Days of Thanks - 5

Please tell me I am not the only one thankful for

ahem...a few bathroom items?

Seriously. What goes on in the bathroom is important business!

I have a couple of things that live in my bathroom

that clearly need a little shout out.

In other words, I am thankful for them!

Ahhh. Rare Minerals. Its part of the Bare Minerals cosmetic line. 

This is blemish therapy. Let me tell you. Not much therapy is needed.

This is a budding pimples worst nightmare.

Not kidding.

One quick dab of this white, powdery, mineral miracle

and zit free you will be. 

I have NEVER seen any treatments that work as well or as fast 

as this. Love it.

It lasts forever and works overnight.

Every hormonal teenager and new momma needs this.

Speaking of Skin Care.

The Clarisonic skin brush. This will wash away your skin

into brand new. Best thing? Its waterproof. It works off of a battery charge

and will seriously make your pores squeaky clean. 

You can use it with any cleanser. It gets your skin so much

cleaner than just using your hands. It only takes 1 minute.

1 minute for beautifully clear skin. Yes.

So raise your hand if you keep your toothbrush in the bathroom?

Thats what I thought. You do, and so do I.

Raise your hand if you keep your toliet in the bathroom as well?

Goodness. 

Does it not gross you out to no lengths that think that every time you flush

the toliet germs {and such} are sent airborne?

Thats why I protect my and Tyler's toothbrush with the Vio Light

toothbrush sanitizer!
Anslee has her own pretty princess one. She even was able to decorate with
stickers. What fun for her!!

You put in your toothbrush bristles downward

turn on a special germ killing light

and a clean toothbrush you have.

My dentist would be so proud. If I went and paid him a visit that is.

*Disclaimer*

Thanks to my sweet mama for seriously buying me all of the above items 

that I clearly could not go a day without now.

Days of Thanks - 4 - MOPS

Today is Friday, and every other Friday, our MOPS group meets.

Every Friday there is a MOPS meeting in Brownwood, and once a month on Thursday,
a working Mom's MOPS group meets.

Myself and a close friend Co-Coordinate MOPS at Coggin Avenue Baptist.

Oh how the city of Brownwood is blessed to have groups of this nature meeting.

MOPS is an national and even international group intended for Mothers of PreSchoolers.

We are so lucky to have 3 chapters here in Brownwood.

This group has been not only a life saver in terms of knowing the 

silly things we encounter everyday are normal,

but also in just making friends who have a mutual respect for what you

are dealing with.

Motherhood is not always easy. Or fun.

In fact, its quite messy a lot of the time.

Within the walls of our church, where we meet, each of us find a sense of encouragement

and like mindedness with other women.

We minister to each other. We share stories. We eat food. We listen to guest speakers. We craft. We lift each other up.

Its an outreach program . Its so many things to so many moms.

Thank you, to all my MOPS mommy friends, who help me survive the journey with a smile on my face. You mean more to me and you know!

Days of Thanks 3

Today I am especially thankful for the parenting books

in my life. Goodness me, where would I be without

these little self help miracle books?

I think it is kind of funny, really, that I am really thankful for these books.

I have never really ever been much of a reader. 

There was the occasional novel that I would read, but besides that,

I did not read often. Yes. It is something 

I wish I did more, but when Anslee was 6 weeks old

I got hooked. I was amazed at how parenting made more sense after reading them.

I was so happy to take bits and pieces from each book

to aide me in planning out our days, and just knowing what life with 

a baby looked like.

I am also thankful that Tyler and I have the freedom to parent how

we see fit for our family. 

I am thankful that with the help of these books and our own parenting 

instincts We can feel confident in our decision making regarding 

the most precious baby girls that ever graced planet earth.

Here are just a few of my favorites!

 

Most of these books have toddler editions that I love equally!

Needless to say, one way I deal with frustrations or anxiousness

is by gathering information. I guess it eases my mind to know what

the experts say.

I feel like even though I love these books, I need to say that I take what works for us

from each book and what I agree with and make it my own.

It would be absurd to follow every "book" down to its last word

when kiddos are as individual as a fingerprint.

I am thankful for the help they have brought me though!

Days of Thanks -2

Today I am thankful for this very blog.

Not that I have a huge audience (or really think that is at all important)

but because I can make it exactly what I want.

I started this blog to document my life as a newlywed

and Tyler's journey through the State of Texas Trooper Academy.

It has evolved into my own little place on the internet

to record how we live our life.

I know that many years from now I will be so thankful I kept up with the 

daily delights of our life. 

I hope that when my little girls can read, they can go back and look on 

mommys blog to see what life was like

when they were my little tiny stinkers.

I like that I write about the big changes that our life takes

and the small things

that make each day unique and special. 

So today, I am thankful for my corner of the world wide web.

Even if I am the only one who knows its here!

Days of Thanks.

When time of year rolls around, I try to really stop and be extra mindful of the good in my life.

Its just good for the soul to reflect on what we are blessed with.

This year I am taking the time 

to document the things I love about my life.

What I am blessed with.

The little things I find simply joyful.

There are things I give thanks for each and everyday.

My Salvation.

My family.

My home and shelter. Dependable transportation.

So during these days of thanks,

please don't think I am not giving thanks about these most precious

parts of my life. I am beyond thankful for them.

Daily. 

Oh I would not be able to enjoy the little things in my life

without each of the above.

Today is Day 1.

Today I am thankful for my running shoes.

I am certain I have never loved a pair of running shoes like I do these ones. 

They fit my foot like like a glove.

Usually I have to have a "get to know you" period of time 

with a new pair of running shoes. 

Not these.

This pair of shoes knew me the minute they arrived on my doorstep.

Via UPS.

I was comfortable in them from the first lace up.

It will be a hard pair of shoes to retire.

 Forrest Gump had a special relationship with his shoes.

Now I know why! :)

For someone who enjoys exercise and running, a good pair of shoes is hard to come by.

So I am especially thankful (and was quite surprised) when these shoes

were the total package from day 1.

What is something simple that you can be thankful for today?

Hope you take the time to find something as simple as a pair of shoes to be thankful for!

As of Late. Photo dump {again}

We have stayed busy at the start of this blissful fall season.

Fun seems to be the definition of our days.

Where to start is a good question. We are just all over the place and loving every second!

Big Sister Anslee started in her very first dance classes. She attends 

Creative Movements class for 2 year olds.

It is seriously the cutest thing this mama has ever seen.

Watch out. You might just see this tiny dancer one day dancing her heart out on Broadway.

 

Each week I see her grow in ability and enjoyment for the art. I love watching her participate.

Just love seeing how she really gets into it. I finally found a pair of ballet slippers in her size.

Those will be in a shadow box someday.

Stop growing, my sweet Anslee. Stay my tiny dancer forever!

My goodness. When we are not dancing, We are LOVING kindermusik. 

Anything that involves music, singing, or dancing is on Anslee's list of favorite activities.

Little Sis Kens went for a 9 month well check.

She was well. Growing like a little champ baby and was surely the cutest kiddo at Brownwood Pediatric that day. I look at this girl and fall in love with her because of her little

spit fire personality and for what she has taught me in her short 9 months of life.

9 months of my life I would never give up. Not for one second.

Yes, this sweet girl is sleeping 12+ hours a night, every night and is happy and silly as can be.

Her sister and her are the silliest of sillies. They would not know what to do without each other.

The most precious relationship for me to see blossom. Can't get enough.

We take a few nights and treat ourselves every now and then. Love my date night outs with these two

goof balls. Is it not clear that fun is all we do around here?

Mama is so thankful for these two angel babies who sit in a stroller without a fuss while I get a nice run in. These two are along for the ride with the best of attitudes. Running has been a must in this most perfect weather, so we have spent many evenings out at the park getting in some good exercise!

Not sure what else to do but laugh at the picture above. I catch this little sleepy head knocked out in the craziest of positions. She is a mover and a shaker when she is awake and when she rests. Precious angel. You sleep however you will. I will snap away at your silly sleepy antics.

See what I mean? I can promise I will have more of these to come. 

Many mornings we spend playing in this "playhouse". Thank goodness for boxes, right? You dont even know the fun that has come out of this box. Little creative minds turn this box into so many different things. Best thing is that Anslee makes sure Kensington gets in and plays with her every single time. She already realizes that life is better with a little built in playmate.

 

These two spend a lot of time just playing and laughing together. I actually look forward to the years to come. Watching them grow together.

Every Thursday afternoon, Anslee and I pack up and head to the Brownwood Public library.

We meet with a few friends who join us for learning a letter each week. For "A" we put Apples on an Apple tree. Each letter comes with shape, color, and counting activities that coordinate. Anslee likes it, and I am starting to really believe that its making a profound difference in her abilities. She knows her ABC's, but the hope is, with these weekly activities, that letter recognition will come along with early phonics training. 

KayLee, Wyatt's mama, brings a short book that goes with each letter. The books she has are awesome. Its almost the same story line for each letter, and clearly, the repetitive nature of the story helps the learning of each letter sink in just a little more. 

Well, thats what is going on in our world as of late. We live a good life, and can't wait to wake up each morning to a new day filled with lots of FUN!

Hope this fall as started off FUN for all of YOU!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Ever since I had Anslee, going to the pumpkin patch has become a little fall tradition! (I mean, I guess I could have gone and taken pictures with Tyler, but simply said, its just would not have been as cute. Or fun.) 

This year, it was exciting to include our newest addition in the tradition! Oh, and Kensington loved and hated the pumpkin patch with all that was in her! Needless to say, we had a great time and got some pictures to record this falls memories!

What fun it was to set these two up in front of a precious back drop and snap away. They thought they were in a little play house. Precious.

They love each other so much! Love seeing these two being sweet! 

Anslee knew the drill. She sat right down, picked up a pumpkin and straw of hay and said, "take my picture mama!" Trained well. Love her.

How cute is this little halloween kitty? Just the sweetest 9 month old alive! So easy to get a smile out of this one...

Unless you surround her in a large mound of pumpkins. Not to worry, 2 years from now she will be asking me to take her picture while posing with pumpkins. Sister will be sure of that.

What sweet girls I have. Crying and smiling alike. 

Love fall. Love a pumpkin patch. Love my precious little pumpkins more than words can say!

Ready for the cold front set to come in! 

Happy fall to you all!