It's The Great Pumpkin!

I did a garden this year and it had a slow start. We decided that the one side has bad dirt in it - but a few things did grow. I am very happy to say that for the first time ever I have been able to grow pumpkins!! So far there are 4 good sized ones - and one is even bright orange already!

I have peppers out the yin yang, and cucumbers are doing well too.

A nice surprise was the acorn squash that has done really well too!I am hoping that by next planting season we will have the dirt figured out and watch out farmers market!! (ok maybe not that extreme)

Larry's brush with fame (sort of)

So this post is purely to give my husband a hard time!
When we went and got Ashley's mattress we went to American Furniture warehouse - and as we were walking out Larry spotted Jake Jab!!! For those of you not from the Denver area (and even some of you who live here) - Jake Jab owns American Furniture warehouse and we see his commericals all of the time. What was funny is that Larry was VERY excited to see him - you would have thought it was Brad Pitt! Larry waited for him to come down the escalator (as Hailey and I just stayed back - we wanted no part of this celebrity encounter. Larry said Hi to him and they had a little exchange - I was laughing the whole way out of the store. We got in the car and Larry says "How fun! We bought a mattress and we say Jake Jab!!" - Good times we have in the McKinney house!
Oh by the way I let Larry know the next night that he may have met Jake Jab - but John McCain called me!

Ashley's even bigger bed

We decided that Ashley's toddler bed was getting just a bit small for her and and all her friends, and books, and toys, and everything else she tries to sleep with! When we bought her crib it is one of those that turns into a toddler bed and then into a full bed. Well holy crap we didn't realize how big a full is!! It doesn't help that the box spring we got is super big too - we had to bring the ottoman in her room so she could get up into her bed! It looks great - now that we are over the shock. It's pretty funny though - she looks tiny in that super big bed! Of course we had to go get new princess bedding for it as well.

Toddler bed

It was a family project!

Let the bouncing begin!!

Is that Dorthy and Toto?

Sunday evening we went out to eat, from the beginning it didn't go well. Hailey was not happy so I ended up just boxing up my dinner. Then everyone in the restaurant started looking out the window?? Someone tells us there is a funnel cloud. Next thing we know there is an actual tornado touching down. Living in Texas for a year - I don't think tornado's are neat, fun to look at, exciting, etc.., they are damn scary! When we looked out the window we realized it was time to go - NOW. Very quickly we got the girls in the car and headed out - I know you aren't supposed to be in a car when there is a tornado but the alternative was being in a steakhouse were there was no cover. We watched it and it wasn't moving very quickly so Larry quickly drove home. We then spent a nice hour in the basement - and as Larry said "It's a good thing we finished out basement".

Balloon Festival - 2008

For the 3rd year in a row we have attended the Rocky Mountain Balloon Festival at Chatfield. You know it has to be good for all of us to be in the car by 5am! The minute I went into Ashley's room and whispered "do you want to go see the balloons?" - she bounced out of bed and was ready to go. Hailey - not so much - remarkably though she stayed awake the whole car ride. I think she was freaked out and probably thought we didn't know what we were doing as parents so she better stay up.

This year we actually got there before they even started inflating any of the balloons so it was great to see all of them from the start. Ashley was tired and wanted to be held - while Hailey wanted to just run around.

It was fun - everyone had fun and we will be back next year!

Hailey took Ashley's chocolate milk - and she is pretty happy about it!

Hailey running around!

Hailey and Daddy watching the balloons

Ashley and Mommy with the balloons

Ready to go home....

Ashley's First Day at Preschool

Ashley went to her first day at preschool today. She did such a great job!! Of course we took some pictures before we went. When we got to the school we waited outside with the rest of the kids until the teacher opened the door. Then we went in and Ashley sat on the circle rug - even got up to dance when the teacher said it was time. She did such a great job - we are so proud of her!! Not one single tear!! Of course I cried the whole time - and the whole day. I just can't believe how grown she is!

When we came back to get her she was pretty worn out. She had lots to tell us - the went on the playground, she painted and washed her hands. She showed us how the teacher told them to put a bubble in their mouths when it is time to listen. Preschool is every Tuesday and Thursday mornings - I don't know how I am going to drop her off every time! I couldn't imagine what it would be like if she didn't like it. So proud of her!!

Ashley's Orientation

We went to Ashley's orientation for preschool today. We saw the classroom she would be in and met her teacher. There were lots of kids there and it looks like fun. She starts on Thursday!!