Catching Up

With the Mayers...

I love these guys.  No matter how long it's been, we just catch up right where we left off and it feels so natural.  I am so at home with them and Peanut has now joined our fun.

Can't believe Jackson will start kindergarten this year!  Time flies...he is showing Peanut lots of new things!

Ruth Anne is so well spoken, kind, and just gets prettier every year.  She is just like her Mama!

They bought Peanut gifts:  a toy Thomas train car and a piggy bank.  They are showing him how to use the latter.  He is catching on!  Best and I will have to start picking up our spare change...

He and Jackson had a "noodle fight"...it was so funny.  I'm pretty sure Jackson let him win.  Smile.

We enjoyed our day at the pool with them, and Tessa cooked us an awesome spaghetti dinner.  Peanut must have really felt at home because he went right to sleep without a peep.  The kids watched a movie and the grownups lounged on the sofas, ate too much ice cream, and caught up on old times.  Omg it was so great...Tessa's husband is so nice and I always enjoy catching up with him too.  I slept great and it was so fun to wake up there and watch the kids play in their pjs while we drank coffee.  

We headed to the Farmer's Market later that morning for some more food and fun. So glad that I will be seeing them again before I leave!

Catching up.....with the McCarleys:

I was so happy to see my dad's brother and his family again this trip.  Last time was wonderful, but this time was a little more complete because my cousin Kenny was able to join us and I had not seen him since I moved away.  So glad to get to visit with him and he is just as kind and funny as ever.

 They soon found out Peanut is heavier and squirmier than last visit!  He can do more too...like pull beautiful long blonde hair.  The girls got hair ties from their mom. Smart girls. Smile.

It was time for a pool rematch.  Here are the participants studying up.  There were teams and each won a game.  Sounds like there will need to be a tie breaker next visit.  Just wait until Peanut learns.  Right now he just looks cute on top of the table.

and here he is on the sofa in the lounge...this is a new face he is making and it cracks me up!

His shirt says "I'm kind of a big deal".  As if we didn't know, ha!  The girls were so sweet to play with him and   made a sign for our fridge that said how much they loved him.

 They both gave him kisses good night and patted his little head. I just love their tender hearts.  And I love the parents, uncles, and grandma and grandpa that have raised them to be this way.  

While the men played pool the ladies talked about family, books, and raising kids.  I love how our conversation flows and the "do you remember the time" beginnings that let you know even if you do remember it is a story worth hearing again.  I think my Aunt Patsy has convinced me to read David Copperfield.  If you see me don't ask if I have read it yet.  You won't need to because when I do actually get around to reading a 900 page book, EVERYONE will know. Smile.

  We all reconvened after the pool games and had fun sharing stories.  I am hoping that the next time we have our family party that Best will be there and also my cousin Debby's husband.  She is also married to a very hardworking man that makes sacrifices so she can stay at home with her daughters.  She is so appreciative and I know exactly how she feels.  

  Here is one last pic taken that day that I just love.  

I am so thrilled that my mom and dad are getting so much time with Peanut while we are here.  I really meant what I said in the very first post titled "I Miss You Everyday".  It just fills my heart with joy to see them hold him and play with him.  We are here for five more days of fun!  Have a great week friends and family. 

   

Lone Star Livin'

   Peanut and I are having such a fun visit down South.  Such a joy to see Grandma and Grandpa and they seem pretty excited as well...ok, they are really excited. Smile.  Our plane ride down was better than expected.  I expected good, it was great!  Peanut had his own seat, promptly made friends with the flight crew, and seemed to be particularly interested in the Sky Mall magazine.  I find him to be a wonderful traveling companion who is happy with books, snacks (keep em' coming), and never tires of Itsy Bitsy Spider.  He is now doing the motions!

You may not know this, but there are quite a few pictures of dogs in the Sky Mall magazine.  Peanut pointed to every one.
   We got started playing right away when we got home.  Peanut brought a few toys from home...hockey stick , Elmo, stacking cups, baby, ...so we were prepared.

 But Grandma Sharon had something way better!  Thanks Mom for saving these.  It's so much fun to watch him play with them.

 "Wanna play Grandpa Chuck?"

We got a good night's rest and headed to the mall on Wednesday.  I have been telling Best for a week how much I was longing for a 12$ mall massage.  So after a stop at the bookstore, we headed in and I was in pure heaven for 10 whole minutes.  That won't be the last one.  No one else in our group is much for massages, so they found other fun things to do:

We had lunch and headed home for "resting time".  Since we were on vacay and there was no laundry, dishes, or other house chores I was forced to lay down and snooze a little myself!  Naps are good. 
  After nap we headed over to the "Stompin Grounds".  I had found it online and heard that it is the place that the cool kids go so of course Peanut fit right in.

 We had fun watching him play with the other kids and helping him learn to go down the slide by himself.  A full day of fun.  No wonder this kid goes to bed at 6 pm!
  This morning we woke up early and had omelets and then headed for the pool.  I was trying to teach Peanut to blow bubbles.  He would watch me, laugh, then stick his mouth in and take a little drink.  Um...ok, well it's a start!

 Another nap and we were headed to Spring, Texas to visit Miss Ava Haire.  She graced this world with her presence a little over two weeks ago and she chose one of the most wonderful women I know to call Mommy. I cried when I held her.  She was just so meant to be.  Here she is:

 Here is her mommy, one of my dearest friends.  There was a time that we joked about being old spinsters together...(actually the plan was to travel the world) but look what happened to us!

I am so so happy for her and her husband.  They are already wonderful parents and being just a little ahead of them on the journey of parenthood allows me to anticipate their joys this first year.  Mom and Dad took Peanut for some fun while we visited, but he got to come in to say hi and take a picture when they picked me up.  Becky's husband Logan was watching him run all over and look into every room (he's very nosy) and just kept saying, "Wow..look what happens in a year."  He is right.  It is so amazing.  I wish I could have more time with my friend, but I know how busy and tired she is right now.  She promises she will make it up North to visit me one day and I plan on holding her to that. In the meantime she is in my heart and I am so happy that we both have our own little miracles to love.

  What a great vacation we have had so far.  Looking forward to spending time with some other great friends tomorrow.  We miss Best like crazy and want him to know how much we appreciate his hard work that affords us this family time.  I really wasn't worried about moving so far away because he promised me I could visit whenever I wanted.  He is a man of his word.  Thanks Babe.

  We will be keeping you posted as we have time.  Have a great week friends and family.  XOXO from TX!

For Gammie

This post is dedicated to our Gammie, a Southern lady who loves her sweet tea and bridge, but most of all her family.  She always makes us feel so at home and I have undying gratitude to her for raising her son to be such a wonderful man, husband, and father.  
  Peanut and I are always up for pictures... he likes to ham it up for the camera and I am on the ever elusive quest for that perfect shot.  My mother in law had mentioned that she would like to get a photo of him in a special outfit that his cousins had worn for their one year pictures and we were happy to oblige.  I was even more excited when she asked if I would take the pictures!  All of the others were professionally done and they are gorgeous.  I was so flattered that she would ask me and I think we got some good ones...

 The photo above is my favorite.  This was Best's wagon and I love that Gammie saved it.  She is so good about preserving family heirlooms and traditions.  She was also able to get some good smiles from Peanut which was no surprise, he loves her bunches!

 I know I have a huge bias, but I think they are precious.  They were taken at Cedar Lake Farm this morning. Poor Gammie had to drag the wagon all over the park and then it started to rain!  We stopped by the store on the way home and Gammie ran in and got Peanut some milk.  When we got home he had a big cup of it along with a cookie and he is resting now.  Modeling is tough work you know.  Smile.  Have a great week friends and family!

Hockey and Sons

This past week Best had a wonderful opportunity to take our nephew along to hockey camp.  This isn't just any hockey camp, but one that Best has been a part of for many years and run by a man that Best has worked with professionally and also considers a good friend.  I think this camp is so special because it focuses on family, and the special bond between fathers and sons.  I love the bond that is already so strong between my boys, and it was touching to watch them say goodbye. 

 

 It was about 100 degrees the day Best departed, so Peanut and I busied ourselves with indoor activities.  He can now reach a new shelf and is exploring the grown up books...many titles on child rearing are available on this shelf.  I think he might be checking up on our parenting skills...

The highlight of our week was visiting Best at camp.  Here is Peanut watching the Zamboni.  Just wish I could know what was going through his mind!

 Picking out a stick.  

 Helping Dad get ready.

Waiting for Daddy's turn to go on the ice.

 My very favorite "non posed" pic of the day:

Best looked great out there.  I am so glad he can still enjoy the sport he has loved since childhood.

It was so hot outside that the ice rink felt refreshing.  It was hard to leave.  I am so glad we were able to visit and on the way home as I talked to Peanut I realized that in a few years I might be making this drive alone.  It's fun to think about him out there on the ice and playing in the father vs. son games as I cheer in the stands, but I'm also not quite ready for it yet.  We will grow together and be ready when the time is right, but for now I am just loving my baby  toddler. Smile.

Best gets home today.  I know he is tired from lots of fun and physical activity.  I know he sleeps better at home too, and I sleep better when he's here.  No pictures tonight...just some floor time with Peanut, good night stories, a home cooked meal, and maybe a movie in bed.  I love those kind of nights.  Welcome home babe.