Pumpkin Painting

This weekend we didn't do a whole lot and it was a very nice change.  Scott had a HUGE deployment for work that started on Saturday, thanks to those in the Middle East.  So he needed to be at his computer for most of the afternoon.  Thankfully, nothing major happened and we were able to hang out with him while he monitored the situation. 

And by hanging out, I mean Gabe and I painted a pumpkin.  I had thought about doing this with him last year, but he was a little too young to really get into it.  This year I bought a couple small pumpkins to test out his artistic side. 

He loved it.  I managed to find a deal on paints at Hobby Lobby and he had his own set that he could do whatever with and bounce from color to color.  He had paint all over his arms and even tried a little paint in the hair - that many have taken a day or 2 to get completely out. 

I think was a success, but I'll let the pictures show the fun.

Life

Life lately has been kinda crazy.  Gabe is learning and talking more and more on a daily basis. Along with his learning, he is exploring and sometimes doesn't know what he really wants.  Which has lead us into the wonderful world of toddler temper tantrums.  It's a new learning curve for all of us to adjust to and thankfully he gets over them fast.

Our house remodel is almost done.  At least the stuff that needs to get completed before Baby A arrives.  Thankfully my mom arrives in 2 weeks and has volunteered been requested to help paint the woodwork in the house.  We did come up with a paint color for the living room and hallway, now to find time to mud and prime those rooms.  It's amazing how a little/a lot of paint can completely change a house.  I still can't get how awesome our kitchen looks.

Scott finally finished his 9 month long Regional Leadership Forum at Wash U.  It was a lot of work on his part, reading 5-6 books for each session, as well as his job and family fun.  I'm very proud of him and was happy to attend his graduation ceremony and meet some of the other attendees.  Big thanks to Aunt Michelle for watching Gabe in order to make that night out happen.

I am on the final countdown till Baby A arrives.  We are officially 37 weeks today and the baby is almost 2cm dilated, head down and kicking up a storm.  I'd like to say I'm completely ready for this kid to come whenever he/she please, but I'm not.  I do have the newborn clothes washed and cleaned.  They haven't been put away, but they are clean.  I still need to move Gabe's clothes to his new big boy room and we do need to make some freezer meals.  I think we will be ready whenever he/she makes the big appearance, or by November 6th ( the due date and/or induction date)

That's pretty much everything that has been happening in our world lately.  Lots of business and lots of cheering on our Cardinals to the NLCS, our Huskers to a great start to the season and the Blues(yay hockey is back!). 

Pumpkin Patch

We took Gabe last year to Thies's Farm for his first official pumpkin patch experience and decided that it was the place to try out again this year.  It's very close to our house and there is a huge play area for him to run around in.  Check out the size of the pumpkins there!

This year Aunt Kelly was with us to take in all the fun.  Thankfully, Gabe is under 2 and still gets in for free. 

Gabe loved the wagon rides

There was a couple hay pyramids for him to climb up, a pirate ship for him to steer and a tractor for him to check out. 

He could have stayed and watched the goats all day

Overall this kid had a bunch of fun playing outside.  We even let Gabe guide us through the corn maze. 

Captain Gabers

Climbed up all by himself - with a little help from dad

 

Trying to be brave, but it was dark in there

Leading us through the corn maze

Oh tractor!

Since we had just had a huge rain storm a couple days earlier, they were not letting people out to pick their own pumpkins.  Which was ok, we ended up really muddy last year.  We selected a couple pumpkins and some mums and called it a day. 

Successful trip to the pumpkin patch

Thanks Aunt Kelly for going with us on one of our many fall traditions!

More Home Improvements

The home improvements continue at the Allenzotti House.  Besides the new flooring, we've had some random appliances go out on us.  It all started with the garbage disposal going out.  Let's be honest, it was probably on it's last leg and we rarely put anything big down it.  So, this wasn't horrible and we lived for a couple weeks without it.  Then it was desperately needed. 

The sink disaster area

The garage entrance with the new garbage disposal sitting on it

Then one evening I noticed that the washer had not completed the cycle and then wouldn't drain or even finish a cycle.  So the appliance repair guy was called and a new drain pump later we were back in business.  One Saturday night, I decided to run the dishwasher - since we hadn't replaced the garbage disposal, the sink backed up.  that was all sorts of fun to clean and gut under the sink.  And then, the refrigerator went out.  After 20+ years of refrigerating it was done.  Scott took it a little harder than the rest of us.

Saying good-bye to the refrigerator

After a week of eating everything in the refrigerator and freezer, we bought a new, way bigger, refrigerator.  Of course delivery was on Wednesday, 5 days later.  That ended up working out well for us since the plumber was coming on that Wednesday to fix the sink and garbage disposal. 

Scott and I were very lucky, Scott's parents said they would house sit that Wednesday while the delivery and plumber were there.  We even had some painting help.  We didn't have to miss work for the deliveries.  After that crazy week, our house looks completely different and things are actually working again!  Yay!

Hello new refrigerator and almost 1 coat of paint

Apple Picking

We had a great day for apple picking.  We loaded Gabe up and headed out to Eckerts in Belleville for a late morning of apple picking.  I wasn't too sure how Gabe would do out in the fields, but he did better than I thought. 

When we, Scott, Grandpa Ron, Gabe and I, arrived we grabbed some kettle corn and waited for the tractors to pick us up.  Gabe was in awe of the big tractors pulling the wagons full of people.  It was a good thing he had his tractor shirt on. 

Check out how happy this kid is on this tractor!

Once we were able to get on the wagon to go out to the orchards, Gabe had a HUGE grin on his face.  We were able to sit at the top, right behind the tractor pulling us.  I'm pretty sure that was his highlight from the day. 

Once we made it out to the designated apple picking area we were pleasantly surprised with the large amounts of apples still on the trees.  Over the years, we've learned that you have to go early or the trees get picked over.  Not the case this year.

Gabe was more interested in picking apples up off the ground and trying to take a bite of all of them.  He wasn't too sure why we wanted to take them off the trees.  Once we had filled our bags, Gabe and I were on the look out for more tractors while Scott and Grandpa Ron waited in line. 

Looking out for tractors

After apple picked we headed to lunch. Gabe was fighting sleeping the whole way to the restaurant and then completely crashed 2 minutes from the parking lot.  He slept in Scott's arms the entire lunch and woke up with just enough time to eat his mac and cheese. 

Sleeping face down amazed us all

It was a tough day. 

Hello New Flooring

**I think it's fitting that this is my 500th post**

My husband rocks.  That might not be even close to saying how awesome he is and how much we love him.  Back in early July we came up with a HUGE honey-do-list to be completed over the next year and some that may seem a bit rushed before Baby A arrives in early November.  But we've done pretty good at marking things off that list. 

The biggest, craziest, most time consuming thing we need to do was get rid of the nasty, stained carpet and put in new flooring in the living room and kitchen.  It was one of those tasks that we have known for years and would have loved have completed way before Gabe arrived, but life gets in the way. 

Remember that cute kid reading instructions on the nasty old floor?

So over the last 2 weekends Scott has been working his tail off to make this little dream a reality.  There was a lot of blood, sweat, burns, cursing and tears that was put into that floor.  And we still need to finish the transitions around the doors and put the base boards back. But, I can say without a doubt, that he did an amazing job and I love how it has completely changed our house.  I'm still not in love with this house - probably never will be, but for the next year or so that we are here I will love that floor. 

Blood, sweat and tears



I will eventually compose post with more pictures than you will ever care to see about the process and a better before picture of the living with the once gray/blue carpet.  But for now, we are enjoying our new floors (baseboards coming soon) and the pitter patter of Reily trying to run or walk or prance down the hall.

Our next project before Baby A gets here is painting the kitchen, living room and hallway.  Thankfully, my awesome Maid-of-Honor, Kelly is arriving in 1.5 weeks to help out with our paint color in the living room and hallway.  She wasn't sold on my yellow.  But the kitchen will be painted (maybe) this weekend, depending on Scott's work and RLF schedule and my wanting to spend a weekend doing a family outing. 

Home Improvements

We've been very busy lately.  Whether it's a home improvement project, work, or fall fun activities, we are BUSY!  Scott has been very busy with work and deadlines coming up, right before Baby A makes an appearance(7.5 more weeks!).  Plus he is trying to finish the number 1 home improvement project on my list (new flooring).  And then there are a lot of things planned for each weekend that I can't wait to share with Gabe. 

So far, Gabe and I enjoyed a Saturday of Birch-filled sports.  Mathew's soccer game and Catherine's volleyball, plus a fun trip to the mall with the Birch girls.  This was meant to keep us out of the house while Scott and Mike worked.  We took advantage of the beautiful day and drove all around St. Louis.

Enjoying Mathew's water at the soccer game

Gabriel and Mathew hanging out in the trunk of the car

Gabe and Mathew racing up and down

All while Scott and Mike were installing new flooring in the living room and hallway. 

The hallway before

Section of the living room, after the carpet was pulled up

Starting to lay the flooring

Look at this Helper reading the instructions over lunch break

So far, the flooring looks amazing and I love it!  Reily is getting used to sliding everywhere.  Overall, it's a huge improvement and there will be more to come on this.  We are hoping it will be done this weekend and then the fun project of painting can start!