Fall 2011

Riverfest 2010

Will's First Birthday

Birthday boy!
He loves the park :)
He also loves his granddaddy!
I can't believe he is one!!
Granddaddy, Mimi, and Laura Grace
He insisted on using his fork.
Happy Birthday, Sweet Will :)
Cousins!
Daddy and Will

PARTY AT MAMAW'S HOUSE....
Will LOVED his cake
As you can see...
He really didn't understand the whole blowing out the candle thing...
The cake BEFORE it was destroyed
Will and his Aunt Barbara
Mamaw and Laura Grace. Mamaw is receiving hospice care from her home.
Will already has an impressive arm and loves baseball!
Reed, Laura Grace, and Layton.
This is what Will spends the majority of his time doing...getting into trouble!

Pioneer Day

Our local museum has a Pioneer Day every year. Local volunteers and artisans come and teach children (and parents) about Pioneer life. Laura Grace, Aunt Barbara, and I spent the morning learning from demonstrators and hand on activities what it was like to live in the 1800's!


Laura Grace churned butter...

Ground corn into meal...

Took corn from the husk...

Washed clothes with lye and wrung them dry...

And, finally, after a hard day's work, sat in the outhouse!

Shoe Shopping

My children are fashion snobs. I guess they come by it honestly. You really couldn't tell by looking at me because since I can't find anything I want to buy this fall and none of my clothes fit because I purged everything that wasn't maternity while pregnant so I am pretty much doomed to wearing hoodies, tshirts, and jeans. Hoodies, t-shirts, and jeans that I have had since...oh...college.

Wait, I do have some new t-shirts thanks to Junior Auxillary. We are some t-shirt making/buying/wearing girls. Every time we have a new fundraiser/service project/idea...BAM! T-shirt! Don't get me wrong, I am always up for a new shirt.

Anyway.

I am rambling.

My point is that I threw away everything because I went a little insane nesting and decided that there was no point keeping my clothes because I would never be thin again. To be honest, I am still not thin but I could have fit in those clothes.

But again...I am rambling.

I should be talking about shoes here.

Okay, so today we went shoe shopping. I thought Laura Grace would be thrilled because she is very into picking out her own clothes and shoes this year. I knew Layton would be less than excited and Will would scream so I brought lots of snacks and hoped for the best.

I should have prayed instead of hoped.

Laura Grace took one look at the available shoes and turned her nose up, "too boring", she announced. I admit, I actually agree with her. I was appalled at the shoes. They were not boring at all. In fact, they were far from it! Why do shoe manufacturers think that little girls should have heels higher than mine and enough glitter for fifteen princesses?!

Layton looked over the shoe selections more carefully, willingly tried on a few pairs, and after jogging in place says, "They are all too slow. I need some fast shoes."

That was it. His mind was completely, absolutely made up. Layton very rarely puts his foot down but when he does, it is final!!

In the chaos of trying on shoes and trying to convince Layton that gray is not a girl color, Will was very happily eating a check out of my purse. It just so happens it was my last check from my checkbook and even if we had found a pair of shoes we would have had no way to pay for them. I admitted defeat and we all went home to take naps!

11 months old!!

I am 11 months old now!! Actually, next week I turn one. So, this is a little late. But better late than never!

In my opinion, and I have many opinions, I am grown.

I play with trains, cars, and action figures. I chew on the action figures more than I actually "play" with them but it is the thought that counts. I love nothing more than to play with my big brother and sister. I want to do everything that they do!

I am clapping my hands, waving bye bye, playing peek a boo, wrestling, and WALKING! I now walk everywhere-I rarely crawl anymore. I am trying to run but I still trip and fall :(. I am also pointing my finger and saying, "this". I love for people to tell me the names of objects and then I try to repeat them.

I can say a few words! I say, "Laura Grace" (aura dace), "Layton" (adan), "this", "shoe", and of course "mama", "dada", and "no".

I am wearing a size 4.5 extra wide shoe! I am in size 18 month clothes and size 4 diaper. I am a big boy!! I am 25 pounds.

I have four teeth and know how to use them! Right now I am busy learning that it is not nice to bite, pinch, or hit. I get a tad bit aggressive when I do not get my way! I think that the remote and cell phones are mine and it makes me very upset when I have to share them.

I am a sweet boy and love to rock and sing "Jesus Loves Me." I also have a best friend named Goat. Goat is a stuffed mountain goat and I sleep with him every night.