Halloween Party # 2

We got together with some friends for another chance to celebrate Halloween. Everyone brought fun, Halloween themed treats. I made little cheesy pumpkins and jack-o-lantern sandwiches.



I decided against a repeat of the grape costume so I threw on my awesome pumpkin headband and earrings. Kind of lame, I know, but it was last minute.



Abby decided to remove most of her costume and walk around in her onesie and tights. I'm not sure she gets the Halloween-costume-wearing concept yet.



The kids attempted to play a game carrying candy corns on spoons positioned in their mouths. Most of the kids were crying or cheating. Every time I handed Abby a candy corn, she just ate it. Here she is enjoying her treat.



Hopefully party # 3 (the big one) of the weekend will be just as fun!

Ward Halloween Party

We had an awesome Ward Halloween Party this year. It doubled as the annual chili cook-off. I made a super yummy chili, but not good enough to win the favor of the judges! Darn!

Abby was a beautiful fairy. I made her skirt, wand and pretty bows for her shoes. I found the wings at the dollar store (SCORE!) Luckily, I snapped this picture right when we got there because she promptly removed the wings (and skirt briefly).



Sam and I decided to be grapes. We thought it was easy, but it turned out to be kind of a pain. We put my costume together at home, but ran out of time for Sam's. We had to do some quick pinning when we arrived at the church. We quickly learned that our costumes were completely nonfunctional. We couldn't sit, eat or pick up Abby. Sam took his off right after the picture and I followed suit a little while later.



We were a total hit with the kids though. I had a constant pair of little hands touching me.

Abby trick-or-treated just enough doors to make a quick snack for herself! She's such a little candy monster. She's a quick learner too. During the day, she frequently asks me for some of the candy in our little Halloween decoration. After I tell her no, she always says, "Ask daddy?"

THE Pants

This is totally my favorite sewing project so far. It was SO easy and TOTALLY inexpensive but SO cute.



How did you make these adorable pants, you ask? Well, I took one of Sam's old t-shirts (which I'm bummed I didn't take a picture of first), followed the instructions on this site:

http://www.rookiemoms.com/make-some-easy-kids-pants/

And about 20 minutes later, voila, little baby pants. Now, I really want to make some for Abby and about everyone else I know. So, if you have any shirts/sweatshirts you're ready to get rid of, send them my way and I'll whip you up some adorable pants!

Food Group

I started a food group with a group of friends. We had our first get-together last night. The theme for the month was pumpkin. We all made a pumpkin dish and sat around gorging ourselves, drinking sparkling cider and chatting. It was a fun night. Our group has a blog where we will be keeping our recipes each month.

Check it out:

phillyfoodfanatics.blogspot.com

Next month's theme is bacon! I can hardly wait!

Freddy Hills Farm

For playgroup this week, we went to Freddy Hills Farm. This was our second year going and it was even more fun this time around. It was crazy for me to think that Abby couldn't even walk when we came last year (though I sorta wished she couldn't since it was rather muddy).

We (almost) all arrived just in the nick of time to board our reserved hayride. Actually, the guy kept trying to take the stairs away when we'd all yell, "Wait, one more girl is running over." I think he wanted to kill us.

Abby waiting to get on the hayride. The anticipation was killing her.



The hayride (Which Abby seemed indifferent to) took us to a pumpkin patch. We walked around while I coached Abby into picking a pumpkin. Then, as we walked back through the patch, she proceeded to pick up several others. Luckily, I was able to persuade her that the one in our bag was far superior.







At the end of the hayride there is a child-sized corn maze (that we all still managed to take every wrong turn in). You exit the maze by climbing some stairs and going down a very slow slide.

Finally, we all ended up in the little shop to partake in some delicious homemade ice-cream. Abby, obviously, loved it. I practically had to wrestle her to get a few licks!



It was a fun, fall day. However, Halloween activities always make me sad because I realize how big my sweetheart is getting. In just over a week she will be two! Crazy!

Sewing Projects

I have completed a few projects with my new sewing machine. They have all been gifts so far, but I have a few projects planned and about a million I want to do now that I know I'm having a girl!

Project #1 was a cute Tie-Onesie I made for my nephew about a month ago! I was proud of my first project and it was fun learning all of the neat features on my sewing machine.



Project #2 was two pairs of cute baby legwarmers for Abby's friend's first birthday. It is such an easy and inexpensive gift. I have a few more pairs of adorable socks I found on sale at Target waiting for some upcoming baby showers.



Project Number 3 was a set of coordinating Tie-Onsies for my friend having twins. I changed the tie pattern a bit this time and I think it looks better! (Sorry Charone for being my guinea pig). Then, I got ambitious a few hours before the baby shower and made these cloth baby shoes that I had been dying to try. Aren't they adorable? I think I might be addicted to making them and I have some cute girl fabric calling my name.



I've had a lot of fun working on all of these projects and they have been saving me a ton of money on gifts considering the fact that at least half of my friends are pregnant right now!

Smith Playhouse

We absolutely love going to the Smith Playhouse. It's a really cool house that was donated to the children of Philadelphia (in other words, it's totally free). Inside, there are three levels--a huge playroom, a climb in train and house and an indoor "race track" for little kids to drive around on. Outside, there is an amazing playgroup. All of the equipment is really imaginative. The jungle gyms are shaped like pirate ships, trains, spider webs, etc. And then, there is a big, wooden slide on which you slide with a potato sack.

Our friends invited us on a Saturday so we had the chance to bring daddy there for the first time and had a blast showing him all of the neat stuff.

This is inside on the train.





Abby's favorite part of the playground is this sweet recliner swing.



Abby took daddy down the slide. She isn't particularly fond of it but she always seems to like it once it's over.



Stacey and I were grateful to have the daddies there to climb around with the girls.



Sam had to try out this awesome swing.



It was a beautiful day and a great way to get out and enjoy the sunshine!

Against the Odds...

Of the last eight babies born in the Peterson family, Abby is the only girl. Then, Philip and Merrick went ahead and added another boy to the mix.

Well, there is finally another girl coming to the family, more specifically, OUR family!

We were totally shocked! The doctor matter-of-factly stated that it was a 50/50 chance but he obviously hasn't taken a look at our family tree. We are, apparently, the designated female suppliers of the Peterson family.

Sam was a little bit disappointed but I was immediately thrilled--mostly at the fact that I wasn't going to have to do a wardrobe/supplies reboot payed for with student loans.

My bedroom is now in a state of "organized chaos" because I'm a crazy lady and had to get down the baby clothes and stuff only to realize that we really need to buy a dresser (those plastic storage drawers just aren't going to cut it for two).

**Sorry to disappoint, but I don't have any pictures to post. We didn't get very good ultrasound photos and I don't have much of a belly yet (hooray for morning sickness--maybe I'll post about that some other time.)

A Box is All You Need

I think we've all realized that children often enjoy the packaging of a toy or gift more than the gift itself. Now, I can't say Abby enjoyed this box more since she won't get what came inside until her birthday. But, I can tell you she had a ball playing with the box today. (However, it didn't beat the one that came earlier this week with packing peanuts inside.)I had to take a few pictures of her playing. Don't mind her lack of pants. She was having too much fun to be bothered with such nonsense.



Notice her companion, the mouse.

These boots are made for walking...

Abby loves wearing my shoes and she really wanted to try on my knee-high boots the other day. I couldn't even zip them all the way because they reached past the top of her thighs. She couldn't walk at all. She just kept collapsing in a faux-leather heap. It was hilarious.

Not So New Hat

I went to Target the other day and was looking at winter hats for Abby. I looked at what they had to offer and decided the one I liked best was the same one I bought last year. It's just so dang cute! So, I went ahead and bought it. (I did the same thing when Abby grew out of her sandals this summer. I'm not a very adventurous shopper I guess.)

When I got her old hat out of her bin, I realized it was not only the same hat, but the same size. I swear the new one seems bigger but maybe the first one shrunk in the wash. I guess that means another trip to Target. At least I hadn't cut the tag off yet.

When we got home, she HAD to try it on for daddy:

Same old, same old...

The past few weeks have been really busy, and yet, not particularly eventful. I guess we've really just been getting back into the swing of things.

Abby and I go walking down and (exhaustingly) back up a wicked hill every morning with a group of lovely ladies. One day, we were all standing with our strollers when an older woman asked, "Are those your kids." When we all said yes she gasped, "Oh, I thought you were babysitting." Ha! I guess we should be flattered that we look much to young to have children. Now, if only I could feel that young as I huff and puff up the hill.

I completed my first card club round of the semester. I really need to get some pictures up of the beautiful cards I get from the other girls every month. We've got a talented group of ladies.

I've completed a few projects on the new sewing machine, which I am quite proud of. I'll do a post about that one of these days (since some of the projects are gifts that haven't been given yet.)

Sam has been busy with school and church, so I'm usually left to my own devises in the evenings. Unfortunately, TV has been occupying too much of my time as of late so I finally picked up some books from the library.

We've been getting a lot of rain this week, which has put a "damper" (pun totally intended) on our walks and other fun. It seems to have cleared for the time being and left some lovely, cool fall weather in its place. I really love this time of year!

Well, that post was totally random...