Castle Hills Fall Festival 10-22-11

The Hagedorn's went to the first day of the neighborhood Fall Festival & it was a wonderful event! It was held in the CH Shops area. They had a live band playing, a petting zoo, bounce houses, a bouncey slide, dress up area, & a hay ride. The neighborhood is so family oriented & this event showed that. Emma Kate spotted the bouncey slide & did that over & over & over until we made her go see other things. Jackson is still a bit too young to do everything, so he liked walking all around with Daddy. Both kids enjoyed the animals! It was VERY crowded & they needed lots more bounce houses, slide, etc. Just SO many KIDS here!! Shout out to Brett for taking pics & catching the kids having fun! :)

Baby Girl is 2 & 1/2 (and not so baby anymore)!!!

The title is all the truth. Emma Kate turned 2 1/2 today, which means she's now closer to 3 than 2...ohhhh my! And I'm reminded daily that she's not my tiny & dainty 6 pound 13 ounce baby that was placed in my arms 30 months ago. She is a funny, beautiful, smart, verbally gifted, strong-willed, moody (at times!), sometimes challenging girl! 3/4 of the time this is my favorite stage of Emma Kate's life & the other 1/4 of the time it's tough having a 2 year old...but it is what it is & I wouldn't change it. :)
Today, Emma Kate had a busy day. At MDO it was "Donuts with Dads" & the Noah's Ark Parade where the kids dress as animals. This morning she was in a bit of a "mood" hence only 2 pics in her cat costume before she left. Brett reported back with me after "Donuts with Dads" & said she was shy & quiet while he was there. Maybe it was the different type of activity of having all the Dads there in the classroom. However, she did fully enjoy her donut & asked for another. :)
When I picked her up she still had on the cat costume (yay to no accident at school today!). I took her to the bakery to buy cupcakes for the 2 1/2 year old celebration after dinner tonight. Then, we spent the rest of the afternoon watching Care Bears & Toys Story 3 since it was a cold rainy day. Here at the pics from today. :)

Emma Kate- I love you forever, like you for always, as long as I'm living my baby you'll be! xoxo

Does this face explain the 2 1/2 year old "mood"?!?!

A little smile with Daddy :)

Lovin that donut!

 Afternoon at home. Quick pic with Mommy.

Watching Toy Story 3 with Lolly in the movie room. 

 Now that's MY GIRL!!

 Brother loved the cupcake too. :)

 It's pretty cute lately anytime you say "Emmmmmaaa" in a special voice he cracks up laughing. This is the result again!

 Pretend blowing out the candle. :)

 Daddy with his babies

 Cupcakes make everyone happy!

Wrapping up the day with milk & reading books.

Park Time with Good Friends

We go to the park many times every week now that we moved to Castle Hills & have so many within walking distance. However, Friday morning we had a fun park play date planned. We met up with my good friend, Katie (we taught together @ Borchardt & ran my 1st half marathon with...Katie was the only way I made it through that race. Thanks friend for being so tall & skinny & leading the way!) 

Katie's baby boy is Carter. His due date was after Jackson's , but Carter was very anxious to join the world early (in Feb.)  

Anyways, we enjoy our time when we do get to catch up & play together. We had a wonderful time playing at Frisco Commons Park on a beautiful Fall morning. Emma Kate played in the sand mostly, Carter & Jackson played & stuck close to us (mamas boys...love.)

I snapped a few pics on our way out on my phone that melted my heart.

Family Pumpkin Patch Visit

Sunday morning Brett suggested we go to a Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound (like 15-20ish mins away).  We threw outfits on the kids, ourselves, got the diaper bag ready, & off we went.  This place had bounce houses, a bouncey slide (Ek loves!), hay rides, other rides, animals, horse rides (okay, ride in a circle.) It turned out to be hotter than expected so we only stayed for an hour, which was plenty of time to wear us all out! Overall, a fun family fall outing!! Enjoy all the pics. :)

 First stop a Mickey picture!

 Jumping & bouncing

 Off he goes...

 Another bouncey.

Staring very intently on the animals. The big black pig is right there.

 Emma Kate's 1st time on a horse!!

 Getting comfortable & giving him pets.

 Priceless memory :))

 Going for a ride in a barrel pulled by a golf cart...kinda funny sight.

 Biased, but the MOST BEAUTIFUL people I've ever laid eyes on!!!

 Fun take-off

 He's trying to find Daddy following along.

 EK spotted him.

 "Look Jack there he is with that camera again."

 One last slide before heading out (with a slight fit being carried to the car not wanting to leave!)