Tuesday, September 24, 2013

First Day of Fall


It doesn't happen very often, but occasionally Mother Nature and the calendar will work together and create the perfect day.  It happened this past Sunday when we got our first cold front of the year on the first day of fall.  Usually it's 100 degrees on the first day of fall and if you didn't look at a calendar, you would never even know it was fall.  But this year, we had lows in the high 50s and highs in the low 80s.  It was the perfect open all your windows and go outside kind of a day...so that's exactly what we did!

Our mornings start pretty early around here, so right after breakfast we got dressed and headed to the Play For All park in Round Rock.  It's Presley and Beckett's favorite park.  We got there a little after 8am and for about the first 30 minutes, we were the only ones there. 


























 The park wore the kids out!  They both came home and crashed for an early morning nap.  
With the house quiet, windows open, and football on...Blaine and I were in heaven!

When they both finally woke up, it was time to make some pumpkin bread. 


 I've been working on a recipe for a couple of years now for the perfect pumpkin bread and I think I've finally mastered it.  Only Pres and Becks know the super secret recipe so they got to help make it with me.





 Presley loves to add the ingredients to the mixer.  In go a couple of eggs!



 A little taste of the spices



 A lesson on sifting the dry ingredients







 A little quality control tasting before it goes into the oven.

 
  45 minutes later we had some yummy pumpkin bread to enjoy on this beautiful day!
 

 





 
And of course, no first day of fall would be complete without a trip to the store to pick out a pumpkin.
 
Happy fall, everybody!

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

Presley's in Pre-K!







Presley officially started her last year of preschool.  
I can't believe this time next year she will be going to kindergarten!  I sure hope this year goes by super slow...not sure I'm ready to let my baby go to the big time yet.  This year, Pres will be going to school for a few more hours during the day and will get to eat lunch at school.  In addition to reading, writing, and math, she also starts music, Spanish, and bible study.

 
 The Friday before school started, we got to drop off her supplies and meet her new teacher.  Presley was so excited to go see her new classroom and find out who her teacher would be!

 
 Along with all the necessary beginning of the year forms, we got a super sweet letter from her teacher along with this adorable poem and some Jitter Glitter.  We read her a book about the first day of school and put some Jitter Glitter under her pillow to help her sleep.  She thought it was the coolest thing ever!
 
 She is super excited about her new lunch box and the fact that she actually gets to eat lunch at school with her friends.
 
 Presley's first day lunch.

 
 The night before school, Presley and I baked her teacher some cookies for a back to school gift.

 
 I volunteered to be one of the room moms for Presley's class so I added a little note along with my info for her teacher to have.
(I found this cute printable at thesamedifference.com)

 After a good night's sleep, the first day of school finally arrived.  Of course we had to wake her up by singing "School Days", one of Daddy's favorite traditions from when he was in school.


After a big healthy breakfast and getting dressed in our first day best, it was time to head outside for some pictures!




 






Pres had a great first day and loves her new school, her teacher, and all her new friends.  I'm so excited to see all that this year has in store for us! 
 

Presley Turns 4



 I know I say this every year, but I really can't believe my baby girl is another year older!!!
Here's my sweet little Presley just seconds after waking up for the first time as a four year old.
 
 I was so excited for Pres to come downstairs and see her presents and her birthday breakfast table.
I almost never carry her anymore, but for some reason on her birthday I just want to hold her as close as possible all day.


 
 We got her two Plasma Cars, one for her and one for her to share (hopefully with her little brother).

 Birthday pancakes, complete with frosting and sprinkles!



 After singing and blowing out the candles, Presley got the first piece!





 I think she liked it!

 Mommy (behind the camera), Daddy, Becks, Mimi, Yaya, and Baba were all there for her birthday breakfast party!


My precious little 4 year old!
Happy Birthday, Pres!!!!