Follow the Yellow Brick Road!

Waking up from her nap and arriving in Oz (aka Mimosa Lane Baptist Church), Dorothy was a little confused.
Thankfully, she soon found the Tin Man and...

with a little guidance...

she was confidently on her way with a basket full of goodies.

Toto (aka Puppy) was the inspiration for this costume as were the red shoes but, for some reason, she was not a big fan of carrying Puppy around today.

A little bee tattoo was applied to remember her time at Oz.More games were played...

Later, en route on the yellow brick road, Dorothy's knees moved a little faster than her feet and resulted in two skinned knees. However, a hug from the Wizard (aka Daddy) and some candy seemed to help her forget all about it.Still, in the end, there's no place like HOME!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Nanna Goose

Lolly (Dennis's mom) and Nanna (Dennis's grandmother) flew in from Plainview to spend a long weekend in Dallas. When I told Amity on Thursday that Lolly and Nanna were coming, she heard "nana" and thought banana and started signing and saying "Nana, please!" over and over. The last time she saw the real Nanna, she wasn't walking or talking, so quite a bit has changed!

Before dinner, Nanna read several books to Amity (still in costume).

Nanna is a good reader!

After dinner (costume removed due to lasagna dinner), Amity started showing Nanna a little extra special love and asked to sit on Nanna's lap.

Then, Nanna patiently played Amity's game of fill the candy basket and empty the candy basket, over and over and over!

Thanks for coming to visit us, Nanna!

2009 NSP Harvest Festival

A year ago, this was our little punkin' at the annual NSP Harvest Festival.

This year's punkin' was not as much into posing for the camera. She was still super-cute! After a BBQ dinner, we headed to the pumpkin patch to see the pumpkins and pet the animals.
Amity has seen quite a few pumpkins this season at the arboretum, the grocery store, and in front yards around our neighborhood. Her pronunciation of pumpkins sounds like "cunkies". It seems to be a pattern that the letter P is a bit hard for her (Paco=Caco). Apparently, she won't be "picking a pack of pickled peppers" anytime soon!

A very vocal rooster that I am thankful is not our neighbor!

We love petting zoos!

Checking out the animals with the cousins

Trying to figure out how to stick her head in the fence

Eiley has no fear of the animals either!

Daddy, the animal whisperer

Pastor Collin being a great role model for the dads!

Beginning the search for the elusive perfect pumpkin picture!

I don't know how accurate this measurement was since we had a running target!

After we returned to the dining hall, we watched as most everyone else joined in the Hokey Pokey, The Chicken Dance, and square dancing.

We continue to be thankful for our church and for this yearly time to celebrate the harvest and the Reformation together!

Who's Your Daddy? (aka Happy 33rd Birthday, Dennis!)

While I was looking for a pair of scissors in Dennis's desk drawer yesterday, I came across this picture and I think the question of "Who does Amity look like?" now has a definite answer! Of course, it does help that both Daddy and daughter have similar hairstyles. I love the writing on the back that says "Dennis before the Hair Cut"!
Well, this Daddy turns 33 years old today! It has been such a full week/weekend, that he hasn't gotten a lot of one-on-one attention for his birthday but he says that he has still felt celebrated. The festivities started last night when we got together with our sweet, sweet friends, the Browns (the ones that got this whole Dennis & Candis thing started in the first place)!

The girls enjoyed seeing each other!

There was icing to be secretly tasted
The birthday boy was serenaded

The singing was very robust!

The cake was messy...

but yummy!

So yummy in fact that seconds after this picture was taken, this little man lost his dinner and cake! Poor little guy...we left him a new piece to be eaten today!

After a late night of fun and catching up, we arose early this morning to work in the nursery at church. This was the card that greeted Dennis for breakfast (kind of hokey I know but who doesn't think candy says it better than Hallmark?).

Happy 33rd birthday, Dennis! I am so glad that our daughter takes after you!

Material Girl

It has begun! Our little girl is "into" clothes and shoes.
The pictures below were taken last Saturday as I was sorting through hand-me-downs and getting baby clothes ready for Vivien. With this little helper by my side, the process took a little longer than I had planned but it sure was entertaining!

Nature Walk

After spending the morning at the Arboretum and getting a good afternoon nap, Amity and I went outside to continue enjoying the beautiful weather while we waited for Dennis to get home from work. Amity is fascinated by all of the nuts that our trees have dropped in the yard. She especially loved the gigantic black walnuts because they looked like balls even though she discovered that they don't bounce like balls!