Trick or Treat!

Carter is a skunk and Grayson is a spider...

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Fall!

Happy Fall! We have been spending a lot of time outside playing... here are a few snapshots! Oh, and according to the last post, Carter definitely does have SEVEN teeth. Yikes!! You can see a few of them here. All I can say is... what happens at Nana's, stays at Nana's. This looks WILD! =)
But all in good fun... Grayson and Nana roasted pumpkin seeds and they were yummy!!

Here are the seeds loaded up in Grayson's dump truck.

Grayson loved raking the leaves, making piles, and jumping in them!! I have such fun memories of doing the same at my grandparents' home in Kansas City. Kids love leaves!

Mr. Paul came to visit last weekend, and we all had dinner together on Thursday night. Carter loved hanging out with him. (Notice all the drool on his sweater from all those stinkin' teeth.)
It's hard to believe Halloween is this weekend...

Our own family model

Carter is famous!! Well... sort of. =) He had been asked if he would be a bib model for a sweet friend here in Wichita, as she was updating her website full of cute baby gifts. A few weeks ago we went and he was "photographed"... and now the website is up and running!!www.loolabelle.com

There are darling things available, so go and take a look! And, see if you can find a familiar little boy posing for the camera. Oh, and one more thing... he just turned 8 months old and he has not two but SEVEN teeth. Our own little jack-o-lantern!!

Fairy Godmailer

In November, we (Mom, Grayson, and myself) are planning a fun trip to California to see my Aunt Laura, and of course, to go to Disneyland. I frequently read on http://www.mouseplanet.com/ for all things Disney, and to get some inside scoop on the parks and happenings there.

There is a trip planning section, where people can post suggestions, trip reports, thoughts, ideas, etc. Well, one link is called "Does Anyone Need a Fairy Godmailer?" It sparked my interest, so I kept reading to find out just what a Fairy Godmailer was.

Basically, you post on that link when you'll be at Disneyland, and if you're willing to be someone else's Fairy Godmailer... meaning that when you're there, you'll purchase a postcard with Mickey (or Minnie) on it, write a sweet message from the Mouse himself, address it to the child that's headed to D-Land, and stick it in the mail. That way, he or she will know that Mickey is sooo excited for them to arrive at the Happiest Place on Earth. Cute idea, huh?

One of the best parts of the whole idea is that you are just asked to pay it forward. So, a week or so before we leave in November, I'll post on the link and ask if anyone needs us to be their Fairy Godmailer. Fun!

Our personal Fairy Godmailer is headed there the last week of October. I can't wait to see Grayson's face when he sees that he got mail... from our favorite Mouse!

Walters' Pumpkin Patch

Last week, Grayson's preschool class went on a field trip to Walters' Pumpkin Patch in Burns, KS. It's a really fun place to visit! Sweet brothers
Grayson loved all the cool pumpkins and gourds that were outside

His class took a hayrack ride out to the field so the kids could each pick out their own pumpkins

While the preschoolers were having fun doing their activities, Carter was content to sit in the grass and play... he did eat a little hay that day. Oh well. =)

Grayson remembered this amazing slide from last year... it's actually built into a hill. You walk up to the top of the hill, then start sliding through the tunnel, and you come out underneath! We were at the slide for quite awhile...

A blurry action shot of Grayson coming out of the tunnel part of the slide

There was a big trampoline for all the kids to jump on -- G's in the middle

Climbing to the top of the hay bales!

What a fun fall day!!

A freezing, but fun football game!

We had a great time at the KU football game today. Although the temperature never reached 40 degrees, it was still a really fun day! Jerry's mom came to our house and stayed with Carter, which was very kind. Jerry, Grayson, and I headed up to Lawrence with Mom and Dad for the big game! We are always trying to get a picture with either Big Jay or Baby Jay, and Jerry was able to get a pic with Grayson and Baby Jay
Before the game, Jerry and Grayson headed over to the Hill, where there were lots of KU inflatables and fun things to do! Grayson is definitely getting some air here!!

Our Coach will eat your Coach... very, very true.

Todd Reesing and the rest of the team heading into the locker room

Some entertainment at halftime!

The 'Hawks ended up beating Iowa State, 41-36. It was close, though.

Rock Chalk Jayhawk KU!!

Straight hair

Last Thursday, I had my hair professionally straightened. I had the Keratin Smoothing Process done. For those of you who know me well, you know that I have naturally curly, kinky hair. I have random kinks in different parts of my hair, and I blow dry AND flat iron my hair daily. Oh, and that doesn't always leave my hair straight, either. I have done the "reverse-perm" -- where perm solution is combed on to your hair and then heated up, in an effort to get it more straight. It didn't really work. My hair isn't the cute kind of curly, it's just knappy.

So, when I heard about this process from my stylist, I thought I'd give it a go!

The Keratin Smoothing Process took 4 hours and 10 minutes from start to finish. First, my hair was washed and stripped. Then, it was blown dry, but with my stylist's hands, not a brush. Then, she sectioned my hair, similar to when you get a color or weave, and she combed on the Keratin. That took about an hour. Afterwards, she put all my hair with the Keratin on it in a bag, and I sat for 30 minutes. Then, she took the bag off, and blew my hair dry using a brush. Finally, when my hair was completely dry, it was ready to be flat-ironed. My stylist took literally 10-20 hairs at a time, and flat-ironed them 5-7 times each!! Oh, and the flat iron was set at 450 degrees!! This part took well over an hour. Then, I was told not to wash my hair for 72 hours!! That was like torture to me, as I have such oily hair. I always wash my hair every day.

So, on Sunday, I got to finally wash my hair! I am happy with the results! I have not turned my flat iron on at all... I've just been blow drying my hair in the mornings and it's super straight! I am curious to see how long it will last... I'm hoping for 6 months to a year.

For now, I'm just enjoying my straight hair. =)

Here's the link to see the process:

http://www.brightonbeautysupply.com/keratincomplexnaturalkeratinsmoothingtreatmentbycoppola32oz.aspx

7 1/2 months

It's hard to believe that Carter is 7 1/2 months old already! We think he looks just like Jerry, although I'll get some random comments from people saying that he and Grayson look alike. Who knows... =) Some of the fun things that Carter is doing now are:

• Sitting up for long periods of time, playing with toys
• Eating all kinds of baby food and little flavored "puffs"
• Sleeping through the night about 1/2 the time, otherwise he wants to eat at 3am
• Still taking a morning and afternoon nap... about 2 hours each
• He enjoys being in the stroller more, and likes his new carseat where he's more upright
• LOVES to watch Grayson!!
• He's got 2 bottom AND 2 top teeth
• Is starting to get a bit of separation anxiety, although he's still not sad when we leave him in the nursery at church
• He weighs 19 lbs, 1 oz... we found that out at the Dr's office about 2 weeks ago when he had bilateral ear infections =(
• He's a really happy boy and we're so thankful for him!

The great pumpkin

My dad brought a HUGE pumpkin home from his trip to Lawrence last weekend. He found this 120 pound beast at Schaake's Pumpkin Patch. We wanted to get a few fun fall pics with our big pumpkin in the background!The mums are also in full bloom!
Back on the front porch...

It makes for a great seat for Carter! And, we added Zoe to the mix!

Jerry just love, love, loves this dog. =)

Happy Fall!!