Labor Day 2012

This past Labor Day we decided to head down to Richardson {sounds like it's far right?!?  Only 30 minutes tops :]} to see my parents!  Johnny had tons of work to do for school, so I packed up the girls and we made it a mommy daughters day!  We got to Nonny and Dedecek's around 10a and chatted with Great Mother {this is what my kids call my mom, Bigman and Grandmother}!

 Bigman pulled out the sprinkler so the girls could run around for a minute and cool off.  Joey was having a moment and only wanted to go in after Sammy was almost done :] { I love you Joey, but let's face it, you don't like change sweet girl and when I told you we left our sprinkler at home and were going to use Nonny and Dedecek's, you kinda went sour :[}  They had a blast...I mean who doesn't running through water on a hot day?

 

  

 

After sprinkler time, we loaded up the car once more and went to Chili's for lunch :]  Yummy!!!  At Chili's they are doing their fundraiser for St. Jude Hospital.  The girls could color a chili pepper to be hung if we made a donation.  Joey was all about it an colored her chili....only when it was time to hand the pic over, she decided maybe we should just give the money and she would keep the picture for herself :]

After lunch it was daddy daughter craft time!  I saw this idea on some website and decided my dad and I could make this for way less than $44.95!  Bigman and I went to Home Depot and got some wood, came home and sketched it out! 

Now it's time to cut it out!  Not sure how he does it, but Bigman is handy with the tools and cut all this detail out in no time!

Bam!  Finished product!  Our last name is Stout and this letter will be hanging on our door or on a wall in our home very soon!  I actually waiting so long to get this post done because I wanted a finished pic for the post, but I have not gotten around to it just yet, so I'll post that as an update later!

While Bigman and I were outside cutting the S out {OK, so Bigman cut, I watched and offered bottled water and words of encouragement :]} mom took the girls inside for some rest time which means they watched some Dora and layed on the couch :]

Once Bigman and I were done with our craft project, I rounded up the girls to head home!  Obviously they had fun because they were zonked out in the backseat before I got out of the neighborhood!  For Sammy that's not a big deal...the kid can fall asleep in a car, but for Joey who never falls asleep in the car, this was huge :]

 

So how was your labor day?  Did you do anything fun?  Did you stay in?  Can you even remember back 2 weeks ago??  Stay tuned for a post on the final S project!  Hopefully coming soon :]

Thanksgiving 2011

Christmas has come and gone, but let's recap Thanksgiving :]  I am so behind on posts, and don't want to forget a thing, so here goes!

We started this year with our 2nd annual Thanksgiving feast at the gym.  It's so much fun decorating and this year was no different!  Check out the table, hats and place mats :]

you better believe I made people wear their hats :]  

we had crayons hidden in the leaves so people could color their place mats :]

You can't deny the fun going on at this party!!  Pretty sure Hannah and Chase skipped school to hang out with us old folks!

Me and My new sis in law Rachel....BTW, she should be having a baby soon!  Come on out little Brooklynn, it's ok!

Me and my bestie Akirb...we were pilgrims obviously...

Each year the directors bring yummy food, and this year it was no different!  Check out all those fixins!

Ham and Turkey....we are spoiled!

In the end, Bob had the best place mat creation with is puppy page :]

A few days later, the real Thanksgiving came, and we headed to my parent's house for some yummy food and family fun!

Ricky carved the turkey...so glad I didn't have the job this year!  I feel like I've carved many a turkey in my life already, and I'm only 30...but really it's kinda fun chopping up the thanksgiving dinner like that...I digress :]  Ricky did a great job!

Look at all that yummy goodness!!!

 gravy on the stove!!!

Our kids aren't big on holiday food yet, but Sammy gave it a go! They have no idea what they are missing out on, I mean turkey and stuffing and gravy?!?  Yummmmmmm!!!  I want some now actually! He mom and greatmother, could you please just whip that up? Thanks :]

Me and my sulsta!  Wow, my hair is really long!!!  I just love my sister! She's the best!

 Sweet Sammy!  I love that little smile and her sweet looks :]  Don't let her deceive you, she's a toot when she wants to be and definetly our "challenging child" :]  Doesn't mean we love her less, just means we have to be stern with this one!

 And then there's this one....Joey's hair is so curly in this pic!  She's growing up to be such a little lady.  She's opinionated, talkative and amazing! We are so thankful for both our girls!  Thank you Lord for our little Stout family!!!

Next it was off to Grandma's house for even more food!  I can't believe I didn't get many pictures, but the food was great as usual, and our family is growing so much that there are hardly any leftovers anymore :[  

I love Thanksgiving for so many reasons, but one of the biggest reasons is the food! There are things that I prefer from my family's dinner and things that Johnny prefers at his family's dinner, but we both like things at both.  We have never had to decide where to go because we live so close to both families which is great because we get the best of both worlds!  At my mom's, I live for the stuffing, the stuffed celery and the rolls....the turkey is always good, and my grandmother makes real cranberry sauce!  At my MILs, the turkey is always yummy and I love all the sides...broccoli cheese casserole, corn casserole, broken glass {awesome jello thing} and the colliflower. So really we just pig out all day and love it!!!

The pics I did get at my MILs house were of the girls painting grandma's nails! She's so sweet and let's them do this whenever they want!  I am always worried about things getting on the carpet, setting up the paper towels and cautioning Joey not to get crazy with the nail polish.  Sharon just sits down with the kids in the middle of the floor and lets them go to town!  What a sweet grandma!

 Don't forget the chapstick!!

All in all, we had a great Thanksgiving and we have so much to be thankful for!  God has provided in abundance and we are so grateful!  Can't wait to see what's in store for this upcoming year!

How was your Thanksgiving?

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was awesome!  I got to sing at church in the morning with my buddy David. Johnny brought the girls to the 10 o'clock service and I got to pick them up from their classes!  Joey walked right out of her class, handed me a flower and exclaimed "happy Mother's Day!!!" It was so sweet :]

After church I came home to find Joey sitting in the living room.  She wished me a happy mother's day again and had a gift for me!  The girls' got me a cute sun dress from Target...it's coral and one of my favorite styles!  I don't know if you know, but this is the summer of the dresses!  Johnny said Joey picked it out and everything!  So fun!

Next we headed off to my mom's house to celebrate with her and my grandmother!  Vicky and Ricky came too!

The spread :]

Joey and Nonny

Joey playing with Dedecek

Dora haunts our lives everywhere we go!

I love this picture!!!

Mom was telling Joey to open her eyes, and I guess Joey didn't quite get it :]

I love Sam's expression in this one!!

4 generations :]

Greatmother, Ames and Vicky lounging!!

It was great hanging out with family, and Joey was entertainment for us all :]

We headed north to hang out with Johnny's family and mom!  We all met at Amy's house and ate some yummy pizza and italian beef sandwiches!  I'm so annoyed because I left my camera in the car :[  You just have to imagine us all having fun and relaxing!

Thanks Mom for birthing me all those years ago!  I wouldn't be where I am without you.  You are a great mom and I've really enjoyed seeing you with my children.  They love their nonny so much and it's evident when they light up each time they see you!  

Sharon,  thanks so much for welcoming me into this Stout family!  I love how caring you are and how you really make me feel like one of the Stouts :]  It's so fun to see how excited Joey and Sammy get when they see you each week, we love that we live so close and get to see you often!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mommies out there :]