You know that moment when you're talking to a friend, and suddenly they start telling you - in detail - the exact story they've told you before ? And you start to interrupt the story to remind them, but then you stop yourself, just in case it's a different story with the same beginning ... and also you don't want to embarrass them ?
I think I've experienced that a hundred times - only it's me telling the story. And then halfway through telling my story, I see the person I'm talking to half-smiling like I have food stuck in my teeth. So I self-consciously run my tongue over the front of my mouth, to make sure there's not a big piece of spinach there, when suddenly the lights come on and I realize - it's not the spinach, it's my story. I've told it before, and now I look like my old neighbor, Mrs. Krebbs, who would tell the same story to me and my brother and sister probably two or three times in the same week and never even realize she did it. (She also had a large piece of corn stuck between her two front teeth at our dinner table one night, while she was re-telling a story - I remember my siblings and I trying so hard not to look at each other during dinner, lest we spit out our chicken in a fit of spontaneous laughter. But that's a different story for a different blogpost. Unless I've told you that one already ??)
ANYHOOO.......
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure every October on my blog there's a post entitled "My Big Fat Pumpkin Patch Post". And although the pictures might be different, and the children in the pictures are a little bit younger, the story is probably very similar in each post ...
"It was the perfect weather for the pumpkin patch" ... "My kids made crude jokes about odd-shaped pumpkins resembling different body parts" .... "Sam wheeled and dealed with the owner of the pumpkin patch, convincing her that because we have so many kids, we should be getting the group discount normally reserved for school field trips" ... and finally - "Lily plus boots plus pumpkins equals the cutest pictures on the planet."
Or something like that.
So instead of retelling the same story today, I'm just going to post my pictures with a few corny captions, and you won't have to read along pretending it's the first time you've ever heard me talk about how much I love pumpkin patches. And thankfully, you won't be able to tell if I have food stuck in between my teeth while I do it. (Because I'm not joining the Vlogging craze any time soon, for that precise reason ... among a host of others.)
And also - in case you didn't notice - I changed the title of my blogpost, just so you know it really IS a different post than the previous five years.
Here we go ....
Sorry, but all I see here is BACON !!! Times two.
^^^^ favorite picture of my husband ever.
The Rebel Rice kid ^^^
^^^^ He picked it out himself :)
SEE WHAT I MEAN ???? Lily plus boots plus pumpkins. Swoon.
Kenzie took this picture, and Tyler was at the post office getting his passport. He's going to Israel next month with a tour group from our church, and we won't discuss my anxieties about that or we will ruin my Skinny Little Pumpkin Patch Post. Jason and Josiah and their beautiful families made their own trips to the pumpkin patch, and we won't talk about how kids have to go and ruin my family pictures by growing up and making their own fun memories .... for the same reason we won't talk about Tyler's impending trip to the land of suicide bombers and headline-worthy events like that.
No, we are not going to talk about that here on my happy little Pumpkin Patch Post, okay ??? Don't even try to make me do it. This post is like Disneyland - leave all your troubles at the gates, just come on in and have fun and smile and eat an overpriced candied apple or two.
Whew.
Moving on ....
Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from last week. Most of these were on Instagram - if you missed the post a few pages back, I explain there why I went private on IG and reduced my audience to a fraction of what it was. I was overwhelmed by the kind response there and requests to follow... if you would like to follow there again, read THIS POST, because I'm not retelling that same story twice either. But THANK YOU to all those who left the kindest comments on that post ... you all bless our socks off !
And now for the two blog features I promised to add (you thought I forgot, didn't you ??)
PATTI'S PICKS :
If you've been reading here for any length of time, you know my addiction to Jude & Fi clips on Etsy.
These clips are not only darling and unique, but they actually stay in Lily's fine hair better than any other clips we have used. That's because they are made with wig clips that grab onto the hair without causing any damage, and secure the clip tightly. They come in a huge variety of colors and styles, and if I could, I would purchase every single one of them.
The creator of Jude & Fi clips is a sweet mama named Shannon - I met her via blogging when our girls were just babies, and her Fiona shares Lily's extra chromosome. I love supporting moms who work from home, and I love that every clip I purchase helps Shannon's business venture ... check out Jude & Fi today for these adorable hair clips.
ABBI'S EATS:
Tomorrow is another level two ultrasound out of town . This one is the big echocardiogram that will determine if our Baby Bunny has any heart defects. Please be praying that all goes well ... we are so excited to have a chance to see Madison again, and I will post an update as soon as time allows.
Here is my 24 week picture ...
Thank you again for all the love and prayers.
xoxo Patti
I think I've experienced that a hundred times - only it's me telling the story. And then halfway through telling my story, I see the person I'm talking to half-smiling like I have food stuck in my teeth. So I self-consciously run my tongue over the front of my mouth, to make sure there's not a big piece of spinach there, when suddenly the lights come on and I realize - it's not the spinach, it's my story. I've told it before, and now I look like my old neighbor, Mrs. Krebbs, who would tell the same story to me and my brother and sister probably two or three times in the same week and never even realize she did it. (She also had a large piece of corn stuck between her two front teeth at our dinner table one night, while she was re-telling a story - I remember my siblings and I trying so hard not to look at each other during dinner, lest we spit out our chicken in a fit of spontaneous laughter. But that's a different story for a different blogpost. Unless I've told you that one already ??)
ANYHOOO.......
I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure every October on my blog there's a post entitled "My Big Fat Pumpkin Patch Post". And although the pictures might be different, and the children in the pictures are a little bit younger, the story is probably very similar in each post ...
"It was the perfect weather for the pumpkin patch" ... "My kids made crude jokes about odd-shaped pumpkins resembling different body parts" .... "Sam wheeled and dealed with the owner of the pumpkin patch, convincing her that because we have so many kids, we should be getting the group discount normally reserved for school field trips" ... and finally - "Lily plus boots plus pumpkins equals the cutest pictures on the planet."
Or something like that.
So instead of retelling the same story today, I'm just going to post my pictures with a few corny captions, and you won't have to read along pretending it's the first time you've ever heard me talk about how much I love pumpkin patches. And thankfully, you won't be able to tell if I have food stuck in between my teeth while I do it. (Because I'm not joining the Vlogging craze any time soon, for that precise reason ... among a host of others.)
And also - in case you didn't notice - I changed the title of my blogpost, just so you know it really IS a different post than the previous five years.
Here we go ....
 |
| Noah Stephen |
 |
| The Lilybird |
 |
| my two cuties |
 |
| lily, hayden, and unnamed child that Kenzie babysits |
 |
| kenzie and her new friend |
Sorry, but all I see here is BACON !!! Times two.
 |
| this is a turkey. not to be confused with a rooster. see my instagram for details. |
 |
| I love pumpkin patches !!! and cool barns. |
 |
| hayden loves caprisuns |
^^^^ favorite picture of my husband ever.
The Rebel Rice kid ^^^
 |
| Caleb's pick |
^^^^ He picked it out himself :)
SEE WHAT I MEAN ???? Lily plus boots plus pumpkins. Swoon.
Kenzie took this picture, and Tyler was at the post office getting his passport. He's going to Israel next month with a tour group from our church, and we won't discuss my anxieties about that or we will ruin my Skinny Little Pumpkin Patch Post. Jason and Josiah and their beautiful families made their own trips to the pumpkin patch, and we won't talk about how kids have to go and ruin my family pictures by growing up and making their own fun memories .... for the same reason we won't talk about Tyler's impending trip to the land of suicide bombers and headline-worthy events like that.
No, we are not going to talk about that here on my happy little Pumpkin Patch Post, okay ??? Don't even try to make me do it. This post is like Disneyland - leave all your troubles at the gates, just come on in and have fun and smile and eat an overpriced candied apple or two.
Whew.
Moving on ....
Here are just a few of my favorite pictures from last week. Most of these were on Instagram - if you missed the post a few pages back, I explain there why I went private on IG and reduced my audience to a fraction of what it was. I was overwhelmed by the kind response there and requests to follow... if you would like to follow there again, read THIS POST, because I'm not retelling that same story twice either. But THANK YOU to all those who left the kindest comments on that post ... you all bless our socks off !
 |
| seriously - she is cuteness on steroids !! |
And now for the two blog features I promised to add (you thought I forgot, didn't you ??)
PATTI'S PICKS :
If you've been reading here for any length of time, you know my addiction to Jude & Fi clips on Etsy.
These clips are not only darling and unique, but they actually stay in Lily's fine hair better than any other clips we have used. That's because they are made with wig clips that grab onto the hair without causing any damage, and secure the clip tightly. They come in a huge variety of colors and styles, and if I could, I would purchase every single one of them.
The creator of Jude & Fi clips is a sweet mama named Shannon - I met her via blogging when our girls were just babies, and her Fiona shares Lily's extra chromosome. I love supporting moms who work from home, and I love that every clip I purchase helps Shannon's business venture ... check out Jude & Fi today for these adorable hair clips.
ABBI'S EATS:
Abigail made these amazing Princess Vanilla Cupcakes with Decadent Chocolate Frosting last week and they were TO DIE FOR. Literally, I think three of my kids killed each other fighting over the last one.
CUPCAKE RECIPE :
- Preheat an oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a standard muffin tin with 12 paper cupcake liners. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl; set aside.
- Heat the butter and milk in a small saucepan over low heat until the butter has melted. Beat the sugar, eggs, egg yolk, and vanilla with an electric mixer in a large bowl until it has thickened slightly and is lighter in color. Gradually beat in the flour mixture on low speed until just incorporated. Slowly pour in the hot milk, beating until just combined.
- Divide batter evenly between cupcake liners. Bake until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean, about 20 minutes. Cool cupcakes in pan for 10 minutes. Transfer cupcakes to a cooling rack to cool completely.
FROSTING RECIPE :
- In a medium bowl, sift together the confectioners' sugar and cocoa, and set aside.
- In a large bowl, cream butter until smooth, then gradually beat in sugar mixture alternately with evaporated milk. Blend in vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. If necessary, adjust consistency with more milk or sugar.
*Note : Before passing them out to your family, make sure they are evenly distributed, without any leftovers. We cannot be held responsible for any deaths that result from sibling cupcake wars. You've been warned.
A few more pictures before I sign off - it's Sunday night and I hear my pillow calling me LOUD AND CLEAR.
Tomorrow is another level two ultrasound out of town . This one is the big echocardiogram that will determine if our Baby Bunny has any heart defects. Please be praying that all goes well ... we are so excited to have a chance to see Madison again, and I will post an update as soon as time allows.
Here is my 24 week picture ...
Thank you again for all the love and prayers.
xoxo Patti
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