Fall Festival 2011

More fall fun!

Jack-O-Lantern Lane

Halloween is one of my favorite times of the year! I love to see all the little kiddos dressed in their costumes, so excited just to get that candy from you. I also love all the fall festivities. "Auntee" April and I decided several weeks ago that we were going to take Clete to the "Jack-O-Lantern Lane" festival in LaFayette. Sunday was a gorgeous day and off we went to the pumpkin patch!

For Mimi and Pop

Thank you Mimi and Pop for the new Alabama gear! Yep, Clete is quite the handsome little man!

Fall Break 2011

We had a great time during Clete's 1st "Fall Break". Yesterday was kind of a bust since I had to make another trip to the doctor, more antibiotics and steroids for me UGGHHH!! I woke up today bound and determined that no matter how bad I felt, Clete and I were going to spend some much needed "Mommy and Me" time together.

We started the day with a coloring session in the "Hot Wheels" coloring book. This gave Clete the idea of making Mimi and Pop a pumpkin picture for Halloween, so off we went to the craft drawer. After getting showers, doing a couple of loads of laundry and eating lunch, we had a photo session with little Tripp. Next, we all converged to the kitchen for an afternoon of Halloween cupcake baking. To wind up our afternoon, Clete went through an entire pad of sticky notes. I mean there were sticky notes everywhere! Normally, this would be a big "no-no", but he was actually spelling words on the sticky notes, then bringing them to me to read. He was doing such a good job with his spelling that I just let him keep going. We all were pretty tuckered out by the end of the day and the boys had no problem hitting the hay! I know I will definitely cherish these moments for a life time!

On this day......

On this day 11 years ago, I received the surprise of a life time! I big rock for my finger! I will never forget that day. Dale did everything by the book, including asking my parents blessing. He says that he was going to wait until my birthday to pop the question, but he was afraid that my grandparents wouldn't be able to keep the secret. I think it was him that couldn't keep the secret! About lunch time I looked out my office window only to see Dale walking into the building. He came into my office with a huge grin on his face and said that he had a surprise for me in his back pocket. I reached around and pulled out a velveteen box. The box that the ring was in was not a typical ring box, but more like a earring box so that is what I thought it was. I got the shock of my life when I opened the box to find this beautiful ring! I still had no idea at this point, what it was for though. The conversation went a little something like this:

Me: " Oh my gosh it is beautiful!!! Thank you!!!
Dale: "Yeah, I thought it would make a good engagement ring. You know, if you ever wanted to get married."

At this point I still am clueless to the fact that he meant that he actually wanted to marry me now! A couple of minutes of oohing and ahhing went by and Dale said to me:
" Well?? You gonna answer my question?" to which I replied:
"What question?" he replied:
"Do you want to get married?"

That was it!! It was at that moment that we began this most incredible journey!! I love you Dale and can't imagine what my life would have been like without you in it! One word does come to mind though, BORING!!! The last 12 years of my life have been extraordinary because you are in it. You, these 2 beautiful babies that you have given me and the 2 beautiful babies we share in our hearts are the greatest gifts from God that I will ever receive! Happy "Engagement" Day Anniversary! You are my best friend and the Love of my life!!!!

Little Brother

Our little buddy is growing like a weed! Today we went to the doctor for what was supposed to be our 2 month check. We were scheduled for this last Wednesday but, I was too sick to go. I have had the "crud" for 2 weeks now! I have had my fingers crossed the whole time that Tripp wouldn't come down with it, but yesterday he woke with a stuffy nose and was "croupy" as he could be. Today instead of getting our dreaded shots we had a visit to get him checked out. Bring on those wonderful breathing treatments, we have a touch of RSV. I am a basket case because I have never had one this small get sick. I think Clete was almost 2 before he had so much as a cold! We did get some stats though: 12 lbs 11 oz and 23 1/4 inches long. He is a chunky monkey! The doctor also threw me for a loop when he put the little booger on cereal! When he asked how Tripp was eating and I told him that he was still eating 5 oz every 2 hours, that was his solution! We go back for a follow-up Friday, hopefully the breathing treatments do their job. Even though he has a terrible deep down nasty cough and gross "stuff" coming out of his nose, he is still just the happiest little thing! He is just cooing away, it is the sweetest sound! I have a feeling that even though his shirt may say "Little Brother", he is going to give his older brothers a run for their money!