The Candy Cottage

I was so excited to find this plastic gingerbread house from The Candy Cottage at Hollydays this year. We made a Halloween house last week. William took a tiny nibble out of every candy corn before he put it on the house.

[And then he started stuffing his mouth with candy corn and marshmallows...what kid doesn't love sugar??!!]

[Rebecca joined us for the fun...and William giving kisses]

And when he was done decorating, I spent way too much time making it look pretty! At one point, I looked at Adam and said, "Do you see why I need a little girl?" I need someone to actually sit down for more than 5 minutes and decorate a gingerbread house with me! :)

Happy Halloween, friends!

Is it really the end of October???

I can't believe October is just about behind us! The past few months have gone by way to fast! We have enjoyed a few cold fronts, LSU football, starting mothers day out, play dates at the park, Hollydays Market, weekend trips to Farmerville and Franklin; we've been busy! We have also been battling an ear infection that doesn't want to go away and a weekend of bed rest. Absolutely no fun! But, as of this morning, the ear infection is just about gone! [I wanted to do the happy dance when the doctor told me...I don't even have an official happy dance but it felt like the right thing to do!]

This weekend, we had some tailgating fun. I'm pretty sure William had the most fun. I find myself just following [I should really say chasing] him around these days. And he never seems to want to congregate with the group...he's my little explorer. :)

[My little tiger!]

[LSU vs. Auburn...another BIG win!]

[A good behind the scenes look at what taking pictures with children really looks like! Meltdowns, distractions, high pitch voices and the patient grandmother sitting with a smile glued on her face! LOVE this!]

[At this point, I knew it was nap time...laying down right smack in the middle of the tailgate!]

[Poor little guy didn't even make it back to the car. He was out!]

So so happy it's fall!

the weekend...a little late

We had a great weekend!

Friday was a last minute date night. Those are always the best. Whenever I plan a date night, you-know-who decides he doesn't need an afternoon nap or refuses to eat dinner or gets sick, all of which lead to extreme fussiness and walking out the door with a screaming child in the background. But Friday was none of those things. My brother and his girlfriend surprised us with a little visit and then said take off for dinner and a movie. [cue the choir...HALLELUJAH!] We needed a date night! :) And we opted for ice cream instead of a movie. GREAT night and came home to a sleeping baby! [doesn't get much better than that!] And then we decided to prank call some peeps! :) I know, that is SO highschool but I laughed my rear off! [I'd also like to add this was not mine nor Adam's idea but I certainly did nothing to stop it!]

And Saturday we had a swim party, which was SO much fun! I designed the invitation for Anna Claire's party and I think it might be my favorite so far! SO Anna Claire and just so cute! :)

William had a grand ol' time at the party drinking up the pool water and playing with his little buddies. And then he had more sugar in one sitting than ever before. It was just a cupcake [with LOTS of icing] and an Icee but he consumed it all!

[having a grand ol' time at the party]

[drinking the pool water]

 [let the sugar rush begin...]

And here is where all good things must come to an end...William and I managed to catch a cold in the middle of July. Saturday night, he was up all night. I was up most of the night. And we slept nearly all day Sunday.

We haven't completely recovered but we're real close! :)

Only me...

Ok, this was a post from April I never published for some reason. I read it yesterday and it made me laugh...why do things like this happen to me?!?!?

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April 6, 2011

I went to the mall this week for baby entertainment and a little retail therapy. [I really wanted to write that...retail therapy...but I am so not the shopper...honestly, I avoid the mall at all costs!] Anyway, unloading the stroller, popping it open and wheeling around to load up baby boy and I nearly run right into this guy. I say guy but I should really say ex-convict! I quickly apologized and he replied [with a slight slur, I might add], "Man, I had to get out there...way too many cops up in there. I just got outta jail last week. There are so many cops up in there!" I stood there dumbfounded...I had no words... Did I really just encounter someone fresh out of the slammer???!!!

etsy LOVE

I love it when my etsy buyers send me pictures from their parties! I had a buyer recently request a cowboy/cowgirl joint theme; we were both excited about the way it turned out! And she did a super fabulous job on her part! Check out her pics...

Hope all you buckaroos are having a great day!!!

love, lauren

Time really flies

I feel like the summer has slipped away from me! Where has the time gone??? Since my last post, William started walking, I had my first shopping experience in Canton, Texas, I left William for three nights for the first time, I've canned jars and jars of pickles, we had a lazy July 4th on the lake, I'm having so much fun with my ETSY shop; I feel like we've been busy in a lazy sort of way...if that's possible!

So, I'm definitely the most excited about my little man walking. 16 MONTHS!!!!!! I still can't believe it took him this long. I never worried he wouldn't walk but when the 9 and 10 month olds started toddling around him, I started getting a little anxious. But he finally decided it was time to walk like the rest of us! Here's a little video of those first wobbly steps. Yes, we were VERY excited about it!!! :)

He still prefers crawling and is not at all ashamed to drop to all fours to get somewhere quick. What else about little William... Absolutely, positively favorite word is out. He stands by the backdoor saying "out" over and over again. He sits in his high chair and car seat saying "out" over and over again. He'll just walk around the house saying "out." People, he wants out! :)

This was me at the Canton trade days. I died and went to heaven...I LOVED every minute of it. Lots and lots of junk but oodles of treasures to be found! We actually had to rent a u-haul to load up everything we bought. It was fun and I want to go back for more! Girls trip, anyone??? :)

For fathers day, I made these cute mini sliders and french fries from cupcakes/brownies and sugar cookies. Yes, it took a lot longer than I anticipated but it was a fun project for William's afternoon nap. :) Thank you Bakerella for the great idea and free printable!!!

So, we've been spending lots of time at the pool, eating popsicles and pizza and drinking pool water. [yuck nasty] And even more time on that little playground in the background. :) Yes, he would rather play on old plastic play sets than splash in the cool water when it's 100 degrees outside. I will never understand his reasoning.

Yes, we are summer lovin'!!!

A few tidbits...

It's been too long without a post. A few tidbits from the last few weeks.

The garden is really growing. We are learning lots about gardening as we go. Like, next year I will not be buying Goliath tomato plants. I don't know what made me pick out this particular variation. I have always liked the story of David and Goliath and I have always pulled for the little guy. But, in this case, I bought the bully and he is taking over the garden. It actually makes me laugh when I walk out there. Why didn't I just buy creole...oh well!

[this pic was from a few weeks so you can't tell which ones are goliath...you can tell now!] :)

And check out those cucs... I can't wait to pick them!

In William news...
He slept until 10:00 a.m. yesterday morning. I had to include this because I don't want to forget. ha! Not that I would, but that is sooo late. He has become a bit of a snoozer in the morning [absolutely, no complaints here] but it has totally affected his nap schedule and I think we're about to drop the morning nap. [this is a sad reality I am facing!]

He gives high fives, barks like a dog, says mama, dada, uh-oh. LOVES graham crackers, black beans and his blue blanket. Wants nothing more than to be outside. His little knees are so calloused because he is a super fast crawler and will crawl on ANYTHING! 

What else about the little man...still not walking but I got him some Stride Rite shoes and I've heard that does the trick! This makes me laugh but I've had three people mention these shoes helping their children walk. We shall see.

He emptied an entire container of puffs in the produce section of Wal-Mart this morning. But I spilled a large container of popcorn in the foyer of the movie theater last week. [like mother like son!] :)


I got him this tunnel at a garage sale recently for $2...it was a hit! :)

I also found these LSU glasses...all of them for $5. woo-woo!

I got my first pair of crocs and I'm having a hard time not wearing them everywhere. Why did I wait so long to jump on the bandwagon?!?!? :)

The weather is too good to be true down here!!! Happy Monday!