Five Favorites

Joining with Hallie for...

{1} This article about the Aggies.  More than any win or accolade, I love reading a story like this from people who aren't Aggies.  It is a constant reminder of what it means to be an Aggie.

*Photo Credit: here

{2} Nancy Tillman Books.

I just bought this one for a baby shower I'm attending this weekend.  They are both beautiful and heartwarming!

{3} I put a picture on Instagram of them last week, and they're still my new favorite...

they have just the perfect chocolate ratio!

{4}This color for my toenails (via The PolishAholic)...

It has taken me a long, long time to venture far from a French manicure on my toes.  But, I'm trying it here and there :)  OPI's Skyfall is a fun one for the Fall!

{5}  In honor of his feast day, one of my favorite quotes:

"It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; He is waiting for

you when nothing else you find satisfies you; He is the beauty to which you

are so attracted; it is He who provoked you with that thirst for fullness that

will not let you settle for compromise; it is He who urges you to shed the

masks of a false life; it is He who reads in your heart your most genuine

choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the

desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the

refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage

to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and

society, making the world more human and more fraternal."

Blessed John Paul II

Have a fabulous day, and head on over to Hallie's for other great favorites!

Peter's Birthday

Peter's birthday lasted a few days.  Isn't that the way it should be?!  We got to have two cakes with both families, and he loved it.  I think it took him a bit to realize it was his birthday, but what he didn't know, Carter made up for and tried to "help" him with all of his presents!

^^^Peter loved his cake at Mimi's house

 ^^^and it doesn't get much better than spending the day with all of your boy cousins

 ^^^He was just looking for a little instruction in how to blow those candles out.  Uncle Justin to the rescue!

 We even got to see Jeremy's uncle Joe Don and cousin Taylor!

Then, on the 17th, it was an early start, and we had these for breakfast.  I highly recommend them (even if a bit sweet)!

 ^^^Peter got an easel and a bunch of art supplies for his birthday.  He was read for artwork in no time, so he and Carter headed outside...

 ^^^a potty break was necessary (I used to think this was gross, and I better start being more strict or we'll scare the "neighbors."

 ^^^the birthday poster

 ^^^the boys' art

 ^^^cookies from Denise's Sweet Treats (yum)!

 ^^^Andy and Kyle stopping by for a present delivery

^^^balloons are always the highlight of the birthday 

 ^^^Rocky - the beloved horse

 ^^^little guys wanting so badly to be big

^^^and the Knights.

Two was a fun birthday.  And, it will be an even better year!

Old Friends

Growing up, I had some of the best friends.  Still do.  One of them was another country kid.  See, in kindergarten, the country kids only had to go to school Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  So, we sort of banned together.  Julia was a farmer, and I was a rancher, and we were great buds!  In fact, we went to the same Church, spent countless nights at each other's homes and even shared friends across the sate through FFA and 4-H.

Now, we have little ones of our own.  Julia brought her boys over to meet mine Friday morning.  While we don't live near as close as we used to (or see each other as often), it was such a blessing to spend a few hours together and to see the boys (all five of them) together!

John Paul and Colton are three months apart.

Peter and Drew are just two months apart.

Look at those blues!

John Paul wanted in on the bottle drinking, 

and Carter and Peter had to have a picture taken as well

While there won't be sleepovers with these guys in the near future (because of the miles between us), it's such a blessing when we are able to spend time together.  I don't remember being Carter's age, but I do remember being about five and having my friends around.  It's still hard for me to believe things have come full circle.  When we were little, making pizza dough fly to the ceiling, catching bugs and baking up a storm, we were probably giving our moms a few of "those days" - now we're the moms watching these little guys grow into their big personalities.  I can't say that there is anything better.