Welcoming Fall...

We are welcoming fall here on the Owen range. We simply think it is the best season. With the crisp breeze moving in, we have been enjoying lots of play time outside.

I took these pictures on Monday and am just getting them posted today, Friday! It has been that kind of week.

Little Scarlett woke up from her nap and, bless her heart, the paparazzi was present again. She was still trying to wake up.

But as soon as I said, "Do you want to go outside?" This was her response...

With her doll in hand (Hannah, as we call her), she was ready to soak in the sunshine... but I think this little smile is pretty radiant :)

Still getting a little sleep out of her eyes...

And then we were out the door.

Maneuvering her car on the front porch kept her very busy.

And then, our favorite surprise... Daddy got home early!!!

Smitten.

And this is how our girls like to end their day... one in particular likes to watch for squirrels, I wonder who that could be?

17 Months

It is crazy how quickly the week goes by after a 3-day-weekend.... it is already Friday! Scarlett is 17 months old as of Tuesday, so I must update on what is going on with this sweet girl...

Over Labor Day Weekend it was 100 degrees! We finally got a rain storm and so we let you play in the rain for a while... you were in hog heaven! The following pictures and video are of you enjoying the downpour...

Scarlett, You changed so much this month. You are spirited and vivacious and are equally as sweet and thoughtful. You keep us laughing all the time.

Here is what is going on with you:

- You wear size 24 month clothes and some 2T and a size 6 1/2 shoe and a size 5 diaper.

- You love to eat. Especially fruit. You are great about trying new things. Your new favorite food right now if tortellini.

- You are so full of life! You do not stop unless it is meal time or sleep time.

- You love to climb the stairs and can do it very well by yourself, but that just does not fly with momma and dada!

- You are very sensitive to what people say

- You have perfected the following animal sounds: dog, kitty cat, lion and monkey.

- You talk all the time, but I still have a hard time figuring out exactly what you are saying. You say the following words pretty clearly: yes, this, that, duck-duck, momma, and (dada has been shortened) da!

- You are sleeping really well. You have started to love to go to sleep on your own for nap time. You just play and talk and drift off to sleep. We still have our normal bedtime routine which is great by me!

- You love to laugh. It really cracks us up because you laugh at the appropriate times.

- You are still crazy about your baby dolls. You know them by name because if I ask you to get Genevieve you go right to her, passing up your other babies. You love to pretend like they are crying or change their diapers. They spend most of their time being wheeled around in the stroller.

- You know pretty much everything we say to you. I can ask you to bring me anything and you do! Not that I use that to my advantage though!

- You pray with us before meals and at bedtime. It is so sweet to watch you bow your little head and fold your hands. Sometimes you "pray" just to get a smile from us :)

- You LOVE to be outside... we have decided you are an outdoor girl. You love to go on walks with Peepaw and just roam and roam in the grass (he was your 'umbrella man' while you played in the rain!)

- You LOVE dogs. If ever we see one while we are out you "woof" and point. Nonni and Peepaws dogs are so good to you, but Callie is still not sure about your all's relationship. Her loss!

You are the salt of our life!!! We love you so much and enjoy watching you grow before our very eyes. With all our love, Momma and Da!

Familypalooza

Another fun thing we got to do while we were "home" for Labor Day was attend the Familypalooza at our home church with Mitch's family. It was like a big carnival with blow-up toys and games and fair food. Scarlett had fun and got to try all kinds of new things....

She "fished" in the duck pond and won a little sticker (which she has worn and worn until the sticky wore off)...

She pet a donkey with Daddy...

And the biggest hit (no pun intended) was the BIG slide with Daddy!

Up and up they climbed...

And down they went...

Scarlett let out a big squeal :)

We enjoyed some pizza, hotdogs and burgers with everybody. Here are Scarlett and I with Lolli and her little ones...

Thanks for inviting us Lolli and Pop... I think all the kids had fun!

Labor Day Weekend

We had a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day weekend at my parents' house. They live a little over an hour away from us and I don't get to their house as much as I used to, so I love it when all 3 of us can go. It is one of my most favorite places on earth! It was extra special because the gang was all their... Nonni and Peepaw, Aunt Ryan, the 3 of us, Uncle Chaz and his darling girlfriend Karrine (I know hearts are breaking across the world wide web.... Chaz is taken!) Here are just a few "descriptors" from our weekend: homemade peach ice-cream with fugde sauce, early morning devotions, fishin' in the dark, home cooking, board games, girl talk, naps, playing in the rain, etc.

You know how people say that grandparents can let their grandchildren do whatever they want? Well, that pretty much sums up Scarlett's weekend. She ate like a little piggy, played hard and was loved on all the time. So, case in point... her Peepaw let her have the hose...

We love to celebrate "1st" times. Scarlett caught her 1st fish this weekend!

Here are her and Daddy bating the pole.

And posing before the big cast, per my request :)

And here he is... little Mr. Bluegill

She was not interested in him getting any closer :)

And she got ahold of the hose again... watch out!

Just a sweetie pie.

Scarlett was telling Uncle Chaz "what for" here. She followed him all the way over there just to get to boss him around.

Mitch and I. I just love that man.

Scarlett and her favorite little buddy, Jimmy Gilbert (who happens to be a girl)

Scarlett and Peepaw holding hands... this is something we see a lot.

And then we did a little night fishing...

Karrine and Chaz

Chaz and Mitch

Thanks for a fun and relaxing weekend Mom and Dad... Y'all are the best!!!!!!

Someone's in the kitchen with Scarlett.

We have been enjoying our consignment sale finds the past couple days. I apologize if it annoys anyone that I like to post the price I got an item for, I just love to find a good deal! Scarlett loves staying busy while she is playing throughout the day. I knew she would really enjoy a toy kitchen, but I knew I would be picky about just what kind I wanted her to get and forgive me, but I just did not want to wait until Christmas. I think the little wooden kitchens (like the ones on Pottery Barn Kids which are practically the price it would cost to remodel our real life kitchen, ha!) are so darling. So, I set out with low hopes of finding something like it at the sale because I thought what I wanted would be either too pricey or not for sale. Well, surprise! I found something that is small (which is good because we don't have much room) and just the right price. Here is the little corner I set up for Scarlett upstairs... it is her little area to play and imagine in!

The little kitchenette was $19.50. I found the exact one I got on this website for $110.00. holla!

The little fridge was just $5.00 and has darling retor shelf liner in it. The table and chairs were a special find that my sister, Ryan, and I got at IKEA when I was pregnant with Scarlett. So, all in all I could easily add to this corner without breaking the bank, but I think this is a good start.

And here is little miss prissy herself. Enjoying a drink of the salt shaker?

There are strict rules when Scarlett is in her roll of dramatic play... momma must stay seated (in the tiny little chair) the whole time. Every great actress needs an audience, right? ha!

This is the classic Scarlett face. It is somehow worked into every conversation or expressive opportunity she has.

This is a little off subject. I am really excited about a new book that I ordered which arrived yesterday!

Angie Smith is an amazing author and I cannot wait to dive into her latest work. You can read her incredible story here on her blog.

We are looking forward to a fabulous long weekend... hope you are too!