Licenced to drive!!

Well, here she goes - I may never see her again!

I have to say, I am a little sad to lose her car - I love driving it, and the second we got home from getting her licence, she took all of the stuff I had put in the center console out!

I know that it is her car after all, but it was nice to have it as an option some days.

Now she says I am never allowed to drive it again! :(

after the DVM testing lady got out of the car - we were all waiting with bated breath for this excited look!

here is the proof!

driving Haley home - all by themselves!

and they're off!

y'know - looking back at this post - i realize that maybe she isn't mature enough to drive yet - after all, her BFF is wearing a lion hat!

Tradition...

Conference Gumbo!!

This is one of those details - the smell, the taste - it all screams

General Conference weekend to us!

Fall is here!

And I couldn't be happier!

I love the colors, the smells, the weather, the foods, the holidays, the clothes...

I could go on and on

Details

Every morning after my shower - I take a few minutes & jump on my computer to check 3 things - my emails, my facebook and my blog. I like to see what is going on in everyones world - big or small. I especially love the blog - Even the most insignificant posts give me a little thrill when they pop up as new post alert!

Those simple posts make my morning a little more bright!

also

I have noticed that anytime I have occasion to open my nightstand drawer, I pull out my old journals and read through old entries. I love to lay across my bed, with the dog and cat curled up next to me and remember. I almost always end up teary eyed!

I have also been known to spend hours reading through old blog posts - I just like remembering all of those special occasions.

So I am going to try and post more about our everyday life - i think it is important to celebrate even the mundane things. I look forward to looking back and seeing what funny or amazing or horrible things happened to our little foursome. The kids are changing at a head spinning rate and I don't want to lose the details.

You know what I mean - like, when you are decorating for Christmas and the kids are so excited to pull out their favorite ornament - that first look as it is unwrapped after a long year in the attic is magical to me!

Or when you find a slip of paper that has your teenagers "FOR MY MOM" poem - written with heartfelt words , way back in the first grade - can't you just see their sweet face as they presented it to you all those years ago? Can't you just feel their warm snugly body as you squeezed them tight to thank them?

Those are the details i am speaking of -

I warn all of you who follow us - some posts will certainly be skip worthy - just remember, I am doing this for my own sentimental reasons!

SWEET 16!

Pretty much ever since maggie was born, she and I have talked about what a great party she would have for her sixteenth birthday! We dreamed of a hotel ball room, an amazing D.J., and all of her friends dancing the night away!

And then the time came to plan said party, and she decided to redecorate her bedroom with her party fund instead - much to my dismay :(

So here are the pics from her sort'of uneventful Sweet 16!

the traditional birthday chair cover - i made this years ago and it MUST be brought out on everyones special day!

Years ago, Tommy got a marker and a stack of construction paper and made this decoration. He put one up for all of us each year, and the kids thought it was funny that dad drew bubble letters, so I finally just laminated them for use year after year!

My fridge calender - marking Maggie's Day!!

The 'Sweet 16 Fairy' came and visited our yard!

Maggie chose dinner at Johnny Carrinos because she LOVES their strawberry lemonade and baked cheese tortellini

with some of her favorite people!

Tim, Haley and Justin

idk what was so funny...

Maggie and Justin after dinner

I am so excited for my baby girl - she is growing up and has untied the 'apron strings' - I love seeing her make independent choices and take steps to becoming a woman everyday.

On the flip side of that, it breaks my heart to see my beautiful girl spreading her wings as she prepares to leave our little nest.

Her daddy and I love her so much and are pleased with what a

great girl she has turned out to be.

Happy Sweet 16 Maggie Grace!!

support = love

Tim and Michaela making signs to hold up when

Duchess Maggie is announced on the football field!

Forney Homecoming Duchess 2010

Maggie was elected to be the Sophomore Class Homecoming Duchess 2010!!!

She was at home sick when she was nominated, but a friend texted her to give her the good news.

Everyone in her sophomore class had to write down the name of their nominee - then those were tallied and the top five girls listed became the finalists.

Then the students were asked to vote on that list of finalists - and Maggie won!! YAY!!!

Here are some shots from Homecoming weekend:

Justin and Maggie exchanging Mum and Garter

(he will hold onto his until his school's homecoming next month)

The night of the homecoming game where the court

would be presented in a ceremony on the field

as is tradition, daddy was her escort

Some fans in the stands - by the time the ceremony began, we had 28 friends gathered to watch her - she could DEFINITELY hear this cheering section!

the view from where we stood -

thank goodness I was able to hire a sports photographer with field credentials to take some good, close up photos

(www.vickicallaway.com - look under 'homecoming 2010')

nana and amber

tim and michaela with one of the signs that they made for maggie!

tim presenting maggie with flowers after the ceremony

walking through the swords

The parade the next morning - it RAINED!!! I was not happy after all of the time I spent trying to find a convertible for Maggie to ride in!

a quick pic at home after the parade - it was still raining!

stefanie was able to get a few shots of her as she drove by!

Im so glad that i hand painted the signs for the car doors - everyone else used markers that ran!

after the parade, tommy grilled 'tommy burgers'!

Nana, Pa and Papa were all able to come!

Mag and Justin about to leave for the homecoming dance

funny how impatient she looks!

showing nana how teenagers dance these days!

the Sophomore Court:

Reggie Rideaux, Maggie Wright, Haley Penn & Clayton Chadwick

These pics are just snaps, but to see some of the professional shots, check out Vicki's sight (listed above), the Forney Post, Quintana Photos and the Forney Messenger