The First Run with The Pumpkin Patch

A couple weekends ago, me and the other 2 mommies in our small group decided to get our 3 babies together for another photo session.  The last time we did this, it was nap time and the bambinos were quite fussy.  Also, baby Reed was so little, that we had to keep our eyes on him the WHOLE time because Max and Haven wanted to touch his eyes and pull on his limbs.  Anyway, the pictures we got really summarized the struggle to capture them :)

Considering the time of the year, the obvious perfect place for pictures would be the pumpkin patch! So everyone met at my house at lunch time.  It took a while to get us all fed, then we fed the babies and changed them and made sure everyone was as cute as could be in their fall gear.  Then we loaded up in the mini van, and headed about 8 miles down the road to the Pumpkin Patch.  When we arrived, there were moms and kids everywhere!  It was obviously THE place to be. We got out all 3 stollers, got all three boys strapped in, got all 3 diaper bags out, and grabbed our cameras-- and finally, we were off!!

As we started walking towards the pumpkins, a less than pleasant woman asked, "Did you all just get here?"  We grinned and enthusiatically replied, "Yes!!"

Lady:  " Well you can't be here.  You have to have reservations."

Danielle/ Lisa:  "Oh... ok, thanks."

Me:  I stood there starring at her like she had 54857 heads.  In my OCD way, I had gone to the website several days before and saw nothing about having to have reservations-- we just wanted some pictures for Pete's sake.

(Scene change:  we turn around and head back to the van)

Danielle/ Lisa:  "That's weird-- there's lot of other people here"  "Yeah, funny, hahahahhaaa"  (Please notice their attitudes)

Me:  Still not talking, still in a state of shock, mouth hanging open, and totally caught off guard.

By the time we got back to the van, and packed everyone and everything back up, and wiped the seat from our brows, I had snapped out of it slightly... but I still could not believe all the effort and time and planning that had gone into this little adventure/ photo session turned bad.

FAIL!

So, choice number 2, head down the road to the park, we'll snap pictures there, and it will still be fall and adorable.  We pull up tp the park and our idea doesn't seem to good anymore... I mean, it's not like they can play on the playground... and where are they going to sit??  And then Reed dozes off.....

FAIL!

So, it was time for the last resort.... DAIRY QUEEN!!  By this point, all 3 babes were napping, or needed to be napping, we had toured Woodstock, and so we drove through the drive thru, order 3 blizzards and headed home.  It was a delicious end to quite an awkward adventure!

I did manage to get a couple photos before we left... they should help describe the funny-ness of the day!!

[caption id="attachment_1108" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="The 3 Amigos"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1114" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Look at this little Love Dove, yummy!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1112" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Alright, sit for the picture...."][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1110" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Wait! Haven, come back!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1111" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Max, go back! Sit down and stay put!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1113" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Oh, snap fast!!"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1109" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Finally :)"][/caption]

Later that afternoon, after the girls and babies had headed home, and after Max woke up from his nap, Chad got home.  We were sitting on the couch talking, and being entertained my Max, when all of a sudden, we heard a racoon in the trash:



 

He was after our blizzards!!

GOAL!

Gabe is in the midst of his 3rd soccer season.  And  this has definitely been his best year yet!  He has scored a couple goals and he's gaining some confidence, and he's less afraid and more aggressive, too.  This Saturday was a great game-- and Gabe got another goal and was so excited about it-- but let me tell you about it in his words :

According to Gabe "Well, the first thing that happened was the kid was throwing in and the kid tried to trick me.  And he threw it in and I happened to be close to that guy who he threw it to.  It came straight to me. So I dribbled it down and I dribble it to the side a little bit-- the side of the field and I had a shot of either side of the goalie.  Then I kick in the right and score."

AND then, he turned to his teammate, jumped up in the air, and CHEST bumped him.  Seriously!  He CHEST BUMPED!  It was classic.

27 Birthday Blessings

All month long, I've been celebrating my birthmonth, but today is my actual birthday!!  SO in order to celebrate my 27th year, I've made a list filled with 27 of my favorite blessings:

1. My sweet Jesus saved my soul!

2. My husband Chad, who can always make me laugh, and has the most wonderful curls and dimples

3. My baby Max, who thinks I hung the moon :)

4. My stepson Gabe, who has a heart of gold and is always challenging me to be a better mom

5. My wonderful family (My mom and dad, and two brothers)- it's really a cool thing to have a family that you really enjoy being around and who feel the same about you... even though they know you really well!

6. My wonderful friends who bring me joy, love, and entertainment

7. Our small group that is committed to doing life together and help me be the wife and mom God called me to be

8. The children's ministry at our church that pours into our children, and that we volunteer with

9. The women's ministry at our church- the bibles studies, women, and girl's night out!

10. My grandparents, all of whom are still alive, and healthy, Praise God- they love me and my boys!

11.Our cute little house and our cars that run well (even though I did lose cool points this year when I converted to the swagger wagon)

12. My job, and all my co-workers- I enjoy working with them

13. Our two wonderful sitters that keep Max several mornings a week-- they love him and care for him and put me at ease each time I leave

14. My in-laws that love me as their own and spoil my boys to death

15. The dunkin donuts right beside my work

16. The many love stories and wedding that we got to be a part of this year, and the 2 that happen in November

17. All the technology like digital cameras, iphone, internet, and blogs that allow me to capture all our memories and share them with anyone who may or may not care :)

18. Pumpkin spice lattes

19. Books to read... for fun and for wisdom

20. Naps under a quilt

21. Football! (Go Dawgs!)

22. Our health

23. Sunshine, and cool breezes, and fall weather

24. My "Happy 60th Birhday" card from Elizabeth Grace

25. Babies-- all babies-- not just mine-- I just love them and their little faces and their little minds and their little hearts and all the joy they bring to me and the world!

26. Birthday cake and birthday donuts and birthday cards and birthday notes and birthday texts and birthday gifts

27.  27 wonderful years, surrounded by friends and family, constantly pointing me to the cross

P.S. I've way more blessed than just 27 times-- that's just the way God is!

The Pumpkin Patch

Yesterday, we loaded up in the mini van and headed to Berry Patch Farms to ride the hayride and pick out some pumpkins.  We met our friends, the Spiva's there.  Last year, we made the trek up to Burt's Pumpkin patch on the only Sunday all month that it didn't rain.  It took over an hour just to get into the parking lot, AND then 30 more minutes to find a parking spot.  Needless to say, we just weren't up for all that this year!  But Berry Patch proved to be just what we needed- a great place for families, a 10 minute drive, plenty for the boys to do, and lots of pretty pumpkins... or as Max says "BALL!"

Gabe was in charge of picking out pumpkin-- and I think he was looking for the biggest possible pumpkin that he could actually pick up by himself :)



Check out all the changes a year can bring:

[caption id="attachment_1095" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Bowman's 2009"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1092" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The Bowman's 2010"][/caption]

My face shrunk but my baby grew :(((((

I also tried to talk all the boys into posing for the camera-- but with 3 VERY busy boys, a whole field of pumpkins and tractors constantly driving by, it was quite the task.... but check out these three cuties:

[caption id="attachment_1093" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Hudson (2 years old) Gabe (7 years old) and Max (1 year old)"][/caption]

Once Gabe picked his pumpkin, he also ventured over to the gourds.  He decided on a long skinny green goard and a round wart-cover gourd.  Now let me give you a sneak peek into Gabe's brain:  He then decided that the skinny goard looked like a bat, and the round goard was the ball.  Which obviously means that we need to carve our pumpkin to look like a baseball player.  And did I have anything that would hold the bat in the pumpkin's hands and maybe something to hang the ball in the air so the pumpkin could be at bat?



I kid you not.  The child is ALWAYS thinking...  I'm going to try to convince him that triangle eyes and a toothy grin is the way to go, but I'm not so sure he's going to fall for it....

My Max: 14 months old

Oh my dearest little boy, how you have stolen my heart and changed my life in more ways than I can fathom.  I know a lot more about love than I ever did before... and I know a lot more about exhaustion too.  I still think Mommy-hood is the BEST gig around- but you're bringing me to my knees and my wits end a little more often nowadays!!  You want to explore everything and you are far too busy to have your diaper changed.  You do not hesitate to kick or hit me when I don't give you your way, and I feel like I am constantly disciplining you.  I know it is for your good, but I hate it at the same time.  I spend what little free time I have reading books about what the bible says about raising you.  I want to be the best mommy- and exactly who God has called me to be.

But let's talk about all the wonderful things about you-- this weekend, you crossed over from a crawler who walked sometimes to a walker who crawled sometimes to a walker who doesn't crawl at all because he's way too mature for that.  Seriously- this was the change of events from Friday to Sunday. You want to "pooosh" every button and light switch you see, you still think anything that is round is a "ball" and should be thrown, and you sign "please" now when you want something.  We listen to your praise CD in the car all the time, and your new favorite song is "This little light of mine" because you love doing the motions and hiding it under a bushel.  You are adorable.  I know it and everyone else thinks it too.  And do you want to know my favorite thing in the world?  No matter what you're doing, even if it involves balls and dirt and being a boy, I can say "Max, I need a kiss" and you'll come right over and oblige me.  99% of the time, I can talk you into a hug too!  You're learning so much- and you understand so much- I can tell you to go get your shoes or go find Daddy and you do it!  Life with you is always new, fun, and exciting.  Have I mentioned that I'm so glad you're mine?



For some reason, your teething has stalled out.  I'm going to ask the doc about it at your 15 month appt, but you don't seem to mind.  You eat like it's your job- and you're a good eater.  Whole milk has added some padding to your bones, and your double chin is on it's way to becoming a triple.  And that just means that there is more to kiss.  You've had your second hair cut this month- I  must've passed the "hair growing like a weed" gene on to you... sorry about that, it gets expensive!

I am officially wishing a stage of yours away- this is first for me- I want the separation anxiety to be gone and never come back.  I know you love me and that I'm the best mom you've ever had, but when I leave you with your 2 very wonderful sitters, you should not scream your head off like I'm murdering you.  It breaks my heart and I just can't take it.  Monday mornings are the worst. Please stop it.



Gabe has always loved you- and now he is excited that you are more like a little boy and less like a baby.  He loves playing with you and pulling you around in your wagon.  And when I tell you to stop growing, he gets on to me, and tells me to stop it :) He also loves your toys and can make you laugh anytime.  He does try to lock you out of his room sometimes, and doesn't want you to touch his stuff ever, but he's learning why this is not ok.  Just remember, he was a only child for a long time before you came into his world and stole some of his limelight- so really, this is all very minimal and doable.

Your dad just loves you.  I guess that's a given, but I mean he loves to watch you play and loves to play with you.  We still sit around and just talk about you and watch you, and pretend we know what your thinking.  We do commentary on your play by play too.  Your dad also like to take you exploring- and he throws you around on the bed and you just giggle.  Every time he gets close to you, he kisses you and my heart just melts.  It's one of my favorite things-- that and donuts :)



Your schedule has been the same since about 12 months

7:00a:  wake up

7:30a: breakfast

9:30/10a: 2-2.5 hour nap

Noonish- lunch

2:30p: 2-2.5 hour nap

6p: dinner

Between 7:30/8- bed time

It's a great day and you're a great sleeper!  And when you're awake you play so hard!  You're pretty good about playing with yourself when I've got stuff to do, but you love when anyone sits on the floor and plays with you.  You still get into things all the time, and I still pick up after you constantly, but we have a fondness for each other, so I let you mess and you let me clean!  We go well together.



Because I'm scared of allergies, I still don't let you do anything nuts, or seafood.  And because I'm worried about what citrus stuff does to my tummy, I don't let you do that either.  We only let you drink milk and water, and plan to protect you from all that sugar that you don't need for as long as possible!  Your favorite thing is still fruit-- you're a fruitopian!  And maybe, just maybe, I've been letting you eat candy corn since it's fall... you say please with a cute smile on your face, and hey, it's corn!

You're my very  best baby and I have more love for you than I can shake a stick at!  The more I learn about parenting and what God says, the more serious I'm taking my job as a parent.  I pray that we instill in you a healthy respect for authority, so that you will allow God to be Lord over your life very soon.  I pray that you choose our ways, as your own ways, and therefore choose Jesus.  I can't thank Him enough for blessing me with you-- I can't thank Him enough for the fine art he crafted when He made you-- and I can't thank Him enough for allowing me to be your mommy.  I love you Max!

The Sleepover

** Note:  I wrote this last week and forgot to post it, oops!

You know how last week consisted of "embarrassing bath time" pictures of Max and his friend who is a girl, Elizabeth Grace?  Well this past weekend, they also had their first co-ed sleepover.  Things are getting serious.  At this point, we're not worried, especially since they were both confined to separate cribs in separate rooms, but don't fret, they were under full parental supervision the entire night. :) And not the kind of "supervision" at the after-prom party, where the parents insist they'll stay up all night with the kids and that no one will sleep, but yet they stay upstairs and never check in on the teens. (In regards to this, I would like to point out the obvious, the "sleeping" isn't the problem... and if the teens were wanting sleep, they'd go home, duh!)

Anyway, EG's mom, Anna, had a night on the town with some friends and EG's dad, Robert, was in Ohio with his family for a football game.  So EG came over in time for dinner and Chad and I took the two tots in the minivan to a local burger and shakes joint.  We sat outside and enjoyed the weather, and the kiddies were dolls!  Afterwards, we played in the courtyard between the restaurants, and I just don't understand how the night was so peaceful.  We had TWO children between the ages of 13 months and 19 months, and they let us talk, there were no tears, there were no fits or fussing, and they actually played together lovingly.

Then when we got home, they got their baths, their pjs, and went to bed.  It was drama and fussing free- crazy!  After all was said and done, I wasn't even tired and worn out like I had expected!



The next morning, the "downside" to the sleepover slapped me in the face at about 6:05am.  Elizabeth Grace woke up to discover she was not in her bed and she wasn't super pumped about this.  She started crying for her mom, and I ran in to rescue her... but not before Max woke up, and upon noticing that he WAS in his bed, decided that it was definitely time to get up and play.

So the day started early, but after a double breakfast of yo'baby yogurt, cinnamon toast, and berries, we headed out to a neighborhood-wide garage sale.  You see, this dynamic duo NEEDS a radio flyer wagon, with seat and seats belts for trick or treating, and the $170 price tag at babies r us wasn't too appealing.  Lucky for us, EG's big neighborhood was having a huge yard sale and tons of houses had out the baby gear that they had outgrown.  I thought for sure there'd be a wagon there, so we embarked on our search after picking up EG's mom for the fun.

AND we found one!!  It's perfect and Max already loves riding in it and Gabe loves pulling him around.  It's a win/win for the whole family :)

After the yard sale, we drove over the river and through the woods to the North Georgia Premium Outlets, and did some shopping-- just moms and tots.  Max and EG were delightful and Anna and I enjoyed our time together.  It was a fun adventure, and we got some bargains.  Again, a win/ win for the whole family.

But during the shopping trip, Max also got his first kiss.  Yes, I know, the bath, the sleepover, and the first kiss all in one week.  Like I said, it's getting serious :)  EG was putting the moves on him, but Max was leaning into it.  I think the feelings are mutual, but take a look and decide for yourself:

A Heavy Heart

Do you ever just get overwhelmed with sadness?  I'm just heavy right now.  And none of the stories are mine- and none of them are touching me directly- but somehow, they all seem to affect my soul.

Leslie Evans:  A young lady my age, married a man with 3 children, 2 years after his wife/ their mother had died from Breast cancer.  Shortly after getting married, they discovered they were pregnant, WITH twins.  They were elated.  But then she went into labor early, and the twins were born at about 21 weeks, and did not live.  Shortly after giving birth, Leslie went into cardiac arrest.  She was down for 17 minutes before they could revive.  Leslie passed away October 7, 2010.

I have been following her blog, reading her story, watching videos of her life, and I cannot put into words the hurt in my chest.  I've been praying for this family I don't know, and asking God to bring them peace.  I don't understand why He allowed this man to lose 2 wives, and these children to lose 2 mom's.  I don't understand why her body couldn't carry the babies full term, and why the water had to break early.  I don't understand why these parents lost their daughter, and a brother lost his sister.  And that's not even touching on the friends that lost, too.  Honestly, I just can't make any sense of it.  And I don't know her.

(A blog about her:  http://lesliejoyevans.blogspot.com/)  (Very worth starting at the beginning)

Lila:  My co-worker, Cherie, has a 3 year old niece who went to the doctor on Monday for a cough, and was sent straight to Children's Healthcare for Leukemia.  This little girl will start chemo tomorrow that will last for the next 2 years.  And Lila's mom, who lost her own mother to cancer, has to watch her baby, lay in a bed, while chemicals fill her body in order to fight this nasty disease.  Meanwhile, Lila's father also has a type of inoperable brain cancer, that will eventually take his life, although he doesn't have any effects/ problems with it now.

I've got to say, I just don't understand this either.  As a mom, my insides scream upon hearing this story.  When Cherie told me about this yesterday, I cried, and as I type about it today, I still cry.  When it comes to Leukemia, she has the "good kind" but parents take their kids to the doctor for strep- not leukemia.  And I can not imagine how powerless and helpless it must feel, to be a parent, watching something like this.  Again, I don't understand.

Kate McRae:  I have been following this little girl's story for over a year.  Right before she was supposed to start kindergarden, Kate was diagnosed with brain cancer. They were able to remove a portion of the tumor, but due to location, couldn't get all of it.  This little girl has been going through new treatments to try to beat this malignant cancer.  Her parent's faith and prayers are edifying and real.  You can hear hurt in her mother's typing, yet total reliance on God.  Again, parents with no control, nothing they can do to change the situation, and at this point, they just wait to see if the treatment worked.  They go back periodically for MRI's and other tests hoping to hear that the tumor hasn't grown, but expecting/ dreading the worst.  All they can do is wait.

Her prayer blog:  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mcraekate

** These are by no means all the stories about stuff like this, I totally understand that-- these are just the ones on my heart and mind right now.

Stuff like this makes me just want to put my people in a bubble to protect them.  It makes me want to use my time to write them love notes, and kiss them all over.  I mean what if?

But chances are, this won't happen to us.  And I'm pretty sure that trying to explain to God that I was too crippled by what might've happened to actually discipline my kids or train them, or too worried about what could've happened to love my neighbors and serve my husband, and too consumed with fear to spread the Good News, wouldn't be a good conversation to have with the Creator of the Universe, and a God that willingly gave his perfect son's life for my sin, so that I could spend eternity with Him.

I am not one to question God, and this is not to say that understand everything.  I do NOT.  But that is because He is God and I am not- and I don't have to understand everything- I just have to trust him.  But if I'm honest, that's not always easy.  I know He's BIG and I know He's LOVE and I know He's FORGIVING.  So tonight, I just pray that have the courage to be the wife, mom, friend, co-worker, daughter, sister, etc that God has called me to be, and that I'll surrender control to the only ONE who deserves, God. Tonight I am casting other people's burdens on Him- to God be the glory, forever, amen!