the path unknown

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. Theses are the things I will do; I will not forsake them."

Isaiah 42:16

all sorts of occasions

Today's a big day for all sorts of reasons:
#1- Reesie's cousin Nathan turned five years old! Happy Birthday Nathan! May the next five years be just as good as the first!


#2- My sweet sister and her husband celebrate four years of marriage. Woohoo! If they were president, they'd be up for reelection. I'd totally vote for them. :)


#3- Our beloved Tigers are playing on ESPN tonight! The game started after Chica's bedtime so this very old picture of her will have to do for now. I would sneak into her room and drape a Mizzou blanket over her for a more up to date photo, but Big Girl needs her sleep because....


#4- Some very important visitors are on their way to see us! We can't wait for them to stop by and say "hi" to Chica. :)

pumpkin time

First of all, thank you bloggers for all your advice on the bow situation! It's so nice to know I'm not alone when it comes to issues with accessories. In fact, your input has blown open the possibilities for which I could pick your brains even further! Let's see, where should we begin? Peace in the middle east? Anhilating world hunger? Magically making all your laundry disappear while sitting on the couch?

The problem-solving possibilities are endless!

In other news...

This past weekend, we took our annual family trip to the pumpkin patch. If this is our second year in a row, does it qualify as an annual gig? Our trip this year was much more spur of the moment, brought on by the unseasonably beautiful weather we've had.

Here's Big Girl taking her very first pony ride. You could have seen her smile in the next county.


It's the times like these when I'm most thankful for Daniel. Especially when there are ponies involved and I'm wearing really cute shoes.


She loved hanging on to that saddle handle knob thing. Anybody know what that's called? Dan said she was so steady should could have done it by herself. Heaven help me, if my daughter takes up horseback riding I'm going to need some serious prayer and shoes you can clean with a hose.




After we took a hayride to the pumpkin patch, Chica got a little sidetracked people watching. She's her mother's daughter. (Except for her love of horses.)


Here she is waiting for the train with some friends.


Whoo hoo for two and a half feet!


Of course, we couldn't leave without the obligatory owl picture.


Our little owl one year ago. Excuse me while I go reminisce over Little Owl's first trip to the pumpkin patch.

battle of the bow

I need help.

It's an accessories related conundrum. Since my beautiful daughter entered the world I've proudly adorned the top of her head with a complementing hair bow. Throughout her pre-hair days a bow established her gender, fending off most of the "what a cute little boy!" remarks we received at the grocery store.

Around 11 months, Chica started to rebel against her mother's bow aspirations. See. In one swift motion she ripped that bow out of her hair for good and my heart right along with it. Since then I've attempted to reintroduce the bow into her wardrobe. One Sunday she made it all the way to church nursery with a fabulous bow perched atop her obviously female head. Turns out she was just getting my hopes up as she yanked it out the second I turned my back.

Can you blame a girl for trying? Especially when this is how she looks?


It's like she appeases me for a few minutes...


and done.


So have any of you moms of girls fought the bow battle with your daughter? Any tips? Should I wait until the magical age when she wants nothing more than to appease her mother's every desire? (Ha!)

Please tell me I don't have to hang up the bows for good!

a trip to "state"

Seven days after Dan and I were married we moved to the south and I worked at a church in Tennessee. I asked a recent high school grad where she was going to go to college and she replied, "state." Ignorant Yankee that I am I said, "Oh? Which state?" She looked at me like I had lost my mid-western mind. Evidently in the south there's only one "state"- Mississippi State, home of the Bulldogs. Lesson learned.

This past weekend our little family took a road trip to "State" to watch the football game and tailgate with some friends. Two of our friends went to LSU and had an extra ticket for Dan. We drove down on Friday afternoon to see Sarah P. and Andrew. We ate at a local restaurant famous for its hamburgers.

I inhaled so many fried pickles I barely had any room when my cheeseburger arrived. The few bites I could manage, whoa baby, were the best of any burger I've ever tasted. And I've had many a hamburger in my day. It was just as good several hours later when I ate the rest for dinner. If you're ever in Starkville, you MUST go to Mugshots!

The next morning we met up with the rest of the crew. The boys all went to the game while the girls watched it on T.V. from a house a couple of miles away. Our watch party consisted of five adults, three toddlers, an infant and a fetus-all girls. I was in heaven!

Bulldogs...


and Tigers coexisting in the same room. A round of Kumbaya was in order. Instead we discussed our children's digestive systems, discipline, pregnancy symptoms and ultrasounds. It's what mothers do.

And I'm so thankful I have these women as a source of wisdom and encouragement. Part of the reason I believe God gave us our daughter when He did was because, in all His sovereignty, He knew I would need women who are in the same stage of life. I can't tell you how many times I've found comfort in knowing someone else has been there, done that.

After the game, we reunited with the boys and had ourselves a tailgate. The kids ate, played and ran around. And I chased them with my camera. Crazy stalker mom.

Big Girl waiting patiently for her Dad to fill up her cup.

Even tutu wearing spectators need a drink.






I asked Dan if he thought someday we could re-create this picture when all the girls are seniors in high school.

Before they graduate and one of them heads off to "state."

woohoo for the weekend!

Yesterday when I dropped Chica off at her classroom, another little girl was sprawled out facedown on the carpet in the middle of the room. Her day hadn't even started yet.

I thought to myself, "Girlfriend I know exactly how you feel." It was all I could do not to collapse on my own little corner of the carpet.

If that scenario is any indication, I am thankful it's the weekend! And even more excited about our upcoming family adventure.

I'll be back tomorrow, most likely with a recap and more pictures than you'd ever care to see.

Happy Friday Bloggers!

this little piggy

Chica's loving her some toes. And I love hers!

Toes are the latest body part she's learned. Anytime I say "toes!" she scans the room for the nearest set, strolls over to their owner and gives them a good pinch. The other week we were at a high school volleyball game and she grabbed the toes of a lady sitting behind us.

We did not know that lady.

If it's any consolation, the lady had a CUTE pedicure with fiery nail polish. And since my toddler's latest hobby is snatching feet, at least she's going after those that are well groomed.

Chica loves the body part game. It comes in handy when we're in the car for a long period of time or to distract her when she's upset. Somehow locating her belly is instantly soothing.

If she's in the mood she can identify her:
*Hair
*Ears
*Eyes (You have to remind her to be gentle with her eyes, she likes to gouge herself.)
*Teeth
*Nose
*Belly
*Fingers
*Hands
*Feet
*Toes

Visitors Beware- If you come over to our house wearing open toed shoes, don't say we didn't warn you.