Pumpkin Patchin' it Texas Style

Last weekend we took the girls, and Sarah and Jeffrey, our cousins, to a pumpkin patch! Although we are finally getting fall-like temperatures the last few days, last weekend at the patch it was 90 degrees!!!! We were definitely not prepared for that! Normally you associate a hay ride with being chilly, but it was quite the opposite--we we're sweating! Despite the hot temperatures, we still had a fun time picking out pumpkins! And, the highlight of the trip had to be Addy Jane riding a pony!! She's been into My Little Pony lately, so this experience was especially exciting!!

When we ask Emery to smile lately, she puts everything she's got into it!

Such a regal pose!

Happy Five Year Blind Date Anniversary!

On October 14, 2006, Andy and I met on a blind date. We went to a concert and afterward met up at a friend's house to decorate sugar cookies. So every year we decorate sugar cookies as a fun way to remember when we met! This has become one of our family's favorite traditions! While we were waiting for the cookies to cool, Andy and I were cleaning up the kitchen. The girls were trying their hardest to wait patiently, but kept coming over to the table where the cookies were cooling and fussing because they couldn't have them yet. After a few minutes passed we noticed how quiet the house was and everyone knows when toddlers are quiet that they're up to something. Andy went to check on the girls and found them both happily sitting by the couch eating two heart-shaped sugar cookies! They've gotta be the cutest little cookie thieves I've ever seen! I'm so grateful for my sweet little family and especially to have met my most amazing husband 5 years ago!

I pulled this from the photo archives! :-) This was from an 80's date night! (Thanks again Aimee for helping me pull this awesome outfit together!)

Pure Happiness and Delight

On the Fourth of July we watched fireworks with the girls at UNT. It was a beautiful show we enjoyed with our friends who remembered their camera and captured this cute little picture of Emery. The girls LOVED the fireworks and I wish I would have brought my camera so I could have taken a video of their reactions. Addy said things like "WOW! Come see this Dad!" and of course there were plenty of girly squeals!

For many days to follow Addy kept asking to see more fireworks and it was hard for her to understand that it only happens once a year on Fourth of July (unless of course you're a Poyner and then you do fireworks for weddings or for fun in the backyard, but you better have a hose ready!).

I can imagine Emery saying, "Behold the fireworks Father!"

Emery's guarding the beloved rice crispy treats.

It was very toasty that evening, as you can tell from Emery's rosy cheeks.

"I Love To See The Temple" by Addy Jane

Addy's favorite song is "I Love To See The Temple." She sang this for us as a closing song during FHE. Our favorite is hearing her sing the word "prepared." We'll have to work on that one.

The Little Cheering Squad

Earlier this week I learned about a 5K race here in Denton that was FREE! Of course I had to take advantage of that! It was very hot today and the course was not shaded at all, so when I rounded the corner at the halfway point, completely exhausted, I couldn't have been happier to see my cute little cheering squad. They were all smiles and were shouting "GO Mommy GO!" It gave me the extra boost I needed to keep going. I have the best family ever!!!

Emery's got her game face on!

We went to the park afterward to let the girls play. I'm so grateful my girls have a dad that makes them laugh and smile!! (See video)

footnote: The noise you hear in the video is Andy doing a ghost noise--the girls laugh hysterically when they hear him do it!

Racing Fun!

It's been so fun to get to see our family the last two weekends! Doug, Amber, Callie and Sarah were in Oklahoma for a few weeks, so we raced up to see them last weekend and they came down to Texas to see us this weekend.

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The girls enjoyed dressing-up in princess costumes and tutu's and playing at the park! Sarah and Addy loved riding the four-wheeler together!

Doug, Amber and I had a chance to run a 5K on Saturday morning, while Andy watched all 4 girls--he's the real winner of that race! I did make sure to pack a bag of oreo cookies for the girls (as arsenal) should things get out of control. Upon crossing the finishing line I could see my little cheering section with black crumbs across their cute smiles! :-) He did a great job watching them and let Sarah and Addy run down a trail together for their own little race, while the very calm Emery and Callie rode in the double stroller!

Future 5Kers!!

Then we raced home to watch conference together, which was so wonderful (or at least the pieces that I caught!). We've had a blast!!!!

Congratulations Andy!

Last weekend, Andy went to San Antonio for the Hall Organ Competition and won first place! We were so excited that Sarah, Bobo and I made a little banner for Andy. We had so much fun coloring it and marking it up with musical notes and symbols. I was so grateful to have their creative genius and help there! Congratulations Andy--we love you and are so proud of you!!!

Dallas Zoo!

Today, Karri (my best friend growing-up!) and Darcy (her beautiful little baby girl!), took us to the Dallas Zoo! The weather was completely perfect and made for a wonderful and fun day! Sadly, our camera can eat batteries like I can eat through a tub of Blue Bell, so we weren't able to get as many pictures as we would have liked, but that just gives us more reason to come back in the future for more great photo ops!

There was a little splash zone river for the kids and Addy was so excited to get in the water until she stepped on a stick--you should have seen how fast she got out of that water!

Addy relates everything in life to her favorite princess, Cinderella, so she was so happy to see chickens and horses "like Cinderella" as she says. She was also excited to see and learn that elephants have their "business" too and after he was done she said "change" (for diaper change) and then kept asking for "more more please!" Very cute! Thanks again Karri and Darcy for such a wonderful day full of new sights and adventures!

Cowtown Fun!

Here are some pictures from the Cowtown 5K we did last Saturday! It was such a fun experience! There was over 18,000 at the race and the energy and adrenaline was so contagious!! While we (Amy, Rick and I) were out running the race, Andy was so great to take the kids around the expo for some fun events. Sarah won a hula-hooping contest and the prize she received was a "Megamind" DVD!!!! We were all so excited for her!!!! After finishing it was great to see a big Blue Bell truck passing out ice cream. I think had I known that would be at the finish line, I might have run faster to get there! :-)

Dancing Queens with Quotes!

The really good moves are at the end of the movie, so keep watching to see Addy and Emery's sweet dance moves!!

Funny quotes from Addy.....

While at the park swinging Addy hears some birds.....

Addy: "Birdies crying?"

Mommy: "Yes, it sounds like the Birdies are crying."

Addy: "Birdies time-out!"

Last Tuesday night we were waiting for Dad to get home to tuck the girls in bed and they were watching the Biggest Loser with me. (The BL contestants were doing boxing.)

Addy: "Exercise!"

Mommy: "Yes, that's right! They are exercising!"

Addy: (walks up to the TV and says with gusto) "NO HITTING!"

Addy is in love with Cinderella and everything associated with it. She walks around wearing "slippers," dresses, and lately asked for a wand when she saw me cooking with spaghetti. So I gave her an uncooked noodle and she waved it around in circles and said "Make Mom a dress like Cinderella!" It was priceless!

"Prayer Pose and Shake Your Booty" staring Emery Claire

Tonight at the dinner table we all folded our arms for prayer and I looked over (yes, my eyes were open:-) to see Emery trying her hardest to imitate us. Folding arms can be tricky business, but Emery just wanted to add her own style!

Emery is going to make a fabulous sign language interpreter! She's already practicing her facial expressions!

Later on in the evening, we had some dancing music on, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun!" Emery was really getting into it--shake that booty!!!

Magical Snow!

There's something about snow that's magical! Addy was so excited to get her hands on it and once she figured out she could throw it at Mom and that I would throw it back, it started a long snowball fight--she loved it! Although, it was difficult to get pictures with snow coming at the camera!

At one point I heard Addy say, "YUMMY!!!" I already knew what was happening and luckily she was eating fresh snow, not the black and brown yucky stuff. What a relief!

We must have stayed outside for at least 45 minutes, when I brought Addy in. She wasn't happy about that. She was completely captivated by this amazing-thing called snow! I think she would have stayed out there forever it I had let her.

Walker Texas Ranger

Emery is definitely a walker now! She's been showing off her skills for the past 2 weeks and you can see it in her eyes that she's excited about her new freedom to move quickly wherever she wants to go! She's put in the time and we're happy to announce that Emery has been promoted to "Walker Texas Ranger" status! Way to go Emery!

Do you see what I see?

It's so much fun to live with a two year old who sees the world through very creative eyes! Just yesterday I tore off a piece of cheese, handed it to Addy and she said "Temple!" (Forgive the photography, but I tried to have her hold the cheesy temple long enough for a picture, but I could tell she was more interested in eating it than having a Kodak moment, so this is what we got.)

Do you see what I see? Yes, that's right! Addy saw a snowman on the wall!

And here, she saw the letter "M!"

Can you guess what she saw here?

"PIZZA!!!!!"

Addy, thanks for making our lives so much fun!