Grins, Giggles & Chaos!

Hey ya'll! I can't believe in just a few short hours, it will be a new year! I've been hearing friends talk about New Years Resolutions, and it makes me so happy that I do not make any. Don't get me wrong, I use to make my list every year, and like the majority of people, I stopped following that list about two months into the new year. Right after my mom died, I vowed to never make another new years resolution list, and I haven't.  Life is too short!  Why wait until a new year begins to make a change, or try something new? If you are wanting to make changes or lose some weight, or whatever it may be, why not start now? Why wait? I just don't understand?  I also cringe when I hear people ask, "Would you like a do-over?" No, I would not. Why would I want to go back and change the things I've done in my past? No matter what you've done in your past, or if your past has been good, bad, or ugly, it's still your past, and all the things in you...

The week leading up to Christmas, I was super sick w/a nasty sinus infection! That Friday, we loaded up, and headed out to Dallas. With me being sick, the drive was horrible. We got to Dallas around 6, and did a little shopping, then I found the nearest Care Now, and just as I suspected, I had a sinus infection, and a double ear infection. Fabulous. I got my prescription, and was off to our hotel. The next day was Christmas Eve, and after sleeping in, I went shopping with my aunt for a while, then headed back to our hotel to change and head out to my Nan's. Ever since I was born, my mom's side of the family celebrates Christmas at my Nan's on Christmas Eve.  It's always so much fun! {even though I was so sick}  A few years ago, we stopped buying for the adults and just buy gifts for the kids. Although this year, we each drew a name, and filled up the persons stocking. That was a lot fun. We enjoyed going through our stockings, and laughed at some of the stuff we got. We...

Friday before winter break, Rylee had her little Christmas Party at school. It was a lot of fun. They had three different stations set up - an ornament decorating station, a cookie station, and pin the nose on the snowman. I think they kids had a lot of fun. :) 

Monday before winter break, Landry's class had their little Christmas party. It was also jammie week at school- so FUN! I stayed for the little party, and they had so much fun. They decorated gingerbread cookies, ate snacks, and had a little movie party - complete with "popcorn." {it was puffed corn} I think it was a complete success. Thursday they did it all over again because some of the kids only go one day a week, so they don't want to leave anyone out. But momma didn't go to Thursday's party - I had a lunch date with my girls. Woohoo!

Today I am linking up with Faith's  Christmas Card Carousel . Hope you get a chance to check out all the cute cards this year! Enjoy. :) I think this card is by far my favorite Christmas card ever!  {front} {back}

Friday afternoon, Rylee came running in after school, and with great excitement, told me she was student of the week! {she has been wanting this since school started. ha!} So, Sunday night, her and I worked on her story board. We had so much fun filling it out, adding photos, and lots of glitter. My office still has glitter everywhere. Ugh! She was so excited come Monday morning to take her story board to school. Her teacher hangs it outside the classroom for all to see. SO fun! Each student of the week also gets acknowledged at the Monday morning assembly - The Bobcat Blastoff!  Boy, was she proud. {and of course, this momma was super  proud}  {now that she's been student of the week, she told me this evening she wanted to be president - yes, as in president of the US. Mercy!}

Rylee's dance company {BakStage Dance} decided to enter a float in the Rogers Christmas parade this year, and the theme was The Nutcracker. The parade was Monday night, and MERCY! It was SO cold, like 20 degrees, and the wind was out of control. Not a fun evening outside. The girls were troopers, though. {their float was #78 out of 90, so they were outside for a good bit}  Here are a few photos pre-parade. Since it was so cold, the kids were so bundled up, you couldn't tell what they were. Rylee's group were mice. So cute. {sorry the photos are not the best. I took them with my phone}

Y'all! I love Diet Coke. I  probably  have a Diet Coke addiction. Are there meetings for this? ha! Seriously, I don't drink coffee, so this is my caffeine fix. Which, with two girls, I need a lot! ;)  While playing around on Pinterest, I found these Diet Coke photos. SO fun! 

We didn't go home for Thanksgiving this year, and I have to say, it was so nice not having to pack up all four of us, and travel to Dallas. Whew! My brother & sister in law came up here, and we had a great time. My girls loved having their "BooBoo & Sissy" all to themselves for 5 days. :) We hung out, shopped, and just spent quality time together. I hope y'all had a fabulous Thanksgiving as well! {These photos were taken with my phone. Sorry for the bad quality!} {Yes, Rylee picked her own outfit! ha!}

Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

In honor of National Adoption Month. 

I've tried to write this post all day. Every time I sit down to write, emotions come over me, and I have to walk away. Most of you know what is going on with my brother & SIL. It is with great sadness that I tell you, their foster daughter, whom they had hoped to adopt, is leaving tomorrow morning. She will be going to live with her cousin. I can't even begin to imagine what my brother & SIL are feeling right now. Not only did the adoption not work out, but they are also losing this little girl, the little girl who has brought sunshine into their life, when there was nothing but grey skies. The little girl that has stolen my brothers heart like no other. The little girl that has shown them you CAN love a child that is not your own. I believe this sweet girl came into their lives for a reason. They've only had her 3 short months, but have grown attached, and love her dearly. She has grown attached to them as well, and doesn't really understand that she is leavi...

Last night, I was lying in bed, watching TV, and all the sudden I felt the bed shake. I instantly thought one of our dogs was under the bed, messing around. Little did I know, it was an earthquake. It came out of Oklahoma, and was reported to be 5.6 magnitude. It definitely left me rattled for a bit. It has been reported that some people in Texas & Kansas felt it as well. Crazy! Hopefully that was the first & last earthquake for me.  Here is a funny tribute to last night. ;)

I get asked all the time, "Why do you blog? It just seems so silly."  I blog for most of the same reasons everyone else does....I like it. I blog because I want to keep my friends & family in the loop with our everyday lives. I blog to keep up with what my kids have done. I don't blog to see how many comments I can get, and I don't blog for money. I blog because I genuinely like it. I'm not the best blogger, but it's fun! Recently, my sister in law blogged about something very personal in her life. The blog was definitely shocking, but it showed how raw her emotions were. It was life staring you in the face. I didn't find anything wrong with what she blogged, but apparently a lot of people did.....even some family members. No matter what anyone thought of the blog, it's HER blog. She felt the need to say what she did, and I don't fault her for that. Until someone has walked a mile in her shoes, they really have no idea how she feels. She...

How fun does this sound? I saw this on Faith's blog.  I love Christmas ornaments!  Info: Would you like to participate too?! Well, all you need to do is fill out  this form  and you will then be matched with an ornament exchange partner. Monday, November 14th will be the last day we're accepting entries for the Christmas Ornament Exchange. You will receive your partners information on Wednesday, November 16th and by Wednesday, November 30th all packages should be mailed. It's that easy!!  Spread the word! This sounds like a lot of fun!

Hello ladies! As a girl with naturally curly hair, I absolutely despise drying & straightening my hair. Seriously, I'd rather get a pap smear, no lie! Anyway, I'm sure all of you have heard about drybar? If you haven't, you can check them out here.  It's nothing but a blow dry bar. No cut, no color, just a fabulous blow out!   I've never been because there isn't one here. Even when I lived in Dallas, there wasn't one. BUT now there are several in Dallas, and I can't wait to check them out. {maybe I will while I'm in town for Christmas?} I don't think this is something I'd do on a weekly basis, for for holidays, parties, and other  special occasions, it sounds FABULOUS!  If you've been, let me know about your experience! 

until CHRISTMAS ! Shut the front door! It seems like it sneaks up on us faster each year. I usually make fun of the people who decorate for Christmas early - like before Thanksgiving. But this year, I think I will become one of "those" people. We travel at Thanksgiving, so it seems by the time we get back, and get the decorations up, we don't get a lot of time to really enjoy it, before it's time to pack up and head out again for Christmas. So, this year, I may or may not be decorating for Christmas before Thanksgiving. ;-) Of course, Rylee has her Christmas list made already. Actually, it's probably been made since summer. ha! She has all the normal things a 6 year old would want, with the exception of a diamond ring. lol, what is she thinking? Silly little sassy pants! :) So, talking about Christmas lists has me thinking.....do ya'll make list every year? If so, for what? Big items, small items, random items? Kasey and I haven't exchanged gifts since be...

In honor of National Adoption Month, I leave you with this video.   The song is about a woman wanting to have a child. Very emotional.  If you are dealing with infertility or trying to adopt, please take a minute to watch.   I also ask that you continue to pray for my brother & sister in law. xo "Adoption is like a scavenger hunt, you have to travel  so far sometimes to find the little treasures God has  left for us but it is worth it in the end! 

Hope ya'll had a great time trick or treating! We did!  Love, Rylee & Landry

It's definitely fall here in NWA.

I've been putting off blogging about this, but I think it's time to get it out. A few weeks ago, I did a post about my brother {Michael} & sister in law {Sarah}, adopting a baby boy. If you don't remember, you can read about it  here.  Last Monday, I picked Landry up from school, and we headed to Dallas. I was so excited! I think we made the trip in 5 hrs instead of 6. ha! Why was I excited? Baby L was to be born Tuesday, and I had the privilege of being the only one at hospital with Michael & Sarah. Ya'll, this aunt was SUPER excited. Sure enough, baby L was born that afternoon, and just around 40 min old, I was in the back, holding my precious, tiny little nephew. {I have photos, many, many photos,  but due to respect of Michael & Sarah, I will not post}. I stayed at the hospital all day, and part of the evening. The next day, I took my Nan, Landry & S {Michael & Sarah's foster daughter} to meet baby L.  We all held him, except for Landry, she...

 Landry likes doing homework. ;) Enjoy! 

{Miss Priss} {Landry sailing w/Papa Money} {smart car with eyelashes} {Landry going to school} {Landry watching sister dance} {Miss Priss}  {sister love} {showing off before school} {showing off her pig tails} {sassy pants at a birthday party}