Halloween 2011

 M - I - C - K - E - Y - M - O - U - S - E!

 "Hot Dog!"

 "We've got ears, say cheers!"

 Our little Mickey Mouse throwing rocks (one of his favorite pastimes)

 before trick or treating.

Where is Mickey's belly button? 

 Cutest Mickey Mouse that I've ever seen. :)

 Heading out in the wagon for James' first 

trick or treating experience. 

 Daddy and James showing off all the candy we collected.

James LOVED knocking on the doors and saying Happy Halloween ("ween"), 

grabbing a handful of candy to put in his Thomas bucket, saying "think oo" for his treats, 

and blowing kisses and saying "bye" to all his new friends. :) 

 My heart. 

 Trying on his first ever silly bandz! 

Eating his first ever sucker. :) He really enjoyed it! 

I tried to offer him other kinds of candy but he

refused. He is so particular and hesitant 

about trying new foods 

(and just strong-willed in general)... and even 

candy when it's

Mama's idea.

One happy little mouse!

Fall Festival

Here are a few highlights (in pictures) of the fall festival we attended with James the Friday before Halloween. James was a very adorable Mickey Mouse (without ears for the majority of the evening - ha!). This was actually costume #2 because a few days before the fall festival he adamantly refused to put on (or even go near) the first costume that I made for him (an adorable sheep costume that I put together myself  - jumbo cotton ball by jumbo cotton ball). Fortunately they were both DIY projects and cost very little so with some quick thinking and some help from Nana (with the shorts) we pulled off this costume. 

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

We took James to pick out a pumpkin at a little pumpkin patch on Sunday before evening church. He had a great time picking up all the pumpkins by the stems ("balls") before finding the perfect one! :) He wore an adorable scarecrow ("crow") longall that his Nana made for him. :)

"Cheese!"

We snapped a quick picture on the way to a fall family night last week. James surprised us by saying "cheese" unprompted and giving us a big grin. He has been repeating everything lately and just saying the funniest things. He is soaking up information like a little sponge these days. He is also learning colors, shapes, and counting (inconsistently) up to 10. And unfortunately his new, most frequently used word at the moment is "no!" Mama is saying "oh no!" to that one. :)

James at Play (in pictures)

A long overdue post of James (in pictures) and all the fun he's been having lately. :)

 He inherited his Daddy's "choos." 

 Hugging all of his stuffed animals. 

 He loves building with blocks on the chair. 

 Finger Paints! He loves "colors!"

 (Prentend) drinking coffee like Mama!

 Labor Day Fun!

 Fun with Peanut butter Play-dough. :)

 Helping Mama Bake!

 A hat from Africa (from Nana) and a grasshopper toy (made by Grandpa)!