Pumpkin Patch

We went to the pumpkin patch on Saturday afternoon. Carter was so happy to have his friends Silvie and Anna along this year (and their grown-ups). Sadly, I forgot the real camera, so I only got a few cell phone shots. You may want to refer to last year's pumpkin patch post for better pictures!

It was on this water pump that Carter later whacked his face, giving him his first-ever black eye!

Girl Trip in Los Angeles

Last weekend, I went to Los Angeles to spend some time with my girlfriends, Joo, Aarti and Mandi. We arrived late Friday evening, so we just hit In-n-Out burger and a liquor store and spent the evening catching up at our hotel.

On Saturday afternoon, (following a yummy tofu-scramble and mimosa brunch), we went to Santa Monica pier

We had our fortunes told by Zoltar (mine, en espanol!)

We rode the baby roller coaster (and learned that Aarti is the biggest scaredy-cat of us all -- with the MOST ear-piercing scream)

We soaked up the sun on the pier while listening to hits from the 70s, and then took a stroll on the beach

We spent Saturday evening at Sally and Mikael's (adorable!) house where we got to meet sweet Henry

Sunday afternoon we finally experienced the wonder that is Father's Office (Aarti's been blogging it's praises for ages)

Apparently, it's okay to order any of their many, many beers, but you are only allowed to order the blue cheese burger to eat

Sunday afternoon, I got to catch up with Mike Kass. He made me drink my first-ever Appletini.

Sunday night was spent cooking and celebrating Mandi's 30th!

Aarti made an amazing dinner and an impressive cake that we all got to help construct

Aarti and Bren performed the sweetest song that they wrote together!

It was such a great trip!

Weekend

I spent the weekend in LA with my girlfriends, while Carter and Thomas hung out at home -- mostly with Park and Anna. While I'm waiting on Joo and Mandi to send me pics from our fun in LA, I'll direct you Park's post about the guys weekend.

1979

My Aunt Arlene recently sent me some old pictures that she came across when she was cleaning, and I thought I'd share them.

My Papaw was in the Arkansas House of Representatives for most of my childhood, which presented plenty of opportunities for gratuitous photo-taking (as well as opportunities for paging at the capitol when I was older). Here are a couple of shots from 1979.

I'm the fatty in the middle. Note that in this picture, my mom is approximately the same age I am now. Think I should try the haircut? And don't you love my Mimi's tie?

And then there's this one. I believe my mom's copy of this photo has a note on it that says something to the effect of "Clinton's aide said that Elizabeth was the only girl that didn't smile when Clinton picked her up."

Thomas' Birthday

Thomas' 37th birthday was last Saturday. He started the day with a 5K race (in the rain), followed by some napping. We had cake and presents with the requisite (so says Carter) birthday hats, and we ended the evening with an Indigo Girls concert (in the rain).

Another Letter to Mama Helen

Dear Mama Helen-

Thank you for send me tape! And bye bye to Mama Helen. Let's go watch Tigger. [Marching around room] Thank-you-Hel-en, Thank-you-Hel-en....

Well, at least it's too the point! We are saving the silly string until it is not so wet outside "and I can do that to my parents" apparently. Also, "I love go look at bugs" with the magnifying glass, just not in the rain. If it ever stops raining here, that will be great fun!

Thanks for the great care package! (And now there is tape on many things in the house)
P.S. He loves the box as much as the rest of it.

Letter to Mama Helen

Dear Mama Helen,

I want tape. Carter want tape. Mama Helen has doggies. One doggy lick me, and one doggy kiss me. Mama Helen's doggies bark. One doggy I don't like, but one doggy I do like. I want tape. Mama Helen got tape for me. Carter like be at Carter's house. And Carter like go to pool. Helen like to walk to playground. Mama Helen has Carter's crocodile at Mama Helen's house. And Carter want to go to pool. And Mama Helen like to go to pool. And other friend at Mama Helen's house.

That's it,

Carter

Just because...

Just because underwear on your head is funny.

Pink Drinks

Thomas loves pink drinks, I love gin and tonics, and Carter loves to help in the kitchen. So, Friday night, we spiced up our (my) weekly G&T Friday with a cucumber watermelon gin and tonic (without the gin for Carter, of course). Carter helped cut up the ingredients and he garnished the glasses. It seems that he may be just as enamored with pink drinks as his father is... As for me, I continue to believe that a classic G&T cannot be improved upon, but it was a fun way to kick off the weekend.

Doing the Wild Thing

Carter has taken a big step backwards in the potty training this week, due to his (minor) illness (we think). But, tonight, he had a major success on the potty. As we were giving him lots of verbal praise, he started dancing and jumping around. I asked, "Are you doing a potty dance?" and he immediately responded, "I jump li wi tin!!!" We couldn't quite make out his articulation, but he kept repeating it as he jumped around. Finally, tired of us asking him to repeat himself, he ran to his room and returned with a copy of Where the Wild Things are, and repeated (more clearly, thanks to the visual), "I jump like a Wild Thing!"