Rats, Drugs and Savory Sausage

We are having the same pest problem as we had this time last year. However, these rats are being moved around by a tiny infant!! In 2009 he was only 4 weeks old and unable to pull them off the stairs, eat their tails off and throw them in the toilet/trashcan! We're getting in the Halloween spirit but haven't quite found a pumpkin. We're waiting for Scott to go to Atlanta to stop at the farmer's market I suppose? We'll make do with this decor for now.

This week is Red Ribbon Week and Baxter is being introduced to a whole new world. He had lots of questions when I told him he had to wear red to school today. He came home from school and said he was never doing drugs or smoking cigarettes! A later conversation he told me Stephanie gave him crabs! Yes, read that one twice! I looked over at him and he had 2 crab silly bandz to show me. I was doubled over with laughter for quite awhile with that one.

I should've taken a pic of them before school I guess because Lillee never comes home with the same thing she got out of the car with. She left with jeans and a red sweater. She came home with jeans (rolled way too far up) and a denim jacket. Said red sweater at school. I need to keep an inventory! I think his shirt was fitting for the day!

Have I posted lately he's beautiful?

Here's the Savory Sausage Tart. It was ok. All three kids liked it. There was chicken/spinach sausage, Tuscan vegetables, cheese in a pie crust. They paired it with apple sauce and strawberries.

Bye Bye Bottle

He is approaching the 14 month mark but it's really difficult to let go of the bottle. He is very attached and doesn't like a sippy cup of any kind at all. Dr. Banks was very sad to come by the other day and see my computer opened to a google page "how to transition from bottle to sippy cup?" She recommended a 15 month cut off! He's just a tiny infant still! We've been giving him the cheapy first years cups. Nope - those get thrown in the floor!

November 1 - cut off date! Say a prayer!

Block Party

We had our 1st annual block party October 2. We originally were trying to come up with a way to celebrate Anne, Ben and Pressley's 1st birthday! When we started planning, we ended up with a MEGA PARTY! It was so much fun and our dear friend Cindy Stansberry brought her sweet children Miles and Lawson and her baby, Nikon (camera, that is). We really appreciate her awesome photography. She's watched these babies grow from birth til now!

Cindy's kids had lots of fun on the big slide.

MONKEY BUSINESS

No kid wanted to leave this excitement!

Who would want to stop after eating 2 cupcakes!

These three will have lots of memories to cherish forever.

Kiawah Island

This was last year's picture of Kiawah - welcome Ben! They've grown so much in a year.

We spent this past week at Kiawah Island. We had a great time and spent many hours relaxing. It was definitely a laid back true beach trip. The children were well behaved. Baxter's bees came out a few times but nothing too major. We spent lots of time in the pool, riding bikes, playing in the ocean and long walks. Thank goodness for this sweet girl above! A terrific babysitter and a girl with some patience! She was definitely ready for some "takeout" or McDonald's by the time we left. We cooked/prepared three meals a day at the house. Granted, we really enjoyed going to the grocery so it was fun to figure out what we could come up with next! However, Bethany was ready for some fast food yummies! Me too, actually!
This hot tub should read, "WHAT HAPPENS IN THE HOT TUB STAYS IN THE HOT TUB!" It saw it's share of these kiddos birthday suits! This little spa saved our life. I can't imagine how many hours they clocked in here - the dads too!

This monkey loved getting some pool time in with his big sis! An entire pack of swim diapers - GONE!

These two continued on their old married couple lifestyle! There were inseparable times and there were grumpy times! Mostly happy times though, until she wanted to touch JoJo the crab! The smell is still in my nose hairs!

This is my favorite picture of Ben. I don't think it's up to Stansberry photography standards but I like the way his hair is over to the side and the wispies are blowing in the wind and, of course, he's on my hip!

This was a great house and very practical for the kittens. However, I would have suggested baby gates at the bottom of the stairs as this one really liked climbing!

When restlessness occurred it was off on the trails. Thank goodness for our Clampett-style bike rack that made it to South Carolina! This stinker loved riding with Daddy on the Quest!

I was in charge of Big Waxy Lips! These pedals didn't work like the ones last summer. He pedaled all the way but no help to mama! We saw lots of alligators, deer and mostly mosquitoes! Our kids looked like they had a case of measles!

This beautiful girl rode her bike all by herself and enjoyed every minute of it. She did a great job with no complaining - all 20 miles it seemed like!

Bethany liked our biking outings. Her bike had a child carrier on the back so she stored the water/bugspray items! She wanted to use our baby doll but it's eyes were mending back at the house - long story!

Ben loved the sand. He didn't mind one bit that it was in his ears, eyes, nose, toes, fingernails, hair, did I mention ears, eyes, nose? A big difference from Lillee's first years at the beach!

Again, the world's best babysitter - EVER! However did she put up with us all week? Look closely and you'll see her precious find - JoJo! The smell is wafting through my house as we speak.

I love this picture of Ben. He had just woken up from an afternoon nap. Scott always says he looks like my dad when he first wakes up from a nap - a little grumpy looking and fuzzy headed! He is holding my favorite purchase on the trip!

Afternoon fun included two 4-year olds + two Droids = old couple!

Even Bethany needed a little quiet time on Facebook after the pool.

Here's the iPad waiting on it's next football game to be played or math facts to be solved. Scott was upstairs on the laptop doing some work. I just wanted to play UNO - no technology!

We did venture out to lunch one day. Imagine a table for 4 adults, 5 kids, 2 strollers, 1 highchair and a baby!

We had a really great time. It's nice to be with people similar to you and your family who share the same likes/dislikes/values as us. God has truly blessed us with wonderful friends for our children to grow up with and love. The beach has a way of showing us God's beauty and inspriring all of us to remember how awesome his works are.

"The British are Coming"

HAPPY 38th BIRTHDAY SCOTTY!

Scotty's birthday was yesterday. What better way to spend it than with his beloved Duke!

I was driving to buy him/me a new coffee pot and he called to say he was at Target with a $19.99 Mr. Coffee in the buggy! That works for me.

Some of our nearest and dearest friends came over with their sweet family and enjoyed supper with us. I didn't get any pics but we had meatloaf which was divine, mashed potatoes equally divine, broccoli to lower our cholesterol from the previous mentioned and a delectable chocolate cake. We enjoyed these fun friends we consider family.

***Breaking News***

Lillee jumped on the trampoline after she got home from school. She, of course, left her favorite boots outside. Of course Duke got one and took it AWAY. Lillee went into a frenzy about 8:30 p.m. and insisted Scott go look for the missing boot.

He couldn't find a flashlight so this is what he decided to use......

MY LIVING ROOM LAMP! He plugged in the 50' extension cord and then my living room lamp! WOW - he was traveling all around the backyard with this lamp looking like Paul Revere! It was too much for my 3 children bladder!
What a way to spend a birthday! Boot continued to be missing until next day!

Documentation

Baxter + Lillee + basement + scissors + abandonment from us = this new coiffe.
I guess they're like little puppies when we go away. However, they did not eat toilet paper or pee in the floor but Baxter did do this to her hair! Before you judge, he is not all to blame. She allowed this to happen and we found out instigated it a little as well. She was not that devastated about it which tells me she knew the sharp objects were coming. Wow - all I can say is I'm glad school pics are over! Sibling love/rivalry. Woooaaaahhh! I'm buckling my seatbelt for what lies ahead!
This about sums this guy up these days. Sticks and silliness...
This little angel guppie is growing like a weed! He's precious and I have to say he looks different than the other two. He beginning to walk more these days.