pic of the day: 2012 edition

Well, even though I took pictures most days last year, I didn't do so well getting them on the blog. I'm not making any promises this year either, but I'm joining in on this fun little challenge on Instagram that gives a subject for your picture every day. 

My first four days:

day 1 - me, treasure-hunting at the farm in Coleman. This wasn't actually January 1st, but close enough. And this is about as "Me" as it gets - doing something I love to do in a place I love to be with people I love to be with.

day 2 - waffle breakfast with my girls

day 3 - I ADORE these vintage pyrex bowls that my mama gave me.

day 4 - Merit likes to check the mail with me to see if Dolly sent her a book. No book today.

happy christmas!

christmas is here! and thanksgiving was great, but...

...let's talk about Halloween, shall we?

This post should make up for the lack of action around here.
In fact, this picture alone may make up for it:

You're welcome.

Matt, Nikki, and Kai came to visit us the weekend of Halloween, and we had so much fun! On Saturday, we went to our town's Pumpkin Fest. It was the first time the kids wore their costumes. Merit was Dorothy, August was a munchkin (poor second child - her costume was Merit's gnome costume from a couple of years ago), and Kai was his absolute favorite, "Memo" aka Nemo.

I "made" Merit's Dorothy dress from this dress I found at a thrift store...

Add some red sparkly shoes and braids, and she was her favorite character from "Wizard of Pause".

straight from Munchkinland...

Our downtown has little main street festivals every few months, and they are always so fun. August got to go in the petting zoo for the first time and she LOVED it.

SIDE NOTE: People think August is a boy a lot. She doesn't keep clips and such in her hair, and I'm not a huge pink fan. Anyway, while she was in the petting zoo, wearing this costume that is a DRESS with PINK plaid and big DAISIES, someone asked me about her and kept saying "HE". Really? Who dresses their boy like this?! Okay, I feel better now.

They had almost all of the characters from Wizard of Oz walking around the festival. Merit got SUPER excited when she first spotted the Scarecrow. And then when she saw Dorothy? My goodness, pure happiness. She hugged them both like they were family, and proudly told them, "I'm Dorothy!" (Don't think the witch got a hug.) We've got to get this girl to Disney World.

I have to zoom in on the bottom right picture so you can see the group of ladies in the background who stopped to oooooo and awwwww over the Dorothys.

We spent the rest of the weekend before the real Halloween resting and playing.

I'll have to do trick-or-treating in a post all its own. Coming soon!

redbud christmas card design!

Just wanted to give a little shameless plug for Redbud real quick. I still have spots available for custom Christmas card design (details HERE), and I have a shop open for premade designs that you can see HERE.

If you order a premade design by November 30th, your name will be entered into a drawing to get your card for free and you might also win the new She and Him Christmas album, which is awesome. Thanks for your support, friends!

halloweener

Merit: Is it Halloween time yet?

Me: It is getting closer!

Merit: It's just getting Halloweener and Halloweener!

She's pretty excited about her costume this year. Here's a little sneak peek...

the williamson county fair!

We had such a fun time at the fair this year (way back at the beginning of August). It was August's first fair, and you can't go wrong with taking Merit to a fair. She's a girl after my own heart in many ways, and loving the fair is one of them.

Here she is at the fair last year (our last outing as a family of three!)....

and this year...

Both girls loved checking out and petting all of the animals. Merit showed her enjoyment a little more than August, but August was definitely intrigued!

Texas representing at a Tennessee fair! 

Merit went through the little farm and "worked" for an ice cream sandwich. It was adorable - when she was all done with her chores and she got paid, she made herself right at home at the table and busted open the sandwich like it was something she did everyday.

And of course she loved the rides. It's hard not to spend a fortune letting her ride rides all day - they make her SO happy!

Here's a video of Merit riding the Nemo fish ride. At the end it shows August watching the ride go round and round. Super cute. Maybe next year, baby girl.

August got to ride her first carousel ride with Kevan and Merit. She wasn't sure about it at first (it was way past bedtime at this point), but she liked it once it got going.

Oh, my goodness, I love the fair.

drawing daisies in the driveway

We went to the park today, and I let August roam about the big kid park for the first time. She was obsessed with climbing the big slide, which was no surprise. She's a climber! She was so determined to make it to the top every time! Her static-y hair was awesome by the end of it, and her little heart was beating so fast.

Speaking of hair, my super sweet and awesomely rad husband dyed my hair a darker brown for me tonight. It reminded me of how my Grandaddy used to give my Mama Bea "permanents". Thank you, Kev!

before-during-after

after our Sunday lunch with Ava, Audrey, Evie and their families

August's hair can semi-hold a clip now! I know, things are just a little too exciting around here. ;)