Ranch life...

We are so very thankful for the new friends God has blessed us with over the past year. The Harrises have quickly become one of our treasured gifts! Daniel's family owns a huge pecan orchard south of Midland, and every year Monarch butterflies migrate through and cover the trees. When they came to town this year, the Harrises invited us out to enjoy it with them! They said this year wasn't as dense as usual, but to us, it seemed absolutely unreal. Most trees were empty, but if you kept on looking, you would find a tree that was completely covered with them! Then we could walk up and send them all flying and twirling around our heads. I thought those things only happened in the movies!

After the butterflies, we got a tour of the pecan sorting machine and other farm stuff. Then the kids favorite part... they got to feed the cows...

And to finish the perfect outing, all the kiddos got a ride on the 4wheeler...

Barry included...

We usually get together on Wednesday mornings for a play date with the Harrises and others. Calla had alot of fun toting Ethan around while he waited patiently for his turn...

Sleepy Time?

Leslie has been fighting naps more and more lately, which would be fine if she would go to bed quickly at night, but she stays up singing herself to sleep for at least an hour every night! Anyways, I went put her back in her bed at nap time the other day and found all of her princesses with their skirts hiked up delicately balanced while riding their horses. I thought it was especially funny when I realized that under all that red mermaid hair was a naked Ariel riding behind Snow White...




Sweet girls cuddling in the morning...

Leslie reliving her childhood...

Another lazy morning...

This post makes it look like the girls lay around and watch TV in the pajamas all day, but I assure they don't! Our days are so early and busy Monday thru Thursday that I reserve Friday for our sabbath. We sleep in, and stay in our jammies, and don't feel guilty about it! I just wish Daddy could get a break too!

Gameday...

We woke up the morning after our camp out/croup fiasco and cancelled our trip to Lubbock for the big Texas game. Leslie and Calla were supposed to stay with BFF, Maddie, but I wasn't comfortable leaving Leslie with anyone over night in case she had another attack. It was a difficult decision because Leslie woke up feeling and acting so well... wearing her pink Cowgirl hat while watching College Gameday! (And at the time, we thought Texas was actually a good team worth competing against!)


Calla saying "Guns Up!"

Probably against our better judgment, we left Calla with BFF, and packed up the nebulizer and meds and headed to Lubbock! Leslie did fine and always loves the games. And bonus, I actually got to watch most of the game!

Leslie eating some popcorn with her Uncle Ben before he lost his temper and started shouting profanities...

We're glad our gamble paid off and Leslie stayed well! We all had alot of fun and Calla did really well at her sleepover! We are very grateful to have friends that love our kids so much and that we can trust!

Pseudo camping...

This year, the summer flew by, and we never had a chance for a proper backyard camp out. With cold evenings and shorter days looming, we decided to seize a weekend in September and at least make a memory! To begin our fun, we had a picnic in the living room floor...

Then, Daddy took both girls on an adventure walk through the neighborhood and to the park to find sticks, acorns, and other craftable trinkets...

Trying to make it feel more "camp-ish," Leslie got to climb a tree...

I think Calla did too, but obviously, Daddy had to stay holding on to her and couldn't get a picture!


Calla had to get to bed, but Daddy and Leslie stayed up and used the sticks they collected to make a bonfire in the backyard to roast s'mores...

Then they climbed into the secret tree house (where the bears couldn't reach them) to enjoy their treat...

Afterward, they made a tent in the music room and read books by flashlight before calling in a night...

I know it wasn't as professional as last year, but Leslie still enjoyed it, and like I said, it was a great memory!

Luckily Barry was sleeping with Leslie this night because she got a horrible case of croup. He woke up a couple hours later and noticed Leslie wasn't breathing well at all. He came and woke me up and we did all the medicine and treatments we could think of. She finally started to breathe a little better, so we put her in her bed and I spent the night on her trundle to monitor her. Guess I got to participate in the camp out after all!

September Extras...

I went in search of a quiet Calla one afternoon and found her "reading" this book on Leslie's bed...


Calla has own sense of fashion... such as wearing crowns upside down. Can't argue with the princess...

I thought this picture was cool because it makes Leslie look like a ghost...

Septemberfest...

We had some beautiful weather for Septemberfest this year, so we loaded up the girls (and their BFF Maddie) to have some fun. Leslie of course makes a bee-line to the face painting and balloons. I think she picks something crazier/scarier every time me go. Notice that the unicorn eye is actually Leslie's...

There were a bunch of crafts set up in the Kid's Korner. Even Calla got to make a visor and necklace...

I thought this was a funny picture. Somehow we managed to find the two tallest men in Midland to be friends with! It takes so serious giants to make Barry petite...


The girls played in all the jumpers several times of course...

Calla played in a regular moon jumper that wasn't too crowded, but her favorite activity was going down this gigantic slide...

Tech Game...

The girls LOVE going to the Tech football games! My parents have a suite this year, so it makes everything more enjoyable for everyone. I've actually gotten to watch some plays this year! Both girls have learned that if they hang out with PaPa, they get infinite popcorn, so I usually don't have to do anything but diaper changes:)


The cheerleaders came up before one of the games and took a picture with the girls! Too cute...

My sweet little Red Raider...

This was after the game, so Calla was pretty tired, but still an okay family shot...

PaPa took a little time to throw the ball around with the girls while we were getting everything packed back up...

This was Calla before we hit the interstate. She was one tired little girl...