4th Annual Pumpkin Carving Championship

Last night our family participated in our 'family' pumpkin carving championship. This year was our 4th annual event but our 3rd year to judge the pumpkins. We always meet at my parents, eat pizza, and then begin carving. Each family starts thinking of their design months in advance to see what we can come up with. It's such a great time and lots of memories are made. Our "Aunt" Kelli, "Uncle Kelli", Jason, Jacinda, and their friends came over to vote and then each person also gets a vote. Aunt Kelli tallied the votes....and the winner was.... Can't tell you yet. I want you to vote on my blog what you think. I share the winner later this weekend....Cast your vote on my sidebar ballot. I will post the results sometime this weekend to let you know which one one......also if you want to see last years pumpkins you can click here.

Mom and Dad's ELEPHANT pumpkin
Rachel, Matt, and Elliott's Cat in the Hat Pumpkin


Kevin, Hilary, and Zachary's Puppy Pumpkin


Up Close ELEPHANT

Cat in the Hat Closeup

Puppy Close-UP

Our extra judges...Jason, Katie, Jacinda, and Bree

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer 5K

I finally have time to post the pics from last weeks 5K. Funniest thing...I have spent the past 12 weeks training for a 5K run. I really did the training and completed several 5K runs. In fact I tried to do a 5K run at least twice a week and a 5K walk a time or two a week. Anyways, the night before the big event I was talking to Mel on the phone and she told me that it was not a run but a non-competitive walk. WHAT? I was so looking forward to running it with a gunshot start and everything but that was okay. I decided to push Z in the stroller instead. I am on the look out for another area 5K so that I can run it but it sure was fun to be with my sis, Elliott, Zachary, Alysia, and the other walkers.


Mel was the "spokesperson" for the Cancer Society and the actual event. She did a great job motivating those that are fighting breast cancer now and encouraging everyone to be aware of the risks for breast cancer. I was proud of her! She has come a long way in this past year. Also I was very proud of my "Aunt" Steph. The race occured very close to her 2 year cancer free date so we celebrated "Aunt" Steph. In fact her team was called "417 Saving 2nd Base". My "Aunt" Renee made custom pink hoodie sweatshirts for their team and they were a HUGE hit at the race. My Ruey also participated in the race which was awesome considering she is scheduled for a hip replacement this month. Following the race, Aunt Steph hosted a celebration brunch at her house. It was a wonderful morning of family, friends, celebration, and yummy food. One other bonus of the day was Abbey (my cuz) was in town. We were all very excited to see her!

Part of Mel's team: Rachel, Mel, Curtis, and Alysia

Zachary's race sticker
Charley, Me, and Z getting warmed up before the race
Zachary stole my pink hat and gloves. He wanted to be supportive too!
This was Z before the race saying....GO SURVIVORS!

Mel, Ryan, and Charley


417 Saving 2nd Base Team: In Honor of Aunt Steph
Abbey, Aunt Renee, MaryLee, Ruey, Aunt Steph, Leslie, and Stephs friend

Harley dog was even sportin' her pink for the walk

Leslie and Zachary

Aunt Steph and MaryLee getting brunch ready

Trunk Or Treat at Grammy & Poppy's Church

On Saturday night Zachary and I went to Grammy & Poppy's church for their annual fall festival and Trunk OR Treat. Zachary and Elliott got to wear their Halloween Costumes. They were so proud of their costumes and even more excited that they were both BUZZ LIGHTYEAR from the Toy Story movies. I wish I would have had more photos but my camera is in the shop and I was using my old one that had a limited memory card.

My parents church was SO generous to all of us. They provided games, inflatables for the boys to jump in, dinner, dessert, live music, and all the candy you could desire. I was so impressed with everyone at this event. Zach and Elliott had the night of their life and I think the adults did too.


Aren't our Buzz Lightyears ADORABLE!

Pumpkin Patch Fun!

On Saturday Grams, Zachary, and I spent a couple hours at a local pumpkin patch. It was actually at the farm that we had Z's birthday party. They turn it into a corn maze and pumpkin patch in the fall. It was a beautiful day! We really enjoyed our time together!

Grams and Z posing by a fall display

Mommy and Z enjoying a beautiful fall afternoon

Zachary cheesing it up at the pumpkin patch

Grams saving a pumpkin that Zachary rolled down the dirt road

Trying to find the perfect pumpkin for our pumpkin carving championship!

Taking a Hayride driving by Clydesdale Horses

On the hayride Posing by the horse

Blog Award...Thanks Aubrey!

Today I received a blog award from my friend Aubrey. I feel like I should be giving Aubrey an award because I swear most of my readers only come to my blog to read Aubrey's blog. She is such a good writer and mommy. Check out Aubrey's blog because she really makes the trials and joys of being a mommy hilarious! Thanks again!

The award is called the

The Rules: Share five things you are obsessed with, and then pass the award on to five of the most fabulous blogs you read.

I must say that I don't feel deserving of the "Fabulous" award. My life is pretty standard and some might say boring. However there are approximately five things that I really enjoy in my day/week. I would not say that I am obsessed with but "enjoy" and really look forward too.

1. Coffeemate's Sugar-free Hazelnut Creamer with my Morning Coffee

One of the first things I do in the morning is turn on my coffee pot. I never was a coffee drinker until I became a mommy. Now it is one of the highlights of my mornings. I love my coffee but I really look forward to my sugarfree Hazelnut creamer. I think it is better than Starbucks! I used to say that I could be able to tell how my day was going to go with my little man. If I could drink my coffee then I knew that Zachary and I was going to have a peaceful day. If I only got half of my coffee drank then I knew that it was going to be a mildly stressful day. If I only got a sip or if I never got my cup off the counter then I knew that I was going to be a long, hectic day. Now that Z is three he almost always lets me have my coffee while I do a morning quiet time.

2. My Camera...currently my camera is in the shop.
It is nothing fancy in fact is is very basic. However I LOVE capturing the moment. I ALWAYS have it with me. It's not that I really love photography but I don't want to forget a thing. My friends think it is crazy how much I can remember about high school, college, etc but I swear it is just because I have taken a picture of almost every day of my life. Crazy...I know. However I love going back into my photos and remembering certain moments from my pictures.

3. Hob Lob...That is Kevin and Mines abbreviation for the Craft Store Hobby Lobby.
I love wandering through the isles of Hobby Lobby. I try to think of ways I could use an item or re-purpose it. I don't have to buy a thing but I like to browse. Usually on Monday mornings after I drop Z off at preschool. I take twenty minutes...okay I mean about 45 minutes to browse, wish, and use my creative juices. It's something I look forward to each week.

3. Coupons...I never really used coupons until we took the Dave Ramsey class at church.
Someone mentioned how much money they saved each week from coupons and I was shocked. I initially started to use them to prove that person wrong. Since then I always use coupons. However, I don't buy items that I normally would not use. In fact I am probably the most loyal grocery shopper there is...meaning that if I like Progresso Chicken and Noodle soup I will not buy another brand if I have another brands coupon. I know what coupons are out there and I will find one for what I need. I will hardly ever pay full price for something or pay for online shipping for an item until I find a coupon code for that store. I guess you could say I am obsessed with finding a good deal.

5. My iphone...

I feel bad posting items as "obsessions" but I truly do not think I could go back to my old flip phone. I use my iphone ALL THE TIME. Of course I use it as a phone but usually I am on it checking my e-mails, getting directions to certain places, looking up phone numbers, point counting on the Weight Watcher application, reading the newspaper, checking blogs, checking facebook, etc. When I am waiting on Z at preschool I can sit in a parking lot and check my phone. I feel that I manage my time a lot better with my iphone. Instead of wasting time answering e-mails when Z and I are home together I can do it while he is at preschool and I am on the go. I love it!

And here's the part where I hand out some Fabulous Awards some of my greatest friends....All of these ladys are FABULOUS TO ME!

Mel, Kim, Fawn, Jen, Rachel, Kelly, Alysia, Hilary, Danielle, Betsy, Tisha and Brooke

Tag You're IT!

Uncle Gene

Yesterday, I learned that my Uncle Gene passed away. Uncle Gene was a quiet, sincere loving man who loved God, the St. Louis Rams, birds, square dancing and my Aunt Lou. I can remember as a child going up to St. Louis to spend a couple days with Aunt Lou and Uncle Gene. They would take my sister and I to Six Flags, to the Magic House, and then we would watch Charlie Chaplin Movies all night on their fold out couch.

Uncle Gene has been sick for the past couple of months. I am glad that he is no longer suffering and that he is Home with Jesus. Please say a prayer for my Aunt Lou and the rest of the Peacock family.

Aunt Howie!

My nephew calls me Aunt Howie! I love it. It is like music to my ears. To think that in about 31 weeks I will have another nephew or a niece to call me Howie makes my heart jump. That's right, my sister and brother-in-law are expecting a baby in the spring. I am elated!

Zachary is super excited too! He goes over to my sisters tummy and lifts up her shirt to see the little baby. As of yesterday Zachary thinks its a boy! This is a funny story I want to remember forever so I am typing it here. This weekend my sis and bro-in-law made the big announcement to our family and to Elliott. On a side note...Elliott has a severe allergy to PEANUTS. Anyways, when I asked Elliott if he was excited about having a new baby. He said, "Aunt Howie, I don't like babies...I am allergic to babies." Crack me up! Elliott will be a great big brother. I just think that he needs to warm up to the idea of a brother or a sister.

**FYI: before I have a ton of questions about this ultrasound photo. It is not my sisters...she did not get to keep her ultrasound picture from her first OB visit. This is a stock photo from google.

Fall Home Tour: Come on over!

I just wanted to invite each of my blog readers over to my "other" blog for a little fall homes tour. Fall is my FAVORITE time of year. Click here for the fall tour.

I love the smells of fall, the warm colors of fall, pumpkins, beautiful mums, football games, candy corn, pumpking carving, Halloween costumes, visits to the pumpkin patch, family get togethers, Thanksgiving, warm hazelnut coffee in the mornings, and family time together in the changing weather. I love it all! Enjoy the decorations. I would love to see yours!

The Perfect Day!

Last weekend Kevin, Zachary, and I decided to take a day road trip to Arkansas. One of Kevin's friends from Iowa has an practice in Fayetteville, Arkansas and we had not seen him in over 5 years so we decided to hop in the car and drive to see Jesse. It was a perfect excuse to spend time together and enjoy the beautiful fall weather. Zachary was PERFECT! He was so excited to go on a trip with his parents that he barely made a peep in the car. Once we arrived to the University of Arkansas he was thrilled. He kept calling the pigs....as Razorback fans call it. We visited the stadium, Hog Heaven (aka the bookstore), had lunch at Hugos (a local underground sandwich joint), visited Dr. Gray's office, stopped at two adorable stores for me, had Sonic slushes, and then headed home. The weather was BEE-U-TI-FUL!

Zach by the Razorbacks!
Daddy and Zachary by the football stadium
Zachary and Mommy....Zachary wanted a picture of the "pig" on the field.
SOOOOie!


I had to take a pic of our dessert at Hugos...It was called the Grasshopper. It was mint chip ice cream in crepes covered in chocolate sauce. All three of us LOVED it!

Zachary playing video games at Jesse's office, while Kevin and Jesse shared practicing tips.


On our way home we stopped in at Roaring River (a trout park) for Kevin and Zachary to fish. Kevin brought Zachary's fishing pole (minus a hook) and he purchased two day fishing passes. Zachary thought he was big stuff but could not figure out why the fish were not biting :). I often sing the christian song, "I want to be just like you" when Zachary follows right behind Kevin's shadow. This time at the trout park was priceless because Zachary wanted to do everything that his daddy did. Kevin was so patient with him. It brings a smile to my heart when Kevin shares his passions with Zachary. I think these pics are priceless!

* Please note, Kevin usually does not fish in his khaki's but he forgot his tennis shoes so he did not change his clothes.

Feeding the fish!

This was the ending to a PERFECT day!

Dave and Kara's Wedding

Last weekend Kevin and I drove up to St. Louis one of our best friends weddings. I say "our" because Dave has turned into one of my best friends over the years too. Dave the groom has been going to school with Kevin since 1st grade. They became good friends in High School. After college Dave and Kevin took a 30 day trip around Europe together. After this trip, Kevin and Dave decided they would live together during graduate school in Iowa. During that year, Kevin and Dave made a lot of memories. Then, Kevin and I got married and kicked Dave out of the apartment. Dave came over almost every Friday night for dinner and a movie while we resided in Iowa. Then at the next stage in our life when we moved back home, it just so happened that Dave's job relocated him to our small town. So Dave became a roomate again. Kevin and I are so HAPPY for Dave and Kara. The wedding was a beautiful outside ceremony. Here are some photos from the event.
Here are some prephotos at the hotel before we headed to the reception

Kev and Hil

John and Misty before heading to the wedding

Here are "THE GUYS" that Kevin is best friends with...Kevin, Ryan, Blake, John, Erick, and Adam before the wedding reception.

This is Dave and Kara with Dave's sister and boyfriend. They took photos with each guest before you walked into the reception area. I thought this was a great idea.
Me and Becki Moss
Kev and Dave
When Kevin was in college...these three guys were the "Three Amigos". Kevin considers John and Dave brothers. I love this photo!