Sorry it has been so long since I've posted anything. I will have another post (hopefully today) of pictures from Fall Festival. It has been a very busy month for us. A few weeks ago we went to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound. We go every year and just love it. Usually my parents are able to join us but they weren't able to this year. We had a great time and Allie enjoyed rolling the pumpkins around, posing for her picture, eating kettle corn, going on a tractor ride and riding in the train. 
We went to San Diego a little over a week ago. We had so much fun and I think we are finally back in our "normal" routine. The time difference had us all a little off for a while but I think everyone is feeling back to normal. Every year Jarod has a transit conference that he attends. One year it was in San Fransisco and this year it was in San Diego. We decided to make it into a vacation and invited my parents to join us. We really had so much fun! I am so glad we all were able to go together. While we were there, we celebrated my dad's 60th birthday. I think it was a b-day to remember.
Allie was such a trooper! I seriously can't believe how well behaved she was. I'm not saying that she didn't have her typical 2 year old moments (b/c believe me she did), but she just went with the flow, like she usually does. She loved seeing the ocean, the beach, all of the animals at the zoo and she loved riding the bus and train. She did really well on the both flights. Having a lot of stickers, crayons and our video ipod with Little Einsteins downloaded on to it helped a lot!
We stayed at a bed and breakfast in Balboa Park called Balboa Inn. If you like traditional hotels, you wouldn't have liked ours. I loved where we stayed. It had lots of character and plenty of room for all of us to fit. Our room was a two bedroom suite and off of our room was a terrace where we could enjoy our breakfast and coffee they brought us every morning.
On the first day we took a ferry to Coronado Island. While we were there we ate and went to the beach. On the 2nd day we went to the zoo for most of the day and then we had a late dinner. On the 3rd day (my dad's b-day) we went to La Jolla, saw the ocean and had an amazing lunch. That night we went and saw some sights in Balboa Park. Balboa Park is huge and absolutely beautiful. On the 4th day we went back to the zoo and that night we went to Seaport Village. We tried to do as much as we could. We even managed to get in naps for Allie which gave us all a little rest too!
Sorry for all of the pictures. I had a hard time choosing! 
She was so excited to ride in the plane.
On the ferry to Coronado Island
First picture in the zoo
Allie looking for the polar bears.
This is at La Jolla by the ocean. Allie refused to look at the camera for most pictures we took.
Happy birthday to my dad!
The wave that came in behind them was huge!
Balboa Park
Last Saturday, we went to Sounds of Class in Richardson with our good friends EA and Ashley. Sounds of Class is great for families and for dates because it's outside, there's good music to listen too, games for kids and it's free! We picnicked on the grass and then Allie got to play a few games, pets goats, eat snow cones and cotton candy, dance and see fireworks. The Richardson orchestra played and it was so nice to sit around and relax. Of course Allie kept us entertained with all of her best dance moves. We had a great time and I hope we can go back next year! Thanks EA and Ashley for inviting us. 
Dancing with a napkin on her face
After she took a bit of cotton candy, she would take a bite of a snow cone!
Showing us her moves! 
If you look closely, you can see she has on two different colored shoes.In a couple of weeks we are heading to San Diego. Jarod has a transit conference and Allie and I are tagging along. We are actually going up a few days before his conference begins and my parents are joining us too. I'm looking forward to a vacation and a few days off work. We haven't been on a family trip since we went to San Fransisco 2 years ago. I can't wait to take Allie to the zoo and to Sea World. I know she is going to have so much fun seeing all of the animals. While we are there it will be my dad's 60th birthday so I'm sure we will go out to celebrate.
Since neither Jarod nor I have been to San Diego before we are not really sure of where to go (besides the two places mentioned) or where to eat. We are staying by Balboa Park and will not have a rental car. Since we are there for a transit conference we will be getting around by bus/train and walking. Does anyone have any suggestions on where to go and places to eat? Any suggestions would be great!
Allie made major progress in potty training today. She pooped in the potty for the first time. This is a HUGE deal! Jarod and I were very surprised. We took her to go potty before she laid down for a nap and she told us to go away. After a few minutes she got up and she had this look on her face. I went in to check and you can imagine how shocked I was. While Jarod and I were singing and dancing, she was looking in the potty going, "oh no, oh no." We assured her that what she just did was a good thing and she soon joined us in song and dance.
My goal over the summer was to have her potty trained before I went back to work. Needless to say that didn't happen. I really thought it would take no time because she started going potty back in January. She did pretty good for a few weeks and then all of sudden she just regressed. We would put her on the potty and she just wouldn't go anymore. I finally stopped pushing the issue until she showed interest again. I apparently did the same thing as a two year old. My mom said I would do great and then just stop. I have a feeling Allie will be the same way because she is stubborn just like me. After talking with Carmen a few days ago, we decided Allie is ready to try again full force. Our only problem is getting her to tell us she needs to go and she doesn't really care if she is wet. I think Carmen is going to try putting her in panties next week and see if that helps. Hopefully she will progress gradually and have no more set backs. Keep your fingers crossed!
Lately, Allie has been saying some pretty funny things so I thought I would share a few of them with you. I have to say that I really love the phase that she is in now. Her personality is really starting to come out and it is so much fun to watch.
Conversation with Allie in the car as I'm pulling into the driveway:
Allie- "Mommy, I have boogers". Me- "Do you need mommy to pick your boogers?" Allie- "Noooo". Me- "Are you sure you don't need mommy to pick your boogers?" Allie-"Nooooo" Allie- "We don't eat boogers". Me (laughing)- "That's right, we don't eat boogers". Allie- "Boogers are not food". This had me laughing for a while!
On our way to school today Allie talked about seeing the train tracks that we drove over. Then Allie said the following: "Bye train tracks". "Have a nice day". Then I hear her blowing them kisses.
In July, Allie did not feel like taking naps. For the last couple of weeks she has been doing much better. She gets a "prize" if she takes a nap. One afternoon on our way home from eating lunch she sees a few airplanes in the sky and we tell her that she gets to ride in one when we go on our trip in a month. She then says: "I take a nap, I watch Einsteins and ride in plane". She didn't seem to understand that we couldn't get in a plane anytime she wants to. Then I made the mistake of telling her that we are going to San Diego and on Saturday she said if she took a nap then she got to go to San Diego.
Tonight at dinner Allie used her hot dog that was cut up to build the Leaning Tower of Pisa. She told Jarod: "Look daddy, Leaning Tower of Pisa." Then when it fell over she said, "look daddy Pisa broken". You may be wondering how my child knows what the Leaning Tower of Pisa is. She has a Little Einsteins book and she remembered Jarod talking to her about it. A few weeks ago she kept telling me she saw a tower and pizza (so I thought). I finally realized she was talking about the Tower of Pisa.
Conversation on our way home yesterday: Allie- "I want to ride in school bus". Me-"Kids that go to school get to ride in the school bus". Allie-" I want to go to school". Me- "School is for big kids". Allie- "I a big kid". Today she did come with me up to school and she was so excited and jumping up and down saying how much fun school is.
Here are some of my favorite things that Allie says:
"I want to go to Target. Target is fun." (She also says the same things about Sam's and Wal-Mart)
"That's the master bath." (we watch House Hunters)
"Yes I do"
"That's a bald eagle." (She thinks every bird is a bald eagle)
"Come on guys, follow me."
"Wait for me. I'm coming cars."
I also love hearing her sing and read books. I know there are some other words she says that I love hearing her say and I just can't think of them at the moment. I just thought I would share a few. One thing is for sure, she always has us laughing!
Well obviously I have been a slacker the last couple of weeks. Work has been pretty crazy and it's taking us a while to get back into the groove of things. We aren't there yet but it's getting better! I have wanted to post all week but our internet has not been working very well. This past weekend was also a little crazy. In the beginning Jarod, Allie and I were going to spend time with my mom and dad and my brothers and their families could not. Then on Friday my mom said that Scott and his family would be with us and so would Chad and Jami. I was very excited b/c it had been a few months since we had all been together. I was really looking forward to spending a day with everyone.
Unfortunately plans changed on Sunday morning. The church that my parents and my brother Scott and his family attend had to get everything ready for the victims from the hurricane. Their church had provided shelter during Katrina and were asked to do it again. Since my mom works for the church and my brother is also involved they ended up being at the church all day long. So needless to say plans changed again. While they were working, we hung out at my parent's house and Jarod took the kiddoes swimming. I'm glad that most of us got to spend some time together but we really missed having my mom and Scott there with us.
Jarod, Allie and I spent the night on Sunday and were able to spend a little more time with my parents. My dad was very kind and watched Allie for us so we could escape and go see a movie. It was great to have a mini date! 
Karlie, Uncle Chad and Greer. 
Annie and Poppy. She has gotten so big and this is the only picture I got of her. She is just the best baby! 
Karlie and Allie waiting their turn. If you look close you can see Allie pouting. 
This picture is from Allie's first day back at Carmen's. She was so excited that morning. She looks so much like a big girl in this picture. 
