Pumpkins-Pumpkins-Pumpkins

The past two days we have been hard at work decorating and carving pumpkins. First up was a little decorating with good old mod podge and tissue paper. Ben had fun putting the circles on his pumpkin but once he saw me putting the glue on the pumpkin he insisted on putting the glue on. What a sticky mess it was but so fun too!

Next up was painting and carving. We wait until Da got home for the carving. For some reason to me carving pumpkins is a job for the dad with the big muscles! So while V started carving Ben started painting his pumpkin. Again what a huge mess but he had so much fun!

After the carving was done the cleaning out the guts job fell on me. I saved some seeds so we could make our traditional toasted pumpkin seeds!

Here are the Rupp Pumpkins 2012...

Weekend Round Up

This weekend went fast fast fast. I think part of it was because we didn't really have a Friday night. Vince was on his way back from the Burgh and didn't end up getting home until after 9pm. So that night was pretty much shot. Saturday morning we had Ben's 2 year photo shoot. The plan was to go to the Red Barn Farm in Weston but it was so dang cold that I didn't think Ben would make it more than a few minutes. So we decided that doing the photos at home would be the best-I am so excited to see them! The rest of the day was spent running errands and playing. Sunday we had to tackle the leaves. We hadn't raked on purpose since we wanted to get a few family pic's in the yard so we had a ton of leaves. 4 hours and 27 bags later the front yard was done. Ben had a blast raking and bubble blowing the leaves! He wasn't the biggest fan of being in the leaf piles unless you were in there with him though.

GG & BaPa stopped by to bring Ben his Halloween treats and a stick horse for his costume. I wasn't sure Ben would know how to "ride" the horse but once GG showed him he was off and riding! I decided than since we had someone to take a picture of us we should put our costumes on and get a quick family pic. Ben of course couldn't let go of his Halloween candy from GG & BaPa so the candy had to be in the picture too. After an afternoon snoozer for Ben Uncle Potty & Aunt Leah came over to play at Ben's Park with him! Ben had a blast playing with them! And I'm pretty sure that Patrick and Leah had just as much fun!

And then it was off to a Trunk & Treat our neighbors gave us tickets to. Ben was all about carrying his pumkin and was so excited that people put candy in it for him! We are working on saying Trick or Treat but that may not happen until next Halloween. Before we knew it the weekend was over and now its on to another busy week!

Ben's Park

Ben go this very own play set or as he calls it..."my park". He was so so so excited as he watched them put it together! We decided to put it on the far south side of the yard which just so happens to be right outside Ben's bedroom window so he stood on his stool just watching with a huge smile on his face. He couldn't wait to run out and swing when it was done! Of course it was the coldest day of fall thus far and the poor kid was freezing but thankfully I few days later and it warmed up and he got to really enjoy it! For the next few mornings he would wake up and ask "baby park?" and have to look out the window to make sure it was still there! I can only imagine the years of fun he is going to have on his play set!

23 Months

23 down 1 to go! I can't believe how fast this year went too. We are in full birthday party preparation! And Ben is getting super excited about his party! Not much new this month except for the explosion of words. If I had to guess I would say he is well on his way to 200 words. It  has been almost unreal the things that are coming out of his mouth. He repeats EVERYTHING he hears. The good and the bad so we have to watch our mouths closely. He has totally stopped signing all together and can tell you just what he wants. If you don't understand him he will take your hand and show you! He is also starting to recognize letters...B-E-N-R-P-O. He can also count to 5! He loves to sing and dance and is still controlling the radio song selections in our cars! That absolutely drives Vince crazy but I don't mind because its better than the kids songs I have heard a thousand times. He is still obsessed with his rain boots-rain or shine! Popcorn is his new favorite food. He asks for it as soon as he wakes up and all day until hes back in bed! He is obsessed with the movie Cars 2. He calls it "car show" and I feel like we watch it all the time. WordWorld is another huge hit-he calls it "doggie show". He is getting really good at recognizing animals and telling you what sound they make.  But he thinks dinosaurs said neigh neigh but who really knows maybe hes right!  I can't believe in less than a month our baby will no longer be a baby but a 2 year old.

The Great Pumpkin Hunt 2012

A few weekends back we headed out to the pumpkin patch! All the McCormacks were present and Aunt Joie joined us this year for her 1st ever pumpkin patch experience! Boy what a difference a year makes-last year Ben was in his stroller and was just along for the ride. This year we had a running, jumping, train riding toddler. Ben had a blast checking everything out-pig races, the bus full of sand, milking a pretend cow,  riding the barrel train (with me) and of course picking pumpkins! Leah & Mom were crazy pumpkin pickers! They found some awesome ones! And Matt found the cool white pumpkins again this year! A few hours and 3 wheelbarrows later we were ready for Halloween!

Projects. Projects. Projects.

I have completed a few more projects over the past few months and forgot to post them. First up was the train table I scored off Craig's List for $35. I had been watching it for a few weeks-I liked how it had been painted meaning I could repaint it and not have to do to much work. I wasn't feeling the $55 price tag so I just watched it to see what happens. After about 3 weeks it dropped to $45. And I ended up bargaining and got it for $35! Not to shabby if I don't say so myself. I wasn't in love with the colors-the original owners painted it to match their living room as the used it as their "coffee table" until their boys outgrew it.

 A little spray paint later and Ben has a new train/car/puzzle/whatever he wants table! I put it downstairs in the basement playroom and he loves it!

Second up was this bookshelf I bought for $15 at the thrift store. I wanted a bookshelf for the basement playroom and I knew with a little love aka paint it would be great! So when I painted the train table I got to work on the bookshelf too.

I used the same blue as I did on the train table and now it looks good as new!

The basement playroom still has some more work to be done to it but it's coming along project by project...

I have been on the hunt for a cool frame to make a chalkboard for the kitchen. I have been looking for what seems like ever and ever. I finally found one at the thrift store for $14. So I taped it off and got to work!
First I painted several coats of the chalkboard paint. I started out with the spray can version but felt it didn't really give me the old school chalk board look/feel. So I has a can of the regular chalkboard paint left over from Ben's easel so I painted a few more coats and then it was perfect! Next I painted the frame white but the rustic character of the wood it didn't look good white. So next it was a rusty red color-it looked good but on the green kitchen wall it looked like Christmas. So after looking around the garage I found this gray matte metal spray paint I had left over from another project and figured what the heck lets see what happens. And surprisingly it came out pretty good! I was going to use it for a weekly menu board but I wasn't in love with it so after a few days I decided to make it our seasonal bucket list!

And finally I had been searching for a small step stool for Ben for the 1/2 bathroom. And again the thrift store payed off this bad boy was pretty loved but on cost me $3.99. What a deal! And the added bonus was that it it also doubles as a super cute chair! It needed a good cleaning and new hardware and of course some paint! Ben loves it! Well worth the $4 and elbow grease!