happy fall ya'll

i LOVE fall. i love the state fair. i love being in fair park. and every september, we get it all at once. this time of year still makes me feel like a little kid. seriously, i get excited for the pumpkins, the pumpkin patch at the arboretum, football and very specifically the OU/tx game, halloween, thanksgiving, (which all leads up to christmas...ahhh fun!) there are just so many fun events, parties, family gatherings, and i love it all.

we kicked it into high gear this week with the fall festivities since it is link's birthday week AND i know we will be out for a week or two when baby sister arrives. 

we went downtown to farmer's market last weekend to pick out pumpkins for the house, and link got his very own tiny pumpkin for his room, which he proudly introduces to to all who enter our home. :) jay has been working on PR for the chinese lantern festival that is going to be a special exhibit out at the state fair this year, so we went to the opening this week and it is SPECTACULAR. seriously, don't miss it. and be sure you go at night. it is beautiful all the time, but at night it is even more amazing. and today we went to the state fair parade downtown. i love watching link in settings like that - all the activity and goings-on, and all his smiles, ooooh, it does my heart good. he grabbed a flag as soon as we got home so he could "play parade" all through the house. i mean hey, who doesn't love a a good parade??

"that's nice" - what he said when he first saw the clown. when he is a little scared he convinces himself it's okay by saying "that's nice" over and over :)

his very own lantern to take home!

if you haven't seen "cars 2" as many times as i have you might not get this - but link's first reaction when he saw the above was, "mama, look! lightining mqueen's house!" :)

these lanterns were all done by hand. isn't this AMAZING?!

so we are staying busy, these last few days in our male-dominated house. in four days, we will be a three girl, three boy family (mckenzie dog is a girl, owen is a boy, in case anyone was confused, haha). october 2nd is almost here! we can't wait to meet you, little sister!!!! you are going to get here just in time for all this fun fall stuff, and your big brother and parents CANNOT WAIT!!!

so funny. i wanted to take one last in-the-belly shot this morning and right as i took it, link snuck in for a "kiss baby sister" moment. perfect! hoping for a much cuter one in a few days after she makes her debut! :)