Good Eats!

Since Cody is my last baby, I tend to WANT to keep him a baby. With the girls, I handed them forks and spoons at 11 months and told them to eat. It was messy but it worked. With Cody, I haven't done it yet and today he showed me he was ready. Taylor left her oatmeal on the coffee table and Cody dug in with her spoon. I put him in his high chair with the bowl and spoon and he ate and smiled!! He was so happy to feed himself. I guess this is an end to his 'baby' stage and on to toddlerhood. sigh. I knew it would happen some day. Emily

Um... who shrunk my garden?

Yes, this is that bountiful harvest I've been preparing for.
And yes, that is a quarter.
-AL

The Killer Nuts

I love small town parades. A marching band doesn't even have to play well - just loud - and I am in danger of tearing up. We've participated in our local 4th of July parade and have been beamed by Tootsie Rolls at most of the others. However, today was the Homecoming Parade. I found out that it is a VERY BIG DEAL. Besides the marching band, I was mostly entertained by the poor poor teachers and parents that were actually trying to control the chaos. A good friend of ours spend over an hour yelling "UNDERHAND! I TOLD YOU TO THROW UNDERHAND!". Of course, if you're not in the parade, your popularity is judged by how many marks on body you have from friendly (candy) fire. Max was uber-exited about riding in the Elite Soccer truck. I was a little embarrassed to find that our boys chose today to come up with 'Killer Nuts' as their team name and were doing some serious 2nd grade trash-talking involving said new name. (Don't worry - I'm pretty sure they're referencing TREE nuts.) Oh - and of the probably 35 pounds of candy that was collectively purchased for them to toss; how much do you think they had left when they got to our stretch of the block? That's right - not one stinkin' Dum-Dum.
-AL

Cody's First Four Wheeler Ride

Craig and I cleaned out the garage this weekend and found one of the girls' old fourwheelers. Cody is a total natural and immediately started pushing the button!!
Hope you enjoy! Emily

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL?!?!?!?

Darren and I were lucky enough to go to the Colts/Jaguars game last night. Our neighbors got us the most awesome seats --- 10 yard line, 6 rows from the field!! I can't tell you how great the seats were!!!! It was such a good game, comeback after comeback!!! We had a fantastic time!!! Here are a few pics!



Yeah . . . we were that close!!!!

This cracked me up - had to photograph it for my Dad!!

Darren's favorite cheerleader (also known as Ms. February :)

Little (blue) House on the Prairie

Okay, okay, I'm exaggerating. While I AM washing dishes by hand, I'm running over to the neighbor's washing machine -instead of the river- to wash clothes. I hurry to finish my chores before the sun goes down, preparing everything for tomorrow morning, and then wandering around the house with my little candle. The Laura Ingalls in me is kinda enjoying it. Wait- I think I'll be Laura Ingalls WILDER -- Almonzo makes it all worthwhile. Yet another plus to these no-power-days is that MY Almonzo can't keep me up late with Sportscenter. -AL

It pays to work for Scotts!

Silly as it is, I am impressed with Darren's lawn this year. He works so hard on it, as he should since it IS his profession. His hard work will soon be the reason our entire cul-de-sac will be using Scotts by next year (if Darren has his way :) Jen

You can't run from a hurricane...

Weird weather here in the midwest. No rain, but crazy crazy wind; literally vegetables were flying through the air. There are tomotoes smashed against a neighbor's garage door like a bad stand-up act.
Yesterday's Patriot's game started at 4:15 yesterday, our power went out at about 4:05. A frantic Jeremy threw us in the car and drove around downed trees and closed roads to his Sportsbar Haven; which eventually also lost power, and let its customers buy food and beverage on the Honor System (meaning 'please come back tomorrow and pay us when we can process your credit cards'). Only in the midwest!

By the way, we still have no power. I'm borrowing Jer's computer and typing by candlelight until the battery dies. Jeremy is on the phone getting play-by-play of the Monday Night game from a friend. So basically nothing new here. :)AL

Our little lampshade!

This week we stripped Tux of his manhood and had him neutered. He did really well and the surgery has not dampened his energy one bit! Tux and I have been going to Puppy Kindergarten for the last 5 weeks, next week is our "graduation". I've learned a lot and Tux is doing well, he's still a pup though so we have a long way to go! Here's a picture of our little patient wearing his lampshade :) Jen

Happy Birthday Darren!

Just a quick pic of the cutest cookies ever, that Mom & Dad had shipped to him for his birthday! Thanks guys!!!! Jen

Our little circus

I am immensely proud of Kyle for sticking with the unicycle - and pretty proud of myself for thinking up such a fab Christmas gift in '06. I'm sure you'll notice our favorite part of the clip - at the beginning, when my daughter falls backward on her head; Max and Kyle express concern, and I just cruelly chuckle. -AL

Out for the season...

...and just as Mom thrifts me a #12 jersey!!
I will have to leave it up to my buddy, Moss.
-AL

Cody's Birthday Bash!

Cody's birthday party went well yesterday. Everyone had a blast and was really sweet to Cody. All the girls (Makayla, Chloe, Taylor and Brooke) pushed Cody around on his new Radio Flyer push toy. It was a great day!

September Calendar

Sorry I'm a little late - I'd like to wish Cody a very happy 1st Birthday today! Jen

Catching up

Well, I apologize for not being much of a blogger lately. Being back to work has really thrown us all for a loop! I'm still very overwhelmed in trying to adjust to a new grade level and totally new state, but I'm getting there. Of course, my immune system - having not been exposed to many germs over the past few years - is really taking a beating!!! I caught the worst cold and gave it to Chase, so I am home with him today. Darren took yesterday off so today was my turn. Luckily, he does not have strep per our doctor's appt today, but we are only a few weeks into the school year :) I'm sure it's going to be a long, unhealthy winter :)

We did take the boat out this past weekend and really enjoyed ourselves! Darren bought Ryan a new (big) bike on Saturday - she loves it!!! Also, Darren's birthday was yesterday and 2 Jaguars/Colts tickets later, he was a happy man :)




And finally, even though it's been decided for awhile now I realized I never shared the dog's official name . . . oops! His name is Tux (he has this little white patch on his chest and looks as if he's wearing his tuxedo :)


Here are a few recent pics!!! Enjoy!!!!! Jen