Tales from the first trimester...

....sitting on the couch and realizing that you have been asleep for ten minutes. Where are the kids?

....finding the potty everywhere you go

....stopping just for the potty, dragging in two children.

....not realizing how many smells there actually are at Wal-mart.

....not being able to throw up with those smells at Wal-mart.

....a thirst that will not go away

....grateful for everyday that I put on my jeans and they still fit.

....my children watching way too much TV, because I can't handle their motion.

....opening the fridge, and the smell of last night's pizza sending me running to the sink.  ugh...

....Frantically searching through a friend's pantry looking for something to eat!!! While she is on the phone. She is a good friend. :)

....Jumping out of a friend's car, because the smell of french fries was just too much. Thankfully, another good friend, because I threw those things away in a near by trashcan and then rode with the window rolled down. It was not a warm night.

....stepping on the scale every morning, daring the number to change, despite my increased appetite.

This is not complaining...I am just recording for future reference.

A week worth marking

I feel like this is probably one of the most life changing weeks we have come across in a while. It deserves marking. Two things have happened, I found out I was expecting our third child and my Daddy's farm sold.
Why is the second life changing for us? Daddy is moving in downstairs.

2012 is going to be an interesting year. :)

Three years ago today...

 God in His infinite, wonderful wisdom, gave us the most wonderful gift three years ago, today.

Our little Princess burst into our lives...and they were never to be the same again.

Day old baby kisses...they are truly the best. :)

We love you, Princess!! Can't believe it has been three years!

What Happens When We Try to Take a Family Christmas Picture

We tried for a beautiful family picture...really we did...

?????

But we can not control what our children do when we turn our heads to smile.

At this point in time, we were laughing so hard that this had to be the picture that was going out.

Merry Christmas!!!

The People of Hot Springs

One of the many joys of our trip was meeting the various people, shop owners and employees of Hot Springs. We did not meet one rude person and they seemed to truly enjoy their jobs. And the food!!! We did not have one bad meal!

            

 There are just some people that can not hide their pride and joy in life, this man was one of them. He just makes me smile! The dog helps...:)

Three Arts Cafe and Bookstore

This cafe is actually set in one of the restored bath houses on Bathhouse Row, Hale Bathhouse. The countertop is the original marble counter from the bathhouse, what a workspace!

I thought this wonderful lady was just beautiful. I don't remember if she owned the cafe or if she just worked there, but she was truly gracious and sat perfectly still while I took her picture. 

We had planned on eating here for lunch one day, but made it back too late....next time!

Bubbalu's Bodacious Burgers & Classy Dogs

Here we ate twice, once as a snack of iced coffee and onion rings...we were on vacation, thank you!  The second time, we ate a late lunch and therefore enjoyed the company of the owner.  She was precious and had lived in several places across the country. 

You will enjoy the old-time soda fountain feel of this restaurant and the great hamburgers!

Bathhouse Soapery & Caldarium

Now here is a special place that you can not miss! It is run by a pair of sis-in-laws and they are truly a fun pair!  You will find the shop by following your nose to the most wonderful smell.  If they could bottle that smell...oh my!

Every product here is homemade in Hot Springs, and many things don't even get a label until you fill your bottle. I had a very hard time deciding what to buy and ended up with the Milk bathsoak...it is wonderful.

We had so much fun chatting with these ladies, and I believe we could have just hung out there all afternoon like we had been best friends all our lives.  Some people are just kindred spirits. :)

Pumpkins and attitude!

This year, because of my trip to Hot Springs, we did not get out to get pumpkins until the Saturday before Halloween.  I know, cutting it close!

The kids and I returned to the Mom and Pop place we went to last year and they were just as excited to pick out their pumpkins, but not so willing to take pictures...you will see.

Hotrod's goal was to get the biggest, fattest, and longest pumpkin ever.  Do you see the one he is pointing at?

Yes, we came home with it. I was impressed that I was able to get it into the car. :) 

Oh! The choices!

Yes, ya'll are the cutest things ever!

I think she found some that she liked!

My beautiful little girl. :)

Hotrod was very proud of this almost black pumpkin.  The kids picked out six little pumpkins to go into the kitchen.  In Hotrod fashion, he gave this species a name, Black Mawman. 

The family had a trailer full of pumpkins to sell, but also to climb in and take pictures...which I tried to do. Unfortunately, Hotrod was still so engrossed into his Black Mawman that he could not stop talking about it.

"Alright! Look at Momma! Smile!..."

"Seriously, look at Momma.  Smile at the camera!"

I decided that the sun was in their eyes too much to actually look at me, so I tried another tactic...the other side of the wagon.

"...Do you think if we ignore her she will stop trying??"

"I will try looking the other way, with attitude."

"Wow, she doesn't give up! Is there something on my face or am I that precious looking?"

Ok, I gave up at this point.  Sometimes it is just better to give up and enjoy the moment, then fret over pics not taken. :)

We came home with three good size pumpkins, and enough little ones to decorate the kitchen.

Oh, if you would like to see how much they have grown over this past year... Click Here. Enjoy!

How not to get melted crayon wax out of a mini muffin pan...

There are times in life that you know you look like an idiot...this was one of them. 
      I was in the process of making a first run of the home-made cream puffs that I am taking to a Christmas party in a few weeks. Matt ran to Dollar General to get whipped cream, and I pulled out the mini muffin pan.  It was then that I remembered when I used it last...to melt crayon pieces to make new crayons.  Apparently, I did not clean it out...ugh.
     Here was the thought process...I will simply put it in the oven to heat it up while I clean the kitchen, and when it has melted, I will then wipe it out.  Sounds easy right??? What would be even easier? Putting it in at a high temp. to heat it up real fast!!!
      I was putting the dishes in the dishwasher, starting to smell melted crayon...
      When, out of my peripheral vision, I see something that is not right...a light, glowing in my oven...the light does not work in my oven...

                    "OH NO!!! THE OVEN IS ON FIRE!!!!"

       I pulled the oven door open to find 24 mini fires in my mini muffin pan...."What do I do??? What do I do???" I wasn't going to pull out the fire extinguisher for this! So I did the next best thing...
      I pulled out a hotpan holder and grabbed the pan.
    
                 "HOTROD! OPEN THE BACK DOOR!!!"

                                  "I can't mommy!!!"
                 (If you know of my back door, this is true....)

         What did I do with the flaming pan in my hand??? Why, I ran through the house to the front door, opened it, ran down the porch steps and threw it in the grass!  To my dismay, it landed slightly sideways and caught the grass on fire!

                                    "OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!" 

          If you were outside at the time, you would have then seen me, wildly hitting the pan and grass with my hotpan holder, with two children standing behind me watching their crazy mother!!

         To say that I have laughed hysterically over this, would be an understatement...just ask Matt. :)