Check out this incredible rainbow we had the privilege of seeing in front of our house this week!  Everyone came outside, and it demanded reverence to creator God, maker of heaven and earth.

I wasn’t on my game today…  I have a sore throat and fever, so I wasn’t up to par with my chasing toddler around the house skills!

To this picture, add the smell of a fresh poopy diaper and the Crest toothpaste Rose just got into, and you’re right there in the middle of my day… visitors welcome!!! 

(Don’t feel sorry for Rose, she’s throwing a fit that I took the toothpaste away and won’t let her color all over the walls… she’ll get over it, I promise.  I put her fav Crocs on to make it all better… she’ll be fine!)

Here’s Anna Kate dancing to Katy Perry.  Noelle dressed her up as a “pop star” not to be confused with “rock star!”  This dresser/vanity has always been used as the girls’ stage.  My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas one year when I was a teenager.  I’ve told the girls in the past that Granny had given it to me.  Anyway, this night, both big girls went to my bedroom window,  opened the curtains and shutters, looked up at the night sky and said, “Thank you Granny for Mommy’s furniture… we are enjoying it so much!”  Seriously, that happened.  I was just a spectator.  They come up with things beyond their years.  And, yes, I let my kids climb on my furniture from time to time (we are consistent with boundaries).  It’s just things… but the childhood memories last forever!

I had to include on more marker pic of Rose… oh Rose!

Noelle used to stack bracelets and now Rose is doing the same thing.  She’ll have 20 on her arm at times.   Rose loves headbands, necklaces, bracelets, clothes, and especially shoes.  Anna Kate has never been into any of those things, but Rose LOVES them, as well as Noelle, of course.  It’s so neat to learn all about their similarities and differences, and the ways God has made each girl unique and special!

Ryan is one of Noelle’s favorite people!  He’s smart, kind and considerate, and they are really good friends!

Happy Birthday, Ryan!  Noelle had tons of fun at your gym party!

Here’s Noelle with her sweet classmates from last year, Nyla and Landry!

I took this picture of Noelle from the truck of the car… she looked so pretty watching me load up that I grabbed my phone and snapped this sweet picture!

My dad, known around here as Poppa, Michael Banks, is huge into conservation.  You can find a great article he wrote in East Texas Outdoors Magazine by clicking the link below and turning to page 46.  He’s published on blogs, in magazines and newspapers, speaks at meetings and appears in news casts all the time, but I thought you guys would especially enjoy learning about the Neches River and where I grew up in this one.  Great article, Dad!  Readers, enjoy!

http://www.youblisher.com/p/424228-East-Texas-Outdoors-Magazine-September-October-2012/

Getting ready for Halloween, Rose?  Mike and I can’t figure out how she did this marker so perfectly around her lips… when she walked out of the craft closet, we were both like, “What?”  It actually looked kind of cool in a weird way… crazy baby!

Noelle got 105 on her spelling test last week!  She has been working so hard, and we are so proud of her.  The bonus question on the back was the word “math.”  She’s having a great year so far!  We are so thankful!  Literally, our entire household is more relaxed.  It’s amazing how blessed we are with a happy fun-loving girl! 

She does get really tired though!  By the end of the school day, she’s ready to relax! 

Sweet Rose had a great check-up last week with Dr. Fikkert!