pumpkins and America!

We had Jake pick some mini pumpkins and let him paint them.











The many faces of Jake, he has more facial expressions, these were just a couple I captured the other day.

The sweet:


The Silly


The Mad:


The Paparazzi


The chipmunk



Jake really likes to talk about America right now. He wants us to tell him about going to the moon and we have to sing God Bless America and the Pledge of Allegiance at night time. Why these songs?? because he asked me to sing about America and this was all I could think of at the time!

Good friends

We went to Shreveport to visit my BFF Katie and her family at the end of Sept. We stayed for a week and for the most part had a really great time. I was very impressed with the kids and how well they did together. Taylor shared all her toys very well and baby Emma Kate was just perfect!

Unfortunately Jake got ear infections, Kurt had a sinus infection and I had strep throat! But we still had fun!

I miss my Katie so much, one week is not nearly long enough.

Here are a couple pics she did not have, but please check out her blog: http://ourcopacabana.com/ for more pics












We went to the pumpkin patch today, Jake loves it at this farm because they have a tractor you can climb on and a big playground!





last year at the farm:





I cant believe how much he has grown

We had a great boat ride!

Caution: really long blog...

This past weekend was 9-11-11 the 10 year anniversary of the 9-11 attacks. It seems to touch closer to home now that I am married to a firefighter. I am proud of him and his "brothers". Kurt and a couple guys from work did the memorial stair climb on 9/11 to benefit the Fallen Firefighters Foundation. The climb equals 110 flights (what FDNY had to go up on 9-11) and in honor of those men they did it with full gear (approx 50lbs).








Kurt and I had a couple days off and one of our family friends graciously let us borrow their condo on Smith Mountain Lake for the week. WE went up there expecting to have a nice relaxing couple of days----- YEAH RIGHT! we must have forgotten we had a 2 years old.

It started when Jake woke up super early the morning we were going to leave. then he took a 30 min nap in the car. we arrived around 3:30pm, unpacked and hit the pool hoping to exhaust Jake to the point of passing out. Well he was exhausted and finally fell asleep around 9pm after 30 minutes of screaming. He woke up at 4am! I got back into bed with him and he tossed and turned until 7.

We rented a boat for 1/2 a day and had the BEST time. Jake was amazing on the boat. He loved driving the boat, swimming in the lake, jumping off the ladder.



Driving the boat



1.2.3. Geronimo!

Jake jumping off the ladder- notice both arms are out


















We went back to the house hoping jake would nap, which he did but not well. he was super cranky, whining, throwing tantrums so we decided to get out of the house. We went to play miniature golf and drive bumper boats. that was fun for about 20 min.





He was just too exhausted, look at his face!




We hoped he would sleep well at night, but again woke up early. Kurt and I decided to call it a vacation and head home. While waiting for the sheets to get washed at the condo we did go hiking and hit a local park.






To sum it up--- We had an Awesome Boat ride!!

Thank you To The Pendola's for letting us stay!

40th Anniversary

It was my parents 40th anniversary this weekend. I think it is soo cool to know that 2 people can stay together and go through ups and downs and come out on top. It is an inspiration and I am so proud they are my parents and we are lucky to have them! They decided to come down to VB and rent a condo on the beach for their anniversary. I had to work the whole weekend but we got to spend some time with them and Jake got to spend the night at the beach one night. We had so much fun!

the hand in this picture is my Mom showing her new rings!



this is the present we gave them, it s canvas print of thier wedding picture. It came out really nice!



Its impossible to get a good pic of EVERYONE looking at the camera








My new FAV pic of the year!



Jake decided this weekend he was not afraid of the water and getting his head wet! he was a swimming fool!











As you may also remember we had a little hurricane last weekend. We made it though well. Our power was out for 2 days but we bought a generator and toughed it out!









It has been a great summer. Lots of fun, sun and beach! We still have fun to look forward to, we are going to the Lake next weekend then S'port here we come!