Cutie Patooties!

Here are a few random pics of my girls from this week. They are both doing great and we are so blessed! Grace is coming into her own more and more with each passing day! We never know what to expect from her next. She is now 17 months old...time really has flown by. Thankfully, she's still very much a Mommy's girl. She is never far from my side! Meanwhile, Anna Kate is too big to be much concerned with my whereabouts. She absolutely loves preschool and her wonderful teacher. She is also quite the singer...I wish I had video of all the songs she belts out while we're in the car! They are very different yet still seem to get along almost all of the time. I can't wait to see how they'll amuse themselves next! lol

Weekend of Showers

This weekend was a very busy one for myself and some of my closest friends. We helped plan and host two baby showers for my wonderful friend, Ashley McDougald. I've known Ashley's hubby, Wes, for as long as I can remember. He is very much like a brother to me and we consider he and Ashley to be members of my family. Ashley is an amazing friend with a giving heart. It was so fun to be able to return a portion of all the things she and Wes have done for myself and my girls. The first shower was at our church (First Baptist, Crossett) on Saturday and the second was at Ashley B's house on Sunday. We made (and ate!) a ton of yummy food and watched for hours (literally!) as Ashley unwrapped all her super cute gifts. It was a great weekend and I absolutely cannot wait for Hadley Nicole to make her arrival!! There is nothing like being able to spoil a new "niece". :)

Shower #1

Hot Mama! ;)

My gift was Hadley's name in handpainted letters to match her crib bedding. They were created by my incredibly talented sis-in-law, Em. I wanted Em to see Ashley's expression...she LOVED them! I'll post a pic at a later date of them hanging above the crib...

Me and Ashley

Paula and Ashley (sis in laws)

My mom and Ashley

Me and Ashley B

Paula, Ashley, Me and Ashley B

Shower #2

Is she glowing or what? So pretty!

Super cute cake

Ashley B and I worked hard on the stork!

Hadley's "loot". Notice the beautiful crib bedding...

The Hostesses:
Robin (her shower is next!), Ashley B, Me, Joanna, Stormy, Melissa and Paula

Busy Little Bees!

Happy Halloween! I absolutely love Halloween, I always have! It's such a great time of year and my kiddos love getting dressed up. This year (same as last), Anna Kate insisted that Grace's costume be the same as hers. So, after much debate, she decided to go with the bumble bee! I was really surprised at just how cute their costumes were. They both seemed to like them...well, actually Grace HATED her head piece...but otherwise, they were both very happy and comfortable in their costumes.
We headed out trick or treating in style this year. My Dad loaned us his golf cart, complete with decorations for the kiddos. The girls absolutely loved it. We joined several of our friends from the neighborhood and had quite the "golf cart train" going. The kids had a great time and are (of course) still enjoying their sweet treats!

Our baby bee with her Daddy

Me posing with the queen bee :)

Nona loving on Grace

Anna Kate with her wonderful Memaw

Cutie Pie

Anna Kate giving me her best, "Buzz"

My two beautiful little bees!

Pope Fam
Halloween 2009

Pedal Power

Anna Kate's preschool hosted a Trike A Thon yesterday to benefit St Jude's Childrens Research Hospital. She was so excited to get a chance to "help the sick kids that can't leave the hospital". She insisted on riding her bicycle rather than her tricycle since she's a "big kid" now. I was very proud of her! Her teacher chose her to lead her class through the course. She made absolutely sure to follow the course exactly as she had been told. I love that she is my super compliant child! lol (the other kids were pedaling in every direction! haha) She pedaled and pedaled and thanks to her wonderful grandparents, great grandparents and friends, she helped raise over $100 for a really great cause! I can't wait to hear the total of how much was raised by this wonderful event. Here are some pictures of my big girl on her big bike! :)

Getting geared up...

Leading the class

Pedaling away...

Look at that determination! lol

Grace came to cheer her on!

So did Nona!

How Can This Be?

I found myself pondering those words on multiple occasions over the course of this weekend. This was Homecoming weekend and like any good small southern town, Crossett was full of school spirit. I went to my first Homecoming Assembly since my senior year (1998). I took AK with me and it was surreal to watch the pomp and circumstance thru her 4 year old eyes. She couldn't get over the pretty girls in the fancy dresses, the music, the dances, skits and her fave, the cheerleaders!! She was also quite impressed that I intinctively locked arms with those around me and swayed as I sang our alma mater, "Hail Crossett High School" (No, I was not the only OLD person doing this!!)
That night, all four of us went to the game. It was cold and windy but the girls were troopers and we cheered the Eagles on to victory. While there, I got to catch up with the classes of '94 and '99 who were in town for their reunions.
I learned on Friday that they now have the Homecoming dance on Saturday night rather than following the game on Friday. It seems everything has changed in the short 11 years since I was at CHS.
Saturday night proved to be more fun for me than I anticipated. Since my good friend, Ashley, was out of town, she asked me to step in and help her two teenage daughters get ready for the dance. I was thrilled! I went over and did their make up and took as many pictures as they could stand. I even went with them to another venue to take group pics!! They looked so beautiful and they were so sweet. However, for the first time in my life, I felt OLD. Really OLD. "Yes, mam" or "Mrs. Amber" were constantly being spoken and I hated it! I kept thinking...I am not that old! It wasn't that long ago that I was standing in my in-laws living room with all my friends having my own Homecoming pictures made! How did this happen? How can it be that I am now the one taking the pictures and doing the make up? How is it possible that my own daughter will be going to this very dance in 10 short years???
It was a fun weekend...I recalled so many wonderful memories of Homecomings past and got a glimpse at what is to come. Thanks Ashley, Lacy and Ryane for letting me be a part of your special night. I loved it!! Go Eagles!

Anna Kate and I before the Assembly

Grace and Mason at the game

AK and Matt...she kept him company while I helped the girls get ready...she loves him! ;)

Matt, Lacy, Ryane and Sky
They look so glamorous!

Well, back in '97...we were not so glamorous! lol
(proof that my sis-n-law Em and I go WAY back! ha)

Back to the present...here are a couple of pics of the girls after church today.

Family Fun Weekend!

This past weekend was one my family has been looking forward to for months! Meredith (my sis-n-law) came to town with her three kiddos! Anna Kate had been counting the days til their arrival. She loves her cousins so much and they always have a great time together. This time was no different. They had a blast playing in Nana's yard and even got to create a chocolate gingerbread haunted house (Nana is SO good at letting them express their creative side! ;)
The fun continued yesterday when we celebrated my mom's birthday! I hosted a celebratory lunch for her and we enjoyed a great visit.
Here are a few pics from our fun weekend! :)

Nana and the kiddos getting started on the Haunted House!

The result of all their hard work...spooky!! ;)

A job well done!

My beautiful niece, Allie

My other precious niece, Mary

Love this pic of Grace~

Nona with Anna Kate and Grace on her birthday
(Grace was really sleepy and had gotten cranky!)

Sweet grin...

*I also want to say a special thanks to Paula for giving my blog a MUCH needed facelift! I love it...thanks so much!

Pumpkin Patch Pals

Yesterday, Anna Kate and I joined several of our friends and made the trip to Hardin Farms in Grady, AR. Anna Kate couldn't wait to get there to pick out her pumpkin and go on the hayride. Thankfully, the weather cooperated and we made it without getting wet! It was a day full of fun times with some really great friends. We missed Mason and Grace but enjoyed having a mother/daughter day. Mason was on call this weekend and Grace was just too small to make the trip. Hopefully, this will be a family venture next year! Enjoy the pictures...I couldn't resist posting several! :)

The 5 Munchkins...
Sydney, Anna Claire, Alia, Laney & Anna Kate

AK loved all the "head" pics! lol

Waiting in line for face painting!
Alia, Laney, Anna Kate and Anna Claire

Brad had to catch each girl at least three times! Thanks Brad!

Me and my pumpkin! :)

Sydney, Anna Claire, Anna Kate and Laney

They had a BIG slide and it was an even bigger hit with the girls!

AK loved this rope swing. It was her favorite of all the activities!

Pretty Girls, Great Friends!
Laney, Anna Kate, Alia, Anna Claire and Sydney

AK and I on the hayride...heading to the Pumpkin Patch to get our pumpkins!

Here are the Moms...yep, we did it too.
Melissa, Jenny Lynn, Stormy, Ashley and Me
We made sure we corresponded with our kids...each mom is the same animal as their child was in the earlier picture.
(Go figure AK chose the PIG! lol)

Anna Kate showing off her pumpkin on her face :)

Here are are pumpkins that we got at the farm. AK insisted I paint their names on them.