Aug's Christmas Program

Aug had her Christmas program at pre-school today.  This is only a small part of the program.  She kept saying "hi" to us.  She did such a good job!  I love my little girl!

I can't believe that Travis and I have been married 5 years today...and we have two great kids to show for it!

Let it Snow!

Actually, not really.  We have plenty of snow...8 inches to be exact!  I know the pictures aren't great but it was cold and I wasn't really thinking about getting the best pics.

We tried to make a snowman but the snow wasn't packable.  Aug looks so cold in this pic!  But we had just gotten outside.

My snow-angel.

Gentry was just chillin'.  He was happy enough just watching August play.

I thought I would try to get a good picture of both of them.  That didn't happen.  Gentry's pants came up a little and he got snow on his legs.  And he is so big I couldn't get a good shot of Aug's smiling face.

After, we warmed up with hot chocolate from Amy.  Thanks, Amy!!!!

Christmas Decor...Check

I just couldn't see getting a real tree this year.  I really didn't want to have to deal with Gentry pulling it over and the water and the needles and the sap.  So I got this cute little pre-lit thing.  Yes, pre-lit.  It is amazing.  All the lights are in the perfect spot!

I know, it's small.  However, it fits in this corner just right.



I always let Aug hang some of the ornaments.  This is where she hung the group of fabric ornament balls.

And this is where she hung her ornaments from Amy and Rylan.

And this is where she hung the cinnamon ornaments.  Do you see a pattern?

I was able to just catch this moment before they both moved.  I don't know what they were talking about.  She was touching the tree and saying something and he was listening so intently.

My Favorite Things

My Thanksgiving List of Favorite Things....

Obviously my kids are my first favorite things...This is a list of the other stuff.  (Some things have links.)

My new camera flash
My new wide angle lens
Amy's excitement
The smell of fall (but not the cold)
International Delight White Chocolate Raspberry creamer
Pumpkin milk
This blog, she has awesome deals
Home-made laundry detergent--I can't even explain how much money I am saving
Amy Rusk Photography
Vista Print and all things free
Making Cinnamon Ornaments with Amy and our moms
Hearing August pray before supper ("Good food, good meat, good God, let's eat. Amen." Clap.)
Hearing August cry while saying the prayer for supper
Rounding up cows in the dark  (I know its crazy)
Watching Gentry play in the morning
Hearing Gentry's  belly laugh
My traditional Thanksgiving meatballs

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Cinnamon Ornaments Photo Tutorial

This one is for Mom and Weezer...



Mix 4 ounces cinnamon with 3/4 to 1 cup applesauce.

Mix until it makes a super sticky dough.  Add more cinnamon or applesauce until it gets to the right consistency.

Sprinkle cinnamon on the counter and roll out the dough until it is about 1/4 inch thick.  Sprinkle the top with cinnamon as needed.

Use your favorite cookie cutters.

Peel off the negative area and scoop the ornaments with a super thin spatula.

Put them on a cookie sheet.  Use a coffee straw to punch holes.

Bake at 200, turning every 20 minutes or so until they are hardened.  You can also let them air dry but that takes a looooong time!  Tie them on presents or hang them on your tree!

A word of advice...Don't eat these.  They don't taste as good as they smell.  Ask my dad.

Homemade Laundry Soap Photo Tutorial

The Ingredients



5 gallon bucket and lid



1 bar of Fels-Naptha soap

1 cup Washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax

The How To:

Grate the soap into a pan on the stove.  Don't worry about using your best pan, it cleans out super easy.

Add 4 cups of water and turn the heat on medium-low.  Stir occasionally until the soap is dissolved.

Meanwhile, add the Washing Soda and Borax to the bucket 1/3 full of water.  When the soap is dissolved add it, too.  Fill the bucket the rest of the way with water. Stir it up, cover it, and let it set over night.

The next day, cover your floor with newspaper.  Funnel the detergent into saved jugs.

And Voila!  You have made 5 jugs of laundry detergent for about a $10 initial investment.  Figure up how much you spend on one jug of detergent and you will see the savings!



Typically...This is how it goes...

This is how my Sunday went...

I went to bed Saturday night and changed two clocks in the house.  I woke up and they said different things.  It wasn't until 9:38 that I knew exactly what time it was.  I had to call mom.

Travis took us to breakfast and Merry Ann's.  The rest is as follows...



We played dress up.  It usually involves a baby doll or stuffed animal and Aug's own clothes, socks, or underwear.



Aug put on her Halloween costume and played all afternoon.  She was Princess Tiana from The Princess and the Frog.  All afternoon she said a quote from the movie:  "I will never, ever kiss a frog!  Yuck!"  Then she crashed on the couch after telling me that she was NOT tired.



Gentry found something on the floor and tried to put it in his mouth.  When I say tried, I mean that he held it in the palm of him hand and sucked his thumb.  The food landed and stuck to his chin.



Gentry tried to eat from Aug's teacup left over from our afternoon tea party.



Got mad becuase it was empty...



And tried to climb up the cabinet to get his bottle.

The End.

Curls and Cr...ks

Just a little something to whip out when he starts dating!!!

She looks so old here!

The Cobble Wedding Gallery

Cobble Wedding Gallery

Click above to see the photos from this wedding.  The weather was great and the wedding was beautiful!

Fall Pictures...Take 1

I'm not really sure why I even try.

The pictures of the kids by themselves turned out really great!  Gentry was in a good mood and August smiled without the cheese. 

You will notice that her shirt is on backwards...she dressed herself.

The following pictures are reason enough to forgo the cutesy pictures ever again...

Gentry, put your legs here.  And look there's a pumpkin for you to hold.

Daddy!  It's moving!!!!!

Well...at least they both look kind of happy!

Aug's First Day at Pre-School

At some point in your child's short life, you realize they are starting to outgrow you. That day was today. August started pre-school.

Here is my baby girl on her first day of pre-school.  Of course she had to pose, she couldn't just smile on the porch.  She is such a little entertainer!

She has been talking about this for months...and I'm not joking...m-o-n-t-h-s.  We knew this day was coming.  It has been marked on the calendar for the last two weeks.  And still, it hit me like a ton of bricks this morning.  As I picked out her clothes for the day, I just knew that I had to put her in her favorite color...pink.  We posed for a picture on the front porch.  I think this is a tradition for most American families.  I'm okay, I tell myself, it's pre-school not kindergarten.  We drop Gentry off and meet Travis at the pre-school.  I unbuckle Aug from her carseat...I'm still okay...

When we got to the school, she ran inside.  I didn't even have time to focus my camera before I took this shot.  She was so excited to go!

And she's off.  We stroll inside...I'm still okay...it's just pre-school...not high school.  As we enter the school, her backpack is off and she is gone.  And I mean gone.  She is exploring all the other rooms, she is checking out the toys, she is even introducing herself to the other kids!  I spend a couple of minutes with the director and I go to say goodbye to Aug...and she doesn't even care that I'm leaving.  The look on her face said, "You're still here?"

And so we left.  And I lost it.  She needs me to drive her to school and fix her meals.  She is a social butterfly with no fears.  I'm not sure how she got that way.  It certainly wasn't from me.  She must get that from her daddy.  :)

What a Sunday...

It started out, "Mommy, don't take my picture!"  And she turns her back to me.

We picked up sticks around the yard using the Gator.

Gentry joins us outside and enjoys the weather.  He even makes silly shapes with his tongue!

Gentry goes for a crawl in the grass.  He is not sure what to think of it.  The look on his face the entire time was priceless.  He was also funny when I tried to take his picture with him looking at the camera.  He tried to look around the camera instead of at it.  He knew I was back there and he kept looking for me.

We ended the day with meatballs (becuase they freeze beautifully)...and lipstick as eyeshadow.  Yep, she found some lipstick and put it on her eyelids.  Isn't she pretty?

Sleeping Angels

After a wild...and I mean August laughing and swinging around the post in the kitchen, Gentry crying for food (it goes like this "waa waa mmmm" when the spoon goes in his mouth)...evening, I checked on the kids and they are sleeping like little angels.  Their tiny faces look so dreamy as they sleep.  It makes my heart go pitter-patter.  I wish I had a picture but I'm afraid the flash and sound of the shutter would wake them and disturb this peacefulness.

Oh, by the way...It's Harvest Time!!!!  I got the call Sunday afternoon.  So cool.

Huddleston-Menke Wedding Gallery

Below is the link for the complete wedding gallery of Travis and Britni Huddleston.

Huddleston-Menke Wedding Gallery

Huddleston-Menke Wedding

Amy and I did our first wedding!!!  We got in the car afterwards and we like "omg we can believe we just did that!"  It was waaaaay too much fun.  Another link will follow with all of the pictures.

Huddleston-Menke Wedding

The Cows are Hot...

Travis is semi famous...Just click the link to see.

Hot Cows

Gentry, 5 months