We're just a simple family of 4. Wow! Four, already! A mom, a dad and two adorable little girls. We don't have a family photo of all four of us because we never seem to find the time or take the time to get one done. We take lots of pictures though. We're amateur professional photographers - Jeff and I. It's fun, finding something that you love doing together - a hobby that both of us love. We didn't find this out until about 5 years into our now 7 1/2 year marriage! So, we have Caroline (she calls herself Caro) who is almost three and Lillian (we call her Lilly) who is 4 months old. Caroline is a fireball. In every way. She has this red hair that popped up out of nowhere. I mean, if we go to Walmart, I'm asked by no less than 4 old people where she gets her red hair. They look at me with my dark brown hair and can't figure it out. We can't either. We both have some aunts and cousins and other relatives with red or reddish hair but not our parents or even grandparents. Anyway, her personality is just as fiery as her hair. It's got to be HER way all the time. She is very particular about things. And she is so hilarious now that she is talking in complete, long sentences. Everything she says ends in "ok?". "You don't have to tell me no. I'm Caro. I'm a big girl, ok?" But with her passionate personality comes a very loving side that is so sweet. She absolutely loves her little sister and tends to her like a little momma. I love to see her hold Lilly's hand in the backseat of the car. She just reaches her hand into Lilly's carseat and holds her hand, no matter what she's doing otherwise - looking out the window, drinking her water, whining about not getting her way, whatever! And then there's sweet little Lilly. What did we ever do without her?! She has got to be the best baby, EVER! I'm not just saying that. Lots of people have told me that she really is the best baby. She's so laid back and agreeable with anything (except being held by Boompaw - sorry Boompaw!) She self-entertains and does not require much extra special attention. She has really fit nicely into the family since someone else already demands all of the attention! Now, if I could be guaranteed to have another baby as good as Lilly, I'd have another, and maybe another! But since there are no guarantees in life, maybe I should just stop while I'm ahead. I forgot to tell you about my sweetie husband, Jeff. He was made perfectly just for me. His nickname is Clonts which makes me the Clontstress. And the nickname just kind of stuck. Jeff is my handy around the house, computer-smart, always patient with me, optimistic, laid back schnookums! Not much to say about me...I'm a mommy and that about covers my days. I work part-time as a pediatric nurse which allows me to be almost a full-time mommy! And if I ever have time, I like photography, scrapbooking and napping! That about covers the high points of our family. There you have it, the Clontstress has spoken!
It's so hard to get Caroline to smile for the camera anymore!
The playgroup went to the Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound last Friday. Really, it's just a big photo-opp so the mom's can get some pictures of their kids with lots of pumpkins! Aunt Shannon and cousin Hunter took the hour long road trip with us. Lilly was fussy on the way up there and Hunter was fussy on the way back. It was so crowded when we got there and a bit hard to get good pictures but I think Caroline had a good time with the bounce house slide and her friend Sydney. Caroline got to do the hayride with Mommy and share a snow cone before we left. Sydney's mommy took her and Caroline on a long wagon ride around the pumpkin patch.
. And today, Oklahoma Grammy sent Halloween outfits for both of the girls. Caroline was so excited when she saw the package as I took it out of the mailbox. I said "Oh, Grammy sent you something" and she said "Ohhhh, yeah! Other grammy! I wanna go see her at her house!" And I knew she meant to go see Oklahoma Grammy! Caroline wanted to put on the bright orange shirt immediately even though she had on pink striped pants. And she even put the shirt on by herself without any help at all! It actually kind of matched the rest of the ensemble though since she had on her purple sparkle glasses and her pink sparkle flip flops. The shirt from Grammy has lots of pink and purple glitter on it! That girl is so hard to get to smile for the camera anymore. She's sick of it, I guess since I've constantly got the camera in my hands trying to get her to pose. Usually, if anything, she gives me that fake cheesy grin. Finally, I had to bribe her with the swing. I said I'd swing her if she'd give one last big smile and show me her shirt so I could send the picture to Grammy. She agreed. It was nice and pleasant outside this afternoon, in the 70s, which is a welcome change, letting us know that fall is on the way. 
