Christmas Blessings!

It seems that we just had Thanksgiving and now it is Christmas. Time just flies by with two kids. Brett and I have so much to be thankful for during this past year and are blessed that we have two beautiful daughters to make us smile each day. During this time of year we all get so busy we forget the blessings that we have in our lives and tend to focus on the day to day craziness. Kylie has been busy as usual at school. She got to see Santa twice; once for pictures and then yesterday they got to take a field trip to the library where they got to see Santa and got a big Twas the Night Before Christmas coloring book. Kylie told Santa all she wanted for Christmas was a pink art set. She also got to visit the Christmas tree farm with her class. Her daddy went along for the fun as a chaperone and had a good time. Avery was not as excited with her visit to see Santa. The daycare does breakfast with Santa every year and as soon as Avery sat down in his lap she immediately stuck her lip out and began her pouty face quickly followed by the mommy get me cry. I haven't seen her picture yet but I am sure she is making a really cute face! Lol! We took the kids to the Christmas tree farm up the road to cut down a smaller Christmas tree than last year (Brett was thankful for that), and Kylie rode the 4 wheeler to pull the tree to our truck after daddy cut it down. She then enjoyed hot cocoa and a candy cane before leaving. Avery took it all in, and was really cute in her little hat. Kylie will have her last day of school before christmas break tomorrow. She gets to have her Christmas Party after lunch so she is very excited about that. Brett and I have our work Christmas parties this weekend and then we will be gearing up for some much needed vacation time starting on Christmas Eve. Hopefully all of our family can get better and be well throughout the holidays. MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Picture Day

I must say that Kylie was pretty cute for her pictures. She of course insisted on wearing her "T" necklace that grandmamma bought her while she was here to keep us from having to buy a High School Musical halloween costume. She finally decided on a witch after a great search for the perfect costume. Of course I only think she chose that costume after we told her she could decorate it with glitter glue. Grandmamma got to help with that too. So Avery is going to be a black cat to go with her sisters witch costume. We all went to fall festival on thursday night after gynmastics and Kylie even dunked her pricipal in the dunking booth. She was so excited that she dunked her pricipal and did it all by herself. Her daddy said that's his girl when she called to tell him. We had a busy chaotic week and we love grandmamma for being here to help out while Brett is gone.

Friday Night Football Panther Style

The Benton Panthers took on the Texarkana hogs at home. Kylie got to cheer in her first football game and Brett, Avery, and I were there to cheer her on. She was so cute in her maroon cheerleader skirt and paw print earrings. Watching the girls was pretty cute. I would tell you what the score was but we left shortly after half time because Avery was getting sleepy. Kylie performed her cheer for the pre game and then we sat in the stands in front of the cheerleaders to watch the game. We were sitting in the student section when I managed to knock over my frito chili pie Brett had just brought to the stands onto on the students in front of me. Word of advice eating in the stands with two kids is no picnic. Anyways Kylie had a great week learning her cheers on tuesday, going to the pep rally on thursday, and then cheering on friday. She of course wants to be a cheerleader when she grows up!

Pep Rally

Kylie participated in the Cheer clinic this week at the Benton High School. She had such a great time. Tonight we left gymnastics early and got to go to her first ever pep rally. All of the girls stood at the front of the stage and watched the girls cheer. At the end of the pep rally they all got to get up on the stage and participate with the cheerleaders. Somehow my child ended up in the very back so it was hard to see her at times, but she had a blast. It brought back alot of great memories listening to the excitement of a pep rally again. However the alma mater was all wrong (HAIL CROSSETT HIGH SCHOOL wanted to come out so bad).

A Haunting we will go...and a little too much sugar

Grandmamma sent the girls a care package for Halloween and Kylie decided she wanted to make her Haunted House tonight. It turned out pretty good and Avery participated as well. Daddy was at work so he missed out on all the fun. Of course the video was at the end of the fun. I think Kylie had a little too much sugar!

Oh, watch me grow!

Avery is growing so fast! She is almost 7 months old. She can now officially say mama, dada, and bye. She just said dada today. Brett is very excited. Every time she says mama he says dada to her. I guess that is how she picked it up; of course she is a daddy's girl. She is beginning to have some attachment issues where mommy is concerned but she always smiles as soon as she sees her daddy. She is sitting up now and is creeping like a caterpillar. She wants to crawl so bad. Grandmama sent a care package that arrived today and the girls enjoyed their Halloween fun. I posted a picture of Avery trying on her Halloween wear. She loves to take baths! Most of the time she takes one with her sister but Kylie spent the night out with Mallory and I got some good pictures of her in the bath by herself. I included a video, but I am new at this so I hope it works.

Fall Fest

Today we went to Fall fest in Bryant. Daddy went to Fayetteville to Bikes, Blues and Barbeque so we had a girls day with Tamara, Emily, Trinity, and Jacob who always is "little man" amongst lots of girls. When we got there it was not too warm but it was rather hot by the end of the day. The kids enjoyed carrying their bags to the different booths and getting free candy. They each got to decorate a frizbee and got their face painted. Kylie dance to the band while she had lunch and overall had a great time.

Avery of course just chilled as usual. She napped a little, laughed at the kids, and had a big time.

Kylie decided to try out ziplining. It was the only thing they could actually do that was free. It was put on by the Boy Scouts and both Kylie and Trinity gave it a try. Kylie made Trinity go first but after she saw that she survived she was good to go. Of course the first time was to keep the "take it easy on me" approach in mind, but the second time around she said you can go faster. Something about those "Powell" girls with the faster, faster mode.

Everyone had a good time and were pretty warn out by the time we left.

Daddy's Girls

I took these pictures this week after Brett got home from work and was playing on the floor with the girls. When Brett gets home from work (on Days) he has a routine with the girls that always makes me smile. Usually Kylie is either in her room watching TV or on the couch. As soon as she heres the door open she runs to him screaming "DADDYYYYY" and leaps into his arms. After he and Kylie briefly discuss how her day at school was he comes over to say hello to Avery. Now Avery Grace is most definitely a daddy's girl. She is all about her daddy. When she hears his voice she immediately gets a smile on her face. Nowadays it is a tooth grin that will melt your heart followed by a laugh. She just giggles and giggles. No matter how bad my day has been the three of them always make it better at that moment. Then they get down on the floor and play for a little bit before bedtime and then Brett and I take turns with bath and bedtime routine depending on who needs who at what time.

The Methodist Church

Today the girls and I went to the Methodist Church in Benton. We have visited alot of churches since living her and can't seem to decide on one, so I decided to go back to my roots and visit the Methodist church today. Avery of course went to the nursery and Kylie went to church with me. As most of you know Kylie loves to go to church so Brett and I have decided we really need to make up our mind and join a church so the girls can consistently attend. It felt really good to be in the Methodist church again where so much was familiar to me. Kylie of course was excited because it was the church's birthday so there was a big celebration that day. She enjoyed the church service alot. She told me when we left that she wants to come to this church forever and next time she is going to Sunday school. She told her daddy, who was at work, that the Methodist church was her new church and that next time he was going to go with her to see how beautiful it is and of course he agreed.

September has come and gone

It seems that September has come and gone in our household. Kylie of course started Kindergarten this year and has been busy as a bee. She decided that she needed to do gymnastics this year since her favorite dance teachers have left. She takes gymnastics on thursday nights. So far she enjoys that when she listens to the teacher. We have also joined the world of homework now so our routine has changed greatly in the Carpenter house. Kylie has met several new friends since she had to leave all of the old ones behind to go to different schools. The price you pay for going to daycare at a hospital I guess; none of your friends live in Benton and attend the same school as you. Kylie seems to like her teacher Mrs. Elliott alot and is growing fond of the routine of P.E., music, and art class. As for Avery Grace she got her first tooth this month quickly followed by her second tooth. She turned six months old, I just can't believe she is already that old. She is the spitting image of her sister at this age. Of course both girls still favor their daddy, but they are long and lanky like their mommy. Actually, I wouldn't call Avery lanky at this time but she is long. She went for her six month check up this week and weighed 15 pounds 5 ounces and is 27 inches long. She rolls all over the house and tries really hard to crawl before she takes that nose dive into the carpet when her arms just won't go. She can sit up by herself for brief periods and she loves to eat. She wants what is on your plate though and loves to drink from our cup. As for Brett and I this month we just tote kids everywhere. We even had to get a huge calendar to keep up with where we have to be when. Brett had a sniper school this month put on by Little Rock P.D. and that was gruelling but he survived. However, I think he would rather take that course again before ever agreeing to eat in the school cafeteria with Kylie. He says Breakfast day at school made him BARF! No, I am serious. I can't say I really did alot this month; work is crazy busy as usual. I also could sleep for about a month and use a maid in a desperate way but who couldn't. So the month is almost to an end and we are discussing Halloween costumes at our house. So stay tuned next month for some cute fall/halloween pics. Until then Happy Fall!