Time Warp

I was loading these photos from our Pumpkin Patch Rendezvous {we're kinda hooked on patches these days} and what do you know?  I came across pictures of the girls {pre Keller} last year at the exact same time of year.  It was sad and so fun to see how much they've changed in just a year...and how vastly different our life is a mere 12 months later too.  

Here's my Emma girl this year...

And this was last year at an orchard in North Carolina...  

No offense Oklahoma, but North Carolina has got you beat on orchards and pumpkin patches,
but not on sunrises.  So I'd say you 2 are about even.

She is looking so much older to me.  Gotten a lot taller this fall and her hair is staying long...except for a little hair cut she gave herself during nap time the other day.  Don't even get me started!

She is still just beautiful.  I have started envisioning her as a woman someday and it scares the jeebies out of me.  What a responsibility to raise an independent, mature, and educated woman who hopefully loves the Lord. 

And then there's Shiloh. :-)  

She's gotten taller but man her energy has sure not worn off...still waiting on that one.

And there she is last year...just playing away with a dangerous knife-like stick.  Typical.  

Gosh I love that crazy girl!

Now here's the 2 of them together last year...

They hadn't figured out how to fight yet.  

And they look like they still haven't figured out how to fight yet in this photo above.  But let me tell you there was a war going on over that 50-cent bag of feed.  And that poor lamb looks likes he's about to shave his eyeball out in frustration.  "Give me some food already!"

Then there are tender moments like these...

...and you just fall in love with them all over again...

We played with good friends...

...and of course came home with some of these...

I can NOT say "no" to this child. :-(

Just Life & Some Cookies To Go With It

Life.
It happens.
Every single day.

Whether we're ready for it or not, it keeps coming at us one day at a time.

The clocks keep ticking, second after second, until another day is done.

And before you know it, October of 2011 is here and it just hits like a ton of bricks.  Life will NOT slow down.

For us, October has entailed getting this 2-yr-old potty trained...

...and although we're not quite there yet, it feels like the jet is finally lifting off the runway with this little family of ours.

 And I sigh a sigh of bliss at night whenever I think of the new stages we're entering.

This little guy has gotten 2 teeth in and went from not crawling until the end of his seventh month to pulling up on anything and everything and getting into waaay too much trouble with his newfound abilities...all in one week.

To say this mamma underestimated him, would be...well...an understatement.

His favorite pastime is crawling at my feet all day and whining until I pick him up, as if he hasn't been held ALL morning.  But seriously, how can you resist this?

If there was an award for mastering the most household activities one-handed, I would win.  No question.  Steven says I spoil him, and I am officially at the point where I agree with him.


Anybody know how to wean an 8-month-old off of being held all day?  If you say, "cry it out", I will invite you over to hear his version of "crying-it-out" and let you be the judge of whether a mother could stay sane after a day of hearing that.  But really, any advice would be appreciated.

We also had an out-of-town guest this weekend...

He is {so far} the only one from SC who will brave Oklahoma to come see us.  Will you be next??? :-)

We had a beautiful drizzly evening one night to dine outside at PF Changs...

While friends graciously watched our girls so we could enjoy some adult conversation with the little king.

Thanks so much for coming out here to see us Troy!  We missed you Jenny!  We'll all meet up in Seattle next. :-)

And because the motivation of an out-of-town-guest gets my nesting juices going again...

There's a little sneak peak {if you will} of the room I've been working on, with a little help from my Emma girl. :-)

And, not that I should be, but I've been baking like a wild banshee again.  I like how my friend says, "Fall is my chubby season."  I'm thinking I'll adopt that motto.  There's just too many creamy soup recipes and pumpkin desserts out there, not to.

These Pumpkin Snickerdoodles are the perfect all-around cookie for fall.  They're light.  They're a crowd pleaser.  They freeze well.  They are fun to roll with your kiddos.  And...you probably have all the ingredients already on hand.  

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles

Ingredients:

For the cookies...

2 sticks butter (1 cup), at room temperature
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup pure pumpkin puree
1 large egg
2 tsp pure vanilla extract
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

For the Rolling sugar...

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

Directions:
In a large bowl, cream butter with an electric mixer until fluffy. Add sugar and pumpkin puree and beat well. Mix in egg and vanilla, scraping down sides of the bowl to incorporate all of the ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and ground cinnamon. Beat flour mixture into liquid mixture a little at a time until incorporated.

Cover dough with plastic and chill at least an hour, or until dough becomes slightly firm.

When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper (or spray with nonstick spray). Mix rolling sugar in a small bowl. Use a small or medium cookie scoop (1 - 1 1/2 Tbsp.) to scoop out dough and roll into balls. Use your hands to roll the balls in the cinnamon sugar and make sure they’re coated really well. Place on the prepared baking sheets. Use a glass with a flat bottom to dip in sugar and flatten the balls.

Bake at 350°F. for 10 to 14 minutes, or until they are slightly firm to the touch. Let cool on baking sheets for 5 minutes or so, then remove them to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes about 4 dozen small cookies.

And now, I must get back into cleaning mode.  Too much baking and crafting...not enough cleaning will lead to a Monday of trying desperately to get back into the swing of things.  That's me today.  Boring laundry here I come!

Future Designer

Shiloh.

The name brings so many things to my mind.

But I never {in my wildest dreams} thought she would be my little designer.

Her latest favorite thing has been to set aside her wild antics...

...and curl up on the couch with a comfy blanket and my interior design books or magazines.  

She'll keep herself amused for endless minutes. 

 Pouring over all the details.  

  

It baffles me that children's' books designed for short attention spans have the opposite effect on her, but adult design pages will completely enthrall her.

Shiloh.

The child never ceases to amaze me.

I love you sweet girl!  

I cannot wait to see what creative things you'll pursue!

Sweet and Simple Necklaces

My sister Sarah sent my girls these sweet necklaces in the mail the other day.

I had it in my mind to do a photo shoot with them wearing their gifts, but Emma and Shiloh were eating up their dinner when the package came. I don't know about you, but I'm convinced I have the world's messiest eaters in my house.

{I let them do it completely themselves, so I'm sure I'm only getting what I pay for.}

So, Steven gave them baths {with promises he could stay home with Keller} while I rushed around and loaded props in the van and grabbed my camera.

The sun was setting and you can get the best photos if you start around 7pm out here. Our sunsets are to die for! I didn't know where I was headed, but ended up stopping at a hospital a stone's throw from our new house.

I lucked out BIG time! Only it wasn't luck because I talked to God about it while I was driving and looking for a good spot.

He knows how to deliver let me tell you. :-)

In the end I didn't need any of my props, save for one of the new grain sack pillows I used for Shiloh to sit on.

{Shiloh is wearing those pants from Paris that I scored for a dollar from Goodwill. Emma's romper -which she calls her rhombus - was a $2 find from Goodwill and her belt was made by me.}

I hardly ever ask my kids to pose. Those kinds of photos turn into cheesy grins, frustrated mammas, and tearful kiddos. Nope. Not what I'm going for.
Believe me.  I've been there.

Instead, I let them play, but ask them to sit every once in a while and sometimes I dare ask for a smile.

I love capturing them in their natural selves. I want to remember them just the way they were.

This is one of my favorites...

I didn't ask her to pose like this. I'm not even sure I'm creative enough for that or would have thought she would have cooperated even if I did ask.

She's a natural I tell ya...when she wants to be.

I think this one above might be my most favorite.

I love how God gives us ALL creativity...even 3 year olds.  He's just waiting to unleash it.

Do something creative today!

And thank you, Sarah, for such sweet gifts!