Frosty

Madison and Mallory love this cheap snowman that we have had for 5 yrs! It is so funny to watch Mallory hug,dance, and just sit in front of him and have a genuine conversation! Mallory wanted to take him with us to church this morning. He would have been just fine outside today. We actually had to break out the tights and sweaters! Yea for the cold weather.

Allie Grace in her new dress from her BFF in Charlotte, Miss Emerson. We miss you guys, I mean girls. Heather also has 4 girls. Lots of drama in that house too!

"I do it myself"

Today we went to the library for Kids Rocking Readers. The sweetest little elderly lady reads to the kids and then they get to pick a treat out of the treat box. Last Friday, there was a little girl there who had dressed herself. Madi told me that next Friday, she was going to dress herself! " Ok Madi, yes, now go get a treat sweetie". Well, she did not let me forget! Here is her outfit! The scarf is from her snowman!

Here is proof that I let her go just like she was! I didn't even add a bow, but she added her Barbie mittens(82 degrees today)!

Someone else had to get in on the fun! Mallory did pretty good with the dress! That's my girl!
That is a harmonica in her hand! I have heard that thing for days! Dear Lord can we misplace it!? Have a great weekend!

Step 1 Christmas decorating

*Update- I have Christmas stuff out because Ashlyn will be here on the 24th and it is a tradition of ours to decorate the tree together. My mom will be here too. Normally, I would not even touch the Christmas boxes until Thanksgiving Day. You people must think I am crazy with 42 days left until Christmas. Just doing it for my sweetie "little A".

*Update #2-The stockings are Ballard Designs, and right now you can get free shipping until Nov 19th. Happy Shopping!
Unpack stockings,stuff with tissue paper,fluff toppers and order a stocking for Allie Grace! Now I need to find a place to hang them. No fireplace here in Florida! Maybe I will hang them along the banister going up the staircase! I will let you know! Have a great Wednesday!

Wow! It has been crazy around here. I'm sorry I have not been visiting any blogs lately, but I plan to catch up on all of my reading tonight. Allie Grace is crawling! Crawling every where. I have been so busy following her around. What happened to those great days of just sitting her in the exersaucer and watching her bounce up and down? Time really does fly by.

They have decorated downtown for Christmas! Already! It is beautiful. The snow will start to fall Nov 29-Dec 31. It is so neat. The kids are so excited about the fake snow. I will definitely get some pictures. This is truly the best place to live :) Ashlyn is very excited about the snow in Florida! See here for pictures from last year http://celebrationtowncenter.com/ee/index.php/events/details/now_snowing_2008/

This will soon be Bill

Because I have 4 girls, and absolutly THE best husband in the world, I had to post this. Bill dances with the girls all the time, and I can totally see him doing this!

Thank you To Libby, with Love for sharing this! I love it !

A diner and a doughnut

Last Thursday Madi had her fall party at preschool. The kids all looked adorable, especially Madi's BFF Bennett! There is no telling what he has on his finger! Silly boys!

They are so sweet. Miss Jessie says he sits beside her everyday during reading.

Mallory and I went to Starbucks to get a coffee and a doughnut. That doughnut was as big as her head. We had breakfast at the MarketStreet Diner and she had to show everyone her bag. Yes, I let her take it in the diner. Who brings breakfast to a diner? I guess we do. By the way, I did take my own coffee.
Mallory waves to EVERYONE that passes her. She is my little greeter!

Say cheese, Madison Kate STAY STILL!

As you can see, Madi usually loves to have her picture taken. Recently she plays this game where she tries to jump out of the picture right before the flash goes off! Fun for her, but not so much fun for me!

Sunday before church I tried to snap a picture of the girls before Madi could jumped out of the frame!
Madi getting ready to take off again!

Ashlyn and my mom will be here in 2 weeks and I can not wait!

Trick or Treat

What a fun filled weekend. I am still waiting on some pictures of Ashlyn from Robbie, but she was a princess and looked beautiful of course! Madi was Cinderella, Allie Grace a pumpkin and Mallory was a butterfly fairy!

Here is my little pumpkin, Allie Grace. Thank you Heather for the great pumpkin costume! Allie was so precious, and her blankie you bought is beautiful!

This is a couple behind us and his wife. Fun house!

Madi and Mallory take a break.

Daddy helping the girls with their HEAVY candy bags!

Allie Grace sneaks her hand is Mallory's stash!

Now someone come and get this candy out of my house before I eat every piece of chocolate I can get my hands on!!!

Mallory honey, that can not be comfortable!

I went to check on the girls before I went to bed, and this is how found Mallory! It amazes me how kids can sleep. I moved her because I was afraid she would hurt her leg if she rolled over. This is exactly why I always check on them before I go to sleep. One of them are always in a weird position. The other night Madi was on the floor with all of her blankets! Silly girls!

Scuba in the tub?

Friday night we were giving the girls a bath and Madi and Mallory were having a ball with Ashlyn's scuba mask! This had us all rolling in the floor laughing! That child is such a ham!

Allie Grace sitting up! Now she rocks back and forth on her knees

and actually crawled 2 steps. Oh I am so dead!!
Madi with her Princess Leia loops, remember those?

Sunday morning after church!

WHAT??

Madi, are you kidding me??
But Mommy, I can't find my pink sparkle shoe!
Nap time NOW!
That was the nice version!

Just relaxin!

After we went downtown to get Mommy a Starbucks and the girls some ice cream, we came home and just relaxed.

I got the tiles out of the garage and started painting and Madi took a nap. Can you believe it? A real nap!

Mallory watched TV like this in her chair!

Days like these just make me smile.

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday

Ashlyn and Madi Charlotte, NC 2005

My little ballerinas

Madi and Mallory love to dress up like ballerinas! Playing dress-up was one of my favorite things to do as a child.

Pumpkins and bows

We picked up MORE pumpkins today after the soccer game. Madi and I carved hers as soon as Mallory went down for her nap. I will help Mallory carve hers tomorrow after church, but I could not do both of the girls at once. Daddy was watching Georgia Football, so we knew we were not getting anything out of him! Perfect time to ask him if I can go shopping! "sure,sure honey,what ever,OK, shhhh..., what the @%$#@*%$#@ Stafford! Who are you throwing to?"

Yes, Madi has on a sleeveless pink tank top, blue and white checkered shorts, and no bow! It is still so hot here. The girls were swimming with Bill last night at 8:30!

Do not throw away those pumpkin seeds!

Preheat oven to 300º F. While it's O.K. to leave some strings and pulp on your seeds (it adds flavor), clean off any major chunks.
Toss pumpkin seeds in a bowl with the melted butter or oil and seasonings of your choice. You can do garlic salt or go the sweet way with cinnamon and sugar. Spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer on an oiled baking sheet. (or spray with cooking spray).
Bake for about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally, until golden brown.
Yummy!

These are still drying. I let them dry out over night before I season and bake.

Madi with her pumpkin! She is so proud of herself. This was really fun. I enjoyed spending some one on one time with her. It will be Mallory's turn tomorrow.
Please ignore my dirt porch. I had to replace a topiary tree, and I haven't cleaned it up yet!

The pumpkin is shiny because Martha Stewart said to rub chapstick along the edges where you cut and it will help it last longer. We will see. I used Vaseline and Madi helped. Can you tell?

Yes ladies, my pumpkins have always had bows. What did you expect?

Just 3 more pumpkins to go.

Ashlyn,Mallory and Allie Grace

Georgia

Every time I get Georgia in my car, she sits right on that middle console. It is so cute because she fits perfect in that tiny space. Every trip I have made to Greenville (10 hrs) that is where you would find her, sound asleep. Yes, I have a girl dog too. My poor husband is so out numbered!

Allie Grace

Guess who is sitting up by herself ?! What a big girl!

OK mommy, now I am going to fall over because you put this huge bow on my head!
Just a sweet sister moment captured on film, because lately we have not had many of these! Mom, I don't know how you did it with Andrea and me!!