Pumpkin Breakfast

In an effort to do some fun fall things this month, I fixed the kids a pumpkin themed breakfast this morning--which basically just means I made everything orange.  I put some red and yellow food coloring in the pancake batter to give the silver dollar sized flapjacks an orange tint.  I stacked them up and stuck toothpicks in--I realized when we sat down to eat that green toothpicks would have actually made them look like pumpkins.  Alas, sometimes my best ideas come along after the fact.  I rounded it out with bacon and orange tinted milk.  The green polka dot napkins kept with the pumpkin feel, and I already had them in my stash left over from birthday parties that I keep in the pantry.

They always enjoy pancakes, so this was a crowd pleaser for sure.

Cowpoke Carnival 2013

The Cowpoke Carnival is a one-day carnival put on by our local Junior Service League and serves as their biggest fund raiser each year.  The kids and I look forward to it every year, and the Hubs tolerates it every October.  lol  So we dress in our cowboy/cowgirl best and giddyup on down to the local county fairgrounds for a rootin' tootin' good time.

(What you can't see in this pic is the adorable pair of cowboy boots C is wearing--how did I 

miss getting a pic of them??)

There are tons of carnival games with prizes, more inflatable slides and jumping castles than any little kid can handle, and the traditional fair foods--cotton candy, popcorn, snowcones, pizza, and hot dogs.  C was a little overwhelmed by all the people and activities and wouldn't really participate in anything--we paid (in tickets of course) for her to get in TWO bouncy castles just to climb in, cry, and get back out!  But B loves a good carnival, so he was all in!

Oddly, we also cannot leave the Cowpoke Carnival without getting each of the kids a cheap cowboy hat.  B got one last year and plays with it all the time.  He had to get a new one in a different color, and C had to get a pink one--of course.  It doesn't get any cuter than this!

  

It was a fun time.  After a couple of hours, we headed to lunch with the Hubs's parents with cotton candy and popcorn in hand.  I am always glad spend a morning at the Cowpoke Carnival with my family!

A Trip to the Zoo

After a text from a friend C Wednesday night, an impromptu group trip to the zoo was planned for this morning.  After a rough night with her baby, C was not able to make the trip, but new friend E and her son, D were able to meet us there.  The kids and I had a good time together looking at the animals and picnicking at the playground.  And I was able to get a few snapshots along the way.

We started in the petting zoo section.  My children (like their mother) are not animal lovers, so they did not participate in the 'petting' part of the petting zoo.  But they did enjoy looking at the animals and watching D pet the animals.

After checking out the alligators and the reptile house (both of which creep me out), we headed over to the meerkat area which is really cute and has some really unique play areas.  There is a maze with tunnels and a 'termite mound' with a curly slide inside.  The kids enjoyed it!

After prying the kids away from the meerkat play area and taking a bathroom pit stop, we headed out to see the rest of the animals.  Here are the kids checking out the bears which are way in the back.

After seeing monkeys, eagles, a cheetah (which B asked to pet!!), a bobcat, rhinos, bison, giant tortoises, and several other animals that I can't remember, we left for the giant play area and picnic tables inside the park.  We ate and played, and when we couldn't stand the heat any more, we left for home.

B told me afterwards that the first time we went to the zoo, he was kinda scared, but this time it was much better and he had fun.  He is always good for a laugh!  This zoo is small and doesn't have many animals, but I enjoy anything that gets me quality time with my babies!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

With fall in the air (as much as it can be in south Georgia), I have been chomping at the bit to get my pumpkin decor out and about in the house.  I am a bit of a pumpkin collector, and I always enjoy getting my pumpkins out and displaying them.  So here is some of my handiwork.

I took my floral arrangements off of the mantle and replaced them with these corn husk pumpkins that I got for my birthday from my parents about four years ago.  They were from Hobby Lobby, and I fell in love with them when I saw them.  I added some berry and ivy clippings left over from other projects around the house to add a little something extra.

I added this pumpkin to the antique library table in the living room.  I am pretty sure it was a gift, but I can't remember where it came from.

This metal pumpkin is one of the first ones I got, and it is still one of my favorites.  I stuck it on top of the entertainment center.  I will admit, it is not the best place to display it, but until I find a better place, this is its home.

I found this metal basket at a going out of business sale at one of our local downtown shops several months ago and snagged it for $10.   The gourds were a Publix purchase and look nice in the kitchen on the table.

I searched high and low for a mercury glass pumpkin to add to my collection, but have not had any luck.  I will continue to search, but in the mean time . . .

Welcome, Fall!

For me, October 1 means it is officially fall.  I know that fall officially starts at the end of September, but in Georgia it is still pretty bloomin' hot in September (and October as well) so I don't really consider it autumn until October.  I LOVE fall!  And overall from October to Christmas is my favorite time of year.  So I am coming up with as many fun things to do as possible.  This is my list so far:

• Cowpoke Carnival
• Visit the Pumpkin Patch
• Church Fall Festival
• Journey to Jesus
• Candy Corn Supper
• Whoopie Pies
• Scarecrow Crunch treat for church friends
• Fall Cookies/Brownies
• Pumpkin Pancake breakfast
• Make s'mores on the fire pit

I am looking forward to some fun times with my sweet family enjoying the cool(ish) autumn air and looking forward to the holidays just around the corner.

I will end this post with a fall flashback picture of the kids from two years ago.

Welcome, Fall!!

Little Southern Gentleman Baby Shower

One of my best friends since high school, K, is expecting her own sweet little man in November.  So, friends C, L and myself put together this sweet shower for K and Baby Henry.  Here are the details--and the adorableness, if I do say so myself.  And I have to give props to Amanda at Dixie Delights for the idea behind this shower.  You can see her original ideas here.

L took care of the invitations which I think turned out pretty precious.

In keeping with the Southern theme, we served Southern foods--cheese straws, chicken salad sandwiches, pimento cheese sandwiches--and some standard shower foods like fruit and nuts.  And of course the ever-so-chic-these-days cupcakes were a part of the spread as well.  I made the little blue bowtie toppers with toothpicks and some hot glue, and they were adorable.  L brought the pretty plant as the centerpiece and it looked gorgeous--and the blue and white container matched my kitchen PERFECTLY.

 (Please ignore the horrendous shelf in the back corner.  I need to find some sort of fabric to cover it with, but when you homeschool you just have to keep stuff like that out and easily accessible.  I will have to find a new home for that shelf once Christmas comes, but I digress . . . .)

We kept the drinks Southern as well with Amanda's great sweet tea bar idea.  I LOVE this and definitely see more sweet tea bars in my entertaining future.  I made the lemonade myself.  It was my first time making homemade lemonade, and it came out sweet and tart and nicely refreshing.  I had lemon wedges, lime wedges, and mint leaves in the small silver handled bowl set.  I was also able to pull out my wedding crystal which was nice.  And I have a friend with the same pattern, so she loaned me a few of her glasses so I would have enough.

The shower was lovely, and we had a blast.  Several high school friends from out of town made it into town, and it was so wonderful to see them all again.  K got some sweet outfits, some really useful stuff like diapers and bibs, and the three hostesses were able to go in together and get her the much needed Pack n' Play.

 The mother-to-be with the hostesses L, C, and myself

K and I have been friends for over 16 years!!!  I can't believe it.  I am so excited for her and her husband and just can't wait to get my hands on sweet baby Henry. 

Let's Go Fly A Kite!

As part of one of his birthday gifts, B got an Angry Birds kite.  Since we have tons of trees (and power lines) in our front and back yards, we could not fly it right away.  Fortunately, our church has a large empty grassy area right next to the parking lot that is perfect for Ultimate Frisbee, flag football, volleyball, and kite flying.  So one Sunday evening, our family headed over to the church for some kite flying fun.  There wasn't much wind, but B had a blast trying.

And of course, once C saw me snapping pictures, she had to pose for a couple as well.  I love this girl!!!

Hopefully with fall in the air, we will get some windy days soon that are better for kite flying!