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Monday, September 30, 2013

Around the House

Here are some pictures from our low-key week:

Raleigh curling Madeline's hair while they both wear my old pointe shoes  :)

The best way to keep a 3-year-old entertained and stimulated: a shape drawn on paper, colored squares, and a little dish of glue with a Q-Tip



Homework togetherness

Kensington thinks she's clever . . . 

 . . . taking initiative . . . 

 . . . to make her own "popsicle" out of ice.

Kensington's "Tankie" is falling apart!

Dallas, Kenny, and Norm moving a massive tree trunk
That's all for now, folks!

Monday, September 23, 2013

Cleaning Gloves for the Bride

I had way too much fun making these "cleaning gloves" for Shayla for her bridal shower.  


Materials:

Cleaning gloves
Pink and white striped grosgrain ribbon
Decorative white flower trim by-the-yard
Pearl beads by-the-yard
Jeweled button

Directions:

Sew it all on.  Ha!

I want a pair now.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

Happenings

I came across some pictures from this Summer.  Here's proof that we did what we done.

Dallas, Kensington, Emery, Bailee, Peter

Emery, Miss Fancy Pants

How Emery manages to let Mom take a shower

Raleigh, the Family History Buff

Such good grocery-bring-er-in-ers

Mm hm.  That's right.

Dionne and Audra, and tubs and tubs of popcorn and butter . . . just the way we like it!

Date night with Choobies, watching a movie, drinking a milkshake, and testing shoe lasts with Daddy

More date night with Choobies and Dionne

Emery's hairdo after a shower

Dade's birthday with all the gang plus Bailee

Bullfrog Babies

I have a friend who told me about a war she and her sister were having in giving each other's kids the most-annoying-gifts possible: toys with repetitive noises, really boring board games, etc.  I think this is so funny!  

So it was when another friend told me about the tadpoles she was trying to give away that I thought we should FOR SURE take some to give to our cousins, who we'd be seeing in just a few days.  Perfect gift!

I brought some tadpoles home in a cup, and then next day while the older girls were at swim team practice, Emery and I went down to the creek and collected some swamp water to keep the froggies alive!  We even went so far as boiling lettuce for them to eat.  Then we made these fun little water bottles at the last minute before leaving on our drive to Kentucky.

We pampered those babies the whole way.  Then when we got back to the hotel later that night, we got out our presents . . . 

Bullfrog Babies

. . . and ran down to the hall to where Bart and Meridith were staying to drop off our surprise (and run and hide around the corner).  It made a great memory for us.

But we've never heard what happened after they took them home . . . 

Friday, September 20, 2013

Choobies turns Six!

How did this little ball of cuteness . . . 





. . . ever get so big???

Our little Choobies turning six years old is so unfathomable to me.  I mean, six years old is so grown up!  And I'm not joking!  Sniffle.

I've decided that August is a terrible month to have a birthday, and Kensington and Emery will be victims of an unfortunate birthday month for the rest of their lives.  End of summer burnout.  Close family and friends off on vacation.  No fame and glory of being the kid with a birthday at school.  Too hot for a swim party.  

But we pulled it together and celebrated anyway!  We were pretty excited because those presents had been hiding in our secret spots for way too long, and we really wanted to give Choobers her gifts!!

And she was really happy that she finally got to celebrate.  We surprised her by celebrating the night before her real birthday.

Emery, Madeline, Kensington, Dallas, and Raleigh . . . uh, Raleigh?  You're wearing my shirt!

Madeline, Kensington, Dionne, Raleigh, and Emery.  Yes, Raleigh, that IS my shirt you are wearing!  Ha!

Choobers and the stash.  Looks like she's wearing the wreath on her head!

Raleigh's fun note to Kensington

The best part of our birthday parties - the giver and the receiver - I love it!

Madeline watching Kensington open a gift from her.

Another birthday hug - priceless!

Can you tell who is giving this gift?  Look at Raleigh's face . . . it's the best!


Yep, that one was from Raleigh!  It's the people, not the presents, I tell you!

Okay, maybe it is about the presents sometimes!
We love you, Choobs!

Thursday, September 19, 2013

The White Wedding

Hands down our favorite thing about this past summer was going to Kentucky for Clay and Shayla's wedding.  What a party!  Here are just a few of our favorite pictures and people.  Shayla was a beautiful bride, and we smiled and smiled so much of our trip - it was wonderful!  Thanks again, Ray and Lisa, for a fabulous gathering!

Shayla and Lisa, the mother-of-the-bride

Shayla's cute friends . . . Megan (right?) and Neesie (sp?)

Grandma Matthews . . . She's just a spring chicken!

Shayla and Grandma Betty . . . we loved it that we got to see them!

Grandma Matthews and Grandma Vivian . . . friends forever . . . and now happy in-laws!

Cute Meridith

Aunt Alicia, Paige, Madeline, and Raleigh

One tired kid with her daddy

Madeline and Shayla

Avery . . . we didn't get to spend enough time with this one.

Madeline

Marie, Bart, Ray, Lisa, Shayla, Clay, Big Dal, Alicia

Dashing Dallas and his Little Sister

Can't remember this Granny's name, but she's got a gun!  Grandma Matthews' sisters

Lisa and Ray, happy parents of the bride

Clayla

Bart and Dallas and Grandma Matthews with her sisters . . . (anyone remember which is which?)

Alicia and Marie

Grandma Matthews with Riley and his cute family

Grandma Betty and Marie

A race for the flowers and a race to the car

They're married!

How did the refreshments end up on the car?

Sweet Raleigh

Clay's cute nieces

Kensington wearing the decorations