Real Simple

Gransan got me a subscription to Real Simple magazine several months ago and I love it!  It has some of the best ideas.  I don't know if the one I chose to try qualifies as real simple but it was fun for Emerson and me nonetheless!  Emerson took a very long nap Sunday afternoon and when she woke up she and I set out for the store, Emerson with "recipe" in hand to get all the ingredients for our Halloween goodies.  She was beyond excited!  It turned out to be a two day process because I could bring myself to stay up late enough for the cupcakes to cool for decorating!  We got the cupcakes baked and all our decorating ingredients prepared and finished decorating when I picked her up from school today.  They definitely didn't turn out looking like the magazine but I think they are pretty cute!

Our "recipe"

Emerson built a castle with the ingredients while we were waiting on the cupcakes to bake.

Finding and sorting out the red and yellow M&Ms for the cats' eyes and noses.

Our cat ears(York Peppermint Patties) and pumpkin stems(green licorice)

Yea!!!  It's finally time to decorate!!!

At the very least a 3rd generation perfectionist on both sides of the family!

So excited about her punkin!

Muh would be so proud...you never let somebody else try something you have baked without a taste test!

These two are the closest we came to the picture!  They would have been much easier if we could have found the shoestring licorice for the cat whiskers...I struggled with drawing them with icing!

Who is ready to dig in?!  We have plenty!

The Pumpkin Patch

Emerson's class went on a field trip to the pumpkin patch and I was so excited that I got to go with her.  The teachers at The Academy are very special people!!!!  I knew this already but after seeing them in action on the bus and at the pumpkin patch it was definitely reinforced!  We had 31 three year olds and 8 adults.  I don't know how we would have done it with even one less adult!  The kids LOVE just getting to ride on the big school bus.  To get the bus started they yell with Lana, "1,2,3 Let's Rock and Roll!". It was too cute.  Every bump and turn is like they are on an amusement park ride!  Lana was a little disappointed because the pumpkin patch did not have as many activities for the kids as they have in the past but the kids had a blast! 

Pre-field trip doughnuts with both my sweet girls!

They all stand on the wall until Ms. Lana calls their name to get on the bus.

All buckled in and ready to "rock and roll"!

She was SO excited that I was riding on the bus with her!

Lining up with her friends when she got off the bus.

Ms. Lana going over the rules

It was a mad dash to get the perfect seat on the hayride!

Momma's sweet girl

This lady attempted to share pictures of the history of the pumpkin patch...not exactly something that was going to hold the attention of 3 year olds!

Adelaide, Torri, and Emerson

Emerson wasted no time in getting in the first car of the train!

Emerson, me and Hayden all ready to say "choo, choo"!

Emerson and Stetson eating lunch

Time to play!!

Emerson pushing her friend Sara on the swings

Hunting for the perfect pumpkin

She found the perfect pumpkin but asked me for a napkin to clean the mud off of it!

Waiting patiently for Ms. Hailee to write her name on her pumpkin.

Fall at the Farm

I had to travel again for work the first week of October so the girls and I loaded up and headed to Shreveport so they could spend a few days on the farm while I went to Orlando.  While they were there they got to go to a corn maze which I hear was lots of fun.  We were supposed to head home on Saturday morning but thanks to some bad weather in Orlando, I didn't get into Shreveport until 11 Friday night and my bag didn't make it until Saturday at 2.  We took advantage of it and spent another night.  Gransan, Emerson, and I got out and did some shopping on Saturday for some new fall clothes(which we actually really needed while we were there!  We were all packed for 90 degree weather and the high was in the 50s on Saturday!). 

Yummy Halloween cookies!

I love getting pictures like this when I am sitting in meetings!

Janet always thinks of such fun things for the girls to do...this time they painted designs on rocks they had found.



I was told Gransan got into the tent by way of the tunnel...I need video evidence next time!

All set for the corn maze.

I love this!!

Janet looks a little nervous about the little cowgirl!

Hey pumpkin!

Wow I am getting big!

Jaf and Jamie happened to be there for Jamie's school field trip.

Gransan had tried to get Em to jump on this but she wasn't having any part of it until Jamie did it with her!

So proud of her pumpkin!

Maybe they ran out of animal crackers!

I am not really sure what she was looking for!

I was SO happy to get back to my girls!  Emerson couldn't wait to show me the rocks she had painted!

Prince Charming

The other day while the girls and I were in Shreveport(another post on that to come!), Emerson saw the picture of me in my wedding dress...
Emerson:  Momma, that is you in your pretty dress when you married Daddy.  And Aunt Sissy wore a pretty dress and married Uncle Russ.
Me:  Yes, and someday baby you will find your Price Charming just like I found Daddy, Aunt Sissy found Russ, and like Cinderella found her prince and you will wear a pretty dress.
Emerson(in a very excited voice):  And then I'll marry Daddy??!!
It is my prayer every day that she will find a prince just like her Daddy and they will live happily ever after just as we are!