Guess where I just came back from......

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I just returned from a wonderful little get away for a few days from New York, or as Ally would call it "New Yorky!!" It was such a great time with awesome company. The weather was perfect and we even got a little snowfall the last day we were there. We visited Time Square, the Empire State Building, skating at Rockerfeller Plaza, the Good Morning America show, Ground Zero, the Broadway show Wicked (which I highly, highly, highly recommend when it comes to LR--yeah). We got to eat a nice dinner at Serendipity where we sipped on some frozen hot chocolates. Yummy!! We couldn't go to fashion city without doing a little shopping too. We visited the huge Toys R Us with the ferris wheel in it and the famous FAO Schartz! Ashley and I enjoyed a pedicab through Central Park during the snowfall, which was perfect since it was freezing! The trip couldn't have ended better than with my other half and my 2 little sweeties picking me and being so happy to see me!

Thanksgiving 2009

Meemow with her cookie cake

The cousins

My parents and their grandchildren

My sister, Amanda and brother Jon Paul

Thankful for family!

Our family dog, Frodo

Garvin Gardens

NBC peacock

For the past few years, we have headed to Hot Springs to stay with Travis's parents on the lake to enjoy some peace and playful times during this lovely fall season. We look forward to this time every year cause we don't work or do any housework at all. We just relax, watch movies, ride 4 wheelers, eat and play with the kids. It is so nice. The beauty of being out in the woods is so peaceful. We got to spend 3 nights there and was very restful. We built a campfire, went to Garvin Gardens to see the Christmas lights and took long walks as a family. We also celebrated my wonderful mother-in-laws bday! It was perfect! After we left today, we stopped by my parent's home to have Thanksgiving dinner with them and my sister and her family and my brother. It is so much fun to have cousins the same age as my children. It is very cute watching the little ones interact. I feel very blessed and thank God for all he has given to me!

A tender moment, then a tough moment!

Last night after dinner, I decided to put some Christmas music on while the kids colored and we put away the dishes. I was on the computer trying to fix a low resolution picture to send to shutterfly in order attempt Christmas cards when I heard Ally yell for her daddy to come dance with her. I was engrossed with the computer at the time to really see what they were doing. Later that night, Travis told me with the biggest smile that Ally wanted him to dance with her and she was pretending to be the princess and he was the king. She told him that she was wearing a crown on her head because princesses wear those. Travis told me that she was twirling and dancing to the music. I could tell it melted his heart and how much he loved her.

This reminded me of our King and how he loves us. Our heavenly Father wants to dance with us one day and I am sure He will be smiling when he sees us twirling in heaven with Him. Won't that be an awesome day!!

So, then comes the tough moment. Ally and Noah were playing on the chairs in the hearth room after I had already told them not to, but wasn't really paying attention, my fault, when I heard Ally fall to the ground. I have never heard her cry so loud and hard. When I picked her up, her nose was bleeding soooooo much. I couldn't tell if her mouth was bleeding as well or if it were just her nose. It was like a faucet. It kept coming and coming. I was even scard a bit that it might even be broken. Well, after a little bit it stopped bleeding and I checked her nose and it appeared not be broken. It was probably one of the scariest moment I have had with my children. I know Ally had an angel with her at that particular time cause it could have been really bad. So needless to say, they will not be able to play on chairs anymore. Travis and I talked last night that they have a room full of toys, but all they want to do is jump on and off chairs. Why get them toys when all they like to do is run and jump. Makes ya think a little bit about the upcoming season and what not to spend so much time worrying about and shopping for.

I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families! I know I will!!

Testament Focused

A friend of mine, Becke', from church and from Ranch Hands has just recently published a book. She has a gift for photography and has been capturing unique photos and using a verse out of the Bible to explain each photo. She has started selling her book on Blurb.com
So if you are interested in reading a little about it, you can go to
Blurb.com
Click on bookstore
Type in Testament Focused
She is donating 100% of the profit of the first 25 books sold to Soaring Wings Ranch!!
This would be a great idea for a Christmas present or for a coffee table book to engage conversations. It appears to be a wonderful book from what I have seen! I am so happy for her!

Halloween 2009

My little "Ally"cat!

A fireman and his dalmation (I mean, his "Ally"cat)!

Fireman Noah, Hannah Montana, 2 kitty cats and Dorothy

Halloween this year was tons of fun. This is the first year we actually went trick or treating. Travis and I went over how to "trick or treat." We wanted to make sure they said "thank you" after they received their candy. We have a great little neighborhood to trick or treat in. We met up with some friends, as well as Mimi and Papaw and Meemow, and trick or treated for about an hour. I am so glad my sister and her family got to join us.

Western day!

Noah had western day at school the other day! I thought he looked like the perfect little cowboy. Ally wanted to dress up too! She loves wearing her little boots. Travis and I had a Halloween party this past weekend down the street and we decided to dress western too. How appropriate this picture fits with the western day theme. All we need now is a horse!!!

Soaring Wings half marathon

Paige and I before the race

About to cross the finish line

After the race!

My dear friend Micaela and her family!

The 2nd annual Soaring Wings half marathon was this weekend and it was a huge success. There were 1000 runners in it and the weather couldn't be better. I trained with many of my friends including Alisa, Stacy and Micaela! My friend Paige stayed with me the night before. We all started together but then went at our own pace once we got going. I tend to always start faster than I should and and by then time I reached around 8 miles, I was hurting. I wanted to stop, but I kept going. I ended up crossing the finish line at around 1 hour and 54 minutes. It was not my personal best for me, but I was still proud of my time. My sweet family rode around in the truck to cheer me on and that kept me going. I loved running this race because of what it is for. The Soaring Wings Ranch!! The wonderful ladies of the Ranch Hands were out there cheering us on because there were about 6 or 7 Ranch Hands running the race. It was sooooo much fun being in Conway!! I love Conway!!!

Labor day weekend

Noah and Ally at the Big D. Bridge!

Chris and Trav

Amanda and I

Chris and Amanda

Over Labor day, Trav and I took the kids to ride on the Big D bridge and then headed over to Pinnacle Mnt. for a picnic. It was a wonderful day, althought very very hot. My camera died after the first shot, so there goes all the great pics. Another reason I need a new camera.
Travis took a little trip with his best friend since kindergarden, Chris. They went hiking up north for a couple of days and visited friends in Fayetteville. Chris and his precious wife, Amanda, live in Hershey, Penn where he is a anestheologist ?? resident. We visited them a couple of yrs ago and it is soooo nice there. They only have about 20 months left there and then they move back here to work. Chris accepted a job in Batesville and we are so excited they are going to be closer.

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse

My sister and I took our kiddos to Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. They had a great time and we made some good memories!

Ally and sweet Ella!

Heath is ready for some cake!

Sweet Bess!

More of Ally bday party!

My 3 beautiful nieces!

Anna Klaire and Ally

I had to post a few shots my sister got with her camera of Ally's bday. She has a much nicer camera than I do and she was in charge of pics!