Grins, Giggles & Chaos!

Happy Birthday, Mom! We miss you so much. . . . There is not a minute in the day that I don't think about you. I wish you were here so we could celebrate in style, but you're not and it saddens me. I've taken today to reflect on all the special memories of you. I hope you've enjoyed your special day with the angels. xo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to the best sister-in-law around! You are the sister I never had, but always wanted, and you LOVE my kids like they're your own. They love their AUNT SISSY just as much, and I am so blessed to have you in my life. Hope you have the happiest of birthdays. We love you! Happy Birthday Aunt Sissy!

{ Note: I am a little behind on this post} Friday before last, Rylee got an award at school. She received the PROUD PANTHER award and I was SUPER proud of her.                                                     My Proud Panther                                Rylee & Mrs. Ragland  It was the cutest thing....I said, " Rylee, mommy is so proud of you!"  Her response: "I am pretty proud of me too!" ha! Love it! 

WOW! I can't believe it's November. Where has the year gone? Sunday {Halloween}, we took the girls to Right Choice Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch. It wasn't as nice as I thought it was going to be. Rylee was bored within 30 minutes of being there.  After the hay ride, the cow train, the hill slides, the corn box and tire swings, she was ready to go - and so was I. HA! ;-) Even though Rylee was bored, they both had fun. Here are a few pictures from our adventure.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN from The Howell's!

Tuesday, Rylee had another field trip. The Pumpkin Patch! But this pumpkin patch was mobile - it came to the school. ;-) The kids learned different things about pumpkins,{ Did you know ALL pumpkins float?}, they played games, played in the trailer full of corn, and picked out their very own pumpkin to bring home. I think they had a good time.

Last weekend, we went to one of my favorite places in Texas - the great STATE FAIR of TEXAS. I love going to the fair. I look forward to the fair every year - even now that we live in Northwest Arkansas. Rylee loves the fair just as much as I do. She loves riding all the kid rides over and over. :-) This was Landry's first year to experience the fair. She was ok, I think it was too crowded for her. ha! Of course, we enjoyed all the yummy goodness of the fair food. I'm still recovering. ;-) If you've never been to the State Fair of Texas - you're missing out. You need to go at least once - you will love it.  Here are a few pictures of our day at the fair.

Friday {Oct 8}, Rylee went on her first field trip - to the FIRE STATION. I went with her class, and they had a great time. We walked from the school, and I think the kids enjoyed it. The weather was great! At the fire station, they learned about the different trucks & tools. It was funny watching them get so excited.We also toured the fire station museum, which was neat. They toured the inside of the station, and even got a peek at the fireman's sleeping quarters as well as the kitchen. ;-)

HOME   is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting  to get back to. ~John Ed Pearce I grew up in Small Town, USA  - also known as, Rockwall, Texas. Born & raised in Texas, I never wanted to live anywhere else. I lived close to my family my whole life. My Nanny down the street to the left, and my aunt, uncle & cousins down the street to the right, and my other aunt & uncle lived across town. We were close....{ although, I did move to Ft. Lauderdale, Flordia for a year, but was so homesick, I moved back HOME} Up until May 2006, I lived in Texas and could not be happier.  When I married my husband, I knew what I was getting myself into. I knew the kind of work industry he was in, there was ALWAYS a possibility that we would have to move - I just never imagined it would actually happen. Sure, there were several offers on the table to move - Idaho {BLAH! this girl is not a potato farmer!...

I will be the first to admit, I like nice things. I want my children to have the best of everything - including the opportunity to attend the best schools. Since the moment Rylee was born, I've thought about the day she would start kindergarten. I just knew she would attend private school, and a great one at that. So, when the time came to enroll her in kindergarten, I did just that. I enrolled her in a private school that I loved. I was excited & looked forward to the first day of school. The closer it got to the new school year, I began to talk to different people about schools. Not only did I speak to moms, but a lot of teachers as well. Believe me, they all had opinions about the schools around here- both public and private. The more and more I discussed it, the more I was unsure about my decision to have Rylee attend private school. For two months, I prayed and prayed. I toured several public schools and one day I did it - I called the private school, withdrew Ry, and en...

It's FALL in Northwest Arkansas! So excited! I am normally a summer kind of gal, but this summer has been super H-O-T that I am actually looking forward to cooler weather, the leaves changing colors, pumpkins, HALLOWEEN, THANKSGIVING, and all that fall has to offer. Since it's starting to feel like fall, I thought it would be fun to add some new fall items I am loving right now. . . .                                 I just bought these, and they are super comfy!      I love Tyler Candle Company Candles!  For Fall, I usually get orange vanilla. It's smells heavenly! This cute little owl necklace is precious! 

Soccer is in full swing around here. Rylee had her second soccer game Monday night, and they won! Woohoo! {they won the first game as well} She has never played any sort of organized sport before, and I have to say, she is doing really well. She LOVES it! Between dance & soccer - this momma is worn out. ;-) Go Team Revolution!

the world stopped turning on that September day? 9 years later, and I still get chills whenever I hear this. I can remember that I had taken the day off. I was lying in bed watching the news when the story broke, and I actually watched live footage of the second plane crashing through the tower. I was in shock more than anything - I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I thought it was some sort of joke at first.... Ultimately, it wasn't. I stayed in bed the whole day watching the news. I cried, I prayed, and I cried some more. I was numb.I was angry. To think of all the men & women who died that day.....the day the world stopped turning. Today I pray for the families of the victims of 9/11, for the fallen heroes, and for the brave men & women fighting for our freedom. GOD BLESS AMERICA! WE'LL NEVER FORGET!

Landry, you are 15 months old today. Boy does time fly. You are growing so fast, Miss Priss. You are the happiest baby -you never sit still! You love to laugh, you love to dance, you love your baby dolls & you love, love to play with your big sister, Rylee.  What a big girl. We love you!

Landry's first day of KDO was yesterday & she did GREAT! She went right to her teacher and starting playing. I was beyond shocked. I really think this is going to be good for her. When I picked her up, she was asleep - they must have worn them out. Her little report sheet said she did really well, ate all her food, and plays well with others. Yay! Nothing like starting out on the right foot. :-) Here are a few pictures I took when I dropped her off. Enjoy! Hugging Ms. Lindsey She went right over and started playing! A new friend! Her name plaque! So cute! One tired baby girl! School is rough!

Tomorrow is Landry's first day at Kids Day Out. :-) I really, really hope she enjoys it - I think it will be good for her to be around other kids her age {she's never been left with anyone before}. Tuesday night was, Meet The Teacher night, and she wasn't too excited. As soon as we walked into her little classroom, she freaked out and started crying. She would not let me put her down. I felt so bad for her, and her teachers. We were there for a little while, and she finally got down to play with the puzzles. I hope tomorrow is a little less dramatic. I really liked her teachers, and I think she will do fine once I'm gone. {let's hope anyway} ;-) Here are a few pictures from the other night. :-) I will let y'all know how tomorrow goes! Until next time . . . .xoxo

Yes, it's true . . . . I enrolled Landry in KIDS DAY OUT ! With Rylee, I waited until she was 2, but I think Landry will enjoy this and so will her momma. ;-) This is the first year for KDO at The Church at Pinnacle Hills. She will go Mon & Thurs from 9-2. So exciting! The kids area is awesome. All carpeted, two teachers per classroom and they have an indoor play area for the one year olds. Like I said, it's awesome! Open house/meet the teacher is next Tuesday and she will start on Thursday - boy, that's fast. Ready or not, we are going to KDO. :-) I like how they call it, Kids Day Out instead of Moms Day out. I guess in reality, kids could use a day out as well. ha! Now that Rylee is in kindergarten, and Landry will be at KDO two days a week, I am not sure what to do with my free time on those two days. Hmmmmm, this should be interesting - hope I don't get bored. Until next time . . . .xoxo

{Boy, I never thought I would say that. ha!} When my first daughter was born, I never imagined I would be a soccer mom. As Rylee grew up, I imagined her being a gymnast or a ballerina, but not a soccer girl. Rylee did become a dancer, she even made the BAKstage Company Dance team. While she is still doing dance, she also signed up for soccer. WHAT? To me it's crazy, but I think it will be good for her. Last Friday night, Bentonville Parks & Rec had a fun soccer kick off celebration. {complete with 4 huge bouncy houses} All the kids got to meet their coach & get their new uniforms. Rylee's team is Team Revolution - their colors are purple & black. :) At least the uniform colors are girly! ha! Saturday was the first practice. For never playing soccer, she did really well. Most of the girls on her team have been playing for the last two years, but I think she will catch up & be just fine. She had a blast at practice! Between kindergarten, dance & soccer -...

I just returned from a last minute trip to good ol' Walmart. {we needed milk} Anyway, as I am walking through the store, I notice that there are so many beauty products to choose from these days. It's a bit overwhelming. So, I got to thinking.. . . .Do we really need 500 different mascara's or 150 different deodorant's? What about toothpaste. . . so many options there as well. Hundreds of different shampoo's, styling products, face wash, lotions, shaving cream and the list goes on. Do we really need so many options? Just for fun I thought I would share my favorite products. :-) I use Aveeno Baby Wash everyday! Not only does it make my skin soft, it smells fabulous! Yes, I use good ol' Oil of Olay! It's cheap and I LOVE the way it smells. I use Moroccan Oil shampoo & conditioner. It leaves my hair soft, shiny & smelling yummy. :) Whenever I need extra shine....I use Moroccan Oil Brilliance Gloss. Fabulous! This flat iron is my BFF. I have n...