Rainy Fall Days

You know the feeling when you've mentally made super exciting plans- say, picking up some donuts and milkshakes for an afternoon at the park. What toddler doesn't want to spend the afternoon taking on big kid slides while double fisting chocolate munchkins? You're positive that you must be the best afternoon adventure planner in the history of moms. And you can't wait for the babe to wake up from his nap to get the party started.

Then it all goes to hell in a hand basket because mother nature just took a giant you know what on it all. Now you're trying to soothe the stir crazy baby monster as you watch her rain on your entire parade, donuts and all.

I thank these mini pumpkins for restoring my sanity last week. This fun activity kept little Picasso busy for a golden half hour. Three mini pumpkins, a few permanent markers, and some paint was all it took. There are so many fun possibilities with these mini pumpkins- and they are just the perfect size for teeny baby hands! 

Also the perfect size to pretend that you did actually go and get donuts ;)

A girl can dream.

And speaking of dreaming, or lack thereof, it is the middle of the night and I am wide awake. My body seems to be in some state of denial that it's going to be waking up and catering to the boss in about four hours. So because it is technically Tuesday, I can finally say that tomorrow Austin and I will be taking a road trip to Georgia! I'm either getting mom of the year or dumbass of the decade for taking on this eight hour trip with a twenty one month old by myself. But there really is no question that it'll be worth it.  Dare I say I would take a screaming backseat driver all the way up if it meant we got to see some real fall weather. I'll keep you posted on that ;)

Enjoy your week- and Happy Halloween!!!

no-pumpkin patch

   I hope we've reached a general consensus about the food trucks, thumbs up all around? I'm so so wishing for something similar near our new home… but my hopes aren't too high, from what I hear we are moving to the middle of nowhere. Hooah! Let's rewind back to last weekend.

We woke up Saturday morning ready to hit the Pumpkin Patch.  These early birds not only beat the heat, but the pumpkin sellers as well. Turns out we were two hours early, so we snapped some pictures, talked to a few pumpkins, and then headed home.  So this weekend we will finally take a pumpkin home. Unless they all rot in this heat before we get back out there. And that's very likely.

Right after our no-pumpkin patch visit, we ran home and put on clothes more apt for the real Florida fall weather before heading to the Farmer's Market. These cool mornings are total fake outs. Just this scarf alone was enough to have me calling it quits after a twenty minute stroll around the market. You can't see in this picture, but our Farmer's Market is right below us and to the left a bit. We're so lucky to have such a beautiful downtown area, right on the river!

Tomorrow begins another weekend and we're kicking off major Halloween festivities with the Fall Festival at Austin's school… and obviously we have coordinating costumes. Would you expect anything else?? ;)

Have a wonderful and festive weekend- it's the last one before Halloween!

Food Trucks

Here we are smack dab in the middle of the week, and I'm finally sharing our weekend adventures! Instead of three days late, let's just call this that tiny bit of encouragement that you needed to get through the last few days before another weekend.

Our weekend was packed full of awesome. My sweet, not so baby cousin was here for the weekend, so we spent the days enjoying her company. On Friday we headed down to the Food Truck Invasion in Tradition. This is our second time going and holy amazing deliciousness, go next time if you're local. Just go. If Fried Oreos aren't your thing, maybe you'll turn down for tacos, lobster, donuts, or chocolate dipped gelato popsicles? No? You cray.

 This place has a crazy variety of food and fun. It's a good time and such an awesome way to spend Friday evenings with the kids! The first time we went, it was just the two of us.  I didn't even take a stroller. It was working out for the most part, until it wasn't anymore. Yeah, use your imagination.

Lesson learned. An extra set of hands is always a good thing and this time we brought along Austin's Radio Flyer trike. He loved being able to see everything going on around him, whereas in his stroller his view would have been really restricted. He pedaled, I pushed, and my cousin and I were able to enjoy the evening- meltdown free. 

I can't tell you enough how much I love this time of year! I feel like our weekends are already booked full with adventures up until our big move at the end of the year! By the way- if you haven't heard where we are going yet, follow along and get caught up on Instagram! Until then, I'll just call our soon-to-be home "The Great Place" ;)

My Thing

Everyone needs a hobby. I have to use both hands and feet to count all of mine. But if I'm not doing these things on a regular basis, can I even really call them all hobbies? I love scrapbooking, but it's been a year since I last scrapbooked. I'm a huge fan of long road trips, but seriously, how regularly do I go on them? So in reality, I have many interests- but hobbies? Only a couple, I guess.


So let's talk ballet.
Before my first adult ballet class, I hadn't stepped foot in a studio since sixth or seventh grade. Like every other five year old girl, I begged my mom to put me in ballet. Then six or seven ballet recitals and 20 or so costumes later, self conscious thirteen year old me begged to quit. About two seconds after popping Austin out I told Juan that I wanted to join an adult ballet class to help lose the baby weight. Thank the Lord that never happened, I can't even imagine how I would have squeezed all of that into a leotard, let alone leap through the air with the slightest hint of grace.
Or dignity.

So fast forward to Thursday morning, about two months ago. I'm not sure what flipped the switch, but I began searching for studios online. I ended up emailing the only one with classes that worked with my schedule and heard back within the hour! She asked me to come in for a class that same night. Oh okay, I haven't stretched my leg above a 90 degree angle in years and I'll be damned if I can balance on my toes for more than a second, but sure, I'll come. I showed up with a pony tail in my yoga pants and bare feet and did my best to blend in with the bun heads in their matching black leotards.

I can't remember half of the french terms, let alone what they mean. I know techniques and how to do the steps, but I cannot (for the freaking life of me) match the movement to its name. To its French name. Ask me to do a Battement Frappé, and I'll tell you sure I love coffee, extra sugar. But put someone who knows what she's doing in front of me, and you might mistake me for someone who knows what she's doing, too.

Next to this dude, I guess ballet is my main thing right now. It's my weekly hobby, matching black leotard and all. Except the bun- there aren't enough bobby pins in the world to convince my hair to stay in a bun during ballet class. And I'm getting pretty used to ponytail whiplash…


Have a good week, folks! I can't believe I'm saying it, but…. we have had a few cool mornings the past few days- and it's been won der ful!