Family Pictures

So, we had some family pictures taken. I have to say that it wasn't the easiest thing we have done lately. Aubrie is 4 now, so she handled it pretty well. I just had to keep reminding her to look at the camera the whole time. Since we did the pictures outside at a public location, there were distractions that kept her interest sometimes more than the task at hand. Kirk, on the other hand, didn't cooperate as well. He saw this as an opportunity to get down, and explore this new territory. He didn't want to sit still, or stand still, or be still at all. All of the pictures were taken between his fits and crying. The poor photographer had to literally run around just to take his picture. It was like a race. He won. We did get several good shots, and overall it was a fun experience. Here are a few pictures from the shoot.

Thank you Blaire for taking the time to capture our family!

www.bperryphotography.com

Apple Pie

Today I took the kids to Apple Town in Lincoln, Arkansas. They have been growing and selling apples for years. In fact, I remember going there when I was a little girl. We didn't just buy apples, but we also bought apple butter, and apple cider. Of course, the first thing I had to do when we got home was make an apple pie. Who do I turn to when I want to make something really yummy? Well, Paula Deen of course! I have several of her cookbooks, and I knew that at least one of them would have an apple pie recipe. I found the recipe and made the best apple pie that I have ever eaten. I will admit, though, I didn't make the crust. The dough boy helped me out on that one. The kids also had fun playing with the pumpkins.

Kirk managed to swipe an apple when I wasn't looking. Thankfully, they said he could have it!

Aubrie had fun looking at the big pumpkins.

Fun day!

Pop's Cabin

Perched on the side of a mountain, deep in the woods in Northwest Arkansas, sits Pop's Cabin. It started with a dream to have a quaint cabin to escape to and "get away from it all." The land is rugged and the location is far from civilization. However, that is what makes it so perfect. The only other living things that can be seen while at the cabin are deer, squirrels, and maybe the occasional bear. The exterior of the cabin is made from old barn wood and tin. It is the perfect location to be when you just want to escape the hustle and bustle of life. Who doesn't want to do that from time to time? Even though the land is primitive, the cabin has a cozy, comfortable feel to it that draws you in and keeps you coming back. The dream of the cabin belonged to my dad. He placed the cabin on the same mountain that provided a home to his father, grandfather, and great grandfather many, many years ago. His ancestors put their blood, sweat and tears into the same mountain when they homesteaded there so many years before. Now it was his turn to do the same. He put his heart into building this cabin, for he built it with his own two hands. So much love has gone into this project, and to say that he is proud of it would be an understatement. Here are some pictures to show the cabin from start to finish.

This is the view out the front door of the cabin.

The beginning of the cabin.

The sign above the door that my mom made. Pops is what Aubrie calls my dad.

A close view of the porch and some of the old tin used to cover part of the cabin.

Pops with Kirk and Aubrie.

This is the "road" leading up to the cabin.

A picture of the inside of the cabin.

The wood stove that will be used to heat the cabin as well as to cook on.

The "kitchen"

The door into the bathroom.

A view of what the outside looks like now.

The steps of the cabin.

Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Gymnastics fun!

Aubrie loves to go to her gymnastics class. She looks forward to Mondays more than any other day of the week. I love to watch her learn new things each time and have so much fun doing it. Poor Kirk, he gets a little bored watching big sis. Now that he can walk, he wants down so he can go, go, go. I have to contain him in his stroller.

Stretching

Entertaining himself

Flip

Listening to directions

Still happy

Swinging

Monkey

Resting

Can we go now, please?

Cini Minis

Poor Beau awoke to a yummy smell coming from the kitchen. However, it wasn't what he thought. He thought I had made cinnamon rolls for his breakfast. Unfortunately, he was only smelling the Pumpkin Spice candle that was burning in the kitchen. Needless to say, he was disappointed and I felt bad. So, I went to the fridge to see what I could find to make some quick and easy cinnamon rolls for him. The first thing I saw was Crescent Dinner Rolls. I knew they would work perfect. This is what I did:

Roll the dough out in a rectangle shape on a well floured surface.

Drizzle melted butter on the dough.

Sprinkle a cinnamon sugar mixture onto the dough.

Roll up the dough.

Cut the dough into small sections.

Lay the cinnamon rolls into the pan.

This is the result after baking on 375 for 25 min.

I also drizzled a powdered sugar glaze over the rolls before serving.

Enjoy!

Friday Night Lights

Most people go to a football game to watch the game, but not Aubrie. She goes for one reason, and one reason only, to watch the cheerleaders. In fact, one of my favorite Aubrie quotes as we were watching the game a few weeks ago is, "Mom, I can't see the cheerleaders! I DID NOT come to watch football!" Needless to say, we found new seats front and center. To say that she is obsessed with cheerleaders would be an understatement. She will even watch football on TV just to catch a small glimpse of the cheerleaders. We have taken her to all the Shiloh Christian School home games this year, and now she is hooked. One of the sweet girls even gave her an old pair of pom poms, as you can see in the pictures. She brings them to every game and cheers right along with the big girls. By the time we go to the next game, she will have a cheer uniform to match theirs as well. I love to see her confidence as she stands in front of a few hundred people and does her cheers. I pray that she is always this confident in life and never lets anything stand in the way of her dreams and goals.

It was a special night for our littlest Jackson too. It was Kirk's first football game! Now, if you know anything about Beau, you know that football has been and still is a passion of his. He played from the time that he was a little boy and while he was in college. He is now ready to pass the tradition on to his mini me, Kirk. Ok, I know he doesn't look very happy at the moment, but he really did have a good time running around at the game. There is nothing better than watching your kids enjoy life. Even the simple things can make them so happy.

House Divided

You discuss many things before you get married. For instance, it is important to know your future spouses views on politics, and religion. When I met Beau, we talked and discussed the fact that we were both Christians and we were both on the "right"side of politics. Great! This is going to be a match made in heaven. We agreed on so many things. We liked the same movies, foods, had similar hobbies, and so on. Well, there is one thing that I guess we left out. How did we let this slip through the cracks? How could we have been so careless? After we got married, we realized the consequences of our mistake. The reality began to set in, but it was too late. Which team will our children cheer for? Arkansas or LSU? I guess only time will tell!