Thankful!

I love Thanksgiving and the thankful spirit it generates in everyone! I wish we could keep the attitude of gratitude throughout the year, if we could do that wouldn't all of us be better off?
We had Thanksgiving dinner at my Papa & Granny's today with my side of the family. We had a ton of food, really way too much!
Do you ever feel guilty for the blessing you have been given? I do. When I looked around at all the food I had a sense of guilt come over me, I had more food in front of me today then some people have all year!
It's hard not to think about what all you have this time of year, I know God wants us to be happy he wants to bestow all his blessing upon his children.

I felt God tugging on my heart today! I felt a real desire to be doing something for someone else, I wish I would've allowed him to work in my life but instead I chose to ignore it.
I think I should have volunteered to work at Seven Hills, The Salvation Army or the NWA Food Bank today. I want to serve others and glorify God, I want to offer a heartfelt smile and a warm bowl of soup to a poor soul who has nothing. I truly want to get a glimpse of their life, I want to be an encouragement to them.. AHHH I should have!!
Obviously I have some regret about today, but I know that God will continue to work on me and the next time he knocks I must answer his call.


What I don't regret is spending time with my family! It's rare these days that all of us are able to stick around after Thanksgiving dinner, usually everyone has to take off to go to the next dinner but today was one of those days that almost everyone was able to spend the day at my grandparents just relaxing, catching up and playing games. I truly cherish these times with them.

 Brinley loves to help in the kitchen, anytime I'm cooking I've either got to pull her up a chair, sit her on the island or carry her on my hip. This is us making Chicken Pot Pie

 Brinley assisting with the Corn Casserole, she can't keep her fingers out of the bowl. Just like her Momma!!

 My Uncle Don and Brinley. Shhh! Brinley was just using him to get close to Jasmin (Black Chi)

 My wonderful Granny! What a blessing she is to our family, she's been cooking us Sunday Dinner every since I've been alive! She keeps her family together and strong!

 Brinley rarely looks at the camera anymore but I still thought it was a good picture

 My sweet little girl! Oh how I love her!!

 Oh Landon what are you up to sweet boy?

 My Cousin Whitney, her husband Clayton and Brinley oh yes and Jasmin!

 My wonderful Papa and Brinley, oh and Jasmin! Where ever Jasmin was you found Brinley!

 Grandpa and Brinley taking a nap after our big Thanksgiving Dinner!

 My cousin Heather and Brinley, unfortunately Brinley's preoccupied.

 Lauren and Brinley.

Sweet Matt, Heather's boyfriend and Brinley.

Pumpkin patch

This past weekend we went to Branson with Barry, Karen and the kiddos. We started out the night by eating at Lamberts, you know "Home of the thrown rolls". We had about an hour wait so by the time we finally got sit down to eat Brinley was really fussy. We enjoyed our meal but I was ready to get to our hotel and get Brinley down for the night. On Saturday Brian and Barry took the kids to Branson Landing to let them burn off some energy and to give Karen and I time to shop at the outlet malls. I got Brinley alot of cute winter clothes and I bought her a winter coat, she should be set until next spring.

Saturday afternoon the Hogs played Auburn, Brian intended on staying in the hotel and watching the game but there is only so much you can do in a hotel room to keep a active 19 month old entertained, so by half time I talked him into going back down to Branson Landing so we could be outside.
Brian remained in the car listening to the game and Brinley and I strolled around window shopping.

On Sunday morning we got up and drove to Pea Ridge and went to McGarrah's pumpkin patch. We had a really good time, Brinley got to ride a mule (it was actually a barrel train pulled by a tractor) we took a hayride, walked through the corn maze and then we got to pick out some pumpkins.

We had a great time but we were exhausted by the time we got home Sunday. Brinley and I will be putting our outdoor fall decorations out this weekend, and I hope to get a few good pictures of her actually looking at the camera.

Time Fly's when your having fun!

I can't believe this was taken 6 months ago. Having a child really does make the time go back so much faster! I remember when I was a child that a month felt like a year and now a year feels like a month. Brinley is growing and learning something new every single day. This week she has began to stack books, food, toys, etc. just anything she likes to stack it.

Fair time

This past week we took Brinley to her first county fair and I'm pretty sure I've got a little cowgirl on my hands. Brinley loved the animals, she was not afraid of them at all. Her little eyes were lit up all night long.. We had a great family night, I love seeing her face when she see's something for the first time. My baby girl is absolutely precious!

She didn't know what to think when this little calf started sucking her fingers !

She had the most fun riding this little pony! Be still my heart...

We actually ended up going to the fair twice. The first night was such a success her daddy wanted to take her back a second time.

We ran into cousin Korbin!

And cousing Landon!

I just love these two little boys and I can't wait to see the love and friendship that Brinley develops with each of them. My cousins and I are extremely close almost like siblings and I pray that Brinley has the same relationship with her cousins.

I'm dreaming of a white Christmas!

I kept thinking how nice it would be if we would get snow for Brinley's 1st Christmas, I was so thrilled when I woke up Christmas morning and looked out the window and all I could see was the glistening white covered ground. It was so beautiful and just made Christmas that much more beautiful.

I really wanted to keep Christmas simple this year, I didn't want to have to spend all week baking and running back and forth to town trying to make sure I got every one's present bought. I've always been one to go all out decorating and baking, etc. but this year was different. I had such a peace within my heart. This Christmas I relaxed and just sit back and tried to absorb Brinley's 1st Christmas, I want to remember every single detail. I know Brinley won't remember any of this but I will never forget it!!

Our little pumpkin!

Our little pumpkin is growing so quickly, Today she is already 8 Months old! I've always felt like time moved way to quickly but now that Brinley is here it seems that it is spinning out of control. She is a perfect baby, she sleeps through the night every single night and only cries when she needs fed or is wet. She has found her voice and lets little squeals out and she shakes her shoulders and head when she gets excited, she is just precious..

I can't remember life without her in it, which I find really funny because Brian and I have been married for so long I just for the longest time couldn't see us with a baby not because we didn't want one but because so much time had passed it just seemed like we were set in our ways and had such a routine. Life is so much sweeter now, I think it's beginning to get harder and harder to be away from her during the day and I think once she starts walking and talking I'm never going to want to leave her.

Maternity leave is over.....

Well I made it. Today is my first day back on the job, I wish I could say that it's not so bad but the truth is I'm just sick, I feel like I'm neglecting Brinley. This morning I fed her at 6am and she wanted to go back to sleep because she likes to sleep until 9am, so I let her sleep until I had to get her up and put her in her car seat. I didn't even take her out of her jammies because I thought if I stirred her around to much I'd wake her up and then she wouldn't be able to go back to sleep. Maybe I'm the one who feels neglected, I'm just so sad that I didn't get to dress her this morning or play with her and get those big ole' morning smiles. My sweet baby!! I don't know how mom's do it, everyone says it'll get easier I sure hope their right. I haven't got anything accomplished this morning, my heart just isn't in it. I'm so distracted I just sit and think about what she is normally doing this time of day and what I'm missing out on. I can't type much more, I'm just sick maybe I should've just came back and worked half days this first week this is just too much...

No Bake Oatmeal Cookies

I've been in the mood to bake all weekend, today I made No Bake Oatmeal Cookies.

2 C. Sugar

1/4 C. Cocoa

1/2 C. Milk

1 Stick Margarine

1/2 C. Peanut Butter

3 to 4 C. Quick Oats

1 tsp. Vanilla

Put sugar, cocoa, milk, & margarine in a pan and boil for 1 minute. In a bowl, combine Peanut Butter, oatmeal and Vanilla. Pour sugar, cocoa, milk and margarine mixture over items in the bowl and mix. Drop by teaspoons on wax paper. Let cool appx. 15 minutes and cookies will set up. ENJOY!!

Brinley has quit alot of 0-3 month summer clothes that she's never worn. Lately I've been trying to put her in all the clothes in that size because I want her to be able to wear them before summer is over. Today I put her in this cute little outfit and it has the cutest little sun bonnet with it..

I'm glad I took this picture when I did because not 20 minutes later she spit up all over both of us. Oh well!!

This afternoon we are headed up on the mountain to visit with my BIL & SIL, Brian is at Atwoods right now buying a feeder for his bucks. Brian has never fed his deer before but my nephew has been taking grain down by where him and Brian generally hunt so Brian thought he'd go buy a feeder so we are going to take it up there and suprise him..

Blogger trouble

Is it just me or does anyone else have problems getting their blogs to look the way they want them to? I've spent a considerable amount of time tonight trying to figure everything out, and they don't make it simple.. I like to be able to click and drag things where I want them, and if I want to add a picture to my header I should just be able to select one and not have to worry about figuring out a program that allows me to "layer" objects. UGH!! I'm giving up tonight but I'm determined to figure everything out.

This afternoon Brinley and I went to my BIL & SIL house. We had planned on taking pictures of the kids in their John Deere outfits and wagon but Brinley and Korbin's sleeping times were not syncronized, so needless to say we didn't get any pictures taken. My BIL Barry cooked BBQ Chicken on the grill, and Karen fixed Fried Corn, Mashed Potatoes, and Green Beans.

                             This is Barry attempting to grill in the rain, "You might be a redneck if"

Brian headed over to a friend from works house to do some Grillin' & Chillin' before the BIG game, here is

a picture we took of our little Razorback. She is so stinkin' cute, she just melts my heart.

WHOOOOO PIG SOOIE!!

The game was supposed to be PPV, but I guess something went wrong and they didn't even get to watch the 1st quarter. I listened to some of it on the radio on my drive back home I think it was something like 48 to 12, obviously they didn't miss much because I don't think it was much of a close game. HA! Oh well Brian just came home stuffed to the gill from eating way to many Bratwarst and Chips & Dip and I'm sure there was a Beer or 2 in there somewhere..

Happy Labor Day, I hope everyone enjoys the long weekend!

Razorback Football

I've decided to participate in BooMama's DipTacular. I love this time of year because of all the football parties, which means I get to get into the kitchen and whip up some good ole' tailgating food.

Hot Artichoke & Crab Dip

1 8oz pkg. Cream Cheese (softened)

1C. Mayo (do not use Miracle Whip)

1 Clove garlic minced

1 14oz can Artichoke Hearts (drained & chopped)

1 8oz. pkg. Imitation Crab meat (chopped)

3/4C. Grated Parmesan Cheese

3/4C. Thinly sliced green onions (use the whole onion)

1tsp. Lemon zest

1/8tsp. Ground Pepper.

Combine Cream Cheese and Mayo with hand mixer, add remaining ingredients and stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. I usually save a few of the sliced green onions to throw on the top after baking, it just makes a prettier presentation. YUMMY!! I hope you love this dip as much as I do..

Those of you who know me know I could care less about football but my husband absolutely LOVES College Football, over the past years I've spent most Fall Saturdays alone and aggravated because he's usually glued to the TV.

Well this year I think it might actually work to my advantage!!  You see we have a new little Piggie in our house!! We can't take her anywhere yet because of her weak lungs and because we are also headed into cold and flu season, so GUESS who gets to watch football every Saturday with her Daddy!! Yep, Little Pork Chop!!

Isn't she the cutest little fan you've ever seen.  I just love dressing her up!! I really hope she learns to like football, I don't have anything against it I just never grew up really being exposed to it. I hope Brinley likes it as much as her daddy does, maybe this could be one of those special father daughter things they can do together..

GO HOGS GO!!

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Brinley's Homecoming

Today was a big day!! Brinley finally got to come home with us, it still seems a little surreal but I'm sure about 2am tomorrow morning things will become a little more real. HA! So far things are going great, we kept it really low key and only had her grandparents over tonight we have alot of people who want to meet her but we're just going to have to do it a little at a time. Here are a few pictures I took today, isn't her outfit adorable?

I Just love this picture of the 3 of usMy Papa made this sign, only my Papa would do something this sweet.. I just LOVED it!!Brinley in her own bassinet for the very first time