Where's Harper

I was doing the dishes in the kitchen and I turned around to find Harper.

"Look what I found mom"

Mama Bears at the Arboretum

This week Harper and I went down to the Arboretum in Dallas for a fun Mama Bears event. Mama Bears is a part of the Baylor Women's council here in Dallas. They planned this fun event around the annual Autumn Festival when the arboretum is decorated for Fall - complete with gigantic pumpkin patch, pumpkin house, hay bale maze, and more. I rode down with two of my fellow Mama Bears and their little bears. I didn't get any pics except the 75 that I took in the pumpkin patch. Here are a few of my favorite!

Not so sure what to think of the hay.Harper and her friend Brady.We had a great time.

New toys

Harper received some fun new toys and clothes for her birthday. She loves lounging around in her new pajamas. She loves her little school bus toy - remember "The wheels on the bus go round and round..."

I discovered these cool little snack traps. You put food in them and she can reach in and grab it but they don't all fall out. She's a big fan. We went over to Mackenzie's house this week to play. She had fun with the little kitchen. Andrew and Harper loved the indoor slide. Not sure what she was responding to - but it's a pretty funny look!

GAFIA 2009

Last weekend I attended GAFIA 2009! This is our annual weekend getaway with my College roommates. We came up with this idea when we were all graduating from Baylor. We decided that every year we would all get together for at least a long weekend - no matter where life takes us. This will be at least one weekend out of the year that we can all be in the same place and catch up on life! This year we celebrated our 5 year reunion so we went back to where it all started - WACO!
Our first stop in Waco was to the jewelry store where we all bought our Baylor rings to get them cleaned.
We all met while we were living in Collins dorm our freshman year at Baylor. We were total dorks and snuck back into the dorm and went and visited each of our rooms. It was weird knocking on the door and saying "Hi - I'm Sarah and I lived here 9 years ago!" I can't believe that I've known these amazing girls for that long!

Of course we had to make several visits to Common Grounds over the course of the weekend. Fun times spent laughing, talking, and catching up. Baylor built a new bear pit in the middle of campus for the bears. It's really nice. We walked around campus on Friday for a while until it started to rain. It then continued to rain all weekend - so much for laying by the pool. Lunch at Schmaltz's - one of our favorite lunch spots in Waco.

We had a yummy dinner at Ninfa's and then an impromptu dance party on the roof of the business school parking garage in the rain!! I love that I can completely be myself around these girls - dork and all!

Harper's First Birthday Party

Harper's first birthday was August 28th which was also the first football game! We waited a week and had her birthday party on Labor Day. We had 30 of our closest family and friends over to help us celebrate. I borrowed this cute idea from my friend Ashley. Her highchair all decorated for the party.

Grandad Sherman, Aunt Jane, Uncle Jerry, Steve, Austin and Melissa.Shelby and Sarah, our neighbors from Wylie, came to celebrate with Miss Harper. We miss living across the street from them!

Harper saying hello to her youngest guest, Miss Noelle. Noelle's mommy and I grew up together. We were so excited that Aunt Carol and Aunt Rebekah could both be there.

"Hey dad - will you help me open all of these presents?""I wonder what is in this one?"My sweet friend, Sarah, made this tutu for Harper. I LOVE it!! She looks so cute in it. She might just have to be a ballerina for Halloween this year.

Here comes the smash cake!"Mom - really - do I have to wear this ridiculous hat?""This icing feels weird!""I think I'd like to make my hair pink to match my face."Food coma and ready for a bath! We can't believe our little girl is ONE!
The "after" picture of the cake.