conner family

A Warm January

2012-01-31T18:49:00.000-08:00

We have been loving our 'winter' weather. Mild temperatures and lots of sunshine have kept us outside most days. The girls have been playing together well- they are quite the team. Games like Barbies and dress-up have become more interesting now that both girls like to participate. I am constantly tickled by the love these two girls have for each other. Today while Afton was at school, Maisy kept saying "I wanna see A-ton's face."

Such sweet sisters. I am slightly biased, but I think they are just about as cute it gets. :) I'm lucky to have such willing models for my hair accessories!

Besides wonderful weather, January in North Texas also means "Stock Show and Rodeo" time. We took the girls on Friday afternoon. Maisy loved all the animals and while Afton was impressed, she did find the smells to be a bit much- ha!

The highlight of our outing were the rides. The girls did every thing from the flying elephants to this giant fun slide. The photo below is of Jeff and Maisy taking a turn- don't worry he held her on his lap!

Hoping for more mild temperatures and fun adventures in February!

It's 2012

2012-01-09T13:01:00.000-08:00

The new year is here and already we've had lots of excitement. First, our dear Becka got married. I can't believe my little sister went and grew up. She and her husband Josh, who is in the Air Force, will be moving to Shreveport. Not too far away, but still... we are going to miss her. The wedding festivities were all held in Colleyville.

The girls got to be official flowergirls, while Amanda and I served as the Matron's of Honor.

Afton took her job very seriously, and apparently so did Maisy because she joined the bride and groom at the altar for a good 10 minutes. Naturally this made me a bit nervous, especially when she started 'shushing' the wedding guests. Luckily, Jeff scooped her up and rushed out of the chapel before she threw a tantrum.

The reception was all chandeliers, sparkles and glitz. We all danced and danced and danced. The bride and groom were so happy.

For New Year's Eve, the girls went to Grandpa's house for a few hours so Jeff and I could enjoy a relaxing dinner. We went to Fireside Pies and then walked over to Mi Dia for a drink. We picked up the girls at 9pm and then spent the rest of the evening celebrating NYE at home.

Back to school was jolt to our systems, we had really loved sleeping in and playing around all day. Luckily Afton's teacher organized an "Angry Bird" party for their 'Fun Friday' activity. The kids built towers out of blocks and knocked them down with the birds. They also got to wear "Angry Bird" shirts and do all kinds of "AB" activities. I can't believe how crazy these kids go for these birds!

Saturday we kicked off the year with our first race. My mom has been working out more and even running too. She told me that she wanted to run race this year-so when I sent her the registration for the "Bold in the Cold" road race in Grapevine she happily signed up! I ran the 5k with her and a few of my running friends ran too. It was a small race, but a lot of fun. When I told Afton about it, she said "I didn't know Grammy could run!". Ha!

This year my goals include:
1. Have fun with my girls! Time continues to fly by- the older they get, the faster it goes.
2. Invest in my marriage. We're in this for the long haul:)
3. Make time for family.
4. Keep on running- challenge myself mentally and physically.
5. Eat healthier- I don't think 'baked chips' have much nutritional value...
6. Organize my pantry.
7. Keep blogging! I have tons of new projects in mind for Crafty Texas Girls.
8. Grow my hair accessory business-"Samantha Conner Designs"

I think we are off to a pretty good start!~

Christmas 2011

2011-12-28T22:00:00.000-08:00

I absolutely loved our Christmas this year. The girls were a delight and their excitement was contagious. Afton and Maisy anxiously counted down the days and tried their hardest to be 'so good'. Afton asked Santa a for a princess cape, fairy dust so she could fly, and a Care Bears Elephant. Maisy wanted one thing-- Barney. We took part in all the local Christmas events and the girls were so excited to celebrate Baby Jesus's birth and Santa's arrival too.

We spent the 'Eve of Christmas Eve' baking cookies and eating homemade chili with Jeff's family. The sugar cookies didn't last long...


Notice the shoes here: the one time Maisy is dressed in head-to-red, she refuses to wear her red "dorothy shoes". Instead she opted for hot pink patent leather. Funny girl!

On Christmas Eve we attended the afternoon children's service at church. The music and laid-back atmosphere was a hit with this group. Afterwards we had both our families over for a traditional dinner complete with roasted turkey-- compliments of Jeff :)

On Christmas morning, we actually woke the girls up at 6:30am. We couldn't wait any longer! They rushed down the stairs to see what Santa had brought. Afton found her cape, the Care Bears Elephant and instead of fairy dust--- a new bike. Santa left a letter explaining that he couldn't give her fairy dust--it was best to leave the flying to his elves and reindeer. But instead he made her a new bike, so she might be able to go just as fast :)

Santa did bring Maisy her Barney and a new puppet theater as well since she is such a fan of the 'puppets and shakies' at the library. (Of course she hasn't put her Barney down since he arrived!) Then we exchanged our gifts. Under the tree I found an iPad, Maisy got a mini-four-wheeler, Afton unwrapped a Nintendo DS, and Jeff got his own razor scooter!

My Dad and Tricia joined us for breakfast, a few more gifts (new running shoes!!!) and then some outdoor fun.

That evening we had Christmas dinner at my Mom and Dave's house. I loved getting to spend time time with my sisters too.

We were so happy to celebrate Christmas with our family and pause to give thanks for all of life's blessings.

Merry Christmas!

December?!

2011-12-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

December has been flying by. My friends and I ran another half marathon, this time we did White Rock. The weather was horrible, but the rain and frigid temperatures sped up our feet.

I finished in 1:50, which was three minutes faster than my previous time. Jeff was sweet enough to meet me at mile 9 with smile and to yell "You're doing great!". Made me want to cry! But I pushed through and it was worth it.

That night we gathered at Trulucks to celebrate with lots of carbs. Who would have ever thought I would enjoying training, racing and sweating so much?!

Christmas magic has been all around our home. The girls helped me decorate and our little red Elf has been a source of constant entertainment. We have been loving on baby Jesus and singing songs about Santa too. There is so much love and happiness around Christmas time. This year Maisy is asking for a stuffed Barney and Afton wants a stuffed Care Bear Cousins Elephant- it's kind of a 'vintage' themed Christmas I guess!

At school, Santa came by helicopter to visit the kids. All the Kindergarten students dressed up as elves-- Maisy even joined in on the fun. Everyone brought a present to help Santa out with his job.

Afton had the best time preparing for Christmas at school- writing letters, making ornaments, and taking care of the class elves. This year there is lots of interest in elves! Her teacher has made this season so special. I am thankful for her wonderful school.

Dear Santa Fairy Dust, Maisy wants Barney, Mom wants junk?! I think this must be written in code:)

Maisy is having her moments of 'terrible twos', but she makes up for them by dressing like a princess, only wearing "Dorothy shoes", saying the absolute cutest things, and giving lots of kisses.

Finally we made our annual trip to see Santa at Town Square. He is my favorite :) Santa always remembers us and this year he promised Afton "this would be her best Christmas yet". Maisy was a little unsure, but she went ahead and particpated--- just to make sure she gets that Barney!

The girls can't wait for more Christmas fun. We have lots of family coming in town over the next few days. We are so excited to be home for the holidays, building traditions and celebrating the birth of Christ together.

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T20:17:00.001-08:00

Afton has loved the idea of having 9 whole days off from school. We have kept busy with trips to ICE! at the Gaylord, storytime at the library, a day at the FW Science Museum, and an evening at the Gift of Lights at Texas Motor Speedway.

But nothing beats time at home- hanging out with family, riding bikes, playing Wii, relaxing in pajamas, baking for Thanksgiving and decorating the Christmas tree.

We even tried "Amelia Bedilia's" recipe for apple pie. Success!

On Thanksgiving day we went to Mimi's house. The weather was perfect for playing with cousins outside. Afton, Maisy, Luke and Analeigh know how to have fun!

Maisy and Analeigh share the same interests... babies and cell phones.

My mom and Dave came out to Mimi's too. I am so thankful to have family close by.

Afton is thrilled that her sister and cousins are big enough to play with her. She is really good with the little ones.

Maisy had the most fun running from me- she loves a good game of chase- and she is getting fast!

While we waited for the turkey to cook...

Afton finally mastered the monkey bars :)

Dinner was delicious- the meal consisted of friend turkey, Paula Dean's mac-n-cheese, sausage stuffing, sweet potatoes, roasted brussels sprouts, rolls, cranberries, honey baked ham, stuffed mushrooms, funeral potatoes, El Paso cheese grits, corn casserole and more!

After we ate, the kiddos fished and ran around the back yard.

We finished the evening with dessert and headed home- tummies and hearts both equally full.

Movin' and Shakin'

2011-11-07T20:17:00.000-08:00

Now that Afton is in school all day long, she really looks forward to coming home and getting outside. Since she learned to ride on 'two wheels' back in September, her favorite thing to do is ride.

Jeff and I got new bikes last spring. And Miss Maisy rides on the back of my bike in a baby seat. The four of us spend a lot of time cruising the neighborhood and riding to the park.

And with her new balance skills, Afton has gotten really good on her scooter. She likes to shoot down the neighbor's driveway- little dare devil!

Maisy thinks this is especially exciting!

And when she's not biking, Afton is developing a love of running. **I'm so proud!**
She and I did the 1 Mile Fun Run at her school a few weeks ago.

Maisy, my usual running partner, decided to sit this one out.

Afton ran the entire way and completed the race under 15 minutes.

She sprinted the end and even received a medal and blue ribbon for finishing. I love this kid's energy and enthusiasm!

Happy Halloween- 2011

2011-10-31T20:41:00.000-07:00

Every year seems to get better! And this Halloween has brought out 'all kinds of excitement' in both girls.

Afton was in charge of designing our jack-o-lanterns this year. She helped clean out the pumpkins and then used a sharpie to draw their happy little faces.

Maisy was happy to just watch...

I carefully carved out her designs. And didn't they turn out great?!

This year, the girls both thought that it would be fun to be witches.

I agreed!

Afton wanted to be spooky.

But Maisy was just happy to have a bucket full of candy and a skirt that twirled.

And even though Halloween fell on a Monday this year, we still held our little party. Jeff set up the train, a movie in the driveway, and cooked a big pot of chili.

We had some of the same gang, plus a few new friends. The kiddos ate quickly and were then ready to go!

Afton sprinted from house to house with her 'big elementary school' friends. She filled her bucket to the brim.

Maisy, Becka and I took our time. Maisy enjoyed walking some and then let Becka and I take turns carrying her.

All in all, the evening was a success. Both girls went to bed exhausted from all the fun and with tummies full of candy!

Happy Halloween!

Butterfly Flutterby 2011

2011-10-19T18:57:00.000-07:00

What will I do when my girls don't want to parade down Main Street anymore? What will I do when they refuse to dress up like butterflies and let me paint their faces?

Luckily it wasn't this year! So for the 4th year, we headed to downtown Grapevine to celebrate the annual migration of the monarch butterfly.

This year, Afton painted signs and decorated her Barbie Jeep for the parade.

We decided to go the traditional route- and wear black and orange- like a true monarch butterfly.
Plus we already had these cute outfits :)

The 'bag pipe band' made Maisy a little nervous, so she started the parade on Jeff's shoulders.

And of course the view was better from up there.

With a little help from a lollipop, she decided to ride with Afton.

At the end of the parade, the girls jumped out of the Jeep and set-off for more butterfly fun.

The crafts were a hit with this crew.

And then the butterflies were released. This was Afton's favorite part.

Finally the event wrapped up with some dancing.

And a few more photos.

Looking forward to doing it again next year :)

First time for everything

2011-10-14T05:00:00.000-07:00

Last weekend was Afton's first concert. A sweet friend from our Texan cheerleading squad was kind enough to invite us to see Taylor Swift. Jeff volunteered to hang with Maisy while Afton and I went out for the night.

Don't you love Afton's dress? Got it at Walmart--$15!

The concert was Saturday-a few hours after Maisy's Pumpkin Patch Party.

And happily, our fabulous friend had a suite! The entire cheer squad plus lots of other friends joined in on the fun. We all loaded into a big white limo and headed to Cowboys Stadium.

Since Kristie and I are coaching the squad, we got to go along and help keep an eye on the girls.

Afton was so excited to be riding in a limo!

Watching the show from a suite is definitely the way to go:)

We enjoyed comfy seats and lots of yummy eats.

The girls loved getting dressed up for the big show.

They took turns yelling "We LOVE you Taylor Swift!"

Taylor Swift is an amazing performer--lots of costume changes and theatrics. Her music is sweet and she is a nice role model too. The girls had a blast and everyone came home with a smile.

And a new t-shirt!

Maisy Lou is TWO

2011-10-12T05:00:00.000-07:00

Our sweet girl is now a two year old. A toddler. A child who laughs at funny faces, sings Barney songs, and seems to know exactly what she wants. I adore the person she is growing to be. And I feel a strange mix of happiness and sadness as we leave 'baby hood'.

Favorite things about Maisy at two:
-Sings songs "I Love You", "Barney theme song" "Jesus Loves You"
-Dances, runs, does push-ups, sit-ups, cheers and 'tumbles'. She imitates everything she sees us doing.
-If 'you are what you eat' is true, Maisy would be a pancake :)
-Needs her blankie and fabulous shoes at all times.
-Favorite games are hide and seek, horsey with Daddy, babies, cooking, coloring and performing
-Things Maisy says "No Yike", "Okey Okey", "No Way!", "Oh yeah", "Love you", "What's dat??", and of course "NO!"
-And for the stats: Maisy is 33.75 inches tall (33%), 25.5 lbs (31%). Tiny little thing!

To celebrate her arrival into the world of "Two"- we started the day with a new drum set and a candle in her pancakes. Jeff has always had a thing for music, seems Maisy does too!

The next day friends and family gathered together at Hall's Farm for Miss Maisy's Pumpkin Party.

The kids kept busy on the playground, running through the corn maze, and even feeding farm animals during the hayride.

Did you know that cows eat bread??

Did you know that cows 'moo' very loudly when they want more bread? :)

After the hayride it was time for lunch- CFA nuggets, chips and fruit. Maisy's favorite meal!

And finally we had cake!

Happy Birthday to our lil pumpkin. I know that two will be a year full of fun and blessings!

xoxo

If you really like pumpkins...

2011-10-04T20:15:00.000-07:00

If you have been waiting for fall and counting down the days until October, then you will appreciate this post. My mom, Becka and I took the girls to the Dallas Arboretum for the annual Pumpkin Village. 50,000 pumpkins, all donated by Tom Thumb, all in one place. The girls had a blast running around the Cinderella themed pumpkin houses.

We even got to 'ride' in Cinderella's pumpkin carriage.

It was fun seeing all the pumpkins and all the people. Lots of moms, photographers and kiddos in cute Halloween costumes/fall outfits. So when in Rome... we took our share of photos too :)

We saw every kind of pumpkin imaginable.

Thanks Grammy and Becka for a great day.
xoxo--Have a good week!

PS. Our Little "Lou Lou" turns 2 on Friday. Goodness!!! How did that happen so quickly?? More details to follow :)

5th of Week School - We Made It!

2011-09-20T20:29:00.000-07:00

Yesterday started the 5th week of school. Can you believe it? Afton has been in school for over a month! And it literally took four weeks for us both to adjust. First she was fine and I was a wreck. Then she was crazy sad about going. I can't tell you how many times I played with the idea of picking her up and starting my own home school! But as with everything- it had to get worse before it got better. And then one morning she got out of the car without crying. So here we are week 5 and still in school. Yay for Afton! She has met some sweet friends, her teacher is a pro (with both kiddos and moms), and she is learning SO much.

kristie mills photography

While Afton is in school, Maisy and I keep busy. We do story time at the library, play dates, go to MOPS, and run outside. I am enjoying this sweet time at home alone with her. I love the simplicity and joy of hanging out with a toddler. The littlest things delight her- going in and out of the playhouse, looking for rocks, and swinging. I have fallen in love all over again with my sweet baby. I am so thankful for this time.

Who doesn't love a girl who says that "No yike that!". She seriously says 'yike' instead of 'like'. Adorable!

Friday we took the girls to GrapeFest. Before the rain hit, they rode some rides and then helped me 'carb load'. Maisy seems to have an adventurous spirit like Afton!

Saturday, my girl friends and I ran the Tour de Fleur 10K in Dallas. It was a great race- I averaged an 8:28 minute mile. I finished 12th in my class and placed 162 out of 1531 runners. Then we all enjoyed a few Blue Moons in celebration. I am so blessed to know these running girls. Run to stay sane, race to stay sharp!

here

Cheers to fall- a chance for new challenges, fun with family and friends, plus cooler weather!

Labor Day in Galveston

2011-09-09T19:00:00.000-07:00

Two weeks into school and we were ready for a break! Luckily Labor Day appeared and Jeff's family had made plans to gather in Galveston for Mimi's 60th birthday celebration.

So Mimi, GranDanny, Jessie, Jenn, Jeff - spouses and kiddos rented a beach house. There were 8 adults and 4 kids total!

We spent three days playing, cooking, eating, and laughing.

Jessie made a special birthday dinner and cupcakes to celebrate Mimi's birthday.

They were a hit with everyone!

The beach was perfect for this gang.

Luke was our runner.

Afton was our digger.

Maisy was our surfer.

And Analeigh was our diva !

The boys made their own fun...

as boys tend to do!

And there were lots of sweet family moments.

At night, the tide went out and left us with lots of sand to explore. We wandered around with flash lights and found hermit crabs and conch shells.

Happy Birthday Mimi- we love you!

Cowboys Stadium

2011-08-28T19:28:00.000-07:00

School has gone well all week long. I have to admit getting up so early has been an effort. Who knew our preschool schedule was so great?! But Maisy and I have been able to get a lot done each day- considering we are ready to rock and roll after we drop Afton off at 7:40 :)

This week will be a bit different because now Afton will be on her 'real school schedule'- going from 7:45- 2:45. No more half days. But my positive girl is excited to eat lunch at school and buy her first cafeteria meal. Being in Kindergarten, her lunch time is at 10:30! Luckily, they have an afternoon snack at 12:30.

I have been pleasantly surprised how well Afton has adjusted to the new school and new friends. I managed to sink myself into a horrible funk- sobbing each day. But I am hoping to be more like Afton this week and make the best of our new adventure.

--------------

On Saturday the Grapevine Colleyville Texans played at Cowboys Stadium. Afton and her squad got to cheer too. We had a great time touring the stadium and locker rooms.

Striking a pose with Daddy...

and then sweet Maisy Lou wanted a turn.

Before our game started, Afton threw the ball around with the cutest little 3 year old boy.

I love a cheerleader that can throw the ball too!

Finally the game started. Afton was lucky enough to have a complete entourage (family) who came to see her cheer at the big game. We had a blast watching our little girl perform with her squad.

This was my 'cheering debut' too- I am coaching her squad this year :)

The game was a success and we are 'fired up' for a fabulous season.

Hope you have a 'spirited' week!

Afton goes to Kindergarten

2011-08-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Well the first day was finally here. Afton was surprised she had to get up so early! But she was smiling and excited.

She got dressed in a new outfit and picked out an accessory- a denim vest :) Maisy of course dressed for the occasion too. It's not everyday your sister starts Kindergarten! After a quick breakfast of Shredded Mini Wheats and strawberries, we decided to take a few photos outside.

Maisy wanted in on the fun too...

Mind you, Maisy is not actually going to school. But she seemed to enjoy pretending :)

Finally Daddy got in on a few too.

We arrived at school and snapped a few more of course!

And when we picked her up, all smiles! It was great first day.

She can't wait to go back tomorrow. And you will be happy to know that I didn't cry at all... today :)

Texan Cheer

2011-08-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

"What about, what about, what about our color shout?!"

This year Afton will be cheering for the Texans! The cheer program is part of the Grapevine Colleyville Youth Football Association. All week long she had camp at the high school- such a trooper cheering out in this crazy heat. It was so fun watching her learn the cheers and make new friends.

The girls will have cheer practice each week and then preform weekly at the games. And guess who's coaching - me! I couldn't miss an opportunity to be with my girl.

At the end of the camp, the girls performed their cheers. Then they were each presented with a medal. The Cheer Coordinator told Afton she was proud of her for using such a big loud voice and always having a smile :)

The ice cream truck showed up too and each girl got an ice cream cone- even Maisy. It was pretty much a perfect night for Afton.

Think Maisy likes ice cream? Ha!

I bet by the end of the season, Maisy might know all the cheers too.

Tomorrow morning we start Kindergarten. We are excited for new adventures and a great year!

Fort Walton Beach, Florida 2011

2011-08-13T13:52:00.000-07:00

We took the girls to the beach last week. It was Maisy's first 'official beach trip' and a great way to wrap up summer before Afton heads off to Kindergarten.

**I made a movie of our trip (lots of pics and video)- it is about 12 minutes long. Click on this link if you are interested:) Otherwise enjoy a few photos below! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20coyj--tCE

Since I don't like to be limited in what I bring- I am a chronic overpacker- we decided to drive. On the way down we stopped in Louisiana for dinner and stayed the night at a hotel. I was thrilled to see my friend Nichole and her family. They are expecting their third daughter soon.

The next morning we grabbed a quick breakfast at Cafe du Monde and then drove the rest of the way into Florida.

This year we stayed at the Waterscape Resort. It is actually in Fort Walton Beach, just a few miles away from Destin. I loved the pool amenities, the convenience, and service there.

Each day we spent hours on the beach. Maisy was not a huge fan of 'sandy hands' and preferred to stay under the umbrella.

Afton was a dare-devil. I couldn't get her (or Jeff) out of the ocean!

While in Florida we ate out each night and even took a sunset walk on the beach. I love the white sand.

My friend, Erin who owns Splendor Photography, happened to be in the Destin area at the same time. So she took photos of our family. I'll share those soon!

On the way home we drove straight through. The girls were so good- happily watching movies, coloring and napping. It was the perfect, relaxing vacation.

And the memories of our trip made it worth the drive :)

Fancy Shoes

2011-07-31T14:08:00.000-07:00

Highlights of the past week and a half...

"Being on Stage" at Theater Camp-The theme was cats. Afton made cat ears for her and Greta to wear for their big performance.

Cupcakes with Friends- Maisy calls them 'Happybirthdaytoyous'. Yummy!

Leopard Flats- Maisy calls them 'fancy'. They used to be Afton's and now they are Maisy's favorite shoes to wear.

A Disco Ball- It was on sale at Lowes, you are only young once right? Besides now our dance parties are sooo much cooler!

Throw in some swimming with friends, a trip to Ikea, dinner at Chuck E Cheese, and lots of crafts- and you've got a pretty good summer :)

It's Hot!

2011-07-20T16:00:00.000-07:00

Is anyone even watching the weather report anymore? I think we have had 18 days in a row of temperatures above 100 and there doesn't seem to be an end in sight. I actually think they aren't broadcasting new weather reports, they just replay the old ones.

So we've been keeping our cool in the usual way. Playing outside in the mornings, swimming, and staying in the a/c whenever possible.

An impromptu performance- something that happens quite regularly in our home

Afton has been attending a few camps- one at a dance studio and another at a theater. She has loved both, but the drama queen in her has LOVED the theater camp. I adore her enthusiasm.

Maisy continues to be my sweet sidekick. I love this age. Lots of kisses, hugs, and a few temper tantrums to keep things interesting :)


Look how long her hair is now!

Before long Afton will be starting Kindergarten and the chaos of life will pick back up. So for now, I suppose we are happy to hold on to summer- heat and all- for a little longer.

Fourth of July 2011

2011-07-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

Three full days of celebrating the Fourth of July... and today I needed a nap! Here is what got me so tired :)

On Saturday we had over a few friends and family for a swim/cook-out.

It seems all of our college friends are now proud parents. So the totals at this party were 15 adults and 14 kiddos, they almost have us out-numbered!!!

On Sunday we went to Town Square for crafts, games (Afton loves them!) and the fireworks.

Afton is still over-coming her fireworks fear. But by the end of the night, she was able to enjoy them, with her ears plugged :)

Happily, she still is the "Sparkler Queen".

Maisy loved it all. She ran around like a crazy woman.

Sunday we spent the day eating and swimming at my Mom's house.

And the 4th wouldn't have been complete without some pool volleyball.

Hope you had a great weekend too :)

Napa Valley

2011-06-28T18:45:00.000-07:00

See that big smile? That's from a week-long vacation :)

Jeff and I spent the week in Napa Valley, California along with a few of his co-workers, compliments of his outstanding year in sales.

We started the week out with a short tour of San Franscisco before we headed out to the resort. Meadowood was a serene, beautiful resort. Each guest quarter was a classic cottage, complete with a beautiful porch. The weather was hot when we first arrived, but temperatures dropped throughout the week and we ended up with highs in the 80s and lows in the 50s.

Dinner each evening was an event. Our group had our own Master Sommelier- Geille from France. He made it his mission to educate us about wine. We enjoyed lots of yummy food paired with the most delicious wines.

I have always 'liked' wine. But now I have a whole new appreciation for the work that goes into those grapes. It really is an amazing process. We met with a few small family wineries- which were my favorite. It was fun to see people with such passion. Grandparents and small children working together to cultivate the vines. Such pride in farming.

Jeff and I went on a 'Bike and Sip' Tour. The landscapes were breathtaking. I forget how much concrete I am surrounded by in the metroplex. I loved the smell of dirt! (Must be my Idaho roots-ha!)

We also went on a hot air balloon ride. The balloon took us up 1700 feet in the air. It was like looking down on a patch-work quilt. I loved the expereince, but I did get really nervous.

Our adventures in shopping, wine tasting, and extreme heights were off-set by relaxing breakfasts on the patio and time spent reading by the pool. This year we were given a Kindle as one of our gifts- I downloaded "Water for Elephants" and haven't been able to put it down.

Several of the wives from last year's club joined us in Napa. It was fun having some friends to hang out with.

One night we wandered into St. Helena for pizza and drinks. We also found the only bar in the valley- Anna's Cantina. The men played pool while we cheered them on.

The night of the Awards Ceremony we had a five-course dinner at Silver Oak Winery. All of the wines were paired with the perfect food- I even ate a big Kobe steak! Something about a really good cabernet that makes red meat taste so good.

Finally we wrapped up the week with a round of croquet and dinner under twinkly white lights.

I missed our sweet girls. But it was a great chance to experience something new, see beautiful sights and recharge. I am so proud of Jeff and his dedication to our family and his job. Cheers to a great week!

The Wedding

2011-06-19T20:02:00.000-07:00

Such a beautiful weekend! Jeff's youngest sister Jessie got married on Saturday. Family came into town and we had a wonderful time celebrating the happy couple.

Along with their cousins Analeigh and Taylor, my girls got to be flower girls.

The bride was gorgeous- I love her vintage style.

And check out the shoes- Jessie has a thing for Converse. So all the kiddos, the groom, ushers, and the father of the groom wore a pair.

And even though we filled her 'bucket' with cookies instead of flower petals, Maisy chose to be carried down the aisle by Mimi instead of walking with Afton.

Afton did a wonderful job spreading flower petals down the aisle.

I was so honored to make the tutus, headbands, and hair accessories for the ceremony. All the girls looked adorable--and Jenn and Jessie were stunning.

The wedding and reception were held at Artspace 111 in Fort Worth.

We danced and danced and danced.

And posed for a few photos too.

Congratulations Matt and Jessie!

the Dancing Queen

2011-06-14T17:19:00.000-07:00

Afton had her first dance recital on Saturday. She has spent one hour every Thursday since August learning tap and ballet. And of course, she has loved every minute of it.

I volunteered to be the "Stage Mom" for the class. It was fun hanging out in the dressing room with the girls. I helped keep them occupied until it was their turn to perform, change costumes and hair between numbers, and reapply lipstick :)

The girls were all so sweet and it was fun spending that extra-special time with Afton.

The silly pose

Celebrating after dancing on stage

Yes- those are 'Crafty Texas Girls' bows :)

She adored being on stage. It was amazing to see how confident, concentrated, and smiley she was in front of all those people. Her hardwork practicing her routine paid off- she did a fantastic job.

Afton is the one with both arms in the air.

Her tap routine was to "I Want Candy" and her ballet routine was to "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"- which made me cry!

Waiting for the music to start.

Lots of family came to the recital to support her, so Afton left with two arm-fulls of flowers. Her room in now adorned with three vases of fresh blossoms.

She is already looking forward to next year's recital- and I have to admit- so am I!!!

Summer Days

2011-06-08T19:32:00.000-07:00

We are now well into Summer Vacation. The weather has been hot so most of our time has been spent in the pool. Afton is such a strong swimmer this year and Maisy seems to have the 'water bug' gene as well.

The girls and I made a Summer To-Do list and so far we've crossed a few things off the list. Last weekend, per Afton's request, we made our annual trip to the Fort Worth Zoo.

Of all the things that the zoo offers, our favorites are the new MOLA exhibit (museum of living art.) And of course the bird sanctuary. Feeding the birds was a hit with everyone.

It has been fun watching the girls together lately. Afton is so motherly with Maisy. She loves having her near. And Maisy is head-over- heels in love with her sister.

She sings her name at night "Aton, Aton". Everything that Afton does, Maisy wants to do too. I think Maisy has almost memorized Afton's entire routine for the upcoming dance recital. She looks up to her big sister.

Of course we do have our moments...

But when you love someone this much, you get over it quickly.

It's a good life.

Cake and a Boat

2011-05-30T19:34:00.000-07:00

May has all but disappeared, where did the time go?! My birthday rolled around again, 31 this time. I am blessed with so many friends and a loving family to celebrate with me! I got to enjoy dinner at my mom's house, a night out at the movies to see "Bridesmaids" and lots of fun in between.

Swimming, pizza, cake and all-around silliness at Dad's house.

A night out with the girls and our hubbies in Fort Worth- Tillman's and the Martini Bar

Our little family, dinner at Anamia's and then home for cake.

Afton and Jeff baked me a fabulous cake.

Memorial Day Weekend we spent in our swimsuits. Maisy discovered the joy of goggles and Afton continued her love of water tricks with Daddy.

Maisy wore these goggles, just like this, on her head for a good 2 hours.

Sunday was spent on Lake Grapevine with our neighbors. The kiddos lasted all day! Everyone was happy to be on the water.

Jaime, Bryce, and Tyler

This was Maisy's first time on a boat.

Afton was so brave in the lake! She even swam after a duck.

Mr. Mallard decided he like our group, we supplied him with lots of Goldfish.

Maisy loved driving the boat.

To our soldiers: May God bless you, each and every one. For all that you do for us each day. We will keep you in our hearts and for your safety we will pray.

Hope your Memorial Weekend was restful, relaxing and fun.

The Graduate and Glinda

2011-05-21T20:09:00.000-07:00

It's official, Afton has successfully completed Pre-Kindergarten and has graduated from preschool.

On Monday she walked across the stage, accepted her diploma, a bible and a hug.

As Afton stood on stage, the teacher said: "Afton Conner's favorite foods are hot dogs, oranges, and apples. At school she likes to play in the kitchen center. And when she grows up, Afton wants to sing and dance on stage."

Jeff and I are so proud of our big girl :)

We celebrated her accomplishment with a trip to Yogurt Land.

This year has been amazing for Afton. Both of her teachers are loving, kind, and creative. She learned so much and had a lot of fun with her sweet little class.

This weekend Afton traded in her cap for a crown. Glinda's crown to be exact. Our sweet friends Vivi and Jennifer invited us to see "The Wizard of Oz" at Casa Manana.

"There's no place like home, there's no place like home. "

We decided to let the girls dress up for the play and Afton just had to be Glinda. She has watched the movie every day this week and loves the story. So she and I worked to create the "Glinda crown" and sew a "puffy pink skirt with stars".

The girls thoroughly enjoyed the show. The music, costumes, and acting were superb. And afterwards, they met the cast and had them autograph the playbills.

The witch was pretty scary, but Afton couldn't wait to see her up close.

Who knows- maybe one day Afton will be stage with them!

Being a Momma...

2011-05-15T16:49:00.000-07:00

It's a pretty good job- being a mom. Lots of hugs, kisses, laundry, dishes, and more hugs :) And this year, I got the royal treatment for Mother's Day.

Afton's Pre-K class had a "Mother's Day Tea" on Wednesday. We were served to coffee, muffins, and a sweet card. Afton and I planted flower seeds in a little pot she made with her teacher's help. It was adorable.

On Friday I treated my mom to a pedicure. It was so nice to just sit and talk- just the two of us. She is such an inspiration to me and my girls.

Saturday the girls went to Mimi's house so that Jeff I could attend David and Lauri's wedding. We went ahead and made it into a little 'staycation'. We got a room at the Gaylord and spent the day by the pool before going to the wedding.

On Sunday we woke up, had a leisurely breakfast on Main Street and then picked up our girls. The four of us celebrated Mother's Day with slip-n-slide and grilling out.

I love our little family. Happy Mother's Day.

Maisy is 18 months and other fun things

2011-05-06T20:28:00.000-07:00

My sweet Maisy Lou is actually 19 months tomorrow, but we just made it in this week for her 18 month check- up.

She was weighed, measured, and given a vaccine. Then we had blood test and a brief "anemia scare" that took us to Quest for a 3 vile blood draw. Thankfully, all turned out well--- she is growing, learning, and keeping us laughing!

Height: 32 inches (52nd percentile)
Weight: 23 lbs 7 oz (32 percentile)
Head: 48 cm (84th percentile) :)

Maisy has become such a little talker. She can name all her body parts, tell you 'no', 'yes' and just about everything in between. My favorite thing about her right is her ability to dance, sing "Elmo's World" and give smooches :)

Afton was given her "Pre-K" graduation present a bit early. Since Santa brought her 'stick-on-earrings' for Christmas, she has been faithfully sticking a pair on each morning. And after much consideration, she/we decided she was ready for a real pair. So we headed to Sweet and Sassy.

Maisy and Jeff watched on as Afton braced herself for the piercing.

And it's done! We will be cleaning them for the next 6 weeks. So far so good- she loves them and I do too :)

Finally, our beloved Aunt Jessie is getting married in June. This past weekend was her bridal shower out on the harbor in Rockwall. We made cupcakes for the party and enjoyed celebrating her engagement.

Aunt Jessie and Afton

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cupcakes-yummy! Recipe here

The bride and her friends

Aunt Jenn and Afton

Mimi and Afton

Of course Afton was asked to be a flower girl.

Jessie in one word... "shoes"

My pretty girl enjoying the cupcakes.

And a fabulous photo of my SILs and my MIL- I love these ladies!

Happy Easter!

2011-04-24T19:54:00.000-07:00

Easter was so meaningful to Afton this year. She really loved hearing the story of Jesus and knowing the true reason for all the celebrations.

On Saturday morning we made our Resurrection Rolls- they turned out delicious!

On Sunday, the girls awoke to find their baskets filled with candy, art supplies, plush ducks, and children's Bibles.

Maisy trying feverishly to open a Reece's peanut butter egg.

After church, we went over to Grammy's house for Easter lunch.

I made few decorations and sweets for our gathering.

Jeff fried a turkey and a chicken. My mom roasted pork loin and baked the most delicious pineapple upside-down cake via Paula Dean.

Everyone brought a side dish to share- summer salad, homemade mac-n-cheese, bread, champagne salad, scalloped potatos, green bean casserole, and fresh corn on the cob.

Sweet Skylar even made a cute bunny cake- I love the gum teeth!

Besides eating lots of yummy food, we colored eggs, played a lot and had an egg hunt.

This was my attempt at getting a group shot of the kiddos with Mimi.

It was a great day! Happy Easter.

Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.
Pope John Paul II

Hoola Hoops and Eggs

2011-04-19T20:03:00.000-07:00

I love Spring! Lots of opportunities to be outside- which is where we are the happiest :)

On Saturday, we went to church for the annual "Easter Eggstravaganza". There was face painting,

crafts,

games,

and of course, the Easter Egg Hunt.

This was Maisy's first year to hunt for eggs. She loved it! She was interested in quality (of the treats inside the eggs) rather than quantity.

Afton was fast! She wanted lots and lots of eggs.

On Sunday we went enjoyed the warm weather in the usual way that people do. You know, eating popcorn in the garage,

smiling for the camera,

hoola hooping,

and playing hide-and-go- seek.

We could not find Afton. Finally she popped her head up, she had crawled under the shrubs!

We finished the day with a "Bike-a-thon" for St. Jude's and a few songs at Afton's preschool.

I couldn't get a good shot, but I love this big smile.

Such a great weekend. We also managed to squeeze in a trip to Rockwall and journeyed out to the Fort Worth Art Festival. But I didn't take my camera!

Looking forward to Easter, have a great week!

Bluebonnets 2011

2011-04-09T07:00:00.000-07:00

The bluebonnet tradition continues.

You might remember when I took the girls out to the bluebonnet field last year. I didn't have my 'big camera' yet, so my Dad came along as our photographer.

But now that I have a Rebel-- I got to play shutterbug.

First, let me give you a "truth in blogging" moment. It was too windy, too sunny, and Maisy didn't like it. Afton wanted to run through the flowers and Maisy just wanted to get out of them.

There were three other moms out in the field with their toddlers. All of the kids were crying and running away.

Yet, out of that chaos, came some sweet photos.

And since they were both dressed so cute, we ran over to the Grapevine Botanical Garden. But by then, the girls were just ready to play.

Luckily, they humored me and smiled for the camera a bit.

All in all, the day and the pics turned out good. And whenever I look at these, I can't help but grin at my busy, busy girls.

By next year, I am sure that I will forget about all the craziness.

Because there is just something about bluebonnets.

A Rapunzel Party for Afton

2011-04-06T06:06:00.000-07:00

Friday was Afton's birthday party with her girlfriends. We lucked out when planning it because the date coincided with the dvd release of "Tangled". As you know, Afton loves all things Disney princess. And right behind that is her love for movies and popcorn :) Thus the "Rapunzel Movie Party" was born.

I found some great party ideas at Disney.com and then added a few of my own. Turning 5 is great because Afton got to help a lot with the planning and crafting.

Her guests included all the girls in the class, plus a few special friends from outside of school, and of course Maisy Lou.

The girls came dressed as their favorite princesses. They watched "Tangled" in Afton's special movie theater that we set up in the garage. (Which turned out to be genius- because spilled popcorn isn't a big deal on a garage floor!)

The princess bounce house was also set up. So the girls kept themselves entertained with movie watching, jumping, drawing with chalk, and eating popcorn.

Afton has such sweet friends and their moms are just as great. We actually got a chance to sit and chat with each other inside. A rare moment!

When the movie was over, we gathered around to sing "Happy Birthday", eat cupcakes and open presents.

Afton got so many thoughtful gifts- books, Barbies, craft kits, an umbrella, summer clothes, a bug house, and a personalized box for collecting treasure.

Every Princess left with a big smile- and a pair of stick-on earrings!

Yay for turning 5!

Click here for the party details and a few 'how-to' projects.

13.1 miles and a 5 year old

2011-03-29T19:54:00.000-07:00

Phew! What a weekend. After training for 11 weeks and finding the time to run a total of 186 miles--- my half marathon was finally here. I cannot say enough how much I enjoyed it. The training, the race, the physical endurance, and the mental challenge- it was simply an amazing experience.

And much to my surprise, the training paid off in a huge way. I finished sub 2 (under 2 hours)- averaging 8:30 per mile.

I raced with 4 other "running moms" and happily crossed the finish line at the exact same time with two of them. All 5 of us exceeded our personal goals and ran faster than we expected.

The Rock N Roll Half Marathon benefited Susan G. Komen and boasted thousands of runners, dozens of bands, and a special concert by Bret Michaels at the conclusion of the race.

Afton made me a sign "My Mom Rocks- Go Mom Go!"

The "future runners".

Overall I placed 1,878th out of 10,000 runners. In regards to all the women who ran, I placed 617th. And in my age division I was 137th.

Bret Michaels :)

Our team "Solid Gold" rocked that race! We celebrated our success on Sunday night with drinks and dinner at Trulucks.

Thank you to all my friends and family who supported me over the past 2.5 months. Your kind words, encouragement, and training tips helped me cross that finish line.

Then on Monday, our sweet Afton turned 5 years old! We feel so blessed that she is "our girl" and we have been given the opportunity to raise her, guide her, and watch as she blossoms into her own little person.

My 5 favorite things about Afton this year:

1. She is so kind, caring and loving to her little sister.

2. She is crafty, creative and a talented artist.

3. She loves dress-up, dancing, cheering, gymnastics and all things fancy.

4. She loves bugs, riding bikes, digging in the dirt, gardening and playing in the sand box.

5. She always has a song in her heart and a smile on her face.

We did a small family celebration on Monday evening at Mi Chula's, complete with sopapillas. Afton's big birthday gift was an aquarium and 3 fish! She has been dying for her 'own pet'. Their names are "Goldie", "Fishie", and "Rose Flower".

On Friday her girlfriends are coming over for a "Tangled" movie party... pictures to follow of course!

Spring Break

2011-03-25T14:29:00.000-07:00

Since we were in Florida just last month, we decided to stay in town for Spring Break. Which turned out to be a good thing- since the stomach virus floated around our house all week.

Luckily the virus only lasted 24 hours per person, so we did get a chance to get out of the house a bit.
We made our annual trip to the Dallas Arboretum for the Spring Blooms.

It's our special tradition with Grammy- a yummy picnic lunch and beautiful flowers.

The theme this year was "Storybook Castles". Here is Afton scaling Rapunzel's tower.

Makes me wish I had remembered to plant tulip bulbs!

Maisy was tickled with the goats. She thought they were so funny.

I love this photo- sweet girls.

That weekend, Afton also ran her first 'road race'. I put Maisy in the jogging stroller and Afton ran next to us. The one mile run was to raise money for a baby girl in Keller who was born with a hole in her heart.

This Sunday is my big race, the Dallas Rock n Roll Half- Marathon. I went to the Race Expo today and picked up my number and shirt. I have been training with 4 other "Running Moms. I can't wait for our big day!

13.1 here I come!

Pre-K

2011-03-09T10:44:00.000-08:00

Afton had her Pre-K evaluation a few weeks ago. It is done to access "Kindergarten Readiness". And happily, she is ready and her teacher feels she will 'thrive in elementary school'! It was fun to see how much she has learned this year.

Her self-portrait on Day 1

Her self- portrait in January. It is a picture of her with baby Jesus. She LOVES to draw!

She knows all of her letters-uppercase and lowercase. And she has mastered half of her letter sounds. She can count to 29, make a pattern, name her body parts (except on that day she was at a loss for the word 'ankle'- ha!), can identify rhyming words, and hasn't met a shape she doesn't know.

Fine motor skills

Afton as real-life "Jack in the Box"

Areas to work on include following '3 step directions' and working independently (but this is pre-k, so who isn't working on this?!)

Silly girl!

She is also needing some help with recognizing numbers. Which I didn't even realize until the conference. Since she is always counting, I felt she knew her numbers. But they get a little tricky for her when you put any number above 5 in front of her. So now we are playing a lot of "What Number is This? " and "Go Fish" to help.

The much-anticipated "Donuts for Dads"

Afton made that snazzy tie.

Since I taught pre-k, you might think I should have my kid reading by now. Maybe, maybe not. We read together all the time. And Afton likes to read the words "I" and "a" by herself :) But I don't "school" her at home. She'll learn when she is ready.

Valentine's Party

At home, we mostly play and have fun. Sometimes fun is working with numbers and letters and sometimes not. I would like her to know all her letter sounds and have those numbers down by the time she goes to Kinder- but I am trying not to stress about it. I know she will learn a lot next year too.


Afton's favorite day of school- the day "Q"and "U" got married. She got to be "Q" and a classmate was the "U". She will always remember that those two letters go together!

The ceremony took place in the little chapel. It was a special day:)

This year has been so amazing for Afton. Loving teachers, great friends, and so many fun activities. Her teachers say that Afton is the "Princess of the Class". She always sees the best in any situation and walks around singing. (Just like a true Disney princess!)

Cheers to a great year.

I can't believe next year she will be in Kindergarten!

Mardi Gras!

2011-02-28T20:15:00.000-08:00

Ever since we left New Orleans, we have always planned on going back to visit during Mardi Gras. But with Maisy being so little, we felt 8 hours in the car might be too long. So instead, we took a 3 hour road trip to Shreveport.

Jeff's manager graciously opened his home to the Dallas district team members for a crawfish boil.

Check out Maisy and Afton's faces- they were so scared of the crawfish in Jeff's hand.

If you ask Afton, one of the best parts of the trip was the hammock. Ha! Both girls loved being rocked.

After we ate lunch and polished off a king cake, we headed down to the parade route. We situated ourselves near the end of the route and played until it reached us. There were 7 kiddos in our group, so lots of action!

Afton is a huge fan of Mardi Gras. What girl wouldn't like to go to a parade where they throw out free jewelry?!

Maisy had a lot of fun too. She watched all the commotion, ate crackers and danced.

Both girls were happy the entire night. They left with a ton of loot. So Afton took beads to school for all her teachers and classmates. Of course the rest she is keeping for dress-up :)

Let the good times roll!

Warm Weather

2011-02-23T18:00:00.000-08:00

The weather this past week has been beautiful. After all of our snow and ice, we've been craving some warmth. The girls and I have been outside everyday. After school on Friday, we decided to picnic in the backyard and break into the sandbox.

Afton loved getting her toes in the sand- pretending she was at the beach.

Maisy saying "No". Of course "No" is her favorite word at the moment :)

Then she saw these and repeated "Eyes, eyes, eyes" over and over.

I love this little stinker!

And my dear Afton was content to dig and dig, working away in her "Sand Bakery".

Afton was even nice enough to make Maisy her own sandbox!

See Penny in the background? She is licking her lips because she just polished off Maisy's entire lunch. (Peanut butter jelly sandwich, puffs, and strawberries.)

We are excited for spring in Texas! Lots of fun days ahead.

Disney Trip on YouTube and all the fun Details :)

2011-02-13T20:55:00.000-08:00

** I made a 12 minute long movie- tons of photos and video clips of our Disney Trip. You can see the movie by clicking here : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dlSMNbA5Tk
Read below for the details of the trip and some cute pics!

We took our princess to Disney World. The trip was a marathon endurance event- rides, dresses, shows, and of course lots of pictures. Since our Maisy is still so young, we opted to leave her with Grammy. So Afton got a special 'big girl' trip all by herself. We were lucky enough to bring a few 'princess loving' friends along too- aka "The Parker Family".

This was our first time doing Disney as adults. There was so much to plan, learn and do! But with a general itinerary and a good map of the park, we set out to do it all.

Day 1- We arrived in Orlando after a long delay and plane change. Our day was cut short, but we made the best of it. We headed to "Hollywood Studios" and saw "Beauty and the Beast", "The Little Mermaid" and rode a few rides.

The girls loved the "Toy Story" interactive ride and Afton even braved "Tower of Terror". (She screamed all the way through, but now tells everyone that it was her favorite thing at Disney!) We also got to buy some cute ponchos :)

Day 2- Princess Breakfast in Norway. This was awesome! The food was good, the girls were elated, and the princesses were so sweet. We ended up spending the whole day at "Epcot". There was so much to see and do. We loved "Soaring", "Test Track" and "Mission Space". We saw lots of characters and collected autographs. The "Nemo" attractions were delightful too. We even took in "Captain EO"- long live the 80's! That night we had a few drinks and took in the fireworks. This was Jeff's favorite day.

Day 3- The weather cleared and we headed over to the main event- "Magic Kingdom". Right when we entered the park a jitney picked us up and took us to the castle. We felt like movie starts, rolling into town on our own special ride :) The girls danced on the palace steps and then we watched "Dreams Come True". The music and actors at Disney are spectacular. It was so fun to sing along and see the girls' favorite movies come to life. We spent most of the day taking in the popular rides- "Dumbo", "Small World", "Peter Pan" etc. This was Afton's favorite day.

Then we decided to spend some time in "Animal Kingdom"- thanks to our Park Hopper! In my opinion, this is not the best park- but there was a great roller coaster, the safari tour, and a great dino attraction. Afton was tall enough to ride every ride at Disney. She was so brave! (And of course it helped that we rewarded her bravery!)

That night was our fancy dinner with the characters of Cinderella at the Grand Floridian. I was so impressed with this meal as well. Lots of quality time with the characters, good food, and plenty of dessert!

Day 4- We headed back to the "Magic Kingdom" for our appointment at Bippidy Boppidy Boutique. The girls were pampered with nails, hair and make-up. It was rainy that day, but of course, a little rain couldn't ruin our parade. We got our money's worth when it came to those ponchos!

We took in the rest of what the Kingdom had to offer and even saw a parade. We felt fortunate to see "ToonTown" as they are preparing to tear it down and add some new attractions.

Since we came in the off-season, there really weren't any waits for the rides. The longest wait we experienced was to see "Tinkerbell"! That night we went over to "Downtown Disney", had dinner and shopped.

Day 5- Travel home to see our Maisy Lou!

Our trip was truly magical. Afton was the perfect age. And being alone with her gave me a chance to appreciate what a sweet, kind, big girl she is growing to be. I loved every minute with her. She was appreciative, enthusiastic, and so cooperative! I was surprised that we never had a melt down or any cases of ' the gimmies' (probably because we have sooo much Disney stuff already!). Jeff and I had a lot of fun playing in the park and marveling at our "almost 5 year old".

Jennifer and I realized that we could probably become cast members at Disney- if there is ever an opening for a Belle or Cinderella- give us a call! We sang our hearts out and were probably just as (or more) excited as the girls for this trip. You couldn't miss our Texas-size excitement for Disney!

What a trip!

We Got our Snow Day!

2011-02-01T22:32:00.000-08:00

Afton got her wish, she woke up this morning to snow. (And ice, and wind, and freezing temperatures!) But beggars can't be choosers and we were delighted to have a chance to bundle-up and play outside.

Did I mention it felt like 3 degrees outside?

Of course Afton did not mind!

The icy snow didn't pack well, but apparently it did taste good :)

Maisy has had enough- she's headed back to the house!

Penny enjoyed running around in it. Can you imagine how cold her paws must have been?

And finally back inside our warm house.

Yes, much better in here for sure!

Happy Snow Day! XOXO

Growing and Cheering

2011-01-20T15:37:00.000-08:00

Miss Maisy had her 15 month check-up last week. She is hitting all the marks developmentally. Walking, sort of running, climbing, and talking up a storm. (mama, dada, A-ton, dogg-dogg, sheews, buh-bye, baybee etc.) Maisy also says 'tank ew' when you give her something- love a girl with manners!

Here is how she is growing: She has a 'lollipop figure' :)

Height: 31.5 inches (80th percentile)
Head: 47 cm (80th percentile)
Weight: 21.5 pounds (27th percentile)

Afton has been keeping us busy with cheerleading! She is cheering with a program called "Upwards" which is through a local church. She will be cheering for the next 9 weeks- for indoor basketball. There is a one hour practice and a one hour game each week. It is hilarious to watch these little kids.

Afton loves cheering with the girls.

Here she is running out before the game.

And she here she is on the right side in this pic- cheering for the basketball players as they are announced.

The "Spirit Squad" doing their 'color shout' cheer. She is one of the youngest on the squad. Such a fun, silly group of girls. She is second from the end, on the left.

I have been doing a lot with Crafty Texas Girls (if you haven't become a follower, please do!). I am also training for the Dallas Rock 'n Roll half marathon. I haven't registered yet- because I am a bit nervous that I can actually do it. But I am up to 7 miles, so maybe when I hit 10, I'll feel confident enough :)

Jeff is working a lot and hitting the gym. He has also been mourning the end of college football. Good thing there is still the Super Bowl to look forward to.

And our Disney trip is just a few weeks away- we are counting down the days!

The 'almost snow day'

2011-01-10T13:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was supposed to be a snow day- a rare occasion in north Texas. We were expecting 1-4 inches of snow!!!

(Note: If you are from the North, this entire post will seem silly to you.)

Afton was so excited, she planned to make a snow man, have a snow ball fight, and make Jeep tracks in the snow. But then, the winds changed, a few flakes fell but it was just too warm to stick.

Jeff looked at weather.com and told Afton the bad news.

But the great thing about Afton is, she knows how to make lemonade out of lemons. So we bundled up and went out into the cold, wet day.

Here is the 'snow' we got.

And happily, I finally got to wear my adorable rain boots.

The snow man and snow ball ideas didn't quite work out. But Afton could still drive her Jeep.

So drive she did. All over the neighborhood.

Later we went inside and made a fort out of blankets and dinning room chairs.

A pretty good 'almost snow day'!

Fear the Frog

2011-01-03T20:53:00.000-08:00

Since we were just about the only TCU fans that did not travel to California for the Rose Bowl, we decided to have a little watching party here.

"Trying" to get my girls to pose for a picture.

I made purple cookies- they are soft and delicious. My grandma's recipe from BH&G 1970's cookbook.

Random picture of Maisy kissing the ceramic dog in Jeff's office...

Me and my future frogs!

My blondes- all smiles for momma!

A bit of party decor...

And lots of good friends and their sweet kiddos.

Rah rah TCU!

Happy New Year- Go Frogs!

Family Time

2010-12-31T06:00:00.000-08:00

Lots of good times during Christmas break. Jeff had time off and we've had pretty good weather too. Here's what we did to fill our days.

Going to the park.

A special bowling date with Afton. She was really good- 2 mph and bumpers- she almost beat me!

Playing Rapunzel with Vivi.

Lots and lots of playing at home. This was the day the girls decided they needed to try on cowboy boots.

And I just have to share these. This is how Maisy's hair looks when she wakes up in the morning. Honestly! Now that is some hair.

Next week we get back in the swing of things. But I have loved these days- all 4 of us home together.

Christmas with the Conner's

2010-12-29T18:56:00.000-08:00

We had such a happy Christmas this year. Personally, I think each year gets better :)

The girls are so sweet to each other. Every day Afton would take an ornament off the tree and tell Maisy about it. Then she would carefully re-hang it for me.

Afton oohhed and awwed about the packages, speculating about the contents. Maisy listened carefully. I was surprised how gentle she was with the tree and presents. Nothing was broken or opened early.

On Christmas Eve we went to church with our family. Then everyone came back to our house for a yummy itallian dinner and a visit from a special guest.

So excited to have Amanda and Preston here for Christmas.

Maisy was quite serious. She is not a fan of Santa this year.

This year, Afton was 'in' on the secret about Grandpa dressing as Santa for our party. She knew the real Santa was busy making toys and delivering them. So Grandpa had to help out!

Kids at Christmas!

Santa brought Afton a "Toy Story 3" character set. Jesse is her favorite.

Sklyar and Lex gave Afton a beautiful pink ballerina dress. She immediately put it on and wore it for the rest of the party.

Showing off the dress :)

Skylar helped Afton sprinkle reindeer food on the lawn. Those reindeer love glitter and oats!

My 'Sugar Plum Fairy'.

Poor Maisy, not happy about "Ho-Ho".

The next morning, Afton was up around 7:30 to see what Santa brought- a new bike, a jumping baby, and an 'easy bake oven'. Maisy woke up around 8 am and was delighted to find a new bike and baby doll.

My sweet family.

My Dad and Tricia joined us at 9am for more present opening.

I am opening my Michael Kors watch :)

Singing Rapunzel- Afton got a lot of Rapunzel gifts.

Matching babies- oh how I love Santa!

It was sooo cold outside, but new bikes have to be ridden.

We finished the day by visiting Mimi, GranDanny, and Jeff's sisters. Then we went to my mom's for Christmas dinner and gift exchange. The girls loved playing with their aunts and uncles- and all of their new toys.

We came home, played a few rounds of "Uno Moo" and then tucked everyone in bed. What a wonderful, blessed Christmas we had!