Fall Decorations!!!

I spent last week getting the kids excited to decorate for fall/Halloween. So once Saturday hit we were all really excited!
I planned to start the morning all festive and continue throughout the day.

We started with some pumpkin pancakesThe we let the kids put on their Halloween clothes for the first time this year.

Then after Alayna went down for her morning nap I made Chai Tea for Aaron and I and hot chocolate for Taylynn and Preston. And we sat and talked about where the decorations should go. Ok, this wasn't much of a conversation, but it was fun.I also made chocolate chip scones to go along with the drinks. It was a treat for all of us!
Then began the decorating and we were all really excited to bring up all the goodies boxed up. It was like Christmas because it had been so long since we'd seen our decorations.

At this point I didn't take a lot of pictures, but I did get one of Preston helping.

After we got a some decorating done, I just wasn't feeling it and really wanted to be more creative.......so I talked the gang into going to Paxico, Kansas and go Antique shopping. I only got a couple pictures of the girls:
I didn't plan on finding but a few goodies......but let me just say....... I TOTALLY SCORED!!!!

One of the shops was going out of business and they had things marked cheaper than a garage sale would have. I got a old vintage suitcase (I'll be using this for newborn pictures) for a dollar, some REALLY old books 6 for a dollar, large fancy picture frames twenty five cents each, an old comforter to use as fabric.... also twenty five cents, and lots of other great deals! I still can't get over the steals I got.


I plan on using a lot of those items for some fall decorating and I'll let you know when I do.

When we got home we went to Our niece Brighton's school carnival, the kids had a great time and it was such a beautiful day!

Once we got home it was craft time for me!!!!!

I took the bedding I bought for a quarter and used it for the backing of this banner:

I needed a more festive sign so I hit up Hobby Lobby and bought this FAMILY sign and painted it our fall color scheme.
I made some more button art using one of the quarter frames I bought:
I typed up a fall word sign and added it to a frame I already had upThis is what our mantel looks like:

And here is one of our bookcases that is complete:

We do have other decorations around the house....ones the kids enjoy like sparkly spiders and pumpkins along with some other things. For now I'll just share these things, but there is more to come!

Fun filled weekend!

Not last weekend.....but the one before that (yes, I am behind) was very eventful for us.

Thursday my friend Keri invited the typical girls over for a girls night to celebrate baby Chandler. It was fun just to hang out with the girls and relax a bit. Oh and EAT!!!!

I didn't get a picture of the girls :( But just imagine Keri, Kim, Cyndi, Katie and I standing there looking skinny and all put together smiling big :)

Thanks girls for such a great night!
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Friday Night Jen from my church also threw a girls night for me. Lots of friends from church came and it was so wonderful!

Here are some of the women that were there to celebrate. I am so blessed to have such a great group of women from my church.
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Saturday we headed to Manhattan......KANSAS......to celebrate my nephew Jack's first birthday. My sister had an adorable circus themed party, everything was really cute and yummy!

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After the party Aaron and I went to dinner together, which was really nice to have that time alone. It is pretty rare, but we appreciate it more when we get it.
After dinner we went to my 10 year reunion. I didn't take many pictures, but I did get two. One with my best friend Lindsey and I and one with Aaron and I.
The countdown is on! One week from tomorrow!!!! We are so excited to meet baby Chandler!

Go BODS!

Aaron and I both graduated from Washburn University in 2005 and the other day we went to a football game at home.
We decided to skip out on paying $20 and we watched a little from the fence and walked around campus a bit.
It was good to be back, it brought back so many memories. I didn't meet Aaron until my freshman year at Washburn. I was also a cheerleader and living in the dorms, so I had some great memories that year and being there brought it all back.
I took some pictures of the kids playing on campus. Maybe one day this will be their college too!

First Day of Preschool

Taylynn had her first day of preschool on September 9th. She loved it of course! Her teachers name is Mrs. Strole and I think it is going to be GREAT class.
She goes Monday, Wednesday and Fridays and so far has loved every moment.

I thought I would ask her a few questions and let her give the answers:

What is your favorite thing to do at preschool?
Go outside and play

What have you learned?
"f" and "t"'s

What do you do at preschool that you don't do here at home?
Well....I don't know

Who is in your class?
Kate and Emma, just two girls that's all

Do you obey your teacher?
Yes, if you don't be nice you go in the uh oh chair.

Have you been in the chair?
No, I haven't been naughty to my friends

Are you kind?
Yes, I didn't take any toys from them

Do you think about your mommy while your at school?
Yeah.

I love that she loves school. I miss her during those two hours, but when we get home Alayna takes a nap and it's just Preston and I. It has NEVER been just Preston and I on a regular basis so I have really enjoyed it. We play games and color and have lots of fun. Only two weeks left so we'll be spending some great time together.

I honestly have no clue how I am going to let Taylynn go to school all day next year. It makes me sad thinking about it, so I won't be thinking of that yet!

Devo's and Bible studies

Show us your life Favorite Bible study and devotion books! Check out Kelly's blog for other bloggers linking up!

What a fun one!

I love anything Beth Moore. I am really wanting to do this devotion book, Beth Moore, Feathers from My Nest.
But for now I have James Dobson, Night Light for Parents. Love this one, it's great because It will be good for years, something I can do over and over and hear God telling me different things every time.

Some other great books:

Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gifts. Love this book. Ann truly has a gift for writing, her words are BEAUTIFUL! I was changed after the first three chapters, and I look at EVERYTHING with thanks.

I also love anything Angie Smith! I finished her first book, I will Carry you. And I ordered her new book What Women Fear, so I am excited to start that one.

Looking forward to seeing what books have helped you experience God.

Little BIG girl!

I just wanted to do an update on Alayna because she is changing so fast.

A couple days ago we had her one year check up. She is 29 lbs and 30 1/2 inches. So she has slowed down on the weight gain and is getting taller everyday.

On August 23rd, she made the decision to walk and she hasn't stopped. I could tell by the look in her eyes that she was on a mission to walk all day and she did. I was so proud of her. I love how when she walks a few steps then falls and doesn't get aggravated, she just gets back up. Let's hope when she is older and falls that she'll just pick herself back up and try again.

Alayna eats everything we eat for our meals, she LOVES to drink water. She is no longer on the bottle as of the beginning of August. She still sleeps in her crib and would prefer two naps a day, but I stopped her morning nap. We'll probably try to put her in a big girl bed early because she is sleeping in what will soon be Chandler's bed.

Alayna loves music and will dance along to it, I'll even catch her grooving in her car seat.

She is a daddy's girl 100%. When he comes home from work all she wants is to be held by her daddy. She'll rest her head on his shoulder and she refuses to be put down. This process last at least ten minutes.

She can say:
Dog Dog
Ma Ma
Da Da
Thank you


She can:
blow her nose in a tissue
Make an elephant sound
give sweet kisses
wave hello and goodbye
give things back when I ask (most of the time)

I love this girl!!!!!