More Weekend Fun

So what the heck does one do after a fun-filled morning and afternoon at the pumpkin patch? Well, taking into account that we were already overloaded on sugar from the yummy kettle corn and homemade lemonade we, of course, added more SUGAR to the mix! And there was no better way than by making and decorating sugar cookies!

Emily did a great job getting the most out of her dough, so much so that she was able to use every different type of cookie cutter and then she was very imaginative decorating her cookies. Kaitlyn loved using the cookie cutters as well (a little too much so). And oh boy, come decorating time Kaitlyn was in heaven. As you can see from the pictures below she enjoyed the 'taste test'. It was a 90-10 ratio...90 % of the time she licked the frosting off the knife/10% of the time it actually made it on the cookie. Which she would then promptly take a bite of the cookie. Oh well, we had fun and that's all that matters!

We Rocked the Pumpkin Patch

Year two at Maris Farms and we so rocked it! Last year Kaitlyn was still a bit too little to get a whole lot out of the pumpkin patch but this year was quite different. Yeehaw - it was a kick! The best part...we got to share in the experience with Jen, Emily, and Grammy Jill.

A beautiful sunny, fall day + family + carnival food + pumpkins + tons of kids activities = A LOT of laughter and full out fun...otherwise known as rocking it!



One little story that I must capture: Although it was all fun and smiles there was one moment where Kaitlyn wasn't so sure. We put her in the cow train (these really cute cow cars that are pulled by a tractor). There is a picture above. Anyways, she started the train ride in Elsie but ended up in Buttercup. Yep, the guy pulling the tractor had to stop part way through and move her up closer to him. Ryan asked him, 'Was she crying?' He said, 'Nope, she was just white knuckling it!' So sweet that he pulled her up closer to him.

A Not So Good First

Unfortunately, Kaitlyn has her first ear infection (and a sinus-type infection to go along). Total bummer! Although I must say it's pretty darn good that we made it 2 years, 3 months before the ear infection reared it's ugly head. I'm guessing she picked up this bug from preschool. Big frownie face!

She's been on antibiotics now for a few days and it's amazing how quickly she's bounced back. Talk about a drastic difference between a very sad and miserable feeling little one on Wednesday to endless energy today. She's definitely on the run (and in more ways than one since antibiotics can be pretty hard on the tummy!) Nonetheless, yipee for drugs!

She's feeling better just in time for a big weekend ahead with a visit to the pumpkin patch, a play date with Emily, and a get together for the Seahawks game with the Cours. Will post pictures soon!

Summer Flashback

Our weather has turned icky...rainy, grey, and depressing. I'm definitely not ready for 9 months of this. Unfortunately, I don't even have thoughts of summer to console me. Weatherwise we had a very disappointing summer and our fall hasn't been so stellar either. Nonetheless, no matter how much of a let down the weather was we do have some fun memories from summer. As my mind floats back to those, I remember that I've been meaning to make this post for quite a while. The whole Pederson clan was together in August. Check out these photos of the cousins. It is amazing how beautiful, both inside and out, all these kids are!

Auntie Jen Earned Some Serious Brownie Points

Our little boo is feeling under the weather this week. She ran a fever for two days, had icky congestion and just seemed all around miserable. Thankfully she's perking up a bit but during her downtime we did a lot of snuggling and just hanging out together. Most times she didn't want to do much but when she'd perk up a bit and chat with me it often centered around stories from last weekend.

Saturday afternoon she went to the Mosers so that Ryan and I could enjoy a little time together. Auntie Jen decided to take the girls to the East Pierce Fire and Rescue Open House. HUGE hit! For any of you who've spent time with Kaitlyn, she's constantly pointing out airplanes, helicopters, buses, fire engines, etc. And then she proceeds to say, 'One day I ride one'. We've experienced a couple (shuttle buses and planes) but school buses is a tough one as is a helicopter ride (which, by the way, is at the top of her 'want to do'). Well on Saturday she got to sit in a helicopter. They had a Medevac on site for the kids to explore. The coolest thing is that she got to watch it come in and land. And of course, they had tons of other stuff to explore. Fire trucks, 911 simulators, smoke simulators, free balloons, face painting, a bouncy house, and on and on. We'll definitely have to make this a must-do event next year for all of us.

Thanks to the Mosers for taking the peanut on such an exploration/adventure!

Amazing Daughter

So in the last post I posed a question about myself and whether I was amazing or awful. This post there is absolutely no doubt...Kaitlyn is simply amazing. I find myself having so much fun hanging out with her these days. I'm blown away every day by the things she says and observes. And of course, she keeps me laughing like crazy! I keep thinking, "I've got to write this stuff down" but then forget. A couple of recents though that I love:

*Kaitlyn and I were sitting on the back porch tonight watching the sunset. Kaitlyn looks at me and says, 'Love my mama' and then puts her arm around me and sighs contentedly. I melted into a puddle!

*Kaitlyn eating some banana bread that Auntie Jen made, 'This sooooo yummy' with big, happy smile

*Kaitlyn drinking from a juice box, 'This best juice yet!' and then, 'It's going to my tummy'

*Frequently when walking to the car in a parking lot she'll ask, 'Where Kaitlyn car?'...yep, just like that she evidently now owns the Acura. Too bad she isn't the one making the payments. Funny enough in 14 years we just may end up handing over the keys to the Acura to her. LOL!

Anyways, these few don't even do justice to the daily conversations we have and to top it off her memory is crazy good. Bottom line, I love my Kaitlyn. Just when I think I can't love her any more, I find myself doing just that.

Amazing Mom or Awful Mom?

You tell me, which is it? Before judging, please keep in mind that I recently just got back from a work trip to Arizona and spent all day Sunday doing a bizillion loads of laundry, cleaning the house, running errands, and just trying to get caught up. Okay, now that I've made my plea, here it is.

Kaitlyn's preschool assignment for tomorrow was to go on a nature walk and collect fall leaves and pine cones to bring into school. The teacher was encouraging parents to make this an 'event'. Well, due to all that we had going on we never got to take this walk. Now, I really did try. In fact, just this evening I asked Kaitlyn three times if she wanted to go for a nature walk and all three times she had very different ideas. Thus, at 9 pm tonight (after working for 2 hours following dinner) I headed out (in the dark!) searching out leaves and pine cones. Here I am scouring the neighborhood and the park with my iPhone flashlight app (which isn't very bright may I add) doing Kaitlyn's homework.

So....am I an amazing Mommy willing to look like an idiot out there finding the most beautiful leaves and interesting pine cones so Kaitlyn shines bright tomorrow when we take them to Mrs. Marx or am I awful that I didn't insist on the nature walk with Kaitlyn and turn it into an 'experience'? Did I mention it was late, dark, cold and I really, really wanted to just go to bed with a book? Oh, and that KP had zero interest in a nature walk today...oh, I already mentioned that huh? Alright, bring it on. I'm willing to take the heat.