change of scenery

We just got back home from spending 8 days in the country with Nana and Papa.  The kiddos and me, anyway.  Kass was traveling for work.  We spent a lot of time outdoors while we were there.  Even with the super HOT temps.  Luckily, we found a pretty inexpensive way for Kaden to cool off because {I'm very certain} the boy would live outside with Papa while we are there.  This way he could have the best of both worlds.     

We spent one evening fishing.  Mainly, my dad and me.  Kaden did for a few minutes {maybe 10 tops} and then he was off searching for bugs and dirt and sticks and all the other things boys look for.  He still doesn't quite have the patience to sit and waaaaait for a fish to bite.  Ahhhh patience...not a virtue I was blessed with either.  Nonetheless, we all had fun!  And even caught enough fish worth keeping.   

Kaden is ALL BOY.  Without a doubt.  ALL BOY.  Sweet as can be.  But still ALL BOY.  So he was totally in heaven last week playing with dump trucks and tractors in Papa's barn.  His motto:  get as dirty and as hot and sweaty as possible.  And apparently, it's more fun to do this in your PJs and rubber boots.   

 We even chased around some jack rabbits...

and tried to catch frogs.  Mostly, we were trying to save them from the dogs playing with them until they croaked.  Get it?!?!  Croaked.

Kaden got to witness a baby calf being cleaned by his mama right after he was born.  Something he would never see here.  We missed the whole "giving birth" part.  I'm ok with that.  Not ready to have that conversation just yet.    

And no, we didn't catch or chase spiders.  As a matter of fact, I despise them and tend to stomp on the ones I do come across.  But I just thought this picture was too cool not to share.

Before we left, we made sure we got in a little baseball...

and a tour of the little creamery that's not so little anymore.  Hands down.  Best ice cream in the country.

5 months

As promised, here is lil' Miss Bailey at 5 months.  Told ya...lots of chubby cuteness!  She's so much fun and has such an amazing little personality at a mere 5 months old ~ as you will see here in her many {silly} faces.  The first picture is of terrible resolution BUT I couldn't not post that face.  Pouty lips.  And yes, they get Daddy every time.  I mean, seriously, who could say no to this...      

time, the quiet and a trip

Time.  It's so precious.  And somewhat limited.  Especially when you have little ones.  Tonight I have 2 hours.  Of me time.  Only me.  Sister is asleep upstairs.  And the boys are out at the movies seeing Monsters University.  TV is off.  Lights are dim.  It's very quiet.  I like it.  And I'll soak it up.  For now. 

Please don't take that the wrong way.  I love my family.  All the noise.  All the messes.  All the drama.  All the spit up.  All the banging.  All the crashing.  All the stomping.  All the pouting.  All the discipline.  No really, I do love all of it.  Because that's our new norm.  That's our life now.  

But I LOVE quiet time too.  And that ~ the quiet ~ happens very seldom around here.  Which is a HUGE reason this blog is neglected.  There's just not enough time.  Enough of the quiet.  

So, now that I've got a little quiet to myself,  I'll take you back in time.  Back to May.  When we took a little trip to Georgia to see this handsome dude and his family ~ The Beatty's and The Christou's ~ that we do miss so very much.  They were our "baseball" friends from Dallas but now they are more like our extended family ~ out in Georgia.

It was just the 3 of us.  Sister stayed behind.  She had an ear infection the day before we left so she roomed with Nana and Papa in the country for a few days.  I'm sure she wouldn't have wanted it any other way.  She was SPOILED, I'm 100% certain of it.  So we did the same with brother.  We let him get away with no naps for a few days.  Let him stay up late.  Way late most nights.  We let him eat junk food.  Like a gigantic chocolate chip cookie for breakfast one day.  We let him watch lots of movies in the down time.  We just decided to give him a little slack and just let him be for a few days.  No big brother business.  And he did wonderfully.  His actions and attitude made it apparent that he appreciated and needed every minute of just having his mommy and daddy to himself.

And what trip to visit our "baseball" friends would be complete without the guys actually playing a little baseball.  As in, full on baseball TOURNAMENT.  No, they didn't win.  But they had a lot of fun.  And that's all that matters.    

On our last day of the trip, we decided to visit the Georgia Aquarium.  It's the world's largest with over 8 million gallons of water.  We got to watch a spectacular dolphin show and see lots and lots of interesting fish.  Along with some penguins, jellyfish and beautiful beluga whales.  My pictures don't do the whales justice ~ still learning my camera 2 years later...YIKES.  I'm sure it has something to do with having time.  And little patience too. 

And that my friends, was my 2 hours of quiet.  I feel so accomplished.  It's the little things.  Really, it is.  

On a side note, brother and I attempted to take pics of sister this afternoon, since she is now 5 months and all.  However, she was having NONE of it.  We'll give it a go again tomorrow.  Chubby cuteness coming soon.