Louisiana Boardwalk

So, today we went to the Louisiana Boardwalk in Bossier with Aimee and Eli. We really had a great time. Brent, Brody and I started off the morning at the doctors office (Brent has had a nasty encounter with poison ivy), but we were soon on our way. We arrived a little after noon, and had a yummy lunch at Fudruckers, then it was off to shop!

Brody was so busy watching everyone and everything going on at the restaurant that he could hardly eat, so I just put his chicken on his little tray and he munched while we shopped.

We spotted the carousel and decided that we would give it a whirl and see if Brody liked it any better than he did the last time we tried (at the Ft. Worth Zoo). And he did! I think it helped that I actually got on the horse with him rather than just holding on to him. But whatever the reason, he loved it today!


When we made our way to KB Toys we let Brody out of his stroller to stretch his legs and use a little of that energy.

He shot a few hoops....

Played in the ball pit....
Scoped out all the new toys on the shelves....
And shot a few more hoops....

Soon after, we finally headed home. It was about 5:00 and Brody hadn't had a nap all day. So, needless to say, he was out within 5 minutes of being in the car. He snoozed all the way home, while we listend to the Razorbacks pull of a season opener win (barely)!! Go Hogs!!

Birthday Shoutout - Mom, Tara, and Papa!!!

Well, we finished off a round of birthdays, for a couple weeks anyway. Then we start back again in September. Last week, we celebrated Mom's and Papa's birthday at Papa Pablanos!!

They, of course, had to wear the the infamous Mexican sombraro while they were sung to.

Brooke and I enjoying the party
Then, all the kiddos had to take turns trying on the sombraro. (Just the thought of how many different heads those hats have been on.....makes me cringe.)

After the celebration at Papa Pablano's, we went to Tara's house (it was her birthday also) for a little cake and gift time!

Tara with her new neckalce and earrings!! Can you tell that Brooke like to be in every picture we make? If you look back, she is posed beside me in all of my birthday picstures too. So funny.


My new hiarcut! Sorry that it is sideways, I forgot to rotate some of these in 'My Pictures'.

Brody still loves bathtime! It is his favorite part of the evening I think. It even one-ups eating in his book! Here he is blowing bubbles in the water. This is usually followed by some spitting and sputtering - but he goes right back at it.

He will hate me for these pictures one day...
Playing in the mud with Daddy. You can see in the first picture, he knows to drink from a water hose like an old pro. (Again, sorry for being sideways.)

Natalie Grant (the Christian singer) came to ElDorado for a concert with 2 Empty Chairs last weekend. I was a little hesitant about bringing Brody, but he did awesome. We put cotton in his ears, and he and Brooke clapped and danced for an hour and a half!

Tuesday evening we ate dinner with Dad and Karen. After we stuffed ourselves, we went outside to play and work off a little of that roast and potatoes.

Dad and Brent playing ball, Brody playing with his buckets, and Karen with a camera in her hand.

You can see that Brody's toys are put to good use!

Brody taking a break and cooling off with some of MiMi's tea. That cup is almost as big as he is!

At one point we saw Brody run off to the edge of the yard. At first we couldnt figure out what he was doing....then we saw him squat. Hey, he needed his privacy!!

I wonder what they were looking at????
Must be pretty interesting up there!
Just before we went in, Dad turned on the sprinkler in the yard. I think this was Brody's favorite part of the evening!
He couldnt resist running through a few of them.

Happy Birthday to me!!!

Well, I celebrated my 24th birthday yesterday, and I have to say, it was one of the best I have had in a few years. I think that it was mainly because it was the first time in 3 years that I havn't had to work on my birthday, so I was able to spend the day with my family and celebrate another year with my wonderful little boy.



**WARNING** This post in going to contain way too many pictures of myself, but that is a rarity, so I am going to take advantage of the situation and make you all suffer through it :)

Brody and I slept in (well, until about 8) and then we just hung around the house playing ball and running around outside. Then, we met Mom and Brooke at Elm Street Bakery for a yummy lunch. We had delicious chicken sald croissants (not sure I spelled that right) with fruit and a green salad on the side. It was absolutely DELICH'!!! Brooke and Brody had donuts for dessert while Mom and I sipped on cappucinos.

We then strolled around downtown for a bit, mostly window shopping. But we did go in the little pharmacy there on the square to say hello, and we had to stop and play in the razorback gear. We tried to get Brody to join us in this picture, but the Hog snouts freaked him out and he ran the other direction.
We looks NOTHING alike, huh?
Brooke came home with us after lunch while Mom went back to work. So, while Brody took a good long nap, Brooke and I spent the afternoon coloring, watching iCarly (this is supposedly a very popular show with the younguns' that I have never seen before), and painting our toenails. It was great. Not long after Brody woke up (very refreshed, I might add) Amie came to pick us up for a trip the park. Brooke played on the playground while Amie and I (and Brody in his stroller) walked around the little track that goes around the park. (Don't worry, we could see Brooke's hot pink dress the entire time.)

After we came home and cleaned up in record time, we headed out to meet the family for dinner.

I got a really cute purse and CHI holder from Brent's mom and dad...

And this fun razorback diaper bag from Mom!






Mom and Sam


These are only a select few of the gifts that I recieved from my WONDERFUL family, but I am sure you all are tired of looking at me by now. So, I will just say THANK YOU to everyone for everything. It was a great birthday!

Birthday Shout-out

Yesterday was Mamaw Sharon's 65th birthday! Happy Birthday Mamaw!

Mom, Brooke, Brody, and I went over yesterday afternoon bearing cake and gifts. Brooke helped Mom light the candles on the cake, and then her and Brody both helped her blow them out. Well, I guess I should say that Brody watched them blow them out. He is very good at blowing (he always blows his food whether it is hot or not), so we thought he might give it a whirl, but he would say, "No, Hot."

Here is Mamaw showing off a couple of her presents.
Cute purse, huh?!

Recently, Brody has become facinated with the child locks on the kitchen cabinets. He knows that mommy and daddy can do something to make them open, so he will sit for a long time trying to figure it out.

And then this is what happens when he realizes that he can't open them. Poor little guy.

Amie (Mamie, as Brody calls her) and Eli came over Friday night to eat. Brody was looking through this magazine of Halloween costumes with her. It's never too early to start looking is it?
Brody and his Mamie Just a pic of me and Brody. These are few and far between because I am always the one with the camera. He had just gotten his jammies on and was getting ready for bed. I love this time with him. We have really gotten into a good bedtime routine with him, and when we get his jammies on and go pick out a book, he knows it is time to go night-night. We go to his room, read the book in the rocking chair, turn the lights out, and after about 5 minutes of rocking he is OUT.
He doesn't throw these fits much anymore, but I finally had my camera in hand when he decided to try one, so I had to snap a picture. That was probably totally sending him the wrong message about it, but I couldnt resist. This one didn't last too long if I remember correctly. Usually I just ignore him, and after about 25 seconds, he gets up and goes on about his business.

Lake Degray

Two weekends ago, we went to the lake with Dad and Karen for a little R&R. We had a good time - did a little fising, some boating, some kneeboarding, and lots of good eating!

Once Brent, Brody and I got there on Friday night, we went to eat at Cracker Barrell.

Brody loves to drink from a big boy cup with a straw, but he cant get it through his head that you don't have to turn the cup up to drink it, and he usually ends up with his drink in his lap.


By far, his favorite part of Cracker Barrell - the toy department!
Eating at Outback in Hot Springs on Saturday night
After we stuffed ourselves silly, we went for a game of put-put.

Brody (with a little help from Daddy) even hit 2 holes-in-one!!!! And they let him take home his little putter - which he loooooooves.




Funny how this post is titled Lake Degray, yet I have no pictures of us actually at the lake. Sorry 'bout that.....lol.