Happy 2nd Birthday, Olson!

My little baby is 2. How is that possible? It seems like we were just listening to his little hungry cry and wrapping him up like a burrito. He is such a little boy now. And all boy. Climbing, loving anything with wheels, starting to talk. *sigh* Growing up so fast. And I know time will just continue to fly by. 

We had a fun "cake party" to celebrate his birthday. Olson started this birthday not really understanding what it all meant, but he definitely was clued in by the time it was all over. He grinned whenever we sang "Happy Birthday" to him, learned how to open presents (and to identify them by wrapping paper), and was particularly enamored with the balloons. So much fun.

Balloons! Yay!

Grandma Cat enjoying Liddy Costen

Olson never met a tractor he didn't like. Thank you GaGa!!

He enjoyed the card from Grandma Cat and Unc...it barked when he opened it!

Olson's newest obsession...stacking. Added to a tractor? Heaven on earth.

Pulling the tractor with stacked blocks? No problem!

The birthday table. Yes, 2 cakes.

Yes, mommy actually made this!

Climbing on the table to get to the cake before I even had the candle lit.

Hmmmm, that's all mine?

No problem. 

Yummmmm

This is fun!

Just chillin' holding my balloons

And for his actual birthday...

Clementines I sent to school for a birthday treat for Olson's class

Can't wait to see what the next year brings. I love you, Olson! 

xoxo the nelms

Let the birthday weekend begin!

We had a busy birthday weekend, so I'll be doing multiple posts in order to get it all in! We started the weekend with the Dos Taquitos Day of the Dead 5K, which was a lot of fun! 

Let's get this show on the road

Lots of cool Day of the Dead giant puppet things

Olson loved drawing on the street with Daddy

Olson participated in his first kids dash! He LOVED it!

I did it! So proud!

Olson got a cool sombrero for finishing!

Winner winner chicken dinner! Grammy won her age group!

Such a fun way to start the weekend! Up next...Olson's cake party! 

xoxo the nelms

Pumpkin fun!

When we decided to go to Hill Ridge Farm to pick our pumpkins, I was told to go early to avoid the massive crowds. Well, we went early, on a Sunday, with the fair in town. And it was still packed. But well worth it. This wasn't just your ordinary pumpkin patch, this was a pumpkin experience! There was a train, a hayride, animals, a giant slide, funnel cakes, a maze, bouncy things, etc etc. And while Olson wasn't quite old enough to enjoy it all, he really didn't need much more than the train and the tractor ride! I think the pictures say it all.

We're going to the pumpkin farm!

Wow, this place is overwhelming!

Who cares about the animals? I want to mess up Grammy's hair and pull off her sunglasses!

And hmmmm, what's in her ear?

Let's find some pumpkins!

I think this was the look on her face when she heard the train whistle

Waiting for the train!

I see it! I see it!

Here we go!

Olson could have ridden the train all day long

No interest in the giant pumpkin height chart. I don't blame him. Kind of scary.

Little bunny

Time for the tractor hayride!

Liddy Costen wasn't quite so excited for the tractor

Yaaaaaayyyyy!

Family shot

Olson wanted the very first pumpkin he came upon

But he perused the others, as well

Oh boy there are a lot!

Liddy Costen wanted to get in on the action

My sweet little pumpkins

Our window of cooperation just slammed shut

Picking pumpkins is exhausting! But I can't wait until next year!

xoxo the nelms

A visit and a bumbo

We were lucky enough to have Grandma and Grandpa Carson come and visit us last weekend! The visit was short, but we had a great time. Pretty low key, but that was ok with us. Just good, quality family time.  Yet somehow I only have pictures of my dad with the kids! I know I was snapping away when Rosemary was holding the baby, but I realized I was using my dad's camera...not very helpful for my photo album! So sorry, Rosemary, I guess you'll just have to come back and visit soon so I can get some pictures of you on my camera! I know that will happen before dad figures out how to email me some of the pictures from his camera! :)

Sitting with Grandpa

Attempting to get a picture with both kids

Olson wants no part of it

This is much better, he says

Liddy Costen has been practicing her sitting up skills, so we've been using the Bumbo seat a bit. Of course someone else thinks the Bumbo still belongs to him.

Such a big girl!

See, I still fit! 

Olson is thinking about whether he should give Lilly a raisin, and Lilly is thinking about how she is going to get one. This usually ends with Lilly chasing Olson around the house.

Fun on the play mat!

xoxo the nelms