The Cutest Watermelon on the Vine - Happy Halloween

Charlotte has survived her first Halloween!

We started out making her a ladybug but then came across this watermelon costume. I've never seen a baby dressed as a watermelon. Done. Sold. Ladybug outfit returned, watermelon costume bought.

It was the perfect outfit, right???

Hold on! There's a watermelon loose on Ivy Circle! (Ok, not funny)

This is her new smile :) Not the cutest in looks but so cute that she gets that excited!

Not so thrilled about the hat... and her sideburns are a bit much :)

A couple of more pics...

Eating grass... you know, the normal things you do on Halloween.

Charlotte spent a few hours off and on peering out at the street begging for friends to come visit us. She was so cute :)

And we can't forget Maximillion Pujols Jackson. He was not a fan of Halloween. Too much ringing of the doorbell.

So we didn't go trick or treating for a few reasons:

1. We aren't that close with our neighbors so we didn't feel the need to go to their houses just to show off the watermelon.

2. Charlotte doesn't like candy.

3. I'm trying to loose baby weight so the last thing we need is candy in the house.

4. Alex was working and someone needed to hand out candy.

So Charlotte and I stayed home and handed out candy. SHE LOVED IT! She would drop candy into the kids' buckets. She squealed, jumped, talked, flailed her arms as they all approached.

It was perfect. We actually had to call it quits bc we ran out of the candy.

We hope you all had a fabulous Halloween as well!!

World Series Champions!!

So the Cardinals won the World Series again :) It's so hard to keep track of the Cardinals during their season down here. For the most part, I can't watch them play anything other than the post season. So, if they don't make it to the post season, I get nothing :)

So you can imagine my delight when I heard they were in the post season. I actually watched most of the post season games. I've been a Cards fan since I entered this world 29 years ago and I am converting my hubby to a Cards fan.

During the last 2 World Series games we had visitors at our house. My friend, Kate, and her 4 wk old baby girl Ella Grace were visiting. Ella got to experience her first World Series. As you can see, she was overcome with joy...

She definitly was loving being held by Uncle Alex. It had been a long day, though, and she was tuckered O-U-T.

My little Partner in Crime decided to wake up for the last 3 outs of Game 7 of the World Series. She was deeeeep in thought here.

Too bad I hadn't put her to bed in her STL gear. These pictures stink bc they are from my phone and we had all of the lights off in the room. You get the idea though.

Cardinals win. Charlotte experienced her first World Series. She's thrilled. Can you tell??

We had had sickness rolling through our house this particular week. I was sick Monday. I started to feel ill on the plane on the way home from IL and was sick all night and all of the next day. Alex was sick all day Thursday. Kate got sick Thursday night through Friday afternoon. It was brutal.

However, we were all in good spirits when the World Series was playing.

Way to go STL!! You are amazing.

Time to meet Carter and have playtime with Mitchell

On our very last day in Illinois, Charlotte and I were going to be flying out of Midway airport so we decided to go and see Mitchell and meet baby Carter on our way! My mom was the one taking us to the airport so she tagged along and got to see the boys as well.

Tracey is one of my best friends in this entire world. We lived on the same floor in the dorms my freshman year at ISU. We have stayed so very close in our 11 years as friends. Even though we have not lived in the same town in 8 years and haven't lived close at all for 6, we are still so close. We were in each other's weddings and we know everything about each other. Well, her two little men are Mitchell and Carter. Mitchell and Charlotte are a year apart...almost exactly. Carter was born September 12 so this was our first time meeting him. However, Mitchell has been to our house once and we meet up with him and Trace everytime we are back in Illinois. We always look forward to seeing them!!

Mitchell knows they have to have a long distance relationship so he got Charlotte's number right away.

He's so excited that he has her number. She's rethinking her actions...

They love each other.

Carter chose to just sleep in my arms. He is such a great baby. He was so chill. In fact, he didn't make a peep the entire time we were there. He's perfect.

Mitchell loves his brother and cameras. Charlotte doesn't know what that thing is...

Mitchell is teaching Charlotte about his baby brother.

Hugs for Carter...

Discussing what to do for the next picture.

Last group pic. Somewhat normal. Hard to believe two years ago, none of these little friends existed :)

Charlotte loves her Aunt Tracey.

It was a perfect visit. I know I say this alot but I really wish we lived closer. I love them all... even Mark. Trace, thanks for letting us stop and visit for a bit. You all look amazing. We love you and can't wait until next time!!!

Charlotte's First Four Wheeler Ride

Even though Papa doesn't live on his farms, he still has a bit of the farm at his house... well he just has a four wheeler at the house. That's about it. So, on the perfect fall Sunday, he took Charlotte for her first four wheeler ride! 

I love the look of "Um, what are we about to do" that she has going on in this picture.

And they are off!!!!

A bit of panic came over her...

But once Papa picked her up and held her close, it didn't seem so bad.

  In fact, she wanted to go on a ride with mommy!

Charlotte loved watching me and Aunt Bare fly by on the four wheeler.

There is that smile that we all know and love! See how fun it can be!

 

Still a bit pensive about it

She lived to tell the tale!! Charlotte love love loved the rides... once she got the hang of it.

Now it's time to drive Papa's new ride!

"Papa, will you buy me one of these? I am really cute and I deserve one, don't you think?"

What can I say, the girl loves to drive :)

It was the most fabulous Sunday. Church, family lunch, pictures, four wheeler rides, and playing.

Thank you Illinois for the great weather, beautiful trees, and "fall feel".

Perfect Fall Day for a Photo Shoot

So being surrounded by flat land, it was always a bit difficult to find breathtaking backdrops for pictures... like for prom, senior pictures, etc. However, one place always comes to mind for the background of pictures in Peoria... Grandview Drive. Everyone knows that the view is amazing. Grandview Drive is a road that winds along the top of the bluff overlooking the Illinois River. The houses on this street are amazing. On this particular Sunday in Peoria, it was almost 70 degrees out. It was the perfect fall day. We spent an hour or so taking pictures and letting Charlotte crawl around in the grass. There were people everyone on Grandview Drive on this particular Sunday.

Here are the pictures of our photo shoot...

She's showing me the leaf...

Thankfully Aunt Bare came to help :)

"Thanks mom for letting me play with these keys. I'm getting really bored."

"These leaves are great but that's a wrap. I'm tired of that camera."

She was such a good girl. I just love my kid so much. She's straight up awesome.