Pumpkin Carving @20months

Saturday evening, October 27th, 2012

Dianna & Brian hosted their annual Pumpkin Carving Party last night.

20 some people, including a ton of kids, and the yummiest dinner and sweets.

Colton grazed all night...3 little mummies (hotdogs wrapped in crescent rolls), vanilla waffers, stuck his finger in cupcakes, grapes, and chips. He was happy! :)

My pumpkin chocolate chip cookies were a hit!

Wes switched his shift and arrived about 5:30.

I initially intended to wait for him to carve the pumpkin (someone to carve, someone to watch Bugs) but I was feeling adventurous and decided to go for it.

Colton was my little helper. :)

 

sweet Stumbaugh family.
2012

 

Colton helped Mommy cut the top off the pumpkin. He insisted on having his hand on the little pumpkin carving saw with mine.

He wanted to keep using the saw after we were done and he wasn't too happy when I told him it wasn't safe. So he fussed...then ran off to play with the other kiddos in the rocks.

 

 

I was super surprised he'd want to dig out the pumpkin guts! He didn't really get his hands in the gooey part, but he did scoop and scoop the seeds for a long time.

tongue sticking out in concentration.

cutest ever.
 

sweet Dianna.
she and hubby Brian hosted a fun, festive, and yummy Pumpkin Party!
She had little gift baskets for each kiddo...in a cute Boo! bucket was: a light up wand for Colton, pack of raisans, goofy googly eye glasses, and bouncy balls. So thoughtful!!

Stumbaugh pumpkin...bottom row on the right. :)

Kids & pumpkins!

signing "mo. mo" (more)
he wanted more Vanilla Waffers. His favorite "racker" (cracker) of the evening.

comedian.

Pumpkin Painting @20months

Saturday morning, October 27, 2012

 

Downtown Henderson had an event for Halloween-- you get a free pumpkin then you can paint it! You can also trick-or-treat to all the businesses on Water Street...but we do not need candy in our home!! So we painted and trick-or-treated to one close business that had pumpkin shaped pretzels in a bag. Perfect! No sugar. :)

 

Colton and I went with Monica (babysitter) and her daughter, Sierra.

Colton started off painting his mini pumpkin with water. He was so content to do this! I had a hold of the water bucket...I could just picture myself wearing it!

Then he dropped his paintbrush into the water bucket on purpose, say "oh no!" and retrieve it. This went on for a while to the delight of the families at our table. It was adorable!!

 

Then we got into the paints. This is his first experience with a paintbrush and paint. It went well. Not as messy as I expected...however, I was right there and had my paper towels close by. :)

I think he'd really enjoy a paint with water book...putting it on my next shopping list.

 

 

practically climbing out of my lap to get his brush wet.
 

Colton's masterpiece!

Add caption

spinning the pumpkin by it's stem.

more spinning.

fun day!!

pumpkin went to nap time with this tired little guy.

Nevada Day happenings @20months

Nevada became a state on October 31st and this year it was observed on Friday, October 26th.

 

Colton and I had a GREAT day together.

First, we went to Toys-R-Us to look for deals on Christmas and birthday presents for him. When he saw the rows and rows of "dact-or, dact-or" I knew we wouldn't be leaving empty handed. :)

Then, to Hobby Lobby for Fall decorations.

Finally, to Target for cute things for Mommy to wear on the 31st.

I must have worn little Bugs out...he napped until 4:00! And I had to wake him up!!



This is the tractor Colton chose. It makes sounds! (not too bad either...especially since there is an off switch!!)

held his tractor all the way home.

After nap cuteness.
I've got no pants on! And I'm outside! I just saw a "dact-or" (actually a UPS truck)!!
 

immediately to the tractor after nap.
yes, his shirt has snow on it. but he wanted this shirt because of the tractor on it. :)

 Since I had the day off, I actually had energy to drive and meet Wes for dinner. He chose Cafe Rio and I didn't object! They have a free kids quesadilla that Colton devours. A chicken taco with a side salad for me. And probably 2 glasses of horchata. Yummo!!

Then, Wes said they had early voting at the mall. Why not? I said. So off we went.

Colton got a "icker" (sticker), too!

 

On the forehead!
Colton put his sticker here...upon Daddy's prompting.
And Mommy's sticker should be on her head as well!
So, Colton moved my sticker from my shirt to my forehead.
He's such a character!!

 

Then we went for a walk in the mall to run off some of Colton's energy after his loooong nap.
He found a ball at one of the toy stores and instead of playing catch with Daddy he'd throw it, run, slide, tackle, and pounce on the ball. All over the mall. Yes, we were those parents. Letting our kid run around and chase a ball at the mall. Thankfully it wasn't too busy!!



What a beautiful day with my beautiful family.
I love parenthood!

Harvest Festival. @20months

Thursday, October 25, 2012

 

We were invited to the Harvest Festival at Lake Mead Christian Academy (LMCA) by Dianna since her daughter attends pre-school there. Food, live music, games, and fun!

Bonus for us...LMCA is 5 minutes from home. :)

 

Colton got really excited when he saw a lady who had a balloon. She was incredibly sweet since she offered it to him. Maybe because he was saying "boon! boon!" and running up to her. Wes tied the balloon to his mailbag and Colton jumped around holding on to his balloon for the remainder of the night.

 

He jumped and jumped and jumped in the mini-jumper with slide. I don't have a photo because I was a paranoid mom that he'd get hurt and I'd have to squeeze myself into there to save the day. Of course this never happened and he played so hard he had a coughing fit (he's still getting over a cold).

 

We checked out the live music on our way out--it was a band of high school students who attend LMCA. Colton and Jaylyn danced and danced and danced. Colton was putting on a show (dancing, hopping, jumping, falling down, throwing his balloon around) for all the students watching the band. He is too funny!!  



Colton & Sierra (Monica's (babysitter) daughter)
he's 20 months. she's 3 years old.

 

 

horribly blurry...but you get the idea.
Colton LOVED the balloon.

McCaw Mine @20months

Thursday, October 18, 2012.

The school I teach at has a replica of a mine on its property. It is pretty awesome. Colton saw the choo-choo (train) and the big tires we're sitting in front of were his favorites. His ultimate favorite...the rocks. He didn't want to walk from station to station. He wanted to plop down on the ground and pick up rocks. :)

We went to the Mine (it's decorated for Halloween...and the actual mine replica was a haunted tour, but we stayed far from that) with Andrea, Chris, Avery, and Liam. I saw a lot of students (it was McCaw night at the mine) so that was fun!

Colton was a HIT in his adorable mailman costume. He kept the hat on all night! The costume is a hand-me-down from Andrea. Her husband, Chris, is a mailman and their son, Liam, wore the costume a few years ago.



McCaw Mine
2012

happy!

 

little mailman.

 

rocks.
he was more interested in the rocks than trick-or-treating, games, or the people.
Colton's hands were sooo dirty.
He is totally all boy. I love it.
 

Mommy & Daddy as miners. :)

vroom vroom! @20months

He practically lives in the thing.

He drives through the kitchen, grabs a snack, and is off for another loop around the house.

He brings the car into the bathroom when we're getting ready for work.

He takes the car in circles around the couch.

He parks the car outside his bedroom door before he goes for sleep.  

 

 

He drinks his sippy cup on the go. (we talked about drinking and driving)

He's upset because I won't give him the phone. Seconds later he is fine. Promise. :)

He goes to the drive-in to watch Elmo.

his little feet sticking out the bottom of the car.
Love.

Colton's Car @20 months.

Colton was very blessed on his 1st birthday by his family. We actually saved some money from his gifts and have been waiting to see what he'd really like to have.

 

It became very clear, very quickly.

 

You see, Colton would drive the pink Cozy Coupe car at the babysitter's home all day long on Thursdays and Fridays. As soon as Wes would drop off Colton at Monica's, our little boy would race to the car and barely wave bye-bye or give his Daddy a kiss. It made leaving easier for Wes since there were no more tears, but Daddy still wanted his good-bye from his boy!

 

Colton going for a ride. Thanks Sierra!
And in a pink car. :) 

 

Now Colton has his very own "bye" (car) at his home. 

And he is sooooo happy!!

He's been calling his car a "bye".

 I think I figured out why.  

We often watch Daddy leave for work in the car and say "bye! bye!"

Or a car will drive by when Wes and Colton play at the park. Colton stops playing, waves, and says "bye! bye!"

I think Colton is associating car with bye and thus any car in Colton's world is "bye!bye!"

 

 

Colton giving some very happy "eese!" (cheese!) smiles with his sweet scrunchy face.

He in one happy boy to have his very own car.

The car at Monica's has the bottom plate in it still. So, if you want to go somewhere you need to be pushed by someone or you need to get out and move the car yourself. We took that bottom plate out and Colton moves those little feet all over the house in his car.