Scrappy update

I realized it's been forever since I posted my scrappy adventures, so here you go. These are the last 6+ months of scrappy goodness. I have about 6 more to photograph then I'll be caught up with my recent work :)

 

 See through :)

 This one hangs in my office.

 I have this one on display in the family room (my favorite of all time)

 I included a flip up page and put the bears birth certificate underneath.

Nothing too exciting and all of them have lifted elements, but I do love looking at them and really that's what it's all about!

MacDonald's Ranch & Pumpkin Farm

This Saturday we went out to the MacDonald Ranch and Pumpkin Patch with the family. We had a run drive out there (Jomax & Scottsdale about 5 miles north of the 101) with Caden fluctuating between screaming and throwing his snack cup at us. The terrible two's are here in full force. But we got there super fast since we let my dad drive and he's with Scottsdale PD and this farm is in his district so he knew right were to go. I'd have got us so lost we'd still be there. 

  I thought we'd try and grab a family photo first while the little man was in a good mood. Hahahahahaha...we appear to have entered that lovely phase where we can't get a nice family photo to save our lives.

 Ya this one with have to do for this year, sigh.

Caden has never seen horses before and he was fascinated with these two while we waited for the hayride out to the start. As a part of the $7/person entry fee you get a about 10 minute ride to the pumpkin picking area. It's actually a lot of fun.

There was not a chance of me holding my kiddo since Nana was around. 

Caden LOVED this hayride! Oh my gosh he stalked and squealed the whole way through.

And he kept sniffing the air. Maybe we should let him out of the house more often, lol.

Once we got to the pumpkin picking area he was not too sure he wanted to let Papa put him down.

We tried so hard to get a nice photo of Caden on the cute hay bale. 

He was so not having a good time sitting there. So we gave up and just went and had fun.

I picked this "pumpkin patch" to take Caden to for the main reason that there are not acres of pumpkins to pick from. They set up a bunch of hay bale stations and you can go "pick" your pumpkins. I thought Caden would be able to access the pumpkins easier and we'd have less running to do in the desert after him. All in all the experience was just what we had been hoping for, plus the pumpkins were really great quality and we ended up with 4 for $21. 

 

Caden was not shy at all about picking out his pumpkins.

"I'll take this one Nana."

"And this one."

He wasn't even worried about the size of pumpkin to kid ratio, he tried to take home every single pumpkin.

 

There's our haul ready to go back to the ranch with us.

The ranch is actually very pretty though I can't imagine the place in say August.

"Bye pumpkin patch, see you next year." Caden waved and said bye the whole way back to the ranch, totally cute. 

While the men paid for our haul we went to the petting zoo.

This is Charlotte and her son Jimmy Dean was right next to her. Caden walked right up, petted her and moo'd hello.

 

Here's one of the goats Shrek (Fiona was resting below). Caden walked right up and moo'd hello. In fact he walked up and petted and moo'd hello to the Miniature Pony Chocolate, the bunnies, the wild turkey & the miniature Donkey’s Pete and Repeat. The only animal he didn't moo to was the cow? We may need to work on the farm animal book some more this week.

 

Sure he looks at the camera for their photo.

All in all it was a long drive and a warm day, but will absolutely do it again next year. It cost $7/person to get in but all the activities - Petting zoo, Hay maze, Sack racing, Gem Mining, Western golf game,  Horseshoe pits, Hay ride, and Pony rides are all free. It would take the average family about 1 1/2 to 2 hours to do all the activities. The pumpkins were reasonably priced at $3, $6, $9 and $12 depending on the size. And the staff are so wonderful and very invested in the authenticity of the ranch. So we'll totally drive the 45 minutes there and back next year. Besides, who could say no to this face?

 

Lots o' changes

Wow how does three months pass so quickly? Feels like I just posted here a couple weeks ago!
I suppose it's easy to see how that much time has gone by when I look at all the changes that have taken place in the past few months.

The biggest change is that I am no longer unemployed, woo hoo! I have been working at Bank of America as a fraud analyst for about 2 months now. It was my first interview since the layoff and I got the job offer within about 2 hours. I'll admit that felt really good. There were many things about the last job I was that made me doubt that I was a good employee or that I could really be an asset to a team. I have to say that I have been loving the job and the people are just amazing. It's been a ton of fun getting to know everyone and I have really enjoyed learning about the bank. I've also learned a lot about fraud and the general public.

Here are a few tips I have picked up in my past few months of investigating fraud:
1 - Don't ever be without a second form of payment when you are going anywhere! I can not tell you how many people I talk to that have no access to their debit card due to either a fraud situation or a system malfunction and they tell me that they have no other way to gas up their car or feed their children. Hello people keep an emergency $20 on you at all times!!!!!!

2 - Drunk people can be just plain mean. Had a drunk guy tell me he hoped I would die in a car accident on the way home.

3 - Be aware of your surroundings at all times when you are using your debit card. Never use an atm you think looks odd and never, never, never throw away a receipt until the purchase has cleared your account. Check your bank account at least once a week (people surprise me when they say "oh i haven't checked my account in a few months" really ?!?!). And for the love of Pete don't ever send your account info through an email to anyone. Yep, that's right people actually call us up and say "well the email said it was from Bank of America so I thought it was ok to give them my account number and social security number" oh how that makes me want to sit with then, hold their hand and explain how the world is full of bad people who do bad things like steal your money.

4 - Drunk people can be downright funny. Had a drunk guy propose marriage to me three times during our conversation last week.

So in a nutshell I'm learning a lot and really loving the company. I've never worked anywhere that cares as much for their employees. The overnight schedule is a bit rough, but how blessed we are that Caden can spend so much time with me during the week. Absolutely counting our blessings over here!

In other news Caden keeps growing and keeping us running a million miles an hour! This kiddo is a crack up and his personality can fill any sized room. I uploaded a few of my recent favorite photos  :)

So we will be getting ready for Halloween here in the next week or so. I'll miss the trunk or treat this year do we're going to a pumpkin patch next week where I can get some photos. I'll share those when I get them.

Gasp - Apperently I have broken the law for years and I never knew it!

Lol - I was born and raised in CA and according to this list of wacky state laws I have broken state law tons of times! Makes you wonder what happened that caused these to become laws. Happy Friday, and remember to keep some pocket change when you're in FL with your elephant :)


Alabama
It’s illegal to wear a fake mustache that causes laughter in church.
Alaska
Whispering in someone’s ear while he’s moose hunting is prohibited.
Arizona
Cutting down a cactus may earn you a twenty-five-year prison term.
Arkansas
It’s illegal to mispronounce the name of the state of Arkansas.
California
You may not eat an orange in your bathtub.
Colorado
It’s unlawful to lend your vacuum cleaner to your next-door neighbor (Denver).
Connecticut
A pickle cannot actually be a pickle unless it bounces.
Delaware
It’s illegal to get married on a dare.
Washington, D.C.
It’s against the law to post a public notice calling someone a coward for refusing to accept a challenge to duel.
Florida
If you tie an elephant to a parking meter, you must pay the same parking fee as you would for a vehicle.
Georgia
It’s illegal to change the clothes on a storefront mannequin unless you draw the shades first.
Hawaii
All residents may be fined for not owning a boat.
Idaho
A man must not give his sweetheart a box of candy weighing fewer than fifty pounds.
Illinois
It’s illegal to take a French poodle to the opera (Chicago).
Indiana
The value of pi is 4, and not 3.1415.
Iowa
One-armed piano players must perform for free.
Kansas
It’s illegal to throw knives at men wearing striped suits (Natoma).
Kentucky
Every citizen is required to take a shower once a year.
Louisiana
Biting someone with your natural teeth constitutes simple assault, but biting someone with your false teeth classifies as aggravated assault.
Maine
If you keep your Christmas decorations on display after January 14, you’ll be fined.
Maryland
It’s against the law to wash or scrub a sink, no matter how dirty it is (Baltimore).
Massachusetts
No gorilla is allowed in the backseat of any car.
Michigan
A woman may not cut her own hair without her husband’s permission.
Minnesota
It’s illegal to paint a sparrow with the intent of selling it as a parakeet (Harper Woods).
Mississippi
Walking a dog without dressing it in diapers is forbidden (Temperance).
Missouri
Children may buy shotguns in Kansas City, but not toy cap guns.
Montana
It’s a felony for a wife to open her husband’s mail.
Nebraska
Bar owners may not sell beer unless they brew a kettle of soup simultaneously.
Nevada
It’s illegal for men with mustaches to kiss women.
New Hampshire
It’s forbidden to sell the clothes you’re wearing to pay off a gambling debt.
New Jersey
It’s against the law for a man to knit during the fishing season.
New Mexico
Females may not appear unshaven in public.
New York
While riding in an elevator, you must talk to no one, fold your hands, and look toward the door.
North Carolina
It’s against the law to sing off-key.
North Dakota
It’s illegal to lie down and fall asleep with your shoes on.
Ohio
You must honk the horn whenever you pass another car, according to the state’s driver’s education manual.
Oklahoma
It’s forbidden to take a bite out of another person’s hamburger.
Oregon
State law requires dishes to be drip-dried.
Pennsylvania
It’s illegal to sleep on top of a refrigerator outdoors.
Rhode Island
You may not bite off another person’s leg.
South Carolina
If a man promises to marry an unmarried woman, he is required by law to keep his promise.
South Dakota
It is illegal to lie down and fall asleep in a cheese factory.
Tennessee
Selling hollow logs is strictly forbidden.
Texas
You may not shoot a buffalo from the second story of a hotel.
Utah
It is illegal not to drink milk.
Vermont
Women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
Virginia
Tickling a woman is unlawful.
Washington
It’s illegal to pretend that one’s parents are wealthy.
West Virginia
If you make fun of someone who does not accept a challenge, you risk a six-month prison sentence.
Wisconsin
Unless a customer specifically requests it, margarine may not be substituted for butter in a restaurant.
Wyoming
Unless you have an official permit, you may not take a picture of a rabbit from January to April.