Pumpkin Patch

I mean really, can you have too many pumpkins? We don't think so. =) Harrison was out of school on Monday, so Mom and I took the boys to a pumpkin patch. Had lots of fun. So much, in fact, that we're planning to go again with Brian. This is definitely my favorite time of year!

Big Boy Bed

I was not prepared for this to happen this week at all, and thought we had another six months before the time came to move Hunter to a big bed, but I was wrong. On Monday he climbed out of his crib and hit his head (he has a nice bump and carpet burn on his forehead now), which sent this mom into a panic, knowing full well that once he's tried anything once, NOTHING will stop him from doing it again.

So off we went to pickup a mattress and bedding (thankfully we already had the furniture), and prepared ourselves for this transition. I really think he's too little to be sleeping in this bed, but I'm more scared of him falling again and really hurting himself...so here we are.

Night #1 was a nightmare. Up and down all night, LOTS of crying (sometimes him, sometimes me, lol), and very little sleep for either one of us. Last night was better. I fully expect tonight to go much better (wishful thinking, I know). One thing is for sure~ he's super proud of this bed, and wants no part of his crib anymore...but doesn't he look tiny sitting in that bed?

ME DO IT!!!!!

Hunter has been saying this phrase (very loudly, hence the all CAPS title) so much lately that I'm hearing it in my sleep. I guess I half expected that because he's the baby he would be more dependent on me, but that is definitey not the case. He wants to do everything by himself. EVERYTHING. It's making this mommy a little crazy to say the least, but I am hanging in there...

Awesome Big Brother

I was watching Harrison and Hunter playing together out in the backyard yesterday, and had one of those proud mommy moments, watching as Harrison helped Hunter on and off swings, played baseball with him, helped him up into the fort and stayed up there with him until he was ready to come down, etc. He takes his role as the oldest very seriously, to an extreme at times (we affectionately refer to him as "the police officer") but I have to admit that I'm thankful he is the way he is with them. And I'm sure they get tired of being bossed sometimes, but they both adore him, so I know he's doing things right. :)

A Rare Moment of Brotherly Love

Hudson is quite possibly the sweetest, most compassionate, loving boy I have ever known, but for whatever reason, he loses all concept of these values when it comes to his baby brother. Most of the time, not always. I know he loves him, but am not sure how much he likes him these days. Granted, Hunter loves to annoy his big brother, and does so as if it's his job, so there are days that I say I can't blame Hudson for having some frustration. However, I am still holding out hope that these two will develop a real love and bond with each other. I've seen glimpses of it here and there, so I know it's there, and I know it will happen eventually. One of those glimpses happened this week when they wanted to spin around and around (again and again) in the computer chair, and Hud put his arm around Hunter and said he wanted to hold him tight so he wouldn't fall. There is hope for these two yet!

Evan Almighty

Tonight Brian, the boys, and I watched "Evan Almighty." I know it's been out for awhile, but this is the first chance we've had to watch it. This is the first movie that the four of us (Hunter was in bed...he's not really "movie-ready" yet) all really liked.

For those of you who haven't seen it, or don't know much about it...Steve Carell stars as Evan Baxter, a newly elected congressman who moves his wife and 3 boys (I felt an instant connection based on the whole 3 boys thing alone) to Washington, D.C., and quickly is called by God (wonderfully played by Morgan Freeman) to build an ark. Early in the movie some references are made about prayer and Evan's wife hoping that their family can grow closer and spend more time together. I don't want to give too much of the movie away if you haven't see it yet, so I'll stop there.

We laughed hard throughout the movie (how can you not laugh hard at Steve Carell?), and we all received a bonus lesson on God's faithfulness, and the importance of family and believing in each other as well. I actually started crying (I've been super-emotional lately for some weird reason, so it wasn't that much of a stretch) at the end, and Brian looked at me like I was a little cuckoo (maybe I am). But I was really touched by this film. It was incredibly refreshing to be able to sit down with my husband and my 7 and 4 year old boys and watch a movie. That was really good. That we all REALLY liked. That we could all laugh at. That had NOTHING rude or inappropriate in it. That carried a pretty impressive cast. And most of all, that also carried a message that isn't very popular in Hollywood these days, in a fun, comfortable, yet challenging way. If you haven't seen it, rent it. I think this family will be owning it very soon.

Consumed

Yes, I'm one of those weird "Twilight" people. Never in my life have I been so consumed with a series of books. When my friend Tomi suggested (nearly insisted) that I read them, I told her I had zero interest in reading about vampire love. I've always been creeped out with that scary monster stuff that I was sure the books were going to entail. Eventually I gave in to my friend's request (she knows me pretty well) and decided to give the books a try. By about the third chapter I was sucked in big time, and will readily admit that these books are NOTHING like I thought they would be. It is an intense, unique love story with twists and turns that continue to throw me for a major loop. At the risk of sounding like a pathetic teenager, I have gotten completely lost in this love story between Edward and Bella, and I'm going to feel pretty lost when it's over. I'm now about 2/3's of the way through the last one, "Breaking Dawn" and am trying to slow down a little to make it last just a while longer. Sad, I know. I fully expect to start reading them all again from the beginning, b/c I know I've probably missed stuff in my efforts to hurry to the next part. Oh, they are so very good.