Quick Video

I realize that I am behind on my blogging and photo site duties... again! I'm working on the photo site now. I should have 19, 20 and 21 month pictures up before Sunday.

Until then, enjoy one of my favorite videos....

Made me SMILE!

So, most people that know me know that I almost ALWAYS wear my hair up in a... well, I don't know what you call it... it's like a ponytail that you forget to pull out all that way... if that makes sense!

Anyways, when I was teaching I would always stick a pencil in my hair... right where the rubber band was on top. It was perfect because I always had a pencil handy!!! So, I wore my hair up so often that one little girl that I had in my class would draw pictures of me... with my hair up in a bun!! It was so darn cute!! And, because I was always walking around with a pencil in my hair the girls in my class would stick pencils in their hair (behind the ear).

I was reminded of all this today. I was making a list. I had stuck the pencil in my hair so that I could sit with Lincoln and have my hands free while he was playing at the open window. He noticed I had a sticky pad and wanted to write. I pulled out the pencil and gave it to him. He wrote for while and then, when he was finished with the pencil, tried to stick it in his hair!! Of course, he was just poking himself in the head with it... but, still. It made me smile SOOOO big.

He's so darn cute!



ps. I realize that I have not finished blogging about our road trip to Reno. I will get to it, soon! And, give an update on how we're doing now that we've settled in here!

17 Months Old

Alright, here you go... 17 month old photos!!

These include a few pics from Christmas, the last of our packing and the road trip to Reno.

This is Lincoln's first gumbo! He enjoyed it very much while at the lake for Christmas!!

I realized yesterday, after I posted the 16 month old photos, that not everyone that might read my blog may know about our move. So, for those that don't know... we now live in Reno, Nevada! Very crazy!! I never thought I'd leave Texas! But, a job opportunity presented itself to Brad. And, even though it takes us further away from all of our family and friends, we just couldn't pass this chance up.

So, with little time to pack and Christmas in the middle of it all... I don't know how we did it! Well, that's not true. I do know. My parents, brother and sister-in-law!!! Without them... I'd still be in Dallas packing up boxes!! Lincoln was such a happy-go-lucky guy through all of it!! Even when the house was being torn apart (packed) and we had strange people in and out of the house doing repairs!!
It was pretty cute the way Lincoln would go and grunt as he picked something up and move it! After all, he had been watching us move things for so long!!

He really loved helping. He'd watch us do it and then try it for himself. I have another picture of him really watching Grammy so he could get the technique down!

So, it took us 6 days to get to Reno. The first leg of the trip got us to El Paso. We decided to do most of the driving at night. I had heard other people make road trips at night so their kids can sleep. Well, no such luck for us! It was, well... sleepless. I really thought Lincoln would sleep really well at night in the car. He takes great naps in the car!! But, that's not what happened. So, that was the LAST time we tried that!

We're not sure about the time that this picture was taken. It says 3:30 pm but, Brad doesn't think that's quite right. All I know is that it was very late or very early... because I thought to myself, "we must look like the worst parents ever!" Um, Lincoln was up and did not want to get back into the car seat. He wanted a chip and a sip of coke instead!! (note to self... no more junk food within Lincoln's line of sight!)

Brad drove the entire night. He stopped a couple of times to get some sleep... along side the truckers! I drove a little the next day so Brad could rest. It took us 15 hrs to get to El Paso!!! But, along the way there was some time for play!


And, once we checked into the hotel... the boys passed out!

And, then Lincoln turned 18 months!!!

So, you'll have to wait for the rest of the story and more pics!!!!!!!!!!!!!

;)

FINALLY!!

Okay, I have been neglecting my blog AND our photo site... yet again. With the holidays and then the move... there just hasn't been time!! And, what little free time I have had... I'm sorry to say, has not been put towards this. Just not on the top of my list of to do's!

But, I did manage to get our photo site updated with things that have happened while Lincoln was 16 months old. Yes, he is almost 19 months... so, I'm a little behind. Anyways, you will find pictures from our Thanksgiving in Houston, Christmas morning in Dallas, Christmas day in Corsicana and beginnings of our big move.


So, go check out our photos! I hope you enjoy and check back soon... because I'm already working on uploading 17 months to the photo site!!

WOW!!

Wow, it's been a long time.

I have to apologize to everyone that actually comes and checks our blog regularly!!! Things have been a little crazy. For those that don't know... we are moving to Reno! We haven't had much time to do anything but prepare for the move since we found out... hence, the absence of posts.

I'm at my parent's for the weekend, so I will try and do a few updates!!

Sorry!!

Why?

So, I've been neglecting our blog...

There has been so much going on in the past... almost 3 MONTHS that I have wanted to post... but, have not! So, to get things done I will post what I can when I can... even if it's just one video or one picture. At least it's better than nothing!!!

Let's start with a little trim...



A few hoops with the new basketball goal...



Here's Lincoln getting on to the dogs... something he learned from his Grammy!




Now on to some photos...


Memorial weekend at the lake!


Playing in the rain... such fun!


Getting some practice in driving the boat.



Cool calculator!


A stroll in the park... one of many that we take when the weather is nice!!!



Hey, look at that... I got everything from when Lincoln was 13 months old done in one post!! It only took me several months to get around to doing it and all day to finish it!!

Dakota

This past Thursday, October 15, our beloved cat... Dakota, passed away. It was very unexpected. She was only 6 years old and had been healthy (as far as we knew). The vet seemed to think that it was probably a heart issue. Regardless of what happened, I hope that she passed peacefully and without pain. I found her in the early morning. She was lying in her bed. So, it does look like she passed in her sleep.

Lincoln loves the cats. Dakota never did fully warm up to him. I mean, she wasn't going to let him get too close. Not that I blamed her... he gets so excited that he would just scare her!! But, she would come check on him and seemed concerned anytime he would get hurt and really cry. Lincoln was with me when I found Dakota. At first he wanted to play with her... but, he soon could tell that something was wrong. There were tears in his eyes. I know that he didn't really understand what had happened. But, he knew that mommy was sad.

Dakota was the first pet Brad and I got as a married couple. She was out first "baby." She became part of the family the Christmas after we had been married. I can't believe I'm going to share this story... but, what the heck! We were spending Christmas with my mom's side of the family at one of my aunts house. They always have a lot of animals around... cats, dogs, horses, rabbits... I think they even had a donkey once. A litter of kittens had recently been born and Dakota was the runt of the litter. There she was, this tiny little thing... cuddled up underneath this vent trying to stay warm. So, I started to play with her. And, as the night went on I became more and more attached... or, if I'm to be honest... the more and more I drank the more and more I became attached. I wanted to take her home. I don't think Brad was too happy with the idea of having a cat. Specially, since we weren't suppose to have pets in the apartment. But, when it came time to leave... Dakota left with us. Yes, Brad caved in... really, I don't think he wanted to cause a scene... because, I may already cried a little. But, she was ours. She was a great cat. Perfect personality. She could be feisty and ornery... playful, lazy, sweet and lovable. Perfect....

I remember when she was younger and it was still just her (we didn't have Jersey yet, our other cat) she would jump up on the bed during the wee hours of the morning and bite me on the neck. I mean, really bite... that was her way of telling me to get up and feed her! She would do that or knock things over to try and get my attention. Once we got Jersey, Dakota would just start picking on her... which would irritate me and cause me to get up and lock her out of the bedroom. I always gave her a few pieces of food before I slammed the door in her face! I didn't really slam the door... but, giving her food after she picked on Jersey obviously wasn't a good idea!!!

When Dakota was younger she would nap in the bathroom sinks. She would also follow me around after I got home from work until I would sit down... so, she could jump up on my lap and get some loving! Dakota loved to play with the laser pointer (hadn't done that in awhile). She would play with other toys also... until she got tired. Then she'd lay down and swat at the toy... haha, lazy cat! She traveled well in the car... unlike our other cat. And, Dakota loved to eat! You had to fight her off if you were eating fish. And, you couldn't leave pans out on the stove that were used to cook meat in because she would lick them clean!! Dakota loved to go outside also. As soon as she would get outside she would rub herself on the patio floor. On occasion, I would find her INSIDE the turtle's tank... or sitting on top of the hamster's tank... keeping a close eye on the critter!

We have so many good memories.

I still can't believe she's gone. She is the reason I will always have cats in my life....

I wanted to add more photos... but, most of the ones of the cats are on the other computer. So, this will have to do.... We love you and miss you sweet girl!!