How badly do you need a mattress??

Topher and I saw this one on the way home from church tonight...I pray I'm never this desperate!

Just between friends

Okay friends...I have a confession to make. Our housekeeper decide to go back to a less physically exhausting job, so I've been taking care of the house since about May. I've done fairly well keeping up except for one area...vacuuming carpets. Our carpet attachment to the central vac doesn't work, so I've done our hardwoods and rugs, but no carpets. Yes, do the math, our carpets haven't been vacuumed in like almost 4 months! GROSS! So today, I went to my friend Amanda's house to borrow her BMW of all vacuums...the DYSON! YES! If you listen carefully, I'm sure you'll hear my carpets singing the Hallelujah chorus! So help me if anyone steps on the fringes of my freshly vacuumed rug! In fact, I'm so excited about my clean carpets that I had to blog about it before I have even finished our rooms! I never thought the sight of a cylinder full of dust and dirt could be so gratifying!!!

On a much cleaner note, I'm so excited about fall! The girls have started school and are doing great. Esther is in 3 year old preschool and Graceyn is in mother's day out both 3 days a week so that I can go back to work. For at least the rest of this week though, I'm enjoying some time to myself before starting work.

We are definitely excited about the change in season. Our windows are open, my very cute $3.50 fall rug from Wal-Mart is in the kitchen, and the mulled cider candle is burning! I think if the pumpkin patches were open, we'd be going this afternoon! The girls have already been practicing for Halloween...so cute!

A little "behind"!!

Does this picture say it all or what?!! I mean just when you think you're on your way, keeping up and moving along you realize that you have some extra drag...something be it good or bad that is really slowing you down!!

Okay, things have been so hectic over the last month...fun but hectic. I only have a second, but I thought I'd at least post a couple of pics. We have a precious new nephew in the family! Yea Jess and Kels! Baby Ross Franklin was born on July 28th and is so cute. Mom was so proud to have all 5 of her grandkids together at once!! Graceyn was so intrigued and loved the baby as long as I wasn't holding him! Jesse's world is literally spinning!!

Last weekend, Mom took Christina, Chloe, Graceyn, Esther, and me all to Dallas for a girly girl weekend. We did Rainforest Cafe, the Aquarium, and the treat of the weekend...AMERICAN GIRL!!! Esther and Chloe both got "Just Like You" dolls that really do look like them. Chloe was "stary eyed" about the whole thing! Graceyn was crazy about

the Bitty Baby twins and their stroller...We had so much fun! This week we are gearing up for pre-school and mother's day out, but that's a whole different blog for another day!

Big girls

As if turning 3 isn't enough of a "big girl" wake-up call for mom, Topher and I decided to get Esther's hair cut. I was (and still am) soooo excited about it. She and I went together yesterday to my salon. We both got big girl haircuts! She has the cutest little bob, perfect for starting preschool in the fall! Best part about it (besides the fact that it is so stinkin cute): I dont' ahve to listen to her yell,"Don't do the pull part" every morning when we fix her hair!














Not to be outdone by her sister, Graceyn has become Miss Personality Plus. She is soooo cute that I just want to squeeze her all the time! She is so into sunglasses right now. She wears them for hours at a time...whether we are inside or out. So precious!

Esther is 3!!!!!

Happy Birthday to Esther!!! On Saturday, Esther turned 3 and we had such a fun party! We went to her gymnastics place and had a blast....soooo fun! The best part about it -- it wasnt' at my house so I didn't have to clean up before or after! Awesome!

Mom made her the cutest Strawberry Shortcake cake. It was delicious and sooooo "berry" beautiful!

Esther is loving her new scooter...she won't ride it without full gear...helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads. Safety first!
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Graceyn loves Daddy!

Topher has been coming home from work for lunch, which is wonderful. We love getting to see him in the middle of the day! Graceyn always climbs up in his lap while he tries to eat his lunch. Between her eating his sandwich and putting her grubby little paws in his french onion dip and Esther drinking his Dr. Pepper, he barely even gets to eat! But, he loves having them close even if he has to sacrifice a little lunch. Toph, you are such an amazing Daddy...

even if you do teach the girls a few bad habits!

Dress up

Never underestimate the value of a good hat!


The red shoes add that little bit of "pop", don't ya think?


This is my favorite: Esther needed her "goggles" and "oxygen mask" to scuba dive in her animal ocean!

Princess Esther is packed and ready to go to see Princess Chole and Prince Jaxon.

Graceyn has some BIG shoes to fill!