hangin around this town...

here's what we've been doing lately.

hanging out with our almost perfect dog.

or hanging on top of him. whatev.

One of the sweetest people on the planet came to visit, bearing this cooler. Anyone in Texas knows if someone comes to your house with anything Pappas on it, you are a lucky person.

Oh blessed Tex Mex. Libby thank you just doesn't seem like enough. :)

She also made us these AMAZING cookies. Amazing not only because of her artistic talent ( you should see all the stuff that she does), but they taste SO GOOD! Something tricky when you do stuff that cute. They were seriously delicious.

Ava didn't approve of a picture without her in it. :)

We LOVED having you Libby! (isn't she pretty?!) Come back soon!

We've had some pancake breakfasts. Mark allowed them to apply their own chocolate chips. Huh.

Mark also decided we should begin exposing our kids to horticulture. We have black thumbs and our yard is always embarassing, but he wanted them to plant stuff. So they did.

And look at that-it worked. (Side note: we are about to leave for Thanksgiving and taking these dumb plants with us. Anyone want to take bets on whether or not they will dump over in the car on our road trip?!?! I'm being a submissive wife though. Wish me well.)

Our little pilgrim had a Thanksgiving Feast at school.

This picture cracked me up. I love that Reese just legitimately climbed right up in her lap. And that Ava's finger is halfway up her nose. :)

And just because it made me laugh-we had to go to the mall to take our computer last weekend. Mark had the computer box propped on the stroller (obviously)...the girls and I were walking behind and started to notice everyone pointing and laughing at us. As I looked around the stroller little Houdini had unbuckled and was making her escape. Ohhhh Reese.

Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! Hope you have lots of turkey and baked goods with cream cheese. :)

sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name.

I really am very peaceful being where we are-but going to Michigan is still one of my favorite things to do! The Lord blessed me with my VERY gracious friend Michelle, below, who took pity on me and provided the way for the girls and I to get to take a trip to the land we love. THANK YOU MICHELLE (and Michael!) for allowing us such a fabulous wonderful week!!!! We love you!

Passing time in the airport...

This pic just warmed my heart. Which is good because sometimes I need to be reminded of her sweetness when I'm picking up an entire box of cheerios. :)

Cousins!

Meals at Aunt Lindy's counter...one of the ordinary things we miss so much!

Dear family...

Mel and Jess! We were pretending you were with us! :)

We went to watch Ava's buddies play soccer.

Then we headed over to this torture, I mean, fun spot. I was hoping my kids would never find out about Chuck E. Cheese, but their father is a softie.

Our great friends, The Warrens-and cute Ainsley...they are our role models for 4 kids in 4 years :)

I really just have the nicest friends. They had a little surprise shower for me...so so nice. I can't post anymore pictures though because I had a severe case of elephantitis in the face. And also I think some cilantro in my tooth. So maybe they aren't that great of friends after all. :)
Our ritual of Cheryl providing manis and pedis. When she starts charging we're in trouble.

Aaand the holiday I love to hate:

my little strawberry
Cupcake who wouldn't keep her hat on.
And check out Snow White! We went all out with black hairspray.

A special thanks to Tom Cruise for being a father to the fatherless at this event. Couldn't have done it without you bud. :)
Our 3 pretty princesses!
Hopefully I will look like these people when I grow up.
My other Michelle...such a beautiful, wonderful, funny addition to my life. Do you read her blog? You should. I'm gonna write like her when I grow up.
We cut off the mullet! (actually another wonderful Michelle did but I didn't get a good picture...basically all my friends are named Michelle. Or Steph/f/anie/enie)
Pretty Princesses (we missed you Paige)
It must be said: he's pretty, too! (sorry Wes!)


That's weird. Wonder where she would have learned that.
Sweet Aidan!
Cole worked really hard to make a pyramid with the girls. It didn't go quite as well as he'd anticipated I don't think. :)
I think he gave up. :)
Loooooved getting to spend some time with Ava's first ever friend in GR! Molly and cutie pie Charley. She and Reese are quite literally cut out of the same cloth. I remember Lesley telling me how wild she was and thinking-oh I'm SURE my third baby will be calm. Ha ha ha.
Just can't figure out how we grew in the same uterus and she didn't get any fat and I got an oversupply. Good thing she's so nice.
Pretty Lesley.
And pretty Stephenie (see?!)-my house still would be a mess if it wasn't for her. (ok well, maybe it kind of is a mess anyway, but there wouldn't be curtains.)
Yay for April!! Nothing like seeing ooooold friends.
Ok, why can't we ever get pictures like this with Mark and I in the picture! I guess Luke is more fun! We have such great cousins.
So thankful for a trip back to the land we love. And for friends who haven't forgotten us! We love you Michigan!