Keepin' Busy

Boy, do we keep ourselves busy during this time of year.  Here are some more pictures from our last days of September.

Playing at the Arlington playground.

Ice Cream treat at McDonalds!

Ok, the look on my face tells a whole story that I won't get into.  Let's just say that we were NOT happy with McDonald's customer service this day!  

Our crazy monkey

Playing at home.

Love this

(spending time with Daddy after he gets home from football practice)

Reese is walking better!

One day, I had James' school lesson outside.  We did a lesson on maps and used this blanket Nonie made for us as a part of the lesson.  (and had a picnic on it!)

During the lesson I pointed to some countries and named them.  When I said, "Look James, this is Greenland."  He replied, "NO MOMMY!  That's REDLAND!" hahahaha

Well, we will work on that one another day :)

School inside :)

Another time I caught James stealing one of Reese's bows.  He literally takes them out of her hair and puts them in his hair!

Playing with best friends during "Cleaning Swap!" 

(I have blogged about my cleaning swap with my friend Amber in an earlier post:)

Playing outside with Taylor and Law!

ARG....this little munchkin is doing exactly what James did at her age....screaming at the back door for someone to let her outside.  She desperately wants to go outside to play.

hmmm... .can you tell that I caved?  Someone is happy now!

This is another happy kid when he is outdoors!

lickin' the cookie batter!

greasy smile!

And lastly, James in a timeout.  Here he is pushing away Reese who recently thinks she goes to timeout when James does!  hahaha.

The Playground Next Door

I am so thankful for our little playground in the neighborhood next door to ours.  Justin and I have a 3 mile loop that we run, and we always run past this playground.  Sometimes when I am pushing the kids in the double Bob, I will take a break halfway through my run here!  I let the kids play for awhile, then put them back in the stroller and finish my run.  The kids love it and always have a great time.

The Warrens Visit

Yay!  Justin's sister, Katie, brought her family to Memphis in September.  Her son, Christian, had a soccer tournament on Saturday, but they decided to come on Friday so they could go to an ECS football game.  It was so fun to have them at the game with us!  

Once again, hangin' on the hill.

The cutest picture!!  Julianna and Rebecca helped me with Reese ;)

At home on Saturday morning, the early risers got to watch a movie :)

Then to watch Christian play soccer at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex!

Just chillin' and eating some snacks.

Reese was so good and had lots of little friends to play with her :)

Next we had a lunch break at Steak N Shake in between Christian's games.

(Obviously someone said something to Rebecca that she didn't like! Ha)

Rebecca and Justin

Me with Julianna and Katie

Reese was cracking us up with her facial expressions :)

Love this one!

Then back at the game, James got his first piece of bubble gum!

It was given to him by the lady who drives around selling snacks.

We halved the piece....on his first attempt, he swallowed it after a few seconds. On his second attempt he did much better!  And spit it out after a couple of minutes :)

We hope to see more of Christian playing soccer in the near future!  It was so fun!!

Football

By mid- September, football was in full swing.  James and Reese love going to the high school games.  They get to be outside,  eat hot dogs, french fries and candy, and watch Daddy coach football!  Most of the coaches' wives that have children sit on a grassy hill instead tackling the bleachers with little ones.  James absolutely loves sitting on the hill.  It is a big open area for all sorts of running, falling, jumping, and tumbling.  Reese likes to try to keep up with James, but I find ways to keep her in my lap as much as possible, or she would really go tumbling down the hill.

James has the sweetest friend that comes to the games too.  Her name is Madison Claire, and she gets so excited to see James at the game.  They are great buddies and have lots of fun playing together.  They are just a few months a part, so they have a lot in common.  They keep each other busy racing, playing with toys, digging in the dirt, and occasionally watching the game!  If only James could get her name right.  He calls her Anna Blair because he has a cousin with that name.  He just can't remember Madison!  But she goes along with it for now :)  haha.

Madison Claire and James

(isn't she a cutie-pie!)

Watching the game.  Daddy is up there in the box.

Always so fun to be with friends!

September

Just some random pictures from September:

These two LOVE our stools.  The stools float from the bathroom, to the kids' rooms, to the living room.  Reese currently brings one into the living room so she can climb up on the couch :)

Well, "Room Time" is still working for James, but he definitely has his days where he falls asleep because he desperately still needs a nap some times.  I caught him like this one day when I needed to wake him up.  Sleeping on his floor, with his stick horse all covered up next to him lying on a pillow ;)

Trying to be like Daddy (minus the pink bike :)

Playing at Shelby Farms again :)

James still LOVES his trains.  I had to take a picture of this because he is using more of his imagination lately.  Here he has made a road block with tires that he has taken off some of his trucks.

Our favorite thing to do on Monday Mornings ;)

These guys wave at us and give us a big honk!  The kids love it.

Not sure if the neighbors love the honking at 7:30 in the morning...haha.

Some times I try to think of ways to teach James how to do random acts of kindness...so James occasionally gives out water bottles to these nice gentlemen on hot days ;)

James is also into making BUMPS everywhere in the house.  I am constantly tripping.  He has put toys under my kitchen mat to make a bump for his cars to drive over. :)

Another day of Reese trying to be like her big brother.

This video always cracks me up when I watch it!

Maybe it will give you a good laugh today :)

Peabody Splash Park

Early in September, I took James and Reese and met my friend Lindsey Coplin and her sweet little girl, Adele, at the Peabody Splash Park.  It is a cute little area that is "blocked in " so the kids can't stray too far.  James and Reese loved running around through the water.  And what is also great about this park, is that there is a playground right next to the splash pad.  And it is covered with SHADE!!  Glorious.  

Lindsey, why did we not get any pictures together!!!?

Next time!

g