On the Town with Grandma and Peepaw (grandpa)

Pete's parents are in town for a few days, so we are taking in all the sights despite the incredible heat and humidity.

We took a carriage ride through the French Quarter...

threw pennies in the fountain

and more pennies in the fountain

strolled through Jackson Square

toured the St. Louis Cathedral

got a cool balloon sword from the balloon guy
a flower and a pupppy


enjoyed some yummy beignets

with extra powdered sugar

visited the French Market and called it a day!

Backyard Fun

The kids have found a new favorite past time - water fun! With temps in the high 80's all week, I can't say that I blame them. Last year, Hannah would scream if you even put her near the baby pool or the bath; this year, she is the first one in both. Last year, Hunter loved the water as long nothing splashed on him (and he preferred to wear his birthday suit); this year, he's fully clothed (he wanted his swim shirt to stay on) and he's splashing himself and his sister. What a difference a year makes!

Just after he splashed his sister.

filling up the pool

lovin' it

sweet boy

sad/mad face (he couldn't decide)

drawing Hunter - she didn't quite get the whole body, but she had fun trying to trace him. Looks like we are in for one fun summer!

One Too Many Fairy Tales

After putting Hannah down for the night, Hunter and I went to pull weeds in the front flower beds; rather, I pulled weeds and he supervised - either way!

As he was wandering about looking for toads, worms, snails or anything that moved, we had the following conversation:

Hunter: "My house is made of brick."
Me: "Yes, it is!"

Hunter: "The Big Bad Wolf can't get me!"
Me: "You are right. The Big Bad Wolf can't get you."

Hunter: "He huffed and he puffed but he couldn't blow it down." (Picture Hunter huffing and puffing trying to blow the house down.)
Me: "That's right! You are safe in your brick house. Hunter, what happened to the straw house?"

Hunter: "He blowed it down! I like my brick house."

We haven't read that story in quite some time. I know he did some activities with it at school a few months back, but I can't think of anything we've done lately that would have triggered our conversation. He makes me grin and giggle (among other things) every day! I never know where his mind is going but it is always working!

Back to Dee Dee's for a Wedding

Mom is loving the fact that my friend Julie's wedding events have brought me to town several times lately. This weekend was the final event - the wedding! Hunter and Hannah spent some special time with Dee Dee while Pete and I took part in the festivities.

the happy couple

the blushing bride

their first dance

the four of us

Congrats Julie and Craig! We wish you both a blessed life together. Treasure each and every moment!

Hannah and the alligator - Pete and I took her to the mall with us while Hunter went to his cousin's baseball game. I'm pretty sure Hannah had more fun at the mall while Hunter had a blast at the game!

Art Show

Sorry for the lapse in blogs - life's been very busy lately.

Hunter and Hannah had their very first art show a few weeks ago (along with all of the other children in their preschool). They were so proud to show us all of the fun things they made this year. It's hard to believe that Hunter will be in the three-year-old class next year and Hannah will follow in Hunter's footsteps in Mrs. Judy's two-year class. They have both had such a wonderful time at school this year.

Hunter's little critters

Hannah's flower bowl

Hunter's self portrait

Hannah's bubble print

Hunter's handprints

Sunday at Dee Dee's

Mom is the children's director at her church and she was hosting a kids' celebration right after church. So, she spent most of the morning getting ready for the fun - organizing food, jumpers, and such. The kids and I supervised all of the preparations and tested the jumpers and games before all of the big kids arrived - just to make sure everything would be fun.

Hannah enjoyed having a jumper all to herself.

Though she did have a hard time standing up!

Hunter thought everything was there for him.

He loved every minute of it!

Once the big kids came, Hunter had even more fun!

Hannah decided Dee Dee's lap was the safest place in town.

Hunter fell in love with the girls - Allie and Abbie - they loved him too!

Then we had to get on the road. Hannah and rabbit were settling in for what would be an incredible nap.

Four minutes after we pulled out of the parking lot, she was out cold!

Hunter used that time to eat his second lunch of the day - pizza from Dee Dee. He was literally falling asleep while he was eating.

And finally, he fell asleep. He should have slept for hours after such a busy weekend. Instead, he slept for 20 minutes. Hannah, on the other hand, slept for three of the four and a half hours of the trip. What a wonderful weekend! See you soon Dee Dee!

More Cousin Time

The boys wrestled

played chase in the maze at the park

(Kade is in the red shirt. Look closely and you will see a little head just above the shrubs - that's Hunter in hot pursuit!)

Hannah had fun being silly

Hunter wanted to climb the tree. Kade joined in on Hannah's silliness.


Back at Dee Dee's we had strawberry shortcake.

and tried to wind down by swinging with Dee Dee.

Carnival Fun

We arrived at mom's house on Friday before she finished with school. When she came home, she brought my brother's boys over for some serious cousin time. After turning Dee Dee's house into a jungle gym, we loaded everyone up for the annual carnival at mom's school.

The kids (minus Hannah) jumped...

rode horses...

surveyed the rest of the situation...

re-energized with a drink...

ate dinner...

used most of our tickets for the cake walk...

sampled the cotton candy...

played peek-a-boo...

and hide-and-seek

and called it a night. Hannah is only in a few pictures because she wasn't interested in the whole carnival thing; she preferred to stay glued to Dee Dee's hip for the evening - dinner and peek-a-boo were her only independent moments. She had a good time too though!