Pumpkin Patch Kid

Does anyone else remember Pumpkin Patch Kids? They were knock off Cabbage Patch dolls. I totally got one for my fifth birthday, and I remember being more than slightly pissed. Bomma bought me a REAL Cabbage Patch for that same birthday (thank god). She UPSed it (I remember waiting in the window like a puppy because I KNEW my doll was en route), but it was a day late because she had to fight off thousands at a K-Mart to get it (may have had to camp out for weeks, for all I know-- Cabbage Patch Kids were very popular in 1983). So, until Ursula Carmel came in her triangle-shaped box, I had to make do with Pumpkin Patch Penny, who wore a yellow dress and had yellow foam arms and legs.

But I digress.

Here's Harry at the same pumpkin patch last year (clearly, we went earlier in the season last year because there were WAY more pumpkins left. We had slim pickings this year).

He totally has shiny ittle doll cheeks in this picture.

Look how little he is with the sign!

I'm telling you, the kid has a thing for apples. We were in the cute little store buying apple donuts and caramel apples, and Harry saw bags of apples and went nuts, saying "Apple! Apple" really pleadingly like we never give him fruit and just force Malomars down this throat all day.

He was not sure how he felt about the dirt all over the side of the pumpkin

A little bothered.

But still curious

Loved the wagon

and the wheel barrow

and whatever the hell he's pointing at

Here's his POV on the pumkin carving


He was super serious at first, but as the cute little pumpkin face emrged, he got excited

Not sure about the gooky pumpkin insides (note that he's wearing breakfast-for-dinner all over his face)


Because we're huge dorks (as if you didn't know) Ben and I carved our pumpkins, too, after Harry went to bed. Here's the finished product:

Kind of 3 Bears-ish, huh?

What Happened in Vegas...

Greetings Web-Log readers,

This is Harry's dad, Sarah's Husband--Ben. I am here to tell you about my wonderful trip to Las Vegas. While I understand that this is Harry's blog and this story is not about him or Sarah, it is about me, and since I stole Sarah's password to blogger and had hours to upload pictures, I thought I would share them with you, the internet community.

This first picture is in Wisconsin on my way to the airport. This tee-pee was at a gas station I stopped at on my way. I have stopped as this tee-pee before and been in it. Sarah didn't believe. I told her all about the tee-pee I was in with a friend and she thought we were driving drunk or doing illegal substances. As I am an upstanding citizen, I assure you it was neither. Rather, I stopped at a gas station with a tee-pee and decided to go in it, and stay for about a 1/2 hour and listen to the great chief's story.



So I went to Vegas with Josh and Kyle, two of my best friends from High School. We stayed at the Luxor. It was a great time...everything you think about Vegas is true, except for Elvis, I didn't see one Elvis. I did see a polyester Elvis Jump-suite for Harry but it was $110 and that seemed a bit insane...plus I was losing money by the handful...but I'll get into that later. Thats Josh and Kyle walking the strip.




That's Ceaser's...Lost some money Playing roulette there.



These next two I really like, these are of New York, New York I won betting on Boston there and playing slots...Liked NY, NY it was good to my...expensive bar though.





This is Excalibur. We spent a lot of time there...for many reason...1) because it was attached to our hotel and we were lazy. 2) because we won there. The first game of poker I played in Vegas was here. I didn't know the rules. I mean I know basic poker rules, but they don't play like I play at Rob's house (Sarah's Professor). So While I knew what I was doing I didn't pick up on the intricacies about the game. I was pissing people off too because I was winning, pretty big. I was pissing the people playing off because I was kicking their asses and I was betting wrong, betting earlier, and robbing them blind, I pissed off the dealer because I didn't know I was supposed to tip her when I won. Needless to say everyone was happy when i left the table after 45 minutes, up $200. And yes, I did tip the dealer when I left.



This is Josh and Kyle, after the first night. They were tired boys, for many reasons. One, because we were out late getting a "Vegas Tour" of the Showgirls set, and two, because my happy-ass can't sleep past 7:00 because of Harry, even if we do go to bed at 3am.



This is a butter sculpture...yulp, butter at the Excalibur breakfast buffet.



This is Josh wicked hungover waiting in line for breakfast. Kyle and I were very understanding of how tired he was and did not egg him on at all...note we were total bastards...I probably would have cried.



These next two are the Luxor. It was a pretty cool hotel. The Casino itself kinda sucked, but it was a nice hotel...we left a little early though because Paris Hilton was going to be at the nightclub LAX at the hotel tomorrow...total bummer...because I would've loved to have me some Paris Hilton time...I'm sure we could've just talked for hours.





That's the MGM Grand, I don't know why I posted this picture. I lost money there...Josh lost money there...kyle lost money there...my best advice...don't gamble there...I heard they put on a hell of a fight though...if your in town.



This is a picture of Me, Josh and Kyle around 2 in the afternoon...we lost a lot that second day...I was down pretty big by this point. As was kyle, so we decided to have a few cold ones.



This is a hooker Josh got...She also served us drinks and gave us some excellent - - to do advice for Vegas.



This is a wedding we actually got to be a part of, that was pretty special...for us not them.



As I have been saying, I lost...a lot, well my luck turned around when we went to the Bellagio. The others lost, but I made a fine chunk of money on roulette. I was up a little then I put down on 13 baby and won 32 to 1 odds...Nice (note* I did not bring any of those winnings home. I lost them all the rest of the night...but I did win big enough to have a fun last night in Vegas.)







The fountains where we met up after robbing the hotels...in broad daylight...try that Danny Ocean...



The last night we spent in downtown Vegas...it was weird and creepy and had a roof...and, yes, I lost...but had a great time as the second picture might suggest...Josh won a $600 pot on poker while we were down town, which was good because Kyle and I needed help getting a taxi back to the hotel.





This me right before I left. If you notice the suit coat...classy huh? Well, try a whole suit, cuz that's what the playa' wore for two straight days in V-town--a suit--the same suit for two straight--you say stinky--I say classy.


Vegas was great...would I go back...maybe...we'll seeI really missed Sarah and Harry a lot. I think Sarah and I would have a lot of fun there...sorry HB, your Vegas will be Disney.

I hope you enjoyed...I hope we can talk again sometime.

Ben

Hey-- it's the box pictures I tried to post the other day-- the picture of Harry's self-selected chips? I dont know what happened to it.

Oh my goodness-- it's almost Friday??

[ editid to add: I hve no clue why some of the pcitures won't show up-- they worked last night. am I the only one with issues?]

Wow-- last thing I remember was Monday. Well, I'm exaggerating a little, but seriously, all I have to show for this week is a heaping pile of dirty laundry and a metallic blue pen that says Sin City above a pirate's head.

Ben was in Vegas Sunday-Tuesday, allowing me and Harry to have some super special bonding time. We shopped. A lot.

At DSW on Monday morning, Harry was getting a teeny bit agitated, so I told him to buck up, we'd go to the grocery store, and he could have a balloon. The whole way back to the car, Harry was humming happily to himself and saying bloon, bloon, bloon, bloon. The grocery store and DSW are not in the same shopping center, but Harry was expecting to go straight to balloon land, so the car ride totally threw him for a loop. He looked betrayed and cried and cried all the way to Copps, where he snatched the first 2 balloons he saw in the floral department (a Halloween balloon and a Sweetest Day balloon), and smiled at me saying, "Bloon," with tear stained cheeks.

In other news, my pregnancy Potbelly craving is back in full force. Luckily, Harry doesn't mind a grilled cheese every now and then. He picked out his own chips, by the way, and no, I don't normally encourage my toddler to have chips, but HE PICKED THEM OUT HIMSELF.

Remember that Diaper Genie we bought? Well, the box is wicked fun, best toy ever.

Tantrum Harry

The other evening, we took a family fun trip to Target in the late afternoon because Harry's Diaper Genie magically stopped containing the aroma of Harry's diapers, and we like nothing better than to kill time wandering around Target. Even though it was much later than his usual naptime, Harry, who didn't nap very well that day, fell sound asleep in the car on the way home (with a new Genie and about million other things, including a Bonnie Bell Dr. Pepper Lipsmacker, which is awesomer than I remember it, crammed in the seat next to him-- god we need a bigger car to hold all our crap), and we put him in his bed, jacket and all.

Soon, we realized that a dinner time nap was a dumbass idea, so we tried to wake him up. He was so sleepy that even this didn't disturb him (note that I have at least 4 gumballs in my mouth in this picture. I have a gum problem, for sure.

Whe we finally roused him, by fake sleeping and snoring really loud on his floor, he was happy to see-- he jumped up and toddled over to the side of his crib-- then he tripped and hit his lip on the rails. Blood, tears, yelling. We tried to comfort him, but he would just back away from us saying "No no no" and waving his hands in our faces. He'd calm down for a minute, start to leaf through a book or slap at a toy, and we'd try to engage him, which would make him sob "no no no" and back away again.

Finally, he had to take moment and collect himself with his doggy.

Look at his blotchy little face and blood moustache-- so sad.

Both Ben and I rage when we get hurt. Ben's first reaction is to get pissed at anyone in the room, like our presence caused him to bump his head or whack his funny bone. Thn he tries to add injury to injury by punching something. I take the much more mature rout and yell expletives that are sometimes, not always, directed at others. Hmmmm, I wonder where Harry learned his coping skills?