EUREKA!!!!

Brent and I took a much-needed weekend getaway this past weekend. We went to Eureka Springs for a few days, and left Brody here with the family. I thought about him the entire time we were gone, but I must admit that it was nice get to be "me" for a few days, and not just "mom".

The weekend started off great, with a pretty neat surprise waiting for us in our hotel room. One of our wedding pictures was the cover of the 2008 Eureka Springs Wedding Guide! How crazy is that?? We had no idea. Not long after my wedding, my photographer called to ask if she could have my permission to use a pic for an ad or something if she ever decided to. I, of course, said yes, thinking that she probably did this with most of her clients, just in case. I never really thought anything else about it. Well, surprise!! It was pretty crazy walking around all the little shops and places around town and seeing our faces on the shelves. Weird. Anyway, I found the guide online - click HERE and you should be able to see it. Pretty cool anniversary gift, huh?!




Anyway, we stayed at the New Orleans downtown. It was fun to be right there in the middle of the historic district. Definately somewhere we will stay again! The lobby still had that oldtown charm, but the suites had all been renovated into a more modern feel. Still "old fashion" with the huge furniture and wide crown molding, but all brand new. It was great.

The best way to describe the weekend was relaxing. We did alot of good eating. (You can tell that he just loves having his picture taken.)

We also went to the Crescent Hotel, where we had our wedding reception a few years ago. I just love this place. It brought back all the memories of that day just being there.

This is the Gardens of the Crescent, where we took alot of our wedding pictures.

Us on the balcony of the Conservatory, the room where our reception was held.

And, of course, we had to visit Thorncrown Chapel. Brent reluctantly let me ask a nice lady to snap a picture of us in front of the chapel. He hates asking people to take a picture. I don't know why it bothers him so much. (Sorry about the old guy in the background - not sure who he is.)

On Saturday evening, I walked down the street to the Basin Park Hotel and had a niiiice massage. I swear I could have that done once a week and never get tired of it.

The Basin Park Hotel:

We were hoping that the Fall Foliage would be at it's peak, but we were a few day early I think. It was still nice, but nothing like I have seen it before. This was about as good as it got.

It was a nice little trip. We were going to get up Sunday and go to the church service at Thorncrown Chapel, but we just packed up, ate breakfast, and headed home instead. I think we were both ready to see a certain little boy.

3 sweet years

Brent and I celebrated our 3rd anniversary this week! It was Wednesday, so we both had to work, but we went out to dinner at FayRay's that evening. It was delicious!

Amie came over and watched Brody for us. When we got home, he had already been bathed and was in his jammies. Thanks Amie!

Bring on the Fall!!

Do you remember doing this as a child?? Your mom or dad or whoever would rake a huge pile of leaves and let you run and jump on it?! I know we did and I loved it!! It meant that it was autumn....and I looooove autumn!

Well, I was raking leaves in the front yard this week (yes Mom, I do know how, even though I always pretended I couldn't...lol)and Brody discovered this fun game. He was having soooo much fun!! As you can see, I didn't get much raking done, but we had a blast. To me, these are the kind of memories that you remember when you are older. Not the expensive toys, but the free stuff. Us in the yard, as a family, rolling around in the leaves. I can't wait for more fun experiences like this with Brody.

I absolutely LOVE this picture of him. Just pure little boy happiness

And I just had to include this. Here you can see Brent's idea of "raking" the leaves. I mean, yea it worked, but come on.

Lousiana Tech Football

Yea I know, I am a little late getting to this. Sorry.

Last Saturday night, we took Brody to a Louisiana Tech Football game in Ruston. He was in heaven. He was a little reserved for the first 15 minutes or so and didn't want out of our lap, but he soon warmed up and was cheering and clapping and yelling, "Go Dogs!"

Brody with Marleigh and Madalyn Bonsall. Marleigh just loved Brody and she sat right by him most of the game.

Brody being silly with Craig.

Taking a break

My monkey

It was a great game - Tech won! We are even going back next weekend for homecoming!

Strolling Downtown

Living here in ElDorado is wonderful because we have all of our friends and family here, plenty of people to love on and spoil Brody. But I must admit, there reeeaally isn't that much to do here...other than visit family, of course. There is one thing that I really enjoy doing though - I love to put Brody in his stroller and stroll around on our neat little square downtown. The bakery, the children's boutiques, the dress shops, the pharmacy...makes me just feel like I live in one of quaint little neighborhoods you see on TV. The kind with the cute houses with the white picket fences and little sidewalks........

Anyway, Brody and I met Mom and Brooke downtown yesterday and did just that. We stopped in LaBella's and got some peanut butter fudge that was to die for...

We also stopped in front of the bakery for a fall photo-op.

After our relaxing morning downtown, we went back to our house for a little bit to let Brooke and Brody play.

It was such a fun morning!! But we also had a fun evening.....I will try to post about that tomorrow!!!

Our Friday

We had a fun day Friday. Nothing out of the ordinary, just a fun fall day at home. The best kind, really.

After we ate our waffles, I did a little laundy, while Brody did a little table drumming. And he was getting after it! I wish so badly that my digital camera took video. I hate getting out our regular video cam.

He played most of the morning, while I finished cleaning, then it was nap time. Getting veeerry sleeeepy.....

Bedtime and naptime hasn't been going as well the last few nights. I swear, this kids sleep pattern in so inconsistant. He wants in his bed, but as soon as I leave the room he freaks. So, I stay in and rub his back until I think he is asleep. This has lasted for 30 minutes sometimes. Oh, and I thought most kids slept all night every night by this age. Guess I was wrong. He will go a week or 2 sleeping all night, then wake up once a night for a week. And I have made the mistake of just putting him in our bed when he wakes up. I know what you are thinking - that's her mistake!!! I know, I know. But that's the fastest way for us all to get back to sleep. So, whatever works right?

After naptime and lunch, we decided that the yard had dried out enough from the rain the day before to play outside for a while. Who wants to be stuck in the house on a nice fall day with temps in the 60's. Not Brody, for sure!!! Well, when I felt that cool breeze, all I could think of was all those ear infections from last year. So, I grabbed a jacket...with a hood...and zipped him up.

After about 5 minutes of playing, I realized that I had gone a little overboard, and let him at least take the hat off. He was very grateful, I can assure you. I don't know how I am going to keep hats on his head this winter.

Once the hat was off, it was like he could function again, and he went right to digging in the rocks.



And then proceeded to throw the rocks in the huge mudhole in our driveway.

At the rate he was going, I thought he was going to fill the hole up! I was hoping anyway....
When he started getting a little too close to the mudhole for my liking, I loaded him (and the soccer ball) up in the wagon, and we went to get the mail.

He pulled the wagon on the way back.


Peek-A-Boo!!!!!

I asked him to smell the pretty green "flower"...and what does he do???
Just rips it right off and smells it!!!!!!



Moving on to the trucks........

As much as he loves ba-ball (baseball) and oot-ball (football), I think soccer might be his sport of choice. He loves to chase it around the yard, kicking it as he goes. .....Until he kicks it right into the shrubs.....