You&Me + Three!

Halloween 2014 was not how I initially planned. Last year we had just moved and Emmett was just a few months old, we skimped on Halloween because our kids were so young. They dressed up, the went trick or treating.. We even visited a corn maze.. But we didn't celebrate fall like the "Pinterest" moms. -I was bummed.

This year, I wanted to be that mom that crammed everything in.. That decorated her whole house, made tons of halloween themed foods, carved out pumpkins, visited pumpkin patches, the whole she-bang.

Life happens.

We ended up moving on October 10. Moving means my house was in shambles for an entire month. (Let's me honest.. Here we are nearly 2 months later and it's just starting to resemble a home) So all of those "Pinterest mom" plans I made turned out to be laughable expectations.. But we did dress up. And because I felt like a failure as a fun mom (who didn't even carve a pumpkin or see a pumpkin patch or bake anything at all) we went to Halloween at the gulfarium and trick or treated and stayed up getting high on sugar.

My sweet Karleigh is absolutely in love with Sofia "first time" so naturally she was Sofia for Halloween.. With "a crown, and shoes, and amulet and all her things". I died. My princess dressed as a princess. Emmett's first 2 words put together were "mickey mouse" followed by "oh toodles" so he was Mickey for Halloween. He loved it. Seeing them so excited to dress like their favorite characters was the sweetest. They didn't care that I was so overwhelmed with moving that we didn't have time for all the things I had planned.

I'm not a "Pinterest mom". I'm afraid Pinterest was designed to make us normal, real moms feel inadequate. The expectations to outdo each other and turn ever small detail of life into a party complete with homemade ombré cake is silly. I'm coming to terms with the fact that I can't do everything and that's okay. My kids will still have a great childhood it they don't carve a pumpkin or eat organic, homemade, pumpkin shaped treats they helped make. We will get over it. ;)

I feel like I just posted my sweet son's 10 month post & here it is time to write his 11 month post. As I nurse my little baby to sleep right now I can't help but feel so bitter sweet. He's going to be a toddler soon & this phase of our lives will be behind us. He's going to be a toddler and moving on to big kid stuff.. I'm not ready to have two toddlers.

2/22/2014 *

While Daddy had to work, Pappy thought it would be so fun to take us to the Gulf Breeze Zoo. Karleigh was fascinated by all of the animals. Her favorite was defiantly the Tiger.. They were pacing their enclosure and she wanted to watch them for a long time. Same with the lions.. Big Cats. She also loved the 'Choo Choo' train! I think we all did though, it was fun to see so many animals. Karleigh is currently at such a fun age! [days away from being two] She's learning animals sounds and how to walk or move like them. It was very educational for her!

After walking around for a while, we took a break so the kids could 'sliddddee' and we could have a nice lunch outside. The food was great and the company was even better. I haven't gotten to spend quality time with my Dad in a long time. [much needed] The kids also got some great Pappy Time.

Emmett was such a great sport! He sat in the stroller and took in all of his surroundings or slept in the Ergo. Not a fuss out of him! I did come prepared with snacks and plenty of nursing whenever he needed it. You could tell by his sweet smile that he also had a blast.

Daddy was quite jealous that we went to the zoo without him. He requested a trip with him SOON. We sent him plenty of pictures throughout our day that I'm sure only made his jealousy worse. ;) <3