Thanksgiving

Better late than never I suppose. We had a great Thanksgiving. Wednesday we went to my Granddad's house and spent time with my family. I had worked the night before and then stayed up most of the day with the kids and cooking so I was SO tired. I did not take one single picture. A little disappointed but I feel I have a good excuse.

However, Thursday I made up for it by taking all kinds of pictures. Thursday we went to my in-laws and had a wonderful lunch and spent a great time with family!

Korbyn had a little virus the few days before Thanksgiving and was still feeling a little yucky that morning. He got mad at me when I made him sit back down to try and take a picture. Which, obviously, did not work out too good for me.

Here he is in a much better mood!

My sweet kids and I. I don’t love being in pictures but I am trying to make an effort to take more pictures with them.

Some outside play time. Jay’s parents have a big yard with lots of leaves for the kids to play in. I love these times because it is so fun to watch our kids make special memories with their cousins.

We were missing 2 out of the mix but these sweet cousins had fun

My nephew, Max. I have been keeping this little guy for the last couple of months. It was rough at first but we are getting our groove and he is so sweet.

A little playing in the leaves. Jayci is way over joyed to be playing in the leaves.

I love this sweet picture of these girls. Jayci and Bella swinging. Jayci had fun entertaining Bella. She loves her role as the big sister/cousin.

I leave you with this last picture. We tried to put Korbyn on the swing with them but he would NOT hold on. Poor Jayci was holding as tight as she could and he thought it was all so funny. I was terrified he was going to fall out and get knocked by the swing. Which he did right after this picture. Well, he didn’t get hit but he did fall out. Luckily, daddy was standing right there.

I love this time of year. I can tear up at the drop of a hat. I love the lights and the music and just the special memories that go on. I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season as well.

Oh yes I can’t close without saying the kids shirts came from Pumpkin Butter Kids. Ashley is wonderful to work with and I love how the shirts turned out!

~Kristen

Random kid facts

I was inspired by this post from Paige over at Boots, Bows, and the 5-OH. I am usually at a loss for what to post about so I thought I would join her. Plus it is time for a little update on the kids.

Lets start with Ms. Jayci:

1. She loves school and I’m so happy she does. I know there will be a time that she probably won’t.
2. She made the Principal’s list for all A’s on her report card this 9 weeks. She received several coupons to local businesses as a reward.
3. She will still wear a bow to appease me but takes it out at school.
4. Softball just finished up and I am so proud of her dedication.
5. She LOVES every single stuffed animal and baby she owns and she literally tries to sleep with all of them every night.
6. The love she has for her brother melts my heart every day. She would do anything to protect him from anyone.
7. She is in gymnastics and is working on backbends and back walkovers. The girl is not very flexible but she tries so that is what matters.
8. Jay and I find random self videos on our phones of her singing all the time. She loves to break out in song and dance anytime she can.
9. Anytime she walks into anyone’s house she takes her shoes off. She hates wearing them and acts like she owns the place by kicking her shoes off in random places.
10. I think she has a little crush on Justin Beiber. We are going to his concert in January for her birthday but she doesn’t know yet. She will be SO excited.
11. Her favorite thing to do right now is to go on walks around our neighborhood and then to the pond to throw rocks or feed the ducks.
12. She says she wants to be a nurse like me when she grows up. This to me proves that going back to school and working hard was so worth every minute that I felt like I was missing out on. I am so honored that my daughter is proud enough of me that she wants to grow up and do what I do. I just hope as she grows up the admiration will continue.

Korbyn:

1. Is 16 months old and has grown probably 3 inches in the last 6 months.
2. The kid LOVES shoes. He wants to wear them all the time and he really doesn’t even care if they are his or not.
3. Drools like crazy…even when he is not teething. I cannot keep his shirt dry no matter how hard I try.
4. Talks like crazy: Some new words/phrases; “I got it,” “Oh,Gosh,” “I ride,” “Cute,” pretty much if you say it he will repeat it. We have a love/hate relationship with this. I’m glad I said “oh gosh” while he was listening instead of something else or we would have been in trouble!!
5. He has the cutest run. I’m going to have to video it soon. He tucks his arms kind of close to his side then takes off running but he shakes his booty at the same time. I laugh so hard.
6. If you leave to go somewhere without him he will cry. He loves to go outside and for rides.
7. Instead of 1,2,3 he says “two” and hold his pointer finger up by his face.
8. He loves his sissy. We drop her off in the mornings and he says, “sissy, school.” but he is so excited when she gets home.
9. Do not lay in the floor unless you want to get sat on by this little guy because he will sit on you!
10. He loves songs and to dance. He takes Jay his cell phone and says “song” and then proceeds to dance like crazy. And it’s not your typical baby dancing, he likes to shake his shoulders and his booty and really gets into it.
11. Even though he doesn’t really stop to watch T.V. he brings me the remote all day and says “Melmo” aka Elmo.
12. If there is a toothbrush lying around he is going to use it. He loves to brush his teeth.
13. Lastly, he likes cars, trucks, and balls. He would ride all day on his little car if he could. He also likes to throw the balls. He says “catch” and proceeds to throw it at you ready or not!

I seriously think I could go on and on about both of them. Jayci is at a good age and is learning so much at school. Korbyn is at the most fun at and soaks up every little thing. He learns something new every day and keeps me laughing and on my toes.

If you want to play along just head over to Paige’s blog and leave a comment. I definitely think I will have to make a habit of this every few months.

~Kristen

Halloween

I’m a little late, as usual, but I wanted to post on Halloween.

Saturday night Jay took the kids to our town square where all the business set up and hand out candy. They call it “Spook City.” I don’t have a picture of Korbyn that night but I do have one of Jayci. She insisted on being a scary vampire even though I had bout her this cute outfit.

I try to let her express her self and make her own choices but this one was even a little much for me.

Therefore, on Wednesday we compromised and went with both pretty and scary. She could have her fake blood but her makeup was going to look pretty. I just couldn’t stand seeing her that “scary” again.

Korbyn was the sweetest little puppy you ever did see. I mean you know in my personal opinion…

I can’t get this kid to sit still for anything. He is so busy!! Maybe I just forgot how busy Jayci was but I feel like he is way more into things than she ever was. That is my little nephew in the picture as well.

Korbyn and his friend the hobo. You can tell he had been rubbing his face b/c most of his beard was off. He also had a sign that said, “will work for candy.” They were so cute!

Korbyn did so good trick-or-treating. He would walk up to every person and hand them his bucket. Then he would take off running to the next house. I just have to say he has the cutest run. He shakes his little booty while he runs and it is so cute!.

Later on he was going a little too slow so we put him in the stroller and he decided to dig through all the candy and try to eat it.

All in all we had a great time. I think it is a fun little holiday and the kids have so much fun.

~Kristen

Pumpkin Patch 2012

A couple of weekends ago we went to the pumpkin patch. I know I am not very good at this blogging stuff and I always say that but it still stands true. I just don’t take enough pictures nor can I think of anything to say half the time.

Anyway, back to the pumpkin patch. Korbyn is so fun right now I just know this fall/holiday season is going to be SO much fun. He is running around and talking like CRAZY. He repeats everything we say! At first we he called the pumpkins “balls” but then he learned the word and from then on they were “punkins.”

Can you tell he is so strong? LOL. He at least thought he was.

He really is pretty strong. He pushed the wagon around with multiple pumpkins in it the whole time we were there. Poor kid was so hot and sweaty but he would not stop.

I just can’t believe how big this girl is getting. She is loving first grade and is doing a really good job. We have our first parent/teacher conference of the year this Thursday so we shall see how she is really doing! HA.

I do believe I may be in trouble once she gets interested in boys and they get interested in her. Oh I am not ready for those days. I was so boy crazy. I hope she is smarter than me in that area….

Jayci and her friend, Kaylee

I at least got one picture of the two of them looking at the camera.

(Last year at the same Pumpkin Patch….of course Korby wasn’t looking)

Korbyn was really not interested in taking a picture with his daddy…go figure.

How Korbyn really felt about the hay ride. He really was not impressed.

Petting zoo! The kids loved this part and feeding the animals. We did this last and it was so hard to get them to leave.

Love that he is laughing at the goat here.

We had so much fun. This is the second year we have gone to this specific pumpkin patch and we love love it so much. They are so nice there and there is so much for the kids to do. They even have pig races but we missed them. Next to come will be carving our pumpkin!

 

~Kristen

Family…

Family comes in many forms. Immediate family, friends, and then recently I have learned about a new family. They are called an online family such as “the blog world” and Twitter. The women on here have rallied around one woman, Julee Turner, this week after she lost her husband in a car accident Saturday night. It has been an amazing process for me to watch, inspiring to say the least.

I don’t know Julee nor have I ever really read her blog. However, I know I cannot even imagine going through what she is. She has lost her husband and is now a single mother to a 10 month old baby girl, Preslee. My heart just aches for her and their family.

That being said this week I want to donate 100% of my commissions from my 31 sales to the Preslee Turner College Fund.

I really want people to focus on these:

They will make the perfect Trick-OR-Treat bags for Halloween. I will close the party Sunday at 4:00pm so they should be to you in plenty of time for Halloween. Of course if you want to order something different I will still donate the commission from it as well.

You can go here, then click on my parties and you will see one that says Julee Turner Fundraiser, to order yours today.

~ Kristen

SUYL–Singles Edition

Before I start my post I just want to say I’ve only had 3 hours of sleep after a 12 hour shift so words are not coming to me very easily so I hope this post makes a little bit of since!

Okay so I have never shared any single friends on my blog before but I just never had the right person! I would like to introduce you to Meredith.

Meredith is a beautiful 21-year-old from central Arkansas. She is probably one of the most kindest sweetest girls I know. She is fun, energetic, outgoing, dependable, and so much more!

Meredith and I met when she started working on the floor that I worked on at the hospital. Right away I knew we would become friends. She was easy to get along with and has very good work ethic, which is very important for patient care and important to note just because of so many younger adults not being that way.

Not only that look how adorable she is in her scrubs. HA! Meredith will start nursing school next spring/summer. I have to say she is going to make an excellent nurse.

Here she is with one of her cousins. I know she also has a niece and a nephew whom she loves very much as well. I know this because her instagram feed is full of just them!

I do want to add in one of the most important things that I have noticed about Meredith is that even though she may be young she does not get mixed up in a bunch of drama. It is easy to work with a bunch of women and get caught up with drama but I never really had any drama issues with Meredith.

I know that is not much and basically barely scratches the surface on all the good qualities of Meredith but if you need more information then you will just have to get to know her!

 

~ Kristen

Too long…

Wow! Apparently it has been almost 2 months since I have blogged. Summer time gets the best of me, I guess. Not that we have been that busy but I just haven’t taken the time to blog. So what have we been up to?

• If  you are my friend on facebook or twitter then  you know that I have started selling Thirty-One products. I love it and love making a little extra cash. I am not going to go into full promotion mode here but I am excited about the new FALL catalog!!
• Korbyn is now 15 almost 16 months old. He is growing like crazy and I just want him to slow down a little bit. He walks, talks, and is just everywhere. He loves playing outside and I am so glad it is finally cooling off a little bit around here. I hate to admit it but it has just been too hot to be outside for long periods of time this summer here.

• Jayci had a pretty good summer I think. We started out the summer by going to every VBS we could find with some friends of ours. That was fun for a bit. She got sassier by the minute I think. She is a pretty good kid but she is definitely like her momma. Full of Sass!

• This week Jayci started first grade. She was so excited to go back to school and be with her friends. I was kind of sad but excited at the same time. Korbyn and I miss her during the day but we are starting to figure out our daily routine with just each other as well.

First day of 1st grade: 8/20/2012

Look how big she looks! I just can’t help but see lots of trouble in our future. Please start praying for me NOW! HA

A few of her sweet friends in her class that met her at the door.

Okay well that is not much of an update but it’s all I got for now. I hear Korbyn starting to wake up from his nap. I am going to try and get better about this whole blogging stuff. Until next time!

~Kristen