Pictures

Last week when my mom was here, we went to the zoo.  I love this picture because Peyton looks like she's up to no good.  The picture below is a good action shot.

For Thanksgiving, we went to Monroe to be with Arnold's family.  Peyton and Raegan had a good time playing with cousins in the yard.  But the reason I posted this pic is because I think it's hilarious....I have no earthly idea where Raegan got that cup from that she's drinking out of.  I'm sure it was just a random cup in the yard.

It's so much fun to be a kid!

Saturday night was cookie making/tree decorating time!

I had lots of little "helpers" this year.  Peyton actually did a very good job of helping me hang the string and the ornaments.  Raegan, well, she just puts the laid the ornaments on the branches.  But I guess that's pretty good for a 15 month old.  Now keeping her hands OFF the tree is a different story.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!  Hope you enjoy lots of turkey with your family!

Learning to Play

Peyton's teaching Raegan how to play the piano these days.

Church Directory

In September, our church had everyone come and take pictures for a new directory. Let me just say that coordinating everyone for family pictures is a miserable experience. It didn't help that I procrastinated picking everyone's clothes out, then realized at the last minute that we really didn't have any colors that coordinated. Well, we ended up finding something that worked, but I have learned my lesson for next time...prepare early. Even then, it's so hard to make sure everyone stays clean, pretty, and out of trouble.  And I'm usually a ball of stress. It's not easy, but it's always worth it to have picture memories of the children.  Maybe your picture experience goes a lot smoother than mine?  You would never tell by the pictures below that 45 minutes prior, we were all running over the apartment like chickens with our heads cut off.  I'm sure no one else with young kids has picture experiences like ours, right?

Not in the Genes

The night before, I usually try to lay out clothes for Peyton and Raegan so that it is easy the next morning for whomever gets them ready.  Sometimes I forget though, and it seems like the times I do forget is always the times Arnold gets them ready that next morning.  It's hilarious to see the clothes combinations he puts on the kids.  Sometimes I wonder where he finds this stuff. 
Yesterday morning on Raegan....little khackies and a sleeveless lime green summer shirt, on backwards no less.  Never mind that it's fall outside.  This is one of my other favorites...a pink outfit, matching pink shirt and pants, with pastel yellow socks.  Sometimes I find Raegan in nothing but a Halloween onesie and no pants.  Frequently I find them with their shirts on backwards and not buttoned.  Why don't I ever remember to take pictures??!! 
Men just weren't designed to choose clothes for their little girls.  It's just not in the genes. 

A Recap

I have been a bad blogger lately.  My goal is to post something every day, but that never happens.  So my next goal is to post something at least 2 or 3 times a week.  And that has not happened lately either.  I'm not sure why, but I've been in a bad blogging mood lately.  I guess you could say I've been rebelling against the blog.  Maybe it's the fact that work has been insane or the fact that I'm so busy or just tired or that I haven't had time to think of anything worthwhile or that there's really been nothing worthwhile to talk about.  Who knows!  But I am back today, and I've decided to recap some things going on in our lives.....

1.  As you may remember, my sister has been staying with us since August, and has been the temp secretary at my work for the past 12 weeks.  Well, today is her last day, and I'm really going to miss getting to boss her around at work!  HA!  No seriously, I've really enjoyed having her around.  And I'm going to miss her buying me little treats from the cafe.  But she will still be living with us for about another month, so I won't be missing her too much cause she'll still be around.

2. We have seen God's provision this week in a cool way during a tough time.

3. Yesterday at work, I looked down and noticed that my fly was down on my dress pants.  How long it had been down, I have no idea.  Man, I hate that!  I felt embarrased even though no one was around. 

4. The other day, Peyton noticed that Janna had not made her bed, and so she said, "Mommy, Janna didn't make her bed.  I'm going to tell her she needs to make her bed!"  (Janna, you better hope Mama doesn't read this blog)  I'm so glad Peyton is learning to be tidy(better than I can say about myself).  Her Grammy would be so proud! 

5.  Every Sunday on the way home from church, I always ask Peyton what she learned.  Two Sundays ago, she said, "Jesus and Crayons!"  This past Sunday she said, "Jesus and Crackers!"

6. Tonight and tomorrow morning, we are having a ladies retreat at my church.  It's going to be a lot of fun.  I've been on the planning committee for this, and have enjoyed getting to know some of the ladies at our new church through this.  Which leads me to my next point....

7.  This event has been in the planning stages for several months now.  I've been to all the meetings, helped decorate, helped with promotion, etc.  The ONE weekend of the whole year this event is to take place, is the ONE weekend I have to be at work to take care of some business Friday night and Saturday morning, right smack dab in the middle of the ladies' retreat.  I have to wonder why things like this happen.  I NEVER have to go to work on a Friday night or a Saturday morning.  Never in my five years of working here.  And I never usually have plans for the weekend.  Why does it have to be the same weekend?  Sometimes I just don't get life. 

8. I am looking forward to great things the Lord has in store for us(for you).  "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11  This is one of my absolute favorite verses.

9. I was at the mall browsing around in Bath and Body Works this past week and I noticed Christmas music playing as well as wreaths everywhere.  To be honest, I wish they would at least wait until after Thanksgiving to start promoting Christmas.  But at the same time, I start getting excited too.  What do you think about this?  Are you sick of Christmas music and Christmas by the time December 25th rolls around?

10. I want to come up with a #10, but I'm all out of ideas.  Hope you have a great weekend!

Fall Fest Fun!

 Just to show you how big this dog is...when it jumps, it's as tall as a man!

 I won't do a slide like this with Peyton anytime again soon.  The kids on this slide were crazy!  I would have been the same way though, if we would have had these when I was a kid.  We're at the top of the slide, if you have a hard time seeing us.

 Uh oh daddy.  She's shooting a gun.

 Raegan had fun too.

 Everyone has to have their face painted at a fall fest!

I have to say that this was one of the best fall festivals I have been to.  It started at 4:30, so it was still daylight, which is great for little ones.  It helped that the weather was warm too.  It wasn't too incredibly crowded, there were lots of great little games, the music was not BLARING loud so that you had to yell, and they gave you plenty of tickets to get lots of food.

The Pumpkin Patch Gravel Lot

                                           This pumpkin patch was more like a gravel lot with a few pumpkins on pallets.  It was an interesting "pumpkin patch".  I guess this is how you do a pumpkin patch in the city.

                                                 The Cheeser.

They look like they're having a blast, right? HA!