Paige's First Ballet Class

Last Monday Paige had her very first ballet class...it was...interesting! The class is only 30 minutes once a week, so I thought surely she would be fine. And she was as long as I was right beside her. Definitley not what I had in mind! Today's class was MUCH better, however. She stayed in the studio all by herself (they have a parent's room that I sit in) and participated like a big girl! They learned to hop, reach high up to the sky, and how to hold a pumpkin. She got a sucker for being so good today at class and she's excited about going back next Monday.

This is Paige before dance class-in her car seat and really excited about going to dance class!

This picture was taken through the glass window that seperates the parent room and the studio...that's why it has spots on it! She is getting ready to hop/skip across the floor.

I'm sorry, but she's gorgeous!

She's ready to go!

Hopping across the floor!

Twirling like a ballerina

She's quite a literal child...Miss Lacey (her teacher) told them to point their toes. Paige pointed to her toes. Oh my.

I'm so glad this week went better! I can't wait for her Daddy to get to come to a class!

Fall Splendor in our Home

Last week I decided I was ready for my Fall decorations to make their debut for this year. I've slowly tweaked them to where they are now and I think I'm finally pleased enough with them to post about them! We'll start with the front entrance of our house....

This arrangement was a gift for my birthday a couple of years ago and I just love it! I put it out in September and it stays out until I put my Christmas decorations up.

This is the view from my front porch steps. I got the Welcome banner a few years ago at Kirklands and I love it as well! I wish I had one for every season/holiday.

This is on the right hand side of my fireplace hearth in my living room...both were gifts for my birthday last year.This might be my favorite part of my Fall decor this year...I keep the ivory candlesticks on my hearth year round, but this is the first time I've decorated them specifically for a season. I got the white pumpkins at Dollar Tree...I know! The ribbon came from Wal-Mart ($1.97 for a roll), and the berries are candle rings from Hobby Lobby (they were half off so they were $1.98 each). I just love this! I sit in my recliner and stare at it...I'm so proud of it!

My coffee table decor...you guessed it-a birthday present from 2 years ago! I love the wrought iron pumpkin and candle. I added the ribbon for a touch of color.

My dining room table centerpiece...another birthday gift from last year! I think I need to request no more Fall arrangements! I'm overloaded!

The corner shelf in our dining room. These are the candlesticks that I re-did a few weeks ago. The candles and wrought iron vase were on my dining room table, but got moved here for the Fall. I had red candles here, but thought the deep orange looked better for Fall...they were on sale at Hobby Lobby for $1.98 each. The ribbon is from HL too...it was $3 for a 30 foot roll.

A close-up of the Fall candlesticks

This is running a close 2nd place to my white pumpkins on the hearth for my favorite Fall decoration. I got this 3-tiered iron "thing" (haha!) for $14 at Hobby Lobby. The berry candle holders were $2 each, the mini pumpkins were around $1.25 each and the ribbon is the same ribbon I used on the candlesticks!

Close-up of the mini pumpkins...I just love the colors!

My aunt gave me this Fall wreath this year for my birthday-it's so gorgeous! I hung it on our backdoor because it never gets any love!

I normally wouldn't have spent so much at Hobby Lobby yesterday, but I had birthday money and a gift certificate from my sister! It was fun to shop and not really worry too much about how much I was spending (within reason, of course!). I love Fall so much! The weather here is supposed to be very October-like this week and I'm so excited!

I'm the Birthday Princess!

Today is my 26th birthday...yikes! I can't believe that 10 years ago today I finally got to drive myself to school. It was my Junior year...and a long time coming! I am one of the youngest in my graduating class, so most of them started driving during our Sophomore year. I can believe that almost exactly 8 years ago Stephen and I started dating (that was Sept 3). I can't believe that I have a 2 1/2 year old beautiful daughter. I really can't believe that I'm 4 years away from turning 30. 30? Really? I swear I just had my 13th birthday party!

I'm really trying to focus on the positives of my birthday...another year of wisdom (ha!), another year with my family, another year period! My birthday falls during a really, really busy time of year for our family. It's football season. This year I'm really trying to control my emotions and not be upset if someone forgets about my day. Stephen did really well this morning, though. When I woke up, he had left me a birthday card with $$$ in it and my favorite candy bar-Heshey's with Almonds...giant sized no less!

I'm having lunch with my Mommy and then headed to a football game tonight. We're really celebrating tomorrow with a shopping trip and pizza with my family. Tomorrow night we're having BBQ with Stephen's family.

I'm thankful for another healthy year!

GO BIG RED!

Football season 2008 is officially underway! Both of Stephen's teams won Thursday night...one 14-0 and the other 30-0! It was a great way to kick off the season. Week #2 will be a good challenge for the teams...I'll keep you updated on how we're doing!

Sunday afternoon wagon ride

The weather here has been really, really nice and comfortable the last few days. We played with sidewalk chalk and took a wagon ride around the neighborhood last night and tonight after we finished eating dinner, Paige asked to take another wagon ride. Since there was no reason not to, we decided to head out. I actually remembered to bring my camera with me this time!

Here's Paige ready to leave on the wagon ride...notice her flip flops, please. She loves to put on her flip flop by herself and about half of the time they end up on the wrong foot. Eventually it bothers her and she'll change them!

Daddy pulling Paige down the sidewalk in front of our house...please excuse the horrible dirt/grass. Stephen hates weed-eating with a passion so he decided to spray weed killer...looks like we having racing stripes in our front yard. Thanks, honey!

She's having so much fun! Sidenote: This grass would be fabulous in our front yard, unfortunately our front yard is very shady...at least half of it is anyway. Am I off subject or what?

The obligatory family self portrait!

I pulled her on the way back home...it's more downhill!

A post with no pictures

I'm not a fan of posting to my blog without any pictures, but I've been a bad mom lately and haven't taken many pictures of Paige. The past 3 weeks have been crazy around our house...we're home maybe 2 nights a week. Paige and I go to school on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays...Stephen has ballgames on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays. This coming Monday Paige begins ballet classes! Am I crazy for adding another iron in the fire? Maybe so...but she's going to love it!

I'm hoping that Fall is in the air around our house. I put up fall decorations last week and so far the weather has been very fall-like since I did so! In fact, we turned off our air conditioner and opened the windows today. I'm sure we'll have to turn it back on, but it's nice to have the fresh air circulating for now.

I will be celebrating my 26th birthday on Friday-at a high school football game. Guess that's what I get for marrying a football coach and having a football season birthday. I'm really praying that this year I don't get my feelings hurt by my husband. I know that he doesn't ever mean to hurt me by being busy and not doing something for my birthday. I'm really trying to not be so sensitive about it this year. We'll see how that goes....I always have good intentions of being strong and having the "I'm ok all the time" attitude, but it doesn't always work the way I want it to.

I'll definitely have pictures of Paige's first dance class on Monday-she's going to look so cute in her leotard, tights, and ballet shoes! I can't wait!