This is what laundry day looked like at our house:
I came downstairs to find Louie, our Old English Sheepdog “wearing” one of Shawn’s shirts, hanger and all.
Turns out, a certain little someone is responsible for this game of dress up. She drapes the shirt over him and then collapses into a heap of giggles on the floor.
Sweet, patient Louie.
He doesn’t seem to mind.
In fact, I think he may actually like it.
We celebrated Hannah’s 3rd birthday with family this weekend.
Our theme? Cowgirls, of course!
For example:
Tissue paper poms! I bought a jumbo pack of pink and turquoise tissue paper and used about 9 sheets per pom, which made these pretties less than $1 each.
The cowgirl tree was made with an old Mason jar, some faux peat moss, branches from a Rose of Sharon in my backyard and scrapbook/cardmaking supplies I had in my stash. Cute!
Each child got to take home a jar of the dry ingredients to make Bakerella’s Cowgirl Cookies! I bought the jars at Hobby Lobby - $9 for a dozen. I had many of the ingredients on hand and bought chocolate chips, brown sugar and M&Ms. The pink bandanas are from Hob Lob also. I bought 2 for $1 and cut them into small pieces for the tops. I found the jute rope in my husband’s tool box and thought that it fit perfectly!
Tutorials for all of these lovlies coming soon!
Happy Birthday to my little cowgirl! Love her so much!
Last week, Hannah and I headed to a local apple orchard for some apple picking fun.
When we got back home, we peeled, sliced and baked the apples in a homemade caramel sauce. I’ve never made homemade caramel before, but it was quite easy.
And quite delicious! Once the apples and caramel were in the oven, we couldn’t help ourselves from licking the remaining caramel. Hannah was such a sticky mess that she got a bath immediately after. The caramel kept getting in her hair, so I put her curls up into a quick up-do. I thought she looked so cute and grow up!
With the remaining apples, I made a homemade housewarming fragrance. I found the recipe on a blog, and I cannot remember where…
Anyways, you slice an apple, an orange and put them into a pan with water. Add some cloves and a few cinnamon sticks. Boil the mixture and then turn the heat down to low and let it simmer all day. Your house will be filled with the most delicious fall scent! You simply add more water throughout the day as it simmers down. The oranges will fall apart and the apples get soggy, but I assure you the fragrance is incredible!
Last week was also Hannah’s 3rd birthday. We have a party planned for her with family next weekend. On the actual day of her birthday, Shawn and I took her to Chuck E. Cheese
for the first time.
We played a few games.
But we spent most of our time on the horse.
Hannah is such a little cowgirl! 
And, speaking of cowgirls, here she is trick or treating. It was no surprise when I asked her what she wanted to be for Halloween and she said a cowgirl. 
The costume was really easy and inexpensive to put together. The vest was Shawn’s when he was little. When Shawn’s mom gave it to me I almost started crying! His grandmother had made it for him, and it was special that she saved it all these years and that Hannah wore it. Shawn brought the pink bandana, sheriff badge and pink rope back from a recent trip to Houston. I found the cowgirl hat for less than $5 at a party supply store. I tried to attach a pink bow to the hat, but Hannah asked me to take it off. I guess it took away from the authenticity…
She’s the rootinest, tootinest cowgirl I know!
Dear Hannah,
Today you are three years old! Happy Birthday, sweet girl!
So, what are you up to these days? 
You are still tall and thin. I recently bought you some pants for winter and they fit you in the length, but won’t stay up because your waist is so tiny!
We hit a little bit of a rough spot with potty training a few months ago, but you came through it and have been doing great with it for a while now.
You have developed a new love for all things cowgirl! You are such a little country thing and we have no idea where you get it! You love cowboys, cowgirls, horses, saddles and bandanas. It is so cute that every day you like to put on your cowgirl hat, your pink bandana and your sheriff badge. You ask us to get down on the floor and take you for horse rides around the living room. You will even put a little blanket on us and say that it is a saddle.
One evening, we turned on the country music video channel and you saw a picture of Tim McGraw. You pointed at him and said, “That’s a real cowboy! Is he the sheriff?”
You love your Sunday School class and teacher! I am so glad because it is so important to us that you are raised in church. You have learned three Bible verses since summer and it is so sweet when you recite them. I hope that you remember them your entire life. Last weekend, we went for a hike on a trail near our church and you said, “Let’s go see my teacher.” I told you that she wouldn’t be there because it isn’t Sunday. You looked at me, completely serious and said, “But she lives here.”
One of my favorite things about this age is when you don’t fully get the right word and repeat things out of context. It cracks me up! One night after dinner, your dad and I were talking about the phone calls we have been getting from political candidates. Daddy said something like, “Well, they want your vote.” I didn’t even think you were paying attention. The next day, you said to Papa, “Papa, let’s talk about the Republicans. They want Mommy’s boat.”
You have become a little fickle about eating. Generally, you will eat well for two meals each day, but won’t be interested in the other. If we are at a family gathering or birthday party, you get so excited that it is hard to get you to eat. I must say, though, you amaze me with the things that you like. You still love anything Mexican and really like Spanish olives stuffed with blue cheese! You will eat any fruit, but apples aren’t your favorite. You love cucumbers and will eat a few slices for a snack each day.
In your three short years, you have traveled to Los Angeles and New York City with us. You are a great little travel buddy. You do amazing on airplanes and just go with the flow when away from home. You had your first experience in NYC a few weeks ago and you talk about the “taxi crabs” all the time.
You are such a sweet, funny little girl and we love you more than you will ever know!
A cowgirl hat,
and a sheriff’s badge.
Her trusty horse…
And a lasso made from a pink feather boa, of course.
