Fall in Pearland

A little different than fall in Indiana, by just 25 degrees or so :-) 

This week we did story time at the Pumpkin Patch! Of course Maddox wasn't interested in smiling for photos, but he was interested in throwing the small pumpkins. We didn't really stay too long...

I'm going to guess that 1 second after this photo was taken that pumpkin was being thrown

Just a little dirty

This week we also got to have lunch with Jewelsie and go to the Children's Museum!

Lunch at Tiny Boxwoods

We're REALLY into dipping. If I give him ketchup he'll eat everything. Who knew that strawberries and ketchup were good together?

Playing with Grandma Jewelsie

And yesterday we did the most fall-ish activity I can think of. We went to the BEACH! :-) It was a beautiful day and honestly in my opinion this is the very best time of year to go to the beach. A little bit cooler weather and no crowds! Jeff was in Gavelston for a work meeting for two days so we went and hung out at Hotel Galvez for a little bit until he was done and then went to the beach for a little bit.

There was a sailboat race and there were at least a hundred boats out there. It was beautiful!

First (and hopefully not last!) family beach day

I did take the time to snap a few fall photos of Maddox this week. He actually did really well, and I was very surprised seeing as this is the first time he's ever cooperated in my studio!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful fall! I know we are! 

Corn & Bean Fritters

Ok, so I made this recipe once when my sister (the vegetarian) was in town and surprisingly, Jeff loves these things, and so does Maddox! So these are a big hit at my house. I got the recipe from a Food magazine so its currently on a ripped out magazine page that I'm afraid I will lose so here goes it preserving a family favorite :-)

Corn & Bean Fritters

1 lb grape or cherry tomatoes

1 Tbs vinegar

1 can of sweet crisp corn

1 can of butter beans, rinsed and drained

1 - 6oz pkg corn bread mix (I use Jiffy)

1 egg

1 tsp chili powder

Olive oil

1. Coarsely chop, halve or slice tomatoes. In a small saucepan combine tomatoes, vinegar, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 cup water. Cook covered, over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally.

2. For fritter batter, in a large bowl, mash beans. Add corn, corn bread mix, egg, chili powder, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 cup water, stir to combine.

3. Heat a large griddle or 12 inch skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tsp oil. Drop four 1/2 cup scoops of batter on griddle at a time. Cook 4 minutes per side.

4. Serve fritters with warm tomatoes and parsley or cilantro!

Confessions! I don't serve with tomatoes on top! I also do not add the water to the batter, but since it calls for it I wanted to put that all in the recipe :-) I also only cook 2 a time, just so they don't get all jammed up together and it gives me more room to flip them.

Enjoy!

Fall in Indiana...Oh so nice!

We just got back from another trip to Indiana! I feel so blessed that we've been able to go home so many times this year. Sometimes it pays to be the one that lives so far away, everyone misses you, they are so happy to see you when you're there, people make a big deal out of you being there. I'm sure if I actually lived close there would be more fighting and less hugging ;-)

The main purpose of this trip was to meet the newest addition to our family, baby Miles! And oh how sweet he is. He's a cuddle bug to the max and I loved it! I told Mark and Jackie both not to feel bad about letting him sleep on them because you never get that time back and no matter what some books say, I promise he will not be 2 and still sleeping on your chest.

"Hellooooo, why aren't you talking to me!"

"Wait a second, you want me to HOLD him? Uncle Mark, are you crazy?"

"Ah, this is not so bad, he's pretty snuggly"

"Aunt Victoria, please save me"

These two had so many matching outfits that we didn't even get them in all of them :-) I'm sure this will not be the last time that they match though. I see christmas pajamas from this year until, oh maybe 18 or 25 if they'll let us.

We spent a lot of time at Mark and Jackie's house and it made me realize just how much my entire day, every day revolves around Maddox. To say I got frustrated with him while we were up there would be an understatement. He's into anything and everything, and while it doesn't bother me at our house, it bothers me when we're somewhere else. One night before we were getting ready to go we were looking all over the house for his Teddy Blue. We looked in all the closets, cabinets, drawers, boxes, the dog crate, it was no where. Finally Mark found it in the bottom of the trash can. Whoops! Even though he threw him away he would have been awfully sad that night when Teddy wasn't there to keep him company!

We also did some fun stuff while we were up there. I really wanted to go to an apple orchard because we don't have them down here. It was a lot of fun and the weather was actually hot! As soon as we got there Maddox picked an apple up off the ground and started eating it.

 "Run Uncle Randy!"

Someone really loves their Uncle Randy

They also had a pumpkin patch! But the apples were way tastier ;-)

They also had a little play set at the apple orchard and Maddox loved the slide! It was a big slide and it was really fast. I think Aunt Angie was a little more worried than Mommy. But that was probably a good thing.

Who's happier? Maddox or Aunt Angie?

Miles' first trip to the neighborhood park!

We were all very sad to leave. But thankfully we'll be back in 2 and a half months for Christmas! Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!!