Can You Guess?

Can you guess where Mimi & Justin took Payton today?

THE ZOO!

I promise Mimi was there too - she was just the photographer for the day!

Mimi said Payton was on her best behavior all day and loved all the animals! She told Mimi she was "happy happy" and laughed at all the animals - especially the orangutans.

A Toddler, 4 College Kids, A Kidde Pool & A Slip and Slide

I don't know how you can not crack up looking at these pictures!

Payton has been with Mimi, Justin, Randi-Lynn, and Alex most of the week since it's the first week of summer and they will all be gone on a cruise for a week ;(. And these are the shenanigans that have been going on during the day while the grown ups are at work?

A kiddie pool is for kids right?

Well what if the "kid" doesn't want to get in the water?

Even after you try to coax her into it....

But she still doesn't want to play in the pool.

Well you don't waste a perfectly good blown up pool full of water!

You add it to the end of your slip and slide and pretend like you are 8 years old.

Silly Silly "KIDS"

Happy Mother's Day

"A Mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts."

Hope all of you mom's had a great Mother's Day!

I know I did - I am so thankful for all of the types of Mom's I have in my life - My Mom, mother-in-law, grandma's, aunts, and friends! Weather by birth, marriage, or friendship I have been shaped by all of the wonderful women in my life!

Congratulations Uncle Justin

We headed out to Milledgeville on Saturday to watch Uncle Justin receive his College Diploma!

What an accomplishment! For someone to keep HOPE (for all you non GA residents-is a state scholarship based on grade point average) miss almost an entire semester of school after being in a motorcycle accident, take summer classes, work a job, pay his own way through school, and still graduated on time and will honors - what a HUGE ACCOMPLISHMENT! We are so very proud of him!

We headed to the ceremony at a bright and early 8:45 AM!

By 9:30 Payton was fast asleep - and wouldn't let anyone but Grammy hold her! She slept through all 1000+ graduates!

Finally it was Justin's turn! Kimmie and I elbowed our way to the front of the reserved seating to get some awesome pictures! Hey you only get to experience this once in your life and a few dirty looks were worth getting these pictures!

Then when everyone was done and cheering and trowing their hats - Peeps woke up - and she wanted a "nack"!

After graduation we headed back towards Justin's parents house and had a cookout!

Everyone is so very proud of Justin! Congrats - We love You!

Thank Goodness it's Lake Season

We thought it would never arrive - but it is finally Lake Season! YEAH!!!!!!!!

Something about being on the water always calms my soul - I can feel it the moment I step on the boat!

Here's to a great season!

Terrible Twos - Already?

I now present to you - the Queen of Drama! Seriously she knows what she wants and acts insane if you don't give it to her!

I had to document her display of drama the other day - so maybe one day when she has a child I can say "She acts just like you did!" Because my mom seems to be saying that to me a lot lately!

I am trying to let her have her independence and keep boundaries too! But sometimes it's just too funny! We were working on repainting her room the other day and I would not let her play with a screwdriver!

This is what happened after I told her "No, it's a grown up tool and you might hurt yourself - go get the pretend screwdriver out of the play room and you may help me"

Simple enough right - well you would have thought it was the end of the world the way she carried on!

I am so not prepared for this stage - please please please let it pass quickly!

You know what they say - the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! And I will be the first to admit - I HATE being told NO! So here we go!

Converting the Crib

It's been a few weeks now but I am just finding time to blog about all of the exciting things that have been going on lately!

For starters, we took the front part of Payton's crib off and put the toddler bed rail on. Who ever invented the convertible crib was a genius!

Payton's done pretty good in her "bed". The first couple of times she liked to climb in and out and jump up and down on it. But she's getting the hang of it. Nap time is a lot harder then bed time. She has no problem with going to bed - but she fights taking naps.

Most of the time I find her all snuggled up with "Bitty Baby".
But a few times I have found her napping like this - with a book in the rocking chair! Hey at least she took a nap right!

Now is the time when I really wish we had went with the Video Monitors. Because to see if she is in bed I have to lay flat on the floor and peek through the crack at the bottom of the door. Most of the time she's in bed - but I have found her playing when she was suppose to be napping and the other day she caught me peeking under the door so now she checks under the door and sticks her little fingers under the door when she doesn't want to nap.

All in all it's going well - but if you have any tips on how to make this a smoother transition all suggestions are welcome!