1st Annual Schmidt Family Pumpkin Carving

To say pumpkin carving with a 10 month old and 3 year old is fun is putting it mildly. I can't tell you how many times Adam and I dissolved into fits of giggles b/c of something funny one or the other did and/or said. Enjoy the pictures and a few highlights of how awesome it was.

Morgan's pumpkin carving story in our words:
Morgan doesn't like to get dirty much. Ok, I'm lying. Morgan hates getting really dirty. She will touch weird things with her finger tips (ie. shaving cream, paint, various consistencies, etc.) but to dive in and make a huge mess? Nope. She has always been that way (ie. reference somewhat boring 1st birthday cake pictures and requiring a fork before she'd get really "into" her cakes). She was all about cutting open the pumpkin until she saw the inside. FREAKED. "I don't WANT to put my hand in there!!!" We encouraged her anyway but then let her do whatever she wanted while encouraging her to at least try scooping with the orange scoopers or a giant spoon. She finally did so by holding the very TIP of the spoon and then being extremely proud of herself when she scooped out two seeds. As in elated, thus hilarious (how to hide the fact that we found it so funny...ok, we didn't, we laughed). Our absolute favorite, however, was when Hadley was enjoying her baby antics (read below) and Morgan yelled, "NO MOUTH!" and batted her hand away from her mouth. We didn't care what Hadley did and told Morgan that Hadley was fine to explore the pumpkins, inside and out. She took in that bit of info and then cringed every time she saw Hadley stick her hand in a pumpkin. She winced every time I pulled out goo with my bare hands. I told Morgan that we could clean the seeds, roast, and then eat them if we wanted and I thought she was going to die. We heard an instant, "I DON'T LIKE THOSE," in a very matter-of-fact tone (from a girlie who's never tasted them). Once the pumpkins were cleaned out, she was a CHAMP at helping Adam carve them and took her role of hole-poking (for the tiny saw to get in) very seriously (reference picture below). She loved it and enjoyed looking at them outside with candles lighting them up. Nice work for your first time, kiddo. :)

Morgan's pumpkin carving story in HER words (ok, what I think her words might have actually been and actually were in some cases):
So we got these pumpkins and we were going to carve them! I was SO EXCITED!! ::jumps up and down:: Daddy cut open the top and when I looked inside, it was FULL OF GROSS GOO!! What!? What was God thinking when he created pumpkins?? I wasn't so sure I wanted in on this anymore. I sort of tried to touch the inside at the very top but that was yucky that I said NO and I didn't like it. I tried using a scooper but the handle was too short and I was too close to actually touching the goo. Daddy got me a big, long spoon and that helped a little, but let's be real - this was a lost cause. I then decided to use my long handled spoon to clean up the goo that got on the sheet and helped that way so as to avoid my hand accidentally touching the inside of the pumpkin. I just couldn't BELIEVE they let Hadley touch and LICK the pumpkin goo. I almost freaked out every time I saw her do it. I tried to help her see the reality of how gross it was, but alas, the parent folk made me leave her alone and she was a disastermesschild. Whatever. I know gross when I see it and it's not MY fault that she's a baby and has no clue. Hopefully she'll grow up and realize someday that I'm (always) right. Then Daddy said we could carve the pumpkins (which involved poking and cutting! Woo!) and I was an expert poker so Daddy could cut holes in the pumpkins with the tiny saws mom got out of the pumpkin carving kits. Even though there was so much grossness involved and I almost fainted three times from it, carving pumpkins is REALLY fun and I can't wait to do it again next year!!

Hadley's pumpkin carving story in our words:
Oh Hadley. You make us smile so much each day and today was no exception. So as soon as the three of us older people in the family were busy setting up for the great pumpkin carving, Hadley took off for the (up)stairs b/c theoretically, no one should be watching and she'd have free reign for at least 23 seconds to scale as many as she could. I convinced her to see what we were up to and once she actually saw the pumpkins, she came a crawlin'. Fast. Adam cut open the first one (reference Morgan's reaction above), put it on the floor for us to start cleaning out, and Hadley had NO problem DIVING in and seeing what was all up in there. Of course, she grabbed the pumpkin stem/lid and tried to eat it. My brother, Travis, said his girls really enjoyed eating pumpkin and hey! Why not! We use it to cook! So I let her taste it all she wanted and wowzers, does that kid love pumpkin. Finally, she saw that stuff was coming OUT of the pumpkin and immediately wanted in on the action. (PS. dressing kid in feetsie jammies was the best idea ever - SO easy to clean up - face, hands, done.) She pulled out goo, ate some, threw the seeds down, licked some, got more goo, and enjoyed watching her sister freak out. She touched her sister with it once and we all had a good laugh as I'm sure you can imagine by now how that went down. Hadley could have stayed there forever playing with the pumpkins but soon it was past her bedtime and since she's boycotting naps at Mary's house this week (say what!?! we think it has something to do with the meds she's on??) she needed to get to bed. Minimal naps + pumpkin carving = baby who slept straight through the night. Lovely. Best pumpkin carving ever.

Hadley's pumpkin carving story, as told in her words:
Stairs!!
Orange things!!
Pumpkin lids taste good!!
Leave me alone, Morgan!!
I love pumpkin goo!!
::make funny face::
It's really squishy!!
I throw you, pumpkin goo!!
HA HA HA got you, Morgan!!
::make funny face::
Why can't I have a big bite, Mom?!
I love the scoop!!
I put goo back in the pumpkin from the bowl!!
::make funny face::
Here, Jessie, pumpkin tastes good!!
Why no puppy sharing, Mom!?
::rub eyes, get dangerously close to pumpkin goo insertion::
::protest getting clean::
::protest new jammies/diaper::
::take medicine like a champ::
::kisses goodnight::
::drink 1/2 of bottle::
::take last medicine::
::splat-out-cold baby for the night::

Hey, yo, whatcha doin' in there, Morgan?

EW GROSS I GOT DIRTY 

::wipes hand on shirt::

I thought this spoon was for eating the goo?

Uh....goo. 

Ya know, not too bad! I think I'll have some more.

What are these white things?

Ok, Morgan's onto something. This is GOOEY. 

::splat::

Working on mommy's white pumpkin

Eating mommy's white pumpkin

Putting goo back into the pumpkin from the bowl

Holding her sleeve WAYYYYY back so as to avoid any goo LOL

LOOK!! I got two seeeeeeeeds!

This is how you poke the holes...

Morgan took her hole-poking very seriously.

Pumpkin #1 is done!

And Hadley successfully looks like a deer in headlights.

Pumpkin outside and prayers said that the dogs don't eat it.

Turns out they LOVE pumpkin.

White pumpkin done!

Best pumpkin carving evening ever and we're excited for this to be an annual tradition!! 

Hadley's first word

So yesterday, in all her sick ick illness goo, Hadley said her first "this $hit is real" word! Adam was upstairs brushing teeth with Morgan and Hadley and I were near the stairs looking in the mirror at how cute she is even if she had her sick face on all over the place (which is significantly reduced, thankyouverymuch) and she started waving incessantly and then said, "HAH!" (translation - as I am a baby translator, you know - HI!!). Our baby SAID her first word! She's said other words by signing them, but today she VERBALIZED it. So exciting. I'm pretty sure she might say dad (aDAH!) too, but we aren't 100% sure on that. She's attempting more imitation and gets just as excited as we do when she "says" something. We are just smitten with her. She and Morgan are the apples of our eyes and we're so lucky to have them. xo

Sick baby - for real

Poor Hadley. She was home with me yesterday, home with Adam this morning, to the doctor, and home with me the rest of the afternoon. Diagnosis? Double ear infection with the right side being pretty bad and the start of thrush (only on her lips and front of her tongue, but since antibiotics make it worse, she's being treated for that, too). No wonder she's fighting so hard and getting nowhere. She can't go to daycare again tomorrow so Adam and I are working out the logistics of that. Three days not going to daycare. That's a lot of vacation! I really don't want to miss another day at my Thursday building and for sure I'm missing the afternoon (which is fine - it's conferences/early out anyway) but we'll have to see about tomorrow morning. It's that time of year for Adam to run low on days while I have plenty...we'll see. Poor baby. :(

Happy 3rd Birthday, Morgan!

Morgan is officially a three year old kid. Kid - I can't say baby (that one's long gone), no longer a toddler (but I haven't been able to call her that for a while), so now she's a kid. A big kid. Enjoy the pictures from her birthday weekend in WI and some in Iowa as she opens gifts and celebrates. That kid knows how to celebrate a birthday! Sunday night at dinner, she asked if she could have another pirate party - two is plenty, sweetheart! Mommy and Daddy are going to go insane/broke if we have another! Here's what's going on with our big kids nowadays...

• She wears size 4T/4 (although 4 is a little big) clothes and size 9 or 10 shoes, depending on the brand. (I'll update height/weight after her well-check appointment Nov. 9th either in this post and/or a new one). 
• Well check stats update: Morgan is 39.25" tall (92nd percentile) and 33.75lbs (73rd percentile). Growing and healthy!
• She has been potty trained for a long long time now and gets up to go at night, however, she still calls for us even though she could do it on her own. We just need to let go and practice but when it happens once every two weeks, what's a few minutes outta bed? (Wait, it's a lot. We'll be practicing more!)
• She LOVES to play. Her imagination is growing and we're finding that we don't have enough "older girl" toys in the house. This problem was quickly remedied by her birthday. Thank you, friends and family, for the wonderful gifts!
• Morgan rides a two-wheel bike with training wheels as well as a trike. 
• She can pump on the swing and once pushed, can go on her own for a while. That said, she still loves to be pushed super high.
• Morgan loves her little sister unless she tries to play with her pirate ship. Then it's all MINE! :)
• Morgan has some sass to her but she's a delightfully pleasant young girl. She wants to please and she doesn't want to get in trouble or yelled at (yes, she's sassy enough for yelling although lots of times it's a safety issue with her sister - "Morgan, don't close the door when your sister's only halfway through it," "Morgan, please don't lift both your sister's hands off the couch when she's hanging onto it - she'll fall." That sort of thing). 
• She is learning how to write her letters and LOVES tracing letters over dots made for her. 
• She is in love love love with Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Diego, and also enjoys Dora, Mickey Mouse, Doc McStuffins, Wild Krats, and a few other shows that teach her various things. 
• Morgan loves to be outside and working with grandparents. If she can help, she'll stay out until she's frozen (seeing as how it's getting cold outside except for this random week?). 
• We have 3 year old pictures on Thursday...looking forward to that one for sure! 
• Morgan really enjoys painting and will do so every day if we let her. 
• She still likes to be an animal rescuer and will race around the house, fist held high, and sing the Diego theme song that goes with it. It's adorable and now Hadley will stick her fist in the air and expect you to run her all over the house after Morgan, too. 
• We are so very proud of our big girl. She knows so many things, does new things each day, and makes our hearts burst with pride and love. What a great 3 years it's been so far...can't wait to see what waits in the next one! oxxo Enjoy the pictures from her birthday weekend!

Making cupcakes to take to Mary's the next morning

Balloons to greet Morgan on her birthday morning

It's my birthday! Silverlicious!

My very own treasure chest to decorate/paint!!

In WI 10/20/12, opening gifts from Grandma Sherri & Grandpa Al

Off to Pumpkin Fest in Mishicot! Hadley rockin' the baby bunny hat

Hadley spent lots of time on Adam's shoulders - babies don't like strollers anyway, right?

Awesome decorations for Morgan's pirate family party! 

Way to go, Grandma Sherri & Grandpa Al!

Playing fruit ninja before the party...don't they look 5 again?

This is the epitome of Hadley right now. This kid is in LOVE with her shoes and will do almost anything to get and eat them. :)

Izzy the pirate!! 

(reference Jake and the Neverland Pirates)

Sprinkling pixie dust on herself

Others got festive for the party as well! 

Pirate grandparents

Pirate parents

Taking a whack at the Jake piñata

Pirate Grandma Susie!

I could NOT leave this picture of Gracie out. 

OMGoodness she's so stinkin' cute and funny!!

(and only 14 months old)

Blowing out her three candles; she's so big.

Happy 3rd birthday, Morgan! We love you so much!

The Magic #3

You guys, I thought I was going to be sad that Morgan was turning 3 on Friday, as I'm usually a little misty-eyed when my babies get another year older and another year away from being my babies (ha, who are we kidding, they will be my babies when they're 50 and I'm old and crotchety), BUT 3 is a magical age. Events galore are opening up for Morgan now that she'll be three and I couldn't be more excited. Ok, I think SHE might be more excited, but here's why I almost can't contain myself...

Playing basketball last winter after she wouldn't let up on wanting a hoop in the house

Today I took the girls to the Y after work to sign them up for Halloween at the Y which is a fun 1.5 hours where local businesses put on booths with fun little Halloween activities, the kids get to wear their costumes, and it's indoors. Oh, and it costs $2 for all of us. :) Then I signed Morgan up for the next session of swimming lessons b/c A) she asked, B) it's time she gets back into it, and C) see the mermaid debacle of her swimming party. While I was signing up and spending moola, Morgan went to the window by the big gym to watch the kids playing basketball.

As we were leaving, Morgan asked if she could be signed up for basketball, too, since she really likes the sport and loves to watch it every time we go to the Y. I sadly told her she would need to be a little older but as soon as she was old enough, we'd get her in immediately. Fast forward to my Facebook post about her being sad she couldn't be signed up for basketball and voila! Turns out there IS basketball in Muscatine for 3 y/os and just like that, she's signed up for 4 Sundays of basketball in Nov/Dec!! I cannot WAIT to tell her in the morning and she's going to pee her pants.

 She shoots, she SCORES!!

Our big girl gets to play basketball!

Bathroom - almost complete!

I'm on a roll...three posts in ONE night?! Here are some pictures of our (mostly) finished bathroom. I have a few touch-ups to do in a few tight corners and we want to paint/reinstall the trim (oh, and we have to find/install the floor vent yet...we have a lot to go!?) but the larger part of things is done. We LOVE it. (finally ... 4th time's a charm!)

From the hallway

From the first part of the bathroom

Second part of the bathroom (what a beautiful painting!)

 And we're going to have a new toilet soon that 

my dad may have found us at an awesome Kohler sale 

(yessss)

Jake and the Neverland Pirates Party!

Today, we had Morgan's "friend" birthday party in Muscatine at the YMCA. It was a 2-hr party with the first hour in the kid pool (just our party) and the second hour in the game room where we enjoyed pizza, cookie cake, and balloons. The girls had a fantastic time and it seemed that the rest of the attendees did, too.

Birthday girl!

We had one minor blip when Morgan thought she was a mermaid and went back in the pool after a bathroom break without any sort of floatation device, but she was plucked out quickly by a fast-moving mom and all was well. I didn't really freak out about it until 7 hours later when I had some quiet time putting Hadley to bed and I realized how close she was to really being hurt. And we learn.

 Everyone getting in and having fun

The Paul family - Lisa, Sam, Kaylin, & Kensley 

(church friends)

Hadley having WAY too much fun ;-)

Adelle! (daycare friend whose mom rescued Morgan)

Campbell & Adelle jumping in - true fishie girls

Jason & Cooper (daycare, life friends, neighbors)

Time for business. Morgan and her Jake cookie/cake

The whole crew (minus Hadley)

Morgan helped sing Happy Birthday...

Blew out all but one candle on the first try!

Balloon time - Parker had a BLAST.

Woo! Balloooooooons!

More balloon fun

Candy land & awesome socks!

Jake and the Neverland Pirate undies!! How awesome is that!?

Thanks for all who came! We had a great time! WI pirate party to come next weekend. 

Addendum - Adam just informed me that Morgan's favorite part of the day today (we ask her this before bed every night to end the day on a bright note) - it was taking a nap after her party. I think we wore her out. Perfection.