Pretty Close

They are at slightly different ages, but the poses were too close to not compare!

Bow Making

Here recently I have really taken to making bows in my spare time (during naps and after the girls go to bed). I'm not sure what got me started on it, I guess just not having to buy them. So, I looked up how to make a few on youtube and haven't stopped. I really enjoy doing it and have been making some here and there for B and C and some family members. I am working on ways to begin selling them eventually, but for now, it's just fun to do!

Saturday morning Aaron was yelling from the living room, asking what I was doing...."Cayleigh didn't have a bow to match her new outfit, so I am making one real quick before we head to your parent's house!"

I usually end up making them simply to match Brooklyn and Cayleigh's clothes; like the cupcake one for CC and her upcoming cupcake birthday party and the red and black one for B and a cute ladybug outfit she has. Now, they have matching Halloween ones and just got done making some Christmas ones! Too fun!

For the most part, I just make the traditional bows and the spiral ones. Every once and a while, the random ones I decide to make turn out cute also.

Fall Festivals

I love our area/community! There are so many fun and free events that go on ALL the time, that we are soaking up fun times every week. Last Saturday we went to the Fall Festival in Roanoke and this Friday night we went to the Harvest Festival at our local library. Lots of activities, crafts, face painting, treats, and time in the beautiful weather. We have more "festivals" coming up and looking forward to Halloween!

Decorating a tile for the house.

Roanoke Festival 2012

Face painting....a princess crown of course!

Mini train ride

Brooklyn loves bounce houses and slides, no matter what height.

Driving the fire truck

Shooting some hoops

Small petting farm at the Harvest Festival at the Keller Library.

Tickling sissy Cayleigh

Fun, fun!!

Good Times

Staying with my girls is the best job I could possibly imagine! However, "staying at home" is not really on our daily schedule. We stay "running around" with school, gymnastics class, public library read-alouds, mom's group activities, museum trips, zoo trips, and time at the YMCA. And now that Fall is here, we are booked up with festivals around the city! Fun times!

(Cayleigh and I get some alone time together while sissy is in school. Her eye is looking fabulous and we love seeing how beautiful she truly is. She is a total rascal, however and is always doing what Mommy would prefer she not! She also absolutely adores Brooklyn.)

Brooklyn is blowing on Cayleigh's belly!

 My job rocks!

State Fair 2012

State Fair 2010 (Brooklyn)

State Fair 2011 (Kate, Addy and B)

State Fair 2012 (B and Cayleigh)

Papa invited the the girls and myself to the Texas State Fair on Monday and the weather couldn't have been more beautiful! We had such a wonderful time and it is fun to watch how Brooklyn enjoys things more and more with each year we go. She saw the newspaper sitting on the counter a few days ago where they had a front page picture and article about the owl at the bird show and she was hooked. She did nothing but talk about wanting to see the owl!! And a huge owl we saw at the bird show!

Having fun!

We started in the Food and Fiber Building creating a healthy meal with all the food groups. Snacked on some free samples of turkey and nachos, got a free tree to plant and saw Elsie, the cow.

Off to watch the dog show, feed the animals at the petting zoo, eat lunch, and then watch the bird show.

Lots of walking around and saying hello to Big Tex.

Cayleigh girl eyeing up big sissy's ice cream!! 

Lots of fun with my Papa!

Brooklyn even got to drive.

  See you again next year!!

Just the Two of Us

Aaron and I have not been on a vacation, just the two of us and not visiting family, since our honeymoon....we were well overdue for some much needed time away! We kicked off our extended weekend at the Ballpark in Arlington watching the Rangers on Wednesday night. Thursday morning, we leisurely woke up and worked our way down to Austin, stopping here and there to shop at various outlets and eat. We checked into the Lakeway Resort and Spa in the early evening, enjoying a few drinks and the view.

The view from our room on the balcony.

First night and ready to RELAX!

Friday morning, we got up and walked around the resort, just checking everything out. Shortly afterwards, I enjoyed a full body scrub and Swedish massage....amazing!! It truly was fabulous and I think I may have convinced Aaron to do a massage with me next time we go on vacation again (another 5 years from now, hopefully not that long!) We headed into town to the galleria for some shopping, lunch at Tony C's Coal Fired Pizzeria and a movie.

Later, we got all "gussied up" and went to dinner at Steiner Ranch Steak House. The restaurant sat on a hill and had a great view. It was packed, which is a sign of a good place (reservations at 7:30). For starters, we split a wedge salad and lobster macaroni and cheese. Oh my!! We shared a bottle of Pinot Noir and Aaron had the bone-in filet and I had the smothered pork chop. The food was delicious and the atmosphere was very upscale and romantic with a live pianist.

Leaving for dinner in the resort lobby.

View from the patio of the restaurant.

Two pictures from my phone at Steiner Ranch Steak House.

Saturday morning, we hit the gym and a little time in the hot tub (the weather was a bit cooler and rainy) and then drove into Downtown Austin. We did the touristy thing and went to the capitol.

Looking up at the top....so cool!

We briefly walked around the Pecan Festival on the notorious 6th Street before posting up at Bikini's Bar to enjoy some college football mania! We caught the first half of the Texas vs Oklahoma State game with all the crazy fans surrounding us. 

Sunday morning came all too quickly and it was time to head back home. We worked on a few projects around the house that afternoon, did lots of laundry and watched some more football; concluding our vacation at the Monday Night Football game at Texas Stadium to watch the Cowboys vs. Bears. I had never been to the new stadium and it was indescribable! It was back to reality this morning and Aaron goes back to work tomorrow. A vacation long overdue and we had such a wonderful time!

It's like entering a different universe.

Our seats were great!

The "big screen" at the stadium.