Fall Break

For the first couple days of my Fall Break, Kevin, Harper, my folks and I went to Branson. This would be Harper's first "vacation", first time in a hotel, first time at an amusement park, first time to eat in restaurants for 3 days straight {a fact that caused me to lose many nights of sleep}.

Although she was an excellent traveler, traveling with a toddler ain't what it's cracked up to be. There were very few things that would keep her attention long enough to make them worth it. But we had fun anyway! 

She loved running along the lake at the Branson Landing. Whether it was the beautiful weather, or the fact that she had just been freed from her car seat; whatever it was, she had a blast. 

Examining the fountains with Daddy

Nana & Papa

Walking with her Papa

 The water from the fountains started to spray us & Nana is trying to get {drag} Harper to safety.

 When we got checked into our hotel, HArper spent 30 minutes or more just exploring the room, and playing with her own toys. I guess they are different when they are in a new setting. 

She played in her pack-n-play for the longest time. She wanted us to put her in and then wouldn't come out. 

We went to Silver Dollar City on our 2nd day, hoping Harper would be able to ride a few rides. Had she been 36 inches tall, she would have taken those kiddie rides by storm! However, all 33 inches of her had only a couple rides to choose from. 

At first, while standing in line, Kevin though that riding rides was out of the questions. As you can see from these first pictures.....

However, as soon as the rides started, we discovered that Harper LOVES rides....she just HATES waiting. 

So she would cry and throw a fit in the lines and while boarding the rides. But the moment they started moving, she was on cloud 9. 

She was clapping giddily! It was adorable!

But then, all that emotion came flooding back...... As soon as we made her get off the ride. 

Waving to her adoring fans.

Our next endeavor was the tree house.....it was full of crazy kids, parents trying to keep up with them, guns that shoot bouncy balls all over the place. It was a bit terrifying. 

And the slides were exceptionally skinny. But long. I didn't think Kevin & I were going to make it out. 

Because of the skinniness, Harper got to go down a few times by herself. She loved it....

Then it was time to ride the train. We almost didn't ride, due to the long line and Harper's aversion to lines. My dad couldn't believe that we weren't going to ride the train:

"That girl needs to ride that train."

"She loves trains, you have to."

"I dont think the line is that long."

So we planned our timing just right and hopped on the train. Dad was relieved. And Harper had a great time. 

Harper drug her daddy through another tree house contraption. She thought it was really funny when she ran from him.

Her first carousel ride

It was a Happy Fall Break!

punkin pickin

Last weekend, while visiting Kevin's folks, we loaded up and headed to a farm near their house. It had a petting zoo, pumpkin patch, and harper's favorite....tons of slides.

Lindsay took Harper on the crazy tunnel slide. She is the only adult that could fit {sorry Lindsay} ;)

Harper's new love is sliding on her belly. LOVES it!

Gramma & Pops picking a little pumpkin for Harper. 

The whole gang {Harper is trying to unlock the car apparently}

I think this was the only animal that Harper wasn't afraid of. And it was also the only animal that had a sign warning that it might bite. Haha!

Here you will see a very rare thing. My favorite thing...EVER. This is Harper's 'cheese' face, her 'smile for the camera' face. She never does this, but when she does: I. Love. It.

Finally Fall

A week or so ago, Harper & I spent some time exploring while Kevin loaded the truck with rocks {for our new & awesome fire pit}. The rocks were on the north end of my parents property; I had totally forgotten how pretty it is up there. Harper sure enjoyed some time in a different setting. 

Whoever said that leaves tasted good...LIED.

Collecting rocks

Talking...always talking.

My mom's birthday was October 9th, and we always celebrate our birthdays together with others in our same birthday month {or season}. But because it's usually my mom who does everything for the birthday parties, my Grandmother decided to have a get together just for my mom. Good idea Gigi! 

Harper thought that Uncle Dale was struggling with that fishing pole. She just knew he needed her help. 

Or maybe she just wanted the credit for delivering it to Nana?

During the gift giving, Harper took off....

Apparently she'd had enough of the party and needed to take a little snooze on the laundry room rug. 

As Harper's mother, I'm going to state that my brother, Joey, is crazy. And Harper's face proves my point. Gonna give me a heart attack! 

Crazy or not...she seems to like him pretty good.

But after all that playing, she had to take another little snooze. This time on the gift boxes. 

We think that Nana was pretty happy with her birthday "surprise". Wasn't really a surprise. But we won't point any fingers about that..... (coughDADcough)

Independent

Harper tries to put her socks on by herself.

It's really cute. 

Fair Fun

We spent an afternoon at the Tulsa State Fair a few weeks ago. Harper loved looking at the show animals, especially the pigs. And I loved showing them to her...not meaning to brag or anything but I WAS a pretty good pig showman in my youth {if I do say so myself}. 

Don't ask anyone else about that though, just take my word. 

She also got to look at the brand new baby goats in the petting zoo. Kevin, who claims he wants to raise goats, enjoyed it just as much as Harper. 

So, this year, I decided {after much pushing from Kevin} to enter some photos in the fair's photography competition. I've always wanted to and I am happy that I finally did. But much to my surprise, I actually placed 3rd with one of my photos. In the "Amateur, Color, Agriculture" category to be exact. It may seem a little silly, but it was pretty exciting to us. 

Here is the photo that placed.....

Kevin & Harper checking out one of my other photos; Harper thought it was pretty cool to see herself in the display cases!

I wanted so badly to take Harper into the butterfly house again this year. "I just know she'll love it", I kept saying. Here is the senerio I pictured in my mind.....

Engaging her curiosity with these amazing little wonders, so that one day in the future she would look back and thank her parents for letting her experience God's greatest creatures. 

Here is the reality......me trying to get those stinkin' lazy bugs to eat that crap on the q-tip while Harper rammed her head into the netting and obsessed over how many chairs were inside the tent. 

You see, in that first picture, I'm actually trying to keep her from eating one of the butterflies. 

So much for 'Mother of the Year'!

~

Aunt Zee Zee

Kevin's sister Lindsay celebrated her 25th birthday in September. Harper & I met the family at the  OKC zoo that week to wish her a happy birthday. Harper loves Lindsay {or ZeeZee as she says} and really enjoyed spending time with her. 

Her favorite activity of the day was sliding down the humongous slide in the children's zoo. 

She had to climb some serious stairs after each trip, but she didn't mind. She conquered those stairs...4 limbs style. 

Both girls look like they are having fun! 

Of course, Harper went down the slide with Pops & Gramma {or 'Dada' as Harper has so adorably started saying} also. But Lindsay, being the youngest and most energetic, had to take on the majority of the sliding responsibility.  

Showing some love to the bear...Muah!

There was just something missing from the kiddie slide after she had conquered the giant slide so many times. 

It was a great {and hot!} zoo day. We were happy to spend it with family, and wish Lindsay a happy 25th!

~

Sorry

Hello Old Friend,

We haven't spoken in a while. I hope that we can move past these recent weeks of neglect and pick up where we left off. It's not that I haven't been living. It's just that I haven't been blogging. In my remorse, I will do my best to fill the gaps of my absence. I apologize if you have felt abandoned in my irresponsibility. It's not you, it's me.

With deepest regret