Park Planner

What an exciting morning with Gramma Wednesday morning!  Lane designed a campground out of legos which included a swimming pool, trampoline, picnic table, and fire ring with seating nad marshmallow roasting sticks.  Then, while spending time in the front yard, they saw the fireman testing the hydrant by Bekah's house and got to go visit with the fireman!  I got to use the time to go to a GREAT meeting for Education in Action!

Dinner with Cousins

Last Wednesday, Marilyn invited me and Lane over for dinner after work.  Liam, Jackson and Lane got to play together for a bit at our work and then back at Marilyn and Sean's house before dinner.  And me and Marilyn got to visit some, too.  Thanks, Marilyn, inviting us, for the yummy dinner and for sending a picture to post!

Rub-a-Dub

Tonight in the tub, instead of putting all the letters, numbers, deer, ducks and other assorted bathtub personnel back in the bucket at the end of his bath, Lane decided to set ALL of it out on the edge of the bathtub.  So cute, all the animals, and the fireman, facing out so I guess they could see what's going on in the bathroom!

Sunday Surprise

I think this picture was taken as they blew fire into the balloon (whatever that's called) to keep it inflated. It makes a really loud noise and kinda startled me and Lane each time they did it.

After wading in the creek at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve Sunday afternoon, I went grocery shopping.   On the way home I saw two hot air balloons really close to our house and really low to the ground.  Lane was all about coming out to see them.  Turns out, they were landing in the field right next to our neighborhood and the community college.  We walked over and got to watch them let all the air out and pack up the balloons to go home.  Lane got to see the tiny basket they ride in.  Some kids even got to walk inside the hot air balloon when it was laying on its side as the air was coming out.  It sounded like the air inside was really warm and smelled like propane.  Nice surprise for a Sunday afternoon!

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Chad made yummy dinner with my favorite mashed potatoes last Thursday night for our anniversary!

A gift for hubby.  That's true love!

Chad made flaming bananas (I think there's a more official name) for dessert.  He makes this most years on our anniversary, using a bottle of rum we brought home from St. Lucia, because we had it at our resort on our honeymoon.  This year's were the best I remember!

Third Class - Scoop Ball

Lane finally participated in the 'stretching' part at the beginning of his class at the rec center this week.  He got to play scoop ball and games with a parachute.  So fun to watch him and the other kids in this class!

Shaving Cream Rocks!

We didn't know Jacob was going to be back from vacation and at the office yesterday.  Nice surprise for me and Lane.  He grew up so much during the two weeks he was gone.  He came back tan and looking and sounding older than when he left.  Amazing.  Lori does a great job of taking care of them both and this is the end of shaving cream play.

Day with Gramma and Papa

Gramma and Papa spent Tuesday of this week with Lane and made a trip to the mall.  They watched ice skating and rode the carousel THREE times.  Lane saw a kiosk with the pink bear/pig pillow and told Gramma and Papa, "My baby sister would really like this pillow."  Needless to say, he brought it home for his sister.  AND Lane's new friend 'Keevey' (he named him) was born at the Build-A-Bear store.  He has a heart and plays a lullaby and Lane told me his (Lane's) name is inside the bear so in case Keevey ever gets lost and makes his way back to a Build-A-Bear store he can find his way back home.

Getting Ready for Baby Sister

This past weekend, Chad got all the baby stuff out of the attic for new baby girl.  Lane helped and wanted to put his baby sister's car seat in the car.  Then he insisted on going for a ride with his moose in baby's car seat.

Tim McGraw with Wendi and Wendy!

    

What a fantastic place!  Mine and Wendi's first time to the new Cowboys Stadium and it is AWESOME!  Time McGraw was great fun and it was perfect to get to share the experience with my sister-in-law!

Thanks, Wendy, for getting the tickets for us!  Missed you Kay, but I know  you had your blue jeans on :)!

Sandbox

This morning, Lane got to go to his second class at the rec center.  He was still shy at first, but like last week, warmed up to 'Coach Brandi' when she asked them to run to the cones halfway across the gym.  This afternoon, while I made chicken pot pie for dinner, Lane played in the sandbox til he couldn't stand the heat any more.  Hope the chicken pot pie turns out good!

Morning with Grandpa

Yesterday, Lane to to spend the morning with his Grandpa Rufus at my work.  Lori is on vacation and my dad agreed to come up there (even with all the flooding we had that morning!) to spend time with Little Man.  They rode the 'train' cart around the front of the building and filled it up with gas, twice.  Lane says thank you, Grandpa, for brining me some surprise dried apricots!

Trip to the Post Office

This past Monday Lane showed me that he knows how to make a trip to the post office interesting.  First he asked Eric, the postman, for a sticker.  He ended up giving him 13 stickers which Lane promptly placed all over his face, shirt and hair - apparently this is a new hobby for him which started on our trip to Fayetteville.  This post office is nestled in a storage building store front.  Lane overheard 'Lisa' saying something about storage units.  Lane asked her if he could see a storage unit so off we went for the storage unit tour.  Lane got to unlock unit and open the door to see inside.  Thank you, Lisa and Eric!

Road Trip to Visit Fayetteville Cousins

Beavers Bend State Park Visitor Center.

Lane's Bluebird of Happiness!  Chad got a pink one, too, for Lane's baby sister!

Watching the glass blower at Terra Studios, making Bluebirds of Happiness!

Cousins having ice cream in the Tree Fort in Rob and April's backyard.

We had a great trip to Fayetteville, AR over Labor Day Weekend to visit our cousins.  Here's a link to all the pics online:  http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/album.php?aid=86875&id=1145928290.

We took the scenic route through Broken Bow, OK to see Beavers Bend State Park - we will definitely go back to camp soon.  We stayed at the North 40 B&B.  Thanks for the hospitality Darlene!  Saturday we got to visit Wendy's spa, the Fayetteville Farmer's Market and Terra Studios with cousins before heading the April and Rob's for dinner with all 15 of us :)!  So good to see everyone!  Sunday we decided to see what Eureka Springs was all about.  At the end of day, Lane fell asleep sitting up on the Trolley, or 'Charlie' as he insisted on calling it, as we rolled around Eureka Springs.  Felt so good to hold him in my lap as he slept.  We didn't leave until 6 or 7 at night.  Chad was super energy drink man and got us home at 2am.  Wow!  Really a fun trip!

Full Day

Lane went to his first class at the rec. center today.  Was very shy at first, but warmed up to it all around the middle.  I bet he enjoys all of it next week.  Then we got new tires, then a new haircut.  After nap we went to the Honda dealership to get the wheels aligned and new front brakes.  The guys there were all so nice.  They gave Lane a Honda truck Matchbox car, let him feed the fish in the tank and gave him coloring pages.  We also enjoyed popcorn and Finding Nemo on a huge TV, on gigantic bean bags, in the movie room while we waited.  What a day!