Pumpkin Time

Dylan walked in the door yesterday at 11:30, just in time to put Gavin down for a nap. When everyone was moving again, we decided it was time for some good old-fashioned family fun. Off to MacDonald's Ranch we went. I almost exclusively do things like this on the weekdays since I despise weekend crowds and chaos. And also because if you find all three of us together, it's usually a week day because of our weird schedules.

We took Gavin last year as well, but it was so much more fun now that he's a little bit older. I think when he's three we might go really huge and head all the way to Schnepf Farms in Queen Creek for the Chili and Pumpkin Festival. I can't really see that being worth it right now, though. I'll allow the pictures to tell the story. There are so many...

A rare smile caught on camera

He was in heaven with all the farm machinery

We made the mistake of letting him ride in this tractor, and then he wouldn't leave. It took both us to pry him out after a half hour, and he was not pleased.

I don't think Dylan had this in mind when we visited the petting zoo, but he's a good sport.

Brushing pigs

Gavin loved petting the less aggressive animals, and then he started to kiss them. Gross!

Grooming a tiny donkey

I can't get a good picture of Gavin to save my life!

What would a visit to MacDonald's Ranch be without a pony ride?

Bye, horse!

A boy and his pumpkin.

This morning I had a whole plan for my day until I realized I had to be at Babymoon Inn in Phoenix for my first of two Tuesday night classes at 5:30, which really threw a wrench in things. So when Dylan agreed to bring Gavin to Dawn's, I scrapped my original daytime plans and took a rare morning at home alone. I spent hours cleaning out three different closets to make space in the new bunk bed room. Then I went through multiple garbage bags of hand-me-down baby clothes and did endless loads of laundry. I had begun to feel totally out of control in getting my act together with a bunch of things, including straightening up this house and clearing the clutter. Even when I have days with no plans at all, I can't be productive at home with an active toddler around...anyone with little kids knows what I'm talking about, and it's the most frustrating thing. I started to feel like I was in a hamster wheel...constantly attempting to make progress but getting nowhere at all. I don't think there's a whole lot to do to get ready for the baby, but there's just a lot of other stuff I want to get done before he arrives. (I'm thinking garage sale soon...) I still have a lot of time, but it always seems that way until suddenly time is out, and so I started getting panicked. I feel a little more in control now, and I definitely think I'll have to take advantage of another Tuesday or two at home alone again in the next couple of months. Right now, Dylan and I are both sitting together in the living room at 12:30 on a Tuesday. It's so nice and so, so strange.