McMartin Family Fun Weekend

This weekend we were fortunate enough to spend not just one, but TWO full days, with our awesome friends Melanie, Jonathan & Jake.  Have I mentioned lately how glad I am that they're back from Geneva?  Because I am.  Melanie is such a great Mama role model.  I tried to think of some type of role model that Jonathan or Ryan are for one another but fell short.  Way way short.  The truth is that they bring out the high schooler in one another, but luckily their stellar wives balance them out.  ;c)  Reunited and it feels so good.  Melanie & Jonathan's pergola roof may feel differently, but that's a story for another day, isn't it?  I know that I should probably split this into 2 separate posts because it's going to be picture-heavy, but you know what?  It's about to be single mama week and Emery is asleep.  So I'm serving you up a 2-for-1 special instead.

This past Friday, October 25th, Ryan and I both happened to have the day off.  We planned to try to hit up a pumpkin patch for the cliche fall baby-frolicking-in-pumpkin pics that have been cluttering up your newsfeed.  Clearly we needed to earn that parenting merit badge.  I mentioned the idea to Melanie who was totally on board and mentioned going to the Oil Ranch because she had heard good things.  Earning the let-your-kid-sit-on-some-animals and feed-some-animals merit badges on top of the pumpkin one?  Yes please.  Melanie somehow convinced Jonathan to take a half day which decreased Ryan's grumbling quotient and all was right in the world.

We arrived around 1:30 juuuust in time to miss the 5 jillion buses of field trips thanks to Melanie's expert sleuthing skills.  This left us 1.5 hours for a photographing melee.  It wound up being the perfect amount of time for 2 male adults, 1 pregnant lady, 1 toddler and 1 7.5 month old to trapse around.  We had an excellent time and I'd totally go back to earn some other parenting badges in the future. Enjoy the evidence of our toils below.

Looks just like the original, doesn't it?

Little Red was just Emery's size.  She's really wondering where Zelda the princess is.

Jake perfecting his cowboy skills for his Halloween costume.

Trying to capture a picture with the animals in the petting zoo was more difficult than you would expect.  I think they were scarred by the buses and buses of elementary-aged kiddos who were there before us.

Just some chicks checking out some chicks.

Emery looking a little underwhelmed by Miss Daisy.

In case you were curious how difficult it is to get a decent picture of the two of them, behold exhibit A.  Of 5 attempts, this is the best one.

Mama & her love bug.

Mama Mel & Mr. Jake.

Daddy & his princess.

Yo, cows.  Where you at?!

These cows were not afraid to get fresh.

So proud of Jake for being a brave little cow-feeder.

Too young to feed the cows.  Not too young to be held awkwardly in the air in front of them.

Which one of these is not like the others?

Although it's not evident 30 minutes into what should be her naptime, I think she likes us.  At least that's what I tell myself.

Maybe I should rethink the above theory?

A glimpse into our future.  If I think photographing an infant is difficult, photographing a toddler looks impossible.

There we have a little smile.  Why, you ask?  Because she's looking at Jake.  Duh.

The pumpkin patch was full of Emery-sized pumpkins.  There's my smiley little boogie.

Merit badge: earned.

Seriously just want to eat her.  About as much as it looks like she wants to eat that pumpkin on her left.

Practicing for his strongman competition.

The next day, as a reward for their good Daddy-ness, the boys watched the A&M vs Vanderbilt game over at Melanie and Jonathan's while Melanie & I witnessed pringle-smashing, played referees between Jake, Emery and Murphy and just generally corraled the little ones.  After the game, while our little bosses napped, we were treated to some delicious hamburger/hotdog goodness by the host/hostess with the most/mostess.  Could we be more spoiled?  Probably not.

The night before we learned that Melanie and Jonathan's neighbors throw a huuuuuge Halloween shindig.  I'm talking HUGE.  They spent a week transforming their garage/side yard into a haunted house.  There were 2 bounce houses.  A food truck.  A make up artist.  It was some serious stuff.  After the game because the weather was so dreamy, we sat out in their front yard and watched all the excitement coming to fruition.  Unfortunately, Ryan, Em & I had to leave before the festivities really kicked off, but luckily we got to scope out the haunted house before we had to head out.  It also gave us a great excuse to put Emery's costume to good use.  I heard from Melanie later that night that the party was every bit as awesome as it looked like it would be.  Mad props to their neighbors for all their creativity and energy!

Thank you so, so much to Melanie, Jonathan and Jake for playing all weekend with us.  Pumpkins, scarecrows, a ranch, a haunted house and football?   Doesn't get much more fall than that.  You guys are the best and we love you to pieces.  I look forward to the next McMartin family fun day.  

Mom, is that a food truck?!

Powering up the peacock.

Tell me that isn't the cutest fluorescent turkey you've ever seen?

Mom, do you promise this tail doesn't make my butt look big?

The peacock in it's natural environment.

As you can see from Jake's face, the haunted house was very realistic.

I'm seriously impressed.

Mom, where did my hands go?!

Are they not ever coming back?!

Hahahaha, Jake's funny.

Okay, back to worrying about my hands.  Get me out of this thing.

Mooooooving On Up

A couple of Fridays ago (October 11th), on my way out of school after picking up Emery the front desk grabbed me and gave me the letter I'd been dreading receiving.  The following week Emery had to move classes.  At Em's school moving between classes is milestone-, and availability-based.  (I should probably insert here that these "rooms" are only separated by a half wall so the tale of heartache you're about to read is probably a tad on the dramatic side.  That doesn't make it any less real though!)  

The first milestone to change classes was mobility.  I have known this since we picked this school last November.  So since the day Emery started crawling I knew our number could get called at any moment.  This knowledge did not keep me from welling up when I read the letter though.  Nor did the clear understanding and acceptance of WHY this milestone was instituted (envision your child laying peacefully on the play mat, as my Babyzilla-esque child crawls right over them).   Nooooope.  Definitely still was super sad.  And kiiiiiinda weepy.  And kept randomly bringing it up to Ryan over the weekend in a completely dejected tone.  I'm such a mature, well-adjusted adult.  (Have I mentioned how accountants don't handle change well?)

So on October 15th, our tiny diva made the switch from Infant A to Infant B.  She appears to have had a stellar first week, and to no one's surprise, handled it far better than her Mama.  Her BFF in class made the move with her and they were both reunited with 2 little girls who are a couple of months older and made the transition a few weeks back.  I know in the end it's better for Emery as she needs more stimulating toys and things to look at.  That is what I will keep reminding myself of when I feel sharp pangs of nostalgia when I pick her up/drop her off and wave at her old teachers and look at her old crib. 

Also, despite knowing they do not read this blog, I would like to put it out into the universe that we are incredibly, incredibly thankful for all that her Infant A teachers did for her.  We could not have asked for better caretakers, teachers and leaders for our sweet baby.  We look forward to all that her Infant B teachers will teach her in the coming months- they definitely have some big shoes to fill.  We're proud of you, baby E!

On the left is the first day she went to Infant A at almost 3 months (for her trial run on May 29th) and on the right is her first day in Infant B at 7 months and some change (October 15th).  Isn't it mind-blowing how much she has changed???

Babyzilla in action.  Imagine your child was Sophie.  Perhaps it was time.

I Don't Think We're in Kansas...errr... Our 20's Anymore.

On October 16th my BFF turned 30.  For those of you keeping count, that means we have now been one another's real better halves for 19 years.  Kinda crazy, right?  Per ususal, Jen was dragging her feet about wanting to do anything to celebrate.  Some hullabaloo about other people being busy and what not.  Ridiculousness.  Obviously entering into a new decade, particularly one that rhymes with dirty, can't be glossed over.  In order to prevent this, Jen's sweet hubby had the brilliant idea to throw her a surprise party and enlisted my assistance.

You have to wake up pretty early in the morning, or just pump her full of good food & beverage, to be able to fool Jen.  Brendan opted for the latter and took her out to Americas while I gussied up the house and hung out with Jen's birthday fan club.  While waiting for the guest of honor's grand entrance we touched on such important topics as the many uses of lambskin, the pros and cons of yelling "give me your money" rather than "surprise," and  the creepiness factor of being seated at someone's dining room table alone in the dark when they arrive home.

After Jen got home we continued to discuss important current events including, but not limited to, new niche areas of photography and what living in the suburbs really means.  Oh, and on top of such riveting dialogue there was cookie cake, red wine, old school Nintendo and a foot race.  I couldn't dream up a better birthday celebration if I wanted to.  Thank you to everyone who was kind enough to make it out and thank YOU to Jen for being such an awesome sport.  Happiest of Birthdays, Gary!

Do you see what I did there?

30's Survival Guide.

Blowing up balloons is a lot more difficult than when I was 10.

I know it looks like I made this sign when I was drunk.  Shockingly, I was completely sober.  Definitely a reflection of my inability to draw straight lines.  It's the thought, right?

Shawna is better at taking pictures than me even with her iPhone.

I forgot to get flowers.  I also forgot to take a picture before people started eating.  Again.

Shawna, Melanie & sweet baby M.

Julie & I looking very jolly green with Melanie & Rashell.

Shawna demonstrating the proper way to pose.

For little old me?

Most likely she's this pumped we aren't singing anymore.

Nav, Austin & Jonathan demonstrating their manliness.

This thrilled for cookie cake?  Or being newlyweds?  I'll let you decide.

Intense Nintendo trash talking.

Melanie's look of concentration is pure awesomeness.

How else would you get back to your car if not in a 40 yard dash competition?  That's a wrap, folks.