All the Pumpkin Pictures

Just to give you fair warning...this post is pretty much the definition of a photo dump. It's the last day of November, and I am just now getting around to posting all the pics from our pumpkin patch excursions. I totally planned it this way...wanted to give you a break from all the pumpkin pics that dominated your social media feeds in October.

Huston at the Dallas Arboretum Pumpkin Village, 2016

Visiting a pumpkin patch was one of the top "to do" items on my Fall Bucket List this year. While there are still several items on the bucket list that have yet to be checked off, I will go ahead and pat myself on the back and say we excelled at the pumpkin patch task! 

First stop: Storybook Ranch

We visited Storybook Ranch in McKinney on the first day that it opened {September 24}, so they were still working out a few kinks...which actually worked out in our favor! It wasn't even the slightest bit busy, so we enjoyed all of the activities {petting zoo, hay maze, pony ride, wagon ride through the 1800s western town} without having to wait in line.  My life-long friend, Brandy, and her kids {Preslee & Jake} were in town and joined us for this adventure.

Next up: Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch

The Pumpkin Patch at Flower Mound was a little overwhelming {i.e. crazy crowded}, so we didn't take the time to wait in line for any of the activities {hayride, pumpkin patch train, bounce houses}...but we still had a great time with our friends Chelsie and Cameron! 

Final stop: The Dallas Arboretum

This was our second year to visit the pumpkin village at The Dallas Arboretum...and it didn't disappoint! There's a reason it's referred to as the best pumpkin patch in the state. We went on Columbus Day {since I had the holiday off and Ryan doesn't work on Mondays} thinking it wouldn't be as busy since it was a weekday...WRONG! It was packed! However, I have to say that the Arboretum employees do a fabulous job making it as efficient as possible to park and get through the admission line.

Sooo...after visiting these three fabulous pumpkin patches {all on weekend days}, I feel like I learned two valuable lessons for next year:

1.  Go early in the season,

and

2.  Go early in the morning!

Two

Just TWO things to note today...one looking back and one looking forward.  

I currently have a love/hate relationship with TimeHop. Some days I can't help but hate it when I look back and see how tiny I was just one year ago in comparison to my current state at seven months pregnant...but today the love far exceeds the hate. TimeHop reminded me that TWO years ago on this date we closed on our home...

And then I realized that our sweet baby boy's due date is exactly TWO months from today...

#30WeekSonogram
Top: profile of his face
Bottom: his foot and toes to the left and the back of his hand on the right

What can I say...Life is GOOD!

Top 10 of 2014

I highly doubt there will ever be another year that can top all of the exciting events that took place in 2013, but 2014 had its fair share of greatness! Here's a little look-back at my Top 10 of 2014...

10: Hosting Ryan's family for Christmas

Our first holiday hosting experience was a success...except for the fact that I have ZERO photos to document the fun!

9: My 33rd Birthday

Birthdays are a big deal to me...no matter the age!

8: Max's 2nd Birthday/Baby Gonzalez #2 Announcement

On the same day we celebrated lil' midget Max's 2nd birthday, I also learned he's going to be a big brother!

Celebrating my adorable godson's birthday in style...with blue frosting!

7: Mother/Daughter Trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

6:  Trip to Breckenridge, Colorado

5:  Nais' First Birthday

Celebrating my perfect nephew's first year of life!

4: Trip to Napa Valley

3:  Anniversary Weekend in Granbury, Texas

2:  Trip to Nashville, Tennessee

1:  George Strait's Final Show

Bittersweet. Good times with great friends...memories that will last a lifetime!

Thanks for the fun, 2014!

Can't wait to see what 2015 has in store for us!

Our First Christmas Tradition

There are so many wonderful traditions that go along with celebrating Christmas. Family traditions seem to create the very best memories...memories that you can hold on to forever. As we get married and start families of our own, it's fun to establish new holiday traditions.   

Our first "Martin Family Tradition" came about unintentionally...and I guess it started even before we got married. It goes back to the first Christmas we were dating when I gave Ryan an ornament for his non-existent Christmas tree. The following year we both got each other ornaments, and so the Christmas ornament tradition was born. After we got married, we decided that we'd pick out one ornament together to represent something special from that year and wait until Christmas morning {or whenever we exchange gifts with each other} to hang it on our tree.  

2011: The beginning of our ornament tradition.

2012:  The long-distance relationship ornament. 

2012: Ryan gave me this ornament the night we got engaged {12/22/2012}.

2013: An ornament to represent buying our first home together.

Our Christmas ornament tradition evolved a bit while we were on our honeymoon in Aruba. We knew we wanted to take home some type of keepsake to remember the trip, but we had a hard time finding a souvenir that wasn't ridiculously cheesy. We finally found a small "beach in a bottle" trinket and decided we could turn it into an ornament. Thus, travel souvenirs were added to our ornament tradition.

November 2013: Aruba

January 2014: Breckenridge, Colorado

August 2014: Nashville, Tennessee

November 2014: Napa Valley, California

Do you have a unique Christmas tradition?

Today I'm linking up with Katie {Katie Elizabeth}, Lisa {Lisa Loves John}, Annie {Home of Malones} and Cait {Home Sweet Ruby} for the Christmas Holiday Link-up. Thanks for hosting, ladies!