The Moon

The moon has been super bright the past few nights and Caleb and Jonathan have enjoyed going outside to check on it. Tonight, Jonathan brought out his telescope and they took a closer look. It warms my heart to see daddy and son out exploring the skies together. 

Jonathan using the sight to get started

Caleb and Jonathan using the telescope together

Happy boy watching the moon with his daddy

I love that Caleb loves to explore like this and that Jonathan thinks to pull out the telescope, even for just a few minutes, to show Caleb new things. Like I said, it just warms my Mommy heart!

Zoo Boo and Pumpkins, Too!

On Friday, Jonathan took the day off and the four of us headed to the zoo for our PeeWee School fall field trip! A cool front came through the night before, so we donned our fall gear and went out to see some animals. I guess the animals were enjoying the cooler weather, I have never seen so many of them out in the open areas...Caleb loved it! 

Walking in with two excited little boys

We stopped by the aquarium first...it was warmer in there : )

Next we stopped by the cats...I couldn't believe how close they were, most of the time they are hidden in the rocks. 

This pretty girl woke up just long enough to glance our way before dozing back off. 

Happy Aaron

Hard to tell, but there were two beautiful clouded leopard cubs playing together! They were all over their exhibit chasing each other...adorable! I'm so glad we timed our visit to see them, they arrived earlier in the week from two other zoos. 

Aaron eating...his typical activity

My guys

Had to get a Dora picture! (No, we didn't see the movie...Caleb didn't realize that's what the sign was for and we weren't about to tell him!)

African drums at the African Forest

Aaron was really excited about the baby giraffe

Both boys liked the huge tortoise

Daddy and two boys!

Watching the elephants eat

Hungry guy

The zoo has had a Dinosaur exhibit for several months. I'm glad we though to go this time, it's now gone! Today was it's last day before being packed up to move on. It featured life-size animatronic dinosaurs. Caleb was a little timid around the "scary" ones. The brachiosaurus was much taller than Caleb! 

As we came around the corner to the T-Rex, Caleb tried to hide behind our legs...that one was "too scary."

While on our way to the exit from the dinosaur exhibit, we ran into Caleb's friends, Samir and Ava.  Here they are walking with Mrs. Sonia

Samir, Caleb and Ava

Cutie pie right before we left - he was exhausted but still in good spirits. 

 While we were at the zoo, GG called and asked if she and Papa could do their annual pumpkin patch visit with the boys. Last year they only took Caleb so it was easy for to switch his car seat over. Instead of fighting with both car seats this year, we decided to just meet them there. We drove home from the zoo, had about an hour to rest and then went back out for some pumpkin searching.

Aaron, GG and I looking at the little pumpkins

Aaron found one just the right size

Papa and Caleb went on a mission for a big boy pumpkin

Hanging out in the pumpkins...such a cutie! 

We had an amazing fall day between the zoo and the pumpkin patch! I'm so glad Jonathan could take off and join us!

A Birthday Party for Hannah Joy & Eli

Eli and Hannah Joy both celebrate their birthdays in October so they had a joint party last weekend! The weather was beautiful so it was a perfect day to spend outside with the family. 

Aaron was driving...not sure where to though : )

Aaron's 1st plate

The birthday boy and girl...wish I had more pictures of those two but there was so much going on!  

Aaron's 2nd plate...look at that big boy! 

Aaron pretty much revolved around food at the party! 

Caleb and Jonathan eating a cupcake

Caleb and Papa rolling the ball up and down the slide....one of my favorite moments from the day! 

Trip to the Hill Country

Two weeks ago, Jonathan and I took a relaxing weekend getaway to the hill country. This was an anniversary trip of sorts because we know we won't be able to do much in December for our five year anniversary. 

We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Fredericksburg called Runnymede Inn. We highly recommend it if anyone is going to the area. It was cute, clean and had great breakfasts! We went to a few wineries, walked through the historic downtown, and ate meals without trying to entertain kids at the same time. We even got to hold hands while walking! (As in, each others' hands...not kid hands!) 

It was a great break from our usual weekend routine around home and a great way to celebrate our anniversary early. 

My engineer studying the water wheel. 

It was bright and breezy, but this is the best picture we got together! 

Pretty hills of Texas

On our way home on Sunday, we stopped by Granny's house to visit for a short while. My cousin, Ethan, and his kids were there along with my Uncle Gene as well. I wish we could have visited longer, but it was a nice visit just the same.

Lunch

Visiting with Granny

Sophie and Walker playing in the hallway just like Thomas, Katy and I used to do. 

Granny and I

 When we got home I took an inventory of our "goods" from the wineries and downtown Fredericksburg. I think we did a great job only getting our favorites even though there are a few I wouldn't mind going back for....maybe next time!

If you're ever in Fredericksburg, go to Chocolat on main street. It has AMAZING European chocolates...truly unlike anything I've ever had. There's a winery next door that is also pretty fantastic, all their wines are made in that building. I could have stayed in those two buildings for hours! 

Riding a Bike!

Caleb is now a bike rider! Check out our big boy this afternoon!

Happy 3rd Birthday, Caleb!!!

What a whirlwind of a week! We've been celebrating the big 3 year old since his birthday. We have had lots of family fun, a birthday dinner and two parties since Wednesday and, while we are all pretty worn out from the busy-ness, I wouldn't change it for the world! It's been so much fun watching Caleb get excited through the week and enjoy each moment. 

On Wednesday morning, Caleb woke up to a room full of birthday balloons! Both boys had so much fun playing first thing in the morning, we had trouble making our way downstairs! I think we have a new birthday tradition : ) 

Super sweet brothers

Even Aaron was excited! 

The birthday boy! 

 We finally made it downstairs and Caleb had some presents to open from Mommy, Daddy and Aaron. 

He opened two play outfits (a doctor and a chef) as well as a Train ABC puzzle.

Doctor Caleb

The good doctor needed his chef hat too! 

 That evening we went to dinner at Cracker Barrel to celebrate properly. Grandma Mal joined us, but I didn't manage to get her in a picture...sorry Grandma!

"Cheese!" 

Silly Brother

Mommy and the birthday boy! 

Caleb got one present from Grandma at dinner...a new monster truck! 

We had our usual school day on Thursday and then got ready for Caleb's friends to come over on Friday for birthday party #1. This was the first year we had done a "friends" birthday party. A few weeks ago I asked Caleb to name five friends that he would like to come to our house to play. He named six, so I agreed and invited those friends along with siblings to come play. It worked out great having his party on Friday morning, it was almost all kids his age and younger so we didn't have to worry about older kids in the bounce house! We rented one and had a company come set it up on Friday morning...such a great way to party!

The morning of his party we went out to test out the bounce house before any friends arrived...we had to make sure it was bouncy enough : )

So fun! 

At first Aaron would only play if I was laying there....he got more confidant through the weekend though

 After a while, friends started to arrive and we had a fun time playing and having pizza.

Bouncing with friends

Hanging out on the deck

We took a break inside for presents, it was a little warm outside! 

Being shy during happy birthday

Mommy had to help

 We went back outside for cake, ice cream and a little more jumping before everyone left.

Yummy cupcakes

We had a few older friends come as well. A friend of all all the moms at the party went into labor the evening before and a friend was watching their three kids...so they joined us as well! It worked out nicely to have some older kids helping the younger ones play. 

Jonathan was home not feeling well, but he came out to take pictures and steal a few moments with the boys

 After everyone left we spent most of the hot part of the day inside playing with new toys. Caleb has loved his new puzzles, art/coloring supplies, movies, monster truck and Diego underwear!

Happy Birthday Boy! 

The sneaky little one decided to snack on the ice chest while I was cleaning up! Look at that little smirk! 

Playing with his new puzzles

I couldn't get a smile...but he agreed to stick out his tongue for me

 After party #1 on Friday, we turned around and had party #2 on Saturday! On Saturday we had a casual family party completely with homemade meatball subs, football on the tv and lots of outside fun. It was the perfect kickoff for fall!

Caleb and Aaron playing with Hannah Joy

The two babies are starting to interact more! 

Cousins

We couldn't just let the two boys enjoy the bounce house...so a few more of us joined in the fun! 

Uncle Thomas had fun tossing the boys around.

Even the littlest boy : )

Katy, Kristen and I joined in too!

The other generations aren't as fun as we are! 

 As a side note, I will add that there is a video somewhere of this momma doing a cartwheel in the bounce house. I've been told it could be used as blackmail, but I think it's something to be rather proud of. If anyone sends me the video, I will post it here!

Opening presents on the deck (the weather had turned beautiful by then...it was a gorgeous evening!)

A fishing pole from Grandma and Pops

I asked Derrill and Mom to take a picture...this was take one...

...take two...

...and take three! Finally a good one : )

Caleb and his new bike from Aunt Katy! 

Caleb "fishing" off the deck as we sat around a little while longer

Caleb was given a LeapFrog, a bike, a personalized plate and cape (yes, like superhero...very cute!), a fishing pole, some Lego books, some fall clothes and a movie. All wonderful gifts and most were played with already today! 

After a busy birthday week, we spent our day after church playing with all of Caleb's new things. Today was our first day that truly felt like fall and we made the most of it. We had fun playing in the bounce house and beginning to teach Caleb how to ride his new bike. 

Thanks to everyone that helped us celebrate Caleb's birthday this week! I know he's not likely to remember his third birthday, but I know I will remember the joy and excitement I watched in him through the week and all the fun we had with friends and family. Happy Birthday to my sweet, wonderful, silly boy! I can't believe how big you are already!