Pumpkin Huntin'

Fall has finally arrived!  It was a really long and hot summer, even for a three year old like me.  This time of year, we always head to Burt's Farm in Dawsonville, GA.  They have more pumpkins there than you can imagine and it's the best place around to go Pumpkin Huntin'. So we put on our Pumpkin Huntin' clothes and headed out! This year, I was so excited to go.  Baby Hoss...not so much.  He'll learn!

This year, Uncle Bubba went with us.  According to mom, there is a running joke in our family that after two hours on the road to anywhere, we finally make it to Ringgold.  This trip was no exception.  GrNanny, Big Guy, Unc Bubba and I were headed down Ooltewah Ringgold Road with Daddy, Mommy and Baby Hoss behind us, when all of a sudden, a car was flying through the air on the other side of the road.  Big Guy slammed on the breaks and we stopped in the middle of the road until that car stopped.  Apparently, a little old lady had turned right into the side of this guy and had sent him off the road where he hit a culvert and launched his Audi like a rocket!  Fortunately, no one was hurt, but we stopped and waited for the police.  There was one funny officer who asked the man if he had a pilot license...you know, since his car was flying!  GrNanny even turned around Big Guy's truck so I could see.  I told her he wasn't going to like her driving his truck and she said Granddaddy doesn't always get his way.  Now I say that...alot!  Anyway, Mommy said she was too busy keeping me out of the road to think of taking any pictures of the wreck, but here's one of the Racetrac where we stopped just before we got to Burt's Farm.  It was about our 6th potty stop on the way there, and we had to go around the world to get into the parking lot.  The grown ups were so relieved to be there...me, I was just enjoying the ride and the company.

We hit the ground running with me leading the way.  Granddaddy had to whistle at me to get me to stop and look at some pumpkins.  I was having fun running between them. 

I liked this one.  It was the first one Mommy could get me to slow down for.  But we decided it wasn't "THE" pumpkin.  Keep looking!

Daddy and I liked this one too...but it wasn't as big as some of the others, so we kept looking!  Did you know giant pumpkins make a really cool sound when you drum on them?  I found that out, but Mommy said I shouldn't drum because I could bruise them and make them rot faster.  Party Pooper.

Hoss was mostly a happy camper.  He loves to be outside, so he really couldn't complain and it was a gorgeous day.  Plus, he had his hand to look at and keep himself busy.

Finally!  We found IT!  The 2011 Great Pumpkin!!  Granddaddy got us a wheelbarrow and some guys to load it and then I got to sit on it.  I felt like the king of the ummm...Pumpkin!

I also found this little green one I liked.  I don't know why, but I think it is cute, so we added it to our 'barrow.  I did like that I was strong enough to pick it up by myself (almost)! 

Next we decided to try to take a family picture.  First Daddy was taking some.  Hoss was not happy about it and I was pulling Mommy's hair...see that pesky look on my face?

Take 2.  Hoss still not happy and Mommy telling me not to "Pat" him on the head while she was still trying to smile.

Take 3. I was an angel this time, it was all that fussy baby's fault.

Finally, GrNanny took over the picture taking and Daddy was able to get in the picture and help Mommy corral us boys.  Even Hoss knew playtime was over and settled down a little bit.

And, just to prove it lasted longer than the one snap of the camera, here's another family portrait!

To end the visit, Daddy went with me on the Hay Ride.  It was drier this year than in the past, so it was more dusty.  I didn't care though.  I just love to ride up front as close to that John Deere as I can get.  There's nothing like the smell of diesel on a crisp fall day when you're a farm boy!

What a day!  We were tired and hungry when we finished at Burt's Farm so we stopped at Longhorn in Dawsonville and ate supper.  Mom and GrNanny must have been tired too because neither one even mentioned going shopping at the HUGE outlet mall across the road.  I don't think it had anything to do with the six hour trip to get there, or the three hour ride facing us to get back home.  I just think Pumpkin Huntin' is hard work  for adults.  Only us kiddos are hardly affected by it!

*Mommy would like to add that the above mentioned "kiddo" who seemed to be hardly affected by pumpkin hunting was asleep about five minutes after we left Longhorn and slept all the way home.*

Stay tuned for our carving adventure...we're waiting until closer to Halloween!

Love ya!

Jax

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A day in the life of Hoss

Hi everyone!  Mom thought you might like to see what it's like for me to have a check up.  This is what it's like when I go to the local cardiologist, Dr. Johnson. 

First, we get there and have to wait until they are ready for me.  Sometimes I think I've spent half my life waiting for a Dr. to see me.  Of course, I'm only 4 months old so half my life isn't all that much!  At least I'm happy in my stroller while I'm waiting.

Next, they take me to get my EKG.  The nurse hooks me up to lots of leads and she and Mommy and GrNanny have to hold me down to get an accurate reading.  This was the first time ever that I didn't cry through the whole thing.

After that, I go downstairs, through a long hallway to X-ray.  They have to suspend me to get an accurate picture of my heart.  This is my side shot, and they also take a front shot.

Once they read the X-rays and are sure they got what they need, they send me back down the long hallway and back upstairs to wait for a little longer.  This time I didn't have to wait for long.  I got right into a room so they could start on my vitals.  Can I just tell you I hate, Hate, HATE having my blood pressure taken.  This time was no exception.  Even Lammie didn't help.

Next I get weighed and measured au natural.  Good thing I have my hands to distract me from the fact that Mom is really taking a picture of this.

In my down time, I practiced my rolling over until....

I got distracted by my hands!

Next, they took me for my echocardiogram.  I am really hard to get good pictures of and it took two techs and the Dr. to try to see what they wanted to see and they still couldn't find what they were looking for.  I like to try to guide them by holding onto the wire, but they make me stop every time.

At last, Mommy gets through talking to Dr. Johnson and I get to settle back into my carseat.  I was so wound up and so worn out that it took two Lammies to calm me down.  Thank goodness Mrs. Kelly at Genevieve Bond was able to get me some extra Lammies.  Sometimes one just isn't enough!

That's a typical checkup for me.  Mom will be on here soon to post an update on what the Dr. said.  To me, it all sounds like a conversation between two Charlie Brown school teachers, but they seem to be in agreement and have a plan.  I think Mom will also post some more pictures soon.  We've been really busy enjoying the weather and making memories!

Thanks for all your prayers!

Love,

Hoss

Dusting Off the Cobwebs

Hey Y'all.  It's Carie.  Just wanted to let you know that I'm dusting the cobwebs off and I'm going to try blogging again.  There have been lots of changes since Jax last updated, most notably we've switched the blog from Jax's blog to a family blog.  There weren't any problems or safety issues or anything like that, but our family has grown and there are times when another of us wants to post an update.  So, I may not be able to catch you up on all of the events of the past year that you've missed, but I will try to post much more often going forward. Check back in a couple of days!  Now where did I put that broom??

Summertime, and the living is easy...

Summer is here, and so is Pops!! This is the first time I have seen him since last fall, and he made the trek all the way from Oklahoma to see me. Daddy took the week off of work, and we have had almost every minute of the week jam packed with some sort of activity. It has been a week full of firsts, and some good ole faithful activities in the mix. Here's a recap! First, we went to GrNanny and My Big Guys to swim. Pops got to see me do all my tricks, and the weather was fabulous for being outside for the evening.
I am not afraid of one single thing about the pool this year, not even the slide!
Of course, I had to put on a concert for Pops with my new guitar from a yard sale. Thanks GrNanny and Big Guy!

Tuesday morning, Pops got out a gift he brought me. My first fishing pole!! We went out on the deck for a fishing lesson and ended up rabbit fishing. Daddy hit the rabbit once and so did Pops before it hopped back into the woods.

Once we were at the creek, Daddy showed me how to hold my fishing rod.

Pops helped me too, he's the expert you know. He helped me cast my line, and thought it was hung on something.

Turns out, it was! He helped me reel in my line...

and catch my very first fish!! See it hanging in front of my shirt? It's just my size!

I also got to have my very first Root Beer Float, or as I like to call it, a Fruit Rear Bloat.

It tickled my nose, and was cold!

and YUMMY!!

We went to my very first Lookout's Baseball Game. I was afraid of the mascots a little, but after a few high five's, I was ok.

Three Generations of Hatmaker Men I got a Hot Dog!

and a giant foam finger! Go Lookouts!!

We also went to a Hot Rod Show and Unc Bubba had his T-Bucket there.

I even got to ride in it with Unc Bubba and My Big Guy! It's pretty cool, and I think Mommny and Daddy will have one of those in their garage when I get older!

Whew, I am exhausted and totally off my routine. Time to get some rest, so I'll see y'all later!

Love,

Jax

Happy Mother's Day, Mommy

I promise I haven't forgotten to do the post to explain my muddy face from my last post, but I can't wait to share my Mother's Day with you. I know, I know, Mother's Day is supposed to be about Mommy, but if it weren't for me, she wouldn't have much to celebrate on this day, so, Mother's Day is really about me. Right? Anyway, Click on the little white triangle below to see the video that Daddy and I made to wake Mommy up! She loved it!

We met GrNanny and My Big Guy (formerly known as DaDa) for brunch. It was yummy. I ate a piece of prime rib that Mommy got for me, then I ate some of Daddy's prime rib, then I finished off My Big Guy's prime rib. I did eat some fruit, and a roll, and one bite of broccoli that Mommy said I had to try. Yuck! I got GrNanny a cool card with some Toy Story characters on it, and it played "You've got a friend in me". See? We're listening to it in this picture.

I got Mommy some new sunglasses. Then I helped her model them. I also painted a bowl for her with my hand prints and foot prints, but we didn't take it with us to brunch, so no pictures right now....sorry!

AND THEN....See the excitement I can't contain? I'm actually squealing...LAKE WINNIE!!!!For those of you who don't know, Lake Winnepesaukah or Lake Winnie is a local amusement park. It has been around since 1925, and GrNanny used to go there when she was a little girl and so did Mommy. Of course it has changed in some ways, but is still the same in many others. I sort of hijacked her Mother's Day too and drug her and My Big Guy along for the fun. First off, Daddy and I rode the hot air balloons. Mommy chases us around and takes pictures....Last tally I heard for the day yesterday was 180. Don't worry, I won't include them all! Next up were the boats! Some of you may remember that we went to a small traveling carnival on Easter Sunday. It was fun, but nothing like this, and the boats at that carnival weren't working. I have talked about them ever since, and yesterday, I finally got my chance to ride the boats! It was more fun than I thought it would be. While I was waiting in line for my turn, I was jumping up and down and another squeal escaped me! Mommy said it was adorable to see.Then came the ladybugs. They went fast and the track that they are on is humpy. Fun!Check out My Big Guy chillin' in the background in his bright orange shirt and cool dude shades. I had a hard time relinquishing the steering wheel long enough to wave at Mom. I love, love, love riding the motorcycles. Mommy says I can ride one for real when I am 65. Can't wait!!The Silly Saucers were....you guessed it....silly! They are on these arms that go around at a slow speed, but there is a wheel in the center, kind of like a steering wheel, that makes each saucer go around individually. Daddy started off slow, but picked up some speed towards the end of the ride, and we were flying!!Next were the bumble bees. They start off low and then go high in the air when you move that bar that Daddy and I are holding on to. We opted to not go very high.We all went for a ride on the train. It goes around the perimeter of the park, and you can see all sorts of different views. This is the view from across the lake.Next, Daddy and I climbed way up high to go down this slide. Mommy wasn't sure if I would be big enough or brave enough to go down the slide by myself, but I was big enough, and holding Daddy's hand, I was brave enough too. When we got to the bottom, I jumped up and yelled "et's goagin!" or Let's go again for those of you who don't speak Jaxanese.While we were waiting in line to go down the slide, My Big Guy bought a ginormous tub of popcorn. When I saw it, I thought, "Yay! Snack time". Turns out it was to feed the fish. Now don't get me wrong, I ate my fair share of it, but it was sure fun to feed those fish and to hear Mommy and GrNanny go on and on about how those fish were probably the same fish they used to feed. They were great big fish!See?After the fish, we stood in line for a few minutes to ride the carousel. It was not a bad wait except the haunted castle is right next to it, and it has this horn that blows about every 30 seconds. It sounds like a fog horn. I was not terribly excited about that.Finally in the saddle, where I belong. I liked this carousel a lot. It didn't go as fast as some that I have ridden, and the music was not so loud. Plus, I could see all the things I had already done and the things I was going to get to do next.After the carousel, I picked the caterpillar. It is a kids sized roller coaster. Daddy had to ride with me, but that was o.k. because there were a couple of things about it that were a little scary to me. It's o.k. though, I'm sure I will try it again next time.Cheesy picture with Mommy and GrNanny. Thanks for letting me hi-jack "your" day!The next ride had a very long line, so Daddy stood in line while Mommy took me to the playground. It was awesome!! There were big slides, little slides, climbing walls, rope bridges, bongo drums, ramps, steps and all sorts of other things that a little guy likes to do.After the playground, I was thirsty! Good thing My Big Guy had bought me this coke in a giant guitar shaped cup! I've never had so much coke in my life combined, but today was a special day, and I enjoyed every sip of it!The final ride was the old timey cars. My Big Guy rode them with me just like he used to ride them with Mommy and Unc Bubba. Can you tell by the look on my face that I was worn. slap. out? We finished off the Lake Winnie experience with a stop at the gift shop to get me a cap. Once back at the car, Mommy changed my britches and cleaned my hands, buckled me in and we headed out. I didn't make it back to the freeway before I was sound asleep! We all finished up the night with supper out with Aunt Audi and Unc Bubba who had just gotten back from seeing JeanJean. What a day! I had a blast, and I hope Mommy and GrNanny had as wonderful a Mother's Day as I did!! I promise I'll post about the muddy face picture soon!

Love,

Jax