more pictures from the Susan's shower and the Schimmel wedding soon. So check back soon!

Cheyenne sleeping with her teddy bear!  So cute...

Hot, Hot, Hot!!!

So, yeah....that's all I have to say...HOT HOT HOT!  Do we know how to turns heads or what??

We had such an awesome weekend full of celebrations.  Saturday was Aaron and Meghan's beautiful wedding and Sunday we threw Susan a baby shower and then headed to Naples Beach Club for some music and fun in the evening.  I have so many pictures to post from this weekend but the picture above needed to be posted by itself! LOL  These are some of the smartest, funnest and most beautiful ladies I know. (MJ included!)

Weekend Fun!

What a weekend we had!  I am exhausted just thinking about it.  I knew next weekend was jammed packed with social events so I wanted to spend a lot of time with kids this weekend...outside and moving.  MISSION ACCOMPLISHED! This weekend's weather is another reason I insisted on being outside.  It was BEAUTIFUL!!  The humidity is finally down and feels just perfect outside.  On top of keeping my kids entertained and outside playing this weekend, I decided to start potty training Lexi.  I knew it would be much easier than with Devin since she's seen him go through this same process and well of course, cause she's a girl!  She will do anything for a sticker; that is my potty training whisperer secret #1.  You just mention the word sticker and she will run for the bathroom!  It was interesting being outside and away from our house so much this weekend while trying to accomplish this big task.  Another potty training whisperer tip is to keep a potty in your vehicle.  Both of my kids used the little potty quite a few times in the back of the van this weekend.  It's sort of funny...I used to keep a cooler, beach chairs, stereo for the beach, favorite cd's, etc. in the car and now I keep a kid's potty, Thomas the Train DVD's and any toy to occupy a child for a couple minutes.  LOL...Things have changed...a lot!

Saturday morning I decided to take the kids to Fleischmann Park since we had to visit daddy at work and that's the nearest park.  I wasn't thinking very clearly because Saturday morning every child under the age of 13 is playing football or cheering at that football field. The place was packed and kids were running around everywhere.  I think that's one reason Devin and Lexi had so much fun there. They've never seen so many kids before! I kept them both on the small kids' side of the park for as long as I possibly could but they both wanted to play with the big kids and climb up the big kids' jungle gym.  It was very scary for me to watch Lexi climbing up the rock wall and then get to the top and stand up.  I was happy for her and scared for her at the same time.  There are no pictures from the big kid's side of the park...my hands were braced for a fall the entire the time...Seriously.

Lexi on the smaller, safer slide

A cute but bored Devin on the small kids' playground

On Sunday morning we had a play date with two of the cutest and nicest little girls at Cambier Park.  Macy and her mom Tash and Taylor and her mom Amanda met us at the park bright and early to play.  (Tash and Amanda are friends of mine from middle school and were the same girls here I went roller skating with...what a fun night!)  Cambier is one of my favorite parks to take the kids to play.  I packed the wagon (thanks Jarbo's!) and pulled the kids around the park in their new red wagon.  They thought that was much cooler than the double stroller and mommy got a good workout too. Another great morning was had at another City of Naples beautiful park!

Devin, Macy 'Wonder' and Lexi on the slide

Taylor, Macy and Lexi...these girls may quite possibly get into all kinds of trouble in the years to come!

Taylor and Lexi on the slide

After the park we drove over to Grandma and Grandpa O'Dean's house to get a swim in before the water gets too cold.  It was such a nice day, we even ate lunch outside on the patio.  I hope this warm, less humid weather is going to stick around for awhile.  Even the dogs are loving it!

Grandma Debbie and Lexi are the only ones saying cheese!

We had a nice afternoon at Grandma and Grandpa's house in the pool and sitting outside.  I brought laundry over there (we still have not replaced our dryer!) and got two loads done while the kids napped and played.  Lexi's only potty accident this entire weekend of course happened at Grandma's house. (sorry!)  She did such a great job, I'm very proud of her.  I just wish I could work with her during the week but I'm just not home enough.  So the weekends are the only time I can work on potty training.  I hope by the end of October she's completely potty trained.  That would be so nice!  No kids in diapers = HAPPY PARENTS!

This Saturday Andy and I have a friend's wedding to go to.  We are really looking forward to it and should be a beautiful night.  We also have friends, Susan and Brian, that are in town from California and we can't wait to spend some time with them.  On Sunday Susan's family is having a baby shower for her; she and her husband are having a baby boy.  We are super excited for them and can't wait to see them!  I should have lots of fun pictures from this weekend to post.  Can't wait!

Dancing with Daddy!