Fishin' With Daddy

Saturday morning Toby decided he would take the kids fishing for the first time. Camping was out due to the extreme heat - we will have to try that in the fall, I guess. Friday night he took them to Bass Pro to pick out their own fishing poles - Barbie and Kung Fu Panda. They got up pretty early Saturday and he took them to a local state park about 10 miles outside of town. The kids had a blast, and they both caught one fish each. Abby cast, caught, and reeled hers in all by herself. She even took it off the hook herself, and was excited to tell me all about how it had actually gotten hooked in its eyeball. Gross. Beau got to reel his in and take a picture with it, but didn't want to touch it...kind of like the frogs we find in the back yard. He is happy to keep his distance. I met the crew at "Old McDonald's" (as Beau calls it) for lunch. They had a great time, and were really ready for naps that afternoon!

At the park they have a little "zoo" for people to come and see some animals. This is a 500lb wild boar. Toby said Abby is making this face because she didn't want to stand that close to it. I can't say that I blame her. That is the ugliest looking thing! I think the zookeeper guy came out and fed it an apple when the kids were there, so they got to watch that as well.

Toby said Beau wanted to have his picture in front of the raccoons. Random. The sign behind him is not so comforting...

Beau loves to play with his Star Wars and superhero action figures lately. Abby played with him the other morning with them for an hour or so, which was really nice for me!

Abby is at dance camp this week every day from 9-4, which she is really enjoying. Beau is loving his one-on-one Mommy time, too. He is constantly "loving" one me and wanting me to give him lots of attention, so I guess dance camp came at a good time in his eyes! We are still going to the pool a lot and trying to stay cool in this crazy hot weather. We have been busy cleaning out the attic and the house because we are having a 3 family yard sale this weekend on our street!

What have we been up to?

Abby posing in the front yard in front of the lilies.

The kids are loving being outside this spring and summer. They love to play in the yard, front or back. Running and racing up and down the sidewalk is a favorite. I think Beau does this barefoot in his pajamas more than in real clothes and shoes.

Having a moment with the bubble wand.

A rare moment. I don't usually bathe them together anymore, but happened to the other night after they had been running through the sprinkler. They are way too wild to put together in the tub anymore. There usually ends up being lots of water on the floor and/or someone ends up crying.

Beau posing in his Batman pajamas Aunt Jody got him for his birthday with his Batman diving stick. Seriously - all boy. Good thing we don't have bunk beds. I know we would already have had another broken arm after an attempt at flying if we did...

My mom came down to visit at the end of May. The kids LOVED having their MiMi here. She spoiled them with new precious matching outfits as modeled in the picture above. Samantha, Abby's American Girl doll (that MiMi got for her before she was born) even got in on the matching outfits. Abby was thrilled, and has toted that doll around non-stop since it got a new outfit.

Abby posing in the living room prior to her recital. Can you see her trying not to burst with glee?! She just loves the costumes and makeup and being on stage...the whole hoopla. Could not be more opposite her mother in that aspect...

Wearing one of Mommy's shirts to protect her costume until she gets backstage.

(Apologies for the out of order pictures) Posing with MiMi in the lobby after the recital.

With her proud Mommy and Daddy. Abby was so thrilled that her Daddy had got her flowers. She was so, so excited about that gesture, and I am so glad we did it for her. She carried them around, held them in the car, helped cut and arrange them, and asked for them to be put in her room - not the living room or dining room. I am afraid I am rising a high maintenance girl, that one. Pity the fool that falls for her some day! Ha!

Ballet

Tap

Jazz

We have made several trips to the local library this summer. Both of the kids love to read and be read to. You can also check out videos (for free - woo hoo!) which they love to do. We are signed up for a summer reading program there. You keep a list of the books you read, the author, and your favorite part of the book. For every 10 books you read, you bring your list in and get a treat (like a gift certificate for a scoop of ice cream at Baskin Robbins, etc.). There is also another program they do where you take another list to Barnes and Noble, and for every 8 books you read they get to pick a free book. Abby is so thrilled with this whole process, and asks me all day long if she can read to me or if I can read to her. Her latest infatuation is a chapter book on Helen Keller.

We took a little family vacation to Houston, Texas last week. It was super hot, but we had a good time visiting the city (so big - 4th largest in the U.S. - I didn't know that until we were going). We went to a pro baseball game and watched the Astros get killed by the Cubs! We managed to consume more junk at that game. I think it was a record. Hot dogs, peanuts, cotton candy and ice cream in the 7th (tradition). It makes me sort of sick just thinking about it...

In front of the ballpark - yep...gettin' pretty big. I went to the doctor today. Time to start going every 2 weeks already after this. Weird how fast it goes by with the 3rd baby!

Crashed. I love pictures of sleeping kids.

Another sleeping picture - this is in the middle of the tour at the Houston Space Center (also the biggest in the U.S.) after we saw the mission control room, which was really neat. These are also a little out of order...

There was a big Star Wars thing for the kids right when you walked in. Low and behold - there were also real characters from the movie there. Funny how much Beau loves Star Wars and talks constantly about all of the wild animals he can kills with his light saber, but acts like this when he stumbles onto one.

Beau couldn't stop staring at Darth Vader. Abby wouldn't stand next to him or touch him.

This is an actual space shuttle, which may have been the coolest thing we saw while at the space center. It is really quite unbelievable to see how enormous that thing was, and to think that it had actually carried astronauts to space and back.

Posing with Daddy in front of the shuttle.

We spent half of one day in Galveston, the beachfront about an hour outside of Houston. It was not the prettiest beach in the world, and there was still a lot of damage from Hurricane Ike that struck there last year. None of this seemed to matter to our kiddos - all they cared about was playing in the sand and running around in the water!

Abby flying a kite with Daddy

Enjoying her first experience at The Melting Pot. Yummy.

This was the first display at the Houston Zoo when we got there...no kidding. I think there may be more animals named Toby than people.

Outside of the zoo.

Abby standing like a flamingo in front of the flamingos. She said that they were her favorite animals there. Pink and pretty. Of course they were...

How tall are you?

Back at home playing in the front yard in the sprinkler.

She poses like this unprompted. It just cracks me up.

Beau, on the other hand, is next to impossible to get a picture of, much less a good one. It usually involves bribes, and he is hardly ever smiling in them. He is a moving target.

Lastly, some pictures from my attempt at a garden this year. I actually surprised myself in that stuff actually is growing! I don't have the greenest thumb, and usually leave this type of stuff up to Toby. I figured I might as well try. I have to say it has been lots of fun watching everything grow, and it has been a great learning tool for my kids.

Jalapenos

Corn that is just starting to come in Tons of tomatoes! Yay! My favorite.

A view of the whole thing. I have herbs in pots on the porch. There is also green onions, lettuce, squash and zuccini. I didn't think I would bore everyone with pictures of everything. I have really turned into an old woman the past couple of years. Top hobbies used to be sports. Now they are sewing and gardening. Sigh. It's a good life, though!

We are spending most of our days at the pool lately. The kids and I are going to make a trip to Tennessee next month to visit our family and friends and to meet the newest member of the family, Quinn Maire! We hope everyone is having a great summer so far!

School's Out For Summer

We had a little get together for Beau's birthday with some good friends here after we got back from our trip to Nashville. We cooked out in the backyard and had cupcakes. Toby got the bouncy thing out for the kids and put it in the backyard, and they had a blast just hanging out and playing. Beau is officially a 3 year old boy, and acting every bit of it. He started back to swimming lessons last week and is so excited. I am afraid I am going to have full hands at the pool this summer, as he has no problem jumping in and going under the water...never mind that he can't really swim!

Beau is on the A's in t-ball for 3 and 4 year olds this year. He has a really great female coach and lots of other kids his age to play with. Unfortunately, he is usually over it after one full inning, whining and crying to go home. He really wanted to be signed up to play and talks big about playing, but when it comes down to it we have decided that he is really too young to undertake such and endeavor. I'm not sure how many more games we will make it to. It is over as of next weekend. Maybe next year...

One of us has to stay out in the field with him, otherwise he would not be out in the field. Toby is taking his turn. Here is something interesting we have learned through playing t-ball with Beau this year - he writes left handed but seems to prefer playing t-ball right-handed. Maybe he will be one of those people who only write left-handed and do everything else right-handed?

On to Abby - she is a Dodger this year and loving it! One of her favorite things to do right now is go in the back yard and practice t-ball with her daddy. Here is a picture of her first base coach - I thought he was pretty hot...

"Look Mom, I made it to third base!"

Abby and I on field day at her school. She was so excited about this day, despite the heat! Please excuse my pregnant chubbiness...

Abby and her best buds, Grayson (left) and CeCe (right). Hopefully we can have lots of play dates with these girls this summer. They are all so cute and sweet. We are so blessed to have such a great school less than a mile from our house!

The "two-headed race" - Abby is partnered with her buddy Guy. I have to say that they were quite a speedy little couple, and too cute!

Tug of War - Abby is taking this seriously as you can see...her side actually did win.

This is the one and only picture I got on the last day of school picnic today. It has been a fantastic year, Abby has made great friends, had a fantastic teacher, learned lots (we are reading some and doing basic math, among other things that, for some strange reason, Abby loves and can not get enough of - big nerd...), made great friends and had tons of fun this year in K4 (pre-K)! We are all cleared to start kindergarten in August (sniff, sniff). I am very excited that both kids will be at the same school right down the street. Beau will be in K3, and attend on M-W-F, while Abby will go every day, of course. The baby should be here in mid-September, just in time to get kids settled into school and have a little time to prepare for her arrival. Funny thinking of all of the preparations we did with Abby versus the 3rd! I have not really bought anything for this child, and really have no grand plans as to where she will sleep or where her stuff will go! I figure we have a cradle on wheels, so there is no telling where you might find baby if you come for a visit this fall! Ha! We have decided her name will be Dorothy Lane - Dorothy was Toby's mom's name, and we just like the name Lane - short and sweet - seems to flow with Abby and Beau. I am curious whether this one will come out blond or brunette...we have had such extremes with that. She will probably be bald...

I hope everyone is geared up for a great summer! We joined a swim and tennis club here, and the pool is open on the weekends right now, and every day (except Mondays) after next weekend. We have plans for lots of swimming and relaxing. Mondays will be movie day, I guess! Abby's dance recital is next weekend. We are planning a trip to Houston in June, and the kids and I will be coming to Tennessee in July for a visit in both Nashville and Johnson City. We are getting so excited about the arrival of the kids' newest cousin, baby Quinn. Thanks ahead of time to Aunt Jody for coming down and riding back and forth with us so I don't have to go it alone in my third trimester! It will be back to school in August, and baby in September! Dance recital pictures and a visit from MiMi are next week. Stay tuned!

Easter and Beau's 3rd Birthday

A picture from Abby's school Easter egg hunt the day before we left for Nashville. These are her two best buddies at school, Grayson and CeCe.

Easter morning after church

Easter morning getting into those Easter baskets

Check out all of the loot. Lucky kids.After an egg hunt in the front yard with MiMi, and showing off their eggs below.

Egg dying with Mommy and MiMi - worth noting that Abby is wearing a Christmas apron, and Beau is wearing a Halloween apron!

Beau's first teeth cleaning by Miss Emily - he did shockingly well in case you were wondering. The only thing he didn't like was the "medicine" she put on at the end. That caused quite a stir including spitting and crying and everything. Glad that came at the end!

Happy Birthday to Cutler as well! Look at those curls...

Abby showing off her balancing skills at the park

Beau swinging on his stomach (preferred over swinging on his bottom most of the time)

A wagon ride with Uncle Michael

Abby and Beau love their cousin Will

Beau and Will had a blast in the bathtub together - it was quite a sight

Another masterpiece by Aunt Ann - Darth Vader as requested by the birthday boy. Beau turned 3 on April 26th. We had a very small, low-key party with mostly family and a few close friends while we were in town a few weeks ago. Brooke really enjoyed her ice cream.

I wonder what Will is telling Beau in this shot - "Watch what you're eating" or "Let's go to the slide next" or "I can't believe we are both having little sisters"...Hard to tell...My sweet birthday boy

Check out those dirty feet - the sign of a good time!

Best of 2009 Restaurants

So, I have now wasted at least 30 minutes this morning while both of my kids are at school/MDO reading Nashville Lifestyles "best of 2009" restaurants. I thought maybe some of you had some extra time to waste (haha). If you live in Nashvegas and love to eat like I do, check it out...

http://www.nashvillelifestyles.com/apps/pbcs.dll/frontpage

Around Here...

Well, as you can see in the picture, Toby found yet another toad hopping around in the back yard the other night while the kids were playing. Of course both of our kids plus two of my neighbors' kids really enjoyed holding, chasing, squealing at and poking the poor little thing. Abby, the prissy girl, and Curran, the youngest of the crew, were the only ones brave enough to hold it!

Curran taking a turn holding the toad. The funny thing about this picture (besides Beau's redneck Cars tank top that he would not take off that day) is the huge mosquito on Beau's left arm near his wrist. Toby noticed it when he unloaded the pictures onto the computer. Poor thing! I don't recall a bite there... Those mosquitoes around here are big, and they show up early. The proof is in the pictures.

So, this seems like a random picture, but there is an explanation. Beau has started to wake up in the mornings and ask for the most random things to eat. This is a picture of him eating celery and hummus for breakfast after he was refused chicken nuggets. So strange...

Two little monkeys playing on the computer. Abby loves to play games on her school website and pbs, and Beau has picked up on the fun recently. She is so good and patient with him. You can't tell in this picture, but he is actually sitting in her lap and she is explaining to him what to do while they play.

Getting out Easter decorations.

On our way to the Mardi Gras parade that takes place every year right off of our street. We can easily walk two blocks and have a prime spot, and the kids love it.

Waiting for the parade to start.

Enjoying some early Easter suckers from World Market. They thought these suckers were particularly funny.

Papaw came into town in February for a visit and Grandparent's/Patriot's Day. It was so good to have him come and visit. Abby was so excited to have a grandparent present this year. He was in the top 3 grandparents to travel the furthest to be there. Thanks so much, Papaw!! Oh, and the above picture is a very competitive game of Hungry Hippo. I can't remember who won...probably Beau or Papaw...

A picture of Papaw and Abby in Abby's classroom after the performance.

This is a horribly blurry picture, but the only one I got of the three of them at her school.

And.......

Here is the other news that a lot of you already know, but none of you have seen until now...

Yep, that's right...

You guessed it...

We're having another BABY!!!

10 week ultrasound picture. Abby got to go with us to the appointment and she found out she was going to be a big sister again, hence her name on the picture, too. She loves that her name is on there, and is sooo excited about this baby. She, of course, would prefer a girl, while Beau says he wants a "big boy" brother. Someone will be very happy and someone will be disappointed!

Here is a bonus (sort of weird looking if you ask me!) 4D picture of the little nugget at the 10 week appointment. As long as it's arm moves down where it is supposed to be and those nubs form into hands and feet I'll be good! No, really, it is quite amazing to be able to see this precious baby so early and so in detail. Thank you, Lord, for this little blessing! He/she will be making it's "real" appearance sometime in mid-September.

So, that's what has been going on around here...

The Big Easy, Cheerleading and a Haircut

Toby had a pulmonary conference and presentation (yawn...) down in New Orleans a couple of weeks ago. The greatest thing was that Jody came down to watch the kids so I could go, too!! Yay! It was soooooo nice and I had such a good time spending some time with him and sleeping as late as I possibly could! It was weird to wake up and just get myself ready, feed myself, just worry about myself and no one else for a few days. It has been quite a while, and it was very nice and refreshing. Aside from the conference, we ate some wonderful meals, got to socialize with other adults, shopped on two different occasions (a new favorite is Magazine Street), etc. etc. Thanks so much to Jody for coming down and watching our kids so we wouldn't have to worry about them! We really appreciate it. It is better that any gift anyone could ever give us!

This is a picture of us with Toby's buddy, Richard, from his residency at Baptist. Richard was instrumental in helping Toby get into the pulmonary program down her. His wife, Melinda, introduced me to some great shopping in The Big Easy. They are very familiar with the city, so it was nice to have them to hang with!

Beignets (french donuts) and a latte from Cafe Du Monde - yummy!!

Here is a shot of Abby cheerleading. It may be the cutest thing ever to watch a bunch of 4 and 5 year olds cheerleading. I tried to talk her into basketball (like Mommy played), but, of course, she would have none of it!

This one ends up in our bed a lot, somehow. Yet another shot of him snuggled up with Daddy.

Beau informed us the other morning that he had a boo-boo on his nose. He ran off to the kids' bathroom, informing us that he would take care of it. This is what he came back looking like! I think he got his boo-boo covered, although I'm not sure he could breathe. Hilarious. I also wanted to include this picture as sort-of a pre-haircut picture...

Post haircut! I finally got his golden locks cut again. It had been several months and it was getting quite long. I am pretty fond of the long hair, but we have had several people call him a girl, and I think all that hair in his face was starting to get on his nerves. It actually ended up a little shorter than I intended, but it's just hair and will grow again, right? He sits so still for his haircuts now, which I am so thankful for. Poor kid starting getting serious haircuts at 9 months old, so I guess he is used to it! Ha! This is a picture of him "walking" my friend's new beagle puppy, Honey.

So that is all that has been going on lately! Finally, I am officially caught up on the blog!! Thursday Papaw is coming into town. Abby has Grandparent's and Patriot's Day at her school on Friday, so it will be fun for her to have a grandparent there this year! Pictures to come...