"W" has never sounded this cute!

How cute is that? Ohhhheyohheeeo! He really does know every single one...which makes this even better. Cuteness!

Happies

*Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks. This is some fall lovin. Don't skimp on the whipped cream. Just do it right.

*Thanksgiving at the Darby Cabin - I can't even begin to express how giddy I am to pack up our family and go to our cabin in the woods! The boys will hunt, the girls will cook and the kids will play. No technology, no cosmetics...just unplugged family bonding time. I can't wait!

*Music:
- Silversun Pickups: Lazy Eye
- Matchbox 20: The Difference
- U2: In a Little While - All You Can't Leave Behind
- Classical: Too many to list...but it grounds and relaxes me and I thank my Daddy for getting me hooked years and years ago

* Funny, funny moment here:

Story: So when Uncle Jason or "Mister Uncle" (an old Baylor Yell Leader) was in town for Homecoming, we had a minor trampoline rip..well, hole really. Does this stop us from having fun? Oh no! Nathan came outside to this - and yes, I am still dressed for church. I have to say that being right at Carson's eye level worked out quite well. HA!

*Last but certainly not least...it's Toffee time! My aunt taught me to make this when I was 7 years old and there hasn't been a year without it since. It's heavenly-love-deliciousness. I'll make you some if you just ask.

Here's to HAPPY!

Hope for Haiti

I don't know if many of you will remember this but I posted a note earlier this summer saying that I felt an overwhelming need to go to Haiti and help the children there. I had not been persuaded by anything - it was just one of those powerful moments that I decided to capture on paper in the event something ever came of it.

Little did I know our church, Fellowship Church, has a huge outreach in Haiti. In fact, we are sponsoring and building an orphanage there as we speak and they are looking for people to come and help. Umm..okay, where do I sign up? Please keep this in your thoughts and prayers. I have joined the Mission Team and there are several dates this year...so cross your fingers and let's see what happens.

Please listen to this beautiful song performed by our church that I just so happened to find today. Goosebumps. Is it odd or is it God? Just sayin...

"You Can Have Mine" - Hope For Haiti Campaign from Envision Designs on Vimeo.

I'll keep you posted.

Halloween 2010

On Hallowe'en the thing
you must do
Is pretend that nothing
can frighten you
An' if somethin' scares you
and you want to run
Jus' let on like
it's Hallowe'en fun.
--
We love Halloween at the Darby casa. Halloween has always been a huge holiday for my family and now that we are parents, it's a blast to experience with our children.
The week of Halloween, Carson went to visit DeDe and Pops in Little Rock. This gave Mommy a chance to work and catch up and it gave us the opportunity to spend some quality time with Alex. She said, "I love being a big sister...but it's also really nice when it just gets to be me. I love my special time with you guys."

While Carson was in Little Rock, Alex got to go to the Pumpkin Patch, spend a day with YaYa and go to the movies with Mommy & Daddy. I was really anxious for DeDe and Pops to see Carson because he has progressed so much in just a few short weeks. It was thrilling to get a call from DeDe as she shared in the excitement of his progression.

On Friday, Nathan took a 1/2 day off work so we could hit the road and join his family on the Darby Mountain in Little Rock. We had a fantastic weekend! We carved pumpkins, made Halloween Rice Krispy Treats and went to the Promenade for a Halloween celebration. We made it home just in time for Alex to dress up and trick-or-treat. Poor Carson got a little chest cold and didn't nap at all on the ride home, so he was french toast by the time we finally got home. He didn't even know what he was missing and he couldn't eat the candy, so we didn't feel too bad about putting him to bed. I do need to get photos of him in his costume - it's too cute. Hopefully those will be up soon.

Here are photos from our Halloween, 2010:

Alex at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch

Huge haystack
She's got the sass conquered
In the patch

Alex prepping for the huge slide

Carson clapping in excitement to be with his DeDe and Pops

He loves bath time...clapping here too

DeDe took Carson to the Wonder Place and he enjoyed exploring

Checking himself out...yep, lookin good (not so sure about the sandals though...hehe)

Our "chip bandit"

Carson and Mommy were so happy to be together again

Pops was thrilled to finally get his princess - they cuddled like this for almost 30 minutes

Daddy and Pops took Alex on a 4-wheeler and she loved it - she gathered many treasures on her "adventure"

DeDe and Alex made pumpkin Rice Krispy Treats with chocolate chips

Alex wanted to smile but she was too busy enjoying the fruits of her labor

Daddy was a patient coach and let Alex do all of the carving

Daddy shows Alex how to design the mouth

Mutual adoration

The final product

Alex loved her masterpiece

Alex and Daddy showed off for the camera - precious moments

Alex is dressed and ready for the Promenade - I love that she can go 4-wheeling and collect rocks, cook in the kitchen and then dress up like a sass - she's the total package

The Darby girls are ready to party

At the promenade - Alex gets a butterfly painted on her face

Alex & DeDe enjoying the hayride - sweet girls

Mommy gets a snuggle

Halloween morning...just chillin' on the porch - love this pic of our family

Our little fairy, Silvermist - she racked up the candy love

Halloween 2010 was a huge success. DeDe and Pops, thank you for making it so special. Thank you so much for watching Carson for a few days and having us up for the weekend. We loved every moment...as usual!

Spoiled rotten girls

Monday and Tuesday were two of the roughest days I have had in quite some time. Any and everything that could go wrong, did go wrong. My dog even managed to ravage the trashcan and devour a tube of super glue (really, Emmy?!) From having a sick son out of school all week to missing Alex's bus in the rain...it was just two really lousy days. I could list 15 more things but I will spare you.
On Tuesday, I had just gotten back home from taking Carson for a blood draw (5 tubes of blood for his IgG testing). He was sick and exhausted and done and so was Mommy. I was rushing to get him in bed so I could go pick up Alex and not have to take him (it was pouring rain and I just wanted my little guy to get some rest). I ran out to get Alex at the bus and the kids all explained that I had missed the bus. AHH! I've never missed her before! Fortunately my mom was on her way over to take Alex to gymnastics and was able to help. When we got to her she took a nasty spill down the stairs and was in hysterics from falling and being left. Good times. When we finally got back home, Carson was sleeping and we were all trying to recover. I heard the doorbell ring and of course the dogs went nuts. I was rushing around trying to quiet them because I knew they would wake Carson and when I went to the door I saw a box from ProFlowers. Hmm?! My amazing husband just happened to send me two dozen roses and chocolates as a "just because." He had ordered them the week before, not knowing that this would be a disastrous week. He just wanted to tell me thank you for working hard and he was encouraging me through all of Carson's struggles we've been dealing with. He took the time to express that he "gets it" - and the timing was absolutely perfect. It was like a fairy tale!
Alex saw the flowers and kept asking to take them to her room. She wanted them all to herself! Little did she know...there were two dozen roses coming to her on Friday. Here are a few pictures:

Alex with her flowers

She has her daddy sooo wrapped, it's ridiculous

Nathan, I don't have the words to express how loved, cherished and needed you are. Thank you for showing our daughter that she will never have to settle for anything less than a gentleman. That was such an epic moment...in tears getting flowers ;) I'll never forget this. I love you!

Go BU!

Thank goodness Aaron Smith grabbed a shot of our fam. I had to leave my camera in the car because of all the rain but at least we got one family photo.

Darby Family at Baylor Homecoming, October 2010

I can't believe we beat Texas this weekend! I remember it like it was yesterday. Fall 1997- I was a Freshman at BU in the Baylor Line and had just made White Squad. I was just getting started...I remember we tore the goal posts down! Wow...good times. Let's see what happens when we play UT for Homecoming next year.

3-D Baby!

Sally, one of my college roomates, just sent me this picture from Homecoming. I love this picture...so much history! The three of us (Mel, Rachel and Sally) were roomates at the Centre, in apartment 3-D (free deee!). I love you girls. I can't believe we have five baby boys and one little girl from this group of mommas. Ah, the memories! Thank you for still being such incredible friends to me after all of these years.