Kayla's big surprise

Kayla got a big surprise today when we told her we had one extra present that we got her for Christmas. We told her that we knew that she got everything that she wanted, but there was just one more thing that we thought she wanted that she didn't get. So she opened up her present to find this:





She was so happy, she started crying! She didn't realize what it was at first, but after she read it she said: "My mom's pregnant!" (through her tears). It was so sweet.
Anyway, we are all really excited around here. We feel truly blessed and are very excited about this pregnancy. So keep us in your prayers. So far everything looks great. I am two months and one day along and the baby is measuring perfect, has a healthy heartbeat and my uterus looks healthy too. I figured I might as well announce it on here, because once our families know, everybody knows! ;)

New blog

Check out Jennifer Hessenthaler's new blog and see their beautiful new baby girl, she is so sweet!

http://jenhessenthaler.blogspot.com/

Christmas Morning

We had a great Christmas this year. The girls got very spoiled, well all of us did actually ;) Anyway, it was our first Christmas ever that Kayla got to have in her own home. So that was pretty special for us. We woke up and had Christmas morning with just our girls at our house and then we went over to Grandpa and Grandma's at about 11:00 for Christmas Dinner and to open up presents over there.



Kayla was wide awake and ready to open some gifts right when she woke up.




It took Callie a little longer to wake up ;)



This year Kayla got a lot of fashion/design things. She got a fashion studio from a friend of ours, a fashion design book with stencils, and another fashion studio that actually has a mannequin that you can pin swatches of fabric on and sew outfits together. All of it is really neat, I would have loved it if they had stuff like that when I was little. All we had were paper dolls!





Callie got a big girl tricycle. She is still figuring out how to maneuver the petals, but she is learning really fast.


Kayla's grandma Shelton made her a big box with teaching supplies in it. Kayla was so excited because she loves to play teacher and whenever she goes to grandma's house that is what she likes to do at her desk. Now Kayla has her own.


This was mine and Brad's big gift. Moolah! You can never go wrong with that present! ;)



Brad's mom got him some nice Superman pajama pants, I think he was really excited ;)




This is Kayla hard at work on one of her new designs. Don't be surprised if you see her very own fashion line in a few years ;)

Christmas Eve

We had a great Christmas and Christmas Eve. It was so nice to just relax and spend time with our family. Now I'm having trouble getting out of the relaxing mode. But I decided it was finally time to do a post. So I will start with Christmas Eve. We had Christmas Eve at Brad's grandma's house. I love going there on Christmas Eve because their celebration reminds me a lot of what our family used to do, so it helps me not feel as homesick. We had lot's of good food, singing, and dancing (well Callie danced anyway). Here are some pictures of our night:

This is Callie before the party. Kayla decided to dress up and so Callie wanted to wear a dress too, and of course her doll had to come.





Callie showing us some of her dancing skills.





Just some of our cray family ;)

12 Days of Christmas Tag

Okay, I'm going to go ahead and do this tag since I haven't had the blogging bug this week and this post will require little thought ;)

1 Embarassing moment: I can't think of just one, but I know I've had plenty. And I turn so red when I have them, so maybe I chose to block them from my memory on purpose.

2 Best Friends: I can't choose just two so... Jennifer Hessenthaler (for a non relative), and my mom and sis (for my relative best friends).

3 Things I buy regularly: Groceries, gas, and eating out ( It's not like I desire to eat out that much, but it's more like I feel like not cooking that much).

4 Places I want to go: Well I would love to see a lot of beautiful and exotic places but since I hate planes I would have to say that I want to go anywhere that doesn't require much more than a two hour flight ;) So, I would love to see Florida again, Wyoming, Idaho, and maybe Washington.

5 goals for the upcoming year: have another baby, stay home with Callie, be more involved in Kayla's school activities, save a lot, and get more food storage.

6 things people don't know about me:
I hate wearing shoes
I really don't like confrontation
I like staying up late because it makes me sad when a day ends (I know that sounds cheesy but it's true)
It's hard for me to be on time (I don't like being rude by being late either, I just hate having to stick to a schedule because I like to do things at my own pace)
I don't mind being alone
I really miss home, but ironically I still feel very content in Arkansas (okay, so some people probably know that)

7 things i would never say: I don't want any ice cream today, I don't want more kids, I would rather be at work than stay at home with my kids, I don't want to go shopping, I don't want a date with my husband, I don't miss home, I love cleaning the bathroom.

8 things i love about christmas time: reflecting on Christ, being able to spend time with my hubby and kids, the shopping, the music, my birthday, the smells, the gifts and gift giving, and memories.

9 things i say to my kids:
oh... you love your sissy?
can you pick up your toys?
if you don't hurry we are going to be late
I love you
are you hungry?
you both need a nap
come give me loves
I'm tired
Your so smart

10 things i do a lot: blog, sleep, clean, cook, watch TV, run errands, play with my girls, tell my husband I love him, change diapers, and pray.

11 things i would rather not live without: my family, the gospel, ice cream, shopping, memories, good food, warm weather, good friends, vacations, date nights, and electricity.

12 people i tag: Uh... I'd rather not. I tag anyone who wants to do it.

Just a day with the girls

Since we had no school today or work due to the weather, I got to spend a day at home with my girls. We decided to do some Christmas baking for some of our neighbors since we had the whole day to ourselves. We had a really good time. Callie was even quite the little helper. She even helped unwrap the Hersheys kisses. Every time I would turn my head she would pop one in her mouth. We made peanut butter blossoms, chocolate chip cookies, and sugar cookies with sprinkles. We received a cookie maker kit that had cookie cutters from a good friend of ours here in Arkansas. The whole cookie set came in this cute little gingerbread house. Thanks Debra!

Some things that are well .... different about Arkansas

There are some things about Arkansas that I have found that are quite different from Wyoming, things that you never would really know until you moved here.

#1. In some towns there are mailboxes outside of Walmart, Taco Bell, K-mart, Mcdonalds, etc. And I'm talking like residential type mailboxes. It seems really strange to me. It doesn't seem like that would be really safe to have all of their business mail going into an unlocked box.

#2. I feel like a minority. At least I did in my last town. This one not as much, but it was definately different looking on the other side of things.

#3. When you go to get some blonde hair dye at Walmart it is like "hmmm.... where's the blonde hairdye?" Basically the whole dye section is an African American hair product and dye section. And not that there is anything wrong with that at all, it's just different because it's hard to find hair dye now. I have found that target still carries a good selection though.

#4. You should see how people act when it snows (or I should say "if" it ever snows). It is hilarious. It still hasn't this year. But for example last year there was the lightest snow ever (it didn't even stay on the ground for more than like 20 minutes) and they shut down all the schools. On the radio it was saying "Winter storm alert, Winter storm alert!" I was laughing so hard.

Just had to share a little of the differences from place to place ;)

Husband Tag

My friend Kara tagged me and I thought this looked like fun, so here it goes:

5 Things he loves

• Hunting
• His girls (Me, Kayla, Callie, and of course his mom and mom in law)
  
• Staying fit/ lifting weights
  
• Mexican food (REAL mexican food ;)
  
• Watching the hunting channel and UFC fights
  

5 Things on his to do list

• Work
  
• Hunt
  
• Sleep (it has become a big priority since he wakes up at 3:45)
  
• Helping others (my husband is always helping someone, he is very giving)
  
• Spend time with his girls
  

5 Foods he enjoys

• Tacos
  
• Pork chops
  
• Hamburgers
  
• Steak
• Fajitas
  

5 things you may not know about him

• He wants to hang deer on the wall really bad, but doesn't out of respect for me (what a sweetie!)
  
• He can fix almost anything, he is very handy.
  
• He is very satisfied with having only girls, even though I would love to give him a little hunting buddy.
  
• He is a good morning person. He has no problem getting up for work, hunting, trips, etc.
  
• He is friendly to everyone, and very rarely talks bad about someone.
  

5 quirky thing about him

• He can fix or make almost anything
• He likes to have his day planned out, and I am kind of indecisive so he probably hates it when I won't decide something or try to change our plans last minute (which I do a lot, sorry honey!)
  
• He is picky on what brands of foods he eats (sorry, but it's true ;)
  
• His food has to be brand name, yet ironically he won't where clothes that are brand name ;)
  
• Every time he goes to sit in the recliner, he pulls it away from the wall so it won't rub it. I'm glad someone is taking good care of our walls, I always forget!
  

I love you Brad!

Thanksgiving Pictures and Christmas Survey

This is Kayla's cousin Kristin. We had thanksgiving Dinner over at her families house this year (Debbie's sister). Kristin is the next closest thing that Kayla has to "aunt Karren" now that we live in Arkansas.






Isn't her hair getting so long and beautiful?









This is us with Brad's brother Craig and his girlfriend (the baby is not theirs, just another relatives ;)





I realized that they were all matching after we got home from church on Sunday, so I had to get a picture of them by the christmas tree. I never did get one where all three were smiling at the same time ;)

Christmas Survey

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Usually wrapping paper for my family, gift bags for others.

2. Real tree or Artificial? We always had a real tree growing up, I liked it, however I was the designated person who vacuumed up the pine needles every morning, so I can't say I miss it too much ;)

3. When do you put up the tree? Right after Thanksgiving, sometimes the same day.

4. When do you take the tree down? Christmas day or the day after.

5. Do you like eggnog? Can't say that I do.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My dad made me a beautiful white vanity with a mirror that looked like it was for a little princess. He also restored my great grandmothers bed and painted it white to match it. So I had a matching bedroom set fit for a princess!

7. Hardest person to buy for? Men, period. (Dad, Father in law, husband, etc...)

8. Easiest person to buy for? Kayla. They have so many cute things that she would love.

9. Do you have a nativity scene? No, kinda sad huh?

10. Best Christmas gift you ever received?
The year that I was pregnant with Kayla someone left a bag with several brand new maternity clothes in my car. They remained anonymous. But I still remember sitting in my car crying as I was going through them, because I was so touched that someone cared enough about how I felt in that situation (of being a single mother). The clothes were greatly needed and appreciated because I felt like whoever left them didn't judge me but just showed christlike love to me.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Hmm... I'm not really sure. But the worst christmas was definately the year that I opened every present before christmas and then rewrapped them. Christmas morning came and I thought that I would have had at least one surprise, but nope I had ruined it all.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie (s) Not sure, I guess maybe the Grinch, since Kayla has made me watch it every year since she was born.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? Right after thanksgiving.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?? Hmmm... no comment ;)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? SWEETS!!!!!

16. Lights on the tree? heck yes

17. Favorite Christmas song? Silent Night--I love christmas music with just the piano.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Stay home, since I live 22 HOURS from my family!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and RUDOLPH Thanks for the answers Emily :)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A bow

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? One christmas eve, all the rest christmas day.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of the year? Crazy shoppers, maybe.

23. Favorite for Christmas dinner? We don't really have a set thing we have for Christmas dinner, just potluck, mostly.

24. Do you send Christmas cards? Yes, I'm going to start doing it every year.

25. What do you want for Christmas this year? A tom tom. So I can find my way better around Little Rock.