Grocery Store Wars

Gavin will not be allowed to push his own kid-sized shopping cart ever again or until he's at least twelve. We took him to the recently remodeled grocery store today that now has cute miniature shopping carts or as I like to call them, weapons. Someone thought it would be fun to let him push his own cart. I am not naming the name of that certain someone. Dave. Oops.

Anyway, to say our little boy gets his independence from us is an understatement so I guess we had it coming. We tried to gently help him steer the cart by doing a sandwich maneuver with each of us on either side of the cart. This would allow D and I to help steer, but to Mister Man this was unacceptable. He not only would say, "No Ma" or "No Da" but he would stop the cart, walk around to the side, and remove our hand, repeatedly.

We were doing this in hopes of shielding the rest of the store's customers from the speeding bullet that was behind the cart. However, I think we took the brunt of it. I'm pretty sure I may have a bruise on the back of my leg from a cruising buggy.

There was one thing I did not anticipate from this event. Gavin has always ridden in the front seat of the shopping cart, but with this new-found freedom of being able to walk around, let's just say, "Monkey see, monkey do." He thought it was his duty to help select the groceries. Some items on his list were pickles, yogurt and four chocolate candy bars. I'm deeply grateful that we got out of there without hearing "Clean up on aisle nine."

Pumpkin Patch 2010

I finally went through all of our pumpkin patch pictures. I can't believe it's already our third year to take Gavin. At the time I wasn't so sure we got very many good pictures because it can be difficult to chase a two-year-old with camera and wagon in tow. However, it was a blast watching Gavin play with the pumpkins (aka transfer and toss), pretend to drive the tractor and demolish the hay bales. He was so proud of himself to be able to carry to pumpkins two at a time and dutifully filled the wagon.
I deeply apologize to whomever buys the large pumpkin in the photo above. Gavin thought it would be fun to lick the pumpkin. We did manage to keep him from licking anymore pumpkins. As you can tell from his mischievous smile, he thought it was loads of fun.
The first year we took Gavin to a pumpkin patch, I took a picture of his feet with the pumpkins and I haven't been able to stop myself yet.
We might have started a tradition.... if we can catch him!

Ten Things I Loved About Last Week

1. Visiting with my grandparents and watching Gavin run around their back porch like I did when I was his age.

2. Savoring my first mug of hot chocolate.

3. Playing with my nephews outside.


4. Lighting my new pumpkin spice candle which I paid half price for.

5. Making chocolate/caramel dipped apples and trying to keep a certain someone from eating them first.

6. Finally pulling out the fall decorations and creating a few new pieces.

7. Baking Summer Brown's yummy pumpkin bread recipe.

8. Watching cowboys tame a horse.

9. Hearing Gavin try to say, "I love you" several times plus listening to his knock knock jokes.

10. Capturing these silly faces.

What a Day!

Today was long in coming for more ways than one. D and I both took off work to take Gavin to a dermatology appointment to check on his birth mark. Gavin was born with the mark running from the inside of his upper thigh all the way down to his ankle. We just wanted to confirm what type of birth mark it is and to have assurance that it wouldn't change in nature. Thankfully all of our questions were answered and Gavin even liked the doctor so much he fed her his Cheerios.

However, when we first walked into Texas Children's Hospital, my heart felt heavy because I knew there were families there with children who were sick or hurt. But I have to say that those families were genuinely being cared about when treated at Texas Children's Hopsital. The staff didn't know we were there for a simple consultation, but so many of them were extremely caring and warm. However, I couldn't help but feel guilty that we got to leave the 8th floor of the dialysis center and head on over the the correct wing of the 8th floor of dermatology while others have probably spent days or weeks there. If there was a place to be when sick, it would have to be that Hospital.

After leaving, we at lunch at Mi Mi's Cafe, one of my favorite places and then went to a huge kids' consignment sale. We found a few things, but not as much as when I had been before. Gavin's size hasn't changed very much, so think he will still be able to wear some things from last winter.

We then headed over to a church's pumpkin patch. I absolutely love this time of year and getting to have a little boy to take pictures of is exceptionally fun. I'm going to share more of those pictures later when I can get a chance to edit them, but here's one to tied the grandparents over with for now.

I think all three of us just reveled in the time we got to spend together. It had been a long time in coming since we had quantity and quality family time.

I Told Myself I Wouldn't

Ten years ago, before D and I were married, he used to contribute to his department's Thanksgiving dinner or other similar potluck function by bringing two cans of vegetables or a bag of apples. I told him once we were married the canned cranberry sauce would be no more. And suffice to say, through the past decade he has brought in broccoli and cheese casseroles, coffee cake and the occasional magic bar treat just because. That is until today.

This afternoon, we were supposed to go to a company party for several of D's co-workers and bring a dessert. My super human husband had to not only take care of his sinus infected wife but also his snotty nose two-year old. So after our trip to the grocery store clinic, we perused the bakery section for something that didn't look too store bought. It took everything in me plus some persuading from my husband to buy an assortment of cookies instead of baking the Almond Joy Cake or the Chunky Chocolate Chip brownies I had in mind.

Upon returning home, I was secretly coniving to half dip the cookies in chocolate but I figured D may have me committed somewhere. Instead, I at least took them out of the box and put them on a decorative plate. Even that was going too far in his eyes.

The medicine and long nap I had while the boys went to the party, left me feeling quite a bit better. Thanksgiving is coming up. I guess I should start planning something. Pass the cranberry sauce!