Carvin' the Ol' Punkin

Last weekend we started carving our very own pumpkins for the first time. Yes. That's what I said. Last year's pumpkin only came about because of the kind gesture made by our 'back door neighbors', the Martins. And all the previous years, we've had the Mr. Potato Head pieces you stick in a pumpkin to make the faces or we drew on them. Prior to that, my only experience carving pumpkins came one night at the Alpha Delta house many, many, many years ago and well, that's another story. Not even sure if it qualifies.

Anyhoo, here are some pics of our carving fest. It starts off during half time on a Saturday, but due to a sour post-game mood (you'll understand once you see the final products), we didn't finish our masterpieces until Sunday evening.

The first cut is the deepest.
Baby, I know the first cut is the deepest...

Eeeeww...so THIS is what the inside of a pumpkin looks like!

Cade thought he could scrape out the insides with a spoon.
He wasn't getting very far so I told him needed to go elbows in.

'Look, mom, pumpkin guts!'
Nice.
*eye roll*

Brian came back to help us again.

I'll have you all know that this WAS NOT my idea...

She did seem pretty adamant that she have a turn.

But alas, she got bored and decided she had seen enough and had heard enough.

Kaaaaaaaaay U! U!

With surgeon-like precision, Cade makes the first cut into
the larger of the two pumpkins.

Just making some final touches and...

*drum roll*

Ta-dah!

Not bad for amateurs.

The Tradition Continues

Yep, tonight 'It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' was on. Every major holiday, Cade remembers that there is a Charlie Brown special that comes on and always watches for advertisements for when it will be showing. This year was no exception. Like clockwork, last week he asked me if I knew when this one would be on. When he found out it was tonight, he made sure he would be home and free to watch it with me and Lydia. He had basketball evaluations tonight and he and Rusty didn't get home until right before the show began. He came running into the house panting and said, 'Is it on yet?' Once it started, he and Lydia stayed right where they are in this picture for the whole show.

*sigh*

I just love this tradition. I grew up watching all of the Peanuts specials and really cherish the fact that Cade looks forward to each one just like I did when I was a kid. I also really enjoy how he is sharing his enthusiasm for our 'tradition' with Lydia as well.


Settling in for the show.

'Punkins! Punkins!'
(Lydia LOVES pumpkins. This show made her VERY happy.)

"Snoopy, Mommy. It's Snoopy!'
'I know, Lydia. I know.'

Love it.

Washburn Homecoming

Last Saturday was Washburn's homecoming. It was a bit chilly, but we decided to pack it up and head on down to take part in some of the festivities. With chairs and wagon in tow, we bundled up and had a good time.

Once everyone saw our wagon, they all said to themselves, 'Yes! THAT'S what we're bringing next time to haul all our gear!' OK, so I'm not sure if that's what they were really saying when they saw us with it, but that's what I'm telling myself they were saying. ;-]

'You coming, Mom?'

Staking our claim. Or is it claiming our stake? Never could figure that one out...

Uh-oooh.
Lydia spotted Ichabod.
Wonder how she's doing...

Oooh.
Not good.

Their mothers must be so proud.

Finally!
A picture of the coaches that doesn't creep me out!

Love this tradition.

'Let's go, Bods! Beat Pitt State!'

We met up with some friends who have kids the same age as Cade and Lydia. Sarah and Ryan are our kids gender opposites but the same age. Does that make sense? Anyway, they had a good time running around and being silly.

'I kicked it!'

Lydia loves to 'go runnin'.'

Posing with the art on campus.

Ummmmm....what are you guys lookin' at?

Belly flop!

Great catch!

It's good!

This poor little girl looked sssssoooo cooooooold!

The half-time score. Against Pittsburg State.
Yeah.
I know.
(For those of you not up on your WU/PSU football history,
it NEVER used to be like this!)

Clowning around in the union during half-time.

Wish I knew earlier they had the game on.
DURING THE GAME!!!!
Where was this when I was in school?

The Daddy Jungle Gym. Every household should have one.

Yay! FINALLY a picture of me on here!!!
(Thanks for taking it, Susie!!!)

Lydia wanted a turn pulling the ol' Radio Flyer.
She was only able to pull it a few
feet before she said, 'You do it, Mommy.'
Oh and by the way, Washburn won 55-3.
Awesome.

10 Years Later...

Today is Rusty and my 10th anniversary.

I know!

Who knew he'd stick around this long? *wink*
And don't worry, I 'm not going to embarrass everyone by spouting off some syrupy, saccharine-filled list professing my undying love and devotion to Rusty again.
Once in a year is good for me.
No, I'm just going to reminisce about our wedding with, how should I say it? How about: through a 10-year survivor's (and I mean that in the nicest, most sincere way possible) eyes. I mean, after being married to the same guy for 10 years you (meaning me) develop a snarky, sarcastic-laced, gotta-laugh-at-yourself-so-you-don't-cry attitude and tend to see things that once seemed monumentally important now obviously not big enough even to register as a blip on the radar.

But I digress.

These are just a handful of the photos taken on our wedding.
Enjoy!



One of our engagement photos.
(Obviously not taken on our wedding day.)
Man, what I'd give to look like that again!

Rusty has that far off look in his eyes....like, 'Man, after today I'll never have
to do my own laundry again!'

*bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha!!!* (that's me laughing, by the way)

Me? I'm all, 'Hurry up and take the picture already. I gotta go to the bathroom
and it takes 5 minutes and a back-up beeper just to get me situated properly in the loo wearing this dress.'

The mammas and the pappas.

All the single ladies, all the single ladies...
(well, except for 2 and one about to lose the title)

The dudes.
And every single one of them has considerably less hair, if any at all.

This has to be one the most awkward and creepy
wedding photos of all time.
I can't decide if it's the pose alone or the fact
that he used a soft filter on it.

*shudder*

Awww! These girls are so big now! In high school.
Ugh. I feel old.

This has to be one of the funniest pics that the photographer took that day.
See that gray blur of a cat, running away? Seconds before this was taken, that little buggar pounced into my veil and got tangled up in it. The sequins and pearls on the veil and the train were too much of a temptation, so he dove right in.
Awesome.
Notice how I'm turning my head and covering my eyes?
I couldn't bear to watch it shred my mother's veil if that was the case.
Thank goodness Melissa was there, in all of her bride's assistant glory to shoo the curious feline away. And this furry little kitty made it in to the church as well, climbing around in the balcony during the ceremony.
And somehow managed to get back to our house the next day...

The bouncers, erm, cat-nappers, no, I mean the ushers.

Soo cute!
Monte saved the day.
One of these 4 (Jennifer) fell asleep (Jennifer) during the ceremony (Jennifer),
but I'm not saying who (Jennifer)!

"Obey? Did he just say 'obey'?"

*whew*
We did it!

Mmmuuuuuaaaaaaahhhh!

You know, I'm pretty sure I remember hearing the
altar creaking and groaning underneath the weight of us all.

Can you believe we still have this old Honda?
Of course you can. I'm married to Rusty.

'Do you have a wedgie, too?'
'Yeah, like you wouldn't believe!'

Man, I love this guy.
(I know, I know. I said I wouldn't. But it's my blog. I can write anything I want.)

Everybody sing it with me now:
'We are family! Get up everybody and SING!'

I heart 10 year anniversaries.


And just so we're clear, our anniversary is October 9,
not the 8th as the post date would have you believe.

*By the way, I am not able to get all the weird one word lines and hard returns out of this post.
I've tried everything I can short of deleting it all and starting over. I can't stand how it looks!*