I LOVE FALL!!!

Today was one of the most beautiful Fall days we have had so far. The leaves have been falling all day and the weather is gorgeous.

I took the kiddos outside today for a little while to explore and play in the leaves. We've been reading Fall books over and over and over and Lauren couldn't wait to get outside and kick those leaves!!!

I love his little chubby hands on those leaves!

It is kind of sad to think this is the last year those kiddos will ever play in the leaves in this yard. Thankfully there are lots of beautiful trees at the new house. :)

Worst Mama Ever

If you are wondering where our pictures are from Halloween this year....you won't find them. Because we didn't dress up. I didn't even buy the kids costumes. We didn't trick or treat. We didn't even have candy to pass out.

Yep. I get the award.

I hate that I feel so guilty about it. But I do. The kids were sick anyway. But they won't have pictures from this Halloween. They don't even know that their mama dropped the ball this year. But I do. I. DO.

My parents had a hay ride. We didn't go. I hate that. I wish we would have.

Next year, right? I mean this year is just absolutely too stinking crazy for words. We are literally living between houses. Packing and cleaning. Packing and moving. Packing and being super exhausted.

But, still...no trick or treating. Ugh.

I'm sorry kiddos. I'll make it up to you. Pinky promise.

THE HOUSE!

Oh my goodness!

We sold our house today. We bought a new house today. We are renters today. We are home owners today. Confused? :)

The people who bought our home from us are graciously allowing us to rent from them for the next week while we get moved into our new house. We are so excited because this is giving us time to paint the kids' rooms (Lauren wants purple, oh dear) and do a few minor repairs and clean! clean! clean! before we move in!!!

And, about that new house....

we. love. it. 

:)

Ain't She Purty?

Like the new blog look? Squeal!!!!!

Me! Too!

A HUGE thanks to Molly at Life Made Lovely Designs. I think she made this blog pretty stinkin' lovely, don't you? :)

Also, this company and sweet Molly were SUPER easy to work with. I literally emailed them yesterday and have a blog up TODAY! WOW!!!! Molly took my ideas and just ran with them...totally and exactly and perfectly what I had wanted but had no idea how to do!!!! LOVE IT!!!!

Peanut Butter Cookies

So when I was pregnant with Easton I started craving peanut butter on everything and in everything and almost every day. I'd always liked peanut butter but never just had to have it until then. The obsession has continued on even though I'm not pregnant anymore. I am. not. pregnant. :)

My Aunt Juju taught me how to make the most simple and delectable peanut butter cookies I've ever had and today I am gonna share them with you. Be warned, they are dangerous. Because of their extremely short ingredient list and the ease of making them they can be made up at almost any time. Even at 9 pm right before bed when all you really need in the world is just a peanut butter cookie.

Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla

Mix ingredients together (I use my KitchenAid mixer because I use it for everything and I am too lazy to do it by hand.)

Use a cookie scoop (or teaspoon) to form your cookies.

If you are feeling extra feisty (or hormonal or tired or....) dump a handfull of chocolate chips in there and mix it around good....nothing goes better together than peanut butter and chocolate. Seriously.

Bake the cookies at 350 degrees for 8 to 10 minutes. I like mine to come out still a little soft because they do set up some after they are out.

Seriously SO GOOD and SO EASY!!!!!!

Mamas and Movies

Yesterday was a great day. Shawn and I got up and got the kids and ourselves ready for church. Our good friend Stephen is our Sunday School teacher and we have been learning so much!

I thought Lauren looked so darn cute but she refused to smile for the camera. Oh well, real life, right?

Easton looked handsome too!

When we got home my mom was here ready to take me out to a movie! A movie!!! The two of us!!! We were talking on the way there that we couldn't even remember the last time we had gone to a movie together. It was definitely before Lauren was born! It was time!

We were so excited before the movie that we had to stop and take a picture! I think we look a lot alike in this photo. :)

We met up with my awesome sister-in-law, Victoria and her mama, Pam. It was a lot of fun to hang out with them!!! We went to see The Help and it was so good!

Later on we met my dad at Lowe's and looked around for a bit.

Easton loves to ride in the cart. Thankfully they make these great cart covers, because otherwise...yuck!

I love this picture of my dad and Lauren because she was going in for a kiss. Ha! She sure loves her Big Papa!!!

It was such a great day and such a WONDERFUL break from all the packing and house stuff! :)

Pumpkin Patch Love

This afternoon we headed to the pumpkin patch with the kids. We'd spent most of the morning packing up boxes and getting our garage organized for the move so it was definitely fun to get out and enjoy the awesome fall weather with the kiddos!
We went to this same pumpkin patch last year but must have gone when it wasn't as busy. This year they were having their costume party thing so there were a ton of people there. Of course, our shy little one was a little overwhelmed at first. Thankfully, it didn't take too long for her to warm up to all the fun. It's so hard to believe that last year at this time I was newly pregnant and this year our little man is here and our family has changed so much!

Easton was obsessed with the pumpkins and we could not get him to look away from them for anything. :)

I absolutely love this picture of my two babies. Lauren was so great to try to hold her bubba while we got the picture. She is the best big sister ever and he absolutely adores her.

Picking pumpkins! We actually didn't end up getting any. They were pretty picked over and since we are moving so soon we decided to just enjoy the pumpkins we already have at home.

Easton is teething right now so he chews on absolutely everything right now. He looks like such a big boy to me sitting up in the stroller.

I love this little girl more than words can express. She brings a joy to my life that I never even knew existed before her. I thank God every single day that he made me her mama. How lucky am I?

My heart swells when I see these two together. She is a daddy's girl and he loves her so much. I am a daddy's girl myself and I would want nothing less for my girl. There is something so special about that relationship.

She was just brave enough to stand on the hay bales that all the other kids were running through. She wanted me to go in with her but it was only for little ones so I couldn't. Even though we tried to reassure her, there were just too many kiddos running wild in there for her to feel comfortable enough to go for it.

For the record, we are a John Deere family (as evidenced by her sweet boots) but the only tractor available was this blue one... ;)

Of course, no visit to the pumpkin farm could be complete without a trip to their awesome farm playground!!! Do you see me there in the background? Yep, I had to climb up in there for her to play.

Look at these eyes! I die. Seriously - where did those bright blue babies come from?

Shawn even went into the barn with her. What a daddy, right?!?!

We had so much fun and both kids really enjoyed being outside. It was the best break from packing and stress over moving. :) I wonder what next year will look like...