Got that little butt crack...

If you notice, every time Elijah bends over to pick up a rabbit his "little butt crack" (as John so eloquently puts it) pokes out! Love it!!

A Day at Bibby and John's

I had to do ACLS today and Elijah spent the day at Bibby and John's. These pics are actually from another time he spent the day over there, but it gives you an idea of what they do...




Always looking for birds with John...

Elijah loves his wagon rides with Bibby! No wonder Bibby's so skinny!!

Exercising on John's big ball..

Thanks Bibby and John, we love you!!

All By Myself....Don't wanna be...all by myself....anymore

Did you get the title?? If you like Celine Dion, you will. Beau left yesterday morning for another week of camp. It was a sad day. This week will be worse than the last camp he was at. I'm seriously all alone this time with my boy - which is not a bad thing except its hard being a single parent.

First off, I should apologize to Aimee, Mandy, my mom....and anyone else I talk to on the phone this week. Adult conversation is lacking around my house so I know when I do get some one on the line over the age of 2 I won't shut up until you hang up on me. Its just nice to have a conversion that doesn't revolve around Dora, poop, snacks, Max, "what color is this", and so on. Lasts time Beau was gone, a few weeks ago, I was only alone 2 nights, then Janice was here and I was working. But this time I'm not working and its just me and Ligy.

I have one class tomorrow, at work, my ACLS re-cert. Ligy will be with Bibby if anyone needs him. Beau comes back on Thursday. Sorry I don't have any pics right now. I just snagged a few free minutes while Elijah watches Dora. I know...I know...I'm a bad mom....it's stunting his mind...blah, blah, blah...go raise your own kids. In the mean time my child will be the one counting to 5 in Spanish and yelling "Vamanos" mama! :) Ha!

Better go...more later...if you're lucky!! (I'm feeling sassy if you haven't figured that out!!)

Story time at the library

I found out that the public library in town has story time for kids on Wednesday mornings. Its a great way to have some fun when its too hot to play outside.

We read a book about all different animals racing...

Elijah would get up every few minutes and move to a new location...

Grant was more "into" the story time than most of the other kids. He, at one point, sounded like he was reading along and asking questions. He is just taking away...

New location...

New location...

After the book we went outside to play hopscotch. Elijah didn't quite understand. When the kids would throw the bean bag on the square he would go pick it up...

Then came Arts and Crafts (or as Jon and Zac used to say, Farts and Craps). Elijah wanted to sit with Grant...


Grant was not as involved with crafts as he was with story time...

Elijah did not totally get the concept, but was very much enjoying sorting and organizing the chalk...

I said I wanted to see his picture. I held up the camera and he yelled "CHEEESE!!" So it seems I either get a scowl or this scary face when I want to take a picture...

We had a great time. We will definitely be back on Wednesdays. I know Elijah will like it even more when he's older. A lot of the older kids would do everything, then when it was older their mom would help them pick out a book for the week and then they bring it back the next week and do it all over. It was really cute. At one point we were standing around watching Elijah run wild in the library, there was a mom and her 3 year old daughter close by reading a book. Apparently I got a little close to her other child - a 3 week old in his carrier - the little girl jumped up, ran over to me, pushed me hard and yelled "get away from my brother!" The mom was mortified and kept apologizing saying the new big sister is a little protective. I thought it was cute. Something to look forward to with Brooklyn, Katy. The mom said it was a great age span. Well, we're off to the YMCA.

Thank you Mimi

Elijah wanted to say Thank You to Mimi for staying with him last week....


Thank you again, Mimi.

Put yourself in my shoes, Elijah

Elijah found my shoes. He was so proud of himself...

After looking at these pics it looks like I have really wide feet. I don't really. I just don't tie my shoes. My mom knows why. I don't like things to be tight and binding. So I keep my shoelaces really loose - hence the wide looking shoes.

Top 10 Reasons I Love Beau

10. He makes me laugh. I love to laugh!! Sometimes he fake laughs at my jokes which just makes me laugh harder - I'm not sure why - I'm weird.

9. He always rubs my back or my feet when I ask and he never says anything about me going to get pedicures or massages!! He lets me take care of me.

8. He hold my hand. You're never too old to just hold hands and I love it when he reaches for mine.

7. He drove me all the way to College Station fora one hour event and then all the way back (over 2 hours one way) so I wouldn't have to go alone.

6. He works hard for our family in all different ways. He works hard at his job - which he is really good at. He works hard at school (he's starting an intense internship this semester for a year - unpaid). He works hard at home. He does a great job maintaining our yards and making them beautiful. He also does so much inside to help me.

5. He makes me feel safe. I know when Beau's around we are well taken care of.

4. He always tells me he loves me and that I'm a good mom. It just makes my day.

3. Love Dances - something special between us.

2. He is an amazing father. He teaches Elijah so much every day. He even takes Elijah to work with him so we don't have to do Daycare. He is so committed. I love to watch them interact - its wonderful.

1. He is a great Christian leader for our family. He strives to be like Jesus in all he does. He is constantly looking to the Word to know how to handle his life.

I am so proud to be Beau's wife and I love every day we spend together. Even if we're arguing or going thru a hard time there is still no one I would rather be around.

Our Date

Yesterday afternoon Beau and I finally got to go out for our anniversary. We did it a little different from normal. We usually go out to eat somewhere we can't afford and we don't really do gifts. Well, as I told you, we decided (and when I say "we" I mean I thought it would be fun and Beau smiled and nodded) to start doing the traditional anniversary gifts. Five years is wood. I got Beau tickets to see Indiana Jones. Okay, so yesterday we dropped Elijah off and went on our date around noon. On the date we did something we rarely do, something we never do, and something we always do...

1. What we rarely do is...go to the theatre to see a movie. Its so expensive!! $13 for a movie!! So we went to the matinee and paid $5, much better.

2. What we never do is...get popcorn and a drink. We got a medium popcorn and large drink (which could feed a small country for a year) and paid the amount it would take to support that small country. Oh well.

3. What we always do is...get ice cream. We went to Cold Stone after the movie and got ice cream (I had a coupon, I am the Coupon Queen - self appointed). We walked to Old Navy and I bought a skirt.

On the way home we called Bibby. She said we couldn't come and get Elijah yet - they were having too much fun - so we went home. Beau worked in the yard and I napped on the couch. It was a glimpse back into the pre Elijah days. While it was quiet and restful, I missed my boy. I went and picked him up and we headed to the gym.

It was a good day. Oh, what did Beau get me, you ask. Well, nothing...He does have a semi-good excuse though. We (refer to the first paragraph) decided to do the traditional gifts a day or so before he left for camp then when he got home all his family was still here. So he really never had time to shop. So I told him I would help him out. Wood is used to make paper, paper is used to make money, and money buys you a massage. So....I'm going tomorrow for my massage from my sweet husband for our anniversary!! Thanks Beau!

Getting Back to Normal...just in time to change again.

Sorry its been so long since I blogged. Let me explain...

Saturday evening around 5:30 Beau got back in town. We went to pick him up. Elijah spotted him before we parked, he was trying to get himself out of his carseat. I let him out of the car and he took off running, screaming "Papa, Papa"...

The boys reunited...

Elijah immediately began filling Beau in on all that happened since he's been gone...

We went out to eat that night. We talked Beau into getting back in the car and going 3 blocks to a restaurant (it wasn't easy convincing him). Sunday, we woke up and gave Beau his happy Father's Day gifts. Elijah got him a framed pic of the two of them (I'll try to take a pic later). I got him some new shorts he wanted. Then we headed off to church.

After church one of Beau's kids came up and said he really wanted to be baptized and didn't want to wait any longer. So with a few straglers watching Evan was baptized!!! Yeah Evan!!!

Our Family on Father's Day...

Sunday afternoon Frankie, Brad and Amy drove down (Janice was still here from last Tuesday) and they all came to church and Beau preached. Monday morning the guys got up super early and went fishing. Janice, Amy, Elijah and I did a little shopping and stopped for lunch. Elijah just loved this horse. I would put him on it and he would be laughing, having so much fun, but as soon as I would get him to look at me for a pic he would make his serious face...
Just so you know...my child is a very happy child. I just can't get him to smile in pictures anymore. He used to smile so big, but around 18 months if you try to take a pic he just stares. Who knows what he's thinking!! Anyway, everyone left yesterday while I was at work. Usually Beau would be leaving again for another camp on Saturday, but it was pushed back one week so we have another week before he leaves again!

We decided to start doing the traditional anniversary gifts this year (we usually don't do gifts) just for fun. Five years (can you believe it!) is wood. I got Beau tickets to see Indiana Jones (get it? Tickets are made of paper, paper is made of wood, so you have wood!). We are just now gettiing to go. So this afternoon Elijah will be with Bibby and Beau and I have a date! Thanks in advance Bibby!!

Well that's the last week in a nutshell.

Happy 1st Birthday, Maddie

Saturday we celebrated Maddie's first birthday. We got there late because some one was taking a nap, but still got to play in the water...

Houston Astros

Last night we went to watch the Astros. It only reminded me why I don't go to baseball games - they're boring!! Give me some football! It was apparently a good game - we won 6 to 1. Beau and I missed half the game because there was a ticket mixup with one we left at will call for a member of our group, but it was still fun. At one point though, the Umpire made an obviously stupid call and I got a little upset...
I think it was because I was just emotional about missing Elijah. He had his first night without Mama and Papa. He spent the night at John and Bibby's. When I woke him up from his nap yesterday he was grouchy. I couldn't get him to get dressed so I said, "we have to get dressed so you can go to John and Bibby's" He ran over, picked up his clothes and brought them to me. When we got there he was so excited he was just running around. I picked him up to tell him bye and he started screaming and reaching for Bibby. I tried to explain that he was staying, but I had to hand him over and he held on to Bibby, looked at me and said "bye bye"! Nice! At least he's not clingy with separation anxiety. I'm trying to find the good in the situation - can you tell? He's actually still over there. I called this morning and they told me I COULD NOT come and get him yet. They are having a blast. He did great, he didn't wake up all night and when they went into "his" room to get him this morning he just laughed and laughed-apparently very excited that he was still at there house. They had pancakes and I'm sure they are playing hard. Later today we have Maddie's 1st birthday party!!

Beau leaves tomorrow for camp. I actually got today off so I get to spend it with him. He will get back on Saturday (our fifth anniversary). Janice is coming on Tuesday to help me with Elijah since I have to work. Please pray for Beau and Janice's safety as they travel this week!!

Baby Jaguar

This was Beau messing around with the video camera this morning. If you don't have a 2 year old you probably don't know who Baby Jaguar is so I'll inform you. Its Diego's side-kick. No one taught this to Elijah, he picked it up from the show all by himself. I don't know if I'm proud because he's so smart or upset that he probably watches too much TV. Oh well, he's learning!

Bed Head

Beau snapped this yesterday morning while I was at work and he went to get Elijah out of bed.

I can't quit lauging! He must have had a rough night- judging by the hair!!

My little bean counter.

This is what Elijah did all thru lunch yesterday...

He would pic up a bean...

Put it on the rim of his plate...

Then eat it like a dog...(maybe eating all that dog food did do something to him)

More Elijah tidbits: He is talking like crazy. When he does a whole sentence you don't get anything, but he has tons of words and is learning more every day. Over the vacation it was interesting to see that other people could understand him. The pediatrician said usually parents have to interpret, but by age 2 family and friends (or strangers) should be able to understand 50% of what he says - and they can - so that seems good. He loves to know what words go with things. He will point to something and say "dis" and want you to tell him what "this" is. He thinks its a game. Then he'll repeat the words and his memory is amazing.

Another fun thing is...we're trying to work on counting. We are at "One...Two" I'm not sure that he understands what he's doing, but we're working on it. Today at the grocery store he would point to stuff on the shelf and say "One...Two" then sometimes would say "one...two...one!" He is so proud of himself. In the car on the way to Abilene Beau and I are talking and from Elijah we hear "two, four, six"..."two, four, six" Now, he obviously can't count by two's. I don't know if it is just a coincidence or if he just learns every other number we say. Who knows...

Emily and Josh's Wedding

Saturday night was Emily and Josh's wedding. It was great. They did a great job planning - just beautiful. Okay, this first picture won't look like anything, but hopefully Sharon will send me the video. We are sitting at the front of the church (Methodist) and there is a kneeling bench at the front. Behind the wall is a string quartet. Elijah was enamoured with them all evening. The boy loves music. Most of all - though- he loves to dance. (Now he even warns you he's about to bust loose. Music comes on and he yells "das das" and starts shakin what he's got) So he goes (after the processional) and stands on the bench and shakes his little butt to the music. It was so cute. Sharon got it on video and thinks she can send it to me...

Once we were at the reception Elijah makes a bee line to the dance floor where the live band is playing. I think he's trying to do the worm...

Not that Brad isn't funny....but, Elijah thinks he is a hoot. (I'm sure it had nothing to do with the fact that it was over an hour past his bed time and Mimi had just given him wedding cake).

Gettin some lovin from Great Aunt Sharon...

Okay, study the pic and then I'll break down everyone's facial impressions...
Elijah: Let me down, I wanna boogie Beau: Please take the pic before I drop him

Emily: I'm so tired of smiling, my cheeks hurt Josh: What is the matter with that kid?

Me: Please hurry before I throw up all over you

Much better...

Except for Elijah who still just wants to boogie.

Meet my neice....Brooklyn

If you're confused, let me explain. This is my neice Brooklyn Ballard (via Amy and Brad-Beau's brother). She is set to arrive early August!! Now we will have two neices named Brooklyn - may be confusing around Christmas time, but I guess that just proves its a good name! We are so excited to introduce you to our newest Brooklyn...



I was supposed to go to the grocery store yesterday, but I still felt pretty bad so we are going to try again this morning. When I get back I will try to post a little more from the vacation!!

Up to date..

We are in Rosebud! The wedding was great, I'll put pics up when we get home. I got sick yesterday after the zoo. I got worse and worse all day. We ended up having to leave the reception early. I spent most of the reception in the bathroom (I'll spare you all the pukey details). I was sick all thru the night too. I had to miss Audrey's Graduation Party and I was too sick for church. I was so upset. We were really excited about seeing all our old church friends. :( We just took it slow and made it to Rosebud a few hours ago. We will be home tomorrow. Please pray for our safe return. Scroll down for tons of new posts!