Go Texas Tech!!!!!

Getting her hand painted w/ a Double T at our Block Party

Posing w/ Mimi

Listening intently at Library Storytime (notice how my mother taught her to cross her legs)

Get your Guns Up!

Enjoying the watermelon at our block party
Hanging w/ her buddy CoCo and new neighbor Shelby

So, I like Amy Hayden have always had issues with cheerleaders. This could be for one of 2 reasons: they are really annoying and perky and I always believed I was "too cool" for school spirit or because I was always way to big and built like gumby to be one. Probably a little of both.

But when A received this precious hand me down TTU cheerleader outfit from Erin & Syndey.... well how could I resist. I wanted to show the world, the cutest cheerleader ever. So what if I am biased, it's my blog.

The other reason I let her wear it is that well... Ash is short. She isn't built like Chris or I at all so... there is hope that I could make her a gymnast or cheerleader and be that super psycho mom/coach that dreams of the olympics or Dallas Cowboy cheerleader status for my daughter. I mean look at me... all these degrees and no money, Little A better hope for some weird talent to strike it rich and famous because school is overrated (can you tell that working on my dissertation has me a little tainted)

Additionally, Abby is right, the further you move from Lubbock, the more school spirit that you begin to have for Texas Tech and it doesn't hurt that they are 7-0. We wore the outfit all day and beat Tyler's Aggies and all of our UT neighbors at our block party did not feel even a little bit intimidated by her Red Raider charm even though I do plan to wear it on Nov 1st for the big game where we will probably get squashed!

Added note... Chris is not in any of these pictures because he has been in school for the past 2 weeks taking intensive tests for his HERS Raters License (Energy Efficient Home Inspections) and he PASSED with flying colors!!!! We couldn't be more proud of you honey!!!!

Go COWBOYS!

Yes I am aware that the Cowboys have recently had some setbacks but these were taken a few weeks ago and maybe Miss A's chants of "Go Cowboys" will help. Notice how we took this fabulous onesie from last Christmas and made it into a trendy jersey. Thanks Ryan for helping us show our support.

Halloween Costume Preview

Miss A received her costume from Nana a few weeks early and wants to wear it everyday and has already ripped the red bow off the front as she had to put it on "by myself". She has carried a dalmation blankie puppy from Aunt Kathy since she was very little and she is constantly pretending to be a puppy ("Mommy say, come here puppy, oh cute little puppy") so we found this girlie dalmation puppy costume on target.com. I figured it was ok to reveal the costume as these pics w/ Nana & Papa are cute and you never know what mood this child o mine will be in on the actual day of Halloween!

The Big Drip

I work in the town of Dripping Springs and live only 7 minutes from work. The population on the sign coming into town is 1500. Obviously since 2000, the census has increased but not a whole lot. It's the type of town that literally has 2 lights with banners announcing upcoming festivals and rodeos stretched across the main road and where high school football rules. The locals refer to the town as Drip. Drip is only 13 miles from Austin but they are worlds and worlds apart. This "Gateway to the Hill Country" as they have tagged themselves (there are only about 5 other towns that claim this gateway status as well) is extremely country and therefore Chris loves it. He goes to the local coffee shop and talks shop/hunting with all the old locals and mom has made friends at the local Super S grocery. At the post office you can get all the local gossip and they are somewhat friendly even though they know that you are not original to Drip ~ they do get a little riled up when I bring in large shipments because it means they actually have to work. Drip is known nationally for it's vodka, and rainwater made into drinking water. Even though I moved to the "big city" I am actually more rural that ever before in my life. Drip is just starting to see commercial growth in the past year. A Home Depot, Sonic, DQ & Dollar General are the current chains with Mc D's and HEB on the way. It is one of the very few suburbs near Austin that has seen such slow growth because there was no organized sewer or water system but HEB & Home Depot paid for the services to the city and growth is on the way. For more information on my new little town visit http://www.dsbabble.com/

Fall Decor

As an adult, I have never decorated my house for any holiday/season except Christmas. As a child I used to post scary Halloween pictures on the windows of our house, a large spider web on the door and have scary music playing when people were trick or treating (yes, my father actually let me decorate - sorry Tyler)

After going to Erin's house in September, I felt motivated to decorate for Fall thanks to G.G.'s extra decorations and assistance! Please admire and respond if you think I need to add a thing or two!

Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Patch

Pumpkin Hunt

Cortney & Kate joined us for some fun in Elgin, TX at the Evergreen Farms Pumpkin Patch. This was sort of in the middle of both of our towns as we live to the North and South of Austin and this was East - whatever. When I lived in Lubbock I wouldnt drive more than 15 minutes to do anything but here... I look for these strange out of the way activities.

This is a Christmas Tree Farm where President Bush once got the tree for the White House. So Cort and I think that they weren't making lots of money year round and tried their hand at pumpkins. The girls were thrilled to see one another and Ashton went home and named one of her dolls KaterBop as we fondly refer to Miss Kate. They loved the "train/tractor" ride, pumpkin hunt, posing for pics, painting pumpkins and looking at donkeys and goats. It was sooooo hot outside and did not feel like October at all. Both were dressed appropriately as Ash was dressed to celebrate halloween and Kate was dressed for her day on the farm.

We will miss Trick or Treating together this year but Cortney must go to Lubbock for the TTU vs UT game and drink one for the team! It has been a little over a year since we both moved to the area and it is so amazing and fun to watch the girls grow together.

Happy Fall to All!

Gymboree Class

Walking the balance beam

Climbing through rings

Shaking our Maracas!

Scarf dancing

For $72/month, you too can jump around, sing songs, play with bubbles, and climb on indoor slides. Or... you can just attend the free introductory class and act like you are really interested but have to ask your husband for the $. You can guess which one of the categories that I fall into. Lucky Ashton!

She did absolutely love it though! This class is much more free dancing and not as structured as Little Gym or JW Tumbles. My favorite free intro class ever is Heartsong Music. Waaay better than Kindermusik as it is all about the Austin vibe of free flowing go with the kids feeling/mood. The teacher was fabulous and Cortney and I got 1.5 hours of free instruction and fun as the teacher really felt that our girls were gifted musically. Of course we agreed! Next I plan to explore My Gym & Capital Gymnastics. Let's all pray that Ashton does not carry the curse of Chris and my gracefulness!

New Masks

As I posted previously, Ashton is obsessed with pretending to be a nice kitty or a mean tiger. So... got love the Target $1 bins. I found one of each and she requires the house to participate.

I came home Friday afternoon and told Chris that I just had to have this new kitty that I had found at the grocery store. He jumped up and proceeded to tell me that we do not need a cat. Ashton (without any prompting) came crawling and mewing into the room. Such my drama child! I love it!

Playdate w/ Neighbor CoCo

Only in 2008 do you meet your across the street neighbor by e-mail. I joined the Belterra Women's yahoo group and e-mailed our info and was so glad to find out that our across the street neighbor has a 1 year old daughter, CoCo.

Coco is adorable and her mother Samantha is great fun and a little sarcastic like myself. We have had 2 playdates with the girls and hopefully Little A will only teach her good activities/habits (yikes)!

I have thrown myself on Samantha and I am sure she is ready to distance herself from this ever aggressively loud, crass new neighbor. For instance, she made fabulous hor'dourves and Little A and I proceeded to eat every bite. She is from England and California and probably is a little put off by my West Texas Charm! Thank Goodness so far she seems to enjoy hanging out with me!

Here are some pics over at CoCo's house last evening. We also have a block party coming up next weekend ~ I am living in a regular June Cleaver neighborhood! too crazy ... everyone must come for a visit soon!

Uncle T-Cav comes for a visit

Tyler was in Austin for a wedding and came to give Miss A his 100% undivided attention. We love you Tyler! Come see us again soon!

Nashville in an Afternoon

I was in Nashville for work and spent the 1st two days in my hotel but this afternoon I got out for a bit and Nashville really is a cute town, I wish I got to see more of it. I would have taken pics but I left my camera for the endless pics of Miss A.

I went to the Ryman Auditorium, saw the Dec of Independence that is on tour here for the Presidential debate tomorrow night and a short play about the signing of the Dec of Ind at the Downtown Library (gorgeous and so Southern Historical) , ate bar-b-que, watched a second of some great live country music, shopped in the touristy shops that have millions of Elvis memorabilia, went to Tenn capital & the war memorial (lots of old civil war cool stuff) - wish I could have seen the actual pretty mountains, trees etc.

Not a bad Monday afternoon but I am ready to get home to my family!

Online Baby Book

Just a note that I plan to use this blog as my online baby book since I will never get around to updating her real baby book ( I just thought of this today as Lynsey and I were discussing the purpose/uses of a blog)

At 28 months old A's favorite~

Songs to sing: Squishing up a baby bumble bee, You are my sunshine, ABC's, twinkle twinkle, Ants go Marching, Skinamarinky Dinky Doo

Books that she can recite (with just a little prompting): Little Drummer Boy, I love You Good Night, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, Three Little Pigs, Little Critter Just Go to Bed

Books that she loves to have read to her: All Dick & Jane Stories, If you Give a Mouse a Cookie, The Story of Christmas,

Favorite TV/Movies: Max & Ruby, Mickey Mouse, Fox & the Hound, Dora, Little Bill, Sesame Street, Upside Down Show, Oobi, Backyardigans,

Favorite Foods:
What do you want for Breakfast A? "Mommy I want Guacamole & Cheese" (it does not sound anything like Macaroni);
loves all fruit (Thank the Lord since I eat only bananas);
goldfish crackers,
alphabit cookies,
milkshakes (everyday after school w/ Mimi)

She knows all of her colors, can count to 12 (her teachers report that she counts over and over all the way out to the playground) and knows a few of her shapes

I couldn't be a prouder mom!

Calling Home

I am in Nashville tonight for work and I am soo excited because Little A actually had a full conversation on the phone with me. It makes it so much easier to travel when I can hear her voice and she answers my questions. I want A to know how much I love her and miss her when I am gone. Here was our conversation:
Mommy: "Ashton I love you, did you play with Tyler today?"
A: I watched Peter Pan
M: Did you play with Jake today?
A: Yeah, talk to my puppy (puts stuffed animal on the phone)
M: Did you and Daddy watch football
A: Yeah, I said Go Texas Tech (laughes and laughes)
M: A, I love you
A: I miss you and love you tooooo Mommy
M: to the moon and back

Be still my heart I love this child!

To Cut or Not to Cut... That is the question?

Little Miss A has never had a hair cut. She has super curly hair and everywhere we go people tell us ... oh don't ever cut her hair... all the curls will go away. Chris is totally against cutting it as he would prefer she never grow up in any form (potty training, sleeping in a big girl bed, walking etc). I on the other hand am the one that has to fight this mass of curls and the spirited girl that is underneath them. The picture above and below are how we start and end the day. Most times, I work and work to tame her hair in pig tails or with a bow but it is really starting to get long and heavy and she fights me to the death ( similar to how I fought my parents about my hair and my parents and deeply enjoying the payback). I can only imagine the fit that she will give the hairstylist! Here hair is like her personality... dramatic!


This is A running from me when I bringing out the pik and detangler spray as you cannot brush these curls! It is so foreign to my straight hair that is always in a pony tail!

Little Miss A ~ I love you... all of you!!!!

Sunday Morning Pancakes

Everyone is well aware that I do not cook or do anything remotely domestic except clean house (thank you Randall) and take care of Little Miss A. But the 1st thing my mother ever taught me to cook was pancakes. Breakfast was always a big deal around our house and I still never miss it and try to make A eat it as well.

I can very vividly remember my 1st "How to" assignment and I chose "How to make pancakes". Impressed? My class sure was!

Well little Miss A now loves to cook pancakes and she sings a song with my mom about it!
"This is the way we cook the pancakes, cook the pancakes, cook the pancakes.
This is the way we cook the pancakes all on Sunday morning"
Gotta love a little tradition!