Halloween decorations

This is a picture heavy post, but I don't think there's any other way to show decorations! :) It's our first year in this house, so I've had fun finding places for old decor along with making new things. I have found a TON of darling things on pinterest...my new addiction. 

new front door wreath

I've wanted a burlap banner forever. A few people have teased me that the "L's" look funny, but I really liked this font.

I made these containers a couple of years ago, and they've held up pretty well!

This little guy has been with me since my teaching days. He was a gift from one of my students.

I am loving my chalkboard!

These aren't my decorations, but I made them for the kids teachers. Again...pinterest! I also made the caramel apples and I can vouch for them...they were delish!

This is a new find from Junior League's Marketplace Ole. He has candy inside his head...but I think Brody would grab a hershey bar every night on his way to bed, so you can't actually tell there's anything in there.

And, my mom made the cute little pumpkin for me :)

Finally, my fun bats. They really didn't take long to make and add a lot to the entry.

Hope you're all having a fun and safe Halloween. More pictures to come soon of all the things we've been up to this weekend!!

Play date

Scarlett loves her brother. And, she adores her boy cousins. But sometimes a girl just wants to play with another GIRL! Jemma is a doll, but still a bit too young to play games the way Scarlett has in mind. 

One of Scarlett's best friends is Bella. We met Bella at Mother's Day Out when Scarlett was barely 3 and Bella was still 2. They were the only girls in a class full of boys! I don't have any pictures from that first year, but here they are the next year at their Christmas program. Bella is the cutie on the right.

They've taken dance together

(Scarlett has the headband on and Bella is all the way on the left with the bun)

They've enjoyed parties together

They graduated from Parkhills together

 And they are still friends today! We don't see Bella as much as we'd like now that they're in school, but last week since there was no school she came to play. They were SO quiet, I didn't think to take any pictures until the end of her stay. She brought over necklaces to make and they wanted me to take pictures of them as "twins".

Cute twinkies...even wearing matching skirts!

being "pirates"

I am so thankful for friendships. I know how important it is to have great girls in your life and Bella is such a doll...I pray they are friends forever!!

Date night

Saturday night, Brody and I had a date night with friends from church. It's been a while since we've all been out together and I'm hoping it doesn't take us as long to do it again!! We ate at Rosario's (their white queso is to DIE.for!!), and then everyone came back to our house for dessert and the movie "The Burbs". It's a funny movie, but watching it with Brody makes it hilarious...he cracks UP!

the guys

 the gals

 the gang 

(minus Ben, our photographer)

Thanks to Jaime for the pictures! Let's do it again soon guys!!!

End of Summer Fun

The last week before school started, Jaime and I decided to take the kids to the children's museum in New Braunfels. It is a great museum, and the kids had a wonderful time!

building with Beck

she's happy to be in control of all that money!!

painting

these costumes cracked me up!

We had a great time. Unfortunately when we got home I realized Clark had fever...it was later discovered he had Hand, Foot and Mouth virus. Scarlett got it a week later but thankfully all of Jaime's kids stayed well. I'm just happy we got a chance to have one final summer outing!

Clark's day

Clark started back at his Mother's Day Out last week. He doesn't look super excited in this picture, but he was actually happy to go and see his friends and meet his new teachers. One of his teachers had Scarlett when she was at this school and she is the BEST. I'm so excited for Clark's year.

The good thing about this school is that the classes are by "old, middle, young". Clark is in the "old 3's" meaning that all of the kids in the class will be 4 by December. The only bad thing about doing things that way is that there about a million birthday parties before December...at least it feels that way! So...since Clark is already four, he got to bring cupcakes for snack on the first day of school. He's in the owl class and I saw these on pinterest and thought they'd be perfect!

First day

Somehow, I neglected to post about the first day of school! The sweet little school that Scarlett attended last year closed after 30 years. We were so sad...mainly for all of the teachers that were out of jobs, and the high school students who had gone there since Kindergarten! We were also a bit anxious, as we were given about three weeks notice that we'd have to make other arrangements for this school year! But, God is always faithful and we think we found a great spot for Scarlett. She and her cousin Beck got the last two spots in first grade. :)

Ready to go!

sweet kisses goodbye from Clarkie!

I pray that this year brings her as much joy as her kindergarten year. I am praying for her heart to stay protected and pure, for her to make good choices and friends, and for her to learn academically. But I'm mainly praying that she learns God is always with her...no matter where she is, or what school she attends!

Scarlett's room

We have finally moved to the upstairs portion of redecorating. The painter that we hired for the downstairs is going to be (hopefully) painting the hallway, bathrooms, and master bedroom, but Brody and I figured we could handle the kids rooms and the playroom. Scarlett's room was first on our list.

I am sorry that I didn't get any before shots because it was one BrIGhT room!! Brody primed it while I was out one day, and he didn't think of taking any pictures, but two walls were turquoise and two walls were purple. yikes!! We wanted a nice pale pink that will hopefully grow with her. We have mostly pink accents, but I'm thinking as she grows, she could easily change those to any color that will blend with the pale pink of the walls.

 this is the wall to the left of her door

 My mom is going to help me make a canopy to go over her bed, because Scarlett has been begging for that!

This wall looks kind of bare, but I'm planning on getting another canvas and having Scarlett paint something. She painted that heart, and I thought it would be cute for her to add a canvas every year or so.

She was so excited to have a "big girl" clock!

I still need to figure out some sort of curtains, but other than that and the canopy, her room is finished!