Surfer Girls From Austin

With the help of Mark, Caitlyn and Austin I have finally finished decorating the girls room. This is totally their vision, which I hope I did a good job bringing to life.

(The girls bought this sign for outside their door.)

(I love the cubes in this picture. Target)

(Note the quilts... they were my summer project.

I love how they turned out.)

(Our friend Mariah donated these dolphins.)





(A small shelf in the corner.)


(Caitlyn wanted a bulletin board. We found these squares
and I painted them to match the room.)

(I painted these letters for the girls years ago.

I just sanded them down and started over.)

(The shells and starfish in the net are Austin's favorite part)

( The GIRLS created this mat with stickers.)

Elementary Fall Music Programs

This week has been a bit busy in our household. I received a new calling as the Cub Master and the kids schools have been having Thanksgiving Feasts and their annual Fall Music Program. I was lucky enough to visit all three of my older girls yesterday and have lunch. Reagan and Caitlyn also had their music programs and then Austin's was this morning. It is so fun to see what they have been learning. All of my kids really seem to enjoy music and a couple of them are real hams.

Remembering Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. I love the idea of setting a day aside to remember how truly blessed we are and I love gathering with my family and making a tradition dinner that I have poured my heart into. I plan the menu a month in advance and even get my children involved with the table decorations, choosing desserts and cooking, but this year I wanted more. I remember a friend telling me that last year they put up their Christmas tree early and decorated it with messages of gratitude. I loved the idea, so this year we have a Gratitude Tree. Each Monday night we gather for our Family Home Evening and sit around and list the things that we are grateful for. The kids especially have amazed me with how quickly they come up with words of gratitude. I type up the ideas, as well as their names, while they list at least two things they are thankful for and then we attach them to a leaf and hang them on our tree. I love Thanksgiving!

Christmas Came Early This Year

My loving husband gave me new bedroom furniture for Christmas this year. The best part is that I didn't even have to wait. Thanks to Craigs List and a sale at Costco. I'll be sleeping in Style this Christmas eve.

Hallie gives it an A+!

I Was an Irresponsible Parent and It was Fun

This last Tuesday I was lucky enough to have my friend Mariah call me with two extra tickets to a "Hanson" concert here in Austin. She waited in line all day and saved us a spot up front. So who was the lucky member of my family that got to go with me? ....

Caitlyn

That's right, I kept my 10 year old out past midnight on a school night to watch her favorite band. Was it worth it? YOU BET!

Here she is with Zac (the drummer and youngest brother).

Thanks Mariah!