every captive thought

I didn't grow up celebrating Halloween and Brad did, so when we got pregnant with James, Brad and I sorted out what holidays, and the various aspects of said holidays, that we would and would not celebrate with our kids. Halloween didn't make the cut. But...then along came "trunk or treat" at our church. A compromise? Perhaps. But we decided to go this year. And it may have been our last. It was total pandemonium. But before I get to that...let me introduce the cast of characters. First up we have Jude the baby pumpkin. He didn't love it. At. All. But oh what a cute little pumpkin. Next up we have James the turtle. (Brad won. I wanted the bumble bee but I gave in...I'm submissive like that. Stop laughing.) We stopped by Nana and Papa's first where James made a major haul on the goods. I had to bribe him to get this picture with his baby brother. After Nana and Papa's we headed out to "Trunk or Treat" at our church. 125 cars dis...

Oh my word yall...I am having some serious love over this new series Blue Bloods on CBS. Love love love. First of all because of this... Need I say more? I think not. Don't act like you don't agree. But also because it is a really good show. Love ya and bye....I'm going to go watch some old episodes of Magnum P.I. to tide me over until Friday.

There is a little "Jungle Safari" aka petting zoo in a parking lot near our house so we took the boys there this morning. Seems as if we showed up a little too early because half of the animals were still asleep. Get these creatures some coffee for pete's sake. Because, let me tell you, there is nothing exciting about a sleeping tiger. Nothing. *Yawn* Same with the camel. They offered camel rides but from the looks of it, she didn't plan on letting anyone ride her. Plus, girlfriend needs to get some cocoa butter up on her knees and elbows...they're all ashy. She looked as grumpy as I felt this morning. I feel her pain. I'd feel cranky too if I had to sleep in a parking lot with only a thin layer of hay. It's undignified. You know I am not a big fan of goats. (These are goats, right?) Seems like Jamesie was a bit leery of them too. But come on...look at it there in the bottom corner. Creepy. For reals though, I don't really feel good about p...

Our first fire of the season! I love you Fall!

"OH MY GOSH! Again with the camera. Really? " "Ok. Give me a minute. " "Let me get my pout ready. " "Take it." ~~~~~ I was worried that I wouldn't like the new one as much as I like the first one. I was wrong.

He makes the most mundane things exciting. I love this about him.

That smiling business is exhausting!

Not surprisingly, James smiled early and easily. Such a little ray of sunshine...just like his Daddy. Jude, on the other hand, takes after me. Mr. Serious. I've been working for a smile from this kid for days now. He's not giving it up easily. I've pulled out all of my best baby tricks...my no-fail smile makers. It's not working. "Oh-no...here we go again. " "My Mom is a freak." *Skeptical side-eye* "I'm not going to do it. " "Fine. Here. You happy now? " "Go away. "

This is my favorite time of night... Getting to snuggle with one of my three favorite guys.

Jude is normally a very chill kid. Until tonight when he decided to be cranky for AN HOUR. I tried gas drops. I tried rocking him. I tried the binkie. Nothing. Until I laid him on my chest and started singing the first song that popped into my head, which unfortunately was Crash . He's a DMB fan. Who knew. I better dig the cd out. Here he is in his DMB-induced zen state. I wanted to get a picture of James and Jude in their big brother, little brother shirts. Jude needed a moment to prepare. What a diva. James is always camera-ready. James might go as a Bee for Halloween...except not Halloween but the non-Halloween thing at our church. He also might go as a turtle because Brad thinks it would be cooler. We'll see. Jude will probably go as a baby. Or a pumpkin. Or a baby pumpkin. James wanted to snuggle in bed with me tonight. That is an offer that is not usually turned down because he is so cute. And because he had a rough day. He sprayed kitchen cleaner in h...