Pumpkin Pictures!!

It was totally my lucky fortune to have called one of my best friends, Brandee, on my way back from my parent’s house Sunday to find her and another girlfriend, Andrea, had just carved a pumpkin perfectly sized for a baby/toddler and they were now taking fall pictures of Dre’s adorable baby boy, Tap, in her front yard! They were so sweet to invite me to come play too…my lucky day! How cute are these pictures?! ♥ ♥ ♥

♥ Sweet Baby Tap ♥♥ Joel was all smiles (and drool) ♥ ♥ Jude wasn't sure at first but after a few pics he ended up asking if HE could get in the pumpkin too... ♥ ♥ Ofcourse we let him...and soon the tears came fearing he was "stuck" in the pumpkin ♥ ♥ Give the kid candy and he's sure to be a hyper happy camper! ♥ ♥ Momma's lil' pumpkins ♥ ♥ putting his chocolate hands in brothers hair...little toot! ♥

A weekend visit to see G-Dad and Gigi!

Jon went with some of his friends to Vegas for a fun weekend so I packed up the boys and headed to Roscoe to see my parents. Two totally different weekend trips, both absolutely enjoyable! Mine was very relaxing; kid friendly and full of mom’s cooking (as usual). Jon’s was much faster paced; airports, an MGM hotel room (barely used for sleeping), table service and clubs to celebrate a birthday, poolside lounging/recovering and a massive hangover lasting until I think Tuesday morning.
Jude would ask “where’s daddy?” and almost immediately remember and tell himself “daddy in airplane!” all weekend! So cute!
“G-Dad” (my step-dad) had double knee replacement surgery Oct 10th so I figured he’d be stuck in his bed quite a bit…wrong! He’s a super star! He was up walking around and playing with the boys quite a bit! Jude kept trying to kiss his knees saying “G-dad boo boo, ouchie!”
We stayed around my parent’s house most of the weekend and just hung out. It’s such a nice “slow down” coming to visit them. I even get to sleep in! ;-) Gigi (my mom) spoils everyone! You want for nothing at their house! We did a mini photo shoot with the boys in the front yard, Jude helped carve his first pumpkin, we baked the seeds…all kinds of Fall fun! I love my family! ♥

The boys ♥ their Uncle Kevin!

4645 Daisy Leaf Dr...Listed!

After much thought...going back and forth and back and forth over whether or not we should sell our house, we've made the decision to list! 4645 Daisy Leaf Dr is officially on the market as of Monday. Alot of things have taken place in my life since purchasing the house...getting married and having the boys being the biggest events! *sigh* I will miss the area and house but I'm very excited at the potential sell and move! We really could use more room!
The constant cleaning for showings may just cause a "keel over" but I am one determined girl! We have carpet cleaners and our cleaning lady coming tomorrow and an open house scheduled for Sunday after church. Bring on the buyers! :-)
The ideal part about listing now I guess is that we're not in a "desperate to move" situation. If we don't get an offer that's acceptable to us, we are okay to stay put! I sure do love my backyard/Pergola patio! ;-)
Ofcourse I've been looking at home listings online but I don't dare look at any in person just yet. I don't want to get my hopes up! Don't get me wrong, I'm definitely optimistic...I just don't want to find a "perfect Howerton home" only to have it go off the market before ours sells.
I'm sure I'll ramble another post with updates but for now...this is all I have to share. :)

Busy Bee…most definitely ME!

TGIT (Thank God it’s Thursday!) I’m so thankful for Off Friday weeks! I don’t know that I could ever leave my current job simply for this very reason! Every week I look forward to the weekend with abundantly-increasing impatience as the days march on. I think mainly because, my week is typically so chaotic! On average, we usually have 1 night Mon-Thur where we are all home TOGETHER and without agenda. Even when the weekends are jam-packed, the alarm doesn’t go off at 6:00am, I’m allowed to be 5-10 minutes late somewhere, there is no “mandatory computer time” and I have my beautiful boys to love on!!
*sigh*

One would think that after all these years of wham bam weekend schedules, I would eventually cave to the evident proof that a “relaxing weekend” is a fallacy. Weekends may provide a change of scenery, sure, but 95% of the time I still don’t sleep in past max 7:30am, and when I do, there’s babies sharing the bed that enabled that last hour between the sheets. Projects around the house, family and friends, church…all sorts of other things that are just waiting for me, almost calling me by name for attention
One thing is for certain, weekends are way more fun, no matter the schedule! Especially in October!! There’s SO MUCH TO DO!! And most of it is outdoors, which is fabulous when you have toddlers!

*A Day at the FWT Zoo: Mom (Gigi), Jen & Me with all the kiddos!*

Already this month we have enjoyed the Fort Worth ZOO, “Oktoberfest” at Southlake Town Center, “Celebrate Roanoke” on Main St and I enjoyed some shopping at the FWT Junior League’s annual “Christmas in Cowtown.” Still hopeful/planning to make The Rahr Brewery Tour, “Boo at the Zoo”, The Flowermound Pumpkin Patch, The State Fair, The Dallas Arboretum and EVC’s annual “Trunk or Treat” night! Throw in all 3 Grown Howerton kid’s, my step dad and brother’s and brother-in-law’s birthdays, my signing up for a booth at a local craft fair to sell my “goods” and dedicating both the boys at church and I think that about covers it! Maybe we’ll skip the fair this year? LOL!!

Oh, did I mention we’re having a realtor out to the house tomorrow? Yep! After the 3rd notice was slapped on yet another neighboring house claiming the property was vacated and now belonged to the bank, we’re ready to “move on outta here!” Please Lord have your hand on us! Can I keep my house immaculate enough to appeal to a buyer? We’ll see…but either way, we’re giving it a go! I will be sad to leave my back porch & pergola most but thankfully, Jon built it so he can build again. “Right honey?” ;-) Where will we move? I’ll let you know when I know! :-) We’ll definitely be praying for first, a sale and then, guidance. It’s disheartening to invest so much in our house while have to continually watch renters/homeowners vacate without regards to what they’re doing to the value of OTHER’S homes! What can you do? I guess move! ;-)
Thanksgiving and Christmas time will probably be my favorite in a couple weeks (so sue me!) but I do so love October!! The weather is amazing, the foliage and Fall décor is beautiful, clothes are fun…It’s just all fun!
*Loving his very own "Jude sized" pumpkin!"


*Watching Jamie sing on the "Rising Star Stage"...she did so good!!*


*"Driving" the Fire truck at The Celebrate Roanoke Festival!*


*Playin' around in cut-outs*


*Celebrate Roanoke Festival with Shannon and the boys!*