Halloween Traditions

We've been trying to make some Halloween traditions the past few years since having Eli.  This year we added painting pumpkins to our traditions.  Eli is really into arts and crafts lately so I thought this would be perfect!  It was much better than carving them!  Actually we haven't even carved pumpkins yet and tomorrow is Halloween! 

Eli and I went to the store and I let him pick out his pumpkins.  Eli loved painting the "baby pumpkins" as he called them.

We've been going to this one local pumpkin patch since Eli was born.  It's not really a pumpkin "patch".  They have pumpkins set up with all sorts of fun halloween stuff.  It's a great place to go take pictures!  I've said for the past month I was going to take Eli to a real pumpkin patch but something just always came up and we didn't go.  Eli, I promise next year I will take you to a real pumpkin patch!

Ha!  This picture make me laugh.  Chad told Eli to go stand beside the skeleton and put his arm around him for a picture.  Eli thinks skeletons are funny so he went right up to it.  It started talking and scared Eli to death!  I snapped the picture just as Eli was running away!  Look at his face!

Love this sweet face!

I love this picture too!  It looks like Eli is reacting to the huge pumpkin beside him but he's not.  He's fighting the crazy bush behind him!

Peek-a-boo!

One of my favs!

 

Another favorite.  Such a sweet smile :)

Look at this gorgeous tree (and my gorgeous boys)!  The trees have really been pretty this fall!  Much more so than we thought they would be with the hot, dry summer we had here.

Eli was over taking pictures at this point.

Happy Fall, Ya'll!





PJ20

Because I promised you and I always try to keep my blog promises, I'm blogging about PJ20 today.

What is PJ20 you ask?

Twenty years ago one of the greatest bands, Pearl Jam, was formed.  I have been a fan ever since their first album, Ten.  Yes, I was only 11 years old!  I remember hanging out in my room and listening to my CD on repeat.  I was hooked and have been a fan ever since.  When I met Chad he knew a few of their radio hits but wasn't the fan I was.  He was quickly converted to a huge fan like me!  I always wanted to go to a concert when I was younger but never had the opportunity.  Finally in 2000, Chad and I attended our first concert.  Since then we've been to many shows all over the US.

This year in honor of Pearl Jam's 20th anniversary they put on a 2 day music festival in East Troy, Wisconsin at Alpine Valley Music Theatre.  At first I didn't think we would go because it's just too far away and it was being held the week before our beach vacation.  Chad convinced me it was something we couldn't miss and we decided we would make it  happen.  Boy am I glad we didn't miss it!

The trip was fantastic and a great get away!  We went with our good friends, Robert and Mandy, who are also big Pearl Jam fans.

Of course it had to rain off and on the first day!  We didn't care.  We ran to Target to buy ponchos and went on our way.

They had set up a "Pearl Jam museum" inside the pavilion.  It was pretty cool to see all the memorabilia collected by the band over the past 20 years!

Eddie Vedder (the lead singer for all you non-fans) uses an old typewriter to type his lyrics.  They had displayed some of his lyrics he's written over the years.  This was my favorite part of the museum!

Eddie's compilation books.  Look at all of them!  He's always seen carrying one of these on and off stage.

They had an artist painting this graffiti art on the billboards as you walked into the venue.

Our first night we had seats in the pavilion.  And great seats they were!

The whole band! 

One of my favorite pictures of Eddie!

The second day the weather was beautiful but chilly!  We had lawn seats this night so we just hung out at the top of the hill and enjoyed the day/night in the special fan club area.  That's right... we're important!

Patiently waiting for Pearl Jam to take the stage!  Once the sun went down it was down right cold!  We weren't prepared for cold weather AT ALL!  Thank goodness for the mall right next to our hotel!  We ran there to buy warmer clothes.  And thank God we did!  I was still cold in jeans, long sleeves and a jacket!  I couldn't imagine what it would have been like if I had worn the summer clothes I had taken!

Pearl Jam finally took the stage and played one of the best shows I've ever seen!  Okay, so I say that after every PJ show I attend!  But maybe that's why I like them so much.  They never disappoint me!

Look at the sea of people in this picture!  They said over 30,000 people attended the two-day festival.  I believe it!  Look at all these people!  And that's not even all of them.  My camera would only get part of the crowd!

What a great weekend!  And I forgot to mention this was the longest Chad and I had been away from Eli at the same time.  Thanks to the in-laws for coming to stay with Eli and the dogs!  We couldn't have made the trip possible without you!  Wisconsin was a beautiful state (what little we saw anyway).  It reminded us a lot of northwest Arkansas.  Rolling hills and farmland.  Well there aren't a lot of farms here but the rolling hills we definitely have!

What a great trip we will always remember!

Thanks Pearl Jam!

Argh Matey!

This year for Halloween Eli is going to be a pirate.  I ordered him a really cute pirate costume and these pajamas at the same time.  I was so excited when they came in the other day!  Of course the costume was too small and I had to return it.  When I went online to buy the next size up they were gone!  Now I'm on the search for another pirate costume.  Chad loves these PJs so much he wants these to be his costume.  I have to agree, they are pretty cute!  Especially when you add the bandana on his head!

This is Eli's "Argh" face.  Too cute!

In a Mood

Last Sunday Eli had another soccer game.  Eli was in the middle of his nap when we had to wake him to go to the game.  Big mistake!

This is his team...

And this is where Eli wanted to stay.

He wanted nothing to do with his team. He didn't want to be anywhere near the field where they were playing! We only stayed for half the time until we decided it was best to just leave.

Maybe this afternoon will be better?

I'll let you know how it goes!

Go Hogs!

Here are a few cute pictures of Eli from tonight.  We went to my brother's fraternity house to have dinner with him for family weekend.  Eli had a great time running around!  I hope Eli has the oppurtunity to have a great college experience like I did.  I have so many great memories from college and made some of the best friends.

Eli not only dressed the part of a "frat boy", he played the part (of a pledge anyway) as well!  He was pretending to vacuum the floors!  Might as well teach him early!

On our way home we were driving down Stadium Drive.  The students are camped out on the side of the road outside the stadium.  I've never seen as many students out there as there were tonight!  The band just happened to be walking down the street playing the fight song on the other side of the street.  I was quickly taken back to my college years and it brought a smile to my face!  I have always been a Razorback and I always will be!

I love the U of A!

GO HOGS!

Peek-A-Boo

Just wanted to post some cute pictures of Eli before I go to bed.

What a sweetie?!

Where did he go?

Peek-a-boo!

Silly boy!