He's Back

Elmer, The Elf on the Shelf has returned from the north pole to spend the holidays with the Smith family.

The Elf on the Shelf is watching you, wathcing you.

The Elf on the Shelf is watching you , each and every Christmas.

He knows if you've been good or bad.

And how many cookies you have had.

The Elf on th Shelf is watching you, each and every Christmas.

Rainy Day Girl

Kenzie loves to wait for Caroline to get off of the school bus everyday.  This particular day last week it was raining.  Yes I said, raining.  Kenzie found this to be a the perfect opportunity to wear all of her rain gear.  Cute polka-dot boots, cutie flower rain coat and her Hello Kitty umbrella.  Doesn't she look adorable?  I thought so too.  When she heard the bus rounding the corner to drop off Caroline, she stripped down to her jammies and walked out to meet Caroline without any rain gear.  Go figure!

Wordless Wednesday

School Spirit!!

Today was "School Spirit" day at school.

Caroline wore her RC Bulldogs hoodie that her Mauw

got her for Christmas.  (She wasn't supposed to see it yet,

but they sent it home in her backpack.  Oops!) 

I love how she is getting into the spirit of school and

their mascot, the Bulldog.

When she got home from school today she asked for some easel paper and

a black and yellow crayon.  She made her own

streamers to hang from her bedroom door. 

 How cute is that!  

 I don't think she has a clue that we could have bought

 yellow & black streamers.  I think it is awesome that she wanted to

 make her own, just like her teacher did. 

Crazy Hat Day

This week at school, they are raising money for the local United Way.  The children bring in their change and then can participate in wearing crazy socks, crazy hats, etc... you get the idea.  Well, today is crazy hat day.  I think they should call it, cute hat day.  I love this hat and the little girl in it. 

Happy Halloween

My little sea creatures.

Caroline as Weezie the Penguin

Makenzie as a Mermaid.

My wonderful mother made these costumes for the girls.

She has done this every year since the girls were born. 

(and for my nephews as well)

She always out does her self.

Thanks Mauw, we love you!

Our trick-or-treating buddies, Jessie and Woody.

My mom made these costumes too.

Trick-or-Treating in our neighborhood.

Kenzie with her friend Kadence the Bumblebee.

The perfect way to trick-or-treat.

Have daddy pull you in the wagon.

Pumpkin Cake.

Family Fun Day

We had a great weekend.  Actually an awesome weekend.   It seems like we (Roy & I and the kids) haven't been able to spend much time together.  Prior commitments, cakes, and Roy's busy schedule at work have kept us from spending some much needed family time together.  Roy was really sick last week and I was getting a little stir crazy, so we decided to take a small family outing to Huber Farms.  I have never been but have heard such great things about it.  Here are a few photos...

They had these little pedal tractors all over the farm. 

The girls had a blast riding them.

This was the biggest pot-bellied pig I have ever seen.

HUGE!

Kenzie showing this goose a little love.

Caroline feeding the goats corn.

There were about 20 goats all after this little cup of corn.

This baby goat was only a week old.

Daddy and his girls.

Mommy and her girls.

Caroline stops to pose with Jerry in the Cartoon Maze.

Kenzie with Sponge Bob.

Aub & Roy

The girls riding a turtle.

Caroline and the giant chicken.

I tried to get on this chicken and let's just say, that we could have

easily won quite a bit of money on America's Funniest Home Videos.

I was laughing so hard, I peed my pants. 

Yipee!!

I have no words....

This is what happened when I left the girls for 15 minutes to finish up a project on the computer.

Where did I go?

Hi there....long time no blog.  The past month has been busy, busy, busy.   We all have been super busy around here and it's only going to get busier as the holidays approach.  Did I just say holidays?  This can't be.   Are we almost to Halloween (the girls have been asking for weeks) and then Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before we know it.  Wow!!  This year has gone by so fast. 

Roy has been really swamped at work.  Most nights after the girls are in bed, he is up late working.  He is stressed a lot of the times, but is thankful for his job.

I have been busy with cake orders, which I am so thankful for.  This is what I have wanted to do for quite some time and am blessed to have been able to follow my dream.  I've made a fall birthday cake, a goodbye cake (boo hoo), a green T-Rex cake, 200 cream cheese mints, a Rod End cake, Rootbeer cupcakes, and a 3-tiered Halloween Haunted House cake for this weekend.  I have so far 4 more orders for November.   Yeah!!

The girls have been busy with school and preschool.  Caroline is reading like crazy and enjoys being part of the AR program.  She loves telling me about her tests she takes.  Funny!  She always has a story to tell the minute she gets off the bus about another student doing something funny or getting in trouble.    Makenzie loves being in preschool and can't wait to share her day with me as soon as I pick her up.  We can't leave until she rips everything out of her bag to show me her arts and crafts, her library book or a note for me.  My favorite is when she sings me the songs they have learned. 

Here we are at Apple Works on a Mops outing. 

Even though we have been super busy, we have been able to stop and enjoy the season. 

Kenzie & Morgan Sue

A few of Makenzie's favorite things...

1) Milkie in her green sippy cup

2) Her big brown dog, Morgan Suzanna

3) Being Nudie

4) Having her picture taken

Snug As A Bug In A Rug

Big Girl

Here is our sweet little, I mean big, girl Makenzie

waiting for her birthday party to start on Saturday.

She received these cute heart rain boots and a new Hello Kitty

umbrella for her birthday from her Mauw & Papaw.

Too bad it had to rain on her birthday, but perfect to try out her new stuff.

{and yes, those are pj's she is wearing}

Wordless Wednesday {Bad Hair Day}

Accidentially washed Kenzie's AG, Julie.

I guess their hair wasn't made for the washer & dryer.

Bus Stop Visitor

The girls and I saw this precious bunny while for the bus yesterday morning.  He (or she) was there again today and I had my camera with me to catch a picture.   We are hoping he will be there everyday to greet us.  What a great start to the day.  

Roller Skating & Horsey Rides

We had a busy weekend but was still able to find some time to rest and relax.  Attended a birthday party for a friend's son, Nate at the local roller rink.  Neither of our girls have ever been roller skating and they both did excellent.  Caroline really took off, without any help.  Makenzie went through three pairs of skates and we finally found a pair that fit over her shoes.  Thank goodness.  We had a really good time and look forward to doing that again as a family. 

Today we headed to Brown Co. State Park and had a picnic and then the girls did some horse back riding.  Well, Caroline did anyway.  Makenzie just watched and talked about all the poop.  Go figure!

  Kenzie just wasn't getting the hang of it yet.

Caroline being silly.

Cupcake face

They always have fun with their daddy. 

They were chasing him around the roller rink.

Today at Brown County State Park

Me & my big girl!

Taking a rest after walking one of many trails.

We were all a little crabby and moody this weekend but we managed to spend

  time together as a family and make new memories. 

Scooby Doo

That's one big sandwich for a dog.

Don't you think?

I made this Scooby Doo cake for Nate who just turned 7.

Happy Birthday Nate!!

Big Girl #2

Makenzie started preschool yesterday.  She had a wonderful day making new friends, getting to know her teachers and loving snack time (of course).  We had a little trouble getting ready in the morning.  For those of you who know Miss Makenzie well, she is kind of a "fashionista".   She loves to pick out her own clothes and shoes and it totally drives me CRAZY..   She is only 2 - how can she know what she wants to wear?    I gave her two choices the night before, she picked one that I liked, thank goodness, and then changed her mind in the morning.  Well, mommy wasn't having it.  It truly was a struggle to get her dressed. In the end, guess who won?  That's right, Mommy.   She looked so cute and she eventually got over not wearing her standard pink flimsy tank top and skirt.  Hopefully when the cooler weather arrives we won't have this problem.

Doesn't she look so cute?

I love that big smile.

On the way to school, it was pretty quiet in the car so I turned to Kenzie and I said...

"I love you baby".

"Don't call me baby.  I'm a big girl now".

Wow, I didn't expect that answer.  But she is right.  She is getting so big, so fast.  Before I know it, I will be putting her on the school bus for her first day of kindergarten. 

ps- she went pee pee in the potty twice yesterday!!  Yeah!

Wordless Wednesday

From the mouths (and minds) of babes

Makenzie likes to "beauty shop" as she calls it.  This basically means play dress-up or play with finger nail polish, etc...  She has this favorite lip gloss and she recently lost it.  Well today, while doing some cleaning, we found it again.  Here is how our conversation went....

"Kenzie, guess what mommy found"?

"What"?

"Your lip gloss".

"I can't believe you found my lick gloss.  I am so happy". 

Yes you read correctly, lick gloss. 

One other funny thing she is saying right now is ...placesnack instead of placemat. 

This is how my children's minds work.

Would love to see comments left as to what you all think this is. 

Growing Up

Today marked a big day for my oldest daughter,  Caroline.  She is officially a kindergartner.  I truly can't believe it.  I remember moms always telling me how fast the time goes when your children are infants and toddlers, and I didn't always believe them.  Boy, I do now.  I can remember bringing Caroline home from the hospital and placing her in her crib for the first time.  Rocking her all hours of the night because I didn't want to let go.  When she had her first big ear infection (included a trip to the ER), her first Halloween costume, first Christmas and birthday.  I remember alot of "firsts" and now I can add this one to the list. 

Caroline was such a big girl today.  She got out of bed with no problem, ate a great breakfast, we combed hair w/o a fight (thank goodness) and we walked to the bus stop for her very first bus ride.  Oh my.  The bus arrived and she got right on, only looking back for just a second.  As the bus pulled away, I could she her walking to the back trying to find a spot to sit.  Talk about breaking my heart.  All I could think about was... could she find someone to sit with?  Would she be scared?  Would someone say, "You can sit with me".  I headed to school as soon as the bus left (no I wasn't stalking it) to meet Caroline as she got off the bus at school.  I had promised I would walk her to her room on the first day and I kept my promise.  Of course I had a motive.  I wanted to make sure she was safe and okay.  And she was.  As for me, I was okay too.  Because she was okay.    Our children will always seem small and child like to us, even as they get older.  It's hard to remember how mature they are and that they can handle things we don't think they are old enough, or big enough for. 

Caroline had a fantastic day at school.  She is looking forward to returning tomorrow.  I just hope wake up time is just as easy. 

And to all my mommy friends who had this "first" today, great job moms.  We did it!!   :)

My tradition first day of school photo on the front porch.

Showing off her back pack. 

It is as big as she is.

With little sister, Kenzie.

Waiting for the school bus.

The highlight of her day.

There goes my girl.

Settling in at her spot.

Love this picture.

Caroline drew this at school today.

This is her waiting for the bus.

Too cute!!

Notice anything missing?

Caroline didn't have time to draw her mommy in.

Maybe next time...