Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Almost forgot...we went apple picking!!

How could I forget that? We had so much fun picking apples with Gamma, Aunt Michelle and her boys! We sure missed Gdad, Uncle Thad, Uncle Bruce & Aunt Sus and their girls.

Wilson and Delaney took off and picked a ton of apples together!

Isabelle had fun picking "just the right ones"!


What a mess! Love her!

Such the 4th child...she ate almost a whole apple...skin and all and LOVED it. She would literally scream if you even tried to take it away from her. I don't think my other kids ate skin on their apples till they were a lot older...oh wait, they still don't eat skin on their apples!

Lovin' life!

Cousins picking apples!!




September...what a busy month!

September was a whirlwind. What didn't we do is the real question. Not really, but it sure feels like it.

Eleanor (and I) got to experience a trip to the allergist after her reacting to a couple of food she had eaten/gotten a hold of over the summer. At her 15 month checkup (in August) our pediatrician told us that she really needed to go see one and even had an appointment set up for us by the time we left the appointment. Anyway, after a LONG initial allergy visit/scratch testing/blood testing we have confirmed that E is allergic to bananas and peanut butter...and slightly to dogs. So, we are adjusting our eating habits (to a degree) around here...and it's been an experience none the less. Thankful that only one out of our four have allergies. We are armed and "ready" (and hope we never have to use it) with an Epi-pen and are stocked up on Benadryll and Zyrtec as well!

Soccer season started for Delaney...that occupies every Thursday night with practice and Saturday with games. She has been playing the keeper position and LOVES it. She still plays on the field and LOVES that as well. She is just an all around great soccer player (yes, I am biased, but that is what we hear all the time from her coaches as well)! Guess she got her daddy's genes cause I am sure not athletic (which she thinks is weird...I mean "how could you not like sports/soccer"?!).

Isabelle started ballet classes on Tuesday afternoons. She was ready to do gymnastics again this year and then all of a sudden decided that she REALLY wanted to try ballet/dance. She is LOVING it and is learning a lot! Her cousin, Avery, takes it with her....they love doing things together...and they are cute to watch. Can't wait for the recital in May.

I hosted a baby shower here for one of the girls that used to be in my Coaching Group when I was on staff at Fellowship. We had a "cake bar" with different cakes and just had a great time talking, laughing and watching Emily open all her cute "pink" things for Annabel.

We've been watching lots of Razorback football as well...WPS!!! The girls are quickly learning/being reminded that in the Fall football is on literally ALL. THE. TIME. in our house! As Sloan put it the other day to Delaney..."Sunday is NFL, Monday is NFL, Thursday is NFL/highschool/some college, Friday is high school football, and Saturday is College! Delaney has really gotten into it this year and constantly asks "who are we cheering for" whenever a game is on. Which then leads to long conversations about if it's an SEC team or who we need to lose so the Hogs move up in the BSC/AP polls, or who is on daddy's Fantasy football team! Very funny to hear Sloan explain to an 8 year old...but she's getting it and intact, she probably gets it more than me.

I celebrated my 36th birthday...we went to dinner as a family and then the next night I got to have a girls afternoon/night with Leah and Kristin...so much fun! Nothing more to say about turning 36...except I did get tired of all my gray hair the other day and darkened it myself...could not wait any longer! HA!!!

I know other stuff happened...we had a busy month...or yes, just the day to day stuff...you know, school, Sloan working and having a tax deadline in the middle of the month, doctor's appointments, church, Bible Study, lunch with friends, etc., etc.! I'm tired just trying to look at my calendar to remember everything. Glad that it's over...of course October has been just as busy...such is life, I guess?!

D and Miss Kristin eating cake after the shower!

Hostesses and Emily!

"Cake bar"...so yummy!!!



Oh, I forgot to mention that my brother, sis-in-law and their kids came for a visit and stayed with us. Matt and I got to celebrate our birthdays together.

Eleanor playing at the soccer field!
Soccer!!!





Happy First Day of School!!

Isabelle is in 1st grade!

Delaney is in 3rd grade!

Sweet sisters on the 1st day of school!



Delaney and Mrs. Prock

Isabelle and Ms. Fields

They both have wonderful teachers...we could not have asked for better! It's going to be a great year!!

Madeline is 3!

Madeline turned 3 in August! When I asked her what kind of party she wanted for her birthday she said a "bubble bbay(birthday) poppy(party)....so that's just what we had a bubble and bubble gum birthday party! I had so much fun looking at blogs to get ideas...I mean who doesn't like bubbles and bubble gum??!! The kids had so much fun playing out back with all the fun bubble wands and then we had a whole table full of goodies. Oreo balls, cupcakes (with HOT PINK icing that M picked out), gum balls on top of the cupcakes, little gum balls, wrapped bubble gum, pop rocks and blow pops! Yes...I got everyone nice and sugared up!!! The best part of the day was when Sloan and I were tucking her in bed....she gave us each a HUGE hug and said, "that was my fay-dit(favorite) bbay(birthday) poppy(party)!!!! It brought a HUGE smile to this mom's face! We love our little Madeline...she keeps us on our toes! Can't believe she is already 3!

Happy 3rd birthday, Madeline!!!

Miss Kristin and the girls!

Party table...

Party favors..."Thanks for poppin in!"

Eleanor got caught playing in the drink tub!

Guess the number of gum balls and win the jar!!


Bubble Fun!!!!!




Make a wish!

Mmmm...Oreo Pops/Balls!

Miss Kristin got Madeline a Madeline shirt! M tells everyone that it has her name on it!

Slip and Slide fun...a great way to end the party!



Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Video of Bono...

so I tried to stick a video on the last post...don't think it worked; will try and fix it soon, but have to get the little girls up from naps and pick up the big girls at school then Sloan has ballet duty today for Isabelle and I get to attend parent/teacher conf. for the big girls...the blog world will just have to wait to see Bono come right over our heads till later. :-)

U2 in St. Louis!!!

Sloan and I did sneak in a 10 year anniversary get away after all. If you know my hubby, you know that he is hard to buy presents for. He is "Mr. Electronics/Computer Man"...which is both very good and very bad if you are trying to buy him a present. I have been told on numerous occasions to NEVER buy him anything to do with electronics or computers, which is fine, but what do you get someone for a 10 year anniversary present. He got me a chair for our living room that I had been wanting and a new computer (not that I wanted one, but he said my other one was running out of hard drive space). I had several different thoughts...a Shutterfly book of pics of us from when we started dating until now...a lot of thought would go into it, but he wouldn't "cherish" that like I would; call his cousin who is also a computer guy and ask him what Sloan needs that he might not already have that would meet his standards and would be ok for me to get...another great idea, but I had a feeling his cousin would suggest an iPad and honestly, I have not really heard Sloan talk to much about wanting one...that would be a waste of money (although I think the girls and I would have gotten a lot of use out of it). Then I got it....tickets to go and see U2...one of his favorite bands (mine, too)!!! We were supposed to go with some friends to see them a while back but he had a conference to go to instead for work (I did get to go with him to Nashville, so I'm not complaining...although I was VERY bummed to not see U2)! Anyway, getting him tickets was two fold...getting to see U2 pole getting away by ourselves!! I had it all arranged...tickets bought, my mom and his mom lined up to keep the girls, and a "fake" meeting at work for him just to get the day blocked off his calendar since he would have to take a day off work! He was so surprised and so excited...I had forgotten that he had never seen them in concert before (I had though...they are so good)!!!!!

We had the best time...we drove up to STL on a Saturday and shopped and went to dinner that night, went to a movie on Sunday (which we never do) and ate a fun restaurant that he found on his iPhone and then went to Busch Stadium to watch U2 that evening. We go to the stadium and I had just gotten general admission tickets which put us on the field. We happened to notice that the field was sectioned off...we went over to check it out and ended up in the Red Zone...in between the main stage and the "cat walk". There were literally 20 people between us and the front of the stage and about 4 or 5 people between us and the "cat walk". We were "up close and personal" with Bono and The Edge...they even walked right over our heads on a moving bridge...we could see the sweat running down their faces! A.MAZ.ING.!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I would've taken my good camera; I honestly thought that we would not be allowed to have them, so all we have is cell phone pics/video. We were so HOT...it was like 100 degrees (literally...major heatwave)...and so HUMID....but we had a BLAST and I'm so glad that I picked that present for him.

Love you honey and I'm so thankful you "picked me" to be married to! I could not imagine doing life without you by my side. I know God had you for me from the beginning and I am so grateful to Him! Can't wait to see where He takes us the next 10 years...and more to follow after that. I love our girls so much, but am already looking forward to the time when it's just "us" in the house and all the fun things we will be able to do then! Love you always!!!



Self portrait of us at the concert!!!!

Happy 4th of July!!!!

Fireworks at Pleasant Valley Country Club with Sloan's family has become a tradition. So much fun for all the cousins!!!

Leah & Madeline

6 of the 10 cousins!!! Riley, Avery, Isabelle, Jackson, Wilson and Delaney!!!

FIREWORKS!!!!!!!!!

Eleanor was busy eating the rest of her big sisters strawberry milkshake!

Gdad and his grandkids watching the fireworks!

They had so much fun!

Wilson and Delaney

Avery and Isabelle