Pumpkin Farm

We had a little adventure out to the Celina's Pumpkin Farm on the Friday before Halloween with 2 extra kids.  My girlfriend Amy (who has 2 boys) and I took... my girls, one of her boys and a friend's 2 boys that would be 5 kids all under 4) to the pumpkin patch on a gorgeous Friday.
It was the PERFECT day to go...no crowds, sunny, 70's and the kids had a great time riding the hay ride, feeding the animals, having a picnic and running around from one pumpkin pile to another.  And No meltdowns!  I think I'm still sneezing from all the hay though:-)

 2 peas in a pod

GO Rangers!

We had a fun Mexican Casserole night for the Ranger's first game of the World Series!

Is it Fall yet?

Gosh I love FALL!   The only problem is...I live in Texas, where fall happens, but it usually happens in November for about a week.  I envy all those who are in the northeast this time of year...the cool crisp air, the changing of leaves...God's beautiful canvas displaying the changing of seasons.
All the Fall stuff is out right now and I can't help but crave the smell of pumpkin bread, apple butter and cinnamon sticks.   I can't stand candy corn but I love the way they look!
I'm going to have to somehow hide them from my monkey climbing daughter who will find ANYthing stack on to something else to get her close to ANYthing that looks like sugar.  Taylor LOVES baking and has been begging me to make cupcakes all week!  So after my 11 mile run Sat morning we baked our first batch of pumpkin muffins (cupcakes) with cream cheese frosting at 8:30 in the morning = happiness :-)

RAIN RAIN RAIN

Gotta love rainy days...well just ONE is okay with me.  I would never do well in Seattle or Ireland (poor Cameron) where it rains.ALL.THE.TIME.  The girls just thought is was awesome like they had never seen rain before in their lives, lol!  Took the opportunity while dinner was cooking to run out front and jump in the puddles....

Never too early....

Lately the girls have really enjoyed helping me with the chores around the house...I'm hoping this will never change (ha ha)  Sorry these pics are horrible, but i love how they are smiling while unloading the dishes:-)

It's fun!

Summer Swimming 2010

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Let's Bake a Cake Day

....just because....we love to bake....we love cake....and it just had to be pink of course!

Summertime

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SUMMER SUMMER SUMMER TIME

Summer days...ahhh, relaxing by the pool, sipping a cold beverage, listening to the ocean in the distance, wondering which tropical dress i'll wearing to dinner tonight and should we have the italian cuisine or the authentic mexican with those yummy homemade tortilla chips and fresh pico and guac........
ERRRRRRKKKKKKkk.....
"MOOOOOMMMMM, SISSY'S HITTING ME!!! MOOOOOOOOOOMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!"
Aww, the sound of reality.  Back to real life.  Although Brian did sweep me away to a Mexican, adult-only, all-inclusive, 5 star royal getaway on a private beach for 4 days.  It was a little slice of Heaven!

We have had a really adventurous and fun summer and I'm so blessed and feel so fortunate to be able to stay home with my girls...take them to the pool everyday if I want to (makes for a quiet afternoon)...take them shopping (B.E.A.T.I.N.G) if I want to...take them to the gym (gives me my sanity back) if I want to...take them to the library (although yelling and chasing a toddler is not exactly library savy), paint with with them (always ends with Paisley eating the paint or dumping the black water all over everything and Taylor in tears b/c her "painting is ruined")....Take a trip to San Antonio (and stand in lines to see dolphins and seals in 100 degree, 100%humidity weather) but all these things i can do just because I want to and we are able to.  Toddlers certainly have their moments, but these are some of the most fun days I have had...spending them with my girls :-)
Pictures to come....

I must take my mind to this peace when overwhelmed, frustrated or down...a little piece of God's beauty and remember just how fortunate we are

Nanna and Papa's

So I realize I completely take it for granted that my parents are 5 miles from us.  We are so blessed to be able to visit them all the time and vice versa...Brian had a case one Sunday after church so instead of our usual family lunch together we spent some quality time with Nanna and Papa.  Nanna bought the girls a cardboard lace project.  Taylor took it very seriously working on her own...and actually Paisley sat still and helped Papa do one.  The tattoos we also a HUGE hit!  But it wasn't until we were walking out the door that Papa remembered a "game" he was saving for the girls.  Who knew empty Perrier bottles and a softball could be so much fun and give us so many laughs!  Especially when the ball gone old and Paisley realized throwing her body into the pins is way more fun--I think we were laughing too hard to get any shots of it!  LOVE our Nanna and Papa and thank God they are so close...especially now that summer is here:-)

A great reminder for all the many times I get discouraged at the list of things I still need to do everyday...

I got up early one morning,

And rushed right into the day

I had so much to accomplish,

That I didn't have time to pray.

Problems just tumbled about me,

and heavier came each task.

"Why doesn't God help me?" I wondered.

He said, "But you didn't ask."

I wanted to see joy and beauty,

But the day toiled on, gray and bleak. 

I wondered why God didn't show me, 

He said, "But you didn't seek."

I tried to come into God's presence;

I used all my keys at the lock. 

God gently and lovingly chided,

"My child, you simply need knock."

I woke up early this morning, 

And paused before entering the day.

I had so much to accomplish, 

That I needed to take time to pray.

                                  Author Unknown

One crazy Kid

Paisley's favorite snack at 20 months=celery and peanut butter...I love this crazy girl's hair, esp when she first wakes up!

My Pinkalicious Princess is THREE!

My sweet Taylor,

You are sensitive, girly, kind-hearted, creative, artistic, a great vegetable eater! and oh soooo loving...just a few words that come to mind when I think about my first born baby girl :-)
You are such a great big sister and care for Paisley so much. I love your sweet smile and tender heart. It all started just when you were a few months old...that thumb and those feathers...you made me laugh when it started with your racoon's tail. You would drag that thing everywhere...then you discovered THE BOAH at your one year birthday party and we have gone through several boahs since then; slowly picking them apart. You've even trained sissy to pluck a feather (or a dozen) and stick her finger in her mouth as you grin as if excited for her.

Gosh you warm my heart!
Thank you for bringing so much JOY to our lives! I love you so much!
Happy Third Birthday sweet girl!