Pumpkin Patch Here We Come!

These are from our favorite Pumpkin Patch! We love going to Parkhurst Pumpkin Patch in Arcadia (and will likely go even next year once we have moved, yes THAT good!).

First thing the big kids wanted to do is the corn maze. They have great direction sense! They led us along the shortest route out! And yes we let them make all direction choices. (Yes I know that could have been a BAD idea, but they did WONDERFUL!)

Katherine and Joseph waiting for the rest of us!

Daddy helping Isabelle with the steps into the maze.

Kids leading the way! Katherine and Joseph took turns deciding direction to go at the forks. Isabelle loved chasing after them.

Next up...Time to rest on hammock swings and wait for a turn on the tire swing!

Katherine in hammock swing.

Joseph on hammock swing. He wants one of these!

Isabelle in hammock swing - well mostly. We would but her all the way in it and she would take her legs out. She enjoyed it, but really insisted that she have her legs to the sides.

Finally Katherine's turn for tire swing. She had so much fun, but was also very good about getting off knowing other kids wanted on too!

Love her smile!

Joseph's turn! He was a little worried about falling off so would not let us push him as much. This is him saying "NOT Hard!"

Still had fun and love that face - even if he is not smiling!

On to the pony rides and petting zoo!

Katherine got to ride the big pony by herself this year!

Joseph had to have a grown up stand next to him and we got a ticket for Isabelle, but she was too scared to ride. She did not mind Daddy holding her next to the pony, but would not let him put her on one!

Katherine feeding one of the MANY goats!

Joseph's turn - with Isabelle watching in the background.

Petting turtles.

Sheep next.

Kids tossed some food in for the chickens, turkey, and other birds.

Joseph really liked the goats though!

Thought this one might come OVER the fence as Katherine was taking a while to get some food out!

Joseph looking in turtle area, with Isabelle telling Daddy she wanted to go there. She was a little nervous about the sheep standing there, since it was bigger than her!

On to the Hayride next! Tight quarters so could not get really great pictures.

Daddy with Isabelle and Joseph. Joseph was so excited we had to keep telling him to sit down before we left. Once we got started he was great! They had pumpkins along the path and he was GREAT at spotting them, often being the first one!!!

Katherine ready to go!

Isabelle was not sure about the hayride at first, but loved it!

More swings and slides!

Joseph could not decide if he liked this one or the hammock swing more.

On the way back from a potty break, he ASKED me to take a picture of him next to this sign. How could I say no? (He asked so sweetly!)

Some of his favorite things: Hay bales, Wavy slides, and being outside!

Katherine's first time trying this too! So many firsts lately...

Cinderella Carriage - The kids love this one and HAVE to have their pictures taken in it every time we go. I know I will love looking back through the years and seeing how much they have grown from time to time.

Joseph being the "driver" for the girls.

The girls in the carriage part.

And as we were leaving got these of Miss Isabelle.

Carrying out a gourd.

 We had to tell her NOT to eat it!

Park Near New House!

We wanted to go see the house that our builder did for Parade of Homes. (BTW they won several awards, as in years past for the home!) There is a park right across the street from the addition where that house is (and fairly close to our new house) that is BIG and has play areas for several different age groups. There were also kids playing soccer and Joseph REALLY wants to play, so we are thinking next spring or fall we will let him do that since it will be close to the new house!

After we were done looking the kids went to play at the park!

Joseph playing on a whale (rocks back and forth). He loved this and went back several times!

Katherine had never done this type before (did not have the nerve to let her feet off the ground). She is growing up so much!

Joseph Climbing on Alligator.

Isabelle climbed up on the top level of this play set, and got to the slide area, but was too afraid to get back down. Daddy rescued her.

Joseph running to another thing to play on!

Katherine played on this several times so I got to get some more pictures!

Joseph says "Wow! That is tall!" But with a little encouragement he made it to the top.

Trip to the Zoo

We love going to the Oklahoma City Zoo!

And I LOVE taking pictures - so here are some that I took. :)


The Oklahoma City Zoo had a new baby elephant born earlier this year (Maylee) and more recently had baby tiger cubs born. Most pictures are of these things, but there are also a few others.

Baby Update

Well it is that time... Part of pregnancy I DREAD! Glucose Tolerance Early Screening... YUCK!!!

I made sure I drank a TON of water yesterday to try and help. Well it did not! Very high protein breakfast (eggs and sausage) with no carbs. The nurse tried drawing blood...

She then called the RN, who tried drawing blood, first in arm...

Then in hand...

Still NO LUCK. It just would start and then not flow.

They ended up having to use a syringe to draw it out of my hand. SO glad Robert was in the lobby (if he had been in the room he would have passed out), but had decided to take off to help me - knowing that I usually have some sort of issue with these tests. SO incredibly grateful for an incredible husband that has the forethought I often don't. I was just going to take the kids (littlest ones in the double stroller) and just do the best I could. After nearly throwing up and almost passing out I ask the nurse to take Katherine out to get Daddy! I was NOT in good shape at all. They laid me down with cold wet cloths all over me - not sure if I was more wet from cloths or from sweat. SO GLAD that is over! Robert drove us home and took rest of the day off. I was SO thankful I was not having to drive - arms and hand were so sore and I was still feeling nauseous. We got lunch on the way home and I fell asleep in the car. Once we got home I slept for another couple hours - apparently my thinking of I can handle this and three kids, no problems, was COMPLETELY over-rated. LOL

Robert does remember my previous labors well though... The nurse told him to tell her if "Something Changes" and he said "Nothing better change!" The nurse was kinda lost and I was laughing. Robert and out doula Chris KNOW that if I say "Somethings Changed..." the baby is coming, NOW! We usually have about 5 minutes and that is it. Last time Chris was repeatedly pushing the nurses call button and Robert was texting the doctor trying to get everyone there QUICK. Robert explained it to her and she laughed and said we are too early for that and Robert said "Exactly!" She rephrased and said if my color changes again quickly to come get her.

GOOD NEWS... I PASSED!!! No 3 hour test (at least this time)!!! :D

4 more weeks and we find out what we are having. 14 more weeks and I get to do this LOVELY (can you hear the sarcasm...) test again... SO HATE THIS TEST! It always makes for an eventful day...

BIG NEWS - On House

It is OFFICIAL! We have LAND! The builder official closed on our lot last week.

What an ordeal it was! We were still waiting on the appraisal to come back and were WELL past the contract deadline. We were down the the FINAL day and still no appraisal. The mortgage company decided to just go with the builder's bank's appraisal. Not much else we could do...

That appraisal came in at $339,600. This was great news as the agreed sales total was $339, 570.77. So it was just over that and we were great even with all the additions and upgrades we did! We upgraded the air conditioning units to most efficient, upgraded master tub, added a storm shelter, added a patio fireplace, upgraded windows to Low-Energy with ones at front of house changed to a Wineberry color, added a pot filler at stove and a custom back-splash around it, added a decking shield barrier to roofing, and added a garage entry keypad - so lots of upgrades!)

They closed on the lot and did paperwork for building permits! Those should be back shortly (hopefully within the next couple days) and then they will be staking the plot for our final approval on that - then we officially break ground! All this should happen within the next week!!! So excited to start seeing things done!

I got an email today. I need to pay the appraiser $350 - EVEN WITH HIM BEING VERY LATE!!! It took him 3 weeks to get the appraisal done... Not too thrilled with that, but got some good news on that... The mortgage company's appraisal came in at $342,000 with Cost Approach Comparison being $357,315!

Great news there and hopefully tomorrow and the rest of the week continue on this trend... Baby check-up tomorrow (with the yucky glucose tolerance early screening, since I had gestational diabetes with Joseph) and we should be doing plot stuff later this week! Robert is home this week, but has been sick and getting a lot of phone calls regarding work, so not as restful as I would like. He will be gone again next week. :( HOPEFULLY we can get the plot done this week as he is supposed to sign the plot layout as well BEFORE they actually start...

Very Busy But Nothing Major Happening

We are still trying to get all the paperwork for getting the house going. The appraisal for the Mortgage Company is taking OVER 2 weeks - extremely long. We are hoping they will accept the appraisal that the builder got so we can just get started! That appraisal came out $400 under what we were hoping, but since we have paid off all of our other debts this is not a big deal at all! We were actually thinking it would end up being that we would have to drop some of the options we wanted because the appraisal would come back much lower...

No baby news since ultrasound... I have another appointment next week and I will be doing the early gestational diabetes screening at that time since I had it with Joseph. We think it was more the celiac disease now because usually once you have it you do with all subsequent pregnancies as well, and I did NOT with Isabelle. Diet was the major thing I changed between the two - because we found out about the celiacs. Will post more on that next week.

We are closing down the Produce Buying Group. We lost a LOT of people when I announced that we would be stopping at the end of the year because we would be getting ready to move and getting ready for a new baby. Numbers have continued to decline since that point, to the point where splitting the food up is getting too difficult. If anyone local wants to get a CASE, or split a case with the SMALL group of us that are going to do it together (for splitting you need to be here to help so I can make sure to follow legal guidelines since I am no longer doing it as a business) please let me know as I can still go get it! This is how I plan on continue to help us save money on things we use a lot of - like APPLES! My kids can go through 40# of apples a month (EASILY!). Once we move the location is even closer. They do have pumpkins coming in and it is cheaper than the store prices. If you have never done your own Pie Pumpkins I can teach you how! (If not local send me a message - it is VERY easy, cheaper and better for you than canned stuff!)

We are trying out some new things with both school and general schedule, and with Robert traveling so much (he was in Las Vegas last week, and is Salt Lake City this week, and will be in Dallas week after next) it is not going as smooth as I would like...

I am working on trying to start getting things packed and organized for the new house. My non-maternity clothes are going to get packed away today, except a few nursing shirts. As it looks right now we are still looking at the baby coming as we are closing/moving in to new house. So we will need some help the end of March/early April... Robert will also be gone 1-2 weeks a month for the next couple years getting this project installed - including MARCH AND APRIL next year! NOT FUN... I will be trying to keep my stress level low and take it easy - but anyone who knows me, knows that doing so will be much easier SAID than actually DONE!

Off to run errands... May see about picking up a couple cases of tomatoes some time and making more homemade salsa and tomato and spaghetti sauces. Needing more quick/easy things and not wanting to keep buying jarred stuff now that my energy level is coming back! If anyone wants to join me and learn canning let me know. :) I would be glad to show you and I have all the canning equipment already.