Fresh Start!

No excuses for the three year gap. I'm starting over, folks. And if I have time,  I might backtrack a little.  Or at least stay caught up!

Lawson is ONE!

I know...I know. Handsome turned one in September- BUT I've uploaded these dang photos two million times and something always goes wrong. So tonight, I went through compressed some of them- and BAM. They uploaded. So, I'm not going to go back and put them in order or even make sure my favorites are on here- because I've done it over and over it just wouldn't ever work! SO, here we go: Lawson's Safari Birthday Party.

Adults... doing adult things-

Opening gifts and being so silly.

The main cake

the food-

I made these animals to go along with the safari theme. On the backside of the invite a messaged warned the visitors that wild animals roamed the area. There was a rhino, a couple of giraffes and monkeys, a bear, and a tiger.

The kid meals- which were packed for a safari hunt. The kids got to take the bucket and a safari hat home.

We had such a fun day!

Handy Man

My dad can really do anything. He's some kind of self seeking superman or something. He is a hard worker who loves to learn new things and "do" stuff. He wakes up every morning with a mission to complete. He is NEVER satisfied with just doing nothing. He always has some type of project going on. For example, he liked the way stained glass look so... he took a class, bought a machine and can do it. He found some old furniture at my grandparents house and thought it could look like a gem, so, he took a class on refinishing furniture. He is always fixing something- somewhere. So when my mom told him that Lawson needed a swing for his birthday.......... he kinda went over board a bit.

Yeah, that's a fort complete with rock climbing wall and rope, slide (it's on the backside), glider, two swings, trapeze bar, steering wheel and beautiful blue tin roof. Lawson needed a swing... yeah. Poor little boy. So he started building this "swing" in Tupelo and word spread to my Papaw and of course he got involved. Mom and Mamaw would help, watch, or tell them how to build it every night. Two trailers later, it was brought three hours south for Lawson to enjoy! Which he does. I tell you what, everybody should have a loving, devoted, daddy and Papa like Lawson and I do. We are lucky.

Mitchell Farms

We went to Mitchell Farms this weekend. We had a great time. We met Shauna, William, Cait, and baby #2 there. We have always wanted to go....but kinda felt weird going without a kid. Shad has been tempted to "rent a kid" every year so that we could go and "fit in". So now that Lawson is here :) we can go and not feel out of place!

Walking in the maze.

Looking at the boy goats.
Farm tour

Picking out the best pumpkin.

Riding on the train.

11 MONTHS OLD

HOLY COW! Handsome is 11 months old. Unbelievable.

• loves to eat



• loves feed himself



• loves baths



• loves to splash-pool, puddle, tub, river, dog bowl....anywhere



• loves to dig in sand



• loves to walk fast down the hill in his walker



• loves to climb



• loves to try to fall off the couch



• loves to get inside the dishwasher



• loves to share his passy with Blue (i know..)



• loves ice cream sandwich



• loves Blue and Ivory



• loves to throw his passies out of the bed



• loves cords- we have some in his toy box



• loves to plug things in- and do it correctly.



• loves to make noises with tongue and blow bubbles



• can say mama, dada, nana (passy, we have never called it a nana), aduh (duck), iv (ivory), oo (blue)...and we are working on few others



• can shake his head no
  He is such a joy!

Car is Packed

Saturday morning, about 6 am, I woke up to Shad telling me that the car was pack and handing me my swimsuit. He decided to take us to the beach for the day- YAY! So we left... and had the best time.

Summer

It's over. I'm sad. But life goes on. I made a big change in my professional life- I moved up with my smart babies to fourth grade. Some days I wonder if I did the right thing... just because change is hard. I LOVED third grade, and it's always hard to learn something new. But it will challenge me... or consume my life. :) I do like my new classroom-it's cute. I basically have my same class of kiddies. Well, -3 (they moved), -3 (are in a different class), +5 (new to me) and 13 of them are stuck with me another year :). Bless them.

I did have a great summer. I spent it with handsome. We played, strolled, swam, and shopped. He spent a week at Papa and Lovie's house while I taught a couple of class at a conference. It was good for us. He adores his papa and lovie. He is back in daycare....and we are adjusting.

Beach Trip 2011

*** I'm updating the blog...I have know idea why this didn't post; so without much more delay...

We just got back from the beach and it was so much fun! Lawson LOVED the beach! LOVED it! We had such a great time...eating, playing, going to gardens, and visiting great friends! It is so exciting to watch Lawson playing on the same beach that I grew up on....

My mother has a problem.... she's addictive to Words with Friends.

He loved it.





We went to the Butterfly House, and once a month, they release 100 butterflies. They gave us an envelope with a butterfly in it and instructed us to let it warm up in our hands. Once it was warm enough it flew away. It was amazing!

We also went to Blackwater River State Forest on two different days. It's a clear sandy three foot river that you can tube or canoe down. It was nice change with very nice pavilions and beach areas. Lawson loved floating down the river in his float and standing in the river.

We had a great time. I can't wait to go back.

Doggies Resort

Call me crazy. I promise it isn't the first time. But I love my Blue and Ivory. They are treated like babies...and that hasn't changed since Lawson. BB King is the BEST babysitter. He keeps Lawson laughing for HOURS. Becasue of my crazy love for them-We have also sent them to resorts when we go on vacation.... they have been to several different ones. However, I really like the one that they just visited in Pensacola. The name of it is Luxury Pet Boarding- Spanish Trail Veterary Hospital. It's very nice. Here is a pic of the hallway...

Rooms with a TV and private window... I'm not sure what they watch. I know the resort that they stayed in at Memphis had a TV too... and they watched Animal Planet :) They also what webcams.

And of course... Blue's fav. The bone shaped swimming pool.

The staff was great! And I'm so glad they took care of my furry babies.

5 years..

Wow. Time flies. FIVE years ago today I married my soul mate. It has been an amazing five years. Got married-moved to a new town-build a house- had a baby....and its been fun :). We are so blessed.

Mexico honeymoon... it was beautiful.
Shad and I aren't big gift givers... we have never been that way. But we both surprised each other this year. And I'm excited to say that I got a cruise! I can't wait to go~ I'll be on the boat soon!