Oh Christmas Tree

Every Sunday after Thanksgiving, we head out to the Brown's to celebrate with the ZBB family.  Everybody brings a side dish and about 200 people join in another Thanksgiving feast.  It is the perfect way to begin the holiday season.  Before we go to the big party, we stop by the Christmas tree farm to pick out the perfect tree for our house.  This year, we decided to get a smaller tree so we can put it in the front living room, this way it won't get "Maysie'd."

This farm does it right!  Pony rides, hayrides and even Santa is there to greet you.  Our first Santa encounter went well, at least for Railey.  Little Sara Mays doesn't quite know what to think and opted to wave from afar.  Not going to push it....I don't want to ruin it when we go to Phipps next week.

After we bought our tree (and a few wreaths for me) we went to get a ride on the pony.  Of course, Mama forgot her camera so the IPhone pictures will have to do.

Railey insisted that Sara Mays sit on the horse with her

After loaded up our tree, we pulled up to the Brown's and wouldn't you know it, four horses were waiting to give the kids (and adults) rides. Railey spent 90% of the party on the horses. Thanks Jean:)

Now to start holiday planning!

Railey's New Friend Siri

My new IPhone has definitely been a hit....and I think that little Railey loves it even more than I do. Everytime we get in the car, she asks to hold my phone so she and Siri can chat. The only problem is, Siri has a hard time understanding the language of a four year old. Here are some of my favorites:

• What do you look like? Siri: I don't know what you mean by One Gary lark fly
• Do you have your own dogs that you can bring over because our dogs are pretty jumpy?
• Will you come over and play?
• Can we talk to each other right now or no because you are at work?
• I really want to see your daughter
• You're silly

I just may have found a new babysitter....

Question of the Day

Every day at school, Railey's teachers ask her the question of the day when she walks into the classroom. Once she decides her answer, she has to take a clothes pin and put it either on yes or no. Today, I walked her into school and noticed that all of the other clothes pins were already on yes. Being nosy, I waited to hear the question. Miss Sue: Railey, have you ever helped your parents rake the yard? Railey quickly took her clothes pin and put it on no. So, I decided that I would have to fix this immediately and came home to start on some yard work so that Railey could help me finish up after school. I cranked up the blower and proceeded to blow all of the leaves from our front yard into a pile...a BIG pile. Before she could start her work, Railey decided to play in the leaves. I got my camera out thinking that she would jump in the leaf pile, throw them around and I might get some cute pictures. In true Railey style, she walked up to the pile (did I mention is was enormous?), stood at the edge and fell face first...loving every minute of it.

To make the day even more fun, our neighbor Colette came out to join us.

Twenty bags of leaves later, mission accomplished.

Let's just hope that tomorrow's question is, "Have you ever played in a pile of leaves"

Happy Birthday Bailey!

Paul is on the road and I got an email from him that it was Bailey's birthday. So of course Railey, Maysie and I went to the pet store to buy doggie cupcakes, party hats and dog bones so we can celebrate accordingly.

And what birthday party would be complete without inviting some friends over to sing Happy Birthday and join in the fun!

Happy 9th Birthday Bailey! We love you!!!!

Sweet, Salty, Dairy or Fruit

This is Railey's snack week and I received a letter to send something sweet, something salty, a fruit or dairy. Okay, I can handle this. I have to come up with the perfect snack that all of the kids will enjoy. Then I read on. Bring three of the four items listed...there are 16 children in the class plus two teachers. OH LAWD! Who do they think I am? Martha Stewart? So I came up with some cute ideas with the help of my mother, went to the grocery store to buy all of the ingredients for snack for 18 people for the entire week. Sometimes, I impress myself:) We made blueberry muffins, sent in cookie cutters to make Halloween cheese cutouts, yogurt, fruit, and my personal favorite on Halloween, spider snacks made of ritz crackers, squirt cheese, and raisins.