Weekend

Some quick hits from our weekend:

Friday we joined some of Derek's friends from work at Grimaldi's. Abby ran around the patio most of the night. We drank sangria and didn't care. If the waiter opens that door and hits her, she'll learn not to stand there!

Saturday we ran some errands, but we started off at the donut store.

One of the errands was a trip to the library. We got our library cards and so did Grant! But Abby was "too little." We need to work on library etiquette some more.

After naps we swam for an hour. Hey kids, look at the camera.... oh wait. That's right. That never works.

Then we got ready for our date night! The kids went to parents' night out at daycare and we drank bellinis and caught up with old friends at Patrizio's.

Sunday morning the kids watched a little TV and cuddled with Dada while I cooked breakfast.

Steve and Matthew stopped by. Derek and Grant took Lola up to Mimi & Papa's house for a few weeks. Abby and I did laundry, ran errands, ran around in the sprinklers, painted her nails (always entertaining) and ironed. Yep. I. Actually. Ironed. Something.

Busy but fun weekend leading to a busy but fun week...

Post-mini session shoot

I got this Groupon a few weeks ago, and we booked our session for today. I'll have to post a review once we get our proofs in 10 days. I figured just one single shot would be worth $19 though.

But since we were already camera-ready, I brought my camera along and took some shots of the kids playing on the playground after our 30 minutes were up.

She's always a few steps behind, but always trying to keep up!

Her cheeks get so red when she gets hot. I think she gets it from me.

Who's that big kid?

Abby had to have some help to be brave enough for the big slide:

But Grant didn't need any help. He's getting so brave at playgrounds, but still makes sure we are near if he tries something new.

Sibling love:

Then it was time to go home:

Abby-isms

I caught some audio of Abby saying "Hi Rose," and "Hi Papa." I love capturing her sweet voice.

Summer Road Trip - St. Louis

We took the long holiday weekend as an opportunity to get out of town. We took our first road trip as a family of four. Destination? St. Louis.

We headed out after work on Wednesday, July 3. We stayed overnight in Springdale, AR. The kids were troopers in the car - Grant barely slept at all! In the morning after breakfast, we visited Derek's Great Grandma Joyce. Yes - Grant & Abby's Great-Great Grandma. She's a young 94 years old. It was Grant's 3rd trip to see her and he spoiled her with sweet kisses. Then he ran all over the place and played with the "'Merican flags" on the tables.

After our visit, we headed to St. Louis. The kids didn't really bother to nap though! We checked into our hotel, then went to a BBQ at Katie & Russell's house. The kids napped for about 15 minutes on the way there. We ate some delicious ribs, all the kids chanted and marched around, then they watched the adults light smoke bombs and Black Cats. Once it was dark, we walked over to a field at the end of the street and watched fireworks. Grant and Jack Jack tackled each other the whole time.

The next morning, Abby slept in until 9am! We went to see the arch.

The pic above just kills me. Grant is choking Derek & Abby was very tired and upset that I wasn't holding her. The walk to the car was pretty brutal. A stroller would have been brilliant.

The kids napped on our way to get some custard at Ted Drewes (if you go, you have to try the Tedads flavor), so once we got our fill and a "to go" concrete for the kids, we continued on to Schneithorst's and picked up a lemon pie.

Then we headed over to Derek's Great Uncle Daryl's house. We walked over to a local park, but it was hot, so most of the time we tried to entertain the kids in what was clearly "No-no land." Everything is breakable and 1-2 feet off the ground. The kids stayed very close to us (inevitably, when they got out of arm's reach, they were reaching for something that was breakable). After dinner we headed back to the hotel & watched the Wizard of Oz (Grant's first time! but Derek fell asleep and still hasn't seen it all the way through in his lifetime).

Then the trip went downhill. I think the best way to summarize is to say that I spent the night on the bathroom floor. Ugh. The next morning (Saturday), we were supposed to join Uncle Daryl, Aunt Sharon, and Dawn back over at No-no Land for breakfast. But I couldn't do it. Derek took the kids, while I slept then hunted down some chicken broth at the hotel. Derek had quite a challenge on his hands though - 2 kids at No-no Land. And Abby was full of curve balls - a blow out diaper, followed by a rough fall that he thought took out some of her teeth (but thankfully didn't). Around 12, they headed back to the hotel. I was starting to feel like a human again.

Grant took a decent nap (but Abby cat-napped in the car and refused), then we headed back over the Katie & Russell's. We followed them out to the Melchoir BBQ. We played washers and Abby got soaking wet in a water fountain. Abby spent most of the picnic topless while her top dried (and shoeless because she hates shoes). We sure did show our St. Louis family how classy the Texans are! Grant took a few hay rides, then got to ride a horse! By 7pm, it was clear the kids were DONE! Ok - Abby was.

We headed back, put the kids down and packed up.

Sunday we started out at 6:45 a.m. Grant watched 4 movies, Abby cried a LOT (she is hoarse), but only until she cried herself to sleep for several cat naps. We stopped 4 times and made it home by 5 p.m. We were unpacked with laundry done and put away by 8 p.m.!

All in all, a good trip. A good practice for another road trip next month! One thing we learned - we aren't going to get Abby off her bottle until after our next road trip. It buys precious happy-moments in the car. So before our July 4 trip, we were wanting to wean her, but now we are happy to keep up the bottles. Another lesson - our Kindle Fire HD was a worthwhile investment! It cost us $60 for the tablet and lots of accessories after we used credit card points. 100% worth it! Keeps Abby's attention for 20 minutes and Grant's for 1.5 hours.

New door!!

We got a new door from our bedroom to the backyard patio. It has blinds within the door. It took Derek, Mike and Jonathan about 5 hours yesterday to get it done. It wasn't just unhinging an old door and hanging the new one - lots of carpentry and a new door frame were involved.
Before & After

And Papa came bearing gifts. He gave Grant and Abby some new trucks, which they love! Can you tell?

Monsters University

Derek took Grant to his very first movie in a theater - Monsters University. Derek's bladder barely made it through the feature, but Grant was fine. He was a good boy the whole movie!

Derek came home wondering about a flaw. In Monsters, Inc., Mike makes a comment that Sully has been jealous of his looks since the 4th grade... but they meet in Monsters University at college for the first time.

Oh - and clearly Grant has been choosing his clothes for some time now. Bright green with blue plaid?! Sure, Grant - good idea.

Grant-isms

On the couch tonight -

Derek - Grant, quit picking your nose.
Grant - I'm not picking my nose, I'm fixing my boogers.

LAWYERED!

Grant-isms

This morning while I was getting ready, Grant told me "You are pretty, mama." So sweet.

Quick trip to Lafayette

I went to Louisiana on Monday & Tuesday. I was not excited about the trip at all. But it's only because I didn't think about all the good meals that awaited me! Keep in mind that I've only recently turned the corner for seafood. It also seemed sinful to not partake in some Louisiana seafood!

Monday night I ate at the Blue Dog Cafe. I started out with the Duck Quesadillas, then moved on to the Corn & Crab Bisque. I had the Crab Cakes for my entree, with the dirty-dog rice. So, so good!

Tuesday for lunch I was with a group. A local recommended Poor Boy's Riverside Inn. Holy smokes. It was SO good! Better than Blue Dog the night before. The appetizer was a lot of things I was scared of - Oysters en Brochette, Alligator Tidbits, Cajun Crabfingers, Fried Catfish, Seafood Boulettes, and Fried Crawfish Tails. I sampled the oysters, catfish, boulettes, and then kept going back for the alligator. As if I had more room, I had the Lump Crabmeat Sauteed in Butter. It came with a salad (with house dressing that was just meh)and a stuffed baked potato. But that crabmeat sauteed in butter was so so good. 2 others at the table had the Whole Grilled Flounder - it looked so pretty! And they loved it.

So there's a short and sweet list of places to try if you ever get to Lafayette. You won't need more than a short list, I'm sure - because really?!? Who goes to Lafayette?!

Abby-isms

Today (Fathers' Day, no less), Abby told Derek (repeated to him actually), "I uh ooo" = I love you.