Arboretum Pumpkin Patch

Since it's been raining so much, our playgroup made an impromptu trip to the Dallas Arboretum Wednesday to get some pictures at the pumpkin patch while the weather was in our favor! Unfortunately Marshall was the only one without a costume, his was coming in the mail (and of course it was delivered while we were at the Patch. One word - Turtle!) But he had his faithful pumpkin hat! It was a very muddy patch, but we got some great shots. I'll have more to post when I get some of the pics from the other mothers. Thank you Grandma for coming and taking the group photo!

Top Row (left to right) - Jake, Camryn, Preston and Zane, grrrr

Bottom Row - Egan, Raylee, Mia and Marshall

Mom and Marshall in the Pumpkin house

Who's the happiest punkin head around!?!

We didn't have tons of luck on the pumpkin pile, kinda hard for him to maneuver.

Happy baby, free from his pumpkin hat and sweaty head!

Kansas - Part 3

As mentioned in my first Kansas post, we had a strange encounter with little critter when we were touring Fort Leavenworth. I think I spotted him first, just hanging out in the side yard of this house we were driving by...there he was, Phil the Groundhog! To say this is a highlight of my Kansas trip is an understatement. I mean, seriously...a groundhog in some one's yard...a cat he ain't! His name instantly became Phil, because of the classic movie Groundhog Day. Austin thought it was the bee's knees, too...so much that he adamantly defended his sighting to his disbelieving dad and sister. But here's the picture to prove it!

Here are a couple more pictures of Elizabeth and Austin with their FAVORITE cousin! And sweet Miss Tikka...just a precious girl. It didn't take her long to figure out that Creighton is her favorite Uncle!

After enjoying a couple of days in Leavenworth, we headed over to Kansas City for some BBQ and more R&R. The weather was not in our favor, unfortunately it was cold and rainy most of the time. But we stayed in a great area called The Plaza that has tons of shopping and restaurants so we didn't have to go far for good food and fun stores.

We went to a WW1 museum, which is the only one in the nation...random, in KC!?! But it was an excellent museum and since I married a trivial pursuit genius...this is right up Creighton's alley. But don't get me wrong, I love museums, I just have a retention problem....so although I'm sure I learned all this back in school, it's like learning it for the first time. But since it was pouring rain, we didn't stop to take any pictures. :(

Did you know that Kansas City is the City of Fountains!?! There are fountains everywhere! So we did get to take one picture by a fountain near our hotel. It was freezing so we had Marshallmellow all bundled up, but as you can see he didn't mind one bit!

Thanks Auntie Vicki and Uncle Andy for a great time! :)

Kansas Pumpkin Patch - Part 2

Working for a marketing agency for 8 years opened my eyes to photography in a completely new light. But unfortunately the Lord blessed me with the gift of administration and not the gift of true artistic talent. But I'd like to think that hanging around all those art directors rubbed off on me a little. So these are a couple of pictures I shot to show a more artsy view of the patch.

I've always loved fall for the festivities, not necessarily for the colder weather. I have very distinct memories of October afternoons, when my parents would leave our front door open so the cool, Fall breeze would come through the screen door. Helping mom put out the Halloween decorations and making plans for my birthday party...dunking for apples anyone!?! So when I see pumpkins, it takes me back to my childhood. The funny thing about pumpkins, I don't really like to eat them...just like to look at them. :)

PS - Speaking of childhood, we watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!" when we were visiting Vicki...it just never gets old. Poor Linus....

Kansas Pumpkin Patch - Part 1

We had a great time in Kansas visiting my sister and her family! We spent the first half of the week in Leavenworth, KS where they live. We got to see Elizabeth and Austin's schools, go to E's soccer game and A's football practice. Saw the sights in downtown Leavenworth, the penitentiary and took a tour of the famous Fort Leavenworth where Andy is attending school. (Very excited to share with you the unusual varmint sighting we had on the Fort!!! But we'll save that for a later post!) And most importantly, we had the pleasure of meeting Tikka, the newest member of the Rolling Stone's family!

I'll start with the pumpkin patch since that was our first outing in Leavenworth. I sent a quick preview of the pumpkin patch, but that was just the tip of the photo op iceberg! The Lamborn Pumpkin Patch is a family run operation with all your typical patch festivities...hay ride out to the patch, petting zoo, hay bale maze, kiddie "train" ride, mini donkey and lots of pumpkins! Marshall was dressed to impress in his pumpkin hat that his grandma knitted for him. It's a little big so we had a hard time keeping it out of his eyes. Enjoy!

Marshall & Elizabeth as Happy Scarecrows (ignore the man behind the curtain, I could have cropped him out, but that's the best part about the picture!)

Elizabeth & Austin in the hay bale maze (She might look like her daddy, but she has her momma's smile!)

Riding the mini-train...that look is priceless!

We just couldn't get out little punkin to smile.

Pumpkins are definitely more interesting than our camera. But those cheeks are worth the shot!

Hay ride out to the pumpkin patch

Marshall falls asleep in the patch

Sleepy pumpkin head

Pumpkin Patch Preview

This week we're visiting my sister and her family in Leavenworth, KS. I had a second to post a quick picture we took yesterday at a local pumpkin patch. That's not a pumpkin under Creighton's chin, it's Marshall wearing his pumpkin hat in the Baby Bjorn! He was sleeping so we didn't want to wake him for the photo op.

I'll post more pictures when we're back but this is for all my playgroup friends. They're headed to the Arboretum this Thursday and I was so disappointed that we couldn't join them. So I'm happy to report we got our pumpkin fix and Marshall got to wear his pumpkin hat!

The Suit and The Swing

I hosted a garage sale at my house for my DG alum group this past weekend, so unfortunately I've been neglecting my blog. (But we made $723!) So I'll be catching you up for the next couple days. Marshall is now officially 6 months old and he's been celebrating by getting up on all fours and rocking back and forth...danger Will Robinson! This boy will be crawling before we know it, sigh.

Last weekend our dear friends from Chicago, Vann, Amanda and their cutie Charlie were in town for a quick visit. (More pics of Marshall and Charlie to come!) Marshall got to sport his Adidas track suit for a trip to the playground. This thing takes adorable to another level! We put Marshall in a bucket swing for his first ever "real" swing experience...needless to say, it was a big hit! Unfortunately all that swangin' made the little man tired, so he made himself "comfortable" in his daddy's arms. The boy ain't picky if he needs a little shut eye! :)

Elizabeth's Sugar Shakers

Team Elizabeth's Sugar Shakers! (Unfortunately the sun was so bright, Marshall wouldn't face the camera. Mom forgot to pack the floppy hat and sunglasses.)

Susan and sleepy Marshall

This post is a week late, but last weekend we had the pleasure of participating in the JDRF Walk to Cure Diabetes in Plano, TX. My cousin Katy and friend Susan joined our Uphues fam for the 5K. The weather was perfect, Marshall got to wear his AWESOME yellow Adidas track suit (Thanks Morgan & Rebecca!), and Maggie was in heaven! We were walking for my 6 yr old niece, Elizabeth, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes this summer. We hope to have an even larger team of walkers and to raise even more money next year! Love ya Queen Elizabeth!