Happy Halloween!

UAB's mascot, "Blaze" the dragon

Jake and Ryan mapping out their trick or treating route!

Trick or treating all by himself!

Almost there...

"Trick or treat!"

Jake's 2nd Halloween was so much fun! We spent the day watching football and eating lots of cookies and candy! The only thing that could have made the day any more perfect was to have Daddy here, but he was in El Paso, Texas coaching the Blazers on to a victory! Woo Hoo!

Jake was an angel and put on his costume without any problems; I was so proud of my big boy. He of course didn't put on the hood, but he was adorable without it! We joined the Maddens and went to a neighborhood party and then went trick or treating. Jake started getting the hang of trick or treating towards the end and actually went up to a house all by himself!

I have to say, though, Jake's favorite part of the day (other than watching his Daddy and the Blazers) was helping me hand out the candy after we returned from trick or treating. As soon as the doorbell would ring, Jake would run up to the door and start opening it up. He handed out candy a couple times by himself, but he would give the trick or treater only one piece of candy and keep one for himself! Needless to say, we had some unhappy trick or treaters, so I had to take back over. He was definitely my big helper, though!

I'm so proud of my little Blaze! I just wish Tyson could be here to see it all, but there will be plenty more years of trick or treating still to come! Happy Halloween!

Jake's School Halloween Party

"UPS Guy" Jake and Macy the Duck

Jake is literally checking out Macy's tail!

Sliding down the slide to deliver a package!

Ryan the Pumpkin

Macy and Ryan had been holding hands!

Daddy came to the party and Jake was so proud!

The girls are singing "Jesus Loves Me" and rocking their babies...notice the boys are MIA! Ha!

Jake's Mother's Day Out Program had a Harvest Festival today at school, and I got to join in on the fun! Yes, Casey Rae, you can just go ahead and call me the "Room Mom." Ha! I had lots of fun, and Jake was so proud to have his Mama and Daddy there. Happy Halloween!

Pumpkin Carving

Daddy, "So this is what you do, Jake..."
"Like this, Daddy?"
Like father, like son!

Two posts in one day! It's amazing how much time I have on my hands now that I'm not napping in the afternoons (thank you 2nd trimester)! Anyways, Tyson got to come home a little early today, so we finally decided to carve the pumpkins we got at the pumpkin patch at the beginning of October. You see, last year, we carved our pumpkins mid-October and they rotted a few days later. Not this year!

Jake wasn't really into the whole pumpkin carving thing; instead, he and Ryan preferred to ride their 4-wheelers around. Jake did come around at the end to check out Mama's carving-job...I think he approved. ;) I was proud of both boys, though, they actually stuck their hands into the pumpkin guts and squished it around!

Lots of posts to be had in the next couple of days! Happy Halloween!

Boo at the Zoo

Jake begging to ride the carousel!

Ryan dancing to "Monster Mash!"

The Carousel worker trying to keep Jake and Ryan in place!

Jake picked out the Giraffe...that's one of his favorite animals at the Zoo!

Ryan in a zone as he rides the monkey

Petting the hog

Blurry pic but Jake loved the goat!

I took Jake and Ryan to the Zoo this morning for Boo at the Zoo. To be honest, I really can't even tell you what Boo at the Zoo was really about; all that was different is that they had some Halloween decorations up that aren't normally there. I don't think the boys even noticed the difference, but it was fun anyways.

It was a kinda rainy day at the Zoo, so we made this trip a short one. Plus, there were thousands of elementary kids there on a field trip, and it was just mass chaos! We spent a lot of time at the Petting Zoo; I think this is only the second time Jake has been to the Petting Zoo and he and Ryan loved it! Jake loved the sheep and the goats and Ryan loved the hog!

We also took a ride on the carousel. I was hesitant about taking both boys on the carousel by myself, but the carousel worker made me feel like the worst mom for not even trying, so of course, I had to do it after that! They were fine for most of the ride, but they both started getting antsy at the end. Of course, though, I had to get a picture of them, so the carousel worker agreed to help me take the picture (we were the only ones on the carousel at the time). So anyways, the lady stood there as I snapped the pics and she almost had a heart attack trying to watch both boys and keep them on the animals for the picture! After we got off and got in the stroller, she said, "you sure do have your hands full! Next time, I'm gonna listen to you...you know what you're talking about!" Ha!

Sneak Peak

My sweet Jake...oh how difficult my sweet Jake can be! I've been worrying about Jake's Halloween costume for quite some time now; I knew he would not tolerate wearing anything on his head and I knew he wouldn't tolerate wearing something plush. What else is left for a toddler to wear for Halloween?

I ordered the "UPS Guy" costume (which is hilarious), but it's too big; Jake's probably gonna wear it anyway to his school party because he can't wear anything scary. So then I got the brilliant idea to find something that looks like "Blaze." You see, Blaze is UAB's mascot and Jake is IN LOVE with Blaze; he talks about him all the time and constantly wants to see a picture of Blaze. I thought I could use his love of Blaze to my advantage and find a dragon costume that he might actually wear if I convince him it's Blaze. I found the perfect costume, but as soon as Jake took one look at it, he freaked out!!

I've really been working with him this week on coming around to liking the costume and not being afraid of it. We've made progress, but up until this last Tuesday, he would not put the top on. I outsmarted him, though, and offered to let Ryan put it on, and Jake put it on immediately!

So here is a sneak peak of Jake in his Blaze costume (minus the bottoms and minus the headpiece). Just pray that I can convince him to wear the top and the bottoms on the day of Halloween! Otherwise, he might be the only kid trick-or-treating in street clothes! Ha!

Jake's School Pictures

Jake's Mother's Day Out Program had school pictures last week, and the pictures are hilarious! I was kind of expecting a typical school picture type deal, but they actually had a real photographer come in and photograph the kids! Too bad Jake is picking his nose in his pictures because they could have turned out to be really cute! Anyways, I got such a kick looking at the pictures...you should check it out!

Go to: http://www.jenniferneelyphotography.com/Other/MountaintTots-Bunnies/10024150_78JHT#689546521_KJJyz to see my precious child and his friends.

The pictures are labeled with the child's name...Jake's good friends that he talks about all the time are (in order by pictures) Macy, Caroline, Rose, Ryan, and Helen. Mrs. Leigh says Rose is best friend, though...other than Ryan of course! Too funny!

Chitlin' Hoedown

The gang at the Chitlin Hoedown

Watching the cloggers

Pat Pat and Jake

Jake ate his first funnel cake and loved it!

Connor

Chase

Ryleigh Kate

Chitterlings:

(chit⋅ter⋅lings) 

–noun (used with a singular or plural verb)
the small intestine of swine, esp. when prepared as food.

Also, chitlings, chitlins.

While Tyson was in West Virginia this weekend with the football team, Jake and I hit the road and headed to Thomaston to visit my parents. And yes, as the title implies, we went to Thomaston's annual "Chitlin' Hoedown." I haven't been to the Chitlin' Hoedown in over 10 years, and let's just say I'm good for at least another 10 years! If you've never smelled chitlin's being cooked, it is by far the most offensive smell I have ever smelled!

My cousin Christy and her two kids, Chase and Ryleigh Kate, along with her brother's son, Connor, made the trek to Thomaston to attend the Chitlin Hoedown with us. According to Ryleigh Kate, "It was a good day." Ha! Jake had so much fun with his cousins, but we definitely missed the rest of the gang! Oh well, maybe we can get everyone together next year for the Chitlin Hoedown!