Happy Birthday "NanNan" (Landon)

Landon's birthday was a blast last Friday evening. Thank you to everyone who was able to attend :) He was too tired to open gifts when we got home, so we extended his party until Sat. morning. Gary and I couldn't wait to see what he got, so we sped the process along a bit :) He/we loved everything!!!!! Thank you all again. When I get a few minutes between work, homework (Gary's and mine!), football, piano, and general mothering, I'll post some pics.

Are You Ready For Some Footbaaaalll?

It's that time of year again. Gary started practice with the Pee Wee Haughton Buccaneers last week. He's so pumped, it's all we hear about! For the next two months, we'll eat, breathe, sleep, and live football.

Go Bucs!!

Hut Hut!!

Baby Buc!

Missing Baby

Do yall remember that sweet baby that I birthed two years ago this coming Friday? Well, he's been kidnapped and replaced by a nasty adolescent boy that backed up to my leg and let a big one rip then pulled down the front of his diaper to pee on his dresser. He topped those tricks with giggles galore! Maybe it was the bike wreck he experienced this weekend that shook him up a bit too much (he went end over end on his trike, but cried more about the bike going in the ditch than his actual wreck). If you happen to run across BABY Landon, please send him our way. I'm not ready for the big kid version yet!!

Health Alert!

If you don't know about Randy's most life-altering illness, let me enlighten you... It's called "Havetocleanthecaritis". It flares up at least weekly and often at the most inopportune times. On several occasions, it's been near fatal. (Like when we should be on the road for a trip and he hasn't packed yet).

I'm afraid it may be genetic....

Landon hijacked the Nemo Sprinkler from a birthday party to wash his trucks!

Our newest addition to our "favorites" list

Geaux Baby

Landon is competing with a couple hundred other babies from around the Ark-La-Tex for a spot in the 2008 Geaux Baby Calendar. Please show your support by way of a few of votes for the little guy. Click here to follow a link to print an original ballot. Or you can click here to vote online and view his photo. (there's a tiny "vote" line just below his photo) Online voting costs a minimum of $5. Votes are 25 cents a piece, so your online $5 donation gives him 20 votes. If you choose to mail in the original ballot, you can mail up to one per day or drop one per day off at The Times office downtown. Of course, if you would like to donate $10,000, that would give him 40,000 votes and probably secure him a spot in the top 12!!!! Landon's I.D. number (for the mail in/drop off entries) is 316614. Happy voting!!!

*All donations benefit Christus Schumpert Sutton Children's Medical Center and The Times Newspapers in Education Program

**Edit!! We have some STIFF competition! It seems that Mr. Aidan Woollen is one of our competitors. Good luck to Aidan, as well!! He's a cutie patootie!!

Summer Nights

Yesterday evening, Gary had fun swimming with Colton and Bailey across the street :)

Little Big Blessings

Today, I received two little blessings that were very big, to me. I didn't even realize our internet failure at work was a blessing until I dove into Nehemiah (the 16th book of the old testament). Gevan outlined it last night and I made it about 1/2 way through today before our 'net was restored. Work called, but I became so interested, I'm getting ready to read the other half before I leave the office today. Blessing #2 - the cd changer in my car spit out my new choir cd. Last night, I tried to listen to a new cd of fall choir music. It skipped too bad to comprehend the words, so I tried to eject it. It got hung up just far enough out that I could see it, but couldn't reach it with tweezers to pull it out. That jammed the whole thing and Randy said I may lose all six of my cd's if someone had to tear into it and replace the radio. I decided to "let it ride" and today at lunch, I got in the car and there it was, ejected completely out. My car had been off and locked so the only one with access was The Man Upstairs! The other 5 cd's are unharmed and I enjoyed listening to "Praise Anthems" just a little more than usual on the ride back to work. Now, I've gotta go so I can finish my book!! Don't overlook the little blessings and don't assume that a burden (like no internet connection) is a curse. It's probably a blessing in disguise. Take the time to find your blessings that God sends your way every day!!!

SIGH.............

That's my HUGYSIC sigh of relief. School finally started today. We've ALL been looking forward to the first day. Our main goal this year is to PREPARE, the night before, for the morning madness that seems to loom over our house. Today was a success! Yippee!! Gary has "...the nicest teacher on the planet" this year. Good luck to Mrs. Spinney. 2/3 of her class are boys!! Gary's pretty pumped about that...we'll be praying for her AND the little girls in there :)
I can't forget props for Randy. He's as excited as Gary and Me about school. He waked, fed, bathed, dressed, and carted both kids to daycare all summer long. He's ready for the ease of one child! And deserves a break! You did great, honey!!

No Shirt, No Shoes, NO PROBLEM!

The first two days, Landon HATED the sand and surf. He quickly made friends with two ladies and their outrageously expensive rented beach chairs! He told me, "No Beet, Mommy! No Beet!!' (No Beach)
Gary and I awoke early and headed for the water by 8 a.m. each morning.

Randy and Gary worked hard and fast to erect a castle before King Kong tore it down!

The Beach Boys

Randy and Gary Deep Sea Divin' (about 4' under)

Maw brought the boys a much needed cool drink.

One last handful of sand on our way back home.

Landon finally came around and loved the water. He told the surf, " 'mon waroo" (Come on water)

We had a FANTASTIC time at the beach this past extended weekend and can't wait for next year!

The count down's on!

One more week until school starts. Gary's so excited about his "supplies" and new backpack, he wears it every day. I mistakingly let him pick his own backpack and didn't check it out before we bought it. Monday night after Randy, Landon, and I had gone to bed, he came into our bedroom, flipped the light on, and sauntered around with his backpack on and ALL of his supplies in it. The pack has some sort of upzippable extensions on it and he was able to fit everything (including the three rolls of paper towels, three jumbo boxes of Kleenex, and Ziploc bags) inside! It's nearly as big and heavy as he is!!!!! I think he could even sneak Landon to school in there! I'll be monitoring the contents of that thing pretty close. Happy school supply shopping if you haven't already been. To be on the safe side, print your list and take it with you. We had a booger of a time finding one at Wal-Mart (surprise surprise!).