Sunday Stroll

One thing that has remained constant over the past year is my girls relationships with their grandparents. I love all of them so much. Rachel and Maggie jump for joy at the idea of taking off to Nana's house! And they always have a good time. We don't do anything extraordinary or elaborate... just simple things like sunday strolls. They sure do get a kick out of seeing the moon! That's one of the things I love about the days getting shorter...

After taking these pictures I realized that I don't have many pictures of the girls with their grandparents. I think I'm going to change that!
Maggie skinned her knee and Nana came to the rescue! 

We love you Nana!!!

Geauxs and Gig'ems...

The girls and I traveled down to Houston for the big Aggie-Tiger football BASH! My Grandpa and I have been trash talking for months now! We were so dang excited for the big game! So excited that we took a detour through College Station to hit the tent sales and stock up on new Aggie shirts! Not only did we get some pretty new shirts but we got to see our dear friend, Stephanie Jones. Totally worth the detour. The moment I saw this picture it hit me like a ton of bricks... she really is a mini-me! Look at our eyes! And noses! And smiles! Holy Smokes the girl is cursed! haha!

Only traitors eat the purple and gold side... hahaha! Just kidding... sort of...

I thought that I'd once again be the only Aggie at the party, but I was gratefully wrong! Our friends from the ward came over... die-hard Aggies! They showed Rachel the ropes. As you can see she's working very hard on her "Gig'em"...

Maggie's gig'em still needs some work... haha...

The whole group!!!

Raised by Tigers and ended up an Aggie! Gosh, I love my school!!! 
And I must say, for our first year in the SEC we sure are doing great! Ya'll better watch out for us next year... it's going to happen! Aggies never give up!
WHO9P!!!

P is for Pumpkin and Playgroup

We got our kids together, gave them pumpkins, and then we gave them paint...   

All the other kids managed to finish out the day with minimal paint damage. 
Maggie, however, was the exception...

It got all over her dress, on her face, and in her hair. Good thing it was washable. 
I love to see looks of concentration on that little face...

She made an R!!!

haha! Rachel's face: "Mom, can you get Maggie to stop trying to paint on me?:

I had fun with these suckers! Jack-o-lantern rice crispy treats! 
 The kids aren't the only ones who love playgroup! Mommies love it too! Especially when there's left over treats. ;)

Pumpkin Patch

We went out looking for some fun on Saturday afternoon. It was overcast and I thought to myself I really ought to take pictures today- so I did. We headed to the pumpkin patch and this is what I set out to take pictures of... Oh my goodness she is fast! It's like she knew it was picture time! I think there should be a new sport called Extreme Photography. Everyone far and wide come try to take a good picture of Maggie...   

The lady at the pumpkin patch kept staring completely dazed as to why I would continue to try to take pictures of this child...

Why is getting a sibling picture so hard?

oh Rachel Rachel Rachel spelled with an R, how I love thee...

Yes, yes! That's the ticket! Sit on a pumpkin!

Now, don't move! Look up! Hey Maggie!
*me jumping up and down singing her favorite songs and making silly noises*
and she's still looking down...

Finally she looks up!
"What do you want Mom? Whats the big idea?"

Fall looks good on her...

Happy Halloween!!!

Our Mom is crazy but we're gonna shout and raise up our arms anyway!
Happy Fall Ya'll!

Let's go for a walk...

There's something about this picture that I couldn't pass up. She is so flippin cute! It didn't matter how hard I tried to make her look up, she wanted to find rocks. We ended up finding pet rocks all along our walk.

Every time I leave for one reason or another, I bring back something special for my girls. I got that ring for her a month ago and she still wears it! For a while there she wore it every single day and would only take it off for bath time. 
I love that they like to hold hands. I remember when we found out that Maggie was going to be a girl... I was so excited... I mean over the MOON excited for Rachel to have a little sister! What I would have given to have a little sister! They are close in age. They are best friends. They protect each other. And of course there are times when they drive each other crazy. 
They have no idea just how lucky they are...

This is all that Rachel is in one picture...
Braids
Dress up clothes
Cowgirl boots
And a little sassifrass in the step...

The End.

Conference Sunday

On Conference Sunday Pop told Rachel that it was time to pick the lemons from the lemon tree! 
Really? Like Really, really? 
I'm allowed to pick the lemons? 
Hip Hip Hooray! 
There was no hesitation... and yes Maggie will put anything and everything on her head...    

They were tough little boogers! 
Pull pull pull...

Off it came and Rachel along with it...

On Conference Sunday we also had a marvelous breakfast! Courtesy of Pop! Homemade buttermilk biscuits, backyard honey, peppered bacon, and eggs. Delicious. 
Then the girls and I made cookies. Does anybody else eat way too much on conference weekend?
I also hung out in extra large basketball shorts and an old t-shirt... my favorite. 
Then we played Jenga...

It was a hit! Who knew?

And of course, we watched Conference. It was delightful. Conference Sundays come and go too quickly, don't they?

Cowgirl Rachel

Monday nights are always more fun when Aunt Krystal saddles up Glory. Rachel lights up like the fourth of July.

This little cowgirl cannot wait for her Daddy to get home. She is always telling me about all the things she wants to do with Daddy when he gets home. 

To name a few...
She want's Daddy to take her fishing where she will catch a shark, an alligator, and a fish.
She wants to go out for Doughnuts. She'll have a pink one with sprinkles, of course, and Daddy will get a chocolate one with sprinkles.
She want's Daddy to put her to bed.
She wants to go out for ice cream. Again, her cone will be pink and Daddy's will be chocolate.

Lately she's been catching on to statements people will make about Tyler coming home. Things like, "It's getting closer" or "He'll be home soon". In reality, to the girls and I, it's still a ways away, especially for a 3 year old. Regardless, Rachel is anxious. Every night when I close the door to the bedroom Rachel begins to cry and call out for me to open the door. As soon as I open the door she says, "Daddy! Is Daddy here? Is he home?" I tell her as soon as he gets home I promise she'll be the first one how knows and that he'll cuddle you to sleep. She accepts that response and lays back down. I'm so excited for her to have that moment with her Daddy. She is a Daddy's girl all the way.

She was determined to get up there all by herself. 
With a little boost she went the rest of the way...

Can you tell she's proud of herself?

I did it!

I'm so grateful that my girls have the opportunity to be true blue little cowgirls. It may not happen again for a very long time, so we soak it up when we have the chance.