Fall Fun/Happy Halloween *late- better than never!

Fall Fun/Halloween 2014 

The Dallas Arboretum has an amazing pumpkin display for little ones 

(and lets be honest, it's amazing for adults to see, too!) 

Layton *Pumpkin head* and Hadley

Layton & Hadley {24 months}

Kisses for Momma

Pumpkin Patch petting zoo by our home

The girls were Go-Go Girls/Dancers for 

Halloween this year! 

We took them trick or treating in our home towns adorable downtown Square! I love the small town feel of our big city, McKinney.  Every holiday the city does something family related in the square! The girls were a little spooked by some of the faces and masks, but over all did great walking up to the strangely dressed strangers and getting candy. They kept pointing and saying, "ooooooh". Next year will be a blast. They'll truly "get" it! 

{Ps- I had made go-go boots for the girls to wear... total Pinterest fail on this Mommas part. 

They ripped them right off.}

Gram and Grumps came along for the fun, too! We went back to their neighborhood country club to let the girls jump and go down a blow up slide. We were shocked that they climbed up ALL by themselves and went down the large slide.  

Hadley loved flipping to her belly and sliding down

After "Scare in the Square" and slide fun, we headed down to our neighbors, Chuck and Ashley's, home for a Halloween cookout! They have two large, fake, black spiders *thats a little creepy* on their home. Every time we drive by, the girls call out, "Itsy!" We sing Itsy Bitsy Spider, too! It was my way of keeping them from getting scared. The entire time that we were at the cookout, the girls pointed out the, Itsy Bitsy, spiders. 

This age is a blast! They are too cute, and we just love watching them grow! To view our little Pumpkins from last year, click HERE! 

We hope you all had a wonderful Fall! 

Layton and Hadley turned TWO!

Pumpkins at the Park turned into Pumpkins in the Backyard! The weather was dreary and chilly so home we came. 

I really loved the idea of a park party...next year! 

The girls had a blast at their 2nd birthday party! They ran, played, and were passed around by all of their favorite people in the world.

Danielle and Tanya

Pumpkin decorating (super easy craft for kids!)

For the 'Thank You' gifts- I removed the labels and added "stems"/pipe cleaners. There were markers provided for the kids to draw pumpkin faces on the front of each bottle. 

I plan on framing all of their bday party invites to have for each years party. 

Wrapping bottles of water makes for
such a great pop of color!

Pink and Pumpkins was a perfect theme!

Lunch was easy and yummy! 

Everyone enjoyed hotdogs with the option of chili and cheese, chips, fruit, veggies, and a yummy corn dip that Michael made! 

A coffee bar was set up last minute due to the chill in the air and MAN did everyone enjoy it. Michael's Dad, Steve, brewed four pots of coffee. It was a hit!

Steve, Grandmother, Daddy 

Layton, Mom, Lynley, Aunt Joanie, Melissa, Hadley

Yum, Yum! 

Am-ee (Grammie), Layton, Lala, and Hadley 

Maegan, Ashley & Lindsey 

Harper and Kayla

Amanda and Becky

Adam and Adelyn 

Friends and family came... left... and then came back! We had a full house until midnight.

 I love hosting in our home. It's one of my favorite things todo. While the girls took their afternoon nap, Melissa, Lynley and I made a second trip to the grocery store to grab items to grill/ yummy dips and sides to eat for dinner. That evening we had a bathtub full of babies, pack-n-plays set up all over the house, and friends sitting around the fire pit. It was a wonderful night!

 We are blessed with an amazing group of family and friends who live near by! 

A last minute cookout on the patio with friends was the perfect ending to the great celebration. 

Happy Birthday, H&L!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY 

Layton & Hadley! 

We have had the amazing opportunity to say, "happy birthday" 3 times to you sweet girls. Once on the day you were born. Last year, on your 1st birthday party and now today. Each time, we swell with pride, knowing you are one year more OURS! 

Here you were at ONE

and now you are at TWO! 

We are so lucky to have you in our lives! 

You make each day better. 

 Happy Birthday, our little pumpkins. 

We can't wait to celebrate you today. 

Pre-School 2014-2015

To put the girls in preschool... or to NOT put the girls in preschool. 
Those were the questions we battled. 

I found that many of the churches in the area offered a two day preschool for children 18-24 months. The older kiddos have the option for three days a week. I knew that I wanted to get the girls in some type of structured play/learning environment. So, I started doing some research.

I, originally, thought that I would start next Fall when they are turning three. 

Well... when we found out that we were expecting our third little one, plans got moved up. 

 I was in the first trimester COMPLETE exhaustion stage and the girls wanted to GO-GO-GO all the time. *and still do* I knew that being at home with a outing here and there just wasn't kicking it for them anymore. I also knew that when this belly gets even BIGGER and I am preparing for the the new baby to arrive, that two days of fun and go-go-go will be just what the girls need. 

We got the girls on the wait lists for all of the churches in the area. Yes, WAIT lists. ugh. Who would have thought they would ALL be full. Finally, two weeks before school started, we got the call that the girls got into Cottonwood Creek Baptist Pre-School/Mother's Day Out program. YAY! 

Treats for their teachers! 

Soooo many things TO DO before their big day/meet the teacher.  

I ordered the matching mini monogramed backpacks and lunch boxes, hurried and picked out fabric for their nap mats and dropped off the supplies at LaLa's house to be made/sewed. 
(LaLa only had a few days before we needed them completed. Sorry- lala! You rock!) 

We went to Meet the Teacher and meet their teacher and classmates (10 kidos)

I was nervous for them. BUT, was completely at peace, because they had each other. 

The first day of preschool, I got to the church early, tried to take a few pictures, and strolled the girls into "school!" 

 {fail...}
Here are a few!

 In we go!

I think every child in their class has an October birthday. 

I strolled the girls in, signed them in to their classroom, held back the tears and they ran in to play. A few whimpers as they turned around and saw me walk away. 
Don't you worry! I hung out in their hall way (yes, I was THAT Momma). 
After a few minutes they were playing and making friends. I knew then, I could go. It was harder on me than I thought. But, it is wonderful and the girls have a blast! 

The girls LOVE preschool and each morning we we go they get excited about seeing their teachers and friends. 

Daddy walked us in today!! 

The cuteness over load with them wearing their backpacks and holding their lunch sacks was adorable!