Remembering Fall 2009...

As always, we're just a few months behind on our posts. Actually, Brad's a few months behind on posts, but he's been pretty busy. The last time we left off Jack was getting bigger, Daddy was getting older, and Mommy was trying to keep the house from falling apart. So, what's changed? Jack's still getting bigger, finally up and not as much out. Mommy is the one who got older. And, Daddy started his own photography business. So, I'd say we're still the same old crazy Matthews family. Here's a recap:

1) In early September the entire crew loaded up their cars and headed to the Outer Banks for the 1st Annual Beach Trip. 1 beach house, 8 adults, 2 toddlers, lots of rain, and luckily plenty of alcohol to kill the days indoors. We can't wait for next year. Another first for Jack, a visit to Hooters! We also headed to MD visit the newest Percy, John David and his big sis Jessica and then on to PA for Pop-Pop's 60th birthday party. Jack tried his first "real" chicken Philly and just like his mama, he LOVED it!

2) As October approached we began to mentally prepare for the fair. So many things have changed with Jack since the summer. He no longer wants to be held, unless it's by Mommy. He wants to touch, grab, and knock over everything in sight. Which means the fair takes on a whole new meaning with T.J. (AKA Tornado Jack)! Fortunately or unfortunately, we weren't able to go on the weekend and had to cram everything in a few hours after work. This means that time wasn't on our side and we had to cram a hot dog, grilled corn, fried oreos, fried ho-hos, and cotton candy into about 2 hours before Jack lost it. In short, we succeeded, but we learned that Jack's not a big fan of pony rides. We had to get a refund on that adventure. Maybe next year!

3) Gearing up for Halloween we took Jack over to Green Acres Farm is Morrisville. Once we arrived we took a quick tour of the farms in a tractor pulling a trailer full of hay and Jack. From there we made a quick stop at the inflatable bouncy house before heading over to the hay stack. Imagine a fort built entirely with hay with a 15 foot tube running through it just large enough for a small child. Now, imagine your toddler going back and forth from one end to the other but not quite making it close enough to grab them. Last stop on the Green Acres tour was the corn maze. We're guessing it's a bit more fun when your toddler's not trying to pick up every piece of corn on the ground....in a corn maze!

4) October also gave us one of the best ways to drain every ounce of energy out of Jack. Two words, "Monkey Joe's." Parents, check it out!

5) Finally, Halloween came and went. Jack ended up going as an NC State football player because he wasn't having the monkey outfit we bought him, which means that we returned Snoop's banana costume as well. For any of you who Facebook or read my tweets you know that pumpkin carving went to a whole new level this year. If you recall we carved Michael Meyers from Halloween last year. This year, Blue from the children's television show Blue's Clues.