Pumpkin Picking

We went in search of the perfect pumpkins today. We found them and lots of fun. Really it doesn’t take much; my kids can have fun in a mud puddle. We went to Frerichs Farm in Warren. We were going to go yesterday, but realized it was Pumpkinpalooza (the day they were weighing all the pumpkins, looking for the biggest) and I did not want to be in a crowd. That’s one reason I like Frerichs Farm so much, it never seems crowded.

The first thing on the agenda was to pick out and paint the pumpkins. So many to choose from, this could take a long time. 

They were surprisingly decisive.

We did this first so they have time to dry and not get the car covered in paint. (This year, "Past Heather" was kind to "Future Heather", she brought a bin to put them in so even if they didn’t dry they still wouldn’t get the car covered in paint.) The kids not getting covered in paint is a completely different story (touchy subject…I don’t want to talk about it). 

Next it’s onto making a scarecrow. Since Teddy has an abundance of clothes that no longer fit, we used his (he outgrew them while we stood there so we took them off of him right there…kidding). 

 Maizie was not thrilled with the hands on hay experience, so she decided to supervise. 

As we were putting him together we were trying to come up with a name. Since just about every conversation comes around to Spongebob, our scarecrow’s name is Gary.

After those were done, it was off to roam the farm. There are a bunch of areas where you can play and take pictures. As soon as we pulled up they wanted their picture in front of the measuring pumpkin.

There is a section where you can look for The Great Pumpkin (don’t know if it’s the most sincere pumpkin patch) and Stella had been talking about seeing Sally and Maizie had been talking about Lucy so they had to get their pictures taken with them and Teddy's got a thing for Schroeder. 

Then we went into the corn maze. The kids were excited because Ted is reading them The Hobbit and the maze reminded them of the Mirkwood Forest because we kept saying to stay on the path. I just kept thinking of The Shining.

So much to do, so much to do. The pumpkin coach was waiting so we all piled in and went for a ride, it didn’t take us to a ball though. 

The pirate ship was docked and they stormed aboard.

There was “treasure”, as Stella called it, to be found in the little western town. Let me tell you, if there is treasure to find, Stella is your girl.

By this time, the curtain started going down on the short attention span theater (considering it had been about two hours, I was quite impressed) and it was time to start herding them out. A few more photo ops, a fly around the town and we were outta there…until next year!

Thankful Thursday

I’ve decide to list some things I am thankful for, but I will, of course express it in my own special way.

I am thankful for reality TV. I need to have something to help me lose whatever brain cells I have left.

I am thankful for my DVR. I need to tape several mind numbing television shows a day and trust me, all hell breaks loose if it doesn’t record a show I want.

I am thankful for Diet Dr. Pepper. Whoever created such a delicious beverage deserves a Noble Prize (in my world anyway).

I am thankful for cheese. It is my all time favorite food, it could eat it all day, everyday (with a Diet Dr. Pepper).

I am thankful for my husband Ted. He’s my best friend. He puts up with such a disorganized, hot mess. No one else makes me laugh like him.

I am thankful for Maizie. She is one of the smartest, sweetest little girls around. Who else can laugh so hard she gives herself the hiccups or wants to play reading games on the computer instead of regular games?

I am thankful for Teddy. He calls me Momverlous, tells me several times a day that I’m the best mom in the whole wide world and he lets me practice my communication skills over and over and over again.

I am thankful for Stella-Blue. Everyone needs a clone. She goes with me everywhere, does things with me no one else will and I can get her to do or say just about anything.

I am thankful for Alabama Worley. I will never have to nap alone. As long as she’s around, no squirrels are going to come in and sneak attack us. But with her, I am never alone…really everywhere I go, every room she’s there.

Kraus House Happenings

Due to an extremely hectic schedule the past few days and a headache that won't quit I bring you delightful posts from March 2012. Enjoy!!!!

So I go in the living room for my afternoon nap and Alabama is on the couch using my Total Pillow.

Not shocking that most of the kids in Teddy's class had to be convinced to try green eggs and ham. Less shocking...Teddy had 2 helpings.

I just walked past the doll house. Stella or Maizie?  

 

We're in the car and Stella is looking at the radio and she said, ""Look S A T spells dog."

I have got to remember that if the gender of the cashier is questionable DO NOT take Teddy through that line.

Teddy has a crush on a girl in his class, now I have to iron a button down for him to wear tomorrow.

Bringing Maizie and Stella into Job Lot is like bringing a hoarder to a flea market.

I have to bring Maizie and Stella to the cardiologist with me and I told them there would be a lot of old people there. Stella said, "They're gonna think I'm cute."

I've created a monster. I let Maizie try Diet Dr Pepper last night, now she keeps asking for one. I just had her and Stella split one and told her there's a limit to one a day. Stella said, "You have way more than that"

Stella's looking in the mirror saying, "I look much better now" (I'm not paying attention) "Mommy, don't I look much better now that I put on this crown?" I look at her and she's fixing her hair around her tiara. "Of course you do Stella."

Maizie is horrified at Hoarders.

Stella just told me, "Bow when you speak to me"

I walked through the kitchen wearing torn pajama pants, brown shoes, a white tank top with a leopard bra showing through (hot, I know) and Stella said, "Oh Mommy I LOVE your outfit. You looks so pretty."

Stella just read a book (by herself) and she learned about sharks...they bite and swim, bite and swim.

You know, you always get nervous when a 3 year old (or a Kraus kid) comes out of the bathroom and says, "Come see what I did."

I'm sitting here with my hand on my forehead after telling the girls to put some clothes on and stop running around and Teddy puts his hand on my back and said, "It's OK if you're sick of them."

The kids were watching a show (on Disney Jr) and the sound went out for a few seconds. Teddy asked, "Did they say a bad word?" I said, "No it's just the show" He then says, "You know they do that on TV when they say a bad word."

I had to fire my entire staff today; funny thing is they "hired" themselves.

My kids always set up "terrible traps" and the only one who gets stuck, maimed or injured is me.

When I told Maizie I was going on her field trip with her I didn't get the response I was expecting. She was NOT happy with the idea. She told me, in a very gruff voice, "I can handle it!!!"

Maizie was reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Stella came in and said she wanted to eat everything the caterpillar ate. I just looked at her. She said (matter of factly), "I won't get sick."

Quotes of the day...1. There was dirt on the floor of the new car. Stella-Daddy's gonna have a piss. 2. We had corn for dinner. Stella-Look at my gold tooth. 3. Two of the cars were facing each other in the driveway. Teddy-We better get out there, they're having a staring contest. 4. Getting ready for showers, told the kids whoever got their pajamas first could get the first shower. Stella-I'm already naked (as she ran in the room, naked).

I asked Teddy to move at least 6 times and he didn't. Then he was moving the ottoman (I HATE that) so I said loudly, "You're moving the ottoman" and he said, "It's yelling time" as he finally got up and moved his seat.

How many of you have one child remind another child NOT to pee in the empty dog food bag?

Forced Starvation

I try to eat properly, I really do. My kids make it very difficult. They waste food like it’s an Olympic event and it drives me crazy. I don’t want it to go to waste, so what do I do? Eat it.

Then there are days when I am put into situations where I am forced to go hungry making it next to impossible for me to control myself when I do get a chance to eat; like today.

I had to go for a test and I couldn’t eat after 9AM, the appointment wasn’t until 1PM. I wasn’t even supposed to drink a lot of water, just a few sips. I managed to eat some eggs and have one (just one) coffee before nine. By eleven, I was fantasizing about what I was going to order at Dunkin Donuts on my way home. I was planning on a chicken salad on a croissant (I never order croissants, but I’ve been starving all day so what the hell).

I finished my test and high tailed it to D & D ordered my iced coffee and sandwich. I was a happy girl. I finished that sandwich before I got to the next traffic light. I was good.