What a fun memory!  Lovin’ these Pond girls!

Love, Noelle and Anna Kate

I don’t know how else to describe the weekend we’ve had around here.  All three of the girls spent the night with Aunt Sharon on Saturday.  It was Rose’s first sleep over ever!  She didn’t let Sharon sleep very much, but Anna Kate turned out to be our wild card.  She was perfectly fine when Sharon put her to bed, but half-way through the night she got so sick (with croup) she could barely breathe.  Sharon said her breathing was nothing like anything she had ever heard in her life.  She rushed her home (2:30AM) and Mike and I spent the rest of the night taking care of her, making trips to the back porch to give her cold air to breathe and all of the other tricks our pediatrician taught us earlier in the week with Noelle.  It was Anna Kate’s first night ever to sleep in bed with us and you could tell she felt really special.  She had 104 degrees at one point, and made noises with every breath in and every breath out.  It was a rough night, but without Sharon, I don’t know what we would’ve done.  The fact that our other two girls were taken care of and we could both focus on Anna Kate helped so much.  Sharon is awesome under pressure and did everything just right.  I felt so sorry the Prince family went through all of that with us, but we all thought everyone was on the up swing.  She would say that’s what friends are for.  They are the best!  Anna Kate is still having trouble breathing, but is resting well.  Say a little prayer for our sweetie!

On a lighter note, Mike and I went to an awesome house concert at a friend’s house.  They flew in a girl named Beth Wood to entertain us from Oregon.  She’s an amazing singer/songwriter and the evening was so special for Mike and me!

And look at Rose holding on to the couch with one hand.  That girl is rockin’ and rollin’.  She’s going to be walking in no time.  Seriously.  Where is my baby!?!  I tell her every day not to grow up, but she just laughs at me!

This one is so you can see how goofy our middle is!

This one is for Rose… what an adorable smile!

Riding off into a great fall!

Madison, Malia, Anna Kate, and Noelle posing at our PTA costume parade at a local nursing home earlier this week.  The kids went around to all of the residents and trick-or-treated.  The kids brought so much laughter and happiness… it was special to be a part of!

Noelle met up with her old classmate, Olivia, and Anna Kate and Madison are sweet little friends!

Malia, Anna Kate, and Kinsey – love these 2 year old buddies!

We went to see great grandma next, but when we got there, she started feeling badly… but we got to play in the scarecrow rose garden for a little bit with Kay Kay and Grandpapa.

Anna Kate is so carefree… love watching our punkin flutter around!

Our princess lost her socks and bow, but that’s the way she rolls!  They are so cute huddled around their grandma!  Happy Birthday, Kay Kay!!!

Grandpapa stopped by to hang out, and it was a beautiful afternoon.  It was our last day of freedom before we got sick again!  I’m so glad we got to enjoy it!

Noelle has always had a tender little heart toward scarecrows.  That’s something I’ll always remember about her from her falls as a little girl. 

Just went back and found these of Noelle from ‘07… she’s amazing!

GO RANGERS!!!

Noelle ‘06

Anna Kate ‘09

Rose ‘11

Noelle (with Mike), Anna Kate, and Rose

Noelle ‘06

Anna Kate ‘09

Rose ‘11

Noelle comforting Anna Kate…

Noelle comforting Rose… she has the most amazing heart and is the best big sister you could ever dream up!

Most importantly, today is my Granny’s birthday (Rara’s mother)!  She would’ve been 97 years old today… how I deeply wish she were.  The girls always ask me to tell them “Granny stories” to which I always tell them of my adventures with her growing up.  She was there for me when my life was really difficult, and I’ll never forget that.  She delighted in me, and I delighted in her.  I never got too big to sit in her lap in her easy chair.  When I came to her back door, she would always call out “You who!” as I opened the screen door.  I miss her so much!  I ache, but I celebrate her today with all the love in the world!  Noelle and her friends have this silly little game where they say, “Look up, buttercup!” and when the person they are talking to looks up, they tickle their neck.  They are so cute how they giggle and do it over and over again like it’s the first time.  For some reason, “Look up, buttercup” has been in my head all day, and I think I know why!

Moving on, Noelle and Rose are sick!  We have been sick off and on ever since school started.  Noelle stayed home from school today with 102 and has slept all day, only waking up to eat.  Bless her heart.  She did feel like reading a little bit this afternoon, so that was good!  We went to the doctor this evening, and she has croup.  When we got home,  I took Rose’s temp, and it was over 103.  So, yep, we’re sick around here.  Anna Kate is happy and healthy as usual, so at least we’ve got one girl bouncing off the walls!  🙂

Lastly, these Rangers fans (us) are pumped up about the game tomorrow night (can’t wait)!  If you don’t like baseball, this series will change your mind.  It has been so exciting!  The players are having so much fun and we have the best manager in the world.  They show Ron’s reaction to the action on TV all the time, and he’s genuinely a trip.  Mike and I put two and two together that we were at some of the same Rangers games at the same times growing up, even though we lived hours apart and didn’t know each other.  I vividly remember looking out over the masses and thinking, “I wonder if my future husband is in here some where.”  I know that’s dorky, but it’s so true.  I remember driving up to DFW with Dad and my siblings as we listened to “Cheap Seats” the entire way.  Then, we would seat jump during the game.  That was just as much fun as watching the game and involved just as much strategy as well.  Mom was way too embarrassed, so she stopped going with us… too proper for that!  All that is to say, we have a sweet history with this team and to win the World Series for the first time in franchise history would be really special.  Hopefully… that’s the way baseball “will” go! (inside joke for those of you who know Ron’s quotes)

You’ve got to see this: http://www.ryanpitts.com/foo/world-series-companion/

Good night!  Send up a prayer for our sick babies!  Thanks!

Baby Rose is our 3rd Froggy Pond… so sentimental!!!