"O Lord, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will give thanks to Thy name." Isaiah 25:1

We spent a couple of nights in Springdale with the fam and enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving. We got home late Thursday and Sydney and I have loved having 3 whole days at home without work/school/plans/etc. Whew. Much needed time at home to clean, decorate for Christmas, and of course, cook up some yummy meals both in the real kitchen and in the playroom.

Scott was selected in a lottery to duck hunt with the game and fish at a great spot north of Searcy, and he took Brent and Mike. I couldn't stop laughing yesterday because Brent's idea of roughing it is a Motel 6 without cable, but he camped in a TENT during the AR/LSU game. Wow- dedication to hunting. As Melanie said, I will never understand men. He did snap a few beautiful pics setting up camp yesterday.

Wee Worship

This morning we had Wee Worship at church and Sydney was very excited to see Momma talk on a microphone. She wanted me to take her picture by the wagon and bear :)

Weekend Getaway!!!

The girls and I got away for the weekend to Greenville, MS and stayed at the Alluvian Hotel for a spa day and a Viking cooking class. Ahhhhhhhhhh.......................
Thank God for weekends, spas, good food, and great friends!!!!

I hope you dance....

Well, I made up for not taking any pictures in Dallas (see previous post) by taking over 60 at Parents Night at dance Monday night. The moms haven't been in the dance room with you girls this Fall, and I have been dying to see some of the things you are learning! I am amazed by how much you girls have improved and learned since last Spring, and I am so proud of you for how hard to work at dance. You are learning some basic tap and ballet steps, stretching and warm up activities, following directions from Ms. Shelly and Ms. Emily, waiting your turn, celebrating when your friends complete their steps, and memorizing some dances. But most of all sweet girl, you LOVE to dance and enjoy life and I am so proud of you!!!

When you get the choice to sit it out or dance,
I HOPE YOU DANCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun in Dallas

OK, we do this every time!!! We spent last weekend in Dallas with the Luce's and I took 2 pictures the whole time!! We are always talking, shopping, eating, and playing so much that we never stop to remember to snap a few pics. Thanks to Scarlett and Jason, who as always were great hosts. Thanks to Bowden, who graciously shared his bunk bed with us and let us take over the his room with suitcases. And thanks to Pierce, who let Sydney play with all of his stuff! The kiddos had a blast, and Scarlett and I even got brave and took all 3 of them to dinner at the Cheese Cake Factory- yum!!!! We love y'all!!!

Happy Fall Y'all

This is me before church this morning. Thank you Ms. Somer for the beautiful dress!! Mommy keeps saying she is going to take a sewing class from you. We had a crazy and fun weekend and here are a few highlights. Halloween morning we went to Lauren and Julia Halter's birthday party at Gymboree, which is always fun, but even more in costume!

After lunch I needed to help Daddy vacuum a little. This is one of favorite activities- seriously! My parents call me Sydney-rella :)

After a quick nap (totally not my idea!) we stopped by Miss Heathers house for a little trick or treating. She is keeping me on Thursday nights while my parents have small group at our house, and I think she is kind of crazy about me! Thanks for my awesome markers and chips ;)!!!

John Austin and Aunt Teeny were in town for our second annual trick or treating extravaganza. I got some awesome stuff, and I don't mean just candy! Books, a baby doll, My Little Pony, cookies, markers, a sippy cup- thanks everyone for spoiling me as always. John Austin was a cool fisherman...

I was Minnie Mouse of course

And Baby Spencer was a squished frog on the road...

Just kidding!!! He was an adorable Frog Prince!

We made several stops before landing back at my house for pizza and Razorbacks. Thanks again everyone for all of my Halloween treats and Happy Fall Y'all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Halloween Festivities Begin!

Sydney, Carlee and Caroline had fun at Boo at the Zoo. I will say that dressing up and the carousel were the highlights. She was pretty cold in her Minnie Mouse costume, but stinkin' cute!

Saturday morning was Greer, Addyson and Ava's birthday party. I had her dressed in a cute sweater, but she came downstairs and saw what the Boyds had on and cried "I be a cheerleader!!!" So we had 1/4 of a squad for the Razorbacks :)

The party was a Candy Land themed party and was so beautiful!!!

Working really hard on decorating/eating a cookie. I looked away for one second and when I looked back she was eating a spoonful of sprinkles from the bowl.

She is her Mommas girl going for the sweets over chocolate!

Night Night Big Girl!!!!

We just spur of the moment decided to turn her crib into a toddler bed this afternoon. Needless to say, she was so excited and we had to set rule #1 immediately- no jumping in the bed :). I set back up the video monitor and made sure I showed her how Mommy could see her sleeping and staying like a big girl in her bed. I know night one has just begun, but she climbed right in after prayers and stayed put. Knock on wood. I am going to DIE if I wake up in the middle of the night and those dimples are standing 2 inches from my face!!!!

Sydney Moments I want to remember

* Sydney is already talking about Santa. She is so funny, she will say "It not Christmas right now. Santa at the North Pole making me toys." We have gotten a couple of toy catalogs, so I thought it would be fun to look through them last night. Of everything in the whole thing, "Sydney-rella" as we call her picked a vacuum. Of course! The best part is, 2 weeks ago sweet Dawne at work found the exact thing Sydney picked out from another site and it is already hiding in Gigi's attic, I mean Santa is at the North Pole making it. Now lets just hope her wish list doesn't change too much in 2 1/2 months!

* Erin kept Sydney last Friday night while we went to Fayetteville, Thank you Erin!!!!, and out of the blue Sydney said "My Daddy a nice guy." :)

* Her favorite song right now is "God Bless America" and she knows all the words. So sweet to listen to that little voice singing. I got a video of it but it is taking forever to upload. She climbs up on the fire place and says "I sing on stage like the Wiggles do!" and proceeds to sing "God Bless America". My favorite part- "from the parries, to the mountains, to the oceans (imagine her going into her highest falsetto for this last line) white with foam..."

* Her new "thing" to say when I walk in her room every morning is "My eyes wake up." She is also obsessed with Mr. Sun and says "Mr. Sun wake up too!". Then at sunset we talk every night about the fact that "Mr. Sun going night night like me."

* Baby dolls are probably her favorite toy right now, and she is such a good Mommy. She will work for several minutes to get their blankets just right so they can nap, and then will sit by them and pat their backs.

* The main "battle" we have with her these days is that she wants to do everything by herself. "I do it!!!" is said to me several times a day, from brushing her teeth, putting on shoes and jackets, feeding the dog, putting a new bag in the trash can- seriously she wants to do everything all by herself. Any other Moms out there struggled with the balance of independence and time management?!?!?!?! Like when we need to get out of the door!