Pumpkin Baby

The other day my moms group got together and took pictures of our babies in a pumpkin. Yes, that's right, not next to, or on top of a pumpkin. In it.

Our wonderful hostess carved two leg holes, and a lid, and hollowed that big ole' pumpkin out. Then we all stuck our babies in it and started snapping photos. It was FUN.

We got this fabulous idea from Pintrest (the coolest website ever.)

At first Tessa was unsure of this idea....

But then, I fed her an itty bitty bite of candy corn, and it warmed her up to the idea...

And lastly, we have got to have a "Sister's" photo!

Hello Ballet!

My little girl started ballet and she is in LOVE!

What she loves most:

the clothes... the dancing... the teacher... the mirrors...

the femininity... the shoes!!

Eloise is in Heaven! Week number 1 was Tutu week. Eloise was happy to oblige.

Eloise with her dance instructor, Ms. Tavia

Storybook Ranch Pumpkin Patch

Fall is one of my favorite times of year. I love the cooler weather, fall clothes, warm colors and pumpkins. After this record breaking summer, I welcomed fall with open arms.

(More like ran to it, screaming and yelling, while obnoxiously waving my arms in the air...)

Anyway, to celebrate a new season, we went to a new pumpkin patch, Storybook Ranch! It was a fun day with our friends from church. The pumpkin patch had pony rides, hay maze, petting zoo, bounce houses, hay ride, and, of course, PUMPKINS! To say we enjoyed ourselves would be a major understatement.

My Gooser
Little Miss Peaches
Prissy Peaches... check out that sass!

Punkin' Pie!

Her face says it all... she LOVED the pony ride

(A first for her! I'm so proud that she's trying new things.)

Lucie and her pony

Lucie, doing what she does best.... JUMPING! Having loads of fun in the bounce house!

Punkin' Pie picking out her pumpkin!

Eloise and Lucie picked their little pumpkins and then is was time to go!

We can't wait to go again!

Its a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

It is a GORGEOUS day in McKinney! We started off at 65 degrees and got up to 85... Purrrrfect! We dusted off the ole' bounce house. The girls got to jump and play for a while. Then we had lunch and Tessa also got to participate in her first backyard picnic (until the bees showed up, then we went inside!). Can't wait to enjoy the great outdoors more in the next few weeks! Now I'm going to work on my projects outside before the kids wake up from nap! :)

Glow Bath

Today the girls took a glow bath. "What is that," you ask?

The only things you need are glow sticks, a bath tub, and some dirty kids!

OK, OK, so that last one is not particularly necessary...

Oh my gosh, the girls LOVED it!
15 glow sticks for $1 in the Target dollar section!

The glow bath!!

The girls having a blast!!!

FYI: you are going to have to set a timer to warn the kiddos before taking them out of the tub. Otherwise you might experience a meltdown... it was THAT fun!

First Pedicure

Eloise has had a pedicure done by me, but never at a spa... Until now. We treated ourselves to a spa day after our balloon release. It was a tough day... and we deserved a pick me up. Eloise thinks she's pretty special. And, you know what? She is! Here is our photographic evidence. Enjoy.

A is for cookies...

Oh wait. NO IT'S NOT...

Eloise's class does show and tell weekly and each child brings something that begins with that weeks letter. For the first week we decided to treat her classmates to "A" shortbread cookie!

So, although "A" isn't for cookie, the students and teachers don't seem to mind when there are shortbread involved!

A Package For Papa

One year ago today my father passed away. Knowing this date was drawing near, I wanted to find a way to recognise him as a great father and grandpa. The girls often talk about him. I encourage it because I want to keep his memory alive. Talking about him will help them remember how lucky they were to know him, even if their time together was brief.

To acknowledge this day I decided we would write Papa letters, draw pictures and send photos up to Heaven with a balloon release. The girls dictated what they wanted to write in their notes and I wrote it. They each signed their letters and drew pictures for him. I had photos from the past year printed and included a personal note to my dad. Each item was sealed in a white envelope and attached to 24 white balloons.

The contents of Papa's package

Eloise putting her items in the envelope.

Lucie stuffing her items in.

We then went to a local park to release our package.

My Girls and I before the release.

The package on it's way to it's destination.

I am convinced it got there, and Papa is smiling while he reads his notes and admires his pictures.

Lucie's Haircut!

Lucie has an interesting head of hair.

She has two "swirly twirly do's" on her head. One is on the left side of her hairline in the front. The other is smack dab on the top of her head. These two "swirly twirlies" fight with each other on a daily basis. The one in the back wants to push all of her hair forward, but the one on the front left wants to push all of her hair to the right....

I blame the "swirly twirlies" on her daddy... I am fairly positive this trait is not from my side of the family.

So, we went for another haircut.

The before:

See? All that hair in her face?

The after:
Oh, hello eyes... Nice to see you again.
The hairstylist gave her side swept bangs. See the spirally tuft of hair to the left?? Yep. That's it. The "swirly twirly." I think it looks MUCH better.


The before:

We decided to "stack" her bob in hopes that it would tame that little stinker back there.

The After:

A super cute little girl poof...

Nothing Earth shattering, I know... but a small improvement. The longer it gets the less control those "swirly twirly's" will have!

A Rosa's In Our Own Backyard!

Guess what restaurant opened it's doors in McKinney/ Frisco??

Take a wild guess...

The Title and the photo doesn't give it away at all....

I'll give you a moment to think about it.................

ROSA'S!!!

(And I say that with a rolled "r"... because it's more authentic!)

If you have ever lived in West Texas or Attended Texas Tech you know what a little gem this is. We would go eat here after Chapter Meetings for my sorority. It was an affordable but yummy place that the college kids enjoyed. Going here makes me feel like I'm 20 again. There are a few other locations in DFW, but none this close. Patrick and I have been known to drive all the way to Hurst to have Rosa's for dinner. Then they opened one in Coppell. That one was a little closer.

But now we don't have to make a road trip out of it!!

My cute family outside the brand spankin' new building on opening weekend!

(I embarrass them with my photos and enthusiasm.... lil' stinkers!)

The munchkins enjoying some delicious cuisine!My lil' sleepy head. Mexican food has the same effect on me...

(Too bad I had to drive.)

My New Look!

My sorority sister from Texas Tech, Alisha Kensing Pemberton, redesigned my blog!! Don't you LOVE it?! It's so colorful and happy!

Alisha can do anything... Bake beautiful cakes and cookies, sew gorgeous things, take amazing photos, digital scrapbook and design blog layouts! I wish I was half as talented as she is!!

Thanks Alisha! I couldn't be happier!

First Week of Pre-School

First week was a success! The girls are officially pooped!

First Day of Pre-K

Today was our 1st day or Preschool! We woke up early and the girls shared a special breakfast of Butterbraid, scrambled eggs and milk! Mmmmmm....

This was our fund raiser for preschool last year...

(We had to make it, because someone... ahem, me.... accidentally left the freezer door open and it started to defrost and rise. So... What a super special breakfast it was!)

Tessa was ready for some special 1 on 1 time with her Momma!

After the girls finished up breakfast, they got their special new

first day t-shirts on...

Sparkle backpacks and Twinkle Toes
(I guess the glasses are so that Eloise can see past all the glare?)

We had to send The Gap on a customer service nationwide hunt to find this sparkly pink masterpiece

(The silver one I got previously hadn't met my little Miss Priss' expectations...

good thing she has a super nice and persistant Mommy.)

I realized after Dropping Eloise off at her Caterpillar class that today was her FIRST and LAST 1st day of preschool. She started mid year in the 2's class and missed the 1st day last year because we were spending precious time with Dad. It's her last 1st-day because next year she will be in Kindergarten!

(sniff... tear.. unactractive sob.... PULL IT TOGETHER, KELLY!)

Little Miss Lucie was excited about starting her first year (that she remembers) as a Guppy!!

She actually FELL ASLEEP at naptime! That's something I have a hard time getting her to do...

You think I could get her teachers to come to the house on her off days??

You didn't think I could leave Lucie out of the sparkly goodness, did you??

;) never!

I can already tell that we are going to love this years teachers!

We are looking forward to an awesome, educational, and exciting year of preschool!