Pumpkin Farm-Jack O'Lanterns

Friday night we went to a pumpkin farm to get pumpkins to carve and see the animals we had heard about.

I think Cooper would have gotten in the calf pen and spent the night if I had let him. He spent the majority of the time feeding the two calves straw and corn he picked up off the ground. He screamed when he felt the cow's tongue on his hands, but always went back for more. They also had "naughty goats", geese, an emu, and pot-bellied pigs.

When we finally made it over to the pumpkins, Cooper started loading every pumpkin he could carry into our wagon. I think he was doing it more for fun than wanting to take them home, but I certainly didn't want to unload all of them before we left. So, I think he ended up getting 5.

We also got two different kinds of squash that Carver and I have been eating this week (Cooper squirms when I put the spoon to his mouth). Cooper also got to pick out some indian corn.

Saturday morning we carved some of the pumpkins. Cooper would have nothing to do with cleaning them out. He spent his time coloring them. His favorite one is the Hawkeye. (We've been lighting them every night since!)

Late Night Smoothies

The above photo shoot was a result of last night's late night smoothie snack.

I was in the shower and Cooper came into the bathroom with the box from the recycling of our new blender. Oh the front of it was a picture of a smoothie. He said, "Mommy, I want one of those." (Mind you, before I had gotten into the shower, I warned him that it was time for bible reading and bed when I got done.)

So, I got out of the shower, and he asked again. I'm not sure if it was from pure exhaustion, or just simple stupidity, but I let the two-year-old have his way. So, the two of us made a smoothie and split it. Then he insisted we take pictures of our smoothies (and our spoons...see picture).

It was a great bedtime snack and he only managed to delay bedtime by about 20 minutes:)

October 2, took the boys to Fontana Park. It was cold, but we loved to see the bear, buffalo, ducks, and more! We'll go back again for a picnic when it's warmer!

I can laugh now...

• Friday, walking out of my gpa's funeral, carrying Carver and holding Cooper's hand, while also carrying a diaper bag, suddenly I look over to watch Carver puke down the entire left side of my body. Shirt. Skirt. Leg. And heels. Cooper sees this happen, and starts to say, "Mommy, mommy..." I think the look I gave him informed him that he'd better not announce to the whole church what just happened. We just kept walking (literally in puke), and cleaned up the mess outside the church. Leave it to a family friend witness to ask me at the lunch later about the incident.


• Last Tuesday, I was getting the boys ready for bed when I realized the library books were due. It was 7:15 and the library closed at 8. Carver needed to be fed, and Cooper was just getting into bed. Cooper said, "We're going to the library?!?" I said, "Yes." His response, "In our JAMMIES?!" So, off we marched, half a block to the library. The boys in their matching jammies, me carrying the book bag, and feeding Carver a bottle.


• Cooper is apparently used to me saying "It's ok." when something happens, because he has started to say it in some what of a question/frantic state. The other night he dropped the bowl of cooked carrots on the kitchen floor, looked at me, and said "It's ok?" I explained it was fine, but to hurry up and pick them up before Carver got to them, as he army crawled towards them as fast as he could. Cooper dropped an egg yesterday morning while helping make breakfast, and insisted "It's ok mommy." and was heart broken when I told him we had to throw it away.

Life Update

1. Carver has started "big boy" food. He opens wide like a little bird! He has been having cereal with apples in the morning, and a veggie and fruit in the evening. We tried carrots for the first time last night. I think he liked them, but I didn't have them pureed very well, so he struggled a little bit.


2. Cooper has started learning/sharing chores around the house. He and I have a recycling center in our laundry room. It is always his responsibility to take things to the recycling. We took our cardboard and cans to the recycling center for the first time last week. He LOVED emptying the containers and learning about recycling. He is also very fond of dishes and vacuuming lately. We got a new bottle scrubber, so that's what he likes to use for cleaning dishes. And if I would let him vacuum all day, I think he might.


3. Carver is starting to crawl! He gets where he needs to go (and fast)! Right now, it's more like an inch worm or army crawl, but he is making attempts to get up on all fours. He rocks like crazy and then lunges forward. It won't be long and we will be struggling to keep up with him!
   
4. Cooper has become very independent lately. He undresses himself and puts dirty clothes in the hamper, takes his diaper off in the morning and throws it away, gets dressed, puts his own shoes on, starts the bath water himself, puts toothpaste on himself, washes his own hands, and fills his own sippy cup.
   
5. The boys have become pretty good friends lately. Carver laughs and smiles non-stop at Cooper. He LOVES when Cooper "roughs him up". Cooper enjoys the big brother responsibilities, although I couldn't believe my ears the other day when I heard from the living room, "MOOOOOOM, CARVER'S PUSHING ME!!"
   
6. Carver has become attached to his "blankie" just like Cooper. (I had a blankie until I was 24 1/2, so I'm not discouraging it.) Any "waffle-weave" blanket will work, so we're safe with having 3 in the house right now. It hilarious to watch him dive into his blankie. He loves to sleep on top of it, just like Cooper.
   
7. Cooper took a nose dive at daycare yesterday, and got his first fat lip. He looks pretty rough today. He was sad in the tub last night, and when he got out had to tell me about everything that hurt: his face, his knees (a fall from last week), his butt (he insisted on powder), and his "pitters" (I could see nothing wrong with his armpits). This morning we ended up with a bandaid on each pitter (elbow, really). He also asked me if his lip looked better...I lied.