the incredibles!

isn't dress up fun? i think that is why kids, especially mine love halloween so much. of course there is the candy, but you have to dress up to get it! i even dressed up to a degree so that i could join in on the fun. i do admit that i was not too excited about halloween when the subject first came up, sometime in the summer. my girls are planners and were already discussing costumes in july. i was dreading yet another princess costume, while cute, a bit boring when that is what my daughter has chosen the last three years. i was so excited that my girls finally decide to moved on to a different genre of costume- superhero! who doesn't love a superhero? you can't go wrong with dual identity, spandex and a mask. it was settled, my girls would magically transform into not a lone ranger superhero such as superman, but a super family. after all no one else has your back like a family member. yes, i am now the mom of three superheros a.k.a the incredibles. there is no doubt that my girls will now answer to the names of violet, dash and jack-jack. i can see where your mind is now traveling, but the stop the train! NO, logan and i did not participate in dressing up as mr. incredible and elasti-girl- we know our limits and those of spandex!

we had a fun night at our church carnival which included grandparents, a cousin, a little trunk or treating, train rides, bounce houses, face painting, popcorn and sno-cones. it was a awesome night that i hope my incredibles will remember for a life time. i know that i will.

I'm going to Disneyland!

I'm going to Disneyland! Isn't that what everyone says right after they have won a championship game like the Super Bowl or the World Series? Well, that is what we have been saying around our house lately, thanks to Payton and her sponsors. Before you start to think that my kid is in some sort of rehab-let me explain. Every year the school puts on the Fun Run which really means a good old fashion Jog-a-Thon. Each child gets monetary sponsors in hopes of raising funds for the school. Surprisingly enough Payton was the big money earner this year and won the Grand Prize- a trip to the Big D (translation: Disneyland). Of course we had mixed emotions about the whole thing with Daddy being the Principal and all. Kids can be mean when you're related to the Principal, especially when there is a prize at stake (I speak from experience). Anyway, we are pumped for our trip in the undecided future and are proud of Payton for getting her sponsors and running 35 laps! Thanks to all of you who made this possible!

busy, but blessed

okay, so it has been awhile since i have posted anything and i must take a minute to do so even if i really need to be out the door right now! so much has been going on in the heyer home that it seems as if we had not a second to just relax and take a breath. logan is now in a master's program, which much to his dismay includes writing papers and homework. the girls have been busy with all of their activities such as karate and just the busyness of school and projects. tomorrow payton has her first oral report in front of the class. i am praying that she does not nervously giggle the entire time like she has been doing while practicing at home. i know she will do great! maybe i am the one who is really nervous- after all this is my first time to help prepare someone else for an oral report. this mom thing can be scary at times, not knowing if i am really helping her or holding her back from becoming the greatest orator of all time!

anyway, despite our crazy day to day lives i have been truly enjoying my kids and love the stage that we are in. i may not be saying that tomorrow or even an hour from now when someone is complaining or fighting over who gets to brush their teeth first or what color cup they each get for snack time. but that is when i will remember how rylie was pretending to be a dinosaur and started chasing her big sisters around the house, the good night kisses and declarations of their undying love for the best mom ever (maybe i should record that for future use) and all of the smiles that come in the quietness of reading a book together. if i could only bottle that up and keep it forever, i definitely would- maybe i just have! i hope that you will hold on to the little blessings that come up in your day too. well back to the real world of car line and pick up time.

stay tuned for halloween photos. trust me they are 'incredible'!

sisters, spas, shopping & starbucks

About two weeks ago I was blessed to go away for the weekend with my best friend, who just also happens to be my sister. I am not even sure of where to begin, we had so much fun. Heather lives in the So Cal area and we do not get to see each other as much as we would both like, but we talk on the phone all the time, which is nice. We decided a few months ago that we needed to start a yearly tradition where we get together for the weekend without husbands, kids or work and do something fun. Thus, Sister Weekend was started!

For our first ever Sister Weekend we decided to go to the Napa Valley and check out the spa scene. On Saturday we went to the Golden Haven Hot Springs Spa and Resort in Calistoga for our day of pampering and relaxation. We had massages, took a mud bath, went in the mineral jacuzzi and had a blanket wrap. This was a new thing for the both of us and I am so glad that I could experience it with Heather. I think that we just laughed our way through the mud bath. We also did a little shopping and became quite familiar with the Calistoga Library's bathroom- what a life saver!

In the end the weekend was fabulous! When else do I get to hang out with a close friend, go to the movies twice, eat ice cream for dinner, have late night pizza, stay up talking into the wee hours of the morning and get to sleep in- all in the same weekend? This was an adventure that I will never forget. I can't wait until next year! Love ya HJ.

Just About Us

So I guess that I would be the logical choice for the Heyer Highlight of the week since I am next up in the birth order train. I know that you could technically just look at my profile to check me out, but I did think of a few more things to share that do not fit into any set categories. So without further ado, I introduce myself- Holly Anne.

All about Me:

Love oatmeal chocolate chip cookies (which are currently baking-yum!)

Wheel of Fortune is my favorite show! I make the girls watch too- it's educational :) It is my hope to some day be a contestant and kick it with Pat and Vanna.

Orange is my favorite color

Love mafia movies (The family loyalty is awesome or brutal depending which side your on.)

I am a jeans and T-shirt girl

Favorite sport to play is softball, but enjoy watching football

Love photos! I even carry a camera in my purse- you never know when you will need it

I married my High School sweetheart

Jealous of my husband's truck (I miss my Tahoe)

Will soon be skydiving for my birthday (with my Dad!!)

Now that I think about it I may as well highlight Logan at the same time. After all he is my other half and we are a pair- of what I am not sure yet! So allow me to introduce the man of the family, my hubby- Logan.

All about Logan:

Enjoys hunting with his Dad and the girls

Wears lots of camo

Loves football (prefers college teams to the pros)

Is an awesome Dad! Those girls have him wrapped around their little fingers and he loves it

I think he secretly wishes he could sit on a John Deer mower and ride all day long

Passionate about his job and influencing kids for Christ

Big drinker- Pepsi and Kool Aid are his down fall

Not great at telling a joke, but has an awesome laugh

Loves to read

Is the best husband in the world!

Okay, so we are not too flashy, but hope you found out something you did not know before and that is what it is all about. Oh, by the way the photo is not too current, but one of my favorites- when we were young- those were the days.

Miss Payton

For us parenting began when our precious Payton Anne entered the picture nearly 7 years ago. Time sure does fly. She is such a joy to us and I would love for you to get to know her a bit better. So this week our Heyer highlight is all about Payton.

All About Payton Anne:

Named after the football player Walter Payton- we think she deserves the nickname "Sweetness" too

Loves to sing and clap! (she can even remember songs from the radio that she has heard only once)

Her favorite day of school is Thursday- chapel day

She is not a morning person (thank the Lord for uniforms!)

Not a fan of homework (who really is?)

Likes cheese pizza with no cheese

Enjoys swimming and has gotten really good this past summer

Enjoys dress up and all things princess

She always has a plan

Payton is fun to be around. She always has a song on her lips that is truly a reflection of the joy in heart. It would be no suprise if she was leading worship at church or ended up in the music business one day. We can't believe how quickly she is growing up and changing daily. This year she is in First grade and will be 7 soon. We are so thankful that she is our girl and hope that you have enjoyed your sneak peek into the life of Payton.

Fall has fallen

Can you believe it, Fall is here? That seems so strange to me. I thought that summer would somehow last forever and the girls would never go back to school, but it did eventually happen. I only recently noticed that Fall was here this weekend, crazy me. The weather has still been warm and where we live the seasons sometimes creep up on you. Okay, so I realize that I may be rambling on a bit, but I think that I am still in shock. However, at our house there are some tell tale signs that Fall has fallen.

If you know me at all you know that laundry is my nemesis. It sometimes erks me that we have an entire room for this chore that is not my friend. And what is the deal with the washing machine and dryer? They are a classic dynamic duo, however they are missing a partner in crime-the machine that folds and puts away the clothes! I have for too long been this partner and am not enjoying the job- I don't even have a fancy cape or anything, but if I did I would have to wash, dry and put it away! Will it ever end? No, probably not. All of this to say that Fall is here and he has shown his face in my laundry room. As seasons change so does our clothing. Socks, sweats and long pants have now entered this villainous cave of laundry land. Although these items only aid my nemesis in his evil plot to surround me with Tide they are not the enemy, but merely a reminder of all the fall fun to be had.

I am eager to bundle up against the brisk Fall air with hopes of watching a Friday night football game under the lights, jumping into a pile of leaves with my girls, taking a trip to the Pumpkin Patch or spending a Saturday afternoon in bed with a good book. So Fall I welcome you! Even if you bring little socks that will more than likely become lost in the dryer.