IT'S A MALL: GETTING ANOTHER CFA

Yesterday brought long-awaited and much anticipated news for our family.  For many months, and in the grand scheme of things, years, we have wanted to own the CFA in the mall across the street from our current restaurant.  It makes sense, since they have almost identical trade areas.  We have been so very blessed to have wonderful fellow operators to work with since we opened up in 2007.  However, when the most recent mall operator got a new opportunity, we thought the time might be right for us to take over the mall.

After an extensive interview and application process that has included 4 visits from various home office staff members, we got word yesterday that they have awarded us the mall store.



We are thrilled and a little numb.  Much like the time we were awarded our first restaurant, it is a bit overwhelming to start processing through all of the details.  There is a lot of work ahead of us (especially John), as we take over a restaurant heading into its busiest weeks and months.  It will officially become ours on November 1st.

We wanted the team to know right away, so John rushed out and got a large balloon and cake.  He stopped transactions on the front counter for a few moments to make a big announcement that we were adding to our CFA family.  It does feel a bit like getting a new baby.  So much joy, so much work.  Our team cheered and was genuinely delighted.  We owe them so much, because what we do would not be possible without their hard work.  They are excited about the new challenge!




We are so thankful for this opportunity and are praying that God will continue to use it for good in our lives and the lives of everyone we interact with.  It's also a new reason to depend on him even more, because we often don't feel perfectly capable and equipped to do everything in front of us.

Looking forward to an exciting holiday season!

(Also, if you do life near midtown Little Rock and are looking for a job opportunity - come see us!  We are always on the look-out for great people.)

CAMP BELLA PARTY

As I mentioned yesterday, Bella turned four this weekend.  It was one of those years where the stars aligned, and we got to have her party on her actual birthday.  This spring, after a weekend where we did a little faux camping, Bella decided that she wanted a camping themed party.  I'm sure attending her cousin's Camp True party back in April didn't hurt either.  It's such a fun theme, and I knew I could use lots of stuff from my sis's party, so I ran with it.

My sis graciously redid the exact same invitation from Camp True to fit Camp Bella's color scheme and info.

I freezer paper stenciled shirts for the first time and love the results.  Happy Camper shirts for my Happy Campers.  They were much happier for this picture, because they all had Smarties in their mouths.



By Saturday afternoon, we were ready to host Camp Bella.  I had my birthday elves hard at work much of the day making treats and helping decorate and kid wrangle.  A big shout out goes to my Mom and Wes who helped make this all possible.

I really did use a lot of stuff from Camp True - this giant sign being one of my favorite things.  This is also the first time I've put cookies on a cake, and I really like the way it looks - also, it makes putting together the cake much easier.

We served dinner, and since almost everyone invited was able to come, it all got eaten up!  Pigs in the Blanket and CFA Nuggets provided the most protein.  I overdid the sweets by a mile, and dried fruit was one of the only healthier options, so it is probably good that we don't often eat like this.

I ordered camping fabric that matched everything.  Check out the adorable sleeping bags!

Because the weather looked menacing, we set up tents in our garage instead of the yard and filled them with balloons.  It was the first thing kids got to do as they arrived and proved to be a hit.




After everyone was there, we did a "scavenger hunt" in the woods behind our house.  I use this term very loosely, because right up until the party, I really thought it was going to be rained out.  So, I didn't have a lot planned.  Each kid was directed to find a flashlight and two pine cones and two acorns.  This would earn them a "badge" at the end of the party.  (i.e., their cookie party favor)  It was not elaborate, but it was fun.

We came inside for dinner.  I really just invited our community group and family, but that is a ton of people and kiddos.  It is a bit chaotic, but really really fun.  I love these people.

We sang Happy Birthday to Bella, and she blew out her fire.

Last on the agenda was a S'Mores Bar.  I really did overdo the sweets.  I was so thankful the weather did cooperate, and we had a fire pit set up in our driveway.

It was so fun to have so many friends and family celebrate our sweet girl!  We sent everyone on their way with their badges.

I do love doing a fun party.  It is a lot of work, but I reminded myself that it is fun work that I enjoy doing and am thankful to have the time and energy to do for now.  I know parties will not always look like this, but this one was a lot of fun.  And, as we were getting everything set up, Bella looked around and then looked at me and said, "Thanks, Mom, for all the fun stuff."  Made it totally worth it.

BELLA TURNS FOUR

As of Saturday, we have a new four year old in the house.  We celebrated her several times this past week.  Last Monday, John and I got some time with just her, and we went to pick out her new birthday bike.  She was pretty pleased with the whole affair.

And, thankfully, the weather was vastly better than today.  Bella as a new four year old is a marvel of extremes - sort of like when she was three.  She is one of the most affectionate people I know and will randomly give hugs/kisses/cuddles and say that she loves you.  I relish those moments.  She is an amazing big and little sister, as her role in our family has her plum in the middle of it all.  She anxiously awaits Lily coming home from school each day so they can play together, and she cheers on the babies' every accomplishment with much hurraying and many high fives.  So sweet.

I won't sugar coat the fact that the past couple of weeks have had some hard moments.  I think she needs to know that we really are in charge, and she is looking for every loop hole or contingency to change our decisions or behavior.  This is quite wearing, and I wish I could say that I always handle it well - I don't.

However, most of the time, Bella is a true delight, and even in the hard moments, if I ask her if she knows how much we love her, she grudgingly says, "Yes."  She is spunky and funny and loves to imagine out scenarios and draw/color and read books.  Dressing up in princess dresses is a very regular occurrence.

We went out for donuts on Saturday morning to kick off the day of celebration that was her actual birthday.  I think we are all still on a sugar high.



Bella is truly a gift from the Lord, and we are so thankful she was born to us.  Looking forward to seeing what being four holds for her!

Bella Turns Three
Bella Turns Two
Bella Turns One (Includes birth story)

PUMPKIN PATCH 2014

October is the month that brings us many gifts, and the trip to the pumpkin patch is always high on that list.  Because Mom and Wes were here for Bella's birthday celebration, they got to join in the fun!

(Here are past posts:
2011 (includes the pics from 2008-2010 as well)
2012 & 2013

The forecast for this past weekend had been dicey all week, so I didn't know if we'd get to make this trip, but the time came, and the sun was shining, so out we went.  When we arrived, the first thing I did was demand a family picture.  I have learned that if this is something I want, I better do it at the start when everyone is clean-ish and fresh-ish.





Pretty quickly after that, we loaded onto the hayride to go to the field.

William LOVES to be dangled upside down, and once you start, he never wants it to stop.

It is amazing to be at the place with at least one child where I can ask for a smile and get one on cue.  That felt like a long time coming.  She really does look so big to me in these pictures - probably because it feels like we just did this when she was a tiny baby and look at her now!)

This one still requires some bribing for pictures, but she can turn on the charm when she so chooses.  She also loves playing with her dad and brother.

I put Violet down with the pumpkins for just a moment, which she really enjoyed.

It was great to have these extra hands and hearts this past weekend.  I miss them already!

The storm did start rolling in as we made our way into the field, but we never got rained on.



This boy loves to shove his entire paci into his mouth, which can slightly alarm people who don't know that he does it all the time.  It really is pretty funny.  Sometimes I can only see the string from his paci clip.



Violet is also a sucker for having daddy playing with her.  It makes her laugh so hard.



This year, the patch we go to had planted a field of sunflowers.  It was a lovely addition.  I have been so thankful for John this past weekend.  Even though he has been a bit buried with work stuff, he has made time for our family.






As we were about to head home, Lily hopped up on to this pumpkin and asked for her picture to be taken.  Of course, baby, I would LOVE to take your picture on that pumpkin.  I know now more than ever that she will not be my little person forever, and I relish these times!

That's a wrap on our family trip to the patch.  We have a couple more trips scheduled this fall, and I look forward to those as well!