Cupcakes and Pumpkins

Tomorrow is Jeremy's birthday, so Bennett and I decided we should make him some yummy cupcakes today to help celebrate.  They were chocolate pumpkin cupcakes and they are so so good!!!!  Jeremy and I have plans tomorrow to watch the GA/FL game with friends then go to dinner, so the majority of his actual birthday we won't be with Bennett. Tomorrow morning we are going to breakfast to start off Jeremy's birthday festivities then we are dropping off Bennett around lunch time at my parents house, so we only really have the morning to be with him.  Jeremy and I are looking forward to spending the day with friends but we are sure going to miss Bennett.  I know he is going to have a great time at Pop Pop's house.  Since Bennett will be with Pop Pop tomorrow we went ahead and had cupcakes and Bennett gave Jeremy his gift tonight.

Excited to make cupcakes!

Helping mommy scoop them out

Enjoying his hard work!

After Jeremy opened his gifts we carved our pumpkin.  Bennett wasn't all that interested in participating so I cleaned out the pumpkin and Jeremy carved it while Bennett played.  I also pulled out all of the pumpkin seeds so I can roast them.  My mom always did that when we were growing up, so I like to continue doing it too.

Bennett checking out what Jeremy was doing

Taking a look at the finished product

Our pumpkins!

Happy Birthday Jeremy!!!  Bennett and I love you more then anything!  I have a feeling when Jeremy blew out his candle tonight he wished for GA to beat Florida tomorrow.  Here's hoping his wish comes true!  I am sure that will make his birthday.

32

Yesterday was my birthday and I am now 32.  When I was younger and thought about being in my thirties I thought it would look a lot different then it actually does.  I just assumed by 30 you were really an adult and had everything in life figured out.  I guess I am really an adult but I certainly don't feel like it and I am not at all close to having anything figured out and probably never will!  I had a great day yesterday!  It was a school day for Bennett so after I dropped him off my sister, Ella and I went out for breakfast.  It was fun having breakfast with the two of them.  After breakfast we ran to the store so Lyndsay could pick up a few more things for the birthday boy Ryan.  Then I went down to see Jeremy and we went to lunch which is something I always love being able to do.  It is nice when he and I are able to have lunch together especially if Bennett is in school.  After lunch I went and got a little shopping done for myself and before I knew it I needed to go pick up Bennett from school.

 Last night Jeremy came home early from work and brought home cake and ice cream for me.  That was a very nice surprise :)  We went to dinner then came home to eat cake and ice cream and open cards and gifts.  Jeremy already gave me my gift a couple of months ago and that was a MacBook Pro!!!  I have been in love with this computer since he got it for me it is amazing!!!  Bennett "drew" a picture for me of some black boots that he wants me to go pick out.  Sweet baby is so thoughtful!  It was just such a great day and Jeremy did so much to make my day special.

Me and my boy on my birthday

Now for the next few days I am older then Jeremy.  Luckily on Saturday that will end because it is Jeremy's birthday!!!  Bennett and I have a lot of work to do in order to make him feel as special as he made me feel today.

Ryan's 4th Birthday Party

Yesterday we celebrated Ryan's birthday!  He isn't officially 4 until Tuesday but his party was this weekend.  Ryan is my birthday buddy. Sweet boy was born on my birthday and he has been and always will be the best birthday present ever!  I love Ryan so much he is very funny and outgoing, but it still such a sweetie.  His party was fun it was held at an indoor bounce house place and every kid there had the time of their lives.  After they played they had pizza and cake.  Isn't that every kids dream!?

The Birthday Boy!

Bennett playing in the bounce house

Bennett and Ella bouncing!

Jeremy and Bennett going down the slide

Ella and Dallon

Down again!  This slide was awesome!

My turn to go down with Bennett

Dance Party

Ryan giving Bennett a hug

Pop Pop spinning Bennett around

Ryan's cake that my sister made...isn't it incredible!

The big boy enjoying his lunch and taking a rest.  He had played hard!

I can't wait to celebrate again with Ryan on Tuesday.  It is amazing how he has turned 4 but yet my age hasn't changed.  Somehow I am still 28!  Crazy how that happened :)  Happy Birthday Ryan!!!!

No Shirt PLEASE!

I think Bennett is trying to tell me something because yesterday he tried to take off his shirt again.  I hope my son doesn't keep his dislike for clothing.  It is cute now, but when he gets older this could be a problem!!  I just hope he doesn't try to undress at school :)

"Where is my arm!?"

I rarely get a picture of Bennett with his eyes open anymore.  He sees the camera and this is the face I get!

Bennett had a half day at school today.  His preschool follows the county school system so when they let out early so does his school. He no longer cries at all when he is dropped off and really loves school.  His teacher told me he is coming out of his shell and started dancing during chapel on Tuesday and today just danced because he just felt the need!  Since school let out early we met my friend Hether and her little girl, or really Bennett's buddy, Kennedy for lunch.  Bennett and Kennedy got a huge compliment while we were at lunch.  One of the waiters came up to us to tell us that they were the two best behaved kids they have had in the restaurant since they opened (they opened a couple of weeks ago).  He said they were talking about them in the kitchen and saying how well behaved they are.  I think it helped our case that there was a screaming toddler two tables away from us, but it was still a very nice compliment.  If only those people had been there those few times Bennett has acted up in a restaurant and we have had to take him to the bathroom for what I like to call a coming to Jesus talk.  For today I will take the compliment!!

Funny Guy!!

Bennett makes me laugh on a daily basis.  He really is so funny!  This morning we were playing in his playroom and I walked into the kitchen to get something.  Just a couple of minutes later Bennett comes running out of the playroom with his arm out of his pajamas.  I guess he decided he wanted to be shirtless.

He played like this until I got him dressed for the day.  He didn't want me to fix it, so I just let him be.  I really wish I was able to know what was going on in his head.  I am sure that would be entertaining!

Burt's Pumpkin Patch

We headed up to Burt's Pumpkin Patch for our annual trip as a family today.  Our morning started out super early especially since I got very little sleep last night.  I wanted to sleep but for some reason I just couldn't.  I only slept for about 3 hours, so when my alarm went off at 6 a.m. I wanted to cry!  Luckily I perked up quickly and wasn't phased by my lack of sleep for too long. After we got ready we headed over to my sister's house for breakfast.  Dallon cooked for everyone and it was so yummy!!!  After breakfast we all loaded up to make the long drive up to Burt's.  We got there as soon as it opened which makes the experience so much better because there aren't big crowds.  First thing we did was ride on the hay ride.  After the hay ride we searched through tons of pumpkins and Bennett picked out 3 beautiful ones.

Lots of pumpkins!

Excited to see so many big pumpkins!

Bennett and Ella

The Shirley Fam!

Our Family!  Bennett saw a tractor and got excited!

On the hayride

Bennett went over to see Pop Pop 

Ella checking out all of the pumpkins

So much fun!

This pumpkin is about the size of Bennett

Ella feeding Bennett popcorn

Ryan on the tractor

Ella wanting down from the tractor

Bennett's turn on the tractor

Today was such a fun day with family and the weather could not have been more perfect.  Last year Bennett and Ella were just babies and couldn't even walk, so it was a lot of fun watching Ryan, Ella, and Bennett run around.  I can't wait until next year already!  

More Peas Please!

So tonight at dinner Bennett ate 3 yes 3 servings of peas!  I will give everyone a minute to digest this information because in our house this has now become a big deal.  It used to be the norm but now my little guy likes to protest any time he doesn't want to eat a vegetable.  I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone watching him scarf down his peas and asking for more.  I was afraid to make sudden movements in fear that Bennett would snap out of it and realize what was going on!  One night he will eat a baked sweet potato, another night he will eat corn on the cob or like tonight he will eats his peas.  Then the next day he will act like it is the most disgusting thing he has ever seen so I am not getting my hopes up that this will be happening on a daily basis but it is progress and it made this mama oh so happy!!!

So excited about peas!!!

This is now Bennett's face when I take his picture.  I guess he doesn't like the flash :)

Such a silly boy!

Here's hoping he eats his peas or whatever veggie is on the menu tomorrow night!

Yes we are dorks...

Because we were so excited about using the Green Egg today that I took pictures!  I have to say that this grill is amazing! Tonight we grilled steaks and I never understood when people would go on and on about how good a steak was, to me steak is steak.  Jeremy is definitely a meat and potatoes kind of guy.  I am not the biggest fan of meat I could easily be vegetarian and not even bat an eye. That is until tonight.  I don't know what this grill does but holy moly our steaks were amazing!  I didn't even use A-1 which is something I always use.  I cannot wait to try out more things and get more creative.

Jeremy was excited to use his new grill!

Bennett and Patty watching

Thanks to Pop Pop for helping Jeremy get it set up outside.  This thing is so heavy!  We have plans to expand our patio which is something we desperately need to do.  Luckily my dad does this sort of thing for a living and put a bunch of good ideas in our head one being we can build a wall (I am sure there is a more technical term but this is what I got from it) and build in our gas grill and green egg into it and have a mini outdoor kitchen.  Once money appears for this large project we will get on it because doesn't money just appear!?