Tonight was the Fall Festival at North Warren (Uncle D's school). We go every year, but this year we had a little buddy who could actually play the games! How fun?!! We played as many games as we could, ate, and had a blast. On the way home Griffin asked if he could take one of the prizes home and Mr.Pate explained that he won all of those prizes for trying at the games and they were all his. He was so excite and thanked us! Haha! Too cute.
I think this was the part he was the most excited about- candy!
Digging for dinosaurs with Uncle D....
We might have been cheating a bit on this one...
We made him give his tickets to the people each time, so cute!
Really working hard!
This is how Griffin got to ride all night. This boy loves him some time on daddy's shoulders!
What a fun event and so much better with a little one who gets to enjoy it too!
Thursday, I took the day off. It was actually to go to some doctors appointments in TN, not anything fun or exciting. But I definitely tried my best to make the most of it (and succeeded)! So I sent the kid to daycare in the morning and got some much needed housework done. Then I picked him up and we headed down to TN. I picked him up right at nap time, but even though he was tired to refused to sleep for the first 45 min of the hour drive. Oh the best laid plans with toddlers! (He was being super funny though, so I loved the time nonetheless). He feel asleep just right before we got to town, so I just went and sat in my dermatologists parking lot and read. Yay for time to read!
Then we went to two doctors appointments (which I won't bore you with, but just know my thyroid levels are all jacked up again, I am extremely vitamin d deficient, and I wanted to punch the endocrinologist in the face). Griffin did sooo well! He was such good company, and regardless of the circumstances, I was so glad to get to spend more time with him.
So I had printed off and put together a "tot time notebook" for him (from www.1plus1plus1equals1.com), and he absolutely loved it. It was a great thing for the endless waiting we had to do. Highly recommend it.
After the doctors, we headed back to my parents house and Karen and Reese met us for some girl time! I was so excited we were in Gallatin at the same time. How cute are these two?
Then I did a Norwex party for my mom ( I sell Norwex now, FYI) while Griffin went to see Nanny Martha with my dad. After that I visited with my parents a bit and headed back.
It's kinda amazing what you can fit in a day when you don't have to work :-)
All of you know we love to visit the Zoo. Nashville Zoo has been working on a Kangaroo exhibit all summer, and it finally opened last week. So today we decided to check it out. My mom, Livvi, Haven, Griffin and I all headed to check it out. It was great weather to visit the zoo! Livvi and Haven even wore sweatshirts in the shade!
They had more Kangaroos than I expected. They probably had 25 or more in the area. You got to walk thru their area as long as you stay on the sidewalk. Then the kangaroos get to decide if they want to come up and see you. Only one came up and visited with us today, but she let us pet her! Super nice and calm girl.
It was neat to be that close to them, I had no idea they were built the way they are. Their back legs are very interesting.
We had a great time seein all the animals today. It was nice to spend time with mom and Livvi without being in a rush, and as always I loved car ride conversations with Hav.
So Griffin Pate is almost 2 years and 2 months old! (Or in parent lingo, 26 months old!) What??!! Here is some stats and info on him at this age:
• He weighs 24.4 lbs and is 36" tall. Still a little guy for his age. • His sleep is still a touch and go thing. Some nights he sleeps all night long, others he wakes a ton. He is still an "early riser" and usually wakes between 6-6:45am. • He calls Joey his best friend these days, and is so in love with he and Zoey. • Griffin talks a ton! He started talking early and talks really well for his age. He says the funniest things. Some of my favorite are: -"that delicious!" - "it's my favorite" - "um no no no no" (when we get something he said wrong, he says this and tries to tell us again, so cute) - "can we pet it?" (Any can we questions) - "I shake that booty!" - "take that you funky monkey" (See videos below)
• Griffin has started asking to pray instead of daddy or mommy at mealtimes and bedtime. OH MY IT'S SOOO CUTE! He says things he has heard me and Mr.Pate pray and it is so precious. • His favorites right now: - Shows: Sesame Street, Bernstein Bears, occasionally Chuggington and Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. - Movies: Rio, Open Season 2 & 3, Madagascar, Air Buddies, Toy Story 2. - Toys: his animals, any ball, play dough, his kitchen - Pastime: "writing"- he loves to pretend to write or pretend to take your order (you want sweet tea? Haha), hiding, playing with Joey, floating in the bathtub, going to the zoo or park - Food: grilled chicken, rice, taco meat, bananas, cereal bars, popcorn, chips, oranges, blueberries, tomatoes, apples - Books: 'Brown Bear Brown Bear, What do you see', 'Mr.Brown can moo, can you?', the "that's not my" usborne books, 'llama llama red pajama', and 'my no,no,no,no day' • He usually will use the potty at home one or two times a day, but we aren't to the point where he tells us. • He knows all his colors, can count to ten, and can spell half of his name (ha). And he knows how to sing the ABCs.
He really is such a fun fun toddler! Such a sweet personality. Love watching you grow Griffin Pate!
"Fall" is here (around here, we pretty much all call Labor Day the end of Summer, so hello Fall!) and for us that means settling back into a calmer groove of being home more often, at least more often for us, ha. So for the last few weeks we have made progress on getting back into the cooking groove. There has been the occassional night were I totally burn dinner into hockey pucks, or my adorable two year old calls and requests Chuy's, but for the most part we are dining in these days. Yay! So here's what we are cooking up in our kitchen this week:
Steaks, loaded mashed potatoes and mac and cheese (this was our Labor Day celebration)
I came across the 3 in 3 Challenge over at Desiring Virtue recently, and decided to join in. Its very simple, you just read 3 books in 3 months. She has chosen one on theology, one on christian living, and one as a biography. The first book is "Name above all Names" and so far is awesome!
Want to join???
All you need to do is read the book, and at the end of the month head over to desiring virtue to discuss. Easy peasey.
I needed something to help push me to read something other than a parenting book ;-) haha! Yay for Fall reading. Something about Fall always makes me want to curl up with a book my iphone kindle app and some hot chocolate (might be too early for that considering it was high 90s today!).
