The Hightower House

Photo Shoot

2010-03-21T20:36:00.000-07:00

Princess Mallory

2010-03-21T20:01:00.003-07:00

Mallory, like most other little girls wants to be a princess and would do just about anything to get it. Grandma got her the cutest little book about how to be a princess for Valentine's Day and she believes it word for word. It is so cute to see the things she says and does thinking it will make her a princess because the book says so. Her behavior has even shaped up a bit because of this book. She will be super polite and then say, "That was nice of me wasnt it mom? Because thats what princesses do." So, every night she has to brush her hair 100 strokes in order to keep her princess title. She brushed it for probably ten minutes or longer tonight and then came to me with tears in her eyes. "Momma, will you brush my hair 100 strokes for me?" Of course, i said i would and i asked her how far she had gotten so i could start from there. She then proceeded to tell me four. What? She had been brushing forever. She then told me, "I lost my count and had to start over." SO funny!! What a girl has to go thru to be a princess!!1

There has been a lot going on here the last few weeks...

2010-03-10T05:49:00.000-08:00

We have been a very busy household the last few weeks. Be prepared, this post is going to be very pic heavy, lol. First here are some pictures of Jacob about a week ago. We moved him to his big boy bed last night and he did great.

What a big boy!!

Next are pictures from Read Across America at Mallory's school.

This is Mallory and her teacher, Mrs. Powell AKA Cinderella

The next pics are from these gorgeous springlike days we have been having.

Need a push Bub!

Man, i am blessed.

Let's Race!!

Oops, we had an accident. That tree jumped right out in front of us.

I now pronounce to you Mr. and Mrs. Jason Warren

2010-02-20T19:26:00.000-08:00

My baby sister got married today. It was such a beautiful wedding. Here are some pics from the wedding. Enjoy!

10 Things I Love!!

2010-02-15T15:52:00.000-08:00

Our blog assignment for the week at http://www.mygreatretreat.com/ is to blog about 10 things i love:

1.) God

2.) My Husband

3.) My kids (& my nephew)

4.) My Home

5.) My Job

6.) Sunshine

7.) My Front Porch Swing

8.) Pizza

9.) Coke Zero

10.) Chocolate, of course

Happy Valentines Day!!

2010-02-14T16:57:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day to all our friends and family. Love is the theme for today...

"If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn't love others, I would only be a noisy gong or clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God's secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn't love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn't love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance."

1 Corinthians 13:1-7

"Three things will last forever-faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love"

1 Corinthians 13:13

We have had a long weekend. Mallory and Jacob have both been sick but they are both on the mend. We had to miss church though. Here are a few pictures of things that happened in our house this weekend. As you can tell the kids are feeling better and David is relaxing reading his favorite magazine, lol. Enjoy!!

As promised...

2010-02-10T13:33:00.000-08:00

Thank you to my wonder mil, Azzie here are a few pics from the big snow we had a few weeks. again.

Dear John

2010-02-06T21:44:00.000-08:00

David took me to watch Dear John tonight and it is a great movie. I dont think i will watch it again though. It really brought back a lot of memories for both of us and I cried through the majority of it. Wow, its so hard to believe that it has been almost five years since David came back home from Iraq. I am so proud of him and all that he has accomplished. I am also so thankful that he is done with his military career. I feel like so many times we take for granted what our soldiers do for us and what they give up on a daily basis. Thank you to all soldiers and most especially to my own personal soldier. I love you David!!

We are getting ready for the superbowl here!!!

2010-02-05T20:41:00.000-08:00

So, Mallory wanted to know what all of this superbowl stuff was all about. So, me being the sweet, innocent mommy that i am told her that it was where everyone wears a bowl on their head and whoever has the biggest bowl wins. This is what happened next....

Bahahaha, momma has some 'splainin to do tomorrow.

2010-02-01T04:18:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been amazing. We have had SNOW!!! I got to go sledding for the first time ever and absolutely loved it!!! I also got to experience riding on a car hood attached to a four wheeler and wow!! Who would have know that it would be so much fun!! I didnt manage to get any pics but my mother in law got some so as soon as i can get a few of hers i will post them.

I was reading my bible this morning and these verses really stood out to me and i would like to share them with you.

"But Moses pleaded with the Lord, "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been, and I'm not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled." Then the Lord asked Moses, "Who makes a person's mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say." But Moses again pleaded, "Lord, please! Send anyone else."

Exodus 4:10-13

Wow! Even Moses was worried about speaking to others. That is one of the things that I struggle with as a Christian is telling others about him. I am ashamed to admit that. I love to tell others about the things he has done in my life but to just walk up to someone and witness, I will be honest, I am scared. And, that is what he called us to do. Now, in Moses' situation God becomes angry and lets someone else do the talking but just think what kind of blessings Moses missed. My prayer for myself today is that i will remember the words the Lord gave to Moses when I am in a situation where I am scared and dont think I know what to say and let him lead me as he promises he will.

Have a great day and week!!

Snow Day!!

2010-01-30T05:15:00.000-08:00

The kids were out of school yesterday for a snow day so we decided it would be the perfect time to get ready for Valentines Day. So much fun!!

My sweet nephew turned 13!!

2010-01-14T05:43:00.000-08:00

Ok, so my nephew turned the big 13 yesterday so todays blog is for him. Happy Birthday DJ!

He loved his snuggie. I want one too, lol!

And Underarmour is so cool now. Where have i been? lol

Mallory and Bella eating birthday pudding

Misti and if you notice the weird looking guy in the frame to the left, i have no idea who that is, No, i did not marry him. I married the guy underneath, ROFL!!

So handsome!

Riley and Carson trying to get into DJs room

Mallory and her rockstar hair,lol

Pa and Jacob fighting over who the bicycle belonged too. I think Jacob won!

You may have seen this one already on my p365 blog but i love it! So gorgeous!!

2010-01-05T15:58:00.000-08:00

What a gorgeous day!!

Jacob soaking up the sun in mommas sunglasses (upside down of course, lol)

Weightloss Journey Begins....

2010-01-04T04:20:00.001-08:00

Ok, here we go!!!! I am ready and raring to go, rofl! Ok, not so much but i think if i keep telling myself that then i will be. I will be updating this post throughout the day today with everything that goes in my mouth for accountability and will have hubby take a pic tonight for encouragement. Anyone want to join in for some accountability!!!

Tara Marie

2010-01-03T19:58:00.000-08:00

I am going to start doing a daily assignment thanks to my lovely ladies at MGR to try to keep this blog going. I know, i know, its been a while. I am embarrassed. SO, our assignment/inspiration for today is to tell you how our name was chosen. Well, my name is Tara Marie. Tara came from Gone With the Wind. Thats right! I was named after the plantation in that story. I am also ashamed to admit that i have never read the book or see the movie but that is something that i plan to do....someday,lol. Ok, Marie is a more special name although i dont love the name itself it has a great meaning to me. My maternal grandmothers middle name is Mae and my paternal grandmothers name is Mary so Marie is a cross between both names. Now, you have a little more knowledge about the name i so proudly display. :)

2009-10-25T20:30:00.000-07:00

Tater's wife (thats his military nickname, lol)
A football lover
Roll Tide!! (hehe)
Alabama girl at heart

2009-06-05T19:02:00.000-07:00

Daddy and Jacob

Mommy and Jacob
(Mr. Mischievious)

Handsome little Feller!

Mallory playing on the playground at her school trip to Dinosaurworld.

Mallory and her best friend, Selena. Couldn't they pass as sisters?

Mallory

I love to eat!! (except notice i haven't touched the greenbeans, whens momma gonna learn?)

Mallory and Hailey Girls Day Out- Fun!!

Superstars!!

Little Divas!

It's been a while!

2009-04-04T14:13:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, its been awhile. I hope everyone is doing well. We are doing great. Mallory is almost finished with Kindergarten and is loving it. She is reading now which totally blows my mind. Jacob will be 18 months old in a little over a week and is starting to really be vocal. His favorite person right now is Bigdaddy, which he can say now, lol. Davids work has picked back up and he is working a lot right now. Now, to the good part here are a bunch of pics. I got a new camera so hopefully you will be seeing many more pics. Enjoy!

Sponsor Me at March for Babies!

2009-02-18T21:01:00.001-08:00

Our Snow day at home with mommy

2009-02-02T19:34:00.000-08:00

We started our day out by fingerpainting. How much fun this was. We made daddy valentines day cards, shhh!!

Then we went out in the snow!

Snow angels!! Mallory has it figured out, Jacob thinks he likes summer weather better

What the heck is this stuff?

I wanna be a rockstar baby....

2009-02-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

Here are some cute pics of my little rockstars

Would you like some salt with that?

It's about time that I updated this blog, haha.....

2008-12-08T13:16:00.001-08:00

Here are our Christmas Pictures. We are behind on pictures since we didn't buy Mallory's school pictures (she would have killed us when she is older, lol) and we haven't had Jacob's 1 year pictures made and he is 14 months old SO these will take the place of those too. Enjoy!

Daddy & His Boy

Mommy & Her Girl

Help Me, Momma, Help Me!!!

Lil' Miss Prissy Britches

Am I in Jail??? Whatever it is i didn't do it! Call my grandma!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

It's Macon County Fair Time!!!

2008-08-10T21:14:00.000-07:00

This is Mallory in the fair beauty pageant. She did so good. She really let her bubbly personality shine thru while she was out on stage and had the whole crowd cracking up. She didn't place but she was fine with that. I went to get her dressed when she didn't get called back out on stage and she said, "Mom, i'm ready to go to the county fair and ride rides, lol"

Jacob won 1st runner up in his pageant but i missed it because i had to work late :(. So, i don't have any pics of it, maybe someone who got some pics will get me copies and i will post them for you all to see.

I can't believe i got the guts up to do this but i am so glad i did. It was SOOO much fun. These pictures are from the Mrs. Macon County Pageant. Here are me and two of my best friends. Jessica is on the left and Heather is on the right. The second picture is of Jessica, me and Amanda. And the third one is all of the contestants out on stage. Jessica won 5th place and Heather won 3rd place!! You go girls, I am SO proud of you both!!!

Mallory is 5 years old!!!

2008-07-20T20:54:00.001-07:00

Ready, Set, Jump!

Mallory & Isabella

This present was wrapped good!

This is my favorite picture!!

Bigdaddy & Jacob
Pa & Jacob.

Mallory stuck her finger in her cake and then I cracked it taking it out of the box. It was great!

Me being silly.

Jacob & my nephew, Braylen. Jacob started eating icing off of Braylen's hand when he ran out.

Ready to swim!!!

It's time for chores!!

2008-07-20T20:39:00.001-07:00

Jacob likes to fold clothes.

Hey, Mom! What do you want me to do next?

What, I am helping!

Ok, this is Jacob's deer in the headlights look, lol!

Let's make some music

We even had some help from Mallory. We could start our own band, lol.

Jacob feeding himself Grandma's spaghetti

2008-07-20T20:22:00.001-07:00

Hmm, he isn't real sure about this.

That's some pretty good stuff!

I think it passed the test!

Ok, Mom enough pictures! Haha!

Vacation 08- The Rest of the Story...

2008-06-30T08:31:00.000-07:00

Aquarium at Epcot

Japanese Hibachi Grill in Epcot. They both loved it!!

Our trip to Daytona Beach, Fl.

My Granddaddy & Grandmother and the kids

Vacation 08 - Day 2 & 3 Hollywood Studios

2008-06-23T21:38:00.001-07:00

Swimming in the hotel pool.

Is Mallory really ready for a driver's license?

We had breakfast at Hollywood's Play & Vine with characters from JoJo's Circus and The Little Einsteins.

Mallory, Jacob & David with JoJo.

Jacob was not real sure what to think about Golieth. He cried when Golieth tried to touch him.

Mallory and the Little Einsteins

A couple of Jacob just being cute. Yes, that is his shoe. I can't seem to keep them on him.

Mallory & Daddy and Mommy & Jacob

Mallory playing games at Toy Story's Pizza Planet and Jacob posing with a huge tonka truck at Honey I Shrunk the Kids play zone.

David became a star while we were here. He got to become an actor in Pearl Harbor. It was a lot of fun. Mallory loved seeing her daddy get soaked.

David & Jacob posing with Darth Vader and Alien. Mallory didn't want any part of those "villains"

Which Minnie is your favorite, ROFL!!!!

We needed some extra energy to finish the day.

Mallory getting down with the High School Musical 2 Show!

Vacation 08 Day 1 - Magic Kingdom

2008-06-23T05:11:00.000-07:00

Wake up Sissy!! Its time to get up!!

Mallory and I ready to go!

Look, Mallory is a movie star!! Hannah Montana, watch out!!

Mallory loves to pose. We are staying in the 101 Dalmations section of the all-star resorts.

The Dapper Dan's of Disney

Mallory & Goofy

Mallory and Chip & Dale

Mallory and Cinderella's evil step-mother and step-sisters. She said they were "not very nice" haha

Jacob and Daddy hanging out

Time to rest for a minute!

Jacob was glad to be out of the stroller for a few minutes.

Sleeping Beauty AKA Princess Aurora

Cinderella (Our Favorite)

Belle

Jacob just couldn't handle any more fun!

An amazing thing that we saw today was the ceremony to take down the American Flag for the day. It was an awesome experience especially for Mallory.

Hillbilly days!!

2008-06-19T21:09:00.000-07:00

It's Hillbilly time in Macon County!! Haha!! Here are our lil hillbillies. They were both in the Itty Bitty Hillbilly Pageant. Jacob won his pageant and Mallory got 2nd place in hers. It was so much fun.

Jacob trying to figure out what Mallory is doing to his fishing pole.

Mallory struck a pose in the last one.

Jacob's crawling!!!

2008-06-18T08:56:00.000-07:00

Don't mind the spit up at the end, sorry. I didn't know how to edit it out.

Photo shoots!!

2008-06-18T08:06:00.000-07:00

These were taken during sunday school last Sunday.

Yes, that is Mallory putting grass on Jacob's head, lol. Doesn't she look innocent

A visit to Granker's House

2008-06-18T07:39:00.000-07:00

Haha, i can't help to laugh at this picture. It looks like Granker is going to sock Jacob and his facial expression is hilarious.

This rocking chair has now been used by three generations. My dad used it, then i did and now Jacob.

Can't you tell we are having fun. Everyone is smiling. We spent the day with her last Wednesday! Granker is my grandmother and Mallory and Jacob's great grandmother.

The countdown is on

2008-06-09T12:51:00.000-07:00

We are finished with teeball and Mallory can't wait to get back into gymnastics, which is more appealing to her, lol. We have been spending a lot of time in the swimming pool and the kids are loving it. Jacob's two favorite things to do right now are to play in the pool and ride the 4 wheeler with daddy. He loves to be outside. Mallory loves to swim and play outside with her babies. We leave for Disneyworld in 2 weeks and we are so excited. Mallory can't wait to meet the princesses again. She is really going to enjoy it this year. Jacob could probably care less but that's ok too. I hope everyone has a great week! Love and hugs to you all!!

Mallory keeping Jacob occupied!

2008-06-05T08:05:00.000-07:00

I left Mallory and Jacob in the kitchen for a second and this is what i found when i came back. She said she was rocking him.

AAAHH!! Help me!!

Too Cute!!!

Our fun day yesterday!!

2008-06-05T07:51:00.001-07:00

Mallory & Wyatt at Gibson's Cafe'. Now we're off to go swimming.

Wyatt

Riley (my nephew)

Jacob

Mallory

Teeball!!!

2008-06-05T07:29:00.001-07:00

Jake, Cameron & Mallory

Mallory, swing, batter, batter, swing!!

Coach David & Hayden!

Coach David and Taylor

Ty, Aubrie and Cassie

Jacob's Crawling (well sortof)

2008-06-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Haha, Jacob has started army crawling. Here is a video of him. Yes, i am having to tempt him with food, haha.

Our first dip in the pool in 08!

2008-05-30T18:46:00.000-07:00

Mallory's ready to hit the pool.

Mommy and Jacob being silly.

Oooh, that's cold on the toes.

Let's Slide!

Ah, that was so relaxing...
Swimming sure was hard on a lil man

Let's see if he can climb the fence to
get to Aunt Misti!

Mallory showing off her new Bama Mailbox!

Our first blog!

2008-05-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

Kindergarten here she comes!!

Mallory and Jacob hanging out.