twick or tweat

We started our Halloween evening off by taking a trip to see my Oma.  She was thrilled that Ashley and I brought the kids over.  She sent us home with too much candy and some delicious chocolate chip cookies. 

My parents have the best street to Trick or Treat on, so we all just camped out at their house for the evening.  Of course we couldn't get Pearson to put his hat on, so this was the best picture we could get with Lolly and Pops. Carson and Olivia's costumes are vintage.  My big brother, Ryan and I wore them when we were Carson and Olivia's age.  I was so impressed that Olivia would actually wear the hat!!

Before we took Pearson Trick or Treating he got to pass out some candy with Pops.  He actually did really good putting two pieces of candy in each kid's bucket.

Pearson felt like such a big boy walking around with his pumpkin bucket. 

Next year we are going to have to practice letting the people hand Pearson candy.  Since our first two houses we trick or treated to were my parents and my grandparents.  They just let him take as much candy as he wanted.  The first "real" house we Trick or Treated to he just stuck his hand in a took a piece......and then went back in for a second piece.  Thankfully it was my parents good friends so they didn't care.  In fact they told him he could take even more!!!

I walked up to each door with Pearson but I let him ring the doorbell or knock each time if the people weren't already siting outside.  I had to remind him to say Trick or Treat and Thank You each time but he would say it to every person!! After each house he would say, "How bout dat one?"  I think he really got the hang of Trick or Treating this year!

 Of course he took a few pieces of candy at Nonnie's house.

And then he tried to convince her to open a piece for him!!

Happy Halloween from two minions and Gru!!

We sure had a fun night and I hope you did too!!

halloween festivities

Pearson is not into costumes at all this year.......especially hats.  He can not stand wearing a hat.  It was a pretty big battle this morning getting him to put his overalls on for his Costume Parade at school this morning.   He knew they weren't his regular clothes so he threw a huge fit while getting dressed.  He wasn't about to put his little hat on for me, so I just sent it in his bag and told his teachers that he didn't have to wear it if he didn't want to. Much to my surprise when I arrived at his school for the costume party, his teachers had got him to wear his hat.  My pictures are blurry because I had my camera on the wrong setting, but look at how cute my little minion is!! He was the line leader for the day.  He was leading the class so confidently through the aisles of the church.  I'm so proud of him. 

After they walked through the aisles, they got to go through the church offices and trick or treat.  He couldn't wait to dig into his bag to see what all he got.  

Pearson just loves his little class and talks about Ms. E-Yane (Elayne) and Ms. Uh-Rees-Uh (Teresa) ALL.THE.TIME.  They were all so stinkin' cute dressed up in their costumes.  Pearson's teachers both had minion t-shirts on, so they were a huge fan on his little costume. 

After the parade and pictures I walked back to his room to help his teachers get the kids out of their costumes.  I am just amazed at how well behaved Pearson is at school.  At school he just does exactly what he is supposed to do for his teachers.  It's like they are magic!!  He really is a great kid at home, but we definitely have our moments of defiance and terrible two's.  Although it stinks that we have to deal with the tough stuff, I'm glad he acts the way he should at school for his teachers. 

I headed back up to the school around 12:45 for his Halloween Party.  I was in charge of the party all by myself.  I had no idea what to do for 2.5 year old so I just did exactly what his teachers told me to do.  Keep it simple......a craft, a cookie, and a treat bag.  I did exactly that and they loved it.  We made a little shape candy corn craft and decorated cookies on a stick.

The cookies on a stick were a big hit!! Lots of smiling and messy faces!!

I'm so glad I got to be a part of his special Halloween Day at school!!

the pumpkin package

On Monday we met up with my MOPS discussion group to take our little ones to the Owen's Farm Pumpkin Patch.  I'm so sad that this will be there last year to be open.  After Halloween they will be closing down the farm, which mean no more Big Orange Pumpkin Patch next year.  We'll have to find a new one to go to next year.

The whole way over there Pearson kept saying we were going to the "Pumpkin Package".  I just couldn't correct him because it was just too cute, so I decided to call it the "Pumpkin Package" too!!

Our first stop was to feed the goats.  Pearson, Aisley (or as Pearson says, Daisy) and Liam (Yee-Um) held hands over there.  Too cute huh?

Pearson wasn't afraid of the goats at all.  

Not even scared of this big guy that tried to take everyone's cup!!

 If I didn't help Pearson out we would have been at the goats all day.  He was literally feeding them one teeny tiny piece of food at a time!!

 Pearson is obsessed with anything that has wheels so I thought he would be so excited about riding in the tractor and trailer.  He was so serious the whole time though.  I couldn't even crack a smile out of him. 

 He wasn't the only one that was serious though. His buddy Grant was even more serious about the whole ride!

Pearson and all of his sweet friends......."Daisy", "Grynn" & "Yee-Um"!!

 Our final stop of the morning was the maze and then picking out our pumpkin from the "Pumpkin Package".

We would have loved to take one of these big pumpkins home but we had to choose one of the small ones.

It's okay though, they were just his size!!

Pearson left the "Pumpkin Package" one happy boy!! 

I love these special outings that I get to do with Pearson during the day.   

I can't believe it won't be just us for much longer.  This time next year there will be a little 8 month old guy tagging along with us. I'll get to take two little boys to the "Pumpkin Package" next year!!

halloween bunco

On Monday night our Bunco Group had an extra meeting so we could have a Halloween themed night.  We all dressed up in our costumes and had a Bunco Marathon.  Jenica won the "Best Costume" award.  Isn't her costume awesome? So creative!! I thought about doing something this year with my bump but I went with the minion since I was dressing up Pearson as a minion too. 

I just love the ladies in my Bunco group.  We are in all different stages of life. It's been fun to meet some new friends and reconnect with some old friends that I grew up going to church with. 

{Joanne, Shari, Vicky, & Susie}

{Dana, Aubrey, Teresa, & Tommye}

{Jenica, Me, Kera, & Carissa}

I got a Big Bunco in one of the first few rounds. I was so excited to have the Bunco Bear, but since it was early in the game I didn't get to keep it long. 

I ended up with about the same amount of wins and loses so I didn't get any prizes there, but Carissa and I took home all the Baby Bunco traveling prizes between the two of us!!

meal planning monday

Monday: Chicken Poppyseed Casserole

Tuesday: Taco Tuesday

Wednesday: Poblano Corn Chowder

Thursday: Pizza @ My Parent's

Friday: Date Night

Saturday Breakfast: Pig in a Blanket

Saturday Lunch: Grilled Cheese & Tomato Basil Soup

Saturday Dinner: Cranberry Chicken, Fresh Veggies, & Sweet Potatoes

Sunday Lunch: Salsa Chicken Tacos, Rice & Beans

Sunday Dinner: Waffle Quiche

baby no. 2 {23 weeks}

how far along? 23 weeks

how are you measuring? I forgot to ask at my last appointment

size of baby? size of a mango

heartbeat? 156 bpm (at our 21 week appointment) 

total weight gain/loss? 9 lbs 

maternity clothes? Yes! However I'm ready for it to really cool down so I can begin to wear some of my new fall/winter maternity clothes.

stretch marks? I feel like the few that I have are starting to stretch out a little more. Lotioning up twice a day now since my skin is really starting to stretch.

sleep? Most night I still have two trips to the bathroom.  Pearson shared his yucky germs with me and I've been feeling a little bit under the weather this weekend.  At night I get all stuffed up and have lots of drainage, so I'm not sleeping good because of that.  Also, I'm sooooooooo over having to sleep on my side.  I sleep on my back every now and then for just a little bit, but it always makes me feel sick to my stomach so I can do it for long. 

best moment this week? I finally bought some skinny jeans. In fact I bought two pairs because I know I will be living in them for the rest of my pregnancy.  I also used some of my birthday money to buy some fall/winter maternity clothes.  I'm all set as far as my maternity wardrobe goes.  

movement? Yes! This boy is active....even more so than his big brother!!

food cravings? Halloween candy.....ugh.....I can't stay out of it. 

gender predictions? BOY!!!! Nash Matthew Link

what i miss? 
what i'm looking forward to? Painting the nursery, putting the crib together and getting started on the bedding.
how are you feeling? Still dealing with the butt cramp, but that's about all I have to complain about this week. Well, other than the little cold I have going on right now. 

comparisons to last pregnancy? Nash feels more active than Pearson.  I haven't spend a single second reading books where I had already read a few pregnancy, parenting, or nursing books by this point with Pearson.  We are a little bit ahead in getting Nash's room together than where we were with Pearson. 

Here I am 23 weeks with Pearson and 23 weeks with Nash.

last sunday lunch

Every month our ABF has "Last Sunday Lunch".  We pick a restuarant and after worship whoever can go meets up for lunch.  Last October we had a Chili Potluck Last Sunday Lunch at the Hjertstedt's home.  We had so much fun last year that we decided to do the exact same thing this year.  

Last year all the babies were under a year except for Pearson but this year they are all one or two so they all had a blast playing together.  Pearson LOVED this car roller coaster.  

Anna even busted out one of Westin's Christmas presents out early so the kid's could have a bounce house to play in!!

"Woah" is what Pearson would say when he would slide down.  So much fun!!!!

Pearson wasn't really all that interested in eating because there were too many fun things he was missing out on if he sat down to eat.  Needless to say, his lunch was short and sweet.  How cute are all these little kiddos eating lunch together??

While all the kiddos played, the adults enjoyed some delicious, chili, cornbread and homemade pies.  

And of course some good girl talk too!!

At one point I think all of the guys were inside watching the football game while the girls were out playing with the kiddos.  

Pearson and our new friends, Elli, Lucas and Brynn.  I just love that we have so many friends with kids Pearson's age. It's going to be so much fun over the years watching them all grow up together.  

I'm so thankful for the friendships we have from our ABF and all the blessings that flow from them.  We are blessed.