Firestations, picnics, and more!

This past week has been pretty much uneventful and I can't complain. Lots of play dates, playing in the rain, and enjoying this cooler weather. Last Friday, I took the kids to the fire station with a group of moms. Thank goodness it wasn't extremely hot. They showed some videos and then started up the smoke machine to 'practice' crawling out of a house. When the smoke started up, Landon freaked out!! I guess he thought it was really a fire. Kennedy tried to be a trooper but got a little cranky since it was her nap time.

Landon and his buddy, Jake Tyler

Lance and I took the kids to the Squire Creek pool for the first time all summer and we all had a blast! Landon is swimming great now with floaties and wants to go swimming everyday. I really didn't want to take the kids there because there isn't a baby pool and I was worried about having to hold Kennedy the entire time, but she would just sit on the steps and splash her little heart away. I just wish we would have been going there all along!

We also had a picnic at Lincoln Parrish Park and Landon loved the beach there. The weather was perfect and no one was there.

Here are some pictures of the kids playing this week.

Neighborhood boys, Cullen, Landon and Henry

Peek a boo!

This weekend we plan on going to Shreveport to visit with my parents and my older brother. They are in town with his girls and I am looking forward to spending some time with them!

And here is a quick video of Landon swimming. It's quite boring, but I still wanted to document it!

Pray for Jake

Since my last post, I have had strep throat and Kennedy has had a virus. We are all well ( i hope) and surviving the week. This is nothing what my cousin, Ty McCathran, will be going through tomorrow (7/21). His 2 year old son is having his 2nd open heart surgery to repair holes in his heart. Feel free to check out his progress on their blog at: http://tymccathran.blogspot.com/

They are in God's hands and all we can do is pray!

Camping 2009

We took our annual (my 33rd annual and 4th immediate family) trip to Lake Greeson in Murfreesboro, AR. It has always been my favorite places in the world to be and look forward to it every year. I knew this year would definitely be difficult with two young kids, but I knew I would have help with my parents and other family members.

We left on Saturday, July 4th in hope to watch the big firework display on the lake that they host every year. Approximately 500 or so boats get out on the water to watch and this year my parents brought their houseboat so we were all looking forward to seeing the show from the roof.

As we were unpacking and getting the steaks on the grill, Landon busted his chin on a metal fence while trying to climb it. We decided that it was definitely deep enough for stitches and took him into the Murfreesboro ER. For those who aren't familiar with Pikeville campground, it has a VERY rocky/bumpy road that takes 30 minutes to go appoximately 5 miles. Needless to say, we weren't too thrilled to go down that again and miss the fireworks...but oh well! In case anyone was wondering, the Murfreesboro ER is right across from the Piggly Wiggly. Only 3 rooms, but such sweet people! Landon's laceration was a perfect candidate for Dermabond which basically glued his skin together. Then we were told that it couldn't get wet for at least 5 days. Well, between sweat, popcicle juice, and eating, the glue came off by day 3 and he got a big rash from the band aid. He will have a little bigger scar than we would have liked but at least it's not in plain view.

On day two, Landon put another gash on his head by hitting it on the picnic table. Thank goodness it didn't need another trip to the ER.

On day three, Kennedy woke up with 102 fever. She is still cranky and it's been 6 days since the fever started. Almost took her to the ER b/c of so much diarrhea, no appetite and low grade fever for so long. I hate that she wasn't her normal happy self the entire week. But she was still a trooper

On day four, Kennedy fell and got a little bump on her head so the beatings continue. Thank goodness it wasn't too bad and didn't leave a bad bruise, just a scrape.

The rest of the trip was pretty much uneventful. Our extended family joined us on Wednesday and it was great to visit, float, and enjoy such PERFECT weather. It's been three years in a row that it hasn't been super hot or bad weather.

Well, enough talking and here are some pics!

If you look closely, you can see Kennedy in front of Landon!!

F

Landon's favorite thing to do while camping, riding with his Papa Kenny. Thank goodness we had the motorcycle because how else were we able to keep him out of the water while his chin healed!

I finally got him still enough to take a picture of his chin at the ER!!

And here is a video of Landon falling asleep at the dinner table. If you listen, my dad asks him if he wants to ride the motorcycle and his reply was "Ok"!!!!

How was your week?

Someone asked me yesterday, "How was your week?" I had to stop and think because this past week has been a whirlwind of fun! We have been on the go everyday and I am just not sure if we know how to slow down! I will just let the pictures do the talking....

Last Friday, we had a playdate with Mandy Cauley and her two girls, Harper and Baylor Kate.


Then Saturday morning, we enjoyed the festivities of the peach festival in some serious heat!! But we had a great time! Landon loved riding the horse and the parade. You will notice Landon wearing a train conductor hat that he just HAD to have on that morning. But by the parade, I was able to distract him enough to take it off!






Then, it was off to Hattiesburg, MS to watch my dad and little brother race in a motorcycle race. And let me tell you, Landon was in H-E-A-V-E-N!! I can't begin to tell you how hot it was out in the woods with no breeze. Thank goodness my parents had an RV with air conditioner!!

Landon 'helping' my dad as he 'tinkers' with his bike for the race the next day.

Kids having a cool treat in the RV

Uncle Kip entertaining Landon walking up and down a fallen tree

When we got back into town, we took a trip to Chuck E Cheese with FBC. Here are a couple of pics with his buddy Jake Tyler.


Then on Wednesday we joined a group at the children's museum in Monroe. Such a cute place for the kids!! I recommend going there!

Jake 'cooking' for Landon. So adorable!!

I have to quote Suzanne on this picture of the boys in the cop car...."I just hope this isn't a preview of what to come!"

In case you were wondering why Landon had his shirt off during our stay at the museum!!

Thank goodness I have pictures to remind me what we did this past week because I am sure I would have forgotten some things this past week. Well, today will be another fun filled day as we get ready to meet my family in Arkansas for a week at Lake Greason. We are all excited about getting up there. Have a great 4th of July!!

Summer fun in Ruston

Whew! I really can't seem to find enough time during the day to catch up on our blog!! I think with these long days, we don't get inside until late and then I am just exhausted once I get the kids down!!

Let's see, the kids and I spent a week in Shreveport while I did a basketball camp a couple of weeks ago. We had a great time and Landon was in hog heaven at my parents house. Although, we are still recovering from chigger bites all over his body. But, it hasn't slowed him down yet!

Then last week, I hosted our monthly 'girls night out' party at our house and I spent most of my free time getting ready for that. I hate that i didn't take pictures!! Since it's Peach Festival time in Ruston, I played off of the peach theme and it turned out great. We had a wonderful time too!

Kennedy turned 9 months (16th), said her first word (bye bye), and cut three teeth all in about 2 days. She is also clapping now and I forgot how cute that is!!! I will have to post a video from my new iPhone!! She is interacting more with Landon and I just love it. But, she is at the stage when she wants mama around all the time...yikes! Let's hope that doesn't last long.

Landon has been enjoying his new waterslide. We keep it out for the weekends and it has been a great buy! I think we are going to get our money's worth out of it (if we haven't already). But for now, he will have to get to feeling better before he gets on it again. I took him in this morning to the doc office and poor guy has strep throat. I have never heard of kids getting strep in the summer, but I guess it happens! But give him a shot of motrin and he is as good as new!

Well, the peach festival is this weekend and I hope to do a better job of posting more. Hope everyone has a great week...

Some pics... this first one is in Shreveport at my cousins neighborhood feeding the swan

Kennedy enjoying the warm weather while brother plays on the slide

Sweet daddy and Kennedy

Landon and our neighbor, Alec, taking a break from playing

Farewell Friends

For a number of reasons, I have not blogged in over two weeks. I did a basketball camp in Shreveport for a week, getting ready for a party at my house (which is an ordeal since I never host anything), dealing with Kennedy who is cutting 4 teeth at one time, and fighting off early bedtimes due to our extreme workout program we have going on. But I think the number one reason why I haven't blogged is because I know I have to send a BIG farewell to a very dear friend of mine and her son, who just happens to be Landon's best buddy. If you have followed any of my blog entries, then you have seen Hayden all over them. Although, it's funny that the picture below is the first picture that Shannon and I have taken together!!

Shannon and Hayden Russell are starting a new adventure in Lubbock, TX where Eric, Shannon's husband, just took a job on the Texas Tech football coaching staff. Even though we had a party to say farewell, we have both decided that it's not goodbye because we plan on meeting up half way in Dallas.

I will miss our numerous playdates, potty progress calls, eating dinner, fighting over the motorcycles, "oh yeah" dance, twisting hair while drinking, "eating" golf clubs, and most of all, our conversations. That list could go on...and so will our friendship. We will miss you dearly!

Potty bootcamp and waterworld

Well, like everyone else, I think the last two weeks of May was crazy!!! Two weeks ago we started potty training Landon...cold turkey. We threw away all diapers and he has been in big boy underwear ever since (except for a car ride to my parents house). Someone gave me a 3 day potty training ebook and it has helped a ton. We had tons of accidents at first, but i have to say that it has paid off. The only thing that we are struggling with is going '#2' but I understand that will take a while. But at least we have had ZERO accidents at night and during naps.

With the potty training, I have to constantly be by his side to watch his cues. So, I had zero free time during the day to blog or surf the net. All my free time was at night and by then I had laundry and other chores to take care of.

I have to brag on Lance...we started a 90 day workout plan and we have conquered week one and it was a rough one! It's called P90x and it has taken a lot out of us...early mornings and early bedtimes. But I think we are motivated and want to keep it going! This week, I am also going to do Sharon's Bootcamp twice a week too so I will really be wiped out!! But at least the kids will be at mother's day out to give me a little break time!

Also, during this past two weeks, both kids caught a cold and Kennedy ended up with an ear infection that has gotten her up early every day (yawn). Now, I am just waiting to see if Landon gets one too.

Well, this past weekend, we had an absolute blast playing in our backyard with several different water toys. Even Lance and I got into it and just loved it. Here are some pics from this past weekend outside in the water. I hope to get to walmart this week to purchase a big water slide because I think it will be a great summer to have one so I can keep Kennedy here during her naps instead of dragging her out and missing naps.

Landon and his buddy, Hayden, who is moving away in a week!! :(

Kennedy LOVED the water!!

We got creative and put together a 'water slide'

Landon going backwards