Tad's new hobby

I held Tad up to watch the snow the other day and he kept grunting to be lifted again. No way was I going to stand there all day. So, I brought his stool upstairs and he does it himself! He loves to move the stool all over the house to stand on it.

The funniest part is what he says when he climbs up on it. (I tried to teach him how to stack blocks by saying "stack" each time I did it. He finally demonstrated he knew how in church.... he said "stack" then proceeded to cheer for himself. What a helpful kid.) Now when he stands on his stool he says "stack".... yeah, I guess you're stacking... yourself. :}

We also played in the leaves last week. He learned quickly how to throw the leaves in the air. Aunt Crystal helped teach him how to shuffle through the leaves, kicking them. Unfortunately, that's how he walks through piles of everything, including his toys - kicking them all over.
As for the bruise on his cheek - I'm the best mom ever - I was messing around and pushed him in the stroller towards Aunt Crystal and the stroller tipped. A tiny bit of road rash never hurt anybody. :(

Drysdale (Halloween) Zoo

Tad was a Giraffe for Halloween! I have to say it is the easiest costume I've made yet (less than 5 hours!!!!) He can't even say "giraffe" but I found the material on sale a few months ago and thought it was adorable! This might be the last year I get to pick what he is, by next year he'll be talking and tell me right? (Fred says I get to decide until he moves out.... I'm sure that would go over well as a teenager.)

He tried to take the hat off every chance he got, but didn't mind the jumpsuit. He did finally leave the hood on for trick -or-treating.

I can't believe how much rain there was! Luckily, we only had a handful of friends to visit before going to Fred's parents' for Chili. (Nannie was Cindy-lou-hoo. Fred wore a "Nudist on strike" sign, and I found a halloween shirt for $2!) I was surprised how many trick-or-treaters they had.

On Halloween we dressed up a little more (I had planned to both nights, but was too lazy because of the rain). I pulled out my old Kangaroo costume, made Fred a badge that said "zookeeper" and off we went. My little sister borrowed my Octopus costume for work. My brother's little boy was a Cowboy.

Can you believe they're a year apart and my kid is almost as tall! We made individual pizzas at my mom's then my sister had made a fun Halloween game. It's like Apples to Apples, but all Halloween words. I like it a TON better than the actual game--- super FUN!

I guess eventually we'll have to start attending the "trunk-or-treats" but it really makes me miss walking between the houses, I think that was the funnest part - when else do you WANT to walk that much? :}

What do you do on the first day of snow?

Off to the zoo you go!
I'm pretty sure that going to the zoo was to make ME feel better about getting my flu shot. I Hate shots & my arm still hurts. I think Fred used the zoo to bribe me....
It was definitely chilly but nice that it wasn't crowded.
Tad & the Rhino
Even the animals thought it was too cold!
We didn't stay long. It started to snow again when we were leaving. I've heard that the animals are more active in the colder weather. I don't know if they really weren't because it was lunch time or because it was cold, so I guess we'll have to go again next month!

FALL is FULL of FANTASTIC fun!

We had a great long weekend! Thursday we did a little Christmas shopping then met my family in Logan for the PUMPKIN WALK! I went one time in college for an FHE and ever since then I've been hooked! (For those of you who've never been, they use pumpkins to make scenes. Sounds slightly lame, but once you go, you'll think it's amazing!)
How cool is this tree made from corn (and Crystal of course)!

Monsters Inc & Madagascar
They have one area with carved pumpkins. I guess there are 2 areas - this one with the cool carvings and then the whole path has hay bales with carved pumpkins lit lining the paths.

Friday we went to the PARK. My little guy is TOO independent - he won't hold my hand to walk in the park, he wants to go by himself.

Then, since Daddy couldn't go to work because they were doing computer maintenance, we met up with my bestest friend Jen to celebrate her birthday!
Tad loved the MAYAN and watching the water and divers.

Then we found a new place I may ---- probably am hooked on! FROGURT! It's self serve frozen yogurt (16 different flavors) and a 50 toppings. You make your own and pay per ounce!

I met Jen my first year of college and I swear we were meant to be twins!

Saturday morning Fred, Tad & I took some of the scouts for a HIKE.... in the rain.

Tad of course loved it. Fred & I realized how out of shape and old we are!!! It rained harder the further up we went and stopped when we got back down. The boys did awesome - I figured they'd run ahead of us, but they were good about stopping and waiting until they could see one of us before running further.

Saturday night we went to the GRIZZLIES HOCKEY GAME with Crystal and one of her old roomies. First we stopped for BBQ, then off to the game. The seats were fantastic, the game was pretty good, they won (6-4), but the best part was when the other team's goalie went to hit the puck down the ice and pegged his own team member in the head. :} I was disappointed there weren't more fights- I guess we'll have to stick to college games!

Sunday we went to Fred's parents' for HOMEMADE RAVIOLI!

and.... Monday our BASEMENT FLOODED because of all the rain. :}

Where have we been?!

I didn't realize it's been so long since I posted. So, here's the picture version of the past few weeks.
Tad sleeps in the corner of his crib.


We drove up to Logan to see the leaves and took a few pictures. Too bad it was so dark by the time we got up there.

Tad loved trying a piece of sausage - he's still not a fan of textures, but we're slowly getting there.

He loves to hang out and jump on the bean bag chair and will sit on it to watch part of a movie.

He's mastered the stairs, but insists on walking up or down them if someone is nearby to hold his hand.

Tad helped us test the grapes so we could juice them. We LOVE grape juice! We have 3 different kinds of juice so we get a variety of colors when we juice them.

He also "Helped" mom wash tomatoes to make sauce and salsa. Really he just splashed in the water.

We had Nashaela & Paul over to paint pumpkins. Tad knows how to turn on the hose by himself and loved playing in it while we cleaned off the pumpkins.

We each painted our own, then a couple one.







We've loved going to the treehouse museum and took daddy with us this time.

I never lose him by myself, but he walked off a couple of times with both of us distracted - maybe the museum isn't just for kids!

So, in a nutshell: Tad growing, teasing, playing, helping mom & being daddy's buddy. More pumpkins to come.... we've got a busy weekend planned and a lot more pictures!