Poor Aunt Kari and Uncle Gary had to have been rethinking their decision to invite us up to their house on Thursday. Aunt Gayle and Uncle Jim were passing through Texas on a road trip, so Aunt Kari so sweetly invited the whole family up to see them and to visit. She cooked a WONDERFUL dinner, and then BAM, the 4 toddlers hit her house with full force. We gave them a preview of all the necessary child-proofing needed for when they have grandkids.

Luckily the kids didn't mind going out back to play. It was an imagination heaven - they played all different kinds of things out there. Fun stuff!


Kati told Megan to hold still for a picture, and Megan dropped into a pose. Wonder where she learned that. Oh, and I usually have to get onto Megan for tilting her head sideways when I'm taking a picture, but when I showed Megan the picture later she said, "Look Mom! Head on straight!" :)


Andrew held Connor during dinner and learned just how difficult it can be to hold a wiggly monster and eat a taco, but through that experience they became fast friends.


Hey Connor, did you have an Oreo? Who gave that to you?


Mommy and Kati hiding away from the chaos.


Apparently this is the therapy that Aunt Gayle and Uncle Jim needed after we left.


This picture says a lot...


Thank you, Tolles, for such a wonderful evening. Wonder if there'll be a next time. HA!

Yesterday was my work picnic at Burger's Lake. Pardon my French, but it was damn hot. That's the nicest way to put it. We got out there at around noon, and Megan hit the water right away. As a little disclaimer, several family members work at my company, so it was like a little family reunion. Megan saw her cousins, and she was gone. Connor latched onto Aunt "Jones", and he was a gone.

Uncle Danny at the grill.


Aunt "Jones" and Connor swimming. He was a daredevil! He just kept walking out, no matter how deep. Scary.


My little "apple" who just didn't fall far from the "tree". They had little "safety sessions" where they cleared the water and made each group check to make sure no one was missing from the group, etc. I told Megan, "Do NOT go in the water until you hear the whistles." True to her/our nature, she went to the very edge of the water, stuck her hands in the water, but she did not go IN the water. *sigh* I just made my mom laugh hysterically, I know.


The guys played catch, the girls cheered.


Connor found two pool noodles and claimed them as his own. And when I say found, he was way up by the food/tables, located them, and then pulled them down to the water. After testing and experimenting, he figured out that he could float. So he'd walk out in the water and then kick his legs up behind him. But heaven forbid anyone try to pull him around by them...he got very mad and proceeded to vent his frustrations.




Connor and Aunt "Jones" played a game called "YUCK!". She would pile sand on him, and he would throw it up in the air and yell "YUCK!"


Connor didn't even make it out of the parking lot before he fell asleep. Megan, on the other hand, was too excited about getting to have a sleepover that she did not sleep! Cousin Alex came home with us from the picnic, and the girls had a wonderful time together.

We went to Mississippi for the long holiday weekend. We all had such a good time! Thank you to the Murphy's for inviting us and including us. I barely even saw Megan all weekend. She took off with her cousins and hardly paid any attention to us. Here are a few unedited photos of our trip.

Megan showing me her "dive" in the little pool.


Decorating for the 4th of July parade


So ready to line up for the parade. Notice her sign?


Connor watching the parade so still and quiet...thanks to the sucker.


The parade group


Patriotic Connor


Patriotic Megan


The girl cousins - Aunt Lynne made them all matching skirts.


Family photo


The infamous fort built by the dads and kids.


These two boys played so well together sometimes; at others, it looked like perhaps they were going to start throwing punches.


Firework night


Watching the fireworks.