Halloween

Today I threw Brayden and his friends a Halloween party. I love Halloween, so it was really for me! HA!

I had everyone over in the morning for Halloween themed treats and crafts, and I must say, it was a big hit! The crafts were a little high maintenance, but overall I think they enjoyed them.

The biggest hit by far were the balloons I ordered, especially for Brayden and Landon. They thought it would be really fun to hold onto the balloons and run around the coffee table screaming at each other and laughing! HA! It was too hilarious!

Also too cute, Easton and Brayden. While we were taking pictures of all of the kids together in their costumes Jodie and I noticed that Brayden and Easton were sitting together quietly holding hands. Ugh…they melt my heart those two!

After everyone had left, the house was cleaned and Brayden and I were refreshed from our nap, it was time for more fun! Trick or treating was a BIG hit this year. Last year he was too little to even care or even know what was going on, but this year all we had to say was the word “candy” and he was up for anything!

He was eager to get out of the house once the kids started coming to our door for our candy. It was a cold night so we bundled him up in the wagon and took off into our neighborhood. He had a blast looking at all the big kids and getting tons of candy from our neighbors. He was so cute once we arrived home and dumped out all his candy to show him how much he had earned. He was blown away and kept saying “WOW!”

All in all I think it was a really great holiday for our little man.

- Sue -

* Halloween craft time

* Landon enjoying craft time

* Easton and Brayden having a ball with all the crafts

* Balloon time!

* From left to right: Brady, Bobby, Addie, Brayden, Easton and Landon

* These two kill me. The hand holding was all them and SO cute!

* Time for Trick or Treating!!!!

* Mommy and Brayden ready for more candy!

* Brayden and Daddy trying to stay warm while trick or treating

* This is fun! Yeah Halloween!

* Ready to dig into all his candy

* He couldn't believe how much candy how much candy he had!

* OMG! So much candy I can't take it!!!

What a Busy Weekend!

This weekend was a busy one for the little man.

Brett and I took him out to breakfast on Saturday morning and then swept him off to the Museum of Life and Science in Durham, NC. There we spent the whole day learning and exploring throughout the museum.

His favorite part of the museum is still the butterfly house. He loves to look at all of the butterflies flying around him and run freely after them. He is so sweet when he talks about butterflies, or "wee-a-wee-i's" as he calls them.

Sunday morning started much the same. Up early, shower, breakfast, and then right out the door to the NC State Fair. Today was the last day, so we wanted to make sure we made the most of it.

Well...we sure did. I would say we overdid it is what we did. We got there between 10 and 1030 am and didn't leave until after 5 pm! Let's just say there were multiple meltdowns and a "crash and burn nap" towards the end.

Despite the sudden bad moods, I think he had a good time, I know Brett and I did. We took him to see all the farm animals, tractor shows, vegetable shows, animal auctions, and even on his first rides!

Brett took him on the carousel, the ferris wheel, and the kiddie train. He was terrified of all 3 of them, but since he was with his daddy and he could see mommy smiling and getting all excited, he eventually would calm down and enjoy himself. After each ride he would run into my arms and have such a proud look on his face. I know the more we expose him to uncomfortable situations, the more self confidence he will have. You can see his self esteem growing daily because of it. (Even though it does look like we are torturing him for the most part! HA!)

We also indulged ourselves in all the yummy "fair food" they had to offer. This year's new item was fried pecan pie! I know, it sounds disgusting and usually I would think so, but this time it tasted SO good! I even indulged in funnel cake! Which those of you who know me, know that I don't like ANY fried food besides french fries. Let's call it a pregnancy related hazard! HA! Brayden enjoyed his share of all, but his favorite was the fresh lemonade he shared with his mommy.

Below are some of the pictures I took today at the fair. Enjoy!

- Sue -
* Checking out all the animals

* Going to see all the old tractors and yes, he is wearing a leash, but there were millions of people there and we are paranoid some one will snatch him!

* Wow...vegetables

* Brayden's first ride ever!

* Ok, not so thrilled...

* This is much better

* So scared of this!

* There they are!

* This went pretty high and fast for a ferris wheel

* Yummy ice cream!

* Yummy lemonade!

* "Crash and Burn Nap"

A Daddy Tradition

Those of you who know Brett well, know that his favorite treat is vanilla ice cream with Magic Shell on top.

Well tonight Brett was very excited to give Brayden his first ice cream and Magic Shell experience.

Needless to say, he loved it! Who wouldn't?

Enjoy the silly pictures we took of this "monumental first experience"!

- Sue -

* Brayden is too busy with his treat to care about the camera!

* Yummy!

* Like father, like son.

Cookie Time!

Today was baking day for Brayden and his friends. I thought it would be fun to bake some sugar cookies and have the kids decorate them for Halloween.

I knew it was going to messy, but I underestimated the mess that a bunch of little kids can make when given the opportunity! It was well worth it though and the outcome was so tasty.

Brayden was really into it because he loves to play with play dough and he thought baking was the same thing. Below are some pictures of the kids’ first baking experience.

- Sue -

* Notice Brayden is the only one still in his jammies. Nana bought him some fuzzy jammies that he now calls his "Brayden blanket" and he refuses to take them off the days he sleeps in the them! I figured we weren't going anywhere today, so if he wanted to wear them so be it. He won't even take them off when he gets too hot and sweaty! So funny!
* Taking after his mommy!
* Landon and Brady getting into the baking fun!

* Brady starting to decorate
* Brayden getting into decorating his cookies
* Landon waiting patiently while Robin helps with the icing
* Bobby had to make sure everything tasted ok first!
* Brayden's finished cookies. So pretty!

Playing and Learning with Brayden

Today was a lazy day at the Robinson household and it was beginning to rain so we couldn't play outside. Brett left to watch the 49er game so I was left to think up games to play with a cranky baby who didn't want to nap.

Behold the birth of indoor soccer and the color matching game! He loved them both and we played for over two hours with both games.

While Nana was here she bought him a new soccer ball that was sized just for him. He has not wanted to play with anything else except that ball. So to have his very own personal goal was a dream come true!

He also loved the color game we came up with and by the end of the color matching game he was getting right every time! Look out world here comes the color expert!

Enjoy the pictures and I hope you all had a relaxing Sunday!

- Sue -
* Playing with the goal I made him in the living room
* Learning our colors with the matching game I made up today!
* He loved it when he got it right!

NC Fall Festivals

Today was a fun day at the Robinson household because we took Brayden to Hill Ridge Farms in Youngsville, NC. We kept telling him we were going to a farm on Saturday and every time his response was a loud and happy “MOO!”

Hill Ridge Farms is a local farm that does fall festival activities every year like pony rides, train rides, hay rides, pumpkin picking, fish feeding, face painting, bounce houses, hay slides, etc. Brayden, Brett, Nana and I did almost all of the above besides the pony rides. Brayden wanted nothing to do with those ponies, but he did manage to muster up enough courage to do the bounce house all by himself! He has never really liked bounce houses and I did manage to traumatize him a number of times trying to get him to like them. However today he did it by himself and was so proud. He was so adorable in there bouncing, laughing and having a blast!

Below are some pictures from our fabulous day that included lots of laughs, smiles and pumpkins!

- Sue -

* Bouncing away like a big brave boy!

* Checking out the animals
* Feeding the goats
* Climbing their way up to try the hay slide. Brayden was scared, but Daddy was there to help him through it.

* Mommy and Daddy lovin' up on one another...awwww!

* This boy sure loves his Nana! Smiles all around!
* Train time! Brayden did not like this at first, but calmed down once hs saw it didn't go very fast.
* Loved all the pumpkins
* Getting cozy with Mommy on the hay ride
* I know you can't tell, but he was doing his funny little dance to the music. He really knows how to get down!