Pumpkin Time

We took Miss Cate to the Dallas Arboretum yesterday to see their amazing pumpkin display!  Cate thought she was in heaven with all these "balls" and "boons".  As soon as she was out of her stroller, she was on the move, but I think we captured several good pictures (hence the photo overload here....).

I'd like this one please.....

Cate loves to play with my sunglasses

Cate had the best time just running around, her current favorite game is to be chased by dad and run to mom as base....

She discovered her shadow here, had a big time following it around for a bit.

Happy Halloween from the Halls!

A Visit from Nana Julie

Nana Julie made a trip from Atlanta this weekend to visit Cate.  It worked out well for Lanny and I, we had planned to go to TCU Homecoming this weekend, so Nana Julie and Cate had a night to themselves and we got to go cheer on the Frogs!

We were busy playing, reading and going for walks, Cate was wiped out by Sunday night!

Reading with Nana

Cate likes to be in control while reading, holding the book and turning the pages

Cate likes making faces these days....excited (I think)

Thanks for coming to see us Nana, we had a great time!

Lunch with Friends

Last week Cate and I met up with my college girlfriends and their kiddos for lunch.  Thank you to Aunt Sarah P for having at her house....I think we would have more than terrorized a restaurant!  I didn't get any pictures of the adults, but here are the kiddos playing!

Cate and Easton sharing lunch, they also traded sippy cups back and forth the entire time.

An attempt to get the tired kids to smile......Eloise was not happy about it either.

A little better....can you guess there are mom's behind the camera trying to make some smiles?

Parker got there later, he was at school (such a big boy!)

Parker meeting baby Ansley, she slept nearly the entire time we were there, sweet girl!

A little smile from baby Ansley

Happy Birthday Lanny

Happy Birthday to Cate's Daddy!

(one of my favorite photos of Cate and Lan)

We celebrated Lanny's birthday Sunday when he got home from being on call....thus there are no photos of him, but we'll get one this week with Cate!

Cate and I made him a birthday sign, cookie cake and we attempted to record Cate saying Dada in his card, but she just wanted nothing to do with it!

And despite telling everyone he's "29", his real age made it on the cake...

Happy Birthday Lanny, we love you!

Loves to Eat

Cate is really anything but picky...and she loves to feed herself (which Maggie loves, because there is always a mess to go with it!).

Hogs in Dallas

The Razorbacks traveled to Dallas a few weeks ago to play Texas A&M at Cowboys Stadium, so that meant Grandpa and Grandma Bodemann were in town to cheer them on!

We spent that Saturday at the stadium tailgating with fellow Hog fans, including Uncle Brian and Aunt Rosie.

Grandpa seasoning the sliders just right....his tailgate had it all, a tent for shade, grill for food, margarita machine and a television with satellite (I think we could have lived out there another day or two).

Cate and Grandma stayed at the tailgate and napped during the game, but I think everyone had a great time....and now when Cate sees Grandma and Grandpa raise their hands to call the Hogs, she raises her right along!

Baby Ansley

Meet sweet Ansley Catherine Butler

On Tuesday, Cate and I finally made our way over to the Butler's house to meet Miss Ansley (she arrived in September while we were in Arkansas). She is so tiny and sweet....she was roughly half the size of Cate (and I think any baby under 9 and 1/2 pounds is tiny....). Ansley surprised Mom and Dad by arriving over 5 weeks early, but she did great, no time in the NICU and was sent home when Mom was discharged.

Cate was pretty curious about her, she was especially impressed with Ansley's swing. Cate has a baby doll from her birthday, and I was worried she might try to pick up Ansley like her baby doll (and I worried this because she tried to pick up Eloise Pittman last week....) but she did great under some very watchful eyes from Courtney and I

Cate wanted to be where the baby was...so she tried sitting in the swing, but she promptly tried to move to Courtney's lap where Ansley was.

Cate and I with sweet Ansley

Baade Baby Shower

Since we've been back in Dallas, one of the things that I am most excited about is getting to be a part of celebrations for my friends and their families. Last weekend we helped host a baby shower for the Baades. "Poppy" as they call their little one, is due November 17th. They have more patience than I do, they're waiting to find out if baby is a Charlotte or a Brooks....I'm voting Charlotte! I had so much doing the decorations for the shower, I even did a little sewing, though I didn't get any photos of it!

Baby Baade sign

Diaper cake with the yummy desserts, and Trudy's beautiful maternity picture

Entry table with message boards for baby's room, everyone left notes for the Baades and Poppy

Bath time diaper cake

Trudy explaining to Matt what the gifts were for

(such as this, the faucet cover for the bath tub)

Grandparents in waiting

Of course Baby Baade is a future Frog!

Uncle Doug gives his approval

Trudy and Sarah at the end of the night

Trudy and Matt, we are SO excited for baby (Charlotte) to get here, thanks for letting us be a part of the celebrations!