My Dorky Confession

Confession: 

I LOVE CRAYONS AND COLORING!!! I have always had crayons and coloring books. 

My favorite coloring books are Disney Princesses, Lisa Frank, Precious Moments, and the most recent... Strawberry Shortcake(Thanks to my cute little girl) A sharp brand new crayon excites me... I had the 120 count pack of crayons... In College... Seriously, I am not kidding at all! I even colored Adam a picture in High School of Sleeping Beauty dancing with Prince Phillip and wrote him a dorky note about how he was my Prince... I'm a dork and I'm proud of it!!!

Now that you know my embarrassing secret let me tell you what I have done with all of those crayons I collected over the years. I did a major clean out and put all the crayons that were still worth coloring with and put them in Tori's art box... With the huge pile leftover, we recycled our old crayons!!  Tori and I had a blast taking the paper off and breaking them into tiny pieces. We put them in a mini muffin pan and melted them in the oven and turned them into, as Tori calls them, Muffin Crayons!

Here's some pictures of our fun day!

The "fun" colors

The "Normal" colors

Aren't they awesome??

It was so much fun!!

Best Friends...

Tori loves her friends. This past year I have had the joy of watching her and her very first best friend. Taylor and Tori are double trouble. They play together, and search one another out in a group setting. Sometimes they fight like sisters, but for the most part they really love each other. They dance, laugh, and play and really hate when they have to say goodbye. Tori includes Taylor and her family in her prayers each night, and she asks me often when her "Savorite sriend" is coming to play again. Good thing her Mommy and I get along so well haha. It is such a blessing that Tori gets to experience a friendship like this so early in her life. I pray that this friendship will be one she keeps! They will love to look at their baby pictures together one day! haha. 

2009 was a hard year for me. I felt very alone and I missed the people who I used to have close relationships with, but had lost touch as our lives went different ways. I prayed for a friend often. God answered my prayers with Emily. This is Taylor's Mommy, and I have an equally special relationship with her. She is such a sweet, godly woman who just gets me. She is one of those people who is just irreplaceable and I know I can trust her with every part of who I am. I am so thankful to God for putting these precious girls in our lives.  

"A friend is one who strengthens you with prayers, 

blesses you with love, and encourages you with hope."

Happy Birthday Big Girl!!

Tori,

Where has the time gone? It feels like just yesterday I was holding a tiny newborn in my arms. You have grown from a tiny, helpless, adorable newborn baby, to an independant, spirited, and beautiful 3 year old. You are such a joy to me. Though you are often a challenge, I still love every minute I spend with you. A year ago I would have written all the new words you were saying, or all the milestones you had hit, but this year I have watched your little personality begin to form. This past year has been a year of discovery and wonder as you find out who you are, and how things work.  You have stopped asking "what" questions and started asking "why."

You are an encourager. You tell the people around you what is good about them. You say "good job" and you say things in a way that builds others up.

You have such an amazing imagination. You play make-believe, and dress-up more than anything else.

You love to dance and sing, but you are a little shy to perform for anyone but Mommy and Daddy.

You have finally started to pose for the camera, but only when you want to.

You make conscious decisions between right and wrong, and accept the consequences of your actions.

You are learning to ride your tricycle

You can officially draw a smiley face

You hate it when Mommy or Daddy is sad, and always know how to make us smile

You love your animals: Mya, Sam, and Bella

Your favorite bedtime song is "All the Pretty Little Horses" AKA Hush-a-bye-bye

You love to read books with Mommy

You are almost fully potty trained (minus nighttime which will come with time)

You have pretty good rhythm for a 3 year old, and you love to dance!!

You're cute and you know it!! "I'm a cutie"

We love you big girl!! Happy Birthday!!

The Pumpkin Patch

Just some pictures from our trip to the pumpkin patch!

My favorite place in the whole world

Adam, Tori, and I went to Brevard, NC for a week long stay at my parent's mountain house. As always it was a perfect time to just relax, and do a little hiking. :) Adam's mom and his brother Brandon's girlfriend and her brother from Peru came with us. 

We had a wonderful time. 

We got to go to Pretty Place where we were married. It just tugs at my heartstrings to watch my baby girl walk down the isle of the chapel where her daddy and I got married... 

God is so so good! The reason that I love NC so much is because God's creation is all around me, and I'm sure you will agree, He is quite an artist!!

What a beautiful, wonderful, amazing place

Family Pictures...

We had some pictures taken this week for Adam's family while his brother is in town. Just thought I would share a few with you!! As you can see there is a new picture of Adam, Tori, and I at the top of my profile. That is our family shot! Here's a few of my favorites:

Me, Tori, Adam, and his brother Brandon

Brandon, Adam, and their Dad

Necy and her Grandbabies

My little cutie

2 of the whole family shots

These were taken by Ashley Mott and edited by me... Aren't they awesome!! She did a great job :)