Do you see it?

The resemblance I mean? Can I just say that I love love love pigtails? Every time I go to do Rachel's hair I think, "I outta try something new.....naaa!" Pigtails win.

A Father's Love

George Strait-"A Love Without End, Amen":

I got sent home from school one day with a shiner on my eye 
Fighting was against the rules and it didnt matter why 
When Dad got home I told that story just like Id rehearsed 
Then stood there on those trembling knees and waited for the worst 

And he said, Let me tell you a secret, about a fathers love 
A secret that my daddy said was just between us 
He said daddies dont just love their children every now and then 
It's a love without end, amen, its a love without end, amen 

When I became a father in the spring of 81 
There was no doubt that stubborn boy was just like my fathers son 
And when I thought my patience had been tested to the end 
I took my daddys secret and I passed it on to him 

And I said, Let me tell you a secret, about a fathers love 
A secret that my daddy said was just between us 
I said daddies dont just love their children every now and then 
It's a love without end, amen, its a love without end, amen 

Last night I dreamed Id died and stood outside those pearly gates 
When suddenly I realized there must be some mistake 
If they knew half the things I've done theyll never let me in 
Then somewhere from the other side I heard those words again 

And they said, Let me tell you a secret, about a fathers love 
A secret that my daddy said was just between us 
You see daddies dont just love their children every now and then 
It's a love without end, amen, its a love without end, amen

One of my all-time favorite songs. Many of my thoughts have been centered on "A Father's Love" today.  There really is nothing in the world like the love of a Daddy. Or the love of our Father in Heaven.  It's a love without end, amen, its a love without end, amen

Trade or Treat

I had been looking forward to our ward's Fall Festival for weeks... for several reasons... to visit with people and eat yummy chili, but mostly to see how Rachel would like the whole "Halloween experience".  Plus, I couldn't wait to see how her costume, that I MADE! (well, the tutu and bows) turned out.  As you can see, I'm pretty proud of myself- I don't normally make those sort of things- but it was so easy, and hardly any sewing!  Thanks Meredith for showing me how it's done! (and for letting me copy your daughters costume! hehe)

I was so excited to see her reaction to the whole thing... Would she freak out? Would she try and start a fire? Would she want to stop and eat every piece of candy she was given?  Well... she didn't do any of that... instead she'd walk up to a trunk, say "tik teak", and then offer one of her candies for one of their's.  She was insistent.  She just had to bargain for the good stuff.  I tried to explain that it was all free, but she just kept trying to trade.  Well, it was either trade or grab and run, like she was getting away with something... (she does that a lot)...

our cute pumpkins

my little zebra!
She loved the jack-o-lanterns. Completely fascinated.  Even kissable.


She loves getting attention from the older girls at church.  You can just see it in her eyes... already her role-models






 




Halloween is exhausting!  Thank goodness for Nana's who come to the rescue and chase down crazy little zebras. ;)

It FINALLY happened!

I have been dieing for this to happen, and it finally did!  It was like 65 degrees this morning, and boy was it heavenly. Rachel and I had a great time playing at the park. Even though she totally stole my apple! haha. Notice she's wearing PANTS in these pictures. yes, pants! So exciting. I love fall. :)

zapped

I've been tagged.  I usually just ignore these things, but since I was called out by name I figure there's no way out of it.  And I wouldn't want to blow off my good friend Rebecca! Only 5 questions- shouldn't be too painful.
Here we go...

1. What is your dream car? why?
My current dream car is far too embarrassing and has only been revealed to Tyler...
But I will share my future dream car.  It's something like this...







Not necessarily this make, model, or color... I'm just a simple Texas girl.  I want a four door pick-up truck in some crazy obnoxious color like yellow or fire-engine red towing a beautiful big speed boat.  You know for our dream home out by the lake... with all my kids and grand-babies being whiplashed around on tubes by Tyler... ooo yeah... thats the dream. Can you see it?  I sure can.

2. If you could trade lives for a day with one person who would it be and why?
I've thought long and hard about this and it might sound lame, but I would trade lives with my little Rachel.  I want to remember what it feels like to be so carefree, innocent, and happy.  Plus, I'd like to know what the heck is going through her mind!








3. If you were a chocolate dessert which one would you be?
Easy.  I like chocolate-chip cookies.








4. What is your favorite holiday? (birthdays don't count)
I just love Easter. Definitely my favorite. Spring-time. Happy colors. Sunshine. Candy. New church clothes. Texas wildflowers. deviled eggs. carrot cake. family pictures. and of course.... HE IS RISEN!








5. Is there any hope for the Cowboys football season? A&M football season?  What needs to happen to make these teams successful?
Well, I don't follow the Dallas Cowboys... I'm a Houston Texan girl.  And... my Aggies, oh my Aggies... I just don't know. We need a spark, a leader, a good quarterback wouldn't hurt either, and we need the our tough as nails wrecking crew back!









Okay, my turn to pick on someone... okay these 5 questions are for Holly Larson and Caitlin Barnes...
1. If you were an animal, what would you be? why?
2. If you could only eat two things for the rest of your life what would you eat?
3. What's your dream profession?
4. If you could pick where you and your hubby would serve a mission, where would you want to go?
5. What Disney character suits you best?

E-I-E-I-O

We went to the Old MacDonald Farm last week with a group of mommies and babies from church.  It was a ton of fun.  They had train rides, a pumpkin patch, lots of different playgrounds, pony rides, and tons of animals.  I did my best waddling after Rachel with the camera, and these are what I ended up with...

Rachel loved running after the random roaming deer








She's got a thing with looking people in the eye (or animals)... I must say, I like that about her.


I swear those dadgum goats kept trying to eat my baby's pigtails! No-sir-ee, not those pigtails, I've waited too long!


Rachel hasn't quite figured out the big kid swing yet.  I tried to help her, but this stubborn child wouldn't have it.


Needless to say, she ended up doing a lot of this...

what a fun doodad!

The smallest things make me happy. 

When I'm having "one of those days" with Rachel and look down at my purse and see this little guy hanging from it- I think... "I can't be doing that bad at this Mommy thing- I at least have hand-sanitizer!" And, it doesn't hurt that it's super cute! 

whatever it takes man. 

p.s.- I never thought I'd get so many comments! Thanks for sharing guys- I was waaaayyyy happier than a bird with a french fry!