Shun-Shnides

We love us some Kschnides!!! Or as Minnie calls her... Shunshnides which really sounds like...SHUN-SHINE :) Hysterical! She is just a few weeks into her first year of college and is in a nursing program. I love girls in nursing. They always seem so gentle, nurturing, loving, kind and sweet. At least all the girls I know that are RNs or going to be :) This one is no different. I aspire for Minnie to be just like her :) She goes to bed by 10PM, loves hanging out with her Mama and prefers hangin' out to GOIN' out :) Easy girl to please that is FOR SURE! We LOVE this girl!

Clearly Minnie does too :)

Thanks for coming to hang Kschnides! We love yah!!! (ALL of us! :)

Word?less? Wednesday: Should I be concerned?

Untitled from Country Mouse on Vimeo.

Fair Vs. 2.0

We made the most of the rainy day at the Fay-yah last week... and spent a lot of time inSIDE :)

or under cover ~ (you try getting 3 kids, 3 and under to look AND smile at the camera at the SAME time)

Thankfully Nana spoiled the kiddies with a special surprise from one of the vendors. Brand new toy buses to play with while they were all in their strollers. THANKS NANA!

this little guy was surprising us ALL over the place that day... climbing in with the animals and wait until you see what he did further down the page...

Unlike the fair we went to only two days before, Minnie had the chance to go on some rides thanks to Aunnie J and Uncle JJ ~ She def. didn't want to be the only one watching the big boys but the first ride they picked was SUPER fast and really kinda big for her... (holding back tears) but she pitched a FIT when it was time to GET OFF~ :)

On the next ride I thought Minnie would be OK since she was sitting with the "big boys"...

but not so much when the ride took off...Good thing for Nana racing along side... the giggles came back...

By far the SLOWEST and her most FAVORITE ride :) She's been talking about the yellow truck ever since.

CJ wasn't TOO sure about this but we were all encouraging him to enjoy it... and JUMP...

AND HE DID!!!

Thanks CountryRents for another LONG, wonderful day at the fay-yah! The tradition continues...

and I can't TELL you how happy I am that my girl is going to grow up with these amazing memories just like I have :)
THANK YOU!!!

Inspired ~ Before and After

I think when you are inspired by people who are smaller....who are younger...

and who are so beautiful INSIDE and OUT....It's a great reflection on their parents. Clearly you are raising kids who care for other, want to do something bigger than themselves and are selfless.

I was challenged by these three GORGEOUS girls who have all recently (Chloe was a couple years ago) cut all their hair for a program called Locks of Love who take hair donations and make wigs for kids with cancer.

So I decided several months ago I was going to make the big cut. Today was the BIG DAY!!! I was soooo excited. I typically get a little ancy about my hair in the fall and try to do something different but this year I knew it was going to be REALLY different :)

You have to have at least 10 inches in order to donate to Locks of Love.

Good thing for ME it can be wet and straight when you cut it :)

My faithful hairdresser and good friend encouraging me the entire time :) I def. did not expect the emotions that I felt when I felt the scissors go through my hair. I got sick to my stomach and I started to cry. I was NOT expecting that!?!? I was completely caught off guard!

But we laughed it up and we even went a little crazy by straightening it. (don't worry as SOON as a STITCH of water touches it we are all back to curly and I'll post another pic then)

Goodbye hair and hello DIFFERENT :)

(a pic for Mama H while I was on the phone with her :)

I can't believe how SHORT my ponytail is!!! Then I start to think... my hair WILL grow back. I'm not a parent who has to worry about picking out a wig for my little girl. I am thankful and blessed.

Thank you Chloe, Millie and Lil'Bit for your inspiration, your challenge and your selflessness. You are all amazing.

Wordless Wednesday: A Fair Post for Pa-Pa

(click to enlarge)

Sit Down and Relax...It's FAIR Season

Minnie was a bit bigger in the backpack this year...but such a great way to maneuver the fay-yah! I'll be the annoying woman with the stroller tomorrow (at the Fair vs. 2.0) but when Daddy is there... the ride is supreme! and clearly she loves it. ;)

Ok, maybe she liked THESE BETTER...

yep... she DEFINITELY likes those better...

Ah the annual picture... I think we did pretty good this year :) (or rather TiTi behind the camera and Sky and Doe-Doe jumping around making Minnie giggle did well :)

This one is just for Tracy... Husband holding EVERYTHING :)

Minnie was pretty smitten with the baby calf... she wanted someone to hold her hand to get a little closer...

and then she cried after we left :) poor thing. Someone get that girl a COW! :)

Somebody get this girl a TARGET! :)

I much prefer to be the one BEHIND the camera snapping the eating pics of my SIL's but it was a smaller group this year so someone had to step up. Bets, please promise me you'll be there next year?!?! :)

Happy kiddos!

2.5 minutes down the road, happy parents :)

From the fair we headed to Sky's 10TH!!!!! Birthday party! HOW DID WE GET HERE SO FAST!?!?!? SOMEONE STOP THE TIME. SOMEONE LISTEN TO ME WHEN I SAY STOP THE TIME!!! :)One of the BEST parts of the party! :) Awwww sweet Shi-whoa! :)

Minnie is ALL about helping Aunnie Becker with ANYTHING she needs if it has to do with Shi... she LOVES to "old her" aka hold her... and she got an opportunity to even FEED her :)

By far the most coveted gift of the night :) One of "Mimi's Quilts" :)

A picture for Momma S... her eyes DO open!!! :)

but only for a minute :) I was SO excited to capture the beginning of the babe's dimples... she has two, one is def. going to be deeper than the other but I LOVE LOVE LOVE me some dimples :) she is SOOOO cute! :)

Speaking of cute :) Headed out the door to church. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this girl!

I finished off the weekend with book club. We are currently reading What Women Fear but let's be honest... we mostly get together for the grub :) Appetizers and sweet treats for dinner? Yes please :)

Pumpkin Spice Latte Cupcakes, White Queso, fruit, cookies, veggies, and the most AMAZING veggie chowder.... mmm.... I love book club :)

The weekend was jam packed full of FUN and I loved every minute of it! :)