Laura Ingalls and Me...BFF

Joshua and I had SO MUCH FUN last night at the musical, Little House on the Prairie! We are SO GRATEFUL for our dear neighbors who watched Jacob and Haven Rose for us so we could have a night out. Our friends, the Jones' joined us....we are all HUGE fans of LHOTP!

IT's LAURA!!!!!!!!!! For those that don't know, Melissa Gilbert actually plays "Ma" in the musical. It was so SO good!!!

I nearly peed my pants coming face to face with the REAL Laura Ingalls! Little House on the Prairie is by far my favorite tv show! Joshua got me the entire dvd collection for Christmas last year!

BEST FRIENDS FOREVER! What a dream come true!

Wouldn't you know the best pic of the night is with Joshua and his friend and fellow A&M alumni, Barry. When asked to take one last picture, Melissa said, "Anything for an Aggie". Joshua and Barry are now fighting over who will be president of her fan club. I hope they can work it out.

And now for your viewing pleasure: Backstage with Melissa Gilbert!! (and the boy that comes out first is her son, Michael, who is named after Michael Landon and plays "Willie" in the musical)...

BOO!

Part2 of our Halloween adventures...giddy up!
Jacob had to lasso this giant spider at the zoo! Thank you, Jacob, for saving us all!

Hmmm....I think I like the REAL pumpkin patch better

Jacob has never eaten any candy before...but he had fun trick or treating nonetheless! Momma and Daddy however like to eat candy :)

Care to spare a bite of that funnel cake with a poor, cold, and hungry little cowboy?? Guess not :(

Daddy was gone all week last week, and wouldn't ya know that is when both kiddos decide to get sick! (Haven's first cold!) It was quite the adventure but we all survived. Jacob was so proud to hold his sign up for Daddy at the airport!

Miss Haven Rosebud is growing before our very eyes! She decided Momma's milk wasn't quite hitting the spot...so bring on the rice cereal! She did great :)

Our first trick or treaters on Halloween night: Cinderella and Superman! aka Caroline and Daniel :)

OKAY...so this is a picture of me and Matt when I was Jacob's age. The back of the picture said "Halloween '77". My Mom made us these costumes and she held onto them all these years...

I can't believe my own son is wearing MY costume!! Just days before Halloween I said to my mom, "Wouldn't it have been funny if Haven was a carrot?'...leave it to Grammie How...in a matter of just hours, this carrot costume was custom (Grammie) made and sent in the mail, arriving just in time for Halloween! Thanks Grammie!!

Bunny, Carrot, and some sugar :)

Bunny is so excited to see Dumbo! Jacob, does that costume look familiar?..you wore it last year!

Costume Cousins

Thanks Mimi and Papi for joining us on Halloween! We had a SPOOKTACULAR time!

And now for your viewing pleasure: Rosebud vs rice cereal

Cityfest and Boo at the Zoo!

Yeah, that's right, I'm sitting...so what?

Good work at (prop) sittin' pretty, Rosebud!

Last weekend, Little Rock hosted Cityfest (christian festival) featuring christian speaker, Luis Palau. It was a great turnout! Although, Jacob was not too sure about the Chick-fil-a cow that showed up. I couldn't help but be reminded of my childhood days at Disneyland and being PETRIFIED of Mickey Mouse!

I seriously have no clue who this child is sitting in my lap. Not only did Jacob sit still for 5minutes, but he let this 13yr old stranger paint a tiger nose and whiskers on his face.

Jacob's favorite part of Cityfest..the motorbike jumpers! DO NOT get any ideas, Jacob!

(you've got to click on these pics to enlarge them and really check out these guys' moves!)

Don't even think about it, Jacob!

Listen to your Mother, Jacob!

Our little Tiger is worn out from all the day's festivities!

Evidently, Jacob thinks Haven Rose is the fire chief around here

Jacob still never misses an opportunity to give his baby sister a smooch

OUR COWBOY

Cowboy Jacob and Seafood Restaurant Waiter Kekoa wait patiently for the doors to open at Boo at the Zoo!

Let's get this show on the road, Daddy! Cowboy Jacob was so good and kept his hat on the entire night! More Boo pics to come...

And now for your viewing pleasure: The Cityfest Bikers LIVE along with their most handsome spectators...

Joshua helped bring Cityfest to Little Rock...you can see what a big turnout/success it was...being the fact that Hannah Montana was playing literally across the street at the Verizon arena!

A Real Pumpkin Patch!

Poor Haven Rose...Daddy walks in the door and demands to know who put long johns on your head :(

Jacob (and Daddy&Momma) have been enjoying the cooler weather outside!

Haven Rose is 5mos old today! And just last week we used our very last diaper from my diaper/wipes baby shower! This is a picture of the famous last diaper. 5mos worth of free diapers, can't beat that!!
Thank You Thank You!!

The Townsend family had a super fun time at the pumpkin patch along with the Hows and Glasgows! It was my first time to a real pumpkin patch. I do believe it was the most sincere! $5 for a hayride and the pumpkin of your choice...what a bargain!

Pumpkin Patch or bust!

And they're off!! Who will find the best pumpkin!?

Now this is the way you pick 'em

The peas and carrots get lost in the pumpkin patch

Waiting for the Great Pumpkin

Somebody does not want to leave the pumpkin patch

During the hay ride, poor Joshua was afraid of all the fake spiders hanging from the trees. Nevertheless, we made it back safe and sound, pumpkins in hand. What a GREAT day!!!

And now for your viewing (and listening) pleasure, Haven tells of her big day at the pumpkin patch! -that or she is trying to lay an egg...

A Texas Rose in Texas

You'd think Jacob heard Santa pulling up on his sleigh the way he gets excited hearing the garbage truck a'comin. Even in the pouring rain, Jacob is mesmerized by the ever so fascinating garbage truck.
This is a picture of Jacob on his first road trip to Nashville...

And here is Rosebud on her first road trip back to the Motherland! Both kiddos did so well, sleeping nearly the whole way there and then the entire way back home. Sorry Haven doesn't have any britches on in this picture...we had a bit of a blowout 5min. from our destination. Needless to say, we HAD to stop.

Nana joined us in Texarkana...Jacob had so much fun playing with her!

Mimi pulled out all the stops and made us a tasty feast of chicken & sausage gumbo with rice and potato salad!...and let's not forget the THREE different desserts she made! SO GOOD.

Rosebuds and Nana

When Jacob presents Papi with his boots, that is code for: Papi, it's time to take me outside...NOW (and forever).

We had so much fun in Texarkana and Haven was such a traveling trooper again!

Fresh clean Rosebuds

Mimi has such a gift with children...Haven Rose fell asleep so cozy in her arms each night

Papi loves his grandkids (which is an understatement).

Thank you Papi, Mimi, and Nana for such a SUPER FUN visit!!!!

And now for your viewing pleasure...Have you ever seen or heard a Rosebud laugh??

Adventures in Grooming featuring Jacob Townsend

This was Haven's reaction when we told her that Jacob and Daddy are the only boys allowed to kiss her...as long as she lives :)

Sweet dreams Jacob and Humpty Dumpty!

And sweet Haven Rose...still quite the prayer warrior!

Poor Jacob had a 102.8 fever last weekend. Nothing like being trapped indoors with a sick 2yr old on a rainy day. Momma and Daddy had to improvise...like sleigh rides around the house in a Pampers box!

...and Lincoln Logs party in Jacob's room! From the looks of Woody, I'd have guessed you guys were playing Wizard of Oz.

Our little Fire Chiefs!

And now for your viewing pleasure: Adventures in Grooming, featuring our very own, Jacob Townsend...

This is Jacob "doing his hair"...

Elvis has left the zoo

Haven Rose had her first trip to the zoo last weekend! Jacob and Kekoa had a blast! It is so fun to watch them stare at those animals with such fascination! Haven Rose, on the other hand, was bored and slept the whole time ;)

First stop: the Jacobs!...I mean, the monkeys!

Jacob trying to gain eagle powers

The view is much better from up here! I think this is where Auntie Iris told us we were looking at a "wolfy thing".

Jacob loves to make a fierce tiger growl while at home...but when he came face to face with the real deal, his "roar" immediately dropped to a whisper.

It hit me yesterday that Joshua and I don't have to lean over anymore while walking hand in hand with Jacob *sniff sniff*

Jacob and Kekoa will never hear the story about my dad jumping into the rhino cage on a dare. I can already see their little minds racing with ideas!

not sure what to say about this picture.

The highlight of our day...train ride with Daddy!

Elvis seems to be following the Townsends around these days. We just happened to bump into him while exiting the zoo! Must be a new exhibit.

Pajammy Jam time with Daddy before bed is always a good time :)

Jacob loves to kiss his baby sister on the hand. Already a southern gentleman!

Joshua's kung fu instructor paid us a visit last week! It was so good to see him...thank goodness Ron didn't karate chop Haven Rose!

Daddy's Texas Rosebud wears blue jeans

I made Jacob this huge burrito stuffed with ground beef, tomatos, beans, and cheese....thinking he may eat half and I would eat the rest. Ummm..our growing boy ate the ENTIRE thing!

...then polished if off with a handful of blueberries!

WOW.