Pumpkin Patch: Part I

As the heat slowly fades (and in Houston, we mean very slowly) to give way to fall, it can only mean one thing - pumpkin patch time! We have been picking out our pumpkins from the Clear Lake United Methodist Church for years and this year would be no exception. Last year was Sadie's first visit to the pumpkin patch and while she seemed to enjoy it, we couldn't wait for her to get older and be better able to meander around the giant orange orbs. As she walked up to the sight, she exclaimed, "WHOA!" She then walked over to the first little area and pointed, saying "punkin!" She seemed very interested in the texture and really enjoyed picking up the smaller ones and placing them in an adjacent wheelbarrow that was pint size - just like her. 

After a bit of trouble figuring out how to get the wheelbarrow to move, Sadie had the ingenious idea to convince Daddy to help her. He gladly obliged and the screamed with glee as they pushed the small pumpkins all over the hay-covered ground.

After patting several pumpkins, we took a few pictures sitting on or with pumpkins. We also figured out that Sadie is much harder to pose now since she has entered toddlerhood. :) She was so intrigued with the pumpkins that it made sitting her atop one without wiggling or crying "down!" almost impossible!

Gammy, Granddaddy, and Sadie

Mommy and Daddy

Sadie and SuSu

before we headed out Sadie hugged the scarecrow. She has a special interest and affinity for all scarecrows due to her love for the Wizard of Oz. The scarecrow is probably her favorite character; she enjoys watching him dance up and down the yellow brick road and can even sing along to parts of the song and do a tiny toddler version of the choreography. Sadie also loved Gammy's scarecrow hat.

Bye, scarecrow! Bye!

Gammy, the scarecrow!

Instead of having Mexican food (somewhat a tradition before Mommy's gall bladder got too bad), we opted for Pink Berry frozen yogurt. Sadie loved tasting the samples in the small paper cup and was delighted when she realized we were getting more. Her favorite was the mango and the peanut butter - not together, of course. After we left, Sadie ran outside and played chase with James in an empty Staples parking lot. She screamed and squealed as they took turns running after one another and people walking bye seemed to smile - either remembering what it is to be so joyful as a child or perhaps remembering when their kids were small and those happy squeals filled their days. :) What a fun night.

Loving MiMi

Sadie gives great hugs. You would think that for a little being to be so tiny, the hugs would somehow be a representation of her size. You know - the way a gerbil could hug with all its might and still left you feeling, well, unhugged. However, Sadie's hugs seem to multiply in power due to the love she pours out when giving them. She squeezes your neck so tight,  you almost forget she is just a toddler. Her hugs are a testament to God's goodness and providence that there are joys beyond what you could ever expect. For when I held her as a tiny helpless infant, sleeping peacefully in my arms, I could never imagine a feeling as wonderful as holding your child, that is, until my child hugged me back. It is the best. So, when I watched Sadie walk over to my Dad's mom ("Mimi") I knew Mimi was in for a special treat when Sadie begin climbing up her chair and into her lap. She looked at her and said, "MIMI!" Then, she hugged her around the neck for what seemed like a toddler eternity. She just kept on hugging her to the point that we realized this may be the longest hug she's ever intentionally given. Mimi was so pleased. She has been struggling with Alzheimer's the last few years and has good days and bad days alike. However, no matter how out of it she may seem, she always seems to light up when Sadie visits her. 

After she hugged Mimi, she got down and went to visit her wooden kitties and painted ceramic weenie dog. She counted the kitties "ONE! TWOOOO!" then gave the doggy a kiss - making Mimi smile all the while. I have always appreciated having 3 out of 4 of my grandparents living, but never really realized how special it was until I considered James' unfortunately had to say goodbye to all of his before we met. I watch Sadie and know that surely Granddaddy Lewis is up there with James' sweet grandparents getting just as big of a kick out of Sadie's hugs as Mimi does. 

Girls' Night at America's

My dear friend, Dominique, just got married two weekends ago. But before she walked down the aisle, we had a girls night out in her honor. I really enjoyed the evening because I was able to visit with some dear old friends. I also enjoyed some fine cuisine at America's off West Gray. Delicious! Plus, the decor was amazing. The walls looked like the result of a popcorn experience from Honey, I Shrunk the Kids and the ceilings were dripping with thick velvety fabric chandeliers.

We also had a funny experience. We saw a girl from the popular show, The Bachelorette! She can actually be seen in the picture of the three of us (to the left of Kelli's shoulder). How funny! As for the evening, the food was great and the company even better. It's hard to believe it has literally been years since we shared a small apartment together. To look back and think about all those moments we wondered about "our futures" - to now be living them out is a wonderful blessing. What a blessing to have sweet friends and relationships that last through the years.

Me, Kelli, and Dominique

"Popcorn" wall!\

Fabric Chandeliers!

Eyeball mirror in the bathroom! Strange!

Flower Pickin'

One day while Sadie and I were waiting for James to come home from a long day at work we decided to go on a walk. However, before we could get to the cement, we had to stop to pick some flowers from our front flowerbeds. James did a beautiful job planting the flowers and his watered them as much as he could through this drought - they still look beautiful. Sadie takes advantage by picking mainly the purple flowers. She picks them, smells them, then looks at me as if to say, "Now you, Mommy."

James' work can keep him late sometimes so we try to keep him motivated and happy by sending pictures of Sadie. He always loves seeing little snippets of our girl time. These pictures were appreciated by Daddy and Sadie was obviously thrilled to have her favorite person come home later to play with her. :)

Sadie twirling the flower in her fingers like Granddaddy taught her!

Picking purple flowers - Sadie's favorite!

ORANGE!!!!

A flower for Daddy

Sadie decided to "replant" the flower.

Found a walking stick!

Our House for Sale

Felt like I should document our experience in trying to sell our wonderful first home. Here is the note I put on FB to alert friends and family to the awesomeness that is the Hamon abode. :)

James and I are very excited to share with you that we are trying to sell our house (for sale by owner). I am sending this email out in case you talk to or know of ANYONE who might be interested in buying our home.

We have taken VERY good care of our house (James being a natural handy-man). Also, some awesome features of our home (at least these are the things I appreciate in our house!) are as follows:

• New air conditioning
• New appliances (and new faucets in every room!)
• Cabinets in laundry room
• Pull-out top shelves in lower kitchen cabinets
• Fenced back yard
• Tile floors with beautiful matching counter-tops and fire place (one reason we loved and bought this house!)
• Vaulted ceilings
• Located in Heritage Park Pointe (AWESOME location - in a nice secluded neighborhood, but not but a minute or two from Bay Area Blvd. and Nasa Rd. 1 or 528
• AMAZING PARK AREA being built (they are already adding sidewalks, etc. for an enormous park area directly behind our subdivision. Intended for biking, walking trails, ponds with fish/ducks, etc.) We hate to miss out on how awesome this will be...
• GREAT NEIGHBORS (Let's face it, this matters! There is a police officer across the street and a nurse next door so we always have felt safe!)

We are already praying for a buyer who will love our house and neighborhood as much as we have, so PLEASE let me know if you have any leads at all! Here are just a few pictures inside the house.

Elmo Eats Hummus

Sadie has always been a good eater. From green beans to green peas. She usually will at least try everything on her plate. And often times she actually likes it! So, I guess it should have come as no surprise when she decided that she also like hummus – just like mommy. What was funny, however, was when she decided to share with Elmo. He seemed to love it too...not that he had much of an option... :)

Painting Paradise

This might look like a toddler's heaven, but it might be the "opposite place" for many mommies out there. As intense as God may have created me, this intensity has been used for his glory through my experience as a mommy to Sadie. Although every paperclip and piece of paper was perfectly organized in my life as a teacher, I have had little difficulty "letting go" in order for Sadie to experience the wonderful and messy joys of childhood.

After all, it these moments, when she is her messiest, that I know I will remember for years to come. We will surely look at these photos and laugh together. I hope she realizes when she looks at these photos that it would have been easy to say "no" to paint. It would surely have been less mess. But Sadie wanted to paint and sometimes being a really great parent is about allowing your child to explore what she truly wants to do. It's about listening to her and realizing that there is nothing else in this world that is as important as to her at that moment. So if you want to paint, Sadie...today we will paint.

Sharing her paint with Mommy

Sadie Potter, Wizard Extraordinaire

As a parent, you cannot always protect your little one from the bumps and bruises in this world. Aside from her wagon incident, Sadie really hasn't had too many scratches or dents. :) That is, until we were at Barnes and Noble one night playing. She was playing with the "choo choooo" when she decided to walk away towards the stuffed animals. She was extremely polite and thought to tell the older 5 year old boy "BYYYYEEEE!" as she walked away. The only trouble was that as she was telling him goodbye, she had her head turned facing him as her little legs carried her forward. She turned her head back around just in time for her to run into a bookshelf. 

I felt awful for her, although she was OK within moments. The funny part came when the eyes dried and she went back to playing. Jame and I noticed that Voldemort must have been working some evil magic, because the bookshelf left Sadie with an eerily similar scrape to Harry Potter. We had no idea our daughter was so magical and will therefore be the best wizard at Hogwarts...

Poppyseed's "Bok Bok" Blankie

My friend, Annie, is having a baby soon. Annie and I are relatively "new" friends who met through my dear friend, Katy. Katy and Annie both worked at Borders before Katy had sweet little Collin. Sadie and I showed up one day to Katy's house when they were making ginger cookies and I quickly admired Annie's beautiful spirit and her quick wit. She is also super sweet with Sadie; she always acknowledges her and talks to her when we hang out. You'd be surprised how many adults can forget Sadie is a "real person" too who likes to get in on the conversation! Anyway, I don't think it was until we had hung out several times that I realized I actually knew her brother when I was in HS! Such a small world. :) Anyway, like I previously mentioned, Annie is set to deliver in mid-November. Knowing Annie loves home-made crafts, I thought making her (and "Poppyseed") a blankie would be the perfect gift. So, Sadie and I headed out to Hancocks with Granny. As soon as we were in the store, Sadie and Granny found many "toys" to play with while I picked out the perfect fabric.

Random Finds at Hancock Fabrics

We settled on a chicken pattern because Annie and her husband, David, love chickens. They actually have many on their land out in Alvin! As we left the store, Sadie offered to help ("hote") by holding the sack of fabric for us...

Sadie carrying the fabric to the car

I looked at that fabric for a while and sadly knowing that I had no sewing skills, I settled on a "no sew" blankie. I perused the internet for a while finding various versions and liked the one I found the best. Then, after Sadie was asleep, I pinned the two fabric pieces together, cut all the strips, and thought to myself, "Good. Now I will just do one side a night to finish up." However, before I realized it (an hour or so later?) I was finishing the last "ribbon" on the blanket. I was delighted with the results and couldn't wait to give it to Annie at her shower.

Finished product

LOVE this edging. Poking the fabric through
a pre-cut hole really gives it a "finished" look!

TWO sides! Cheery yellow or chickens!

Annie and David seemed to love the blankie. She told us it would henceforth be called the "Bok Bok" blanket (sound that chickens make). We also gave her a copy of Sadie's favorite night night music, Kenny Loggins' "Return to Pooh Corner." It is hilarious that she loves it, but after a quick listen, it can relax any baby (or adult) in an instant. :) Now all we must do is wait for Poppyseed to arrive. Annie and David are keeping the sex a surprise, so it will be extra fun to learn of Sadie's newest friend! Congrats, Annie and David!