Lately...

We've been....

 

 

Loving the baby, rocking the baby, kissing the baby, and being "very gentle" with the baby as we anticipate Baby Harry's arrival!

 

My sister is due any day with her precious son and we just can't wait to meet him!

 

We've had fall picture day at school...

 We've started the "dress up" phase and I couldn't love it any more! This little firecracker is an absolute wrecking ball. Her nicknames include (but aren't limited to) Reckless and Crash. So the combo of fearless tomboy and little princess makes my heart happy.

 

We've been hanging out with this handsome cowboy!

 

 

And we've enjoyed pizza nights.

 

 

 These two make me earn my keep but they sure do bring me joy. It's so much fun to see them learn and "do life" together.



We're Off to See the Wizard...

Last week was crazy! I'm sure you all felt the same. We had their fall party at preschool, our Church had Trunk or Treat, and then actual Halloween. Halloween was also homecoming for our local high school where a couple of our family friends are cheerleaders, so we made a little pre-candy pit stop to cheer them on! It was so much fun and also incredibly exhausting for Dorothy and the Scarecrow!

 

 

 Trunk-or-Treat was Wednesday night at our church. It was really fun to get to see our friends and their kids all dressed up! Since we live in different neighborhoods we wouldn't otherwise get to see them on Halloween. I am so grateful to those that come out, dress up, decorate their cars, provide candy, face painting, bounce houses, a petting zoo, sidewalk chalk....it was a great night for my kids and many others. Thank you for your generosity!

 

 They thought they were the cat's meow running across the field!

 

 

 That's a wrap for Halloween '14! Halloween always is "the beginning of the end" for me. October 31st-December 31st goes by so fast! This is my FAVORITE time of year. So much family time, Thanksgiving, and then the magic of Christmas. P&C are at such a fun age and I can't wait to experience the holidays with them this year. Hope you all had a fun and safe Halloween!

A Spooktacular Weekend...

Last weekend we had a great time with my family- carving pumpkins and willing fall to hit Texas. The kids are at such a fun age. They keep us laughing and they are just enjoyable.

 

 

 My brother and sister in law were in town from New Orleans, so we took the opportunity to celebrate Miss Maggie's 13th birthday. :) It's going to be crazy having a teenager around!

 

It's so nice to slow down, sit down, enjoy the outdoors. I love the weekends when Dave gets time to spend with the kids and with me. We all soak it in.

 



 

These two little pumpkins had a ball when we carved pumpkins! I can't say they share the same enthusiasm for family photos....

 

 Baby Harry is coming in the next few weeks! We are all SO excited! P&C kept talking about the "bay-BE" and pointing to Kristen's tummy. I can't wait to see the three of them together.

 

 

 

Big Daddy and Zsa Zsa, thanks for opening your home and being such great hostesses. Another great time filed in the memory bank. XOXO



A Sweet Day at Sweet Berry...

Last Friday we loaded up the little pumpkins and headed out to Marble Falls for an afternoon at Sweet Berry Farms. It was a beautiful (and hot) day. Perfect for pumpkins, picnic lunching, goat feeding, wildflower picking, train riding, and...scarecrow making. :)

 

 

The goats were their favorite part. They would have stayed and fed them all day!

 



 

Zsa realized you could make your own scarecrow and suddenly she had to have one. She decorates for every holiday and she felt her front yard reaaaaally needed a scarecrow. So, in true Zsa fashion, non hay-playing clothing, and 95 degree heat, she went to work. We were dying laughing as "Bucky" was the hit of the Farm! Other families were coming over asking mom for help and advice on "how to get their scarecrow so full" and "How to make such a great face". Who's surprised? Shere there's a Zsa there's a way! #Gohardorgohome

 

 

We have never been so dirty as we were when we left, and it was SO worth it! We all had a blast. Special thanks to my mom and my 8 month pregnant sister who are always willing to sweat for a memory!! XO

How Stella Got Her Groove Back...

Becoming a mom is the most wonderful thing that's ever happened to me. I honestly praise God every day for entrusting me with 2 mini people to love, teach, keep safe, have fun with, laugh with and enjoy. 

But I won't pretend it's all fairy tales and birds chirping. 

Never have I loved two people to my core. Have they been the beat of my heart, part of me, and been able to make me virtually die of adorableness AND frustration! They are tiny, cute, sticky, button pushers! They insist on eating the dog's food, they RUN to the bathroom anytime a door is left open and head straight to splash in the toilet, and they stand at my feet and yell at me as I work to make their lunch and dinner. I feel like a failure more than I'd like and I laugh more than I thought I could. 

They rocked my world. 

I went from having a job I loved (and would like to think I was good at) to being a stay at home mom. Dave and I went from 6 years of marriage, in a quiet house, with frequent date nights, to an absolute circus tent of a home and a life of chaos. I went from a very social life full of time spent with friends, adult conversation with co-workers, weekend trips and couple's dates, to most nights at home. 

And they are more than worth it! 

But, I won't lie that it's taken a while to "find my groove". It took a while for me to get the hang of getting them dressed, fed, out of the house, and managing to keep everyone (somewhat) sane in the process. Their first birthday was a big turning point for us. They were a little more "independent", moving to milk and sippy cups, eating normal food, being able to sit in a highchair and eat so that we could join friends for a lunch date. There were a lot of factors but it all added up to a really fun summer. We got out, we enjoyed fun activities, fun with friends, and I loved watching them explore.

This fall, P&C started a mother's day out program and are really enjoying it! Today was my first day for Bible study and we all loved it. They get to be part of the children's program while I have my study. They did great and it makes me so happy to know they are learning and having fun while I'm getting back involved in some activities. 

This parenting thing is so fun. It changes daily. It is so humbling. It is so hard.

And it is everything I've ever wanted.  

THEY are everything I've ever wanted.