We love the fair!

This year was so much fun at the fair. Noah and Ally both got to enjoy the rides. Ally couldn't ride all the ones Noah could, but she got to ride a few. Let me tell you, the fair is not cheap. Rides are ridiculously expensive. The small rides are not so bad compared to the bigger rides. We may not be going much as they get older or we will go broke. It was worth it this year though. They loved it all! Noah cried when we left and wanted to keep riding, but we explained to him he could only ride so many rides. How hard it is for them to understand this concept, but we have to teach them while they are young.

My friend's art website!

One of my dearest and closest friend, Ashley, has an art website. She has drawn many pictures for Noah and Ally and also given me many creative ideas when it comes to decorating (since I have no clue at all what to do). I just thought I would pass it along in case you would like some letters for your little one's wall or a nice canvas picture for a reasonable price. Her link is http://www.prettypleasechildrensart.blogspot.com/
She does a great job and would love to paint something for your little one!

It never fails!

So, yesterday was the fair parade in Conway. We go every year and this year both Ally and Noah could enjoy the parade. I had to work yesterday, so I got the kids clothes ready early in the morning for memow, took my change of clothes with me and put the camera in the car. I was trying to be prepared so that we could get their early for a good spot. It is time for the parade! I get my camera out, turn it on and guess what I see? WARNING: BATTERY EXHAUSTED!!!! This always happens to me. Drives me crazy. The funny thing is that I had just changed the batteries after Ally's birthday and have not used it since. Why are they ran out? I have no clue. (I wonder if it could be because 2 seconds before I turned it on, I dropped in on the concrete, which I tend to do a lot.) Well, they had fun anyway and thank goodness both my mom and Travis's mom had their cameras.

I guess this year the theme for the parade was Go Green or something along those lines. They had built a huge Wallie (not sure if I spelled it right) out of recycled material and it was the coolest thing. Noah and Ally loved seeing Ronald McDonald and Noah thought all the 4-wheelers were sooo cool. Many of the floats had signs about recycling and what happens when you don't. I loved one of the signs. It read, "God is the final recycler." Isn't that the truth!!

Ally's 2nd Birthday!

Ally with her cake and presents!

Enjoying her capri sun (flavored water capri sun--really cool!).

Oh, how much I love you so! I can't believe my baby is already 2! Where has the time gone? Does it keep getting faster and faster? Can we please make time stop? Travis and I have discussed how we don't want them to grow up and not need us. It makes us sad, but we know it has to happen. We are raising adults, not children!

Ally has brought so much joy to us. She is a vibrant, little girl! No more a little wobbly toddler trying to keep up with her brother. She is right with him all the way. I love to watch her waddle when she runs or march with a prissy little walk when she is headed somewhere. I love hearing her pitter patter on the tile when she is running in the kitchen. I love to watch her drag her blankie on the ground everywhere she goes. I love the way she shares with Noah, sometimes, and says that it is his turn. I love the way she says "Sit right here, mommy" and pats the seat or the way she copies the Little Einsteins and says "pat you knees, shoulders and head."

I pray I can soak up as much of her and Noah as I can while they are so innocent and sweet. Please dear Jesus help me remember these times always! We love you so much Ally!

Just some thoughts!

I am always open to ideas that can help increase my kiddos learning abilities while they don't lose attention. My good friend, Karin, told me of this Leap Frog video that is at Walmart for $9.99 that is called the Letter Factory. Some of you may have heard of this video but if you haven't I am promoting it. It goes through all the letters and the sounds they make. It has a cute little song with each letter. My kids love it. We have only had it for about 4 months, but it has been very beneficial. Last night, we were swinging outside and I was singing the song to Noah and Ally. They could go through many of the letters sounds. It really surprised me. So, I thought I would pass it on so that if you were interested you could check it out!

Where is the best place to get a good hamburger? I am craving one the last few days. I usually don't eat a lot of burgers when I go out, usually stick to chicken, but here lately I think I would devour one quickly! I want it to be worth it though, so I want it to be soooooo yummy!

Fun pictures!

Noah getting ready to ride his 1st go cart ride with Travis.

Ally wasn't big enough to ride, so she enjoyed the train.

Noah and Ally after dinner at the Crap Trap. Let me just tell you how difficult it is to get a good picture of my kiddos smiling or even just looking at the camera at the same time. This is hard work and that is closest I got.

Noah and Ally playing on the beach at night!

More pics!

Baby Clarke sleeping out on the beach!

Laura and I riding the waves!!

Travis, Noah and Daniel out in the water.

Noah riding on his "surb" board.

More beach pictures!

Love this picture of Noah carrying the "surb" board on top of his head. My future surfer!

Noah loved playing in the sand with his toys.

Noah and daddy watching the big waves on Sunday before the hurricane rain and wind hits.

Me and my little sweetie!

Florida beach pictures!

We made it to Destin and had only one day of rain. I hear Arkansas got a few days of rain or people say lots of flooding. It was a wonderful vacation. We went with some of our good friends named Adam and Laura Harrell and Daniel and Jill Edwards with their 5 month old baby, Clarke. We actually stayed right outside of Destin at Mirimar Beach in a house that I found online. Since it was the end of summer and I guess "hurricane season" we got the house for half price! This was well worth it.

Noah and Ally loved the beach. Noah played on a little boogie board and he called it "surbing." He would say, "do you want to go to the ocean and ride on my surbing?" I kept telling him it was called a surf board, but it kept calling it the other. Too cute though. Everytime Ally would go to the beach, which was usually only for an hour or two, she would get sand all over her. She would then touch her face and eyes and constantly say, "My eyes, my eyes!" in this deep voice like it was sooo painful. Neverless, Travis would take her back to the house and swim while Noah and I would play at the beach.

It was so nice getting to spend an entire week with Travis and the kids. Since I work some, I am not with them everyday, all the time, so I don't know what that is like. It was definitely wonderful, but exhausting. I got to really see some things that they have been learning or maybe just learned. For example, Noah was eating M & Ms (it was vacation, we didn't eat great) and he was actually counting them one by one. I think he got to 9. He knows how to count pretty far, but he was taking them one by one and lining them up and counting them. It was pretty cool. It may not be that big of a deal, but I have never seen him do that. As for Ally, she talks so much and talks so well for her age I am told. She told me while we were downstairs, "I want to go upstairs and watch Barney!" That is an eight word sentence. It was a clear as can be too. It was just fun for Travis and I to get to spend every waking minute with them. We really appreciated it. We celebrated Ally's 2nd birthday in Destin on Sept. 1. We got her a cookie cake and she got to blow out 2 candles. Another funny: My husband has a silly personality and I think it is rubbing off on Noah. Travis says as a joke sometimes that if he doesn't want to do something or doesn't like something he will say "that is for the birds." Well, we were talking about getting Ally a cake and Noah with a sweet little grin on his face says, "Birthday cakes are for the birds." It was soooo funny. It cracked everyone up and the whole trip we kept repeating that line.

As for the adults, we had fun as well. We enjoyed watching the Republican National Convention for 2 nights, which was sooo good, we watched a few movies including the Notebook (my favorite), Cloverfield (I don't recommend) and 3:10 to Yuma, which was pretty good for a western. I got to read 2 books. I love to read so on the way up and back from Destin and while the kids were napping, I got my read on. I have never read the Chronicles of Narnia series, so I read The Magicians's Nephew and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Very good and hopefully I will get to read the rest soon.

I hope to get more pictures of them actually on the beach later. Thanks for everyone thoughts and prayers for a safe trip for us. It turned out just perfect.

Yes, we are here!

We are here in Destin enjoying wonderful weather and beautiful beaches! We had one day of rain on Monday, but besides that it, it has been great! Thanks for your prayers and thoughts! We are having a wonderful family vacation and will be back soon. Will update with pictures when we get back.