another Instagram update

I just love everything about fall.  I've been burning my pumpkin pie candle this week and it is delightful.

 

 

I just love to watch Bryce and Emmy together.  They love each so much!  I just hope they always get along and play so well together.

 

I have really been enjoying our porch swing these past few months.  I managed to get all of my "chores" done the other day during nap time with minutes to spare so I relaxed in the swing!

 

I have been experimenting with "real" food with Emmy lately.  We haven't been to the doctor since 6 months so no oficial "go ahead" to try new foods, but she seems to be ready so why not.  I gave her one of Bryce's mini pancakes straight out of the freezer the other day and she loved it.

 

We had to go to the bakery the other morning to ask Jason's uncle a favor so Bryce got his first donut since I've been home.  He used to get them everyday at Kelly's.  He has withdrawals every now and then and asks me when PaPa is going to bring him a donut everyday!

 

It was rainy this morning so we headed to a local inflatable place.  I hit the jackpot and got a groupon for 3 all day passes.  I got an email for $5 off a groupon and I already had groupon credits, so we got it for free.  SCORE!

Action shot....aka....really blurry.  Emmy and I even went down this slide per Bryce's request. 

 

 

Emmy girl isn't going to be left out! 

 

Hope you're having a great weekend!

a little fall fun

Jason was off yesterday so we went to a hay maze at a local produce stand.  The weather didn't feel much like fall, but it was still fun!

 

 

Bryce loved running through the maze and trying to find his way.

 

Emmy had fun following him through it!

 

 

Instagram

I go through phases with Instagram. One week I remember to use it and then others I never even open it up! Here are some of my favorites from the past week.  You can follow me at gwhitlock.

 

Bryce got a Gymboree gift card in the mail last week for his 2nd birthday (he will be 4 in February), ha.  We preshopped online and he picked out this shirt.  They didn't have his size so we got the next size up.  It's huge, but it will fit again next year.  Good thing because he loves it!

 

 

Emmy loves lunch time.  I give her puffs for lunch and she can't get enough.

 

 

We've been enjoying the porch swing and the nice weather.

 

 

Sunday morning cuddles with Emmy girl.

 

 

Emmy looked so cute in her jeggings.

 

 

This little girl is just a joy.  We love her so much. 

 

If you're wondering why so many pictures are of Emmy this week it's because Bryce is never home.  He's at school Tuesday and Thursday mornings, he went to the lake all day Friday with my parents, and then spent the night out Friday and Saturday and went to the river on Sunday.  Busy boy!

 

 

I got my hands on some of these yummies.  Bryce and I really enjoyed them.  I liked them better than the candy corn M&Ms.

small group

We met up with our small group on Thursday to celebrate a birthday and discuss our new study for the fall. The kids almost out number the adults.  Emmy and Keagan aren't in the picture and one of the moms is due soon!

 

 

The boys were the first to the table to get cake!

The girls were quite content to continue playing games. 

 

 

Didn't take Emmy long to find the cake.  We totally would not have let Bryce have cake at this age, ha! 

 

After we met, Jason let everyone take a spin around the church parking lot on his new bike.  A friend of his put a motor on a bike and gave it to him.  It has been quite the entertainment around here.  You won't catch me on that thing!

 

The kids preferred playing rather than watching the dads ride the bike.

 

Rosabeth, this picture if for you. Emmy had no interest in smiling for the picture, but she looked so cute in the dress you gave her. Thanks!

 

 

wagon ride

It was a beautiful fall morning so we hopped in the wagon and went for a walk.  This was Emmy's first ride.  I was worried the seat and lap belt wouldn't be enough support for her but she did just fine!

 

 

Fall weather always inspires me to bake pumpkin muffins.

 

I'm sure you've seen some variation of this on Pinterest, but here is my recipe.

 

1 box Spice cake mix (you can use any flavor)

1 can pumpkin

1 cup water (Some people don't use any.  I like mine extra moist)

I got creative this time and put 1 1/2 teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice to give it a little more flavor.

 

Mix the ingredients and then put them in a muffin tin.  Bake at 350 for 20ish minutes.  I like to frost mine with cream cheese icing.  This is a Weight Watchers recipe so technically you void the healthiness if you frost them, just saying!

 

I bagged them up for Bryce's teachers and my teacher friends that I visit on Thursdays.  Happy Wednesday y'all.  Now go make some muffins! 

 

terrific tuesday

Bryce loves school and that just makes me so happy.  Today when I picked him up, both of his teachers told me how sweet he is.  One of his teachers said he is so quiet, but started noticing him come out of his shell a bit today!  His other teacher told me he had a good day, then went on to say how he's so good every day.  Having been a teacher, those are definitely comments I want to hear each week!  I'm so proud of him.

 

 

Bryce could not have been more thrilled about his sticker.  The class got stickers on his first day of school, but they hadn't gotten any more.  Bryce was upset by it the second day, but I had to assure him it wasn't just him that didn't get a sticker and that the teachers pick certain days to give them out!

 

Emmy LOVES her brother.  Her face lights up when she sees Bryce and he can always make her laugh.  It is the cutest thing.

 

I am so glad to be at home with them everyday.  It's a dream come true!

 

zoo and touch a truck

Jason was off yesterday so we went to our local zoo.  We went to the National Zoo after Emmy was born and we weren't really impressed.  Our zoo had a few new exhibits that allowed us to get closer to the animals.  This baby orangutan was one of my favorites.

 

 

Jason loves to feed the animals.  I personally think he is crazy for even wanting to get his hand close to an animal with that terrifying look on its face!

 

Emmy was mesmerized by it all.  She had a great time!

 

There seemed to be a lot of baby animals on this visit.  How cute are the baby ostriches?

 

Bryce led the way with the map.....our little tour guide.

 

Feeding the giraffes is always the highlight (for Jason).  He still can't convince Bryce to feed them.

 

Emmy had to take one for the team and feed the giraffes since her brother wouldn't.  She didn't enjoy it.  I thought she was laughing at the giraffe's tongue tickling her hand, but she was actually crying, ha!

This is how Bryce felt about feeding the giraffe's.  He feels the same about Mickey Mouse!

 

 

He wouldn't feed the giraffes, but he would let a bird land on him to feed it.  He had a couple at one point and even pet them.

 

Bryce's favorite part of the whole trip was the goat standing on the donkey.  He didn't want to miss out on any of the food! 

 

Each time we go to the zoo we do a different attraction.  The first year we did the sky ride, the second year we did the carousel, and this year we rode the train.  Jason enjoyed being out in the open with all the animals running around the train.

 

I went to a baby shower luncheon this afternoon with some girlfriends so Jason and the dads met up and took the kids to Touch-a-Truck.   

 

The three amigos or should we say three stooges, ha.

Bryce, Aiden, Chase

 

We have been soaking up these beautiful days.  It's so fun to get out and do fun family things.