Pumpkin Patching With my Crew

Happy Friday! This past weekend when we were in town visiting my family, we made our annual trip to the pumpkin patch! We found a neat pumpkin patch that had hay rides, inflatables, and a petting zoo and were so excited to go check it out.

This year with Preston was easily the most fun we have ever had at the pumpkin patch. He is almost two and so interactive and FUN! He loved the pumpkins and the petting zoo, and sliding down the inflatable slide with mama was his favorite thing ever.

We went with my twin and her family and my mom, who was taking this picture. The hay ride was so fun, and Preston sat still and took the whole thing in!

When Parker found out there was a petting zoo, he was all in. He was so excited to take Preston to the petting zoo. They pet goats and pigs. Preston thought it was kind of fun. Parker was a kid in a candy shop.

Kisses for Grammy before we went to indulge in our fried oreos, fried cookie dough, and fried poptarts! We didn't get to do the fair this year, so apparently we compensated at the pumpkin patch. I didn't get pictures of the 5000 calorie food, but how sweet are these two? We just love our Grammy so much.

Since Preston was a bit too young to climb up and go down the slide by himself, I went with him. He LOVED it! I will say that the narrow middle section of the inflatable where you climb up is not meant for a grown woman holding a toddler, but hearing his giggle every time we slid down made climbing that thing worth it. So fun!

His thing this year was sitting on the pumpkins. Why? Who knows? But to him, it was a perfectly acceptable place to take a sit.

Since the first Fall after Taylor Grace went to Heaven, I have been picking a white pumpkin for her. This was my fourth year in a row picking a white pumpkin for our angel girl, and we also got a cute orange pumpkin for Preston. I love my babies.

The pumpkin patch killed it this year, and I can only imagine how much more fun Preston will have next year. My favorite Fall family affair did not disappoint!

Family Lake Trip 2018

We were given the rare gift from the Navy powers that be and got to take an entire week of vacation this past week! We high tailed it to Dallas to spend time with Parker's family and visit their new lake house for the first time. We had so much fun!

Parker grew up going to the lake every year, similarly to how I grew up going to the beach every year. He has really special memories at the lake, and now we are both excited for Preston to get to make memories there. Pres is a typical boy and would live outside if we let him, so the lake life really suited him.

Here are a few highlights from the trip!

We spent a couple of days at Parker's parents house before heading to the lake, so morning walks together were a daily thing. I looked over, and Preston was holding his grandfather's hand. So sweet. 

Two of our good friends had their baby while we were in town, so we got to go see them! Their baby boy is just perfect and gave us all the newborn baby fever!

The next day, we took off for the lake! Our outdoor-loving boy loved every minute of it! He is walking to the boat with Lolli (Parker's mom) here. He hated that life jacket but safety first.

Jenny loves boats. Preston loves land. That's what I gathered after this sunset boat ride.

Three generations of Phelps boys!

I caption this picture "when the rest of the family wants to go into the water but your child prefers the land"... we had our own little private beach date.

Driving the car with Lolli and Pops!

Parker and I were excited to get away for a morning and bike around the lake. I hadn't biked in a while but used to bike around our city during my college summers. This was a 9 mile bike ride, so it sounded like no big deal, right? Wrong! It was about an hour of hills and kicked my little rear end. Parker thinks there was something wrong with my bike, but I am probably just a wuss. Either way, an hour of biking up hills was fun... but not something I will do next time we are there. ;)

Mid bike ride: hanging in there and enjoying the views.

Post ride: over. it.

We caught up to this little ham who was very much in his element and would swing all day if we let him.

After spending a few days at the lake, we headed back to Dallas to play and hang out with the extended family. We took Preston to a little indoor play place, and it was adorable. They don't have this stuff in the small town we live in, so we took full advantage while we were away!

Life size light brite! The 90s kid in me was smiling from ear to ear watching my kid play with this.

We ended the trip by staying the night with my grandparents before heading back to Kingsville. They are two of my favorite people, and Preston has really bonded with them too, so I just love our little visits. I could have stayed another week with them, but it was back to Kingsville we go!

Parker, Preston, Jenny, and I had a wonderful time catching up with family and experiencing the lake as a family! Until next time...

Pumpkin Patch Bliss

I would start off this post saying something cliche like "I just love Fall", but really, doesn't everyone love Fall? Temps are cool but not yet cold, it's finally football season, and Fall scents of apple and pumpkin are the bomb.com. It's the best!

I love love love the pumpkin patch and have been so excited to take Preston to the pumpkin patch this year! I had two Fall pregnancies and took both my babies in utero to the pumpkin patch, so getting to take my cute, chubby baby in person was so sweet. My parents were in town earlier this month, so we decided to all go and make it a big family outing. I was in heaven!

This pumpkin patch had so many pumpkins and so many fun things for kids- a petting zoo, pony rides, and carnival rides. Super cool for toddlers and kids, but obviously there wasn't much our baby could do to participate. We couldn't stay too long (#napschedule), but we were able to walk around the patch, take photographic proof that we made it, and of course pick our pumpkins. Both my boys were dressed in maroon since the Aggie game was on later that evening!

Even though Preston had no clue where we were, he still seemed to think the pumpkins were cool to touch and play with. He is just getting to that age where he is discovering every little thing. It really is the most magical thing to relearn the world through your child's eyes, and I know it is only going to get better.

I picked a pumpkin for both of my babies before it was time to go. This was my third year in a row picking a white pumpkin for our angel baby, and it is one of my very favorite traditions. Like I said, I had a Fall pregnancy with Taylor and with Preston, but before I knew about baby Preston, I dreamed of taking Taylor Grace to the pumpkin patch. I won't ever get to do that here on earth, but I will always pick a beautiful white pumpkin just for her. The pumpkin patch was so special this year, and as cheesy as it sounds, a dream come true getting to experience it with my perfect, healthy baby. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. 

Babies Take Chi Town

This past weekend, we packed up our little family and headed to a city we have always wanted to visit: Chicago! My aunt and uncle live there with my cousins, so we were so excited to visit them and see a new city. My twin sister and her family of three also flew in, and we loved getting the babies together again! It was a quick weekend trip, but we packed in as much as we could and loved every minute of it!

Exploring a new city with a baby is a little different. Normally, Parker and I would have set out into the city and walked around all day long. With two babies that have to eat and take naps, that's not really an option. But, we made the best of what we could do, and my family was super accommodating of our littlest travel buddy. 

We started Saturday out with a trip to the Navy Pier. This is rated the #1 tourist attraction in Chicago, so we were excited to check it out. It was a beautiful 85 degree day, and the water was really pretty!

We ate lunch at a restaurant on the pier, and Parker and I both had our first lobster rolls. I loved it and he liked it. Neither of us are huge seafood people, but I thought the lobster roll was so so good!

Speaking of food, Friday night we ordered in and had authentic Chicago deep dish pizza. Oh my goodness, that stuff was amazing! To think Chicagoans can just eat that whenever they want. So good. 

After we walked along the Navy Pier for a little bit, we headed to see that infamous silver bean. Why is this mirror bean thing so famous? I honestly have no idea, but we took our picture in front of it like the cheesy tourists we are and checked it off the old bucket list.

Twin shot with the bean. It was much bigger in person than I was expecting!

Other than touring the city for a bit, our days were spent doing this: playing with the babies. I wouldn't have it any other way! Preston and Emmett are so close to being able to play together. This time next year, they're going to have so much fun!

Chicago was a really neat city, but these people were easily my favorite part. Quality family time with the people I grew up with... it was heaven. We were sad to say goodbye but thankful that the holidays are just around the corner so we get to see them again soon!

Padre Island 2017

This past week, we hopped on a plane and flew to the great state of Texas for our first vacation with our baby! We met my entire extended family in Padre Island, TX for a week of sun, sand, and more food than any of us care to admit. 

Growing up, I went to Padre Island every year with my Nana, cousins, aunt, uncle, mom, and sisters. Easily some of my fondest childhood memories came from these trips. We went every year, but it had been 4-5 years since we had been with all of us kids growing up, going to college, getting married, etc. We were adamant about starting the tradition back up now that babies are in the picture, and I am so glad we did. It really was the best week ever!

We laughed that we flew all the way to Texas for a beach vacation when we live in Virginia Beach and have a beach in our backyard, but family makes it all worth it! This was Preston's first flight and trip to the motherland, and he handled it like a champ. Here are some highlights from our trip!

There is nothing better than the sounds and smell of the ocean! We found time to enjoy it in between naps and feedings. #vacationingwithababy

I am convinced there is nothing better than discovering the world through your child's eyes. This motherhood gig is the best, and I am so grateful. 

Kissing cousins! We were so excited to have the babies back together! Next year, they are going to be nonstop!

Emmett was mildly interested in the other tiny human on the floor. Preston was only interested in things he could shove into his mouth.

My best bud. We are pretty obsessed with each other these days, and I love it!

Hey boys, smile! This is what they did the entire photoshoot... clearly the ocean was calling them a la Moana. My mom (aka Grammy) was in her element! She is seriously the baby whisperer and so, so good with these babies. Emmett is obsessed with her and at the age where he will only go to certain people, her being one of the few on that list. While Preston will still allow anyone to hold him, he cries for half the people that try, and my mom is one of the few that can calm him down every time. I just love seeing her be a Grammy! These boys are the luckiest.

Nana with her grandkids and great grandkids! She is the grand matriarch and one of my favorite people on the planet. Thanks to her for starting this tradition so many years ago!

Back in the airport ready for the flight home! Funny story... we showed up for our flight Sunday evening, and as we were pulling up to the airport, I looked up our flight number on my phone only to realize our flight was actually... Monday. Cue a minor panic attack from my husband and the biggest "oopsies-please-still-love-me" faces from me. There was nothing the airlines could do for us since it was so late in the day, so we got a bonus day with my family and flew out the next day. Other than Parker having to extend his leave and us having to shuffle a few things around, it ended up being just fine. An extra day with my mom, twin, and baby Emmett? Yes please! Shoutout to my husband for being very understanding through the whole ordeal. The takeaway here is one should never book flights at 6 AM when they are sleep deprived from caring for a newborn.

Finally on the plane and ready to go! I snapped this picture because Parker does this every. single. flight. I find it so endearing that he is the one person out there that reviews the safety information in the back of the seat. I mean, the guy's a pilot, so in the event of an emergency, I am sure he would know what to do better than most people on that plane regardless of if he reads the safety card or not. I still love that he reads it though!

That's Padre Island 2017! We are already so ready to go next year! A one year old Emmett and Preston running around the beach like banshees? Bring it on!