it doesn't snow in arkansas

when we moved to arkansas i was told it didn't really snow. maybe one storm might actually leave snow on the ground, but just for a day.

we have a few ice storms a year, but not snow.

i can deal with that....especially after living in rexburg.

this year was something totally different. we had back-to-back storms that left, not inches, but feet of snow! it was crazy. the whole city shut down.

it was fun for a bit. duben stayed home from work and we watched movies and ate lots of yummy food. ainsley got dressed up to go out....and then ended up hating the snow.

maybe next year she'll like it.

hopefully there isn't this much snow next year.

such a good helper

i hate smelly things. hate them. i gag really easily.

as a mom, i'm always on diaper duty.

fun - no

smelly - yes

changing diapers is not my favorite thing, and i hate having them in the house.

one day after changing ainsley's diaper she picked it up and did this.

(put it through the cat door into the garage)

so proud.

smarty pants

duben and i are proud parents. we are so amazed at how incredible ainsley is and how proud we are at the littlest things.

we were a little scared at first...i dont like the unknown. but i can honestly say that ainsley has exceeded all expectations.

i know i've said this all before, but she's just amazing.

i'm really enjoying this stage - minus the horrible tantrums.

she can actually communicate with us now. we'll say things and she understands and actually obeys! she's quite the talker too, and at 15 months she has a pretty good vocabulary. she's got down the basics...mommy-daddy-kitty-poop...the important ones. she also says football and cookies, which makes mommy proud.

we had her 15 month check-up today and the doctor told us she's advanced for her age.

i dont think i can take any credit for that, its all her. she's amazing.

i think as parents you just want a happy healthy baby, i'm just so grateful that she is.

the rest is just a bonus.

best christmas ever

christmas for us this year was in hot-lanta with katie and tyler.

it was so much fun.

it was great being with them again - we miss you guys!

but even more fun was having mom & dad, jamie, ammon, and emmy, and topher! (we missed you m&m)

of course there was lots and lots and lots of yummy food and silliness.

it was so fun having ainsley see her cousins again. she loved being around them and especially loved when emmy would read to her. (emmy's going to be such a good big sister)

we did lots of shopping...ugh...and of course went to the coke world! and stuffed ourselves and maggiano's (thanks mom).

its so hard not having family close. i miss being around them and all the fun we have together. i'm so blessed to be part of such an amazing family.

sadly, christmas was on a saturday and duben had to be at work on monday. since our drive was long and ainsley doesn't like being tied down for long periods of time, we had to leave for home christmas day.

and this is where we spent christmas dinner....

waffle house in jasper, alabama

i dont know if you've ever been to a waffle house....its an experience. and this was definitely was. i wasn't brave enough to take any pictures of the people around us, but it was quite a show. they had the juke box going, and people would sing along....aloud...very loud. at one point the whole restaurant was singing 'picture' along with kid rock and sheryl crow.

it was actually a really good time.

new christmas tradition???

for you people with cute taste

recently we bought new bedroom furniture. yay! we really like it.

but now we need to change a few things...and i need help.

i've taken a picture of our bed and comforter....now i need help with the rest.

walls...

carpet...

and anything else that you can think of.

the pillow on the bed is an idea for colors. i want to paint the wall a dark blue/grey without it looking like a boys nursery.

so....help.

chugga chugga chugga chugga shoe shoe

one of our friends down the street was kind enough to give me a big bag of shoes for ainsley, since her girls have grown out of them.

ainsley is in heaven.

she.loves.shoes.

she sat there in her pile of new shoes looking at each one saying over and over again, "shoes. shoes. shoes." which is really more like choo...but i get it.

she loves them.

especially her new pink boots.

almost everyday i'll find her sitting down trying to put them on herself. she loves her pink boots.

thanks great neighbor, ainsley is in choo choo heaven.

brrr...cold

i love this time of year.

i get to drink hot chocolate and caramel apple spice.

eat peppermint bark ice cream.

put up christmas lights

i get to wear cute coats...and dress up ainsley in cute coats.

i love it!

i love getting to pull out all my winter clothes. whats even better this year is i get to pull out ainlsey's too. i knew having a girl would be fun - i just love all the cute little clothes we get to buy. we got our first pair of mittens and a matching hat...and she actually loves to wear them. we bought her a cute sweater dress too, and she's adorable!

yay for winter!

(i know, its only november, by february i wont feel the same...but for now...i love it!)