Happy Birthday Memaw!

Today is my wonderful mother-in-law's 70th birthday! (Hard to believe, I know!) My sisters-in-law and I helped put together a little luncheon for her this afternoon. We had a really good turn out with plenty of family and lots of friends. It was nice to get to spend time with everyone celebrating such a special occasion. Thanks for all you do for us Memaw! We love you!

Modeling his Bailey Boys outfit.

Aiden and 13 month old Maddie (one of the great-grands).

Helping Memaw open her present.

Pumpkin Fun and Trick or Treating

Wednesday night I took the pumpkin I had bought out onto the deck so Aiden and I could carve it into a jack-o-lantern. Well, Aiden wasn't very interested. He abandoned me pretty quickly to go play in the backyard with his Daddy. It's just as well though since me by myself with a knife is dangerous enough without adding a 22 month old to the mix. Can you tell I didn't use a stencil?

Friday morning Chrissy, my sister-in-law, and I braved the drizzle and the crowd and took our boys trick-or-treating on the square in Newnan. Aiden and Drew weren't sure exactly what was going on at first, but once Drew figured out he was getting candy he got into it. I think they both liked seeing the other kids in their costumes. When we got home Aiden figured out pretty quickly that M and Ms are good stuff. There's nothing like a little chocolate drool.

I was trying to get Aiden to touch the pumpkin guts.

"Cheese"

Posing with the pumpkin and the spider shirt.

Bamm-Bamm ready to trick or treat.
(The "hat" lasted about 2 minutes.)

We worked on "trick or treat" but all I got was "treat."

The cousins ready to hit the square.

Drew pointing something out to Aiden.

Chrissy and Drew

"Yay, candy."

Aiden and Mommy

Uncle Bob's Pumpkin Patch

We took Aiden to a local pumpkin patch today with my friend Connie and her son Evan. We were pleasantly surprised by all there was to do-- puppet show, story telling, spinning demonstrations, hay ride, corn maze, petting zoo, pottery, nature trail, bee hives, bat houses, etc, etc. Aiden and Evan seemed to enjoy themselves as much as a 22 month old and 19 month old can! We ran into more friends towards the end-- Alexander Rice and Sara Hayes and Jackson Grote. It was definitely cooler than we thought it would be (thanks for the jacket, Connie!). I put on Aiden's new Halloween shirt, but it is difficult to tell with the jacket being zipped up the vast majority of the time.

Pointing out the goats for Daddy while we waited on Connie and Evan.

Aiden and Mommy apparently heard differing weather reports.

Connie, Evan, Aiden and Andy ready to go check it out.

Aiden taking in all the pumpkins (and all the kids).

Settling in on the hay ride.

Checking out the farm on the hay ride.

Evan and Aiden after the hayride.

Aiden, Mommy, and a goat in the petting zoo.

Aiden, Evan and the chickens.

Checking out the chickens (and chewing on the cheek where his 2 year molar just broke through).

Aiden wouldn't go in the baby chicken house.

Evan checking out the pile of pumpkins.

Alexander and Sara Hays

Aiden and Alexander

Family pumpkin picture-- there's Aiden spider.

Aiden and Evan checking out the giant pumpkins.

Halloween Preview and Granma's Birthday Party

We decided an appropriate costume for Aiden would be Bamm-Bamm so I found one on the internet and ordered it. It arrived last week. I filled in for a vacationing therapist in our Meriwether county office last Friday so Andy stayed home with Aiden. They played dress up with the Bamm-Bamm costume and Andy was able to snap a quick picture before Aiden could grab the camera. Very cute! Sunday was Mom's actual birthday so we went over for cake and ice cream with the family and Aiden spent the night. Aiden enjoyed playing with the new trains Nanny bought him and of course playing with Alexander and Granpa always rate right up there. We worked on saying "Happy Birthday Granma" but it didn't take. Oh well, I'm sure he'll blurt it out sometime.

Bamm-Bamm
(and yes, it does come with a club)

Helping Granma open presents

Granma, Aiden, Alexander, Aunt Sue

Playing guitar with Granpa

Dressed like a little man for school today.

Doesn't he look so grown-up

I just couldn't resist the back view!

Celebrating Granma's 60th Birthday at St. Simons

Aiden and I were able to sneak away for a few days last week with Granma, Granpa, Aunt Jessie and Uncle Matt to St. Simons Island. Granma is turning 60 on the 18th so we went to celebrate with her and enjoy good food and good weather. Unfortunately we had to leave Daddy at home for report day, but I think he enjoyed a few days of peace and quiet without us. We left the rain in Atlanta and had wonderful weather with record highs in the 90s during our stay so we enjoyed playing in the ocean and the pool. We were able to stay at the same condo we had stayed in when we went in June. Aiden loves the elevator and could tell us if he wanted to go to the "pool" or the "beach." (He spent a lot of the time just going back and forth.)

Unfortunately it was back to the grind for me Friday, but Andy was able to spend all day with Aiden thanks to a well-timed furlow day. He took Aiden to visit Memaw, Papaw, Gracie and Drew since Aiden missed their day with them. Then Aiden and I went to keep the nursery at church for Judgment Journey while Daddy took turns throwing people into Hell and running the smoke machine. Aiden and I had the "big" kids and Aiden had a blast playing with them and even got to fall asleep on a sleeping bag while they watched a movie. He also learned to play duck, duck, goose and got kissed by a 3 year old named Emma. All in all it has been a busy week!

Getting reacquainted with the beach.

Watching the ocean from a safe distance.

"There he is!" (Finding Granpa)

Playing ball with Granpa.

Granma, Aunt Jessie and Uncle Matt watching the ball playing with great interest.

Strolling along the beach.

Kicking the ball in the ocean.

Drawing in the sand with his toes.

Drawing with a stick.

Building a castle with Granma using a cup from lunch at the Beachcomber because we forgot the sand tools.

Watching the ocean before dinner.

Playing blocks on the balcony after breakfast.

Getting in the pool with Granpa.

Digging in the sand with a giant shovel (the only beach toy left at the Winn Dixie).

Aunt Jessie helping with the sand castle.

Aiden, Granma and Granpa protecting their faces from the sun.

Playing in the pool with Granpa.

Watching the tide go out with Granma.

Sitting in his chair with Uncle Matt, Aunt Jessie and Granma.

Playing with a sea oat that washed up.