Yo Ho, Yo Ho, A Pirate's Life for ME!!

What's better than a stocky little pirate running around singing "yo ho yo ho"?! Camden was so much fun this Halloween. Anyone that knows me knows that I LOVE Halloween and all the fun things that come with it. This year we packed in Halloween festivities. I don't have pictures from our friend's parties or the trunk or treat but here's a glance at some of the ways we celebrated this year. Congressional has a big Halloween Brunch Celebration complete with a haunted house, magician for the kids, amazing food and a hay ride. Sean, Cambria and Kelsey went as the Flintstones! Camden wasn't so sure about the spook ally. He didn't cry but I got a very tight hug and he had this wide eyed stare through the whole thing.

He loved the hay ride with his grandma and grandpa Neumann. We were pulled by a tractor or "tactor" as he calls them so that was the highlight for him. He has a book about tractors that we read five times a day.
We stopped at a pumpkin patch to get three pumpkins to take home. Camden mostly just ran around yelling "pumkin" and throwing them. Lovely. We have our own pumpkin smasher. We had to hurry and leave before we had to buy the whole patch. Check out this mischievous look he has before he takes off again to find his next victim...Justin left for a business trip (that blog post will be coming shortly) on Halloween morning so Camden and I got to celebrate with his parents in McLean. Camden loves playing in their basketball court. John was the only one tall enough to lift him up to dunk. Between that, football games and the swing set Camden had a blast all afternoon.That night we went trick or treating around their neighborhood. I didn't think it would last long or that Camden would even know what to do but I thought we would at least go to our friend's house that live next door. When we walked up I told him to ring the door bell, which he did since he loves pushing buttons and when our friends answered the door he said "hi" and repeated my prompt "tic o tre". When they put out the bowl of candy he grabbed one and put it in his little bag. Then turned to run to the next place. I was cracking up that he knew what to do! After that we went from house to house until we finally made him go home.

Meet Maleah Lindsey Pearce

My super-mom sister just gave birth to this little bundle and we're best friends already. I had been so worried that I would miss her delivery. I flew into Austin, Texas around noon and my sister Arianne went into labor just a few hours later! At first she didn't realize she was in labor so thinking we were in no hurry I spent some time with my brothers and parents. At a park next to my brother's house they throw a "Gobblin Goul" every year. Everyone goes in costume. They have live music, hot air balloons, and tons of fun activities. Camden loved running around with his cousins.

Camden had a good view of the party from my dad's shoulders.My brother Jeremy went as a basketball player. He wore jumping stilts and did back flips in the crowd. That's my Jer! I think we're the only "adults" that still love to get dressed up.

While we were at the party my sister called and said that she really was in labor and to hurry and get to San Antonio. So we hoped in the car, costumes and all and rushed down to San Antonio. My poor sister labored all through the night and into the morning but at 8am Maleah was ready. It was so amazing to be there for her delivery. When Maleah let out her first cry we all cheered and cried. She is so beautiful! You did such a great job Arianne!!!!

It was such a great week. I loved every minute I got to spend with my family. Camden and I were sad to say goodbye and leave everyone in Texas!

Ehhhh!!!!

Markoff's Haunted Forest gets better every year! Even the boys were screaming and jumping at parts. The most common quotes of the night were, "WHAT WAS THAT?!" ... "I don't know but it was scary!". We love you Markoff's Haunted Forest. See you next year!

Younger Than You Look!

Conversation with a woman in my spin class:
(Context-she was asking me about things she could do to get rid of her extra mid section. Side note- this was the skinniest women I've ever seen)
Her: "Well after you turn 40 it's just all down hill from there. It's starts in your 30's. Well you know what I mean, it's just harder than it used to be."
Me: "Hmm, yeah." Nodding slowly. I would have let it go there but she continued to stare at me waiting for me to expound. "Well I'm actually not in my 30's yet..."
Her: Cutting me off "You aren't even 30 yet?! REALLY?!!"
Me: "Um, no I'm 27 today actually".
Yes, this is exactly what every woman wants to hear on her birthday. 'Wow, you look older than you are!' Thank you lady with no filter. I'm buying wrinkle cream today.

Virginia Beach

We have been wanting to visit our good friends Sean and Cait, who live in Virginia Beach for a long time now and last weekend we finally got to go! We had perfect weather for a fun day at the beach. Camden was in heaven playing in the waves and digging in the sand. I wish you could see in the picture below the amount of sand that covered this little boy's body. Turns out Dorittos still taste good mixed with sand, or at least he kept eating them.By the time we were ready to leave the beach Camden's diaper was FILLED with sand so he had to do a little skinny dipping to wash off. (Yes this picture will be used as black male in fifteen years when he brings his friends over)Sean was nice enough to do the "one, two, three" game with Camden over and over again. Don't Sean and Justin make a cute couple?!

Sean and Cait are not only the greatest friends but they are so incredible with Camden!

A Black Tie Event

Like most girls, I love getting dressed up. So when Justin told me we were going to a black tie event for his work I was thrilled. It was so fun to meet some of the people that he has told me about and to see him in action. It's funny how two complete opposites can be married. Justin loves to walk into a room and make connections. I on the other hand get intimidated and want to stand in a corner and people watch. I'm so glad I'm married to someone that makes me branch out.

Bahamas WE MISS YOU!

Justin and I left the little man at home and went on a cruise just the two of us to the Bahamas. It felt like a second honeymoon. No chasing after a chubby toddler, pulling his hands out of the toilet for the 5th time that day, picking up the food that he chucks on the floor, or changing horrific diapers. In a word... paradise. Don't get me wrong, we missed our Camden dearly. I think my mom must have been rolling her eyes when we called no less then ten times the first day to see what he was doing now, or now, or what about now?! But in the end I'm so glad we went. We stopped at the Florida KeysCoco CayAnd Atlantis!!! This was our favorite day. It was the coolest water park I've ever been to. We turned into little kids running all over the park doing every water slide multiple times. The one in the picture above is a steep drop that then takes you in a tube through a shark tank. It was so cool to see the sharks swiming all around you as you go through.

The ship had rock climbing! So fun to climb to the top and look out to see ocean all around you. The water was the most beautiful crystal turquoise! I was amazed when we went snorkeling at how clear it was. We got to see a plane and shipwreck. It was a little creepy to dive down into the cockpit. Oh yes, and we also saw jelly fish! Lots of jelly fish!! By some miracle neither one of us got stung. This was Justin on our last day. Needless to say we were both a little bummed it was all over- swimming in the warm blue ocean, white sand beaches, entertaining shows, eating all the ice cream you can handle, dancing till 2am, falling asleep in the sun. Our trip had come to an end.But when we came out of the airport and saw this little boy waiting for us, I think Justin and I couldn't stop smiling all afternoon. And luckily neither could he.