Enoch's Pumpkin Stomp and more fun with Juju & Poppy

I know this is photo overload, but when I have so many cute ones it is hard to keep them to myself. Plus, these photos explain our weekend in Texas to a tee! Gorgeous weather, crystalline skies, and golden sun all weekend long! 

The first group of pics is from Enoch's Pumpkin Stomp in Hallsville/Harleton, TX. Enoch's is a winery and vineyard nestled in rolling hills with panoramic views. I thought the activities were well planned and the food was surprisingly good for mass quantity burgers and dogs.  

 (Sweet Nettie...mom's friend's grandbaby)

 Nice form, Harp. She may be a natural!

 Yes, I wanted to snap this whistle in half after about five minutes of incessant noise!!

 I'd be happy if she chose to dress like this everyday!! I love her in overalls and boots. 

Makes me happy, happy, happy!

 Bay's sweet face!

 Shaun and family!!

 I LOVE this pic of her because it embodies her spirit...always laughing and full of joy!! 

(and full of crap too...ha hahaha! Love you Shaun!)

 This is me TRYING to get Bay to look at the camera for a sweet pic...yeah right.

The rest are shots from playing in Juju & Poppy's pasture! they LOVE riding horses, running free, and swinging on the rope swing!

and Harper..more pumpkins

Townsend House - A Cauley Tradition

Sometimes holiday traditions can feel like a forced family affair. Like, "Okay everyone, pull out your red or plaid shirt, it's time for the family Christmas photo." Or, "I can't, we always go to the in-laws for ____(insert any holiday experience)."

I don't feel that way because I love holidays and I love traditions, especially the sentimentality that comes when one says,"Oh, remember when you let us open that one present on Christmas Eve..."and thus begins the expectation that one present is opened every Christmas Eve. Sometimes traditions begin naturally, or organically, my new favorite expression, or more effort is put into it. That is what happened when Nick and I randomly made nachos one New Year's Day one year and I thought we should have "New Year's Nachos" forevermore. Hasn't happened again since.

The best tradition in my family involves me and my girls, usually a friend or two along with their mini's. It started randomly in 2006 and has been a fall standard since then. I cherish each batch of Townsend House Pumpkin Patch photos! I usually choose one to frame  in an 8x11 to place on the mantle or focus point somewhere in the house. My girls change but the pumpkins, as well as the charm of The Townsend House, remain the same.

Harper 2006

2006 Firstborn's: Underwood, Beck & Cauley

Harper and "those curls" - 2007 (this is Nick's least fav pic of Harper..ever!)

Harper & Livi 2007

 Harper 2009 (apparently I did miss a year...2008..prego with Baylor, guess I didn't make it!)

2009 - Baylor Kate's first pumpkin patch

2010 - Harper looking all big

2010 - adorable Baylor

2011 - introducing Baylor's stink eye! Love this girl and her many faces!

(Whoa....slow down time and back off boys!!) 

The difference a year makes....2012... Josie's first trip! I will have to go back with Harper!! 

 I LOVE my Bean boots!!! You will see me in them often!

Spillers Road Home - FSBO

This is a hard one. It is hard for me to stay sentimentally detached from the images because I am attached. I could tell you about all the precious memories we've made over the past year, but I'm not. I'm saving all of that. Today is just the facts.

I am posting this because we need to spread the word about our amazing home that is 

"For Sale By Owner."

Here are the stats: 3300sq ft, built in 1992 by Scott Thompson, 5 enchanting wooded acres with a creek, wrap around porch that is literally in the trees, fire pit, 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 2 living areas, large kitchen pantry, plenty of storage inside the house and in the car port, additional storage shed for outdoor items, wood floors upstairs, new carpet downstairs, new paint throughout, wooden "butcher block" countertops in kitchen and bathrooms, new tile in bathroom shower areas, breadboard ceiling upstairs, built-ins in both living areas, large utility room with shower, craft/gun safe room. 

And more: amazing natural light filtered through trees, up close and personal look to the seasons changing as the leaves are all around you, privacy, serenity, relaxation, no direct view of neighbors and did I say privacy?

IF you know of anyone looking for a home like this please send them a link to my blog or leave their info in the comment section below. Or call me (318) 497-3838.

engagement photos - round 1

It happened. Somebody asked me to take their engagement photos! And Bridal! And THE WEDDING!! Yikes! 

I said yes to all three ONLY because the sweet bride to be is Harper's former teacher at Wildflower Montessori, Miss April. I am honored and excited to be part of her wedding journey.

Here are a few of my favorite engagement photos:
(Be sure to vote for your favorite in the comment section!)

Side note: we were rained out of our first two appointments and it was freezing cold and cloudy the day we took these. My amateur status limits what I know to do with poor lighting so these were pretty good under the circumstances. Both April and Jess were great sports and fun to shoot!