First Fire!

It took a while, but it finally got cool enough (below 70*) for us to have our first fire in the outdoor fireplace. I'm not going to lie or be humble (and if you know me well, you know I'm not very good at being humble, haha!) The fireplace is awesome! We love it! It emits the perfect amount of heat (sans smoke) and makes our entire patio nice and cozy. I foresee us spending basically every evening this fall/winter/spring outside. So, whatcha waiting for??? Come on over and enjoy it with us!

Matt getting ready to light the first flame.

Man make fire!

Elise enjoying dinner, fireside of course :)

A visit with Mimi and Papa!

Mimi and Papa came down and spent a week with us. We had such a good time with them and they had so much fun playing with Elise!

Playing with Papa. It took her a while to warm up to him, but once she did they were best buds!

Chillin' with Mimi.

Trying out her Halloween costume at the pumpkin patch.

Pumpkin Patch fun!

New laptop!

Yoga moves before Mimi and Papa leave.

We had a wonderful time and look forward to them coming back to visit soon!!

We have turned into *those* parents.

Gone are the days of staying up late drinking a few... sleeping in... and watching Lifetime movies all Saturday long. Our mornings now consist of (me) trying to beat Elise up and enjoy the first half of my coffee before the little darling wakes. And instead of lounging on the couch or spending my Saturday shopping and/or running pointless errands, we go on bike rides. Yes friends, you read that correctly. Matt has a bike and we're shopping for one for me. In the meantime, we're borrowing our neighbor's bike and trailer (Thanks Hugo and Cheryl!!!) and we go on family bike rides. Elise loves it! And you want to know a little secret? So do I :) I wouldn't trade our new routines for anything!

And for the safety nuts, you can sleep easy. We even own and wear helmets!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

We braved the fall-like weather (muggy and a high of 94*) and hit up the pumpkin patch this afternoon. Elise loved it! She shrieked, squealed, and giggled. She loved those orange pumpkins!

We met up with Kate, James, Erin, Audrey and Marisa for lunch at Perico's and then we hit the pumpkin patch for the first time this fall. We have a few more patches planned, so this won't be the last you'll see of Elise and her beloved pumpkins!

I love the funky pumpkins; they have personality!

Elise (10.5 months,) Audrey (5.5 months,) and their boyfriend James (7 months)

Weekend in Cowtown!

Earlier this month, Matt and I made our first trip together back to Ft. Worth. It was wonderful! Elise stayed behind with GiGi and Tompa and Matt and I attempted to act like 23 year olds again. We stayed with our good friends and newlyweds Lori and Adam. It was awesome to see them. We were able to meet up with Brian and Mary Helen for a boat ride, hit up Joe T's, and I helped host a couples shower for Marisa and Rafa who are getting married this November. It was a fabulous and fun weekend!!! My only complaint is that it went by way too quickly!

The girls at Marisa's couples shower. (Moi, Bride-to-be Marisa, Jamie, and Lori)

23 year olds!!!!!!

Adam, Lori, and Matt

Good ol' Lake Weatherford!!

Yes.. yes I did.

10 month pics- Rejects!!

Most difficult photo session to date. I was sweating by the time I got a sub-par shot. Sweating!!! And I am not a sweater!! I even had Matt's help. She's so wiggly, squirmy, and interested in everything. Everything, that is, except sitting still and taking a picture. And now, I present the "Rejected Photos."

Picture #1. Dangit this girl moves fast! And I wasn't trying for a profile picture either.

"What? Am I doing something wrong? Oh! You don't want my foot in the way. Gottcha."

"I spy with my little eye.... the sign!!"

"Ah ha! Got it!"

Off the chair. With the sign in hand of course.

"It's MINE!!! All MINE!!!"

And in about 1.3 seconds she across the room... with the treasured sign. Having so much fun!

She decided the sign's final resting place should be the laundry basket. Random.

Snuggles!

Elise's new thing is "Snuggles." It doesn't matter what (or who) it is... including the sloppy, messy, sticky highchair. She doesn't do this when she's tired... she does it for attention. And because it's so cute, she gets it! She'll look at us (to make sure we're watching of course) and then "snuggle" with whatever she's closest to. Favorites seem to be the highchair and the (stop reading Grandma!) dog's bed. Reason #467 why I vacuum every day. She'll also snuggle with the cabinets, wall, floor, and stairs.

Passed Out.

Little Elise looks like a college student passed out after a frat party. Mother's Day Out will do that, I guess!

Doesn't everyone hang out in their tutu on a Saturday morning?