on a mission...not for squirrel lovers

We have had a pest in our backyard for several weeks.....Grace and I...and sometimes William...have been on a hunt for this pesky little animal....and we got him today! Don't worry...no animals were harmed in the making of these videos....if only Grace were a little faster, if only I could stomach her actually catching a squirrel....if only....

Disclaimer...we really do have a life around here....we certainly don't sit and wait for squirrels all day every day...just on mondays and thursdays:)

Swinging away our Sunday....

We have enjoyed some fabulous family time this weekend....and we capped it off with a great Sunday swinging in the park!












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a gorgeous day in January

what does one do on a gorgeous day in January.....

you play outside....in the fountains of course....

wlw...i adore this complete child....he had the BEST time playing in the frog fountain

or chill in your stroller as you contemplate a siesta....

william trying to stay awake...

Today I met my friend Lee at the Arboretum for some outdoor fun...it was a gorgeous day. We had a picnic on the lawn, let the boys "play" and then strolled around to the frog fountain. It's not every day that you can play in a fountain in January...but this is Texas! It was a fantastic afternoon! I even snapped a few pics of the gorgeous gardens on the way out...I had to take one tired baby boy home to nap!

We absolutely love our Arboretum membership....it's almost like being in Central Park, right?

my new favorites....

It's almost every day that I have a new favorite photo.....or photo series....enjoy....

our sweet girl.....

do you think she notices me?

what? am i not supposed to be here? william's not playing on it...why not?

i'm so cute now....they'll never make me move....

our sweet william

2012 started off a little puny for William....I will spare MANY of the details but this is how it goes....

William was sick, horrible diarrhea, Orie had to be out of town for work, Diana went to the pediatrician's office 3 times, called the nurse line a gazillion times, and knew something was not right with her typically happy go lucky little boy.  Orie was frustrated he was out of town, Diana was frustrated Orie was not there to help and figure out what was wrong with sweet William, Diana ultimately had to take William to the emergency room and he was admitted for dehydration.....boo hoo....

After several bags of fluids and 2 nights of hospitalization my sweet boy was back.  My friend Amy brought me dinner the first night and sat with us for a bit....she asked me if we should take a photo and document this and I said no....I don't ever want to remember it....and I meant that - I wanted the whole awful experience to go away.

Well on William's last day in the hospital his Tess and Papa sent him some balloons.....he LOVED them...his expression was priceless....this kid had no idea that he was supposed to act puny, get some extra special love, work it so that he could nap in our arms (something we DO NOT do at home)....he just smiled the biggest smile ever and giggled over these festive balloons.....so out came the camera....because this face is something I never want to forget! My resilient child....full of giggles, smiles and charm for all the hospital staff. I am so proud of him and so glad he is doing OH SO MUCH BETTER!

tigers and saints and who dats oh my

I think we are finally at a point in our household when we can finally talk about the football debacle that occurred last week for all Louisianians.

LSU was playing for the national championship and we were so excited.  We debated having a party but since we don't have a lot of die hard LSU founds around a party seemed not so great.  If you are a football fan and don't know this already....listen up....you can't have a football viewing party with non fans....all they do is want to chit chat and not focus on the game....or even worse they don't really understand why true fans are so focused on the game. It just never ends well....it's not that we're not friendly - we've just accepted that for big games like a national championship it's best if we watch alone!

I woke up that morning and made Tiger Paw muffins....that and a diet dr pepper is truly the breakfast of champions!

We made a delicious corn dip and bbq sliders for dinner and game time.....

and even whipped up a  Honey Badger for our beverage of choice...note to self....a honey badger is not the tastiest beverage around...festive but not so tasty!

We aren't really sure what happened to LSU that Monday night but it was awful...we were in shock....it was miserable to watch. The only good that came of it was the end of the Jordan Jefferson/Jarrett Lee era/disaster/quarterback controversy.  I respect both of them because they are just kids but I have never been pleased with either one....bring on some new blood!

After this LSU debacle we all had our eyes on the Saints....one last hurrah for true Louisiana football fanatics....the Saints would never let us down....

Well Saturday rolled around and our Saints made us proud they just couldn't get the job done. It was not a pretty day/week in our household.

Oh well....we're moving on now....it's on to weekends without football and fun filled adventures in store....I'm secretly glad we don't have football this weekend....because I am planning an adventure that is going to be SO MUCH FUN! More on that later!

our first piece of tree candy....

Last year for Father's Day I gave Orie a Little Tykes tree swing from our unborn child....I just knew Orie and baby would spend hours in the yard playing and this swing was the perfect way to start.  This past weekend (after our chilly Friday night) the weather was gorgeous! So Orie decided to hang the swing....he measured....got a ladder and practice hung the swing....figured out what he needed to buy and then we were off to Home Depot to get the chain.  I made the comment that the chain was a little unattractive (it had a green plastic casing) and that it didn't look like much chain. Orie assured me that he measure - which I saw him do.  Well when we got home and he hung the swing....this is what we got........

a swing that is 5 feet off the ground.....

see all that chain we bought.....wrapped around the branch like a little bracelet?

It was hysterical.....I had mentioned that I wonder if we needed to take into account the distance around the branch (after we bought the chain of course....and it is so NOT like me to think of things like this...) Orie and I just laughed....

We still brought William outside so he could swing...he loved it and certainly didn't care that it was 5 feet off the ground!

 hmm...do I like this?

I think I do....

yep, this is awesome!

weee......

push me again....

After another trip to the home improvement store....this is what we got.....

a swing at an appropriate height...chain that doesn't kink when it swings....and doesn't have that ugly green casing around it....William is thrilled and anxiously awaiting the next beautiful day when he can go outside and swing! Thanks Orie for putting this swing up....he loves it!

girls night...i mean night(s).....

Last week a couple of my girlfriends and I went and had a fantastic dinner out....sans men, sans babies, sans work people....it was fabulous. We went to Rise and the food was delicious. My chef friend over at Pink Slip Gourmet has recommended this restaurant before and I am so glad I finally tried it out. I am fairly certain that I will be back soon with Orie - he was just a tiny bit jealous that I got to go (on a girls night and to Rise!)

Di, Gray, Lee-Tay

So...the food was phenomenal and the chit chat and company was as well....I love getting together with LT and Grayson...there is never a dull moment and the laughter is always free flowing....sometimes the wine is too! Thanks girls for a fantastic evening - it was so much fun!

Then on Saturday night we decided to have another girls night at home....so I headed over to Grayson's house and sat around a table for the better part of the evening with Grayson, Lee-Taylor and Emily....chatting over politics, friendships, religion, love lives and everything in between. I loved every minute of it!

I think it's hysterical that I haven't had a girls night in probably a year but got to have two in the same week....this means great friends and an understanding husband who lets me leave the house (even though on Saturday night I left him with a baby who had been screaming since 2:00).

what do you do when it's cold outside?

We hang out inside....and have fun!

Friday night it was really cold so we decided to make a nice pot of warm soup for dinner and then have a fire.  I got the wild idea to make smores by our fire (probably from seeing all the Pinterest posts on smores lately). It was so fun!  William helped his daddy bring in the wood for the fire and loved hanging out watching it.

We still have some wood from our purchase last year and we also had a neighbor bring over 40 year old cherry wood.  We are not sure why this 40 year old cherry wood is so cool....any ideas? Our neighbor was very proud of it and so excited to share it with us young folks! When he first brought it over, Orie wasn't home so he said he would just leave it and Orie could bring the two wheeler back over later....by two wheeler he meant a hand truck/dolly.....I was baffled by this name!  I told him okay he could just leave it over here and I pointed to part of the driveway Orie wouldn't need to pull home tonight. The neighbor looked at me and said "sweetie this wood has been dry for over 40 years...it can't sit out." Woops....I remind you that I still don't get what is so special about this wood.

The fire was fabulous though....I'm sure it's because of the special cherry wood....ha! The smores delicious! My family night at home....priceless! Enjoy some pics...

William helping his daddy bring in the wood

isn't he stinkin cute?

smores by the fire

Orie about to roast his marshmallow...Grace wishing it would fall off

the ingredients

the finished product....delish....be a kid - have a smore today!

L….O….V….E….!

prayers for peace were answered....

I can only imagine what his mommy must be feeling right now....how amazing that she reminded us all to thank God because her prayers for peace for her little boy were answered...

ABC News Coverage on Tripp

Heaven's Little Drummer Boy

pray for peace

friends, strangers, family, blog fans....please pray for peace for this little boy....

i found out about his story a few months ago from a friend of mine in Baton Rouge....his story is beautiful, unfair, uplifting and tragic all at the same time...

it hurts me to read about him but not nearly as bad as he is hurting...

his mommy has always prayed for peace for her little boy - in whatever form that may be - he needs peace now more than ever....please keep Tripp and his family in your prayers...

Tripp's Blog

big boy eats at the dinner table....but wait...where's the food?

Our pediatrician suggested introducing William to dinner time, the table, a spoon, etc. So we decided his 5 month birthday was the perfect time to start!  This child would love to have some food but we are waiting for the 6 month mark....I think he was eyeing our lasagna the entire time.  Overall, he loved his high chair and sitting at the table with us.  He's not even close to having that whole spoon thing mastered and it is hysterical...he sure enjoyed chewing on it though...until they both fell on the floor of course!   I think he is just the cutest and would love to have dinner with him any night of the week!

 Enjoy some pics from our first family dinner at our own kitchen table!

this is kind of fun....do i get to play with these spoons?

it tastes good....

why does it look like there is food on the end of your utensil mom?

i love getting to giggle with my dad at the table!

what?

5 months old

I feel like today is an important day....William is 5 months old....I know this is not a popular milestone in kids. There is no well visit at the doctor, it is not a size of clothing, no  one takes 5 month portraits, it often  falls on the calendar as just another day.  It feels so big to me though. I told Orie last night that our child is going to be 5 months old...where did the time go...he is almost half of a year old.  How does it pass so quickly....I can remember when I was 5 months pregnant -  I finally felt pregnant....preparations were being made for his room, our baby was a baby boy, i felt great each day, we were in the last half of the pregnancy...it was real!  Well there is no doubt about this 5 month old boy - he is as real as real can get and he is SO MUCH FUN! We try to teach him each day (as well as you can teach a 5 month old) to be happy and that there really isn't too much to be sad about. I think he is listening loud and clear!  He is one happy baby....so Happy 5 month Birthday William!

such a sweet smile

but don't forget my serious side...sometimes I am all business

this is kind of fun mom...

I guess I'll just hang out here while you take some pics

kurplunk....I can't quite sit up yet....

and my teeth hurt...so this rattle tastes fabulous!

Remember that baby blog I wrote about say....9 months + 5 months ago....the one I was keeping for my sweet baby? Well....here's an excerpt....a sneak peek....maybe one day you'll get to read more:) This was when I was about 5 months pregnant.....

How Far Along: 23 weeks 4.7.2011

Size of Mommy: down .2 pounds from last week.....down 3.6 from pre prego weight

Size of baby: a little over 11 inches and a little over a pound....a large mango (I think you were already a mango at a different week...this week a large one....your daddy and I are confused by this....we think they mean the really big mangos we might see on a beach vacation somewhere in Mexico!)

Gender: still a sweet baby boy and we couldn't be happier!

Movement: I guess you sensed that your mommy needed some movement to feel better about everything because you were going to town last night and this morning...I think you may have shifted a little from over on the right side of my tummy....anxious to see at an ultrasound if I ever get another one:(

Sleep: last night not great – maybe because I napped kind of late in the afternoon and daddy was snoring ALL NIGHT LONG...other than that night I have been sleeping much better!

Cravings: nothing much again....saw another Red Lobster commercial and still want Lobster badly!

Symptoms: a little pain in the upper right part of my abdomen...not sure if it's you or just pressure and weight....feeling a little dizzy this week also...definitely feeling tired after a long weekend trip to shreveport with no naps!

Best Moment of the Week: We were in Shreveport for Audrey's wedding and I got to stay and play with everyone after the weekend....mom and I did lots of stuff for your nursery and even got your cornice boards assembled...they are gorgeous...the curtains are chosen and ready to be cut and stitched by Janet! We even bought the canvas for your monogrammed artwork....I took back with me the cradle that Ethan and Cooper slept in and the travel swing that we won at game night....it was a car full of baby stuff.....planning for you is so fun!

Random: We got a present in the mail for you...it was a shower gift from Kate Chaney Montgomery who can't be at the shower....it's your Ocean Wonders bouncer seat....it was so fun to have a package and to open it! What a nice surprise!

We are still so happy about our baby boy coming in August and I can't wait to lay eyes on you!

Also....I ordered your diaper bag and your baby luggage...it's going to be fabulous...all blue gingham and I will add a monogram and design of some sort...i got you a diaper tote, a duffel bag, a garment bag and a changing pad....I am so excited!

4.10.2011 – Today we finally got the treadmill out of your room and into ours...yippee! Your Dad did a great job and I was a great helper of course....now your room is really coming together with furniture in place....just waiting on a crib, window coverings and a glider!

Yesterday when the LSU spring game was on television you were moving around like crazy....I take that as a sign that you will be a huge LSU Tigers fan!

I have been giving in to some cravings in food lately like lobster and ice cream....all of which were delicious but definitely made me feel so sick...sorry kiddo!

4.11.2011 – Today I am marking down as the first official day that I have SEEN you move in my tummy...it was really fun....I think it has happened a few times before but this morning your movements were strong and created a little bounce in my stomach....I told your daddy that I think he might be able to feel it and see it if you put on a show again tonight....so that's what I'm hoping for! You are so fun already and you're not even here!

I was filling out some of your baby book pages the other day and e-mailed Gammie to find out some official names and spellings....she sent me back the list but on Darlin's name she just put Ruth H H without a middle name....I asked her what was Darlin's middle name and she had a great story to tell....She said that Darlin had another name, it was actually her first name but she hated it....she wouldn't tell anyone her name...she said she was so stubborn that she wouldn't even tell doctors her weight when they were prescribing medication! So Gammie called Judy to ask her about this and Judy said she just didn't know if they should give out her first name...Judy didn't want Darlin to be mad at her....She told Gammie that she could call Deborah and if Deborah said it was okay to give it out then that would be fine....so Gammie called Deborah and Deborah said oh no...she wouldn't want anyone to know that name! I was shocked and laughing by this story....I said surely Big Orie (Grumpus) know her name....then Gammie said that her name was *^$&$# but she wouldn't want anyone to know it and I couldn't talk about it....we laughed that it was funny how she was still controlling things even from the grave....I didn't know Darlin but apparently she was stubborn and controlling...so if you get these traits they are from the H side not me! So....I did not put her full name in your baby book but thought you should know that story....also....please don't be stubborn!

I booked our prenatal visit at Dr. S Pediatrician's office today....so excited...we go on Friday to tour it and check him out....your Aunt Jen and Miss Amy have strongly recommended him...hope we like him too! He is at %#@!

4.12.2011 – Today you were moving like crazy and I videoed it and sent it to your daddy...he finally got to see you wiggle around...it was very cool! You have been very busy today!

Also....your Gammie has changed her grandmother name to Nana.....so we are going with Nana from here on....I like it too...I had a Nana and I think Debbie will be a great Nana!

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

This is fantastic....enjoy!

25 Rules for Mothers of Sons

Geaux Tigers

I am so ready for a Tigers win tonight….I am also so glad my outfit still fits…it feels like forever since the Tigers played! Geaux LSU!

Geaux Tigers

what do you mean I can't stay up and watch it?

please oh please....I won't cry if Bama gets a touchdown?

okay fine...I guess I'll just give you all my LSU goodness today then!