Auburn Trip 2010

Our family took a very special trip this past football season to see Auburn play South Carolina. It was suppose to be just a trip for Chuck and my brother but at the last minute we decided we should all go. I always love a trip to Alabama, especially one when we get to go to Auburn. The kids absolutely love staying in Poppy and Gigi's camper and all that tailgating involves. We left here on a Thursday morning and drove to my parents house to spend the night. After that, we got up and finished our drive to Auburn. Once we arrived, we set up the tailgate and the fun started. We went shopping around town, hung out at the tailgate, and then went to eat at one of our favorite spots in town, NIffers!!!! The next day we got up and began the all day fun of tailgating. We spent much of the day outside watching other games and visiting with all the many people that stopped by. We made our way to Tiger Walk and even watched the band march down to the stadium. My kids love watching Tiger Walk and really loved the band. After this we headed back to the camper to watch the game. I would love to go into the game but as it stands there is NO way I am taking two children into a night game at Jordan Hare. I get to see more of the game when I just watch it on TV. We had soooo much fun and I really wish that we could do it every weekend. I love to see my kids love the things that Chuck and I love. Auburn is such a special place to both of us and it is a strong desire we have to put Auburn in their hearts too. As I am sure you all know by now Auburn won the game and all the rest of their games. What an Amazing season. We can't wait to tailgate again next year.

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First Day of FIRST GRADE

Wow, Reagan started First Grade today. It seems very odd to be saying this. I can't believe that she is already old enough to be in the first grade. She had such a great morning. She woke up and came downstairs about 6 oclock this morning and I told her she could go watch tv for a little while. She told me then she couldn't because her dress wasn't buttoned yet. That's right. She was already dressed and had already brushed her teeth. She was very excited to get to school and see her new classmates and get to know her teacher. Chuck and I took her to school and waited with her in the hallway until they dismissed the first grade and then we walked with her and her BFF Ally to their classrooms. Reagan and Ally both got very disappointed last week when they discovered that they did not have the same teacher this year. Ally's dad and I both assured them that they could have many playdates on the weekends so they could still see each other.

Reagan got home from school today and she had a fabulous day. She loved her teacher and liked the kids in her class. I really liked her teacher when we met her the other day and I think we are going to have a great year. Her old kindergarten teacher had gone and talked to her new teacher and told Reagan she is going to come and help out in her old room and read to her new class. Reagan was very excited about this and can't wait to get to go read to the kindergarten students. I took her picture in front of our house this morning and sitting at her table at school.

Sitting at her table in her classroom


Reagan with her friend Ally


In front of our house

Sprinkler Fun

Can anyone say HOT!! We have been roasting here in Houston this summer. We spend most of our weekends out at our neighborhood pool which has been a blast (and we almost have 2 independent swimmers:)) On this particular weekend, Chuck and I weren't wanting to go down to the pool so we set up the sprinkler in the backyard for the kids. At the beginning of the summer Landon wasn't sure what he thought about playing in the sprinkler. He loves the pool and he loves the bath but he isn't always fond of water being sprayed at him. This time however, he LOVED it. He and Reagan started out just jumping through the water and then they turned their slide into a water slide and they made a car wash line with all of their trucks outside. It was such a fun afternoon and one that they have wanted to reenact every weekend since then. Here are some of the pics I took that afternoon.

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Upstairs Party

Reagan and Landon decided to prepare for a party this morning upstairs in their play room. The guests to their party were of course, Chuck and I. They planned their party, made decorations and "cooked" the food. When I went up the stairs to see this party, I found them dressed like this. Apparently, it was a dress up party.

Reagan loses her first TOOTH!!

Today was a very big day for us. Reagan has had her first loose tooth for a few weeks now and we have been wiggling away at it. We knew it wouldn't be too long before we were faced with the dreaded decision: to pull or not to pull? To some kids this wouldn't be a hard choice but for Reagan it caused a lot of tension. We headed out this morning to run a few errands and then get some lunch. We decided to eat at Cici's Pizza and after we got our plates fixed we sat down to enjoy our pizza. After a few bites, Reagan started complaining that it was hard to eat because her tooth was really loose and her tongue could go all the way underneath it. I told her to let Chuck look at it (because I really hate doing teeth things). So, Chuck looked and tried to pull it but his fingers were too big to get a grip on her tiny tooth. So that left me!!!! I took Reagan into the bathroom and washed my hands and then the negotiating began. Reagan started crying and was totally torn because she didn't want me to pull the tooth because it might hurt but she didn't want to leave it in either. After several minutes of debating and convincing she opened up and let me in. Within a minute the tooth popped out and was in my hand. Luckily there was NO pain and no screaming, Now is when the fun part began. She went over to look in the mirror and when she smiled she saw blood all in her mouth. Now, there wasn't a lot of blood but to Reagan she was bleeding to death. I wet a paper towel put it in her mouth and started explaining to her that mouths heal very quickly and it won't bleed long. Then she looks at me a little pail and says "Mommy, I think I am going to be sick" That's right. She is just like me. The sight/taste of the blood made her feel nauseas very quickly. Luckily, we were in the bathroom so we just walked right over to the stall and waited. She never got sick thank goodness but I am pretty sure we don't have a doctor or nurse on our hands. When she felt better we headed back and finished lunch. Her new favorite thing now is to put her tongue where her tooth use to be. I can't believe it is already time for the tooth fairy to start appearing at our house. Man, they grow up too fast. Here is our toothless doodlebug!!!

P.S, we have another loose tooth already. The top one right above this one.

Play Ball !!!!!!!

So, this year Landon is old enough to play tee ball. Chuck decided a long time ago that he wanted to coach Landon when he played baseball. Boy, we didn't know what we were getting ourselves into. Chuck and Brad are now the coach and assistant coach (respectfully) of a 3-5 year old tee ball team. Our team consist of 16 three and 4 year old boys and girls. We have 13 boys and 3 girls and they are divided evenly between being 3 or 4. Our first practice and game were quite a sight. In our city the parents go on the field to help the kids out with fielding (if they want). Well lets just say if they didn't I don't think some of these kids would make it out alive. Our team has been known to tackle each other and punch each other in order to get the ball. Since none of the kids really know how to catch you have to be on your toes out in the field with them. When they are batting you never know which way they are gonna run and if they will drop the bat, sling the bat or just run with the bat. It is very comical after the game is over but very stressful while the game is going on. They play two innings and every child bats in each inning. They can only advance one base at a time and there is no outs so everyone gets to run to every base every time they hit. You wouldn't believe the improvement we have seen in all of these kids. They are all so cute in their jerseys and we have thoroughly enjoyed getting to know all of them and their families. Our hope is that they have loved us as coaches too and we can retain some them in the seasons to come. I am sure we will have LOTS of baseball in our future.

Landon is great little hitter. As with most of them, hitting is basically all he is interested in. After he hits he doesn't always run to first, sometimes he has been known to run a little or maybe half way or just plain walk. In our game last week he was on third and when the ball was hit he didn't run home and didn't know when the ball was hit because he was too busy flirting with the little girl playing third base for the other team. In his defense she was a really cute little girl. She was dressed in her jersey with a matching little bow and socks. Now you all know how much we love a bow in this house so I am sure he felt justified in not paying attention to the game at all. Chuck had to go get him off of third and bring him home.

Now, when we go out in the field to play defense it is a whole different story. Lets just say that wearing his glove is NOT something that he likes doing. We fight that battle each and every practice and game. We have now just started telling him that he can't come out of the dugout without his glove because his glove his part of his uniform and obviously you can't play ball without a glove. He also finds the dirt on the field very interesting. This dirt must be the BEST dirt around because Landon can't keep his hands out it no matter how hard we try (and believe me we have tried everything). He loves putting it in his glove and throwing it in the air and drawing pictures in it. Hopefully we can work on this before we go pro. I don't think the Astros need a dirt digger on their team. Landon has a great time playing and of course he loves the snack at the end of the day.

Here some pics from a couple of our games. Wendy has been taking videos for us so maybe I can figure out how to put them on here.

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Ft. Walton Beach 2010

Once again we made our yearly trip to Ft. Walton Beach for the days surrounding July 4th. I don't know exactly how many years we have been taking this vacation but it is what we look forward to from year to year. This year was extra nice because my Uncle Eddie and Aunt Angie and their girls and their families joined us. This year we were obviously worried as to how our trip would turn out do to the oil spill in the gulf. We decided early on that even if we had to stay at the pool everyday we were making our annual trip to Florida. Well, lets just say we had the prettiest water we have had in years and the best weather I can remember. The water was as clear as it could be but very rough and the weather was in the high 80s so we didn't even sweat while laying out. It was perfect other than how rough the water was. We really had to watch the kids even when they were just sitting to let the water come up on them. The undertoe was very bad and would pull you out and under very fast. As always the kids loved playing in the sand. Reagan had a great time playing with Carly Rhea and Hudson. She loves having little ones around to mother and play with. I teased Russell and Melanie that they needed to borrow her when they went on vacations because she could watch and play with Hudson while they had fun. Carly reminded me so much of Reagan in the sand. Not really sure if she liked it but wanted to play because everyone else was. They are both very cute, very sweet babies. We had tons of sand toys which made for several meltdowns over who got to play with what. The most popular toy this year was a little flower watering pale. Landon had picked it out at the Dollar Store one afternoon and it was a hit. Who would've known that one little watering can could cause so many problems. At one point we actually hid the thing so the boys couldn't fight over it. It is however very nice that they can play in the sand and get their own water by themselves so that we can soak up some sun. All the men went and played golf our first full day there and when they returned we went and ate at Crab Trap. Granny came down to visit with us for a couple of the nights and went out to eat with us. Somehow she avoided the camera so we don't have evidence that she was there, but she was. Other than the golf outing we were on the beach or at the pool the whole time. Reagan is a great swimmer now and Landon has begun to want to swim under water. He is getting better every time we practice. Aaron is also becoming more comfortable with the water and will be swimming in no time. The best pool toy this year was four torpedoes that I bought when I had to run to Publix one morning. We split them up and gave Landon 2 and Aaron 2. They would throw them in and Reagan would swim to go get them and bring them back. It is hard to imagine that one day soon we will be able to just watch them swim instead of having to swim with them.

I wasn't able to get nice family pictures this year because it was dark when we got back from eating out and that is the only night we had nice clothes on to take pics. Oh well, maybe next year. The slide show of all our pics is very long but it proves we had a wonderfully fantastic time.

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