Disappointments.

So we have big plans ...and then they get crushed. I guess that's the way it goes sometimes, huh? But how do you teach that to a child that is almost 3?

We made these plans for Pumpkin's party to let her pick friends to invite rather than inviting the ENTIRE family as we have in previous years. She's always had friends at her party, just not many. And honestly we didn't invite too too many this year, but we left off the extended family so it could be more about the kids and less about the entire family having a reunion and eating party food. Unfortunately, I didn't really hear from anyone whether they were coming. I finally broke down and asked a few of them directly (which I hate to do because I feel like they think I am obligating them or something) but sadly, that just confirmed what I feared. Many of them have other plans...and hey, life doesn't just slow down because my child has a birthday. But it makes me sad to know how disappointed that she'll be if she doesn't have her friends that she "picked" to be there. Oh well. There's always next year. On top of that little mini-drama, the pumpkin patch at our church always runs through the end of October. For her first birthday (also a pumpkin patch) we gathered a bunch of leftover pumpkins-they always have an abundance that they give away after the sale is over- and just made a nice donation to the church. This year, the patch was depleted by October 29th! Aagh! So we are scrounging around for non-jack-o-lanterns to have enough to make a patch at the party. I guess we'll make it work.

For other more exciting news, Hubby is officially on vacation! He doesn't go back to work until like, Nov. 18th! I am so thankful....it's been quite a long stretch of work days lately. Things run so much nicer when he's home for dinner at night. He and Pumpkin have watched football for an obnoxious amount of time lately but if that's the worst of it...I'll take it! They are going to The lOcal stadium this Friday for RHS/MHS game. She loves it....she'll have to get peanut m&ms and a bottle of Sunkist. I think it is so cute that they already are building traditions.

I'm going to try to sneak away to the Mom's biblestudy group Friday night...they try to have a Mom's night out every once in a while but I've never managed to make it. So I'm really excited. It's such a crazy mix of ladies...such different personalities in the group..it can be very entertaining even on Wednesday mornings when we do our biblestudy. Cupcake will just have to accompany me on this outing.

Also this week, I am carefully trying to get last thoughts together for family pics...we are going sometime Sunday to see a friend who is a professional photographer. He is going to do group shots with my parents and two brothers as well as just shots of the four AJs: Hubby, me, Pumpkin, and Cupcake. I'm excited. We've not done professional pics really since Hubby and I have been married. Pumpkin had a session right before Hubby's 30th birthday by herself with Grady, but it was a surprise gift for Hubby so we didn't do family pics. Those turned out beautiful though, and I have no doubt, given Grady's abilities that we will be thrilled with these as well. But boy, what a trip to coordinate clothes with this many people! We are definitely not doing beach pics, since we see so many of those. They are nice, but we wanted something more ...hmm...rustic? I don't think that's the best description but you get the idea. So there's the whole fear of please don't scratch or bruise yourself up (which both girls have already done) ....along with...how are we gonna time this so Cupcake is wide awake? She is my sleeper (thank the Lord!) and she is just big enough that we can sit her up on our lap ...so we can't fake it and hold her sleeping in the pics...but awake won't do the trick if she's cranky obviously....hopefully she'll cooperate! I'm so excited.
Amazing how this sense of family really comes out with the second baby. It's a completeness, almost. I remember watching A Baby Story on TLC or some of the other similar shows...I never understood those women saying their family was complete now that they had #2...I always thought that was sad...like the 1st wasn't important enough to complete them. But now I totally get it. Not that we weren't thrilled with our Pumpkin. But now that Cupcake's here...even Pumpkin just has a different glow to her. Watching #1 be awed by #2 just as we are, is so wonderful. So these pics are just a wonderful time to capture this stage! And I don't think it's a completeness like...okay we don't want anymore kids...or we do....just that we are thrilled with the way things are right now.
Well, Hubby took Pumpkin to dance tonight since they both had shots today and Cupcake is feeling kinda cruddy. So I'm gonna go try to finish my spinach dip and try to perfect the recipe for next time...anybody have a close recipe to the Olive Garden spinach and artichoke? I make several good ones, but that's my fav.
Have a wonderful week everyone!