#2.......Holidays!

I am soooo tired tonight, so this won't be elaborate by any means. I LOVE holidays. I always have. I especially love them in my 20s. My early 20s, I had my first holidays as a married woman. Then, in my mid 20s, I had my first holidays living at home with our family. One of my favorite Christmas's, Tyler and I snuggled into our bed (with new sheets and comforter) in our home on Christmas night. We were exhausted from all the fun and so excited that we were home in our own bed. In my latter 20s, I have had babies. I must say there is nothing more fun than Easter, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas with your children. The excitement of picking out Halloween costumes and trick or treating. The time spent with family eating a dinner that your children will know as tradition on Thanksgiving. The awesomeness of decorating your home for Christmas, making cookies for Santa, Christmas eve service at your home church, and helping be elves for Santa so you can enjoy your kids faces on Christmas morning. I can't imagine it will get better than this! This past Christmas was the best Christmas of my life......and I had pink eye! Easter is fun too...picking out matching easter outfits and hiding easter eggs. So, holidays are definitely one of my favorite things of my 20s!

#3.....Stability

Finally, we have stability! After moving in 8 different apartments and 2 houses, we have found our home! I love stability! I love the thought of making years and years of family memories in the same home. I love putting furniture in it's spot and not moving it around every 6 months. Sorry Mom! ;) I am so excited that we are living in the same town with our family so we aren't constantly thinking of making our way home. I love that I have worked in the same office for the past 6 years and have made many friendships with my patients and coworkers. We have a routine. We go to the same place for pizza buffet each week, the same grocery store, the same movie store, the same bakery, you get the idea. So, thankfully, the end of my 20s has brought stability to our lives! Hallelujah! Hey, our parents are thankful they don't have to move us every year too!

First family project

This is our first completed family project for Asher's preschool. Of course, it had to have a sword!

#4.....Dancing

I have loved dancing for more than just my 20s. I was on the high school dance team and thought about doing it for the college. I didn't want to be tied down, so I just danced with sorority stuff. However, my 20s have given me more reasons to LOVE dancing. First, I love to dance with my friends. Second, I love to dance with my babies. We dance at home almost every night. It is great fun and I know these times will be burned into my memory forever! Third, I love Dancing with the Stars! It is the only television show that I watch consistently. In fact, I watch it with the kids and we dance when the stars dance! I can't wait until Leila can start dance classes and I know she will love it too! And yes, I plan on dancing right through my 30s too!

Heritage Beach Party

Our church had a community beach party tonight. It was a fun event to end the summer. The kids had a blast.....sand, waterslides, a firetruck to spray water, face painting, ball playing, and snowcones! Now, bring on fall!!

#5......Yellow Polka Dot Bikinis and Things

These are the things that I could wear in my 20s if my little heart desired. I didn't have to worry about the length of my shorts or the exposure of my tummy. I could eat whatever I wanted and not exercise regularly too. As my 20s are drawing to a close, this is not the case. I had to do without sweets and exercise regularly for two months just to brave a bikini at the beach this summer. My how things are changing! I can tell my 30s are going to consist of exercise and dieting to pull off shorts and swimsuits!

Chinese Food

We took the kids to try Chinese food tonight. Asher liked it okay. Leila not so much! Here is a picture of what she thought! She wouldn't even swallow it....just held it in her mouth. Ha! I guess she's like her Momma....I'm a very picky Chinese food eater.

#6.....Our Small Group

Okay, I need to be a better photographer during small group! I couldn't find a picture with the whole group or one with only small group members....these are the closest thing I could find! Our small group started meeting shortly after we moved home. Our group has grown, shrank, and grown again through the years. We have gone from having 1 baby to having 9 babies! We have tried about every variation of cooking, hosting, and meeting intervals in the past 5 years! Small group....I love y'all! I love your families! It has been so fun growing and changing. We have prayed and fellowshipped together for many years and I hope we will for many more. Hasn't it been fun!

#7.....My family

Wow, what would I do without our family! We couldn't wait to move back home to be with our parents, sibilings, grandparents, and aunts/uncles again. We have been blessed immeasurably with loving, supportive family! There are NO words to tell y'all how much we love, enjoy, and appreciate you! I can't imagine who I would be without y'all. Let's just say that my favorite times are when we are all together! We have had lots of great memories in my 20s of together times! I just told Ty tonight that if I died tomorrow, I would truly feel like I lived and loved. Thank you for loving me and Tyler and our sweet babies. Someday, I hope Asher and Leila will say that they feel as loved and supported by us as we have been by y'all. We love you sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much! Thank you for EVERYTHING! Let's make some more great memories in my 30s!

#8.....My Job

Before we moved back home, we had a friend call and ask me to send a resume to his brother in law, a dentist in our hometown area. I sent my resume and had an interview. Prior to moving back, I prayed for a place that I would love so much that I would work there until I was ready to retire. Winborn family dentistry was the place God provided. I love my job! I love my co-workers, my boss and his family, and my patients! My twenties have been far more enjoyable going to a job that I enjoy! I am so thankful! By the way, we had a continuing education meeting out of town so I am having to play catch up on the countdown.

#9......Solemates

These are a few of my favorites for walking through the journey of my twenties!

#10.....My Amazing Friends

How would I have made it through my twenties without my awesome friends? From dental hygiene friends, to old junior high/high school friends, to church friends, to small group friends, to work friends, and now to mommy friends. I love all of you and how much fun I have had sharing my twenties with you! Thanks for everything! I am truly blessed by your friendships!

1st Day of Preschool!

Today was the day! Asher's first day of preschool. He requested banana bread and eggs for breakfast. Poor thing was so tired that he wanted sleep instead of eating. By the time we were ready to take pictures, he was excited. On the drive to school, Leila asked me if we were selling Asher. Don't ask me? I don't know where she comes up with this stuff! Anyways, Asher answered her. He told her that he was going to school to learn, especially science, and he would come home and teach her what he learns. Then, he said that when Leila goes to school, she could remind him what she learns because he will probably forget some of it! :) I thought it was sweet. So, when we got there, he hopped right out of the car to his teacher. The little guy barely yelled bye to me....atleast no tears! I was there early to pick him up. When he got in the car, he told me he had a great first day. He said it was "AWESOME"! He loved playing and painting, and he said he made lots of friends. He does want to go back tomorrow. Great Success! When we came home, he was SOOOOO hungry. He ate an entire sandwich, 2 pieces of pizza, fruit, and milk. He was shoveling it in....it was hilarious! Now, they are both resting and I should be too!

Leila

Here are a few pictures of Leila playing with some of her birthday goodies! I like the fact that she likes to help baby Barbie brush her teeth! ;) Today, Leila had her 3 year checkup. I was glad to have her with me today because Asher started preschool. She was my little sunshine! Anyways, she weighed 30 lbs. 4 oz. (50-75%) and was 40 inches tall (95%). I was super proud of her weight gain because since her 2 month checkup she hasn't been above 20% and last year was only 10%! My girl is good eater! She did great on everything else! She told the doctor that her boyfriend was Asher! Ha! I guess she was missing him too!

#11......Growing Old with You

Almost 10 years ago, a sorority sister sang the words "grow old along with me, the best it yet to be" at our wedding. She was singing the truth! I thought it couldn't get better than standing there marrying the man that I loved. It justs gets better with each passing year. Now, I am feeling pretty emotional because our precious baby boy starts preschool tomorrow, so here is your warning that this is going to be a mushy post! If you don't like sappy, just quit reading now!!!

Tyler, I have loved you since I was a 15 year old girl, sitting with you on our lunch time at school, you wearing a red hooded sweat shirt. God provided a mighty man of faith for me at a young age because he knew that I would need you for the bumpy road I would face. You have been a constant in my life. You have loved me and let me be me for a very long time! You don't try to smother out my crazy quirks or ideas! You take care of me when I think I don't need taken care of. You make me laugh when I am mad. You love me when I am mean. You make me feel good about myself when I am critical. You defend me, even when I am wrong. You are always loyal, faithful, forgiving, funny, accepting, and loving. I do not deserve you!!!! I mean it, I don't. But, I love you.....immmensely! I fall more in love with you with each passing year. God gave me a perfect husband. Okay, now I am crying. He gave our kids a perfect dad. I didn't even trust God with my life when he sent me you, but he knew that I needed you. Now, I can't imagine me without you. We are a pair and I love growing old with you. When we were in college, you wrote me a note that reads, "I can't wait until we get big and are able to be married and have babies that will hopefully look just like you and make all of the other parents jealous". Well, here we are! We are married with babies! Thankfully, they look like you too and they are beautiful! This is my happily ever after! Thank you Tyler for loving me, for choosing me, for growing old with me! It doesn't get any better than being with you! Well, being with you and Asher and Leila!!!

#12.....Copper

When I was 20 years old, a little kitty cat came walking into our life! We tried to find his owner/home and we tried to make him leave....he had found HIS home. We tried to give him away but by the time we took him, we were in love. He was the sweetest little cat. He grew into a great, big cat and we call him Copper. He is one pampered kitty! He has a special place in my heart. He is a part of our family and he has been by my side for my entire 20s. He has made many moves and gone through some major life changes, but one thing remains, we love our Copper Dale. Today, he must have ran out when we were loading the car for the party. He is ONLY an inside cat! When we opened the front door, there lay Copper, covered in leaves, panting, and dying to come inside. Now, he lays next to me where he will stay all day, thankful for the life he lives!

The Celebration!!!!

Thank you to all of our friends/family that came to celebrate Leila with us. We love y'all and are so thankful for your friendships and to be your family! I think the kids had a blast and we enjoyed the visiting we were able to do. I know the birthday girl had fun! Oh and Asher sang Happy Birthday to Leila all by himself....it was priceless! P.S. This is a long post!

Happy 3rd Birthday Leila!

Leila is 3 years old today! She woke up extra early this morning....I think she was so excited. I was going to do her birthday post this morning but I heard little feet coming down the hallway....cute, cute! She was begging to open a few presents and it is her birthday...so we let her. Then, we headed to her Little Mermaid birthday party at Adventure Zone. I'll post pics of that next. Anyways, here are a few fun facts about Leila at age 3:

You are wearing size 3T or 4T clothes because you are so tall....you are still skinny
You are potty trained!!!!! Yay, no more diapers!
You still love your "nilk"
Everything is "mine nilk" or "mine toy"....you haven't learned to say "my"
You love Mickey Mouse, Backyardigans, Hello Kitty, Tom and Jerry, Tinkerbell
You love anything girlie.....especially sparkly, pink, makeup, shoes, jewelry
You have to rock something to sleep everynight (baby dolls, stuffed animals, little figures, whatever you decide that night)
You still are sleeping great in your crib
You love to dance
You still love hard...hard hugs and hard kisses...you mean business
You have a little southern belle accent
You are confident and unique....I don't think you'll care what is the "in thing"
You are fine to play alone or with a lot of kids
You still eat your food in weird ways but eat everything...you aren't picky
You are doing great wearing your glasses and we are still worried about a developing lazy eye
Your best friend is Asher but you say you want to marry Thomas
You are mischevious and naturally funny like your Daddy
Your fav books....Pinkalicious and Llama, Llama mad at Momma
You are a drama girl, and you love to fold your arms and pout
You have a tender heart
Fav color is still pink
Your comfort is still my hair
You love to pretend to be a kitty cat and wakeup as one every morning
There are tons more things but for now....We love you our beautiful, sweet Leila. You are making my Happily Ever After come true! Happy Birthday Baby!

#13......Becoming a Razorback Fan

I went to UCA (the bears)in Conway until I was 20 yrs. old and growing up I only attended a few Razorback games. Needless to say, I wasn't a Razorback fanatic. Then, at 20, I became a dental hygiene student at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and we began to attend some of the Little Rock games. Also, Courtney (my best friend) went to UofA and was a huge fan. We went to a couple of games with her family. My love for the Hogs was blossoming. After moving home, we became season ticket holders and now it is a something I look forward to every year! Our kids are fans and they have been calling the Hogs since they were babies. Leila loves to dress up as a Razorback cheerleader! Asher loves EVERYTHING about it! It is a great way to enjoy my favorite season....fall! Woo Pig Sooie! 2 weeks left on the countdown!