Halloween Weekend Extravaganza

This year for Halloween we had so much going on but it was so much fun. Friday was crazy to say the least we had Gunner's school party, then Kallie's party, then Trick or Treating at my moms work, then Trunk or Treat at the school.  Saturday was HOG Game day and my parents were over most of the day and we had a great time with them playing cards, eating, and watching another Hog victory.  Sunday we decorated and cleaned most of the morning then we had 40 people over for dinner and Trick or Treating.  We love hosting and spending time with our fabulous friend.  Here are some pictures...

Kallie before school on Friday

Ninja Gunner

Gunner and his teacher Mrs. Smith

Dress up day on Saturday

All the kids

Cameryn and Kallie

Happy Monday- Anna

Generations

This post is about 3 of some of the most amazing women I know and the ones that truly know me, support me, and are phenominal women. 

My sister Allie who is becomming a wonderful, strong, independant woman.  Allie is a senior at Rogers this year and is very blessed to work for a wonderul law firm in Rogers.  They are amazing to her and she is going to be going to school to learn to be a parallegal assistant so she can continue to work for them for many years to come.  Even though there are 11 years between us we are still very close to each other.  I try to guide her (when she lets me) on many situations in life but she is a very strong levelheaded woman herself and I have loved watching her grow over the last 17 years.

My grandma....to describe the woman is easy she is the only person who truly knows me inside and out, never judges me, always there to listen, guides me with the utmost curtious way.  I have been so blessed to share the relationship and the bond I do with my grandma.  She is a healthy 83 year old woman who continues to travel and always keeps us on our toes with her wittiness and her many funfilled adventures.

Last, my amazing mother who is my very best friend and raised me the most amazing values and eventhough at times we did not see eye to eye she always has my back and is there to help in any way.  Our relationship and changed in many ways over the last 28 years and I would be lost without her.  I only hope to share the bond, wisdom, and love she has given to me with my own daughther. 

I love all of these woman for different reasons and treasure each one of them.

Have a great blessed day.

Much Love...Anna

Princess Kallie turns "2"

Two years ago today at 4:09 am my sweet angel Kallie was born.  She weighed 7 lbs and 13 ounces and was 19 inches long.  She only took 12 hours to come into this world and we were so overwhelmed with joy and love when she arrived after a night of no sleep.  This was her several hours after she was born.  I just love the big cheeks and how she looked just like her brother when she was born.  She started nursing right away and was a very good baby.

As her first birthday approached we never thought she was going to walk well the week before her birthday and her party she took off and has not been still since.  Below is a picture of her at her first party and her first year pictures taken by my bestie Kelsy.  She truly captured Kallie's personality and beauty. 

Now at "2" she is a spunky spit fire little girl who basically rules the house and it the love of our lifes with ber brother as well.  She loves to be outside, loves macaroni, chicken nuggets, sweet tea, and grapes.  She is a night owl and does not go to bed until 9 or later every night (she sleeps two hours at school each day)  She started at preschool a little over a month ago and loves it.  She comes home each day talking about all her friends and sings ABC's, Twinkle little star, Wheels on the bus ,and you are my sunshine.  She can count to 10 and talk in complete sentences.  She can basically tell you what she wants or means 90% of the time.  You love pink and your babies are your favorite thing to play with.  You are a big shoe person just like your momma and are so fun to put cute little outfits on.

She absolutely adores her brother and wants to be with him AT ALL TIMES.....he kinda likes her too.

We love you princess and you have made the last two years such a joy.  I cannot wait to see the big kid, teen, and woman you will become.  Happy Birthday baby girl!

Love,

Daddy, Momma, and Gunner

Catch up time AGAIN...

Well it has been since August when I blogged so needless to say I have some things to catch up on.  Gunner started second grade and is doing okay.  I was hoping he would do a little better but I think he is adjsuting and we will work through the issues he is having.  The good news is he loves his teacher and going to school every day...
Kallie started preschool and we love it and the preschool.  She is going to Ms. Michele's preschool and we are amazed at how she has adjusted and loves going to her school every day while Gunner is in school.  We were blessed to find Ms. Michele who was recommended by a friend and we could not be any happier.
In September we had a couples night out where we went line dancing with some friends and we had the BEST time we have had in  a long time.  The place was dead so we had it to ourselves and we got to learn several dances and we are for sure going back soon. September was pretty quite around here other wise which was nice for a change.
Now we are in October and we get busy again...we celebrated Chris turning 34 this year with a get together at the house.  We had a great time with our close friends and family.  I then had surgery and Chris took off work to take care of me for a week.  He was amazing and I enjoyed some much needed time of rest and being with him.  We then celebrated Kallie turning 2 at the park this past weekend and it was great to have a small crowd of friends and family celebrating her "BIG" day.  Here are some recent pics...

Much love to all...

Anna

Annual Family Float Trip 2010

This year we went on our first Annual Family Float Trip in Yelleville AR to float the Buffalo.  We left Kallie at home with Chris's mom as she was too small this year to attend.  We had such a great time.  We got there Friday and stayed in a cabin out in the woods...

There was 9 of us in this cabin with one bathroom to share.  We were cozy for sure but we had a blast.  Next year we will have the bigger cabin though.  We got bright and early Saturday morning to get a jump start on our float trip.  Here are some pics before we left the cabin.

Allie, me, and Ashley

Me, Austin (my brother), and Allie(my sister)

Me and Gunner

Me and the hubs

It was then time to get to the River...here is our entire crew...

My cousin Aaron, Chris, me, Austin, Gunner, Allie, my cousin Ashley, My Aunt Nevelyn, and my Uncle Steve.

We floated 7.5 miles in about 5 hours with several stops to snack and swim and then it was time to head back to relax as we were all so tired.  What a great weekend and I cannot wait till next years float trip.  It has been one busy summer for us and I love it.  This weekend we have a date night for me and the hubs, my 10 year class reunion, and Family Whitewater Day on Sunday. 

XOXOXOXO

ANNA

Change of pace and craft day...

I realized today that Gunner starts second grade in two weeks and Kallie starts daycare in 3 weeks so in the midst of my crazy busy schedule I am making a point to do some fun things with the kids before our routines change again. I have worked like a crazy woman all summer and beside going to the gym daily and a few playdates the kids have spent their weeks entertaining themselves.  While yes we have been busy every weekend I have not spent the time I/they needed. I went through my desk and office to find a ton a crafty things that I have been accumilating from Gunner's school projects and my own.  We combined them all in the "craft box" as we are calling it and the kids have had a blast with it today so far. 

Gunner has been really wanting to help around the house lately and he keeps saying he wants an allowance. After Chris and I talked about this we decided a few little chores would not hurt him by any means.  So today after finding the crafts Gunner and I made his Chores Chart for his room.

His chores will consist of making his bed, cleaning his room, feeding the dog, brushing his teeth, helping set the table and put his dishes in the sink when done, putting up his clothes, and taking out his bathroom trash all things he was happy to do and was excited to ear anywhere from $0.25 to $0.50 for each chore completed.  We are going to use coordinating stickers so he can mark off each day what task he completed.  We will see how this works...now as I type this he is making a picture for his sister while she naps.  I am glad I took just an hour out of my day to make a smile on their faces and some time for me with the kids.  Tonight is family night and I am so excited to spend time together. 

Till next time...xoxoxoxo

Anna

Our weekend getaway to KC

This past weekend Me, Chris, Gunner, my sister Allie, Chris's sister Tiffany,and her son Greyson (my nephew) took off to KC.  My mom offered to keep Kallie since we were going to a waterpark and it was nice to get away for two days but I sure missed her.  We left Friday night and drove up the KC we got there about 9pm and got setteled.  Chris and I went down to the hotel bar for a few drinks and to catch up with each other since it has been crazy lately.  Saturday we got up early and headed to the Schlitterbaun...

Chris has really been wanting to go to this waterpark for year.  We really wanted to got to the one in Texas but we did not have enough time so we went to the 1/2 built one in KC.  We still had a great time and all got some much needed sun.  They had a few water slides, kiddie land, and this lazy river/wave pool called the Tourant River.  We had the most fun on that.  I was not feeling well at all so I layed out and rested most of the day and cooled off in the waves when needed. It was 97 degrees there and so hot.  We ended up leaving around 3 since the rain was moving in and headed to the hotel to clean up for dinner.  It started pooring rain we we took some picture before heading out.

We went to the T-Rex Cafe in at the Village West Outlet Center and let me tell you we had a great time. 

After we ordered our food we took some more pictures at dinner....

Allie and Gunner

Greyson and Tiffany

My sister in law and me...

Then all of a sudden Dexter the Dinosaur came and we had to take a group photo with him....

Dinosaur hands....

Then it was time to eat the yummy food and head outside to do some shopping since the rain had passed.

Gunner outside the restaurant

Greyson and I

Gunner and Greyson...don't they look alike.

We shopped some of our favorite stores till the mall closed then headed back to the hotel...we were all really tired and ready for bed.  We got up early the next morning and headed home...but not before planning our next excurstion to KC.  We are headed back in the fall to stay at the Great Wolf Lodge and do some more shopping at this mall...I loved it over 140 stores and tons of neat things to see.

Kallie had a great time with Nana and Papa this weekend and I am so glad we got to do something special with Gunner.  Everyone have a great week.

Love to you all

Anna

June Recap

Well since my last post we have finished baseball with Gunner's team being second in the league.  We had a great group of kids and parents this year.  I wish we would have them all next year but that is not possible.  We have been blessed to have an amazing coaching staff for two years and I hope Gunner continues to get amazing coaches.

We then traveled to Florida with some of our closest friends for a week full of fun and craziness.  I needed a vacation to recover from my vacation but the kids had a blast and that is all that matters. Here are some pics from our week.

We have one busy summer full on fun filled activities....last weekend we put together a swing set for the kids and went to an engagment party for a very sweet couple.  This weekend is the fourth and we have lots of fun events planned so until next time.....

Love to you all

Anna