Pumpkin Patch

We didn't have too much planned for Lucy's real birthday so we headed to a local parking lot pumpkin patch to spend the afternoon.

The bounce house was someone's favorite.



Not for this girl.

Her shirt said it all. Scaredy Cat.

We finally talked her into it.



She really got into it if we held her hands.

Next up petting zoo.

Scaredy Cat didn't let us down. She was afraid at first but then starting petting every animal in there. Except for one of the goats. He was a little aggressive.

For the next activity Quincy was the Scaredy Cat. The fair worker said Quincy could go on the ride with Jensen. Quincy had to pass since he isn't into spinney rides. So Jensen and I spun ourselves silly with smiles on our faces.

Yeah for Pumpkin Patches!

As you can tell from the picture Lucy was worn out and ready for a nap.



Two!

 Two today. We were just teaching her that she is one and now that she has it mastered we are moving on to two. I have been planning a photo shoot in this dress ever since her Aunt Missy gave it to her. It's adorable and so is Lucy! She didn't play along too long because she was excited about her birthday present.

 I have been waiting months to give this birthday present to Lucy. I admit I was tempted a time or two to just give it to her early but I am glad we waited for her real birthday. Who wouldn't be excited about this red kitchen? I would order it for my size if they had it. She said it was an Olivia kitchen when she first saw it. Not really, but I am sure Olivia would approve.



She also got some new food for her kitchen. It didn't take long before all 46 pieces were all over the house.

Some fun facts about this TWO year old:

She is always eating and isn't picky but still fits into 12 month clothing.

She answers to Lucy, Goose, Goosester, and C-C.

She loves to dance and sing. Her current favorite song is Tic-Toc by Ke$ha.

If I ask her how we should do her hair she always replies "pigtails".

Grandma is the first one she calls when she has a call to make.

She struts like she owns the place around here but is shy when we go out.

Some words you could hear her say right now are "fank you" (thank you), "beep beep" when your in her way, "juice", "Jensen!" and "I did it!"

She is partially potty trained already. By that I mean she goes every 30 minutes when I take her but doesn't go on her own too well yet. Amazingly, she has stayed dry in her diaper when we go out to run errands but only if it isn't too long. She really helped Jensen with it too.

She always spots Moroni on the temples and is starting to pray all by herself.

She has been a fun one year old. I hope next year I am saying the same about her second year.

Overdue Projects

This past month I had a goal to get some of my overdue projects done. These are projects that I keep writing on my cute 'things to do chart' month after month after year. They kind of were haunting me. So last month I knocked out three of them. This post is mostly for my mom. I keep telling her things that I have been working on and she asks me to post them. So here they are mom.

#1 Magazine Rack

February 2011 - 8 months later

This shouldn't have been such a big project but it turned out to be one. I've had this magazine rack in my guest bathroom for years. It's original color was hot pink. I got it at JoAnns on a heck of a deal if I remember correctly. It use to match the I Love Lucy guest room perfectly. Since that decor is no more, it stuck out with the black and white motif. So in February this year I grabbed what I know best, my spray paint, and went to work. I had it almost finished when it started bubbling at the end. (Always make sure you shake your spray paint real good.) So I got frustrated and it sat in my garage all summer. I kept meaning to fix it but it's hot here and I didn't want to be sanding it out in the heat melting away. Last month, when the nights were finally cool here in Vegas, I sat outside and sanded the heck out of those bubbles and re-spray painted it. Then I added the labels that make me smile and now I feel somewhat organized in the magazine department.

#2 Pillows for Master Bedroom

December 2009 - 21 months later

Yikes! That sounds like a long time to be on anyone's to do list. Two Christmases ago my mother gave me new bedding and I ended up with 4 duvet covers. Even though I do like lots of pillows on my bed, I draw a line at 2 duvet pillows. I was just going to make boring ones but lately I have been looking on pinterest and came across all these cute ruffle pillows. I said that's it. That's what I wanted to do. I didn't have a pattern so I don't know if they turned out the best. Also looking back I should of went and bought red thread. Oh well, they are done and who really sees them besides the hubby and me?

#3 - Olivia Quilt

November 2007 - 46 Months (if I did my math correctly!)

Yeah, see why these projects were haunting me? Quincy actually bought this Olivia quilt kit for me for our first anniversary. Not a typical anniversary present but it was what I wanted. I was pregnant with Jensen but I didn't know if he was going to be a girl or boy yet. I really thought he was a girl and I would decorate in Olivia. A month later I found out it was a boy. So away Olivia went into the closet. I did want to work on it when I found out I was having Lucy but it just didn't seem to happen. I got an itch to actually work on it when we decided to give Lucy an Olivia party. I thought it would be a fun gift for her. This was my first quilt to piece together and was a good one to start with. It is mostly long panels so it went super fast. Now I just need to learn how to quilt it. Any takers?! Hopefully it doesn't just sit in my closet for another 46 months!

I am so glad I got these projects done when I did because this month is dedicated to potty training both kiddos. Wish me luck!

Pawn Stars

Over the summer Quincy and I really hate all the shows that are on T.V.  This can be nice since the T.V. isn't on as much, but some nights I need couch time with my hubby after a full day being a mommy. A while ago my dad and brother told Quincy that Pawn Stars was a cool show to watch on the History Channel. We watched one episode and were completely entertained by it. So we DVR-ed the series and have been watching ever since.

We have talked about going to the actual store that is here in Las Vegas for awhile. When a date night came up we headed straight there since we didn't think it was a place for our kiddos. This really isn't the best part of town so I was a little nervous when we pulled up, but once we got in the store it was full of tourists.

This is as close to funny man, Chumlee that I got. They all must of been out having date nights themselves.

It was fun to see some of the merchandise that they have talked about on the show.

Lots of jewelry

A Babe Ruth signed ball only $13,000.

A survivor Ti-ki torch. That is the closest Quincy is going to get to that show if I have my way.

The shop really isn't that big. This is where they do most of the filming and must have to clear it out when someone with a big ticket item comes in. The only part they don't show you on the T.V. program is a small section where they sell souvenirs. We resisted an Old Man bobble head if you can believe it.

Antwaun's Corner

 

 Behind Quincy is the desk where the Old Man sits and the other guys 'act' like they are working. It has a big sign that says, "No pictures in this direction". So this will have to do for proof that we saw it.

 

Not too bad for a cheap date night. We did end our date at another world famous stop not too far from the pawn shop. It's a custard shop called Luv Its. I got a pumpkin custard in a waffle cone that I am still thinking about.

Fall Cards

We had our card club a couple of weeks ago. The ladies decided to take the summer off so I really looked forward to actually sitting down and making some cards after the three month break. The theme was fall and a free choice but I went with two fall cards. This time they are Jessie originals. I'm not sure if I should admit that. The last one was driving me nuts since it took a little longer to come together, but I am happy with how they both turned out.

Thanks to this site, the witch actually flies through the sky when you pull the tab on the side.

Rule of Life # 8 Never Miss a Very Important Party!

 

Is it bad to brainwash your almost two year old into what birthday party you should throw them? If so, GUILTY! I have been wanting to have an Olivia party for a long time. First, Olivia loves red. Second, she is very stylish and wise with her own rules to life. And third, (Do I really need a third reason?) she is the cutest little pig ever (Sorry Miss Piggy!)

Rule of Life #100- Red is the very best color for absolutely, positively everything.

It's not like Olivia isn't liked around our house. She makes at least one apperance on our T.V. everyday and it's just not the kids that are entertained by her either. Her books are also the first to get picked most days. So a couple of weeks ago I kept asking Lucy what kind of party she wanted and then I would say Olivia. She soon caught on and learned to say Olivia on her own. So the Olivia party planning started.

Rule of Life #44- Sometimes children know better than their parent, but we never tell them.

I was going to do a party on her actual birthday here in Vegas but I didn't want my family to feel that they had to come back down after being in St. George last weekend. So we did it in St. George. (We might need a repeat party with Quincy's family. Not afraid!)

We had the all the cousins wait upstairs while we got set up for the party. They were so cute and waited on the stairs until we said they were allowed downstairs. I have to say this was the best dressed party I have ever been to thanks to Grandma Cindy. She had bought them all new red or black shirts just for the party. She even bought the four youngest girls Olivia striped pants.

Rule of Life #34- Sometimes your lucky tights are luckier than you thought.

I think Lucy was just as excited as the other kids. I can't believe she is going to be 2!

Rule of Life #5- Not everyone looks good in red, especially when you're pink.

 

Party Decor/Games

Decorating Crowns and Cupcake station



Lucy's birthday banner which is made up of our favorite pictures from each month she was one year old. My friend Marian did this for her daughter and I loved it so I copied her.

When the little girls came down the stairs they each got a little box filled with Olivia costumes, a red crown to decorate, Olivia ears that I made out of pink felt, red ribbon, and a red tu-tu that I sewed.

Rule to Life #7-  Whatever the question, Costumes are always a good answer!

 

Grandma Cindy also found these cute tiny crowns just like Olivia wears.

The boys didn't get left out of this Olivia party. They each got pirate hats, swords, and eye patches. That's the best thing about Olivia, she is well rounded!

Jensen wouldn't stand still long enough to get a good picture with his pirate gear. He was way too busy having sword fights with his cousins.  

Decorating Olivia crowns or pirate hats was our first item on the birthday party agenda.We used foam stickers and glitter.

Rule of Life #47- School glue has many uses. 

 

Second was this birthday game I saw on Martha. Not only a game but decorations too! The adults even wanted to play this one once they saw some chocolate in the bags.

Lucy was pretty happy that she got a ring pop for her prize.

The third activity was musical stars. We danced in the middle of the room and when the music stopped you had to find an Olivia star on the wall. Grantster was our big winner!





The final activity is an Olivia party must!

 Decorating cupcakes.

In one of my favorite Olivia episodes she is asked to talk about her favorite country in school. She talks about a land called The United Republic of Olivatania and how the official food is cupcakes. I tell ya, she is my kind of girl.

So we had a friendly competition who could make the best Olivia cupcake using pink marshmallows and brown M&M's for the eyes.

James was the winner for sure!

The men sat around while all the excitement was going on. Party Poopers!

Rule of Life #12- Sometimes other people's idea of fun is very different from your own.

Our party girl got a little tired due to a short nap earlier in the day but she did pretty good.

Lucy got everything this little girl could ask for at present time. Cute clothes, dress-up clothes, pretties (jewelry), an Olivia purse (below), an original Olivia dress made by her Aunt Missy, and a ladybug pillow pet that she has had her eye on for a long time! Thanks everybody!

Rule of Life #472- Every day is a good day to play dress up!

How could we resist a photo op with these three cute Olivias!



Jensen felt left out again and said "Cheese" next to the Oliivas.

Rule of Life #111-No matter what planet your brother is from, he's still going to have bad manners.

Later that night we all sang Happy Birthday to Lucy with our favorite chocolate cake. I let Missy the professional frost it this time.

Rule of Life # 8- Never miss a very important party!

So glad all my family didn't miss out on this party! Thanks for celebrating with us.