Fire House Girl...

Today we took Tatum to the new fire station in Downtown McKinney. The Fireman took us on a tour of all the different firetrucks and ambulances. She was so excited to see them all up close! We went inside so see the Old 1931 Ladder Truck! Wow, how things have changed! Wooden ladders...how did they not catch on fire?? Tatum got to see the Fire Pole that the firemen slide down when the alarm sounds! When we left, the driver got in the truck to move it around, back into the garage. He turned the lights on for Tatum to see when he drove by! She loved it! Lately, every time we get in the car she wants to see an ambulance. I had to tell her that we really don't want to see one, because that means someone might be hurt! So, the other day there was an accident on the highway and she could see 2 firetrucks and an ambulance. I told her to look over there to see them, and she asked "mommy, is someone hurt?" I said I didn't know, but hopefully not! So, we had fun today on our tour of Station #1. Thanks to the nice fireman who took time way from washing his Engine Truck to show us all the exciting things they have there!

An American Girl day....

Well, American Girl finally opened! Yippee!! Tatum was like a kid in a candy store! She was so excited, running around from display to display, checking out all the cool Bitty Baby stuff they have. She even liked the big girl dolls. When we got there we decided to do lunch at the Bistro. It was cute, they had a chair at the table for Bitty Baby, so she could eat lunch with us. Tatum was feeding Bitty Baby, and then herself, all through lunch! She was so cute! After our lunch, which ended up being about 3 hours,(since it was opening weekend, the kitchen was not completely prepared), we went down stairs to check out all the goods! Nana bought Tatum a new outfit for Bitty Baby and Bitty Baby a new snack bag! Tatum got a really cute knit hat that matches one of Bitty Baby's outfits! It was crazy busy there, so we look forward to going back once the Grand Opening crowds die down! I foresee lots of Christmas shopping to be done there!! Tatum had a blast, Thanks Nana for taking us there this weekend!

Happy Halloween!!

Well, Halloween was a blast! Tatum had the best time! This year she really got the hang of it! Tatum dressed up like a Butterfly Fairy. The cutest one ever!! First, we met Nana in Downtown McKinney to participate in "Scare on the Square". Kids get to walk around the square to each shop and collect candy from the shop owners. The Fire Department was there too, and Tatum got to see 2 firetrucks and an ambulance up close. She was excited! We ate "fair" food from a vendor that had set up out there, and then was off to Allen to Trick or Treat with Emerson and Ben! Oh my gosh, how cute were the girls. They were unexpectedly, just about the same thing for Halloween! (Great minds really do think alike!) You should have seen the girls running around. They looked like little fairies fluttering from house to house! We went down and around several streets, and back around to Michele's house. The girls were carried back after the last house they got candy from! They were worn out! Tatum fell asleep in the car on the ride home, of course with candy in her hands! We are going to have to put a limit on her candy in-take. I can't believe how much she got this year. In McKinney, Nana and I had to help her carry her basket in between shops, because her basket was too heavy! We got smart and took along a grocery bag when we went to the houses. We were able to empty the candy into it once her basket was too full for her to carry! So, this year was such a fun Halloween, even though Daddy was working! Hopefully he can be with us next year! Now, what will Tatum be for Halloween next year???

Pumpkin Patch.....

We headed out to the Owen's Spring Creek Farm today! They have fun activities for the kids to do, along with the Pumpkin Patch. It is so hard to get great snap shots of Tatum these days! She is so active, I can't get her to look at the camera! The pictures above are good enough! I will have to take her outside in our front yard to get more of just her and pumpkins! Maybe I can get her undivided attention that way! Oh, check out the last picture on the slide show!! That was Tatum having to leave the Pumpkin Patch! She was having so much fun, we had to DRAG her out of there! And, she cried for about 20 minutes in the car! Fall is my favorite time of year! I just wish that we lived somewhere that we could actually have Fall weather. Oh well, we have fun either way, we just sweat a little doing it!

A Day at the Zoo...

We went to the Dallas Zoo yesterday. Tatum was out of school for Fair Day, so we decided to take her down there. We are members, so it make for a nice, inexpensive day! She loves to see all the animals! The giraffe was her favorite today! She usually loves the Elephants! This first picture is a picture that I take of her every time we go to the zoo. It all started years ago when Shelby was little and we took a picture of her sitting in this baby elephants lap. So, to carry on the tradition, I started doing this with Tatum the very first time we took her to the zoo. We have several of these pictures, starting from when she was maybe 10 months old. The pictures we have of her in the baby elephants lap are some of my very favorite pictures of her! I love to see how much she grows between trips to the zoo!

The Gorilla's were really cool this trip. Usually they are just laying around, sometimes where we can't even see them. Yesterday, they were pretty active. This one, in the picture, was right next to the glass. We were so close to him. He is huge, and it is really amazing how human like they really are! His eyes really freak me out! Looks like a man, in a costume! Tatum was not quite sure about him. I think we were a little too close for her fancy!

Here is Tatum's little brother...not really, but I love this picture. I think it is so funny! The zoo has so many fun statues. I always like to take her pictures with them. Not sure why, it's just something that I do every time we go! Tatum loves to get on the computer and see all her pictures with the funny animals at the zoo. She likes to tell me all about them, and what she saw them doing that day!

This last picture is of "My Two Monkeys," watching a mama monkey and her baby! They were so cute! A little baby Columbus Monkey and his mommy and even his daddy playing around right near the fence. We stopped and watch them for a while! Tatum thought he was so cute! And I just had to capture this picture of the two of them watching so intently! So, our day was fun! Hot, but exciting. There was a lot of action at the zoo, that we don't always get to see! Tatum has already asked me if we were going back to the zoo today! I told her not today, so she asked if we were going tomorrow!! I can't wait until the weather cools down and we really can go more often!

How sweet....

Ok, really...How cute is this? First of all, could she have anymore animals and babies in her bed at the same time?? I just love it when she is sleeping, cuddling her Bitty Baby like a little mommy!

The American Girl store is opening in 1 month! We are so excited! We can't wait to go and check out all the different Bitty Baby clothes and accessories that they have in the store. I am not quite sure why Nana and I keep getting Bitty Baby clothes for every holiday, she is naked 99.9% of the the time!! Maybe Santa can bring us the Bitty Twins this year!

Just a box...

Remember when we were young and had such great imaginations? Well, Tatum is doing that now! She is so funny. I had a Southern Living box left over in the living room. She decided to get all her cats and babies and make a bed out of this box! She would have me cover her up, and she would go "nite nite". The other evening I told her to go get in bed, I would be there in a minute to tickle her back. A few minutes went by and I went to her room to tuck her in...she was missing!!! I called for her, no response... went looking for her... and this is where I found her. I told her she needed to get in bed. She informed me that this WAS her new bed!!! "Oh no, get in your OLD bed... now!!!" She is so silly! She thinks this box is just the greatest thing of all! What cheap entertainment!! Can't I throw all her toys out now??? Please!?!?