A Princess and Pirate

 Happy Halloween from the     cutest princess and pirate          around.

Lainey and Coop held hands while they trick or treated around our neighborhood.  It was so sweet, I could hardly take it.  I took about 50 pictures of it...you can thank me for only posting 2.

Loving Fall

 We are enjoying every minute of fall this year.  There is a chill in the air every day now... a reminder of my favorite season rapidly approaching.  Christmas music has made it's way into my kitchen.  I was baking something with cinnamon in it, and I just couldn't resist busting out my Christmas Classics CD.  Lainey thought I was the greatest mommy in the world.  She would have the tree up by now if I would let her.  Anyway...back to fall...we have a cheerleader in the family : )  Our church offers Upward sports and Lainey had the choice of cheering or playing flag football.  Her daddy tried hard to convince her to play football, but Lainey caught one glimpse of those pom poms and her mind was made up.  Basketball starts in January and Jamie has already agreed to coach her team...so until then, he's got himself an adorable, little cheerleader.  

 A couple of weeks ago, we spent the evening at the Eckerts Millstadt farm.  Very similar to the Eckerts just down the street from us, but more activities for kids.  They have a pumkin cannon that the kids get to load a small pumpkin into and then watch the friendly man in the overalls launch them a few hundred feet into the air.  Pure country fun.  Oh and I can't forget the pig races...miniature pigs running around a race track while the crowd cheers them on.  It really was a fun night.

Funny boy

 Cooper is such a character.  This boy has a love for life that is contagious.  The only way to describe life with Cooper is to say that he bounces every where he goes.  He can make even the simplest activity an adventure.  I have to say that I think I see some big adventures in his future.  Mountain climbing, sky diving...who knows.  The little guy has no fear.  I'm just hoping he will make it through the toddler/preschool years alive and with his limbs in tact.  I'm not kidding : )  and yes, those are Lainey's princess heels in the above picture.  I have since been banned (by my husband) from taking pictures of Coop with any girly anything on his body.  He will probably thank his dad for this some day.  

Here we go...

 It's overwhelming to think that the first day of kindergarten has come and gone and we are now about to wrap up the first quarter.  We have a parent teacher conference coming up in a couple of weeks and I'm really looking forward to it.  I find myself craving more details about Lainey's school life.  This has been the hardest part of her going to school for me.  I miss knowing what goes on every minute of her day.  She has been my little sidekick for the past 5 years, and now, she is having experiences and learning things on her own.  I'm grateful for how well she has adjusted and how much she loves it...I just wish she wasn't quite so good at the independence thing.  It's kinda hard on a momma.  So, needless to say, the first day of school was great for Lainey and hard on me.  She was brave, bright eyed, friendly, and so excited.  She made me so proud.  There were several kiddos in her class crying as they said goodbye to their parents.  I promise if she had expressed one little bit of apprehension, I would have scooped her up and run out the door.  I wanted to do that anyway.  Instead, she gave me a big hug and said "bye mommy."  Daddy stayed behind to give her a little pep talk, but I had to leave quickly because I was about to go into the ugly cry.  Yep.  I was that mom.  The first couple of school days seemed really long to me, but I'm happy to say that we've all adjusted and Lainey is thriving.  

Cheering Section

 Sometime back in July (Yikes!  So behind on the blog!) we enjoyed a visit from Jamie's family.  He was preaching on a Sunday morning so the O'Dell clan (Papa & Nana, Brian & Crystal and the boys) came for the weekend.  We spent a day at the Magic House and had a great time chasing the kiddos.  The Magic House is such a fun place, and I love that the kids are making these memories with each other.  Jamie did such a great job preaching and it was nice to have his family cheering him on.  

Mommy/Lainey Date

When I was little, we used to get a magazine with pictures of the American Girl Dolls.  Kimberlee and I would look through them and pick our favorites.  I always loved Molly and she liked Samantha I think...or maybe it was the other way around.  I don't remember exactly.  The point is American Girl Dolls were great when I was a kid, and they are still great now (says the 33 year old mom who kinda wanted to buy a doll for herself!)  They recently opened a store in St. Louis and Lainey and I went for a special mommy /daughter date.  It really was such a fun day.  The store kind of reminded me of Disney World in that they make it an experience.  This isn't just a store where you walk in, get your doll and leave.  Oh no, they have a doll bistro, a doll hair salon, there was a mommy/doll scavenger hunt going on while we were there.  There is a section of books that tells the story of each of the dolls, coordinating mommy/ doll outfits and accessories, you get the idea.  Some serious marketing going on here and we loved every minute of it.

Lainey has been wanting the doll of the year, McKenna, for quite some time now.  She is a gymnast and has similar features to Lainey.  Bright blue eyes, fair skin, and brownish blonde hair.  When we arrived I couldn't find a McKenna doll.  Trying not to worry, I found an associate who told us that McKenna was sold out.  Lainey's little face looked like she just lost her best friend.  The lady reassured her that there was another doll that looked just like McKenna and lead us over to her.  She perked up and thanked the associate for helping us.  We were busy looking at other things when she came back to us carrying a box and said, "look what I found in the back room on the top shelf."  It was the very last McKenna doll in the store.  Lainey seriously jumped up and down.  She was an eagle (probably a reference only the Morton's reading this will understand.) So, thank you American Girl Doll associate for taking the extra time to find us the doll Lainey was hoping for : )

 Yep, they have high chairs at the tables for the dolls

 And tea cups

So, yes, I am a fan of American Girl Dolls, but more a fan of this day with my little girl.  I told her that we were keeping this doll forever because I want to remember this day forever.  My little sweetheart a few days before a new, big chapter begins in her life.  Can ya tell I'm a little sad about this one?  The baby/toddler/pre-school days go way too fast.  

A Week at Home

 This week in July is quickly becoming one of my favorite family traditions.  The past few years we have all made the trip back to Excelsior Springs for a week of family fun.  We pack it full of activity and quality time with each other.  My grandparents came up for a few days, there were multiple baseball games, a trip to Worlds of Fun, shopping, lots of playing outside, swimming, swinging, a trip to Kaleidescope, Fritz's, a wedding, a slumber party, Malloree's first birthday party, and lots of laughing.  It was a great week!

Having a blast on a hot, July night at Worlds of Fun

Seth's girlfriend, Sarah, spent several days with us.  It was wonderful to spend time with her and get to know her better.  I think it might be an understatement when I say that we all LOVE her...especially the four little girls in our family who watched her every move and think she is the coolest thing ever : )  Lainey is still talking about how they all painted their finger nails together.  

Little Miss Malloree, celebrating her
1st birthday

Such a special, little girl

 Our annual photo shoot with the cousins

 We had a great time visiting crown center, having our lunch delivered by a train at Fritz's and going to Kaleidescope for some craft making.

The new horse swing was quite a hit!

The beginnings of a slumber party
in grandma and grandpa's bedroom

It was extra special this year to be at my parents house on my mom's birthday.  The kids all sang to her, gave her flowers and a card and shared one reason why they love her.  It was a special time celebrating grandma and what she means to all of us.  Happy Birthday Mom!