First Trip to the Beach

Jarrod and I decided to join Jeremy, Melissa, and Jackson on a last minute trip to the beach. We took the boys to Orange Beach and learned what it was like to vacation with toddlers. Melissa and I braved the trip down there with the boys by ourselves in their car. Thank the lord for DVD players! Judson introduced Jackson to Barney and I am pretty sure Melissa is hoping Jackson forgets about the big purple dinosaur. We made it with only a few minor meltdowns.

Once we got there, the boys loved being together. They enjoyed playing in the sand at the beach, being silly in the condo, and Jackson even convinced Judson to play in the pool a little bit. (He has been scared of the pool all summer.) It is so fun to watch these cousins grow up together.

On the way home, Melissa and I got smart and made the boys ride with Jarrod and Jeremy a little bit. I think they appreciated their quiet ride down there after that experience. All in all, the boys did great, and I think it was even relaxing for the adults as well. Judson was sad for our beach vacation to end. He has been asking for "Jackson" and the "condo" all day. Maybe next year, buddy!

Family picture on the beach
Being silly in the sand

The boys with their daddys

Finally getting in the pool.

Running away from us when we were trying to get family pictures

Our baby is 2!

Today was Judson's actual birthday. I tried to make it special by doing some of his favorite things. We got donuts for breakfast, met daddy at McDonald's for lunch, pizza for dinner, and birthday cake for desert. Notice how his favorite things all revolve around food. He gets that one from his mother. At McDonald's we saw some of his friends from church, and he got to play with them on the playground. Tonight I had to work at VBS, but his great-grandparents took him to the farm to see the "moos" another one of his favorite things. I think all of that made for a pretty good birthday.

Of course, Jarrod and I can't believe that he is already 2. We look at him and wonder where our little baby went. He has turned into such a fun little boy that his mother and daddy just adore!

Telling his mother that he is "ew." (or two)
Finally getting him to say cheese to the camera.

Judson's 2nd Birthday Party

Saturday we celebrated Judson's 2nd birthday. We invited family and close friends over for barbeque and dirt cake. Since Judson's favorite thing to do these days is dig in the dirt, that was the theme of the party. He had been excited all week for his birthday party and couldn't wait for cousin Jackson to come. He enjoyed every minute of his party, and he ended the night muddy as usual.

Waiting for his party to start.
He was so excited when cousin Jackson arrived. All week he had been saying "Jackson come."

The dirt cake

Blowing out the candle on his birthday cake.

Showing off his muddy hands. Notice the dirt pile behind him. That is his favorite spot.

Memorial Day Weekend

Judson and I went with Gran Jan and Poppa to my Aunt Joni's for Memorial Day weekend. Friday was my last day of school so it was fun to get out of town and relax for a while. Saturday we went shopping (of course!), hung out by the pool, and that afternoon I met my friend Kim. On Saturday night, the Louis clan introduced us to yogurtland. It is a little yogurt shop in the middle of an Asian shopping center. The yogurt was great, and we had fun exploring the shopping center especially the grocery store. It had many fruits and vegetables I had never heard of and LOTS of fresh fish. The smell kept us out of that section for any length of time. Judson did great in the car, and we can't wait to go back.

Hanging out with Poppa by the pool.

Trying to get Judson to pose with Kim.

Enjoying our yogurt at yogurtland.

Playing on the big balls at the shopping center.

This is what happens when your cousins do your hair.

We got a new boat!

Well, Judson did, anyway. Our sweet neighbors called us tonight and said that they had a toy that their grandson had outgrown and wondered if Judson would like it. Judson and I walked over there, and it was a really nice toy boat that rocked. When Judson first saw it, he wouldn't even sit down in it. He was more interested in redecorating their backyard than the boat. After we got it home, though, he couldn't get enough of it. Now, I just have to find a place to put it. Also, note the shirt in the pictures. His wonderful mother had fallen behind on laundry this week, and he had no clean pajamas in his drawer. So, I pulled out this t-shirt that someone gave me before he was born. He is showing everyone his Smackover Buckaroo Spirit.

Check out my new boat. I like it when daddy makes it go high.

"Ahoy, mate."
Cheesing for the camera.

Momma's Little Helper

This past summer, when I would remember to water my flowers, Judson always wanted to help me. The Easter Bunny must have taken note of this because he left him a little watering pail. This afternoon he went and got it and wanted to water the flowers. Since I haven't planted any flowers yet, I let him water the ivy on the back porch. He was very persistent about the pail being "mine" and wouldn't let momma help at all. When I do get my flowers planted, it looks like they won't go thirsty!

Showing momma he can water like a big boy.
This pot looks pretty bad so I'm going to dump it all on there.

Off to the next pot.

Almost out of water.

"More, peas."

Three Day Weekend

Judson and I got to enjoy a three day weekend. All these breaks are spoiling us and making us ready for summer. I wish I had had my camera for everything we did this weekend, but, of course, I didn't. On Thursday, Judson had an Easter party at school and hunted eggs that afternoon at Gran Jan's. Friday we helped Uncle Matt move into his new house. Judson loved being able to run around in a house with no furniture. Saturday night, we took Judson to a rodeo. He loved clapping and watching the "moo's". He did pretty good for an hour. This morning we woke up and checked out what the Easter Bunny left. Then we were off to church and Grandmother's for lunch. He got more goodies and all the attention he wanted at Grandmother's. Too bad our fun weekend has to come to an end. I'm not looking forward to Monday!

Looking at what the Easter Bunny left.
Posing with his Gran Jan and Poppa at church.

Taking a family picture at church.

Pulling all the jelly beans off of grandmother's cupcakes.

Opening Easter eggs from Aunt Glenda. They had cars in them and kept saying "more" after he opened each one. He is just a LITTLE spoiled.