Babies with a Puppy - doesn't get any better...

Last month when we were in Fredericksburg my nephews and Tucker got to spend some quality time together.  And while I'm a little behind posting this, it's too adorable not to.  

Tucker loves Chase

Going for a ride (Parker insisted)

Tuck looks like he's loving it

Don't you want to just squeeze them all?  Or maybe that's just me...

And here's a few of us - not as cute, I know...but at least Tucker is in them :) 

Happy Halloween!!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween weekend!  I usually don't dress up for Halloween and this year was no exception.  Although late Saturday night I had the realization that Tucker would make the perfect Toto - perhaps I will have to be Dorothy next year :).  Just because I don't dress up doesn't mean that I don't love doing festive Halloween activities or that I would pass up the opportunity to dress my puppy up.  No way!  So this past week John and I carved our pumpkin and dressed up our own little pumpkin!

 

Tucker the pumpkin!!  What you can't see is that he's wearing the "stem" of his pumpkin costume that goes around his ears and makes them stick up.  But he's too fluffy, so the stem doesn't show haha.

Pumpkin carving

A masterpiece at work - check out that free hand

Tucker's good at carving pumpkins

The jack-o-latern

Tucker also got to to trick-or-treating at the shops in downtown Fredericksburg.  I think he was slightly overwhelmed at first, but after the first few shops he knew exactly what to do - run in, look cute, get a treat.  He's still working through his bag of treats!

Happy Halloween!

Fall Fun

While my nephews were in town we all took a trip to Graves Mountain Lodge Apple Festival and the Belvedere Pumpkin Patch (the pumpkin patch my sister and I went to every year growing up).  I must say the apple festival wasn't the best idea I've ever had.  I've wanted to pick apples the last few years, but haven't had the chance.  I figured what better than an apple festival - wrong.  The place was packed and all of the apple trees were pretty much picked over.  There's always next year I suppose...

Attempted photo #10 (they're both ALMOST looking at the camera)

Trying to get a pic with both boys paying attention is harder than it seems

The boys were ready to pick pumpkins, too bad we were at the wrong place

Pretend apple picking

In the apple orchard

The pumpkin patch was definitely more of a success.  I love taking the hay ride out to pick our pumpkins, it reminds me of when we were little and would go pick our pumpkins, ride the zip line, and play in the hay barn.  Parker had a great time - there was face painting, and a petting zoo, and tractors, and pig races, you get the picture.  And I would show you pictures, except that I forgot my camera and my sister's died.  So these few pictures will have to do.

Riding out to pick our pumpkins

 

 

Happy 4 month birthday!

Tucker is 4 months old today!!!  I can't believe we've had him for almost 2 months, although it seems like forever since I've been able to sleep in :)  He's gotten so big since we brought him home.  When we first saw him he only weighed 2.3 lbs.  Then when we brought him home Labor Day weekend he weighed 3.5 lbs.  Now he weighs a whopping 7 whole pounds!  I'm aware that is still tiny, but he seems huge compared to what he was.  Here are some pics of him over the last few months...

When we first met Tucker at 8 weeks

Sooo tiny!

When we first brought him home - 10 weeks

Loungin' around - 12 weeks

14 weeks

 While we were a little terrified at first of his craziness (barking, biting, etc.), he has turned out to be a pretty awesome dog :)  He still hasn't totally adjusted to us leaving him every morning, but who can blame him, John and I are pretty fun haha.  Sure he still has his puppy energy, but he's a good dog.  And he even goes back to sleep on weekend mornings now - my kind of dog!

Engagement Pics sneak peek

We recently spent the weekend with John's family and had our engagement pictures taken in Charlottesville.  It was great to spend some time in Orange, and celebrate Anastasia's (John's sister) birthday with everyone.  Tucker LOVED running around the backyard with John's parents dogs Oreo and Ginger.  Oreo is a 75 lb. lab/dalmatian mix and Ginger is a little shih tzu/yorkie mix.  While Tucker and Ginger weren't the best of friends (unless you call bark-offs friendly haha), it was pretty clear he was in love with Oreo - Tucker would walk around right under Oreo everywhere he went, and constantly annoy him and lick his face.

Tucker and Ginger staring out the door - Oreo watching (bottom right)

We headed to Charlottesville on Sunday to have our engagement pictures taken around the downtown mall, and out on our photographer's farm.  It was so great to finally meet our photographer (Jen Fariello).  She is awesome!  She is so relaxed and sweet, and made us feel comfortable despite feeling very awkward haha.  Lets just saying "acting normal" and "in love" isn't as easy as it sounds.  Here is a sneak peek of some pics she sent us the day after our photo session!

Engagement photos by Jen Fariello

Spending some time on the farm

Making his first appearance on my blog is my 21 month old nephew, Chase.  He is the cutest, most adorable little guy, and so much fun to play with.  While we were in Fredericksburg, John and I took Chase and Tucker out to Snead's farm with my parents.  We enjoyed a picnic lunch and then scoped out the pumpkins, ate delicious kettle corn, and fed the chickens (well, Chase fed the chickens, I chose to watch and keep Tucker from attacking the chickens).
 

Getting ready to go - Chase and Tucker are already BFFs

Family photo at the farm

Most people tend to take pictures of their cute children with pumpkins - not this girl.  That's right, I put Tucker on top of a huge stack of pumpkins in order to get his picture.  I think he enjoyed himself?  Either way, he looks cute :)

Cutest pumpkin in the patch

Chase had a great time wandering around the pumpkin patch, and even found some pumpkins just his size.  However, he doesn't look as thrilled to be taking a picture with his favorite aunt.

Chase ended his big day with a little tractor ride and feeding the chickens.  I think feeding the chickens was his favorite - he is quite the animal lover.

Happy October!

Some quality time with the MOH

A few weekends ago we got to spend some quality time with my family - my sister, brother-in-law, and nephews made the trip up from NC to visit at my parents house.  Adam and Erin were even nice enough to make the trek up to Arlington to visit John and I at our new place - which I'm sure they were regretting 30 minutes in as they experienced the joys of Northern VA traffic :).  We kicked off the weekend with pizza, beer, and outside seating (combination for a good time), and then headed down to my parents the next morning for some fall festivities with the boys (my nephews that is).

Dinner at Fireworks

Erin and Adam at dinner

You'll be seeing lots more of these two on the blog as Erin is my MOH (duh) and Adam will running the show (the ceremony that is) with our Episcopalian minister.  I'm so excited to have both of them be a big part of our special day.  Up next....introducing Parker and Chase (and you thought Tucker was cute)!!!