Art & Crafts - Fall Magnets

Last week our Fall Art & Craft Project was Fall Magnets.

This was easy and it kept Xander VERY happy and VERY busy for a while. He LOVES to paint and I LOVE that Crayola makes paints that wash off with nothing but water!

This is a super EASY craft...

First you start with some fall wood cut-outs from the craft store - these were 2 for a dollar and then %50 off! Yay Hobby Lobby!


And then you need some wonderful washable paints...


Then you let your little one go crazy and paint them in fall colors...




Even Mom joined in on the fun! I painted the pumpkin and I painted the fall words and Xander finished them...

Let them dry and then hot glue magnets on the back.

The Finished Product's hanging on the fridge...

Ready to send off to Grandma's and Great Grandma's to brighten their day!

Pumpkin Patch!

We made our first ever trip to McCall's Pumpkin Patch this past Saturday. Last year we skipped the pumpkin patch and just took Xander to a nearby church to pick out a pumpkin, but this year we decided he was old enough for the BIG pumpkin patch.

The highlight of the pumpkin patch for Xander was the "Tractor Ride" aka the hayride out to the Field to pick a pumpkin. He couldn't take his eyes off the tractor, I think he was more excited about seeing a tractor than picking a pumpkin. He didn't want to leave the hayride and when the tractor took it away he threw a mini fit, until mom and dad COMPLETELY reassured him that the tractor would be back for him.

This kid. So we told him he could pick out ANY pumpkin he wanted. He was adorable to see him walk up to the first one he saw and attempt to lift the huge pumpkin, he thinks he ALOT stronger than he is.







After getting pumpkins we asked Xander what he wanted to do and he said "TRUCK!" of course, so we headed straight for an old truck so he could look at it close up and I snapped a picture...



Next he took his FIRST ride all by himself. I think he would've backed out at the last minute but it was too late. I was really proud at how well he did, he didn't stand up once. Probably cuz he was too busy holding on for dear life...







And a few more fun pictures...

King of the Hay stack!



Playing in the "Old West" town...

October, what a month!

Well I know it has been a while since I've updated everyone. I apologize, but it's been harder keeping up with a toddler than I thought! Especially one who loves to disconnect the power cord when mommy's on her laptop or press buttons on the key board at the office. Now that Xander can walk there is a whole new world of things he can reach, just when I thought the house was sufficiently baby proofed he proved me all wrong.

Last month was full of exciting first events and big milestones. Milestones first... Biggest accomplishment is that Xander weaned himself off the bottle. Yes you heard me right, he did it all by himself. About a week and a half ago Xander began refusing to take his bottles. First his before bedtime bottle and then he refused to take another one again. I tried for two days to make sure he didn't change his mind, but no he's done with bottles and it's all big boy cups for him now! This is really amazing to me only because I have been so concerned on how I would get him to give up his bottles, he would yell "ba ba" when he wanted one. But we are now successfully bottle free, I threw them away (didn't think it was good to save them after their excessive use) and saved one, just in case haha
Next big milestone Xander has continued teething and now has more than I can count! Molar's top and bottom and a couple more front top and bottom. He has been pretty cranky these past few weeks, but it seems like he's feeling better this week and hopefully he's past the worst of it.

Xander's first Halloween
I spent most of the month making pumpkins, ghosts and bats to decorate our house and teaching Xander what they were. By Halloween he could successfully recognize and say bat and when he saw ghosts he said "boooo", it was SO adorable. He loved pumpkins, and we had an amazing time picking them. He never said pumpkin, but did say trick-or-treat twice! He was pooh bear this year, which was pretty neat because he knows pooh, so he knew that he looked like pooh bear in his costume. We took him trick-or-treating to a few houses on our block, by the end he was SO excited for them to open the door, he was jumping up and down.













Xander's first Balloon Fiesta
We took Xander to the Balloon Fiesta for the first time this year. I was concerned he was too little, but after watching it on the news for almost 2 weeks he knew what a balloon was and would jump up and down and yell "balloon" when they would come on tv. So we took him to his first Balloon Glow. He was excited and amazed at all of the big balloons and liked to make a blowing noise to imitate the balloons blowing up, it was so cute!

I love Rock'n roll!

Or maybe just twinkle twinkle little star! haha Well the past 2 days Xander has developed a fondness for music. He was not in the least bit interested in anything musical before, he just ignored it. Aunt Judy sent him this wonderful Baby Einstein toy that goes in his crib, it has a screen with fish that swim and light up. It plays baby versions of classical music like Mozart and Bach. When we recieved it I was so excited I put batteries in it right away and put it in the crib. Xander on the other hand was not at all amused, much to my disappointment. I was sad that he might not like this toy or enjoy the music at all. I guess he was just too young for it still, because yesterday I switched it on, just for the heck of it, to see what would happen, and he turned his entire body towards it and became entranced! It was amazing, he LOVED it. Then today the strangest thing... I put him in his swing at work, which I was worrying he was starting to outgrow due to the fact that every time I put him in it he cries after about a minute, so I put him in it one more time just to try it, but this time I turned on the music, for the first time in forever, and he stared and stared at the place where the music was coming out and then fell asleep! When I tried to turn the music off, after he'd been out for a while, he instantly woke up and I had to turn it back on! He is growing so fast and everyday is a new discovery for him (and me).

On another subject I just have to say, I'm itching like crazy to feed him baby foods, but his doc said to wait and we could start them after we discussed it at his next appointment on Nov. 24th. I'm trying to hold out till then. Maybe for thanksgiving he'll get to try sweet potatoes or carrots! That would be SO exciting! He already watches us so intently when we eat, I think he's very curious about it. He definitely is paying attention, which is a sign he's getting ready to eat. Hopefully he'll have his mom's taste and appetite, not his dad's! ha ha ha

Also I have to mention we are very very very excited to be expecting the arrival of Grandma and Grandpa Simpson all the way from Michigan this weekend! Xander can't wait to meet his Great-Grandparents and we are SO excited that they are able to make that LONG drive! We will share all the pictures and stories soon! So I might be slow on the blog for about a week or so.

Also here a couple new pictures one is Xander and daddy on Halloween, we didn't get many great Halloween pictures except for that morning because he didn't really like wearing the outfit for long stretches of time (good thing I didn't spend money on a costume!) Also I added a few to his photo album, note: the bunny is on his head by his choice, I tried to take it off and he put it back! What can I do?