What do you get...

when you take all this...

add one of these...

and a ridiculous amount of this?

Just about the stinkin' cutest Willy Wonka EVER!!!

If I do say so myself!

Now here's to hoping he will actually wear it on the big night!

(Since he wouldn't wear it for his Halloween Party)

And hoping, even more, that he won't want to wear it in public after that!

5 years ago today...

I married my best friend.

I know, this is the same collage as last year, but you only have so many wedding pictures, right?

Yes, Abe and I have been married 5 years, today. Sadly, I am not spending our anniversary with him, but with my other (and equally) favorite man, Cole, since Abe is out gallivanting in the wilderness with at least 3 other guys.

Marrying Abe was the best thing that I have ever done (next to becoming a mother, of course.) He is absolutely amazing, totally supportive, puts up with me and my ridiculous baggage (that's right, I have baggage- who doesn't?), and is the most incredible partner I could ever have hoped for.

He does his best to make me happy (which can be a pretty demanding job, I'll admit), and most importantly, he loves me. He is the world's best dad, and I could not be more thankful for all he does, all he gives, and all he is!

I love you, Abe! Happy Anniversary (though you won't see this until at least 5 days from now! haha)

Weekend Fun

This past weekend, Abe and I celebrated our 5th anniversary. Technically, our anniversary isn't until this upcoming weekend, but opening day for deer season comes first (that was totally a joke, I just like giving Abe a hard time for ditching me on our anniversary!)

Abe and I spent Saturday in Jerome. We visited the old ghost mining town, walked around the little shops "downtown," toured the 100 yr old stage/cinema theatre that they are restoring (very cool), and then had a fabulous lunch at The Asylum (the restaurant located in the Grand Hotel, which used to be the Verde Valley Hospital, and is known as one of the most haunted places in the country-totally up our alley!) We then headed back to our beautiful town, took a scenic drive through the pines and checked out what can only be described as our dream house, and then went to dinner. We had dinner at the 129 1/2 Grill, which is this cute little jazz restaurant downtown. We laughed at some lady that had drank too much and was enjoying the music even more, we had great food, and finished off the night with more movies (we watched a few Friday night, also). We also went to breakfast Sunday morning at Wildflower. All in all, it was a fantastic anniversary weekend!



Meanwhile, Cole was spending his first ever weekend away.



Friday afternoon, John, Paula, and Paula's dad, Pops (who was visiting from Ohio), came and took the little man for the weekend. We all went out to dinner, then they drove away with my kiddo in the car. I will admit, it was rough for me. I always thought I would enjoy having him go away (and getting a break), but I really, really missed that stinkin' kid. And (I think typical of parents) everything Abe and I did all weekend, we would say how Cole would love this, or we'll need to bring Cole here, or make the sound effects that Cole makes when we would see fire/garbage trucks and motorcycles.

However, while I was a little sad he was gone, he was having a grand ol' time (and being a perfect little boy on top of that). Here are some pics of his weekend festivities (courtesy of John and Paula)

Carving his own pumpkin with Gaga.

Reading books with PG.

Watching movies.

Hanging by the pool (it was 102 out!)

And baking cookies!

Of course, you have to wear a hard hat for such manual labor!

Here is one of several videos they took. I just though this one was funny, and totally captures Cole and his personality.

Of course, once they brought him home on Sunday, he turned back into his little "devilish" self (which we had been worried that he would be while he was away!), hasn't slept at night more than an hour and a half straight (having only woken up once a night while he was away), and been screaming, yelling, and crying pretty consistently ever since.





But darn it, I'm glad he's home





Abe wants to try to send him back for a month!

Bowling

Tuesday I took Cole bowling with our MOMS Club. He really enjoyed it the first 3 frames, and then had a total two year old melt down, including SCREAMING, running for the fire alarm door, playing in the water fountain, playing with the cups and water cooler they had set out, slamming locker doors, you get the picture.

I think, ultimately, he had a good time, and was actually quite the little bowler (he got 103 the first game and was at 60 something the second game before he flat out refused to bowl anymore!)

How stinkin' cute are his little bowling shoes?

Patiently (yeah right!) waiting his turn.

For those of you who have never been bowling with a two year old, this is how they do it.
(Watch the video for a better idea. Cole is OBSESSED with this video, which is the reason I assume that he enjoyed himself!)

Pumpkin Patch 2009

Sunday morning we took Cole to the Pumpkin Patch. Unlike last year, this year I located an honest to goodness field of pumpkins. A bring-your-own-cutting-tool-and-assume-all-risk-and-responsibility-for-lost-limbs pumpkin patch. I think Cole thought it was fantastic, though we had to stop him several times from hurling the smaller pumpkins (and hoping all the while that no one saw!) He ultimately picked his own pumpkin, though on the way out of the field, he did try to hurl it a few times, and pick a new one. He picked a great little pumpkin though, and was so proud!

He insisted on holding his pumpkin all the way home. Of course, once we got home, we had to keep him from hurling the pumpkin at Dozer (which I think he did a few times!) Obviously, we are dealing with some throwing issues, but what more could we expect from a two year old boy?

Music to my ears!

I was able to catch Cole doing his AWESOME cover of "oompa loompa" today! Enjoy!

Touch A Truck

Saturday, I took Cole to the Touch A Truck event in Prescott Valley. Basically, it was a little boy's paradise. They had everything from fire trucks and semis, to construction trucks and a military grade Hummvee. Of course, there was Cole's personal favorite- the garbage trucks. They had the trucks set up for the kids to climb around, play on, and honk the horns.

I can't even begin to tell you the squeals, gasps, and giggles I heard from the backseat as I pulled up to the event to park. Then, once Cole realized we were headed to the very spot where all these trucks were, he was beside himself. Marching his little legs and swinging his arms with such determination, headed for the glory of all glories (the garbage truck) with the greatest of anticipation, until, about two feet from the back of the truck, some stinkin' kid blasted the air horn! Cole jumped a mile high, latched on to my leg, and spent the rest of the morning with a death grip on my finger.
I did manage to get him into the garbage truck, briefly, and had to snap this picture quick, before he did his leap to safety into my arms!His little pointer finger was going a mile a minute, and as we were leaving, the Waste Management folks made his day/week/month/year! We walked up to their table and I explained to them how, as much as he loves garbage trucks, his true obsession lies with garbage cans. You know what, they gave him a miniature Waste Management garbage can, complete with lid and wheels (his two favorite parts!) Let me tell you, that little boy did not drop that can for hours! It was the first thing he wanted when he awoke from his nap, the first thing he went for Sunday morning, you get the idea. He instantly (and I mean, in the car, on the way home) figured out that his new garbage can was ideal for holding beverages (he poured half his cream soda, which he got as a "prize" for getting all the "trucks" signatures, into the can, and then drank from it!), it was an even better location for his sandwich and snacks, and best when used to carry cars! He was so proud to show it to his dad the next day, and it just absolutely has thrilled him beyond all belief.

The only thing that would have made it better is if Abe had gone with us (he was in Phoenix for the day), because Abe could have helped him get in and out of trucks, shared in the excitement, etc. All in all, I think he had a great time- minus the air horns, of course!