Ahhh...The Country Air....

When Bryan and I went to pick up the girls we decided to stay a night to visit with his family. His mom and stepdad live on ranch, and have lots of land, which includes a pond right behind their home. Madie, being the country girl she is, loves it out there. You can find her out there even rubbing sticks together to try and start a fire. Well, Payton seems to really like all the room to just run. So one of Madie's favorite things to do when she visits is to fish, and this was Payton's first time to join in. I think Madie caught a total of two fish that day. Enjoy!! Looks just like big sister

Madie and PaPaw showing off her catch.

Helping Payton get it out of the moss.

I guess fishing is hard work for a 2 year old.

My Birthday...

Well, I am one year closer to the big 3-0, YIKES!! The celebration started by my amazing family serving me breakfast in bed, and then dinner at my parents house that night. Madie and Bryan made me a sign for my birthday, and it was so sweet and cute. I knew nothing about it, and when I walked out of the house to take Madie to school that morning I found it stuck in the yard. I proudly displayed the sign in the yard all day. It made me feel so special when the neighbors and some mom's at the school told me they had seen it, and how sweet it was. I have to say I am extremely blessed. The weekend after my birthday we took the girls to Mamaw and Papaw's while we had a weekend alone! We went to the timeshare at Holly Lake, and pretty much stayed in bed for two days. We came home one night from dinner, and found five deer sitting right outside the cabin, it was awesome. When we left that Sunday we saw more on the side of the road that I was able to get some pictures of. I love spending time there every year for my birthday, it brings back so many memories of my childhood. My grandfather had a house nearby, and before he passed away we spent every Thanksgiving there, I remember it being beautiful even then. It's so pretty with all the tall trees, and the colors are amazing. As a kid my brother and I would go in his front yard and collect pine cones. So this year I was able to get Bryan to go down the trails and gather some pine cones for the girls to decorate. It was a lot of fun, and I miss doing it so much with him, well I am sure we will get some more next year.

With my family, and my yummy ice cream cake my mom got.

With my Dad on my birthday.

Madie's Night....

As usual I am behind, I will do my best to get caught up over the next few days. A little over a month ago Madie had her investiture ceremony for Girls Scouts. This is where she offically became a Brownie, got her pin, and made her promise. This so fits Madie's personality perfectly. Madie isn't much of an athletic child. It's not that she isn't good or capable of it, it's just not where her interest is. Madie is more into art and science. She is also one of those kids that wants to change the world, and make an impact on other's lives. We were driving down the rode one day, and out of nowhere she asks me, "Mom one day do you think we could walk along the rode with bags and pick up trash?" How on earth do you say no to that. So we discussed what Girls Scouts platform is, and she was so excited to be a part of it. I can't wait to see the amazing things she is going to achieve!!

Tooting My Own Horn...

Well, it's probably no surprise to most of you how we recycle almost everything in our home, and discuss wasting with the girls frequently. So I decided I was going to take on a challenge, and try to get the school to implement recycling in the classroom, and cafeteria. So I had to get approval through the administration building before I could even take it to the principal, which I received on Monday. So today I got approval from the principal to implement the program at Madie's school!! In December they will have their team member meeting, which is the lead teacher in each grade, and she wants me to work out the specifics with the teachers then. I am so excited! I even volunteered to do all the leg work if I needed to, ex: picking up the trash cans for the classrooms, make the recycle signs, put the signs on the cans, and etc. I also will have to get with the city to have a big recycle bin delivered to the school, and get the on the trash day pick up. I talked to a few fellow PTA board members, and they are all excited to offer their help. I think it's important to teach the kiddos the benefits, and consequences if we don't recycle. Just because it's discussed in our home doesn't mean every child knows the importance. So needless to say I am super excited, and can't wait to hear what the teachers have to say about it! Seeing as to the PTA does so much for them, they are usually on board with whatever we want to do, especially if we are doing the work. I am sure they will accept it, and even help with it! I think it would be awesome if the whole district implements this in all the schools, over 13,000 students!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

We had a blast this year for Halloween!! Both of the girls looked so adorable, Madie was a pirate, and Payton was a ballerina. We went to a festival that our HOA and a local church put together, then we headed out for some door to door. Payton was so funny! She is so shy, well apparently not when someone is giving her candy. She would walk up to everyone, and said trick or treat each time. Also everytime she would get candy she would run back up to us and say "CANDY" really excited!! It was a blast, and was great that both of the girls were so excited this year!! Now if Bryan and I could just stop raiding the bags!

Pumpkin Carving....

Here are some pics from us carving our family pumpkin this year. Madie loved gettting down and dirty, and Payton wanted nothing to do with it once the top came off. This year Madie carved her own small pumpkin, and Payton colored hers.

Madie showing Daddy what she wanted the family pumpkin to look like.

I think she enjoys this too much!

DIVA!!

I think Bryan and I are going to have our hands full with Payton!! The other day I was doing my makeup. and Payton was getting into everything in my bathroom. So I decided to get some old empty makeup containers, brushes, and a makeup bag. I made it all special just for her so she could be like Mommy. She LOVED it!

Air Show....

We decided to take a picnic lunch and watch the air show go overhead in a nearby field. Well, after about 5 minutes we all decided that going inside looked like a lot more fun! It sure was. As you can tell I hardly got any pictures of planes flying because we were so busy looking at everything else. Of course, our little tomboy Madie, was all about learning every last detail. There was so much history on the planes, and the military, and we all know she is our little history buff! Payton was so excited, that is until we sat down for lunch. We got really close to the strip to watch the planes while we ate our lunch, and we were just sitting and talking, when a LOUD plane went by. Well, you can see in the pics below Payton wasn't very happy. We really had a lot of fun and were really glad we decided to go inside! They day did end with Payton happy again waving bye to the planes!

Choo...Choo...

For those of you that don't know, Payton is in LOVE with choo choo trains!! So some friends from the mom's club decided to go on a train ride, so Payton and I went. She had so much fun. She loved when the conductor would yell "all aboard". She would open her mouth real big, with a huge Payton smile, and say "Mommy hear that". She loved the horn, she would get all excited when they would honk it. We made a pit stop where they let us get out and look at the train, get some snacks, and stretch. Daddy was a little sad he didn't get to go, because he said he knew she had to have been so excited, and he hated he missed seeing it. We plan on all going back soon! Payton with her friend, and our neighbor, Ryan