Super Girl To The Rescue

Taylor & her cousin Justin are always playing the roles of Spider Man and Super Girl.  To the extent that when they get together at Nana's they literally talk to each other using those names....ALL DAY LONG!!

So this year, I had the greatest idea.  I bought the two of them, Spider Man & Super Girl outfits.

I wish the following pictures would even do justice to the excitement on both of their faces.

Christmas at Uncle Adams & Auntie Ambers

I wish I could express the appreciation I have for Uncle Adam & Auntie Amber.....these two love my kids...what I believe sometimes....just as though they were their own.

We had Christmas with them a little early and boy were the girls HAPPY.

And just as lip gloss was a HUGE success at Grandmas...so was it at Auntie Ambers....just look at the pure joy on her face

Uncle Adam joining in the fun...she really wanted to put the lip gloss on him, but he flat refused!!

But, was more than happy to help Tori apply hers
 

And there is NOTHING like a lip gloss kiss....these girls had more lip gloss on their lips and just kept applying more...and more...and more
  

And they saved the best for last....matching, pink, princess scooters.  The funniest part....they were almost arguing over who was going to get them and bring them out for the girls to see!!
  

Taylor is the funniest thing when it comes to clothes...she LOVES them.  Every time she gets some new ones, she can't wait to put them on.  And of course, Tori is always so quick to "copy"  her sister's every action
  

And maybe the next best part....was Auntie Amber letting them take all the balls off the tree and play with them.  Good thing she bought the shatter proof ones!!  This is a HUGE no no at home!

To Uncle Adam & Auntie Amber.....Thank You for ALL that you do, for loving my kids at times as though they were your own, for being such an important part of our lives & for giving of your time, energy & efforts to help make Christmas such a wonderful time of the year.  You guys are loved beyond measure!!

Worth It All

Well it's been a longggggg time coming....but, it's finally finished and just in time for the best Christmas surprise EVER.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwQe_11XdTA

 

An Early Christmas

The girls and I spent the entire afternoon today having an early Christmas.  We started off at Grandma Benton's house where we were going to have lunch and then open presents....BUT....we ended up opening presents first and then eating lunch....no surprise there!!

Taylor had not seen the present we got Grandma so needless to say, she had to open for her!!

This is what a simple tube of lip gloss will get you

And as always....Grandma makes a killer grilled cheese....and tomatoes!!

Aren't Grandmas the BEST

PRAISE THE LORD!!!

Most of you already know, but I'm posting it anyway.....I FINALLY PASSED THE CPA EXAM

To absolutely no credit of my own, I give 100% praise, honor & glory to God

Thanks to everyone who has stood behind me, prayed with me & in any way helped me along the way.  I love you all.



Sweet Girls

The girls and I spent all day at Nana's today...and somehow I managed to get this shot of Taylor & Hannah!!

Have You Ever Seen A Reindeer Princess

Well, if you've never seen one before....here you go!!

And the best part....she is soooooo proud to be one!!

It's A Crying SHAME....

I ran my third half marathon Saturday at Pier Park (Run For The Redfish)....and posted my best time EVER....AND DON'T HAVE A SINGLE PICTURE TO SHOW FOR IT.  But for a small glimpse of how far we've come on our running....we ran this same race last year but only did the 5K (3.1 miles) and couldn't even run the entire thing.  What a difference a year can make!!

Tiny Tots Parade

The day care had their annual tiny tots parade on Friday and I was privileged enough to get to help.  I actually got to pull Tori & her friend Lauren in the wagon.  A huge thanks to Barbara for catching a couple pics along the way.

Taylor and one of her two favorite friends....Allison.  Which by the way, I think they make the CUTEST little reindeer.

Pretty In Pink

These two little stinkers absolutely LOVE being able to wear their boots....especially to church.  They were more than happy to pose Sunday morning for me to get a picture!!

Always Playing Hard To Get

For some reason when it comes to Uncle Adam....Tori is ALWAYS playing hard to get.  She is such a stinker!!  She really makes him work for it....BUT, it's always worth it and she LOVES it!!  And this one melts my heart with the way her hand is on his face....and just look at that smile!!

Her Two Favorites

I was at Kohl's recently returning some stuff.....their return counter is way in the back of the store, right beside all their Christmas decorations.  Well, I took a quick glance and I'm sure glad I did.  I spotted these two Hallmark ornaments that I was sure the girls were going to love....and boy was I right!!  Especially Taylor!

Shortly after the tree was all done and fully decorated I wanted to take Taylor's picture in front of the three.  Well, she was happy to oblige as long as she could hold an ornament while I took her picture.  And of course, guess which one she wanted to hold....

Followed by mommy....don't you want to take another one of me holding a different ornament!!  At this point, how could I possibly resist?

Christmas Bells Are Ringing

Well, I might have been planning all week now to put up the tree....and go figure....on the last available day, we did it!!
Hannah & Lily were coming over to help us so we decided we should all get baths and get dressed.
Well Miss Taylor has had this new fetish lately that she wants a pony tail...pretty much every day.
She was so stinking cute, I just had to go out and get a few pictures.



And after SEVERAL threats of....we're not going to have a Christmas tree this year if you guys don't get a pretty picture for mommy....this is as good as I could get

Just For The Record

It has been a TOTALLY depressing day.  The test did not go very well at all.  We all know God is capable of working a miracle, but that is certainly what it's going to take!!  I should find out the score December 23rd....and worse case scenario, back to studying ALL over again and I will retake it early January!!!

PLEASE!!!!!!!

Hopefully life will be back to some sort of normalcy REAL soon.  Tuesday is the BIG day, the FINAL test.  So I sincerely request that should the Lord put me on your mind.....PLEASE pray for me.  In all honesty my first request would be for peace as I'm on the verge of a nervous wreck and then secondly that he would help me retain and recall ALL the information I've been studying so hard for.

I LOVE YOU ALL!!

Occupying ALL Of My Time

If you have been wondering why my posts have been so few and far between....well, I hope this explains it!!

For all those who love and support me, I go November 23rd to take what I PRAY is the final part of the CPA exam.  It is a whirlwind of emotion at this point.  Excited, scared, tired, panicky and a thousand other words I'm sure.  But prayerfully this will all be behind me very soon and boy, what will I do then will all my spare time....oh wait, I don't have any.  So how do I study?  From 8 at night until 1 in the morning!!!!  So I guess when this is over maybe I can actually get some SLEEP!!!

Miracle Strip at Pier Park

By the way if anyone is interested....their annual pass for 2011 is on sale from now until 12/31/10 for only $79.  The really cool thing is, when you buy one, you get a plastic card with your name on it....when you go to the pavilion to get your arm band for the day, a "buddy" gets an arm bad too for FREE and that's all year long, and can be a different "buddy" every time.  So technically you are getting 2 people in all year long for only $79.  Not to mention they are opening up a butterfly pavilion & getting two new rides.

If you are interested you can purchase on their website at:

miracle-strip.com

The Family Pyramid

About the only holiday I really ever get to enjoy with the girls is Veterans Day.  The daycare is closed, but my work is not.....that equals a much needed use of a vacation day in order to stay home with the girls.  Amazingly enough....we never stay home.  I had already planned 3 weeks ago what we were going to do (amazing...I know....I never PLAN anything!!)

So Nana & I had it in the works.....a trip to Pier Park, lunch at Long Horns & fishing from Ken's (my boss) dock.

We were fortunate enough to have Stacey & the kids join us at Pier Park....and honestly, I'm not sure what they enjoyed doing the most.  Riding the rides, or running around free in the grass with no shoes on!!  So Aunt Stacey was able to get them to form this lovely family pyramid....and what a beautiful family it is!!

Dinner was EXCELLENT....but no pics for that one....

But even better...was the fishing we did.  We all caught TONS of little fish.  By no means were any of them keepers, but that's not the point.  Taylor and Tori both actually caught fish all by themselves with no help from me snagging them.  It was a TON of fun and hope we can do it again in the very near future before it turns too cold.

 

Sweet Country Girl

Wednesday night Aunt Stacey brought Taylor a dress and a jean skirt that Abbi once wore.  The minute Taylor found out they were from Abbi, she was hooked.  Before we could even get out of church she was wanting to put the dress on....so I made her wait until we got home...and litterally the second we walked in the door she was ready to put it on.  So yesterday, we actaully got to wear the jean skirt....its probably technically a little longer on Taylor than it is supposed to be, but absolutely cute none the less...especially with her turtle neck and boots.

This girl was soooooooo excited. I wish I had a video of her once we got to school prancing around in front of the teachers just to show off her outfit!!!

Aunt Stacey, you are our hero!!



Happy 4th Birthday Taylor

Well, call me lazy if you want to, but this year I took the easy route!!  And let me just say I totally enjoyed EVERY minute of it.  It may have cost a little more in the long run but just a little and I put forth no more effort than making the reservation and picking up the cake.  The best part, it was just what Taylor wanted to do and she loved it.

Taylor with her most favorite cousin

Taylor and Hannah Richberg took an immediate liking to one another once she started coming to our church.  She persistently insisted we were going to invite her to her part.  They live pretty far away so I wasn't sure she would be able to make it.....but they did and boy were we excited to have them....

I would have to be honest....this slide is not usually very slick....but this day, it was unbelievably slick....which equates to really FAST....which equates to a TON of fun for all of us...

It was so slick that just about every time you went down, you flew right off the end...even over the big hump!

It was just as much fun for the grown ups as the kids!!

So much for the rule of only one person sliding at a time....it was way too much fun for a bunch to slide at once!!  And sometimes it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission!!

 

Thanks to EVERYONE who helped make this such a wonderful day!