At the Lake

Last Sunday, the Morris' invited us out on their boat. We spent the afternoon on Lake Texoma, and wow, we had a GREAT time.

Sporting the windblown looks.

First, Jackson was a little nervous about trusting the life jacket.
He's not used to wearing life jackets or floaties, so he wasn't so sure.


But after a minute, he was ready to swim on his own...


This is what Charlie did the first 20 minutes ....

He was freaked out.
I mean, FREAKED out.
But, once we stopped, we took off the life jacket, and he was perfectly content.
I was trying not to be a nervous wreck about the possibility of him climbing over the side of the boat (while someone was constantly holding hold to him) and falling into the water.
But, wasn't nervous enough to put the jacket back on,
because he was happy and safe in the boat.


Both boys were eager to get on "Big Mable"
Once we explained to them that it was going to move, Cooper got back in the boat.
(He did ride it plenty as long I was on their with him - he LOVED it)

Here are Nick, Jackson, and Emma - having a blast.
I CANNOT believe Jackson so eagerly decided to do this. Without me or Colin. Going fast.

We couldn't stop smiling and laughing about how daring he was.
It was a little out of character.


Don't know if you can see these monkeys unless you click on the picture to enlarge it, but they weren't exactly sitting still.
Jumping around, reaching down for the water, switching places.

It was REALLY hot, and almost unbearable unless you kept getting in the water.
Colin and I just took turns being in the boat with Charlie.

We stopped at the Marina for icecream.
Cooper was hilarious to watch.


A mess.

Jackson wasn't so neat either.
Think this picture is frame-worthy.
What good memories we made!


Here's the gang (sans Charlie)
Nathan, Nicholas, Cooper, Jackson, and Emma

Just cannot get over how fearless Jackson was.


Watching Colin take a turn on Big Mable.

Greg and Colin took a turn on Big Mable.
It's really odd riding on a tube sitting up. I'm so used to being on my stomach holding on to a handle in the front.
The last time we were tubing on a boat was July 2006.
I was pregnant with Jackson, and didn't even know it yet!


Such a fun day.

Everyone was beat.

We stayed for a long time. Think we made it home just before 10pm.
When we were about 5 minutes from home, Cooper started crying that he needed to go poopoo. I told him him it wouldn't be long, and he kept whining, and then started complaining that he couldn't get something out of his nose and it hurt. He says this all time the time when he has boogies. So, I passed a tissue back to him, and just thought he was melting down because he had to poopoo so badly...
Got home, unbuckled him, still crying about his nose. Was trying to get him to the bathroom before he had an accident when I noticed that his nose was bleeding. Shocked, I turned on the van light, and saw it was orange blood. So confused. He looked up and I saw that his nostril looked like it was closed up and swollen. Then I realized. ..
I gave them each a few skittles - and he had out one up his nose. It looked like his skin color because all the orange had run off of it. PANIC!
It was way up there, and Colin was able to push it out.
Whew. Guess next time I'll listen a little more carefully.





























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S'port

Last weekend, Colin and Jackson took a trip to Shreveport, Louisiana. They stayed with our friends, David and Elizabeth McCormick. I can't explain how much fun Jackson had while he was there. He hasn't stopped talking about it. Colin took pictures of some of Jackson's adventures.

Playing with Pico in the yard.
One day we will get a pet, too.
Maybe.

Sporting his VBS shirt from his week of fun at our church.

Playing at park in the middle of taking pico for a walk

Checking out his parents' old stomping grounds at Centenary College.




He loved seeing all the squirrels and birds ...
we don't have as many since there are hardly any trees here.

Colin set the self-timer to snap a picture in the shell.


Off to Thomas Blancher's rocket ship birthday party.


This rocket ship that he decorated ... it's on the fridge, and we talk about it DAILY.
He takes it down and plays with it, and then hangs it back up.

Next, off to to the Speckman's to visit and play with Peyton.
(no pictures)

Later, same day, ... of to another birthday party for Madeleine Rubel.



Thought it was funny that he climbed onto the table to get a close view of the presents.
Colin said it was even funnier that he kept waiting for a present that he was interested in.
Guess Disney princesses and dolls aren't really his thing.


A farewell picture at Elizabeth and David's house before they headed back to McKinney.


As if he hadn't had enough excitement, they went through the carwash on the way home.
He hardly ever is in the car (or van) when we get it cleaned, partly because we rarely clean them, but mostly because Cooper and Charlie don't see the enjoyment in it yet.

We're hopefully ALL going to spend a couple of days in Shreveport in August in route to Alexandria/Lake Charles. Jackson and Cooper are going to spend 5-6 days with the Delaneys and the Daughenbaughs.

Lia's Little Gym Party

A couple of weeks ago, Colin took the older two monkeys to Lia's birthday party at the Little Gym. They live about an hour away, and at the time our rental car wouldn't hold three carseats. This was the day after we were in the accident. So, Charlie and I just hung out at the house. Colin got some great pictures and the boys had a BLAST. They all headed over to the Bell's house for dinner after the party, and had so much fun visiting and catching up.
Such good friends - wish we lived closer. I guess an hour isn't that long, but it sometimes seems like it!

Painting

It is too hot to do anything.
I'm crossing our fingers that our AC will just hold up this summer.
We've been doing lots of workbooks and coloring and puzzles here.
And visiting the neighborhood pool of course.

Cooper enjoys mixing up all of his colors.
He called this masterpiece a sailboat, and I have to say, it's a darn good sailboat.


Jackson keeps his colors neat.
But is having alot of fun experimenting with mixing colors on the paper.
Every time he puts yellow and blue together, he gets so excited that he gets green.

Cooper Dooper

I was feeling like I needed to put some recent pictures up ... and this one is making me smile.
So, here's a quick "spotlight" on Cooper.

LOVES puzzles, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, painting, chicka chicka boom boom, jumping on top of Colin, books, and singing.

He's funny. Really funny. Often wakes up in the morning saying, "Mommy! I'm ready for dinner"

Wants his own space. He will snuggle up next to me to read a book, or for me to sing to him, but he hops right down when we're done. He's never slept a night in our bed. It has always freaked him out if he isn't in his own bed. Even after a bad dream, or if he isn't feeling well, he always asks to go to his bed.

He often appears oblivious to what is going on. But then he makes a comment later that makes me realize he was paying attention all along.

Stubborn as all get-out.

Sleeping in a "big boy" (toddler) bed now, and will NOT get out of it without me coming into the room. Whew. I mean, some mornings when I have already started feeding Charlie and Jackson breakfast, it's frustrating that he is upstairs singing, "Mommmmmyyyyy, I have to go peeeeeeeeeeepeeeeeee." But I can sleep at night without thinking he is going to just walk out of his room, down the stairs, and out the front door.

Wants to do EVERYTHING that Jackson is doing.

He is so smart. I'm blown away with what he knows.

Just so perfect the way he is.

Independence Day

We kept it REALLY low key this holiday weekend. We had enough excitement earlier in the week ....

The only festive thing we did was go to the 10 minute long parade in downtown McKinney. Met the Wilsons there.

"Hug your sisters"

H.O.T. Was not jealous of the dude in the wolf costume.

The last parade Jackson went to was for Mardi Gras -
He was a little confused why they weren't throwing beads or candy.


"Hug your brother"

Charlie was pooped.