Master Pumpkin Carver

This past Saturday, Jason and I thought it would be fun to decorate pumpkins for Halloween. After all, we are having a party...what would a Halloween party by without pumpkins?!? It would've been nice to do this fun activity with Chase, but he is just too little and putting WAY too much in his mouth. Due to the choking hazard nature of this activity, we opted to carve these when Chase was asleep. It was really nice to do something together at night other than our usually nightly routine (a.k.a television) Jason wanted to make a traditional jack-o-lantern face, and I wanted to do a cool pattern! My patterned one says "Welcome" for when our party guests arrive. For the third pumpkin, I had the awesome idea of finding a Lions and Bears logo to put on the pumpkin. Jason is a Lions fan, and I am a Bears fan. Chase is also known as "Bear" by Grandpa and Grandma because of their love for the Bears... so obviously, Chase is on Mommy's side and roots for the Bears. Here are some picture of our pumpkin carving fun!!

Check back at the end of the weekend for an update on how the Halloween party went!! Have a spooktacularly safe and fun weekend!

Working very diligently on my "Lions vs Bears" pumpkin!

Bailey was supervising this project...

As you can see, I did the masterful artwork

Being very careful not to mess up the pattern!

My Pumpkin creation

Jason's pumpkin creation

My pumpkin creation

Daddy and Chase in their matching Halloween garb. I made Jason's jack-o-lantern shirt...thank you Michaels!

Chase was very infatuated with the camera in my hand... I would back up, and he would come crawling to play with my flashing gadget :) He is addicted to electronics with lights!!

Chase and I were playing on the floor, so I decided to snap a few of the smiley little guy....we are officially 9 months old!!!

Here is Chase... passed out, showing off his pumpkin butt

Visit to the PUMPKIN PATCH!!!

Today, Jason Chase and I packed up the car for the morning and headed to Midland, NC to Riverbend Farms. It came as a recommendation from one of the girls I work with as a beautiful place to go and pick pumpkins! Although it was a little chilly, it put us in the pumpkin picking spirit...after all, fall is suppose to be a little brisk! It has been a little rainy here over the past few days, so thankfully there was no rain in today's forecast. We opted to take the opportunity, bundle up, and pick some pumpkins with Chase for the very first time! To no one's surprise, Chase had a great time. There was plenty to see, touch, and even taste..... he thought the pumpkin stem was for eating! Check out the picture to see all of the fun we had:

Arriving at the farm

on the wagon ride to the pumpkin patch!

Chase was very interested in everything we passed during the ride



We tried the pumpkin out as a seat



Here he is sporting his Wittenberg hat because it was so chilly. Jason's good friend (and huge OSU fan) Andrea got this for Chase. Ironically, the first time he wore this, which was today, PURDUE bear OSU!! Go Boilers :)


Mommy loving on Chase

Oh, a stem!

Chase and Daddy checking out the tractor. He LOVED the tractor...I hope this doesn't mean he plans on being a farmer.


Chase and Daddy checking out the pony!


Chase wanted to get down and play in the hay with the rest of the kids.


Family picture to commemorate the day!


Chase and Mommy


Chase eating the stem of the pumpkin...this cannot be good for him


Chase sitting on the gigantic pumpkin



He is being supervised in this picture.


Chase and Daddy checking out the huge cow!!


Chase and Bailey bonding during nap time


Chase on the move in his cute Halloween PJs


Hi Mom.


Chase quickly learned how to pull himself to a standing position.


Chase thought playing with Bailey was fun


Bailey, on the other hand, thinks they are fighting....

Dad's 50th Birthday Party

For the past 11 months, Carolyn and I have been working tirelessly with my Dad's friends Kirk and Gary on planning a surprise party for his big 50th birthday. On September 26th, the day had finally arrived and we were able to celebrate! It was SO great to be back home again in Chesterton, if only for a few days. I am so thankful so many people were able to come. We had about 60 people show, so Carolyn and I thought it was a huge success. Dad's real birthday is October 28th, so we did it a little early. Apparently, people have been wishing him a happy birthday, so he was a little suspicious that his friends were doing something for his birthday. He had NO idea it was going to be this big, and of course that his family, friends and coworkers would be there. He also had no idea that Carolyn and I would be there... so it definitely was a surprise success!

Here are some pictures from the event:

Gary's decoration magic

The beautiful mantel

His first reaction...Surprise!!

The cake. Both of these cars are mustangs-the green one he use to have, and the red one he has now....thankyou SO much Chesterton Cake Shoppe. It looked FABULOUS and tasted just wonderful! :)

Carolyn, Kim, and Dad

I designed this cake... Yes, I am bragging :)

Dad and Chase

One of the coolest gifts, an authentic Cubs Jersey with his name on the back. He has some awesome coworkers!!

Dad and I

Of course, being home for the weekend we were able to quality bond with Aunt Carolyn, Uncle Bob, Claire and Grandma and Grandpa. We also went to visit Great Gma, Great Gpa and Aunt Bun. Great Gma has been recovering for the past couple of weeks from a major surgery. Unfortunately, she has mesothelioma. The surgery was a doozie, but she is recovering well. I was able to stay home an extra couple of days (sans Jason and Chase) and be grandma's nurse/maid. It was so great to spend that extra time with her....I can't wait to come back for Christmas!!

Grandpa and Chase

Aunt Bun and Chase... looks like they might be catelog shopping??

Great Gpa and Chase

Great Gma and Chase

Jason and I ate out "cake topper" while we were home, so we did a little recreation of the cutting of the cake from our wedding.

Family Love

Grandma and Jason

Of course, when dad knew we were home for the weekend, he cleared his schedule and made us dinner on Sunday night! Dad is the best cook I know, so having a Phil Chase meal is ALWAYS a bonus! Chase and Jason were gone, but the Plaza's were there. It was wonderful to talk about life, the kids, and of course the PARTY!

Dad and Daughters

Grandma reading to Claire before bed

Claire has made it very clear that Grandpa is her favorite...The were bonding on the floor

I caught some great footage of Chase and Great Grandpa giving him a little man to man talk, so I thought I would share :)

I also caught some great video of Great Grandma and Chase... She is the best!