PUMPKIN PATCH {BLUES}

After a two weeks of a sick baby and 1 week of a very sick Papa...we attempted (I know what were we thinking) to go to the pumpkin patch to get of the house and maybe do something fun. To give you a little bit of background, holidays and fun have not really gone together for Luella (yes, she is only 2 and there hasn't been that many, but still). She has never been well on any holiday or birthday and they have all been frustrating (mostly for mom, but still frustrating). I know going to the pumpkin patch is not a holiday, but still "holidayish." It started out fun. Luella was so excited at first to see all the pumpkins and be there with Brooklyn. 

Luella immediately started organizing all the pumpkins, by filling in all the holes in the pumpkin rows with pumpkins from a big pile. She could have done this for hours, but she was distracted by the thought of going on some rides. 

Now Luella and I know she doesn't like rides, but her friend was doing it and it seems like a good idea. I thought, cool, she is being brave, let's give it a go. So she followed Brookie and climbed on the fire truck. Aaron buckled them up and they were ready to go....but as soon as Aaron was no longer in site, I saw the fear on Luella's face as she looked at me on the other side of the rail and said..."I don't like it, I don't like it." Luckily, we got her out in time and was just fine cheering for Brookie.

She raised her fist in the air and said, "Do it Brookie. Do it." So cute, and Papa helped.

After cheering, Luella said she did and then didn't want to go on more rides, we went through this about 4 more times, and she had reached her limit. She decided to destress by organizing more pumpkins. I mean, there were many empty spots to be filled, and if there was no spot she was good pushing a pumpkin out of the way to make room (or a "home" as she called it) for hers. Below is a typical series of events with "Placing a pumpkin in it's home"...try to pick up pumpkin, drop pumpkin, cry and get frustrated, finally pick up pumpkin again and tell us know "really too heavy",  place pumpkin in  home, tell us "I did it, pumpkin is happy now, it's in it's home", sit of pumpkin for a picture.

After this, it all went down hill. Luella has limits for sure, and melts quick. Outings must be planned, prepped, short and with purpose. It was hot, come to find out later, she had an ear infection, and she was over stimulated and reached her breaking point. She became a kicking and screaming lump of two year on the ground throwing straw everywhere. 

So we scooped her up as she kick and scream all the way to to van where we put on Elf and the air to try to calm her down. The grand plan was to get some cute pictures of our family, and some clever pumpkin and belly picture of baby Grace...but two happened and pictures didn't. Stay tuned for halloween. Luella will attempt to be a Strawberry. Or should I say, Mom bought her a strawberry costume in hopes that she will want to wear it. This is will mostly likely not happen, just like "the-very-cute-halloween-going-to-the-pumpkin-patch-outfit" did not happen. She, in the most polite voice, as if she new this would make me sad and did not want to hurt my feelings, told me "I can't wear this mom," while handing me back the outfit. Until next year. This has been a common them of holiday festivities, until next year. 

SUMMER VACATION {COLORADO}

Early this summer we went to Colorado to visit Aaron's sister's family. I was just finishing my first trimester and still a little nauseous and yucky. That, coupled with the elevation and the fact that the school year had just ended, lead to me not really being able to do much but relax and take lots of naps...My kind of vacation. When we did get out here and there, and since it is Colorado, it was of course, beautiful! We went to the mountains to ride a train (we missed the train and went to dinner instead) but the drive was well worth this cute little town (again the nausea and the altitude has made me forget the name of this town, or really the capability of remembering it in the first place). What I do remember is that the town had an old candy store, which is my favorite part about mountain towns. I feel like desert in the mountains just tastes better. There we had Sour Cream Poppy flavored home made ice cream and extra hot cinnamon candy....yum. Here are some shots of the cousins (Brody, Alex & Lu) where the train would have picked us up!

As you can see, we were all a little cold and tired. But none the less, it is a family picture. I think we have like 5 total of all 3 of us.

Lu (1.5) and her Cousin Brody (3) outside of the Butterfly Pavilion. Unlike the mountains, this day was hot, and the kids weren't that impressed with the butterflies. Instead they had much more fun playing outside in the parking lot...typical.

On this trip is where Luella fell in love with her cousin Brody. She had a blast playing with him and imitating him. They wore necklaces and sunglasses most of the time they were playing inside. Brody said they were Rock Stars; Luella just happy she could put the glasses on herself! This is also where Luella fell in love with jumping. She wanted to jump on the trampoline often. Of course, I was your typical paranoid mother who thought she was going to fly off the edge and tried to be on all four sides as one time....and of course, she was fine.

I was our one trip of the summer and visiting family is always fun, especially when you are welcome with a turkey dinner in the middle of June. Can't wait to go back again...next time there could be 4 of us!

WHERE WE'VE BEEN...

I gave blogger a break, in hopes that I would blog more on a more user friendly phone app, tumblr. Realized it was just me! So we are back...you can check out the last 6 months at http://coravolkoff.tumblr.com/.

A VERY {UNHAPPY=SICK} BIRTHDAY TO YOU

And she is 2...Snotty, sick, frosted and a little bit sad, Yet she still managed to give her best birthday smile. Project "work on opening the eyes while smiling" is still in the works.

This is a glimpse of the future...the blog is back. Standby...