Pumpkin Patch

This afternoon, my friend Bethany and I decided to take Rylin and Atticus to a pumpkin patch to get some cute fall pictures. Owen's sausage has a farm close to us with lots of animals and plenty of pumpkins. The weather was great and the boys had fun feeding goats and riding on the tractor pulled hay ride.

1 Year Old!

On Monday Rylin turned one! Hard to believe we have a toddler! He is now 24 pounds and 31 inches long. He loves to RUN everywhere and get into everything! His newest accomplishment is climbing on top of the fireplace hearth. His vocabulary is increasing too. In the last few weeks he has added, "Attie"(Atticus) and "Hi". He still says "Daddy" the most, though he goes on kicks of "Mommy" and "Bye, Bye". He LOVES Duke and looks intently for him whenever he wakes up. Usually he finds him quickly because he's always somewhere snoring! Duke is becoming more tolerable as I think he has decided that the attention of a one year old is better than none! Rylin has a big appetite and will eat just about anything. His favorite is still blueberries, though cheese is a close second.

Rylin & Attie

For his birthday, Jordan and I made him a water table. And by Jordan and I, I mean Jordan made it. It was my idea, though! Yes, it is getting cooler here, but Rylin loves to play in Duke's water bowl, so I decided we could make him a table to play with inside. So far it isn't too messy...though, I know that could change:)

1 Year Birthday Party

I love planning a good party, so it should be no surprise that I started getting the creative juices flowing for Rylin's 1 year celebration almost six months ago. I know that I only have a few years before he has an opinion of his own about such things so I was really excited to put together something that I thought was cool...and that he could care less about! I decided that being close to Halloween, a Creepy Crawly birthday would be the perfect little boy theme.

Though my plans were perfect for a nice patio party, the weather had other plans. An hour before show time the sky opened up and unleashed a nice dousing of rain. I almost had a meltdown myself, but held it together and pushed on. I did manage to get a picture of the entry before the thunderstorm, so that's all that matters right?!

Each guest stamped their finger print and turned it into their own creepy crawly for Rylin's scrapbook. I think it will be a great way to remember everyone who came.

The end result

The birthday boy

My mother was my saving grace this week, as she came up Monday to help me get things ready (which translates into: she babysat!).

I had a fun time planning our snacks which included; ants on a log (peanut butter and raisins on celery), frog eyes (grapes), lizard tongues (fruit roll ups), insect shaped pasta salad, dirt cake (in a bucket with trowel), and creepy crawly shaped sandwiches.

I made a photo collage wall of Rylin's monthly pictures and photos I took with my phone spanning the length of his first twelve months.

My mom also worked hard on our table decorations that included all kinds of plastic insects in jars.

Jordan named the cake Murphy. He was quite the challenge for me to construct. Fondant is not for the faint of heart. I nearly pulled my hair out, but the end result was worth it. I'm pretty sure the guests will be seeing blue for a week, if you know what I mean:)

Rylin enjoyed his own little cake that he tested slowly at first.

It wasn't long before the sugar took effect!

Rylin had lots of his friends join him on this special day. Here are just a few.

James and Henry

Adelay

Luke and Mitchell showing off their bug keeper arm bands

Rylin and Mimi

Daddy, Rylin, & Gramps

Valerie and Bonnie

Emily enjoying Murphy!

Tess and her friends Leah and Ashley

After cake, Rylin opened lots of fun presents. He was more interested in eating the tissue paper, but I know he was appreciative just the same!

After all the guests left and Rylin had a good nap, he began to discover that he had a lot of new toys. He played for over an hour in one spot. Every direction he turned, there was something else exciting. Jordan and I couldn't believe how grown up he seemed.

Daddy showing him his fort from MiMi & Papa

Playing with the barn from Tess

Sitting in his basket of sliceable wooden food from the McFarlands

We had a lot of fun celebrating one year! Can't believe our little man is growing up so fast!

Houston Family Weekend

Last weekend our family loaded up and headed to visit our cousins from humid Houston, and surprisingly, the weather was fantastic! Since Tess's grandparents also live close by, we hooked her into joining us so that we could make a quick visit. We stayed Friday and Saturday at my cousin Kim's house where the men did their usual couch-napping-football-watching, the kids swam in the pool, and the women chatted and took lots of pictures. It was a great time and my extended family enjoyed getting to meet Tess. The girl cousins took a quick liking and had her teaching them flips in the pool and sleeping in the camper with them.

Rylin with some of his boy cousins

Rylin LOVES swinging
swimming with Daddy

The girlsAfter a yummy Sunday lunch at my Aunt Freda's, Rylin, Tess and I drove to her grandparents (Jordan had to go back to work). They loved meeting Rylin and of course thought he was so smart and cute! They gave him the sweetest little Adidas sweat suit and toy train that he has loved playing with.

I left Tess to spend the night with her grandparents and Rylin and I went to visit my cousin Crystal and her husband Rick. They recently found out they were expecting, so Crystal and I spent Monday morning shopping for fun baby things. We have our fingers crossed that Rylin will have a little boy cousin, but we won't be too disappointed if it is another girl:)

Crystal let Rylin play in her pots and pans

Monday afternoon I picked up Tess and we had a great dinner with Crystal and Rick. Then Tess dyed my hair (yikes!). I have been wanting to dye my hair red for a long time but really haven't had the guts. I went VERY safe, so the result is quite subtle. I figure I will ease into the whole Angie Everhart look! (sorry no pics of that)