Pumpkin Patch 2009

We decided to try a different pumpkin patch this year and boy are we glad we did! We went to Old Baker Farm in Harpersville and it was GREAT! The weather was a little crisp which was perfect for a day at the pumpkin patch. Jeff had never been out towards Harpersville and he thoroughly enjoyed the drive. The leaves on the trees had started to change color and it's a nice rural drive.

We didn't really know what to expect since we had never been to Old Baker Farm. It opened at nine o'clock and we arrived a little after ten o'clock. Cars were parked everywhere! After we took some pictures with a giant, round, hay bale, and some with a scarecrow, we paid to get in. The first thing that we saw after we got inside were some pedal tractors. Jacob had a BLAST! I didn't think we were going to get him away to do anything else. He cried and whined but we finally convinced him to go on the hayride.

We got in a short line for the hayride and about 4 trailers full of people left before it was our turn. We got to ride on a trailer that was being pulled by an orange tractor, similar to Pappy's orange tractor. After a short ride, we arrived at the pumpkin field. Jacob had so much fun running around through the pumpkins looking for the perfect one! He fell down a couple of times but would get up and take off full speed again! We picked three pumpkins (paid for with our price of admission!). Jacob picked out a little green one with a long stem. Jeff picked out a medium sized white one and I picked out a flat, orange one. We couldn't believe how long the line was for the hayride once we got back and were very thankful that we did that first thing! Another great thing is that a church has some tables set up and you can give them a donation and they'll take your pumpkins to the entrance and then put them in your car when you're ready to leave. It was totally worth it and for a good cause.

They had an Indian tribe doing a presentation which was really neat. On our way out we bought a GIANT maroon mum from the same church group. It was a great price (1/2 of what Publix was selling them for) and again, it went to a good cause. Oh, and we also bought some boiled peanuts, so that made it a great day!

We would have loved to spend the entire day at Old Baker Farm but I had another commitment (shocking, I know...me, double book?) so we left around 12:30. We grabbed a bite of lunch in Columbiana at Bernie's and then took it to the house. We had a wonderful time together as a family and I couldn't have asked for a better time. Here are some pictures from our day!

Jacob and his big wheel

Our little boy is growing up so fast! Santa brought him a "Twist 'n Trike" for Christmas. It is a big wheel and a tricycle in one. You twist it and can convert it from one to the other. He can pedal (and steer!) now and always wants to ride his big wheel. Here are some pictures from a Sunday afternoon. I have to go wipe my tears...

U2 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta

If you know me, you know that I'm a HUGE U2 fan. I think they're awesome...and I've now had the good fortune of seeing them in concert, not once, not twice but THREE times! This last show could have been the best one yet! I was all worried about trying to "smuggle" my little Canon Powershot in. I knew I wouldn't be able to get my Canon Rebel in. I had a couple of options to go with...the first was pretty humorous and I was sure it would work but then I got paranoid. I decided to "wear" the camera and got in with no problems. We get to our seats and we're listening to the opening band, Muse, and these girls come sit behind us. One of them has a big camera, like my Rebel, with her. I was like, "what?!?" So, I asked her how she got it in and she said that she just had it in her camera bag and that the security person checked it and no big deal. Here I was stressing over nothing!!! Anyway, here are some pictures from the show.

A message from Jacob

My school's annual fundraiser with Innisbrook has begun. Innisbrook Wraps has beautifully designed gift wrap printed on quality recycled paper, coordinating gift wrap accessories,
gourmet foods and fine Helen Grace Chocolates that make great gifts, Time Inc. magazine subscriptions, and more.

For every item that is purchased, Innisbrook donates up to 50% of the purchase price to my school. I also earn a prize credit for every item purchased except school supplies. The more prize credits I earn, the more prizes I win!

Please consider visiting the Innisbrook website and making a purchase on my behalf. A link is included below. Our sale will be over soon, so don't wait. Place your order today.

Thanks for your help!

Seller: JACOB Seller ID# R265781E
School: KINGWOOD CHRISTIAN CDC
School Number: 107789

Click the link below to visit Innisbrook.com and they will recognize me and my school automatically.

http://www.innisbrook.com/index_students.cfm?id1=R265781E&id2=&id3=

If the above link does not work:
1. Click below
2. Enter the Seller ID# R265781E
www.innisbrook.com/id.cfm

State Fair 2009

I took Jacob to the State Fair last night, which happened to be in Pelham this year. He had a BLAST!! He's not tall enough to ride a lot of the attractions, but they have a handful of things that he could ride.

**I am trying a new slideshow. I think the slide.com show that I have been using could potentially infect your computer with a virus. I have had two reports of fishy behavior and when I tried to access a friend's slide.com slideshow from work our network blocked the site. Hopefully this new slideshow will not cause any problems.

Jacob's art

Since about the 4th of August, I have been very busy with work. All of our fall student-athletes reported back to campus for pre-season and then school started. I would like to think that things are going to slow down at some point, but I know that it probably won't happen. It's ok though...I would rather be busy than at work with nothing to do. Plus, I am so thankful that I have a job to go to everyday (especially one that I love)!

Since I have been such a poor blogger this past month I thought the least I could do is share some of Jacob's "art" from this past week at school.

I guess so

We stopped at Wendy's on our way home Tuesday to get some lunch. I had a delicious grilled chicken sandwich (you should try it) and we got the usual chicken nugget kid meal for Jacob. As I have said before, he doesn't have much interest in food, but he will usually eat chicken nuggets (he likes McDonald's the best) and fries. He only ate a few fries and a bite of one nugget. I was going to give the nuggets to Jeff so they wouldn't go to waste.

Jacob: Daddy, don't eat my chicken nugs.
Jeff: How come? Are you going to eat them?
Jacob: (long pause) I guess so.

He didn't eat them but the conversation was funny. I have no idea where he comes up with these things but his timing and enunciation is hilarious!

Last night we were coming home from dropping the car off to have the oil changed and the tires rotated and balanced and he heard some tree frogs out the window once we got into the neighborhood.

Jacob: I hear some tree frogs. They are talking to each other.
Jeff: What are they saying?
Jacob: They're jumping on the rock so the BIG shark won't eat them.