swim, swim, and more swim!

This week we have gone swimming at least once a day, if not twice a day. The kids are loving it and it's a great way to stay cool in this VERY WARM weather! We did have a few play dates thrown in there, but of course, it involved water! One afternoon, Suzanne and her kids came over to play on the waterslide...here are some pics.

Landry and kennedy playing in the sandbox

The Tyler kids with Landon and kennedy (we had to bribe them for a group shot!)

Soap Suds fight!!!

Sweet Jake

Lance left on Thursday to attend some meetings in San Francisco and then got to go to Pebble Beach for the US Open. He comes back tomorrow, but unfortunately, the kids and I will be in Shreveport for an entire week. I am conducting a basketball camp at St Marks and my parents are going to help with the kids. I hate that we won't get a chance to see Lance on Father's Day! :(

This morning, I took the kids to pick blueberries and Landon LOVED it! Kennedy, not so much. I am not sure if she was feeling too great and all she wanted is for me to hold her. After that we hit the Ruston Farmers market in search for some peaches. I have been trying to get over to Mitcham's peach orchard all week but never made it. I just hope they have some after next weekend's peach festival!

Kennedy picking blueberries

Landon was so proud of all the blueberries he picked!

And here is a short video of Kennedy jumping off the diving board this morning

June beach trip

We had a short stay in Ruston before we headed back to the condo in orange beach. We are really trying to get in as much time there before the oil gets bad or gets too warm. But before heading south again, we had lots of time at the Squire Creek pool and some playdates at the house. I have really enjoyed spending time and getting to know Nancy Hunt and her kids. Her and Katie Clark have come over several times and I just love them! Here is a picture of that crew taking a water break...

This week long trip to the beach was fun and eventful. My good friend that lives in Birmingham came down with her two kids, Jack (3) and Claire (2). They stayed there until Lance and my family made it down on Thursday. The oil hadn't arrived at our beach, but it did finally hit for the first time while we were down there. It was a very sad and surreal moment. Everyone would stand at the shore and watch it roll in. But, fortunately, it only kept us out of the water for only a day and a half. And by then, we were ready for a change of scenery. So, we filled those days with going to the zoo, tennis and going to the Track. And by then, the oil had been cleared up and we were back in the water!

We did, however, take two trips to urgent care. The first trip was for Landon. Apparently the meds for his ear infection wasn't working and he started running fever and asking to lay on the couch (not like him at all!). So, i was glad I took him in to get that changed. And since we were already there, I had the doctor look at my shoulder. Apparently I tweaked my rotator cuff and it flared up. She gave me some meds and it cleared up fast!

The second trip to the urgent care was for Kennedy. She too, had a double ear infection before we left, but she was on the Augmentin, the strongest antibiotic. She started running fever as well, and crying that her ear hurt. So, back we went. The doc really couldn't find much wrong with her besides her ear being a little red. She is still complaining about her ear today, but I will give it some more time before taking her back. At least the fever has stopped...just wish the crankiness would too! I have a sneaky feeling that she might be cutting two year molars, but I am having a hard time looking/feeling in there!

Kennedy has really gotten into coloring and i am loving it. She finally quit eating them (most of the time)! She is also into stickers as well. Those have been her favorite past times. Landon has gotten into the super hero phase. He has several capes now and he pretends to be superman and batman. I welcome the change from the pirate/sword fighting phase!

I was very glad that my little brother, Kip, April (kip's girlfriend), and my mom were able to spend some down time with us at the condo. I think everyone was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful weather we had all week. Here are some pics from our June beach trip:

The famous Souvenir Store in Gulf Shores. i think i might try and get this same picture each time we go back!

landon "flying" on the swing at the Track

My friend, Jenny, and her kids while we were at the zoo

My lil swimmer

Oil coming in for the first time. This is as bad as it got on our beach, thank goodness!

I'm surprised I got lance to smile...I drive him nuts always wanting to take pictures!

Memorial day weekend

I got to spend most of my weekend in Shreveport on Memorial Day weekend. My high school was having a decade reunion that included a reunion basketball game on Saturday. So, my old high school teammates decided to make a weekend out of it and play in the game. It was wonderful seeing everyone again and I especially enjoyed playing in the basketball game (even though no one took it seriously, thank goodness!!). I do believe that my teammates and I still have it!

Friday night dinner with our former coach at Byrd

Right after the game (our team won!)

On Sunday, I was able to spend time at my parents house since both of my brothers were in town. I thought it was a very appropriate occasion to hang out with them and celebrate all of the armed forces that put their heart and souls into protecting our country. We took a little house boat ride on the lake and went for a little swim! I think my mom really enjoyed spending some quality time with her kids!

Fun in the sun!

The kids and I spent ten days at the condo and enjoyed having Lance there for seven of those days!! This was the first week long vacation that he has taken since our honeymoon and I know Lance loved every minute of it! We were fortunate enough to have two wonderful young ladies join us for most of the trip and they made our trip relaxing and special. One was our former babysitter, Lindsey McDaniel, and she brought a sweet friend of hers to accompany her. It was really great to have extra hands with the kids and around the condo!! And the kids still ask about them!!

We were fortune enough to have the Clark family join us for a long weekend as well. We always enjoy each others company and so do our kids! On that Sunday, Lance, the sitters, and the Clarks had to go back and left me and kids behind. But we weren't alone for too long before my parents were able to come down that night. We were able to spend some time with them the next two days.

Our trip ended with my parents dropping me off in New Orleans with Lance so we could be with his sister, Leslea. She had a rough two weeks with her appendix rupturing and having to deliver her son, Thomas Hudson, ten weeks early. It didn't look good for both of them early, but they are recovering and doing well. Hudson has a long road ahead of him, but he is in great hands at the Oshner (sp?) Hospital in New Orleans. Please continue to keep him in your prayers as he recovers in the NICU those next 7-9 weeks.

here are some pictures from the last two weeks!

Landon getting airborne on the slide

first family pic on the beach. The water was absolutely gorgeous!!

Lindsey and katie with the kids

K, L, and Cullen having a capri sun break. The only time i can get them all together!

Here is a video of Kennedy jumping into pool. I was really surprised at how fast she caught onto using the floaties. This is gonna be a great summer!

Middle of May madness

There are so many times during the day that i remind myself how blessed I am! I love the stages that kids are in right now...I am soaking it all up!

first, I am so blessed to have a wonderful hubby to let me take a long weekend mother's day trip to the beach with some very special friends. Also, a big thanks goes to my parents who also did a lot of work to make that happen. But i think they may have had more fun than the kids with the circus and all the fishing that they did!

Mother's Day 2010 Beach trip

Thursday was the last day of Mother's day out at Temple and it's hard to believe that another year has flown by. We were so blessed to have both our kids with such wonderful teachers. We aren't sending them this summer because we will be out of town so much and it wouldn't be worth it. Lance thinks i am crazy not to, but I plan on getting some help throughout the summer.

Kennedy's teachers: Mrs. Edna and Mrs. Rahel...such sweet ladies that kept landon when he was a baby too!

Mrs. Sarah, preschool 3 yr old

We have spent most of our time outside with the perfect weather we are having (and before it gets too hot). The kids are loving it and so am I. We leave in two days to take a long family vacation at our condo. It's going to be the best trip of the summer that we make down there...not too crowded, not too hot yet (i hope), lance will be there, and we will have sitters with us along with close friends who will be down in the area. Lance is really excited about getting away!

Some pics of the kiddos..

Mother's day week

I am currently posting while on my 3rd annual Mother's Day weekend trip to the beach with some girlfriends of mine in Ruston. It is just now sinking in that I am without kids and will be able to sleep in the next few mornings.....REALLY excited about that!! The only downer is that I had to miss Landon's choir production at church tonight, but I was promised lots of pictures and videos!!! I know he will have plenty more productions ahead of him. I talked with him afterwards and it didn't phase him that I wasn't there! I am sad and happy about that!!

This past weekend, Lance pulled out our waterslide and we were able to kick off summer! It was a great weekend for it. We were also able to spend some time with my sister in law while she came in town for her baby shower. Baby Futrell will be making his grand appearance toward the end of july!! I can't wait!

I never really appreciated all of the hard work that my mom put in with raising me and my brothers until I was a mom myself. I am so blessed to have a mother that is my best friend and loves to spend time with our family. My goal in life is to be half the mother she is! I love her and I want to wish her and all of the incredible moms out there a very blessed Mother's Day!! I am so glad we have a day to honor such courageous women!!! Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

(and, of course, i can't post without putting pictures up!!! ;) )

Ava, Landry Grace, Kennedy, Jake, Caroline, and Landon

Kennedy taking a break from swimming and eating cheetos to love on our neighbors dog!

My lil man getting so big!

Kennedy was a big hit at Aunt Leslea's baby shower!! I was really impressed how good she was

May already??

It's hard to believe that it's May 1st already!! I think for the first time in a while, we are actually enjoying some Spring weather! It always seems to go from cold to blazing hot, but not this year. I have enjoyed it!

The past few weeks have been uneventful in the Hall household so I won't bore you with all the details. Now, the month of May will be a different story!! It's slammed packed with lots of adventures!

Few highlights over the past few weeks:

1. kennedy is really talking so much more! She is also done with her high chair so she can sit next to her brother at the bar. It's more messy for my clean up but it's fun watching them eat together.

2. Landon has discovered his motorcycles again and is obsessed once more.

3. Landon also rode a bike without training wheels for the first time while my parents kept them...now I just need to buy a bike for him! Just haven't had the time to research which one to get.

4. Had several birthday parties and lots of trips to the parks!! We can never sit still!

I am headed out this evening to Little Rock to do a basketball clinic with one of my former players. I am looking forward to catching up with her and getting back into the gym. Then Tuesday I speak at Airline HS basketball banquet, and then it's off on a girl's beach trip on Wednesday!! Did I mention that May is crazy busy!?!?

Here is a video of landon riding a bike.

Landon has spent several hours playing in this tub of split peas with his motorcycles!!

A group shot of our weekend getaway to the beach...I am just now getting around to posting it!!

Having a chocolate party with strawberries, pretzels, marshmellows, and bananas!

This is hysterical...i was cleaning out kennedy's closet and this is a size 6 month shirt for KENNEDY, but since it has a motorcycle on it, L insisted to put it on!!!