What Do You Do at Your Grandma's House?

We have a dance party.............

Then we exercise......

Then we take a rest, but not a very long one.........

And we visit and give lots of kisses!
And we act shy, but then we show off!

And don't forget to make Granddaddy run up............

and down the driveway!



Drew and I went on a four-wheeler trip last Saturday with some friends, Payton got to spend the day with Grandma K. and Granddaddy - can you tell how much fun they had. I am sure they all slept like rocks!

OOOOOHHHHHHH

Can't you just hear her.... OOOHHHHHH..... and all Drew was doing was going frontwards and backwards in the back yard.

I am telling ya'll - we are in some serious trouble in a few years. The child loves to ride, and the faster the better and it doesn't matter what it is as longs as it GOES!

P.S. Excuse our landscaping.... we suck at yard work! Just kidding - the dogs live in the back yard can't you tell?

At Least Someone Likes To Do Chores!

I don't know where she gets it from because I hate to do laundry. I mean litterly hate - I would rather just buy new clothes then do laundry. Seriously I can go weeks without doing it. And then I can get it all done and never but it away! Ahhhh - well now that I've aired my dirty laundry! (HA HA HA)

Here's the one that thinks laundry is fun!

11 Months Old....

OK - so this post has no pictures - just words.

I can not believe that my sweet baby is 11 months old already. I also can not believe that I am planning a 1st birthday party.

I just felt like I should let everyone know all the things that Payton is doing now and all the things I have learned about being a mom in these last 11 months.

-She walks (well waddles - but it's cute)
-She says "Go", "No" "BoBo" (the dog), "da" (dad), "Papa" (and always in a whisper because that's how my dad says it to her), "thank you" (or at least what sounds like it), "here", "mine", "baba" (bottle),"yoe" (which I think is hello because she says it into the phone), "hey", and the rest sounds like Chinese to me.
-She waves and says "hey" to everyone - and I mean everyone!
-She plays very well by herself
-She loves music and will clap and dance anytime it's on.
-She can sit and watch a movie
-She can feed her self (not yet with utensils - but hey this is the south who needs a fork anyway)
-She eats anything you give her (I hope she stays un-picky)
-She likes to ride (on anything, her little car, the stroller, the tractor, daddy's truck, the four wheeler, the boat)

Some of her favorite things right now are:
-The dogs
-Her push behind car
-Telephones (real or fake)
-Papa
-Spaghetti
-Mum-Mum cookies

She has such a personality - it's amazing to me to watch her discover new things everyday.

Some of the things that I have learned, that no one ever seems to tell you, so I am going to tell all of you...weather you are a soon-to-be mom, a mom of a little one who hasn't done these things yet, or a mom who has forgotten what it is like.

-No one ever told me how much you could love someone, and if they did it doesn't even amount to 1/2 of what you really feel for your child
-Being a mom is a hard job - the hardest job I've ever had - but the benefits are sure worth it.
-You learn that you are a mom before you are anything else.
-The FDA recommends 8 hours of sleep - ha ha ha ha - I'm luck if I get 5 hours.
-Your house is a never ending mess - no matter how much you clean.
-The laundry is never really ALL done
-Almost everything in your house is breakable
-Almost nothing is childproof
-Even when you think there is no way she can do that - she will
-Babies are a lot smarter than we think
-Rocking a sleeping baby at the end of the day melts all the stress away
-I need coffee in an IV drip in the mornings
-Your baby will constantly amaze you
-6 week haircuts - ha ha ha - try every 4 months
-Any earring can be pulled out of your ear
-Men really never get it (and I'm not talking about only spouses - and no offense men - it's just the way you are wired)
-Great Bosses are hard to come by (and I am thankful for mine)
-Your child will not do tricks on command
-Only go to restaurants that are loud (and quick to serve the food)
-Children's clothes and shoes are a waste of money but I can't help myself
-The box is better than the toy
-Wear flat shoes - ALWAYS
-You can never take too many pictures (you can however pay ALOT of money for them to be printed and give your husband a heart attack)
-Most baby things are not worth the money you pay for them, and you don't have to have the most expensive equipment. (well with exception to my car seat and stroller)
-People say the rudest things
-People say the nicest things
-Only other mom's get it
-You have a non-existent social life - even planning lunch with your friends seems impossible.
-There is no such thing as just running to the store
-Never leave home without snacks
-Trade items with friends - chances are they were only used or worn a few times
-Some people are really bad parents
-My family is the best family EVER
-And that's about it - other than never, and I mean never run out of wipes!!!!!!

Well that's about it - can't believe the time has gone so quickly - I know I am going to blink and she's going to be starting kindergarten.

Take a Ride on a Big Green Tractor

Payton had a spend the night party with Grammy & Papa last weekend, so mommy and daddy could have a Adult weekend at the lake.

I don't think she minded one bit that she was missing out on the swimming.

She and Papa played on the tractor all day!

SHE WALKED!!!!!

So the past weekend at the lake Payton took two steps by herself! For a bite of ice cream no less.

And the past couple of days she has been take two or three small steps here and there.

But today - Amy sent me this video of Payton taking a lot of steps! She walked from Amy's couch to the kitchen table. (About 10 feet maybe?)

Here's the video. Thanks for getting in on the record Amy!!!!

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Happy Birthday to my little sister! Can't believe your not a teenager anymore! Hope this year is a great one!

We love love love you RL!

and

Labor Day

Is the summer really over? It has gone by way too fast! We have had one fun summer! We went down for one last long weekend at the lake house.

Payton, as usually had a great time.

She played in a five gallon bucket! (Don't be jealous you all know you wish you could sit all the way down in a five gallon bucket).

Seriously- the child entertained herself for a long time in the bucket. And it kept her from crawling around on the dock.

We spent almost all day Sunday on the water. Just Drew, Payton and I - we rode around for a really long time.

Can't you tell from Payton's hair that we spent a long time on the boat!

Then Daddy took us to Duke's for a snow cone! Yummmmmyyyyy!!!! Just what we needed to cool off from being on the boat for so long! (if you know what Duke's is then you know it was a fun trip) (Don't worry Arin I didn't subject her to the Restroom/Bar)

And what kind of weekend would it be if Payton didn't drive the boats! I wish her pack and play had a steering wheel - it would keep her occupied for a long time!

We hope everyone had a great Labor Day weekend! Can't believe the summer is coming to an end! We'll Happy Fall Ya'll (almost)!

Tookie Turns 3?

Yes it is a question not a statement. I can not believe she is 3 years old already. It seems like yesterday when Amy was pregnant.

And what better way to celebrate then with two of Carsyn's favorite things. Swimming and Dress Up!

We all headed to GiGi and Poppas for pizza, cake, and ice cream.

Did a little swimming......

Opened the presents....

Check out the present GiGi made Carsyn ... her very own dress up wardrobe.... It's fabulous.... and GiGi is the most creative person I know!

We had a great time.... We love you Carsyn..... Happy Happy Birthday to a BIG Girl!

There now you have it....

The blog is all caught up! I am going to promise to be better at updating. And I am going to try to do at least one blog a week!



Until then though - It's is starting to cool down here - well if you think 80 degrees is cool. And College Football starts this weekend!!! WHOO HOOO!!!! GOOOO DAWGS SICKEM!



So I will leave you with a fabulous recipe to enjoy at tailgates, by the pool, at the beach or just wherever.



It's easy and its yummy! My best friend's mom (GiGi) invented this dip when we were all kids and at the beach.



We call it Florida dip - but not for Florida Gators (we would never ever in 1 million years name something so yummy after something so vile).



So here it is:



1 - 16 oz. tub sour cream

1 - jar chunky salsa (as hot as you like it)

1 bag shredded cheese (I use the Mexican blend)

Some Tortilla Chips.



Dump the sour cream and salsa into a bowl mix it together. Dump the shredded cheese in mix until it looks yummy.



Dip your chips and cheer for the DAWGS!

I know this is an old picture.... but it's all I have that is UGA related on my computer at work!

When Friends Come to The Lake.....

You show them how to drive the boat......How to swim in the water.... and kick your feet so the fishies don't bite them....

Then you make sure everyone puts on their sunscreen.....

Then you kick their butts on the tube.....

You show them all the pretty things about the house.....

And you feed them good food!
Drew's friend from work and his wife and daughter came down from North Carolina and spent the weekend at the lake with us. We had a great time, ate some fabulous food and enjoyed watching the girls play.

Marty, Kim & Samantha thanks for a fun weekend - ya'll come back now ya hear!

Bye Bye Beach... We will miss you!

All good things must come to an end I guess. At least that's what they say. I asked Drew why couldn't we just move down here since he works here so much. I don't know if he thought I was kidding but he didn't give me an answer.

We had a great time. Payton was an angel and surprisingly very well behaved. I mean I'm not saying she's not well behaved, we just hadn't ever been away from home and off schedule for that long so we didn't know what to expect.

We got up early (remember P told you she's a morning person) and packed up and headed home.

It was a great trip! We were very impressed with the hotel (Hampton Inn - Drew stays in them alot for work).

The beach wasn't crowded since we went after school started back. Ft. Walton is very family oriented. The water was warm and clear and we all enjoyed each others company.

Here's each of our favorite things about vacation:

Payton - unlimited supply of puffs & being with Daddy for 6 days in a row

Krystal - Being with Drew for 6 days in a row, no working

Drew - he says the Wonder Pets Video - but I think he was being a smart @$$ - so I will answer for him and say his uninterrupted time with his girls.

Payton Conquers the Puff Container

Just Watch - you will laugh your behind off!!!!!

The Beach Day 5

Oh could it already be the last day at the beach. I am just starting to love this place.

Well, we sure made the most of it. We played all day long... and I mean all day long. We didn't even go in for a nap until 3 o'clock.

I had a blast. I finally discovered all the sand toys that mommy had brought. And I was able to get daddy to sit and play in the sand (yes for those of you that know sitting in the sand is torture for Drew).

Don't you just love my zebra sunglasses!

I was really loving walking back and forth to the water. I loved being in the water.

My favorite was just sitting with daddy and letting the waves crash on our feet. Mommy says it's amazing how long I sat still.











Then since it was the last night there Mommy let Daddy pick were to eat. She said it could be anywhere he wanted. Well he wanted to go somewhere that I would have a good time and Mommy could sit and enjoy her dinner and not worry about if I was disturbing anyone.



So once again we trekked it to PCB - to go to Daddy's favorite place from when he was younger. SCHOONERS!!!!



It was a great pick too. They had a live band and we sat outside and they're were tons of people, and they shoot cannons and it was loud. The food was fabulous! Best food of the whole trip. And the waitress gave me lots of crackers. It was my favorite place of the whole vacation!

It was a good way to end a fabulous vacation!

Until next blog.... later alligator.