Our Fun Hallo-WEEK!

In our world, Halloween lasts longer than just one day. The fun began the Saturday morning before Halloween, when we dressed up to attend Isabelle's 3rd birthday at Pump-It-Up. Isabelle's Mommy, Michelle, runs Meetup Moms of Tucson with me, so she and Luke get to spend a lot of time together! Isabelle's party was also a costume party, so Luke got to hop around at the inflatable playground like a frog... and DRESSED as a frog!

Later that night, Luke and I headed off to Izaah and Frank's 3rd Annual Halloween Party. It was much smaller this year, due to the arrival of their son, Dominic, just two months ago! I'm impressed they even had the energy to have a SMALL party, remembering how tired I was at that point. Luke happily wore his froggy costume, and I dressed as Mrs. Jeffs, a polygamist sister-wife. I sported the bouffant and french braid, hideous dress, multiple wedding rings, and tennis shoes! When people asked where Phil was, I joked that he was with his other wife, football, at the Homecoming game. It was great to see everyone, and even more fun that Allison, JJ, and Aidan drove down from Gilbert. Aidan will be 3 on Halloween, and has gotten so big and talkative.
Monday, Luke and I hosted a Pumpkin Playdate. Four of our friends came over, and we ate pumpkin bread, colored pumpkins pictures, and hung out. It was super fun and relaxing, and Luke is getting much better at sharing his toys.

Tuesday and Thursday, Luke and I went to Brandi Fenton park for a Pumkin Parkdate and a Halloween Craftdate. We ate yummy pumpkin flavored treats with friends and made zoo animal masks. It was really hot, but Luke still had fun playing trucks with some new friends.


Thursday afternoon, we went over to Grandma and Grandpa's house to carve our pumpkin, which has become somewhat of an annual tradition.




On Halloween, we went to Chik-fil-A to eat lunch with friends. Because Luke was dressed (from the waist down, again, it was hot!) as a frog, he got a free ice cream cone! On Halloween night, we went to Chipotle for free burritos! Chipotle was having a special where if you dressed up as a burrito by wearing foil, they would give you a free burrito! So fun!



Luke also went "trick-or-treating" for the first time. Just to the next door neighbors house, though because he doesn't eat chocolate, MOMMY eats chocolate, and mommy doesn't need any more chocolate! We practiced saying "trick-or-treat," which he would readily say when nobody else was around, but he got a little shy around his friends.



Later that evening, we walked around the neighborhood, which Luke found immensely entertaining, even though he didn't really want to trick-or-treat. He kept saying, "Walk. Around?" and "Cross. Street?" and pointing out all of the pumpkins.


Saturday, we went to the 1st Annual Boo-tastic Halloween Picnic at Brandi Fenton Park. The Assistant Organizers and I spent a lot of time planning it and i think it was a huge success! It was a BYO lunch picnic, but we provided drinks, goody bags for the kiddos, a jumping castle, and a bubble machine. The kids came in costume and everyone had a great time chatting and just hanging out! I spent so much time taking pictures of all of the families that I forgot to take one of us- but if you look closely in the group picture I took, you'll be able to spot Phil and Luke.

Pumkin Picking with the Sniders

Today, everyone played hooky from their responsibilities and my mom, dad, sister Angie, brother-in-law Shawn, and niece Shelby met us at Mother Nature's Farm to choose a Halloween Pumpkin! This has become our annual tradition. Last year we went down to Apple Annie's Farm in Wilcox, a large pick-your-own fruit/veggie farm, but this year we decided to try a pumpkin festival in Gilbert. Although we didn't actually PICK our own pumpkin, we did pick them OUT! And it was much more fun and less work!! It was a very relaxing day- we chose our pumpkins, decorated them (the little ones that come for "free" with the admission price), visited with the pigs and sheep, played in the hay maze and jumping castle, ate the most delicious picnic lunch my mom packed, and took a hay ride! But mostly, we just took pictures of the kids as they explored the Farm. Both Luke and Shelby were in good moods and had a great time looking at everything and choosing their pumpkins.

Coloring Time!

Luke has busied himself the past few afternoons coloring Halloween pictures. They are just too cute not to share, so if you are part of Luke's close extended family- check your mail in the next few days, he might have drawn a picture for YOU!

Zoo Trip with the Neighbors

Luke and I were getting realllllly bored this morning because we didn't have a Meetup Moms activity. I was even contemplating making the dreaded "just gonna look around" trip to Target that can get me into trouble, if you know what I mean. But luckily, Corinne, my next door neighbor called just as I was loading Luke into the car! Marana is on Fall Break this week so Corinne and her eight, along with Becky and her two kids, and Gloria and her two kids, were all going to the zoo! Luke and I happily agreed to go, as we are always looking for a reason to use our zoo pass! We had the best time! Although it was very reminiscent of a school field trip (constantly making sure everyone is accounted for), Luke was so entertained watching everyone run around he didn't mind staying in his stroller the whole time. He loves his friends, and is even starting to learn their names a little bit. I felt a little guilty I had it so easy, with only one little one to keep an eye on. It was nice to get to meet Gloria and also to get to know Corinne and Becky a little better. I learned that Becky is also expecting a little girl- and only three weeks before I am due! They will be friends for sure! :)

October 13- The Day that We Get Our Hopes Up

Tonight, right before bed, Luke needed a diaper change. Even though he had had a bath an hour ago, his diaper was full and wet. Phil laid him down on the floor to change him, and before he could get the diaper on him, Luke began saying, "Pee Pee.... Potty.... Pee Pee." Phil interpreted that to mean that Luke wanted to try to go pee pee in the potty.

Now, Luke is only 21 months old. About two months ago, we bought a potty to put in the bathroom, and have told Luke it was for potty, but that was IT. We are realists, and know that most boys aren't potty trained until they are 3 or so. On a tip from a friend, we only purchased the potty chair so that it would be familiar when the time came. We also know that with a baby coming in Feb, there is no reason to push potty training because we most likely won't have the energy to deal with the relapses that are bound to come with the arrival of a baby sister. So why bother?

So imagine our surprise when Phil says to Luke, "would you like to go pee pee in the potty?" and Luke gets up (bare bottomed), walks to the bathroom, sits on the potty, and proceeds to pee on it. I say "on it" because his little weenie didn't make it under the seat lip, so he really did just pee all over the tile, but he was sitting on the chair!! And he held his pee until he got on the chair. Phil and I went bananas with excitement so Luke could tell he did something awesome. I didn't even mind wiping up the pee with a paper towel and Clorox spray. Woo hoo!!!!

Again, we are realists, so we don't expect this to be the beginning of any new trend or anything, but it is nice to know that he knows what the seat is for! And if he asks for it again, we'll let him pee all over the bathroom floor. And happily clean it up.

A Fun Week

This week was fairly routine, but still lots of fun!

Luke is becoming more of a Daddy's Boy every day. He can't wait for Phil to come home after work and then wants to play "tackle football" non-stop!

I am so excited that the weather is starting to cool down so we can spend more time out in the back yard and at the park. Luke loves to be outside, and really loves when he gets to see his neighbor friends! Jacob, Ashlee, and Josh often peek over the fence to say hi to "Lukie."

My dad has been in town for most of the past two weeks on business with his new company, Thunderbird Mountain. Although he has been really busy, he found time to stop by and hang out. He brought Luke some new jammies, two toy trucks (which he has named "Poppa Trucks")and a new "Cars" book, which he also loves to have read to him.


This month, Luke has perfected "smiling for the camera." And, although it is more of a grimace, it is still adorable. He leans forward and squishes his face up every time we pull out the camera. He picked this up on his own, because I have never asked him to smile for the camera! I just figured he wouldn't know how. Well, he does!!!

On Thursday, Luke's BFF Isabelle came over to play. They had a great time and played so well together. It is so nice to see Luke actually playing WITH other kids, and not just next to them. He is getting so big! We tried to get them to take turns in the fire truck, but they finally gave up on that (too much patience, I guess) and just squeezed in together.