Trick-or-Treating

We had a great time trick-or-treating this year, but would have enjoyed it more if the husbands could have been with us! Next year!!! Everyone came over around 430-500, let the kids run around like crazy, we ate some yummy chili and appetizers, some of the NON-prego adults had some wine and beer (Trav, Jason and Mr. Nannen both had one just FOR YOU!) Then around sundown we got all the costumes on and goody bags in hand and off we went into the dark to try and collect as much loot as possible! It was a gorgeous night and you could see every star in the sky! Some of our good friends and fellow Red Devil ladies that do not have kids joined us for the fun and really seemed to have a good time also! The kids were hilarious and just so excited! I actually think Ryan said, "I am SO excited!" at one point which got everyone laughing. He is hilarious!! Our first stop was our next door neighbor, The Koders a.k.a. the "triplets house", Alan opened the door and the kids flocked. Ryan wasn't really sure what to do, but after a little direction he figured it out! As we were walking away Alan said, "Hey Ryan, here are a few extra pieces just for you!" Then he handed him SMARTIES which produced the biggest grin and the sweetest "Thank you!" YEah!!! Then we were off to our babysitter, Nicole's house. You would have never known that he even knew her. He was all about the candy and could care less that one of his favorite people in the world was handing him candy. So funny! After this house the kids figured the whole thing out and were on a mission. Ryan and Petey both rode around in their little cars and GLADLY hopped out at every house to collect their loot, then came back, hopped in the car and we were off. I think they enjoyed getting to ride so they could concentrate on TRYING to open whatever candy the had just received!! I was very disappointed when Ryan had an entire bowl of yumminess to chose from and he picked a STARLIGHT MINT! Really!! Tricia pointed out that he went for the colorful candy....all the non-chocolate stuff. BOO!! Everyone was having fun, but it was getting late and very chilly, so we turned around at the corner of Granite and Obsidian and headed back to Casa de Kelley to let the kids play for a bit longer, pass out candy to all the older kids and so the adults could warm up, take our shoes off and start Round 2 of the apps and yummy desserts everyone brought!! We really didn't get many trick-or-treaters this year and I assume it was because it fell on a Sunday night. Regardless, we had fun and we were ALL worn out!! After all of our guests left, Ryan and I turned out all the lights and went straight upstairs. He was fine with only reading one book, quickly sucked down his milk and then he passed OUT!! I then quickly changed out of my costume, brushed my teeth and crawled into my bed. At that moment I realized that was the 1st time I had truly sat down to relax all day. I started my day at 0900 and ended it around 1000....oh my aching body!! I did sit for a few minutes while eating, but you know me....I was up and down constantly!! It is hard to be the hostess with an excited 2 year old running around . Thank you to my wonderful friends, Sarah and Allyson, that helped me keep an eye out for him!! They are like his other mothers and I am truly blessed!! This morning I woke up, tackled the house for about an hour and then enjoyed the day with my son. Ryan never got out of his pajamas and I got out of mine around 430, only so I could go outside to clean up the rotten pumpkin on my porch and to take the trash to the street, etc. We did a lot of choo choo playing, book reading and movie watching today...which was perfect!!

The crew at one of the last houses. It was so hard trying to get them all to look at the camera at the same time. They were pretty worn out at this point...."they" meaning the adults! ha!!

Petey Nannen and his granddad- Mr. Nannen

Fellow Red Devil Ladies, Teresa Thompson as a Deviled Egg and Jenn Martin as a Fairy and Prego as a witch!

Notice what Ryan is doing....trying to open the candy he just got....he did it after every house!!

After a few houses they really got the hang of it all. Alexis, the dog, was very into the whole thing and practically ran to each house. Hilarious!!

The Noodle walking up to one of many houses....look at that sweet thing!

Ryan with our babysitter, Nicole!

He would not smile for me....grr.

Getting ready to go and TRYING to get a good shot of the BLACK CAT!

Okay...I look so big in this picture. I think it is the way I was sitting, but even my face looks huge. We could not capture a decent pic of us the entire night.

But I did capture one of the adorable Nannen Family!!

Scripps Ranch Pumpkin Patch/Festival

Oh, what a gorgeous day it turned out to be! When I woke up to a dark sky and pouring rain I saw us inside all day cleaning, doing puzzles, watching movies, etc. However, by the time Ryan woke up I saw a little bit of blue sky peeking through the clouds and immediately started making plans. I had already started making a few things for our trick-or-treating party for tomorrow, so we couldn't leave until I was done and it was all put away. Ryan was content just staying home and playing with his toys, but we had to get out and enjoy this gorgeous day!! We went to get Ryan a much needed haircut and then we could have some real fun!!

He was SUCH a good boy at Mr. Sal's and just sat there so still while Mr. Sal did his thing. When Sal was done Ryan said, "Thank you, Mr. Sal!" Aww...such good manners!! He loves getting his haircut because he knows when it is over he can get a BIG SUCKER...any color!! They are just Tootsie Pops, but to him they are special! As we were walking out he said, "Mama, I was a good boy!" So sweet!!

Then we went to the Pumpkin Patch/Festival they have every year in Scripps Ranch! They have pumpkins, kettle corn, bounce houses, inflatable slides, a petting zoo, pony rides, amusement rides, etc. Every kids dream! When we pulled into the parking lot Ryan gasped. He was so excited. I needed to change his diaper before we went in and layed him in the back of my car. He noticed a set of cat ears/headband and put it on while waiting for me. When I was done I said, "Do you want to wear those or leave them in the car?" "Wear them!" and he did. So cute. Black with a pink center.

As soon as we walked through the gates he was pulling me in 5 different directions, "Mama look" over and over!! Oh the joy a child brings to your life! We got some tickets and headed straight for these ENORMOUS inflatable slides. Once we were standing in front of them I realized that I would have to climb up there with him and there was absolutely no way that was possible. I could have, but I just didn't want to take the chance of either one of us injuring ourselves. When I told him we couldn't do this one he was fine and started walking to the next attraction....the bounce house! For 4 tickets he got to jump in a HUGE ROUND bounce house. He was in heaven. He and another little girl had a ball running and bouncing in circles. Every time his cat ears would fall off he would come over to me to fix them, say "thank you, mama!" and get back to the fun. This must have happened about 20 times and EVERY TIME he said, "Thank you, Mama!" Love him!! Then our time was up and while we were putting our shoes back on the lady working both the bounce houses said that we could get in the next one if we wanted...and so he did. It was a bit busier with a few boys a little bit older than him, which he LOVED. He was chasing, pushing, laughing, etc. just like the big boys! I love how he watches older kids and tries to mimic everything they do. Then our time was up and we put on our shoes and made our way over to the pony ride!!!! Our child LOVES the pony ride. He is calm and so brave and just sits there patiently while the other children get strapped in, etc. No expression of any kind, just content with the whole process. Then, then minute that pony starts moving you see that little mouth smile. ugh...I love it!! Worth every dime!!!! Wish you could have been here to see him!! Such a big boy!!

Then we popped in the petting zoo for a bit. They had some interesting animals. A camel, a llama and then your standard goats and sheep. He got to hold a bunny which made him a bit nervous, so the guy held it and Ryan just rubbed it and said, "Aww...sweet bunny!"

Then we rode a spinning strawberry ride which he HAD TO RIDE and as we were getting on the guy let him pick a "treat" from a bowl and he was obsessed with his SMARTIES the entire ride. (TRAVIS!!) Ha! He could have cared less that we were spinning, going fast, etc. Didn't phase him. After that ride I was good to go, but he insisted that he ride the ferris wheel. Keep in mind that it is a kid ferris wheel, but the average age of the kids were 8-9. So, I asked the guy if he would let him off he started to cry and he assured me he would, so I let him on and I watched the carni lock the door. Didn't want the Noodle falling from the sky!! ugh!! Next thing you know he was locked behind the red wire door just a smiling away! Such a big boy! I was sad for a minute...there he was BY HIMSELF in a cage and was as happy as could be. Off he went...just looking around, smiling, having a ball. I must have taken a zillion pics, but not one captured how little he was TO ME sitting there. At one point he stood up and just smiled at me and was staring at the bench across from him, but he never got up the nerve to move to it. It was cute. Baby steps!!

Once he got off that we were done and made our way out to the car. He was very content and actually said, "That was fun!" YEAH!!! To top it off when he got in the car he said, "Thank you Mama!"

Then we went to a shopping center in Scripps Ranch where one of my friends and her little boy were trick-or-treating. All the shops were passing out candy to the kids and they had rides on a firetruck, inflatable slides, etc. We just found our friends, said hello and went on our way. His little buddy was dressed up as a shark and Ryan loved it! He was growling at him, etc. Hilarious!!

Then we went home, took a bath and he PASSED OUT!!! Tomorrow should be a lot of fun! I know I am looking forward to it....just wish Travis were here!! Next year, BOO! Next year!!

Enjoy the pics!!

Guess who??

We miss you Daddy!! Happy Halloween!!

He was so excited to hold the sign by himself!

He LOVED sitting in this stagecoach.

See...it is not itty bitty!! He is up there...and loving it!

Can you see the smile??

Inside the Strawberry ride eating his Smarties!

Loving the goat!

Pat the Bunny!

He is thrilled!

He may not look like he is having fun, but he was loving it!

In the bounce house with the big kids!

Oh the joy!!!

Isn't this the CUTEST PIC???? Love it!

Bates Nut Farm- Pumpkin Patch

Mama and her Pumpkin Noodle! Love that little boy!!

It was so hard to capture a truly good shot of him, but this one is pretty cute!

Petey, Sarah and Betsy Nannen!

The pals showing off their pumpkins! Look at those two cuties!! ugh!!

The whole gang riding the hay ride!

Good pals, Ryan and Petey Nannen! Aren't they precious!

Ryan was trying to hold Petey's hand while we were inline for the hay ride and Petey was not into it and then finally it ended with this sweet embrace. Sarah said it best, "FLANNEL LOVE!"

My little cowboy! So serious!!

He is so excited here, but doesn't quite know how to express himself. He is riding the same horse as last year, Charlie!! He had a great time and smiled the entire time!!

So Jen C Welch will quit harrassing me.....A PREGO PIC!

Jen C...I hope you are happy!! Here is a pic of me at 26weeks and 5 days!! Love you!!

Me and my little pumpkin!

The BUMP-KIN!

Memorial Day Pool Party

Petey and Ryan LOVED playing with Forest a.k.a.- The Escape Artist! He loved finding the holes in our back fence and exploring the various canyons in the back.

Janice Bush grabbed my camera to take a few pics of us....I was surprised to see a pic of me enjoying our pool on a beautiful San Diego day!!

Ryan climbing out just to jump back in!

Such a big boy!

Our good friends Allyson and Alexis Ream....Ryan is ready for a nap!!

Enjoying the day with the Rehm's and Fairleigh's!

Ryan held onto this flag from about 0830-1100 and kept waving it! I showed him one time and he just kept doing it...He tried to say, "American Flag" which was hilarious!

We had a wonderful Memorial Day hanging out with our Red Devil families at our house! The pool was open and a perfect sky was above us! It was truly a GORGEOUS day! The crowd started rolling in around 1100 and the final guest left at 1900, so it was a long fun-filled day full of chatting, swimming, jumping in the bouncer and A LOT OF EATING!!! We had a token husband, Jason Rehm, who volunteered to man the grill and did a fantastic job of it! I know he would have rather been golfing or flying the dusty skies of Afghanistan, but he was a trooper and we really appreciated it! The house was CRAZY busy with about 15 kids running around screaming, laughing, etc. I loved it all! I am/was so thankful for all the mommies that helped me keep an eye on Ryan while I performed my hostess duties and tried to chat with my guests! I think everyone had a great time. After everyone left Ryan looked at me and said, "Night Night B" So sweet! Now I will do the same!!!!

Trav-the pool got up around 90, which was perfect. PERFECT! Love you!!!