Our child is pretty much obsessed with pumpkins. From the first time he noticed I had put up a new decoration in the house for fall, he was all over it. He quickly learned what it was and carried it around with him everywhere. Because he was SUPER into pumpkins, I could not wait to take him to the pumpkin patch! When we got there, he ran from place to place saying "kunkin," about every 30 seconds. He was beyond excited to be there... and Brad and I found lots of humor in the whole situation. We ended up leaving with one pumpkin for us to carve, and, of course, Preston got two small ones to carry with him everywhere.
By the end of the Halloween season, Preston had 4 pumpkins that he insisted on keeping at his highchair EVERY time he ate- he barely had room for food, but he had his pumpkins dang it.
After we ventured to the pumpkin patch (which was kind of a let down this year for picture taking purposes), we came home to carve them. Brad and I also couldn't wait to see the excitement in Preston during this. We stripped him down to the diaper, cleared a path to the bathroom, and got everything ready for what we thought was going to be an incredibly messy child. BUT wouldn't you know it? Preston was absolutely terrified of the inside of the pumpkins. He loves the outside- can't get enough, but once Brad cut the top off and started removing the insides, Preston wanted NOTHING to do with it. We also both found this humerous as we thought he was going to love it. Preston would not go anywhere near the insides of the pumpkin... he did, however, decorate his small one with stickers while watching Daddy ever so closely to make sure none of that yucky stuff would touch him.
"Kunkin."
"I want this one."
For some reason, I told him to kiss the pumpkin because I thought it would make for cute pictures. Well, he decided that he needed to kiss just about every large pumpkin we came in contact with. (Don't judge from the GERM prospective).
After Ava's soccer game, the other group of Emerson's loaded up and came down to Mansfield for the evening. I know, I know, why would have not just stayed up there? Well, you haven't met my child if that is the question you are asking. It is SO much easier with my one-year-old, to nap and sleep at our house... so being the kind friends they are, they came down. (Plus we have two furry little boys that also need attention).
Here are the kids enjoying the beautiful summer-like day with Slurpee's and ice cream
(as you can tell, they were fans).
Ava being silly.
Preston laughing at Ava being silly....
Preston was insistent on riding Ava's scooter even though he is WAY too young.
This was our compromise... (i.e. it couldn't move in the thick grass).
Oh sweet Ava Lea has started her first year of soccer, or sports for that matter. Our Emerson clan got the chance to see this little girl in action! Preston loved watching his big cousin play! At one point, he was such a devoted fan, he tried to run onto the field and join in on the game. Ava was also VERY excited that her little cousin was there to show support. She took lots of pleasure in taking him over to the "players bench" and showing him off.
Leader of the Pack
That would be Ava being Ava...
Be aggressive, be, be aggressive (just without your hands).
Preston got to experience his first high school football game. Mansfield ISD has an absolutely, ridiculously huge football stadium about a mile from our house. We decided that Preston would probably LOVE to see all of the action of a football game (and we all know my husband loves football of any kind), so we loaded up the family, and watched an entire half of the game (I am using the term watched very loosely here).
When we got there, we sat basically on the first row, and the players, coaches, etc were right in front of us. Preston loved being right in the action. After about 10 minutes, a friend from work came and got us and dragged us up to the top of the stadium. Preston had a great time with all of the action, the band, the people, the food. It was SO neat to watch him in this whole new environment. We planned to only stay for one quarter, but we actually made it through an entire half. I knew it was time to go when the band was playing loudly and Preston was clapping, yawning, and rubbing his eyes all at the same time.
So here's to our future football star soaking in all of the Friday Night Lights!
A couple of Sunday's ago (or about 8 ago), Ava (along with some special helpers) threw me a birthday party! I haven't had one of these is a LONG time, and though it wasn't anything fancy (or big), I realized how truly blessed I am to have such a special little girl that cares about me. Now onto the "Aunt of the Year" award... I didn't even get a picture with myself and the party planner. BUT I did get some other cute shots. (You will also notice the Dallas Cowboys themed shirts as, this year, my birthday feel on game day...).
The boys are my world
Preston LOVE "fo-ba." Every time he sees a football game on TV, he says "Go Cowboys," and "Touchdown."
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree (and that tree being Brad).
"If you're happy and you know it, then your face will surely show it..."
My special cake prepared by Chef Ava!
Someone was VERY excited about me blowing out my candles!
Preston LOVES cake... too bad he also decides not to sleep when he takes in sweets.
As of last week, Preston found a new favorite book (previously it was Good Night Moon <Thanks Meme> and The Foot Book). He found Happy Valentine's Day, Mouse by Laura Numeroff (same author that wrote If You Give a Mouse a Cookie), and the boy is IN love. His friend Lily gave it to him for Valentine's this year, and he hasn't really paid much attention to it until now. EVERY night, he comes up to both Brad and I, hands us the book, and turns around to sit in our lap. We love this time with Preston. He eagerly pops up and down in between the two of us until it is bed time. I caught Brad reading it to him on video a couple of nights ago. Seeing this again already makes me think how I am going to miss this SO much when get gets older! I hope he NEVER outgrows wanting us to read to him!
Please see how he has learned some of the parts of the book.
Our favorite is "Who's at the door?" UGH melts me heart every time!
I completely love the fact that my phone has a video camera in it... I mean what did people do 20 years ago to document all of these wonderful moments? Oh wait, I know, they tried to make the kid continue what they were doing that was just so cute while the found the massive, over-your-shoulder video camera (that actually held actual size VHS tapes). Advancements in technology have not only helped those moms (like me) who rarely have time to wash their hair on a daily basis, but everyone in the world around us! Now, every time I see Preston doing something I just never want to forget, all I have to do is grab my phone (which we all know is sitting right beside me even thought half the time I can't answer it due to my very demanding one year old), flip on the video camera, and try to capture it. Sometimes Preston just stops performing the instant I press record, sometimes he starts screaming because he wants WATCH himself in his videos on my camera instead of being recorded (this is one of his favorite things to do), and sometimes, just sometimes, I capture what I'm trying to get- my cute little boy doing cute little things (well, at least him mom thinks so)!
Last week, Preston had a very rough week every day after school (let's be honest, I had one of my most trying weeks as a teacher as well, and I'm sure that rubbed off on him). One day, I just couldn't take it. Preston had been screaming for about 20 minutes straight and NOTHING I was doing was working. I called Brad (maybe by this point I was also crying) and said... WHAT DO I DO??? Immediately he said, um take him outside. Does father know son? Yes, yes he does. I asked P... "Want to go outside?" He STOPPED, said "ow-side," and ran to the door. No intense crying after that. I took him outside and brought his fancy dinner of easy mac along with us (don't judge me- please read the previous statement about it being an awful week for the both of us <and to be honest, even if it wasn't an awful week, he'd probably still be eating it>). Here is what I was able to get on camera... I was trying for more, but as you can see, the boy was busy (NOT CRYING)!
This past weekend we were at my mom and Greg's watching the Cowboys game. Preston was playing, girls were chatting, and boys were watching the game. All of the sudden, Greg said something and ended the conversation with "One." Preston immediately said, "two." I was shocked. I thought, that had to be a fluke. So what did I do? Said one again, that's right. Preston said "two." I said "three." Preston said "fur." (At this point I was freaking out. I said five, and yes, he said "sii." I didn't try any other higher numbers because I was pretty sure he had learned this from his breathing treatments he does daily. He is required to use his inhaler 2 times twice a day. Each time he must take six breaths, and each time Brad and I count very clearly and loudly to six. That means for over a month is has heard us count to "6" four times a day... and what did he pick up? Of course, I made him do it about a million times that day, and was just SO proud of my boy. First thing Monday afternoon, I finally thought to get out my phone to record it, and of course, it isn't as perfect as I'd like it to be... but he eventually gets it down a little bit (just forgetting four)! I love my smart little man:)
And finally, two nights ago, the weather got a little crazy, so we brought his "side" in. Preston has loved it being in there! Yesterday, he was cracking himself up going down the slide! Thank you Meme for such a great birthday Preston- the boy can't get enough of it:)
