Barn Dance

Friday Carter donned her best western wear and headed to school for their annual barn dance...

She and her classmates had been working for weeks on memorizing dances to perform...

She was the cutest little cowgirl I ever did see...

After a few songs it was time for the parents to get in on the action...

Carter had double the fun because Aunt Kim had surprised her by coming to watch too.  You should have seen her face light up when she saw her...

It was pretty darn cute to see her whole class had gone country for the day...

One thing is for sure, this little cowgirl has stolen my heart...

Happy trails to you...

And to keep you smiling until then here's another little video of my cowgirls riding round the kitchen...




And Emerson on her version of a wild pony...





I won't be riding any bucking bronco's today but I am attempting to tame the out of control laundry situation we've got running loose round these parts...wish me luck!

The Magic Time Machine

This post is not about traveling back in time but is quite literally about our birthday visit to The Magic Time Machine (as in the restaurant).  Kim had been as a child and it must have made a lasting impression because she has been asking to go back ever since.


Like the good men they are Nate and Bryan surprised us with dinner at this very "magical" place.  Ok...so maybe it isn't exactly magical.  Maybe it leans a little more toward the outdated, slightly dirty, you sort of feel like you're in a creepy dream side.  But it was incredibly memorable and  something I don't think we will forget!  We kicked things off with some bubbly potion...

We were waited on by the charming Poison Ivy...

And after a few drinks...

We paid a visit to the Salad Car (I warned you it was cheesy)...

The rest of the meal was a bit of a blur and may or may not have involved a really bad rendition of "I need you Baby" by half the restaurant (which means about 10 people).  I have not laughed that hard in a very long time.  It was an epic evening...

Oh and I can't leave out frog.  Let me just say that when my sister claims to be a little weird it's not just an act.   I can totally prove it.  It started when Bryan won her this frog...

Which she promptly decided to call her baby...

Things went downhill from there...

To know her is to love her for making you participate in all of her antics...

Our evening was the perfect way to end what had been a unexpectedly sweet day.  I didn't really think my birthday would feel like a big deal this year...but I was wrong.  It was one of my best yet.  Nate and the girls surprised me bright and early with something I didn't even know he knew I wanted.  Wrist meet Mr. Kors...

And lunch with some of the sweetest women you have ever met literally blessed my heart.  I feel so incredibly loved through the community of people we have found to share life with here.  I felt like I could have cried several times sitting there at the lunch table just thinking about how much each of the people I was surrounded by means to me.  After all the moving we have done it is the best gift ever to have found such amazing friends (clockwise: Sarah, Lori (not pictured), Linda, Kim, Cayce, Anne Marie, Me, Nicki, and Kelley)...

So this birthday which officially pushes me into my actual 30's was one of the best yet.  As I was thinking the other day I realized that I have so often found myself looking forward to something in the future or maybe even looking back at the way things used to be.  Right not I am so very happy to be exactly where I am at.  It is one of my favorite places I've been.  Also so happy to get to share turning another year older with this girl (it literally seems to blow peoples minds that we have the same birthday!)...

Happy Friday!

Fire Up!

I couldn't sleep last night.  I was too fired up!!  Watch this video and prepare to be pumped (click HERE)...

Just 2 weeks until this all around threat...aka Kimberly Spradlin...aka my BAD ASS sister...takes the world by storm!  Team Kim, Team Salani, Team I'm so excited I can hardly stand it...

Seriously.  AWESOME.  Oh, and keep your eyes peeled.  I have a feeling that little clip might be making it's way into your living room as a commercial!

What Animal Are You?

My sister's secret talent is not such a secret anymore.  During one of her interviews for Survivor she spilled the beans that she has a knack for pointing out what animal people look like.  To make it even more of a skill she can usually do it within just a few minutes of meeting you!


She's done it for as long as I can remember and in case you are wondering I'm a mouse.  Specifically (for any American Tail fans out there) I'm Feivel's Sister...

If I had a quarter for every time someone has asked my sister, "What animal am I?" since the cast was released I'd be a rich woman!  So I decided to put all that asking to good use and stick the slogan on a t-shirt that we can proudly wear in support of TEAM KIM!!  

If you'd like to join us in wearing her name proudly every Wednesday you can head HERE (as in click right here!!) to order a shirt.  The code is COF21888.  


Today also just so happens to be the animal whisperer's birthday...

Happy Birthday bestest buddy!  You're one of my favorite people in the whole wide world and the coolest person I know.

It's a Wonderful Life.

I know, I know, Christmas has come and gone.  But I've decided not to stick the saying on the shelf until the holidays roll around again next year.  Even with all the fancy tinsel and twinkling lights packed away I'm convinced there is still plenty of wonderful to be found in everyday life.  Even if there is a whole box of Cheerios on my living room floor...

She was as guilty as the day is long...

I was reminded recently that there is power in simply saying, "Today is going to be a really good day".  It's true we get to choose.  It may not feel like there is a whole lot to look forward to or get geared up for but if your outlook is bright you might just find the everyday routine holds plenty of things to get excited about.  Sisters hugging...

Birthday dogs barking all. the. live. long. day...

Newly turned two year olds exercising their "independence"...

And occasionally something a little more fancy like a date to the movies with my favorite 6 1/2 year old (Beauty and the Beast 3D)...

And then there was today.  We spent all day at home.  We needed it badly.  So with toys littering every square inch of our floor the four of us spent time just being together.  Emme found a photo of she and Carter from when she was a baby and requested a re-enactment...

Carter wrote an adorable story called The Bee that I hope I will keep forever and ever...

She also penned a letter to Taylor and signed it "your fan" be still my heart (if only I could get this to her I just know she'd love it as much as I do)...

They soaked up an afternoon with their daddy who had been away all week...

To be honest it was my favorite kind of Saturday (did I mention we all took a nap?)...

Nothing out of the ordinary but still plenty of wonderful.  Happy Weekending!