Day at the lake

We're having a fun Memorial Day Weekend! We spent yesterday with L's family in Hot Springs. Lane and Rhett started swimming early (they spent the night there Friday night), and Alexee joined them as soon as we arrived (we drove there as soon as C woke up from his morning nap). I sat under the umbrella with C, which was fine with me because I didn't have to put on a swimsuit and I didn't risk meeting up with a water snake. L's parents grilled burgers for lunch, and Rose Mary made a delicious frozen Oreo dessert (which I need to get the recipe for because Rhett said it was "the best thing ever"!)

R & A both loved swimming. They jumped off the pier time after time and got a lot of exercise. I thought Lex looked so cute in her braids and ladybug lifejacket.

Crosby's seat in the shade. It was hot, but there was also a nice breeze blowing--perfect weather!

The flowers there were so pretty. Look at this bright hibiscus!

And there are lots of hydrangea bushes there that are always loaded with beautiful blooms.

I like the expression on Lane's face in this one. I think he'd been splashed about 5,000 times!

Rhett, (cousin) Luke & Bobba getting things ready for the trip out on the boat

Luke & Rhett

(Luke just celebrated his 15th b-day last week, which I can't believe! He was about R's age when I first met him at Outback Steakhouse the summer Lane and I started dating.)

Lance & Lane

She was getting so tired by this time.

Rhett rode in the tube by himself for the first time! He did great and wasn't scared at all. (I was, but I have crazy fears like what if the foam in the life jacket is faulty and all of a sudden dissolves when it touches water? But I'm trying to relax.)

He was having so much fun!

Luke

(sister-in-law) Jennifer, and Alexee on our way back to the dock

Rhett wanted to do "just a few more jumps" when we got back to the dock.

So thankful for a wonderful day with family.

Kindergarten Picnic

R's teacher had fun activities planned for the kids each day last week, and they completed the week with a hot dog lunch/picnic on the playground. Alexee, Crosby and I joined them for lunch. Alexee packed her own though--I think she packed a juice box, raisins, pretzels and 4 suckers.
Rhett and one of his friends making cheese-ball kebabs
The class responding to the question: WHO WANTS A BROWNIE!??
Sweet, easy-going Crosby hanging out in the stroller. He is such a good baby!
I let Rhett check out early after the picnic so that he could go to Hot Springs with Lane for the night. Lane played golf with his dad and brother and Lane's mom took Rhett to eat at the new Purple Cow in HS and then they spent all afternoon at Mid-America Museum (one of his favorite places!). They had a great time. Alexee, Crosby and I drove over the next morning to spend a fun day with them at the lake.

This & That

Earlier this week we picked Lane up after school and went downtown to eat fish. Rhett usually loves fish, so we thought he'd be excited. He ordered a cheeseburger. :) Crosby didn't feel great that day (we probably shouldn't have gone out to eat), so he didn't want to sit in his high chair AT all. I ate quickly then C and I went for a walk.

I like this picture of Lane and Alexee holding hands on the way to the restaurant.

C standing on a park bench when we went for our stroll.

Kids with rabbit statue near where we parked

Rhett had a friend over to play after school on Tuesday. It was a crazy afternoon because while the boys were asking me to hook up the sprinkler in the back yard, Alexee got sick (stomach virus. Unfortunately 3 year olds don't give you a whole lot of warning when they're going to throw up!). It was hectic there for a few minutes: keep the boys outside, help Alexee in the bathroom, take the covers off the couch cushions and get them to the washing machine, clean up/disinfect the floor, keep Bogart and Crosby out of the mess and all that. Lane called to say he was done at school and on his way home, and I said, "PLEASE hurry!" Alexee had been acting tired all day, and she told me a few times that her stomach hurt, but I didn't realize this was about to happen. I felt so bad for her. She was better by bedtime, but she was tired/grouchy the next day and wasn't her same, energetic self. Thank goodness no one else got sick (at least so far).
Rhett chose this (plastic) coral snake from the treasure chest at school last week. I told him that it was VERY important that he didn't leave this anywhere in the house for me to find unexpectedly because it wouldn't be good for my health (or his--ha ha!). Oh, and that's my mint plant in the background--it's doing great. I used fresh mint last week when I made summer mint tea!
Rhett found a turtle in the back yard one afternoon.
After we picked R up yesterday we went to a cupcake shop that I'd been wanting to visit. Their ads in local magazines always look so good. And they were! Alexee chose this one because of the pretty flower. (But she still didn't feel great so she only ate a few bites of it and I was afraid to save it or eat after her since she'd been sick.)Rhett chose a beach ball cupcake.
And of course my favorite, red velvet, for me (and Crosby--I shared).

This afternoon, R & A played in the sprinkler again. Rhett said, "Lemonade and the sprinkler make a perfect summer day." I agree! :)
While they ran through the water and Crosby took a nap, I worked on cupcake picks for R's teacher's bridal shower (it's next week). We are having it at a park/community center, so I'm really really hoping for good weather! It should be fun!

Crosby at 14 Months

Crosby is 14 months old (yesterday)! He seems to be learning new things every minute. He is a busy little guy these days! He is walking now...I still can't get used to seeing him walk into the room! He took his first steps a while back, but it was on May 17th he really "got it". Since that day he's been walking a lot more. He still crawls when he's in a big hurry or if he falls down in the middle of the floor (he can't really get to standing position without holding onto something yet). Learning to walk and climb happened simultaneously for him. He's climbing in/on/over/through everything in the house now! Yesterday he had fun climbing in these chairs:Here he is walking from the green table to me...he still keeps his arms in the air for balance.

Another favorite activity of his: climbing the stairs. I try to block the stairs, but he's figured out how to climb over the pillows, ottoman, under the dining room chairs, etc., that I try to use as a fence. I have a baby gate across the bottom step, but there's nothing to really attach it to, so it's not a reliable solution. He's keeping me busy!

Rhett and Alexee get really excited when he walks, and they love to try to help him.These were made last night...on his official 14 month birthday. He loves the faucet in the bathtub. He's wild in the water. He loves to stand up, splash, throw toys and play peek-a-boo around the shower curtain. I love giving him a bath and putting his PJs on...there's just nothing sweeter!
As of tonight, we've gone to sippy cups instead of bottles (late on this, I know). I'd tried to get him to drink from a cup several times, but he wasn't able (or willing?) to do it until just a few days ago when he found Alexee's cup on the floor. It had chocolate milk in it, which I guess he got a taste of and liked, because he drank what was left. Alexee brought me the cup later and said, "Crosby drank all my milk!" I'm sad to put away the bottles. Sippy cups just aren't "baby-ish". :(

I think the only new word he's saying this month is "uh oh", but he does make a lot of noise and "yell" when he hears me yell up the stairs to R & A, etc. He is still taking two naps per day, one at 9 a.m. and usually one as soon as we get home from picking R up at school. The summer schedule may change things a little (only 5 days of kindergarten left!). He still sucks his thumb and hums when he gets sleepy--I love it! He wakes up anywhere from 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. each morning...I prefer 6:30!

He's not eating baby food anymore. Again--makes me sad. I have a few jars left that I need to give to someone. He loves fresh blueberries, strawberries, bananas, string cheese, green peas, pears, multi-grain Cheerios, yogurt, waffles, granola bars and applesauce. He's generally a really good eater. He ran fever on Sunday and Monday and hasn't seemed to have much of an appetite this week, but that's unusual.

I love EVERY moment with him. He is sweet, sweet SWEET. We love you, C!