Happy 2nd Birthday!

I am wishing my sweet baby girl a super 2nd birthday today! What a joy she has been in a lives. Her fiesty attitude makes up for her small frame. Right now she LOVES her mama and babydolls. She wants 2(but holds up 5 fingers when she sayd 2) babydolls for Christmas! She is very sensitive but also tough as she has to protect herself from her big brother. We love you so much Landry Grace!

Sporting her first "goose egg" that she recieved courtesy of the fireplace last night.

Being silly Monday night when we had dinner with daddy after his FCA golf tournament.

Happy Birthday!!!

We weathered the chili temperatures Saturday morning for Jake and Landry Grace's birthday party at our home. Someone forgot to send me the memo that when you are having a party at your house, primarily indoors, you might need to keep it small:). But we had a great crowd and a good time was had by all. We hit the pinata, bounced on the Mickey bounce house, colored Mickey and Minnie sheets, ate Mickey treats, and played with Mickey balloons...we wore the Mickey and Minnie theme out.
December is such a busy month for us! Matt's birthday is tomorrow, LGT's is the 10th, our 6th wedding anniversary is the 13th and Jake's birthday is the 15th.... not to mention Christmas. I am trying to get a little better at posting but bare with us during this month! We are planning a big trip on the 20th to the Polar Express train ride in Palestine, Tx. The babies are looking forward to that. Well, enjoy the pictures!

Where Has Time Gone?

In preparation of the babies birthday parties this weekend, I have to reflect on what the last 2 years with 2 babies has been like. One word cannot sum it up but more than that I would not change a THING. Even if for 5 days every year they will be the same age. They are so precious and truly a gift from the Lord.
Below is a picture taken when Landry Grace was about 5 days old. The first 6 months were truly a trying time in our life, but looking back the days and years have gone SO quickly! I miss those early days from time to time. There is still chaos at our home but I know that "this too shall pass" and before I know it they will both be in school.
We are having a celebration of LGT's 2nd and Jake's 3rd birthday at our house this Saturday and are hoping for some warm weather(me and my bright idea to have it outside!) but fun will be had regardless of weather:). Stay tuned for pictures!!
And yes we continue to survive!!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! We had our family picture/Christmas card session yesterday and this was by far the best my children had ever done for pictures. It's safe to say this one will probably not make the cut, but it was the proof she e-mailed me and the rest I cannot save. If you would like to check them out, http://www.sherryowensphotography.com/ep_home.asp?WebsiteID=1386&EventProjectID=12189&IF=1click here and the password is Suzanne.
I am so enjoying my week off with the babies. We have had some fun and are looking forward to 3 more week days.
Hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family and loved ones.

The Latest

Life has been in the way of our blog and it has been a while since my last update. Halloween has come and gone. I am pretty sure most of you are on Facebook and saw them dressed up as Caesar and Cleopatra. When we were out in Vegas last May and staying at Caesar's Palace, I saw the costumes in the gift shop and from there my idea for them to be Caesar and Cleopatra was born. Numbered are the days where I can pick out ideas for them. Both of the babies are pretty strong willed so I am biding the time before their choice will win out over mine!
Last week was filled with fun events, starting with GiGi treating us to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse tickets last Sunday in Bossier. Jake loved it...Landry Grace didn't sit still for very long! Jake is my tv watcher(bad parent, I know) while LGT could really care less about what is on the tube. She is very active...hence her 22 pound 35 inch lean figure! This week we had a play date after MDO on Thursday and played with the Hall kiddos and James kiddos. They had a blast playing together at our house. On Friday we went to the Tech game and let the kids play at First Friday(the first Friday of every month our church has free child care from 6-10:30). At halftime the Dawgs were getting beat pretty badly and so we left the game around 8:30, went to get a bite to eat, and then headed to get the babies. When we got there, the Dawgs were making a comeback against Boise State and Jake was telling Matt that he wanted to go to the game. So we went back to the game and within 15 minutes they were SACKED OUT! Made for a pretty cute picture.

So other than that we are just enjoying the fall. We love in a pretty wooded area so leaves are EVERYWHERE! It's beautiful but upkeep of the property is a necessity! As of September 15ish I have not run at all. I needed a break emotionally from it when LGT was in the midst of her hair pulling and I just couldn't handle training for a marathon at the time. So now almost 8 weeks later I have found myself enjoying the sleeping in but now realizing it is time to hit the pavement once again. My 2 running partners that are running White Rock in December are hoping to qualify for Boston(which is April 19). I qualified with my time at last year's Boston, so if they run a time of 3:40 or better at White Rock my plan is to train with them for that marathon. Last week I started a boot camp at Tech. It starts at 5am and is on M/W/F. There are over 40 women in the class and it is a pretty good workout. I am still missing my cardio and hoping to start back up soon. That is all for now. Hope all is going well this fall season and I will try to post sooner than later.

GiGi with Jake and Landry Grace before heading into Playhouse Disney

Landon Hall, Ava James, and Jake playing

Landry Grace and Kennedy Hall hanging out together

Landry showing off before heading to First Friday

And my favorite.....sacked out. Notice Jake hasn't let go of his popcorn. Enough said!

Farms and Football

Thought I would catch all of you who read our blog up on the latest! Where has October gone? This week I have found myself looking forward to Thanksgiving break and ordering birthday party invites(hello! Etsy has always been a site I liked but now I am addicted. All things Minnie and Mickey they have!)as December will be here oh so soon.
Anywho....back to last week. I took the kids last year to Papa Simpson's Farm in Arcadia. They only have tours once a month and during October they get to go to the pumpkin patch and pick pumpkins. We had so much fun (before the meltdown!!) last year that I made plans to do it again this year and bring Matt and my mom along. The Hall family also joined in the fun! The only thing I did different this year was pack some snacks and pb and j's(the frozen kind that are pre-made) and some extra juice boxes. Little did I think they would go for them. Well, that was the lifesaver and the reason for our meltdown last year. So the tour started at 10 and we left around noon from the farm. The tour last longer but we left out early. They petted all kinds of animals, gave a bottle to a calf, and even ran amongst the goats and tried to catch them. Jake was all about milking the cow but when he walked up to the cow's utters at the farm he was not a willing participant! You can google Papa Simpson's farm if you are interested in going. I highly suggest it as it is a good family activity!

That same afternoon we made it to the Tech homecoming game late....but better late than never. We waited for the babies to wake up from their nap and decided to take them with us to the game. Normally we get a babysitter since we are in close quarters with our fellow season ticket holders and only have 2 seats. Next year we will have to spring for 4 seats as the kids will be at the age that they can enjoy the atmosphere a little better....hmmmmmm! But we had a good time and the babysitter came AFTER the game to babysit while we went out with some friends.

And on to upcoming news....we are headed down to Baton Rouge for the LSU/Auburn game. We are tagging along with some friends and staying with family while Jake and Landry Grace will be in good hands with GG and Papaw. May I say it again how blessed we are to having loving and doting grandparents on both sides of our family, along with Aunt Lou. We do NOT take this for granted. Yes I used to be a little more protective when they were under the age of 1 but now...they would rather go with any grandparent than stay with us:). I don't blame them!

Have a great weekend!

Showing off their pumpkins at Papa Simpson's.

The trailer ride down to the farm.

Petting a baby goat with his buddy Landon Hall.

Landry Grace getting to sit in a seat all by herself while our neighbors went to the concession stand.

Just thought this was priceless. I truly tear up when I think about how FAST the last 3 years has gone by and how soon they will be in school.

Yay for October!

Quick post...nothing too big to report. I never have been big into Halloween, but with kids I have now found myself getting into it a little more. We bought about 10 pumpkins on Friday and decorated the flowerbed with them. The kids had a blast going to the pumpkin patch at The Townsend House and then we went to Super 1 to get the rest of them:)!

Last night we cooked pumpkin cookies and I let them wear their Halloween shirts. Below was a quick shot of them hugging one another. They have recently begun doing this and I could never get enough of them hugging. I suppose when they are older I will have this picture to remind them of when they loved to play together!

And tonight Katie, her mom, and sweet kiddos boo-ed us(sorry, we weren't supposed to know but they didn't leave out in time before we answered the door) and brought Jake and Landry Grace some fun Halloween treats. Looking forward to trick or treating this year! It will be a blast.

Last but not least LGT is doing great with her new hair cut. The first 2 mornings she got up earlier than normal because she could not comfort herself by pulling her hair. Other than that, we have had several "what is wrong with your child she has no hair" or " I cannot believe she cut her hair" looks. It's almost humorous to me! But this is another lesson I have learned: Do not judge until you have walked in her shoes. Lesson I should have learned a long time ago but was reminded of in our current circumstance. I shouldn't dwell on the negative because honestly I have had so many encouraging words from so many people and we are grateful for you. We are now certain that we did the best thing for her and she is doing wonderful.
Pardon the fingerprints all over the stove!

Jake......the picture says it all. He is AAAALLLL boy.

Landon giving Jake part of his boo-ed present. Of course they wouldn't stay still and I love that Katie brought Landon in his Halloween costume!! Who will we boo???

The girls: Landry Grace, me, Katie, and Kennedy