What Should Have Been

Back when we lived in White House and worked at the Academy we pictured our kids and our friend's kids all growing up together and spending many nights playing together at the Academy games. Unfortunately, everybody ended up on a different path! However, we did get to meet up at a game the the other night. Larry's team played in Hendersonville and our friends met us there for the game. It reminded me of what could have been if things had played our differently:(

Thanksgiving!

We had Thanksgiving on Monday with Larry's side of the family. Unfortunately, my camera's in the shop so there are only a few iphone pictures. Reesi and Sophia loved hanging out with each other and spent the whole night in the back bedroom playing games. Too sweet. Somehow Jack escaped the kid picture, stinker.

She's grown a little

@ 7

@ 3

School Stuff

Reesi at school making a bread dough wreath.

Reformation Day

Hardwoods

We've finally worked some decorating money into our budget. My first mission was to get rid of the cheap carpet in our bedroom and office. To save money I forced Larry to put it in on his own, which saved us around $1,000. I love them! Unfortunately, I'm already out of decorating money until the end of the summer. Boo. Houses are so expensive.

Elye . . .

loves to help me cook. It's one of the only ways for me to peacefully prepare dinner!

Happy Halloween!

We celebrated Halloween night at our house. The cousins and the grandparents. I decided we would keep it simple and get pizza from Little Caesar's. Apparently, the rest of our neighborhood had the same idea because the five minute pizza trip took this smurf over an hour! I finally got the pizza and everyone fed and it was time for trick or treating. The best part of the night was when Larry hid behind a tree with his Jason mask on and jumped out and scared the girls. Candy bags flew everywhere and the girls took off running down the blocks screaming for their lives! We are definitely going to have to come up with another scare for next year. The great night ended with Mimi blowing a tire on a curb on the way home and Reesi throwing up (before she could even get into her candy loot). Happy Halloween!

The Farm

Now that Mimi and Papoo have moved to town the grandkids are in hog heaven. If Elye doesn't go out there every few days she starts to go through withdraw and cry for Mimi's house. One of the favorite times is Saturday or Sunday afternoons. I asked Grace recently why they like going out there so much and she said, "It's because Papoo let's us do all kinds of fun things, like climbing up a mountain and sliding down on our bottoms." Reesi said, "Because there is lots of things to do there. One thing is to paint your nails and we get to stay up late and also they have a huge tv. Plus, Mimi makes up the best words like bahookie." We are so thankful that they are close to us know.

Softball!

When Reesi wanted to play fall ball this year we were pleasantly surprised. She said she didn't want to let her team down since she was one of the best players on the team.

Meow!

Somehow, even though I hate them, both of my girls love cats. They must get it from their dad. So Elye is a cat, at least 2-3 times a day. This is her with her collar. She meows, hisses, and sometimes even scratches. Now if only I could train her to use a litter box.

Non-Slumber Slumber Party!

Reesi has been dying to have the girls over from her class so I finally caved in. She invited all the girls from her class for pizza, movie, and a painting party. They brought their jammies, had a dance party, painted a canvas, ate a ton of popcorn, and acted so silly! It was great to get to see all the girls personalities! Reesi was on cloud nine the whole week before. She loves to decorate and set things up for parties, which is totally opposite from me. She said it was one of the best nights of her life! We will definitely have to make this a tradition.

Cheer!

Every football season Reesi's school lets the girls learn a dance with the cheerleaders and dance at halftime. Reesi's done this since kindergarten, but every year fewer and fewer of her friends do it. By the time they get to fifth grade there are only a few girls that do it. It makes me sad to think that we may have only a few more years of this before she thinks she's too old for it. She loves it so much. I went to the sidelines before they went out to get some pictures with her friends. They were being absolutely crazy! I love watching her silly personality come out with her friends. This year she is old enough to actually learn the dance pretty well and she did a great job. She still isn't interested in becoming a cheerleader when she gets older, but she loved it that night!

Yee Haw

I went out of town a few months ago and Meemaw and Papa Van took the girls to the TN State Fair. This is the picture they sent me. Made me smile!

Reesi @ Almost 8

Reesi, I canno believe that you are almost eight. I tell you all the time how I want you to stop growing, but you say you can't. You are at such fun age and are seriously so sweet and cute. So, at 7.5 you . . . .

-say the word literaly, all the time, literally.

-some of you favorite friends are Lydia, Caroline, Mary Taylor, Victoria, and Riley

-have just started loving to read! It makes me so happy. You always read at night after we put you to bed. Your favorites right now are Judy Moody, Flat Stanley, joke books, Ivey & Bean, and non-fiction books.

-favorite toy- Lalaloopsey; That's about the only toy you play with. Seems like your starting to out grow toys.

-still like to sleep in our bed. You always pull your legs up, turn sideways, kick, and scootch over as close to us as you can.

-love babies, but you specify they must be under 2 years old.

-are going to have like 32 kids when you grow up. You say that you can see these little dots on peoples hands and count them. It shows you how many kids you are supposed to have. You find new dots every week!

-want to own a mall when you grow up. It started out as a candy store and then evolved into a plant store, make up store, toy store, animal store, etc. You plan on all of your family working there with you. You also said we get 20% off!

Interview

-favorite food-watermelon

-favorite sport to play-softball

-best show on TV- Good Luck Charlie

-the coolest person on Earth-Lesli

-favorite thing about school-special occasions

-the thing I do most awesomely-jump roping

-if I could change my name, it would be-Racheal

-if I could go anywhere in the world- England

-favorite color-lime green

-favorite movie-Tooth Fairy

-three words that describe you-kind, funny, crazy

-favorite song-country girl shake it for me

-favorite snack-clementine

-food you hate-pizza

-if I had one wish it would be-(that's a hard one)a good life

-my best memory-yesterday (comfy day at school, girls basketball game, bus ride home with the team)

-all I want for Christmas-ipad