Fun Cousin Photo Shoot

Reese had a fun photo shoot with my sisiter's kids a couple weeks ago. Have I mentioned how much Reese is resisting pictures these days!!!

Here are some of the serious pictures from the shoot:

(click on collage to view larger)

And of course some silly pictures were captured as well:

(click on collage to make larger)

Fall Family Photo Shoot and Thanksgiving

I have felt like life has been so busy lately....and it is not going to slow down any time soon. I have been trying to choose the important things in my life and let some of the not so important things go in hopes of making the important things more enjoyable!!! I have also tried to make myself not worry or stress and enjoy life as it is happening....I know...much easier said then done!! My MOPS group is discussing How To Be a Positive Mother, so I have also tried to think more positively and rid my life of all the negative things...another thing that is easier said then done. One thing that doesn't seem to get less stressful is having Reese's pictures taken. Unfortunately for me, she has been in four photo shoots in the past couple of months. This is the expression that seems to be used the most in the photo shoots.

My how I hope this phase goes by quickly. Here is a family, fall shoot that my bro-in-law, Tyler, did for us. We were able to get a few good shots but most of the shots contain Reese with the oh so famous expression. Here are a few of my favorites from the shoot.

I will be sharing some of my favorite pictures from the other photo shoots over the next few days (since I am way behind on posting them on here).

Yesterday at church, the pastor shared some Thanksgiving verses with us and this one really stuck out to me. It goes right along with the lower stress and positive outlook I am trying to incorporate into my life.

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Phil. 4:6-7

And since this is one of my dad's favorite verses, I thought I would include it as well.

Finally, bethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. Phil. 4:8

Very Berry Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat was so much fun this year. We were invited to our friends house for a quick dinner before heading out trick or treating with some of Reese's friends. Reese really enjoyed having some of her best buds to go trick or treating with (and so did mommy & daddy!)

I usually try to make Reese's costumes and special outfits, but I decided to buy her costume this year. I am so glad I stumbled on this costume! I LOVE it and think the peanut was just so "berry" cute in it :) I just want to squeeze her every time I looked at her.


The "BERRY" cute STRAWBERRY!!!




LOVE those tights!!!! and the beret!


See what I mean!!! So fun and squishy!!!



OK Mama......NO more pictures!!! I am ready to go play with all my friends!



Checking out the goods....

Look what I got!!!!

And her first choice for taste testing.....DOTS....up next....PINK nerds of course!!!

YuMmY!!!!

And an attempt at a group picture...take one.......

and take two......

OK I guess a group shot was just not meant to be :)

Such a fun night of family, friends and CANDY!!!!

Thanks Brinkman's for the invite.

We had a blast hanging out with all of you.....

you too Wilson's :)

Pumpkin Patch

Even though I love all the activities of fall, I am not usually a huge fan of it since it means SNOW is just around the corner. BUT this year, I have really, really enjoyed everything about fall. One of the favorites of fall time is PUMPKINS!!! We tried a different pumpkin patch this year. While it is closer to us then the other one we have gone to, it was definitely not as enjoyable. We will definitely be going back to the other one next year. Regardless, we still had a good time picking out our pumpkins.

Reese and daddy heading out to find some pumpkins.

They were having a very serious decisions over which pumpkin they should pick :)

"I think you should pick this one, daddy!"

Stopping for a photo shoot with Mama.

So excited to carve the pumpkin she picked out. She decided that she wanted a cat face for her pumpkin. Daddy did a fabulous job on it, but I forgot to get any pictures of the finished pumpkins :(

Can you pick whose pumpkin is whose :) I think Lee's pumpkin weighed more then Reese and my pumpkin combined!

Scooping out seeds while making sure to NOT touch any of the "guts". Her response to seeing the inside of her pumpkin...."EEWWW GROSS!!!!" Such a girly girl :)

No way am I touching that!!!!

Maybe we will try painting the pumpkin next year :)

I had to throw in a picture of Reese dressing up after church a couple weeks ago. She is loving all things girly, princess and super hero lately....yes I said super hero :) A new cape is in the works to replace her receiving blanket she insisted on wearing all day every day. I am loving all the fun dressing up these days :)

Fun Times

Wow...Have I been horrible at blogging or what!!! Guess it is time to catch up.

A couple weeks ago, we had a fun, girl's only day to Amish Country. Nothing better then a good day of shopping (especially when it includes good fabric shopping) and yummy, yummy food!!! Reese had a blast since she had Mamaw and Maga all to herself. I tried (with little success) to get a good picture of Reese with Mamaw and Maga. This was as good as I could get.

Hmmm....not having much fun with this picture taking thing!

Oh look....a plane....

You both are so funny :)


Like I said before...she was in heaven to have both Mamaw & Maga that day.


Reese had a blast "swinging"

Ready ONE......


TWO........

THREE.......

Best part of the day :)



I even lucked out and got a decent picture of Reese and I!

Hmmm....I think this was the best day ever!!!

Thanks for spending

such a fun day with us

Mamaw & Maga!!!!!

An Apple Pickin' Good Time

Ever since Reese was born, I have been wanting to join the local MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) group. I knew it would be a great way to meet new Christian friends and also a great way for Reese to spend time with other kids her age. My schedule never seemed to permit me to join until this year. The group meets once a month and also has a mom & kid day once a month. I wasn't able to make it to the first meeting since it was on our anniversary, but I was able to go to the first mom & kid day. We went to a local apple orchard for a few hours of fun.


First fun thing on the list was to go out to some of the apple trees for some fun apple pickin'.

Reese got busy picking an apple. Golden delicious was first on our list.....

Then a yummy Jonathan.....OOOOHHHH an apple!!! After her second apple, she was finished. She just wanted to carried this apple around for a while and refused to pick more. Maybe next year she will better understand the concept :)

Next on the list was a fun hayride around the farm. They have rows and rows of apple, peach and cherry trees. They also have a few acres of pumpkins and gourds.....Reese loves pumpkins right now and was very excited when she saw the pumpkins.

Then we were able to check out the apple package process, as well as, watch them make some yummy apple cider. We found this guy along the way. Reese was very amused and wanted her picture with him.

Then what better way to end our fun trip then........

An apple cup full of full strength APPLE CIDER.....yum yum!!!!

So of course we had to get some to bring home for daddy.....and for us too!!!

Here's to many more fun memories to come with our new MOPS friends!

Wishin' and Hopin'

I have to admit that ever since I finished Reese's big girl room re-do...I have been really wanting to have a new fun space in my bedroom as well! While I don't hate my current room, it is starting to look ho hum and the bedding is really starting to show wear. Now I would love to make another quilt...but not sure I am up to the challenge or the price! It cost me just as much if not more to make Reese's quilt then it would to have csot me to buy one. I am so glad that I made it, but not ready to jump back into such a huge project! Plus, we have a California King size bed which equals a big quilt! We have also been with out a head board since we got married four years ago. Again, California King=large price tag.

I have been getting request from some family members for a Christmas list. Yes, Christmas is still three months away, but we like to get a head start around here. I started to think of things I need, but also of things I would love to have but wouldn't buy for myself....isn't that part of Christmas :) This all got me thinking of the "want" to re-do our bedroom. I started browsing to see if anything stuck out in the hopes I could add it to my Christmas list and that (fingers crossed) Santa will deliver. I found this quilt while browsing....aka drooling....on Pottery Barn's website. Can I just say that I am in love!!!! It is the quilt on the left.
Doesn't this look like a great place to take a nice long snooze!!!


Here is a closer view of it.

Love love love all the color options to use for the walls. Tan or a nice shade of khaki would be nice and neutral. A shade of blue would be more shabby chic. But, my favorite would be a nice warm shade of yellow....nice and cozy! I am loving yellow right now and have thought of all different shades that would work in various rooms of my house...ssshhh don't tell Lee! I am pretty sure he would never let me re-paint rooms anytime soon.

I also would love to add some home-made pillows to the matching pillow shams. Again, so many fabric and color options! I think a nice hand embroidered scripture pillow would be lovely (can you tell I am jelous of the little peanuts room...hehe).



Our night stands and dressers are nice stained oak and in great condition, so there would be no change there. But, I really really want a headboard. I have been wanting Lee to make me one for a long time, but I am pretty sure that will not happen anytime soon. I even showed him the farm house bed plans from Ana on Knock-Off Wood numerous times! Or even this simple headboard made from one of Ana's plans. As I said before, buying a headboard to match the other furniture pieces is out of the quiestion. So, I started to think of options I had. I am sure I saw the idea somewhere before, but using an antique panel door turned on it's side with crown molding added to the top popped into my head. Here are a few examples I found.


Love the aqua lamp in the picture above!

Not a fan of the blue color or the door knobs but love the style of the door in the above picture.

For the finish on the door, I am thinking a nice shade of off white and distressed, or red and distressed to add a fun pop of color!

Now to find the perfect door for cheap and to cross my fingers that Santa leaves the bedding for me on Christmas morning!!!