Pumpkin Patch!

I have NO IDEA what is going on with my camera cards lately but all the pics I took from my camera are saying they are corrupted due to the card.  Thank goodness my sweet sister in law had her camera too!  We had SUCH a fun weekend spending time with Neannie, Kourtney and Krista.  The pumpkin patch was so fun and we basically took in all the fun they had to offer.  We rode on a hayride, played in the houses, climbed the hay bales, and AK's favorite, slid on the slide numerous times.  She has asked me 10 times since yesterday if we were going back to the pumpkin patch.  I will have to take her one more time this week!  Thanks, family, for such a fun weekend!

Homecoming!

We had SUCH a wonderful weekend.  OSU homecoming is one of my favorite events of the year.  This year, almost all our family got together and had SUCH a sweet time together.  We also got to visit with dear friends not seen often enough.  Friday night was walkarounds.  OSU has one of the largest homecomings in the nation (I actually think it is the largest).  Walkarounds is where the close the main roads through campus and all the sororities and fraternities pair up and create these massive house decorations in front of the houses.  You would not believe the size of these things.  So needless to say, Abby Kate was in wonderland.  Not to mention there were tons of booths and a carnival and PIZZA!  One of my favorite memories of the night was AK and B going on a slide at the carnival.  B went with her so he could slide down with her.  She got to the top and a guy working held on to her while B finished climbing up.  She pulled away from the guy and hurled herself down the slide (see pic 6 and 7).  We all DIED laughing!  

We tailgated on Saturday in a lovely spot.  We had perfect views of Pistol Pete and the band.  Abby Kate got to run and play to her hearts content!  She had plenty of doting adults to play with which put her in heaven.  She also tried to make friends with each child that passed.  She loves to talk to other people and then turn to me and say, "MOM! I am talking to them!"  I assure her "I see that!" which really cracks me up.  We really did have such a wonderful time.  I will post more pics on my personal blog.  

Fun pic and Daddy Date Night

I just loved this first picture.  The next 2 are from Abby Kate's Daddy Date Night.  I had a Homemade Gourmet party at our house Wednesday night and so Bobby took AK on a date.  They met some of Daddy's friends and Uncle Hal at Chili's.  She was SO excited to get dressed and "beautiful" for her night with Daddy!  This is her new favorite hair-do.  She calls it Abby Cadabby hair!

BIG Cousin!

We have SUPER FUN news!  Abby Kate is going to be a big cousin!  My sweet brother and sister-in-law are HAVING A BABY!  I cannot tell you how excited we all are!  He/she will be welcomed around May 7th.  

They are so fun.  They waited until after she had gone to the doctor and they even had ultrasound pictures.  She is around 11 weeks and everything is going wonderfully.  They told us by giving Abby Kate this "I'm going to be a big cousin" t-shirt (how sweet is that!) and AK wore it to dinner and my Mom noticed right away.  Of course, we all cried super joyful tears and rejoiced this new life.  The night I found out, I could not sleep.  I kept waking up and praying for my new niece or nephew.  I cannot wait to see his/her sweet face.  

Ashley is truly the most natural mother I have ever met.  There are not many people that are motherly even before children.  She is amazing with kids and has such a sweet heart.  And my sweet brother....a Daddy!  I cannot wait to watch it.  So congratulations again sweet ones!  

Precious Father, thank you for this new addition to our family.  May he/she live a life about knowing you and making you known.  May he/she be healthy in every aspect and completely, totally, YOURS!  Thank you again Father for such a sweet gift!

Musings...

I am just sitting here with a full heart and had to blog to remember a few things that have happened today.  It is drizzling outside, getting cooler.  We have all our windows open and the clean freshness makes me want to dance!  Miss Abby Kate did not take a nap today (she did sleep until 7pm during her nap yesterday and then went down at 8:30 and slept until 7:30 this morning).  So she stayed in bed during quiet time and then I got her up at 3.  We went out on the back porch, put a small fire in the fire pit and popped some popcorn.  She snuggled in my lap and we ate popcorn, watching it rain.  When she thought I wasn't watching, she "secretly" shared her popcorn with Belle and Callie, our dogs.  She has been pretty in love with them lately...which consequently, makes me love them more too.  She wants to be outside with them all the time.  I shut the door a while ago (we have a screen door and it has been open today) and she exclaimed, "NO MOM!  I have to talk to Belle and Callie!"  So she has been out there with them for the past hour, just talking and petting.  Last night, she sat by Belle in the grass and said, "Belle, see the moon?!"  It made my heart melt.  

I started tossing popcorn into Abby Kate's mouth today and she got SO tickled.  A deep belly laugh.  We then played on her swing set and she kept wanting to do the monkey bars, which we did and she got even more tickled trying to do that.  

I am just SO blessed.  This child has filled me with more joy than I could have ever imagined.  The time I spend with her is so precious.  I am so thankful for a husband who shares the same heart and passion and does whatever necessary so I can stay home full time.   I am thankful for a child who is becoming more and more amazing to me each day.  I love who she is!  I love her spunk, her heart, her tenderness, her laughter, her love of outdoors, her kindness, her love of affirmation, her delight in small things.  I just love her!  Thank you Father for creating her with such fear and wonder and making her ours!

Go Pokes!

Tailgating with Sweetie and Poppy!

Getting off the shuttle and immediately beginning to cheer!

The new stadium

Super hot beginning of the game

A little relief after Sweetie bought her a hat!
Abby Kate and I got to go to her first OSU game.  VERY last minute, my brother got 2 free extra tickets so we got to tag along.  It was SO MUCH fun!  She absolutely LOVED the energy, loud fans and action.  She spent almost a whole quarter laying between Sweetie and I eating popcorn and saying she was night night.  She was VERY disturbed that she could not actually talk to Pistol Pete.  Seeing as she met him at a dear friend's wedding, she now thinks they are personal friends and was unsure as to why she could not be close to him.  We kept telling her he was working.  We left at half but had such a sweet time walking back together.  She said after walking about a half mile, "WHEW! Momma, I tired!"  but she kept right on walking.  We got to the car, put on our jammies, and headed for home.  Not before stopping at McDonald's and her devouring a whole happy meal!  

Play!

It has been a while since the last post.  We have had lots of fun stuff going on....constant boundary pushing, sweet sentences, POTTYING IN THE POTTY!!!!, and learning to love going to church to see our "friends."

Here are a few pictures of Abby Kate playing with her Daddy.  Aunt Lynn sent a big box of surprises (to her utter GLEE!) and she also sent the boa or "feather necklace" you see in the last pic.  Thanks again Aunt Lynn!  We have been SO entertained.  

Impatience....

Who needs to wait until Halloween?!  Bobby and I are notorious for instant gratification.  We never wait until Christmas (or birthdays, Valentines Day, anniversary for that matter) to open gifts.  We usually end up giving to the other still in the sack because, IT IS SO GREAT!  I JUST CAN'T WAIT!  OPEN IT!  HURRY!  OPEN IT!

So it seems our child has inherited our love and quick devouring of surprises.  She picked out this costume in a magazine weeks ago and has asked every day if it was ordered.  It came in last night at 8:30 (how weird is that?!  The poor UPS man) and we gave her a taste by letting her sleep with the wand.  Of course, as soon as she woke up this morning, she spotted the costume and squealed "IT IS SO BEAUTIFUL! I WEAR IT?!"  

So being the parents we are, we ripped opened the package and put it on her.  We went on a 1000 errands this morning all the while Miss Abby Cadabby followed me with her wand, sprinkling fairy dust every where.  The Wal-Mart cashier was mesmerized.  

So for those of you that don't know, this is an Abby Cadabby costume.  Abby Cadabby is the newest member of Sesame Street.  She is a "princess in training."  Our sweet Abby Kate has LOVED her from the first time she watched Sesame Street.  I said last year after her birthday that we MUST have an Abby Cadabby birthday party this year (Mrs. Phillips would be so proud of me!  Having a birthday planned a year in advance!).  It is only natural as we are living with a princess in training.  Not to mention their names sound pretty similar eh?

Branson Pics...Finally!

This is my ALL TIME FAVORITE!  Look at the glee on both their faces.  What an AMAZING great-grandmother!

This hat became an obsession.  She even slept in it!

Sweetie was a champ and said she would ride this huge boat with her (I KNEW I would throw up!) and got sick as a result.  AK wanted to go again....

Sweetie bought bubbles at the Dollar Store for AK before we went and I think it was the hit of the trip.  We are still playing with the bubbles SEVERAL times a day!  This was one night at dinner.

She LOVED the rides.  Wasn't so sure about this one though.  She is her Daddy's child for sure!



Sorry it has taken me so long to post these.  Mom had them on her camera so I had to get her card to download them.  Oh we had SUCH fun!  7 FULL days of vacation.  It was dreamy.  Our condo was right off the strip so we had quick access to everything.  We shopped several days.  Ate amazing food!  We went to Silver Dollar City 2 days and to Celebration City one night.  Swam in the HUGE indoor heated pool with 2 hot tubs.  Yes, it was bliss.

So here are pics from the fun adventures.  I am so sad we did not get any of us all together.  Hal and Ash came up Thursday night so we had 4 full days of us all together.  Nannie even bought a Cadillac while we were there!  So here are the fun pics.  Thanks Poppy and Sweetie for such a FUN FUN FUN vacation!

So sweet...

I just had to jot these memories down for us to remember....

Today, Abby Kate and I went to Marshall's just to browse and get out of the house.  We recently discovered Bobby's love language is gifts (he is not greedy, and not big things but just a little token to show he was thought of) and so I had I conversation with Abby Kate that went a little something like this...

Me: Let's look for Daddy a surprise!

AK: OK MOMMA!  And Abby Kate a surprise?!

Me: Well, we will see.  But lets look for Daddy. Okay?

AK: OK!

AK: What about dis? Or dis? Or dis? (all cute but not so fun surprises for Daddy)

Me: Okay, I don't see anything.

AK:  (Sweetly) Now Abby Kate's surprise?!

Me: Okay, we can look...

AK:  What about dis?

Me: No, that is too much money.

AK: Dis?

Me: Nope, too much money.

AK: OH MOMMA!  LOOK!  They are bouncies!  My surprise?!  PLEASE?! (it was lip gloss with the lids having springs that had a heart and star and flower at the end...one was missing and it had been clearanced to $3)

Me: Oh Abby Kate!  That is perfect!

AK:  I did it!  My surprise!  YEAH!

Me: Okay, lets go pay.

AK: MY bouncies.  

Me: Oh, Abby Kate.  We must not say Mine.  They are yours but we must be thankful.  You will need to give it to the girl to scan it and be sweet or we are not going to get it.

AK: Okay Momma! (she hands it over with a little whimpering)

Shopgirl:  What a fun surprise!  It is only $3.  How great!

Me: Yep.

AK:  THANK YOU (to the shopgirl)

Shopgirl: You're welcome

And as we are walking out of the store in FULL BLAST 

AK:  THANK YOU MOMMA!  THIS IS SOOOOOOO GREAT!

Me: (Grinning stupidly) You are so welcome, baby sweet.

The whole way to the car...

AK:  THANK YOU MOMMA!

Me:  Abby Kate, every good and perfect gift comes from above.  God allowed Momma to have a little extra money and it was my pleasure to buy you a surprise today.  We cannot do it every day but today was so fun.

AK:  THANK YOU MOMMA.  (silence for a bit)  THANK YOU GOD!

Me: (tearing up)