Sunny September...finally :)

We finally have pleasent temperatures, and while they are not exactly the fall temperatures of our friends in VA, they are still pleasent enough to head to the playground. I have been looking at old pictures again since my baby's 1st birthday is quickly approaching. I found the old picture of Will at the same playground right after Brighton was born, and I thought it was funny that he was wearing another oh-so attractive Cars shirt then. (I hate those shirts, but Will loves them!) I still can't believe my little ones are getting so big!!!!!

Will on the slide

 

Will at the same playground almost a year ago (after B was born...in a Cars shirt of course)

 

Sunday afternoon Swinging

 

Brighton loves to swing :)

 

The face...he has a habit of talking like McQueen "Kachow!"

 

Sunny Day Swinging

 

 

 

T-ball and teethy smiles

It's still so hot down here, and we are getting quite a bit of rain. It seems to rain every afternoon, but the rain does not give any relief from the heat! It just makes things muggier. And this is the kind of weather in which Will began his T-ball career last week. He was excited to try out his new glove, cleats, and ball, but this took some negotiating with Daddy once it was actually time to practice on the field. He plays at the YMCA with other boys his age. It takes a lot of parental involvement, and it is hysterical to watch what these little boys do!!
Brighton and I watch and take pictures from the sidelines. I think she would rather eat grass since she is still putting EVERYTHING into her mouth. She is still teething, but she has some beautiful toothy smiles these days. Enjoy the pictures--I have been!!!!

Practicing with Daddy...

 

Will at bat...

 

on base with Daddy and Coach (the big guy)...

 

fielding and then....

 

He's absolutely pooped!!! I didn't think it was possible!!!!

 

After spending time with Brighton, most people have the same two things to say, "She's so happy and She's so funny!" I agree :)

 

Blue Eyes--He has already discovered how to get his way with Mommy :)

 

We have to bathe both kids at the same time in different tubs, so Will won't jump right in with B...good thing we have a few tubs in this house!

 

Just a pretty girl picture :)

 

Friends and Family

For Labor day weekend, we enjoyed a visit from Jon's parents. They flew down on Friday and were able to stay through early Tuesday morning. We decided to pack as many things as we could into one weekend, and we had quite a few memorable experiences. On Saturday, we drove to Long Beach, MS to a beach that had been recommended to me by a friend. It was a beautiful beach along the gulf that had suffered extensive damage during Katrina, but was slowly coming back. The water was calm thanks to barrier islands, and the sand was perfectly white. The water was also shallow for a great distance, which made it a perfect spot to sit and play with the kids. We took a picnic lunch, and we spent the afternoon in the sun. We made it back in time to watch the game and grill some burgers. On Sunday, we went to church, came home for Cheesy Chicken Roll-ups and a nap (well, at least the kids napped). Grandma and Granddad also took the oppurtunity to take Will shopping for his birthday. They bought him all the necessary items to become a great T-ball player (he starts next Wed.) They also bought just a few (insert sarcasm) more things for the kids. Both Brighton and Will are sporting new shoes too!!! Thanks Grandma and Granddad!!!! On Monday, we drove around Mandeville and then took our visitors to our new favorite spot, Fontainebleu State Park. On previous visits, we have taken fantastic pictures on the beachfront and in the wetlands. We've also had a few chance encounters with wildlife including a Manitee sighting. However, this visit might just be the most memorable both for the insane amount of Lovebugs (if you're not from the gulf coast you will need to google these pests) and also for our brush with an alligator. While walking in the wetlands, we went out to the end of one of the walkways to where a couple's fishing was being interrupted by a curisous alligator. We watched our little visitor for a while, and Jon took video and pictures galore. I stayed back a bit since I was petrified and afraid that the slightest jump from our new friends would mean I would need new shorts! After everyone got their fill of the bugs, gators and heat, we headed back to the house. We ate an early dinner, and everyone was pretty exhausted by 8 PM. Grandma and Granddad caught a plane early Tuesday morning, and we started the rest of our week. We had an enjoyable visit, and we are already busy busy getting back to homeschooling, working and playing at the YMCA, and keeping up with housework.

Another friend we met this weekend. (Fontainebleu State Park)

 

It's Lovebug Season in Louisiana!

 

Spooky old tree--with Jon's personal touch. (Fontainebleu State Park, LA)

 

The water was perfect for Will!

 

Lil surfer girl

 

A little friend we met on the beach (notice his little tiny eyes)

 

Grandma and Granddad with Brighton and Will (Long Beach, MS)

 

Gulf Fun

One Year in NOLA

I don't have any new pictures to post, so I thought I'd walk down memory lane for this post. Speaking of lanes, it has been one year since we moved from our house on Gettysburg Lane in Fredericksburg. It's hard to believe that it's been a year since we've seen many of our friends from Fredericksburg and Richmond. Last year, at this time I was seven months pregnant and boarding a plane with my two-year-old son bound for New Orleans. Jon had driven down in our Envoy with his dad taking the items that the moving company refused to load in the truck (including Boo, our Shih Tzu). Unfortunately for Jon and Ed, they had to spend a little extra time in Mississippi due to Hurricane Gustav and contraflow (the roads out of LA were all being used to evacuate people, so there was no way to get in). I stayed back in VA while first the packers came and made the house a box maze and then the movers came and emptied our little house in a matter of hours. My parents stayed to help since I was pretty dead on my feet, and they knew I would be pretty emotional. Each "goodbye" was harder than the next, and pulling away from our first house for the last time was quite difficult. But I was also getting weary of being sad, so I was anxious to get down here and be reunited with my husband again. We had to stay in a hotel for a few days because our belongings were a little tardy because of the Hurricane, and there was no power in the house for a few days. It was almost impossible to find a hotel available, but thanks to my mother-in-law's powers of persuasion, she managed to get us a room until we could rest in our new house...

It was really quite an adventure getting down here, but things have settled down quite a bit now. We love our home and neighborhood. We love living on the Northshore, although Jon gets weary commuting across the Causeway everyday. We have found a great church, and we are making new friends. This week we have been taking advantage of our new YMCA membership, and we have been enjoying the pool there. We are hosting Jon's parents for the weekend, so I must stop the reminiscing and get some chores done. We have had an exciting first year here, and although it is still difficult to be far away from family and friends, we are happy and healthy and very very blessed in Louisiana!

Will and Mommy (and Brighton) standing in front of our old house one year ago :(