NOTE

NOTE TO SELF
Don't forget to blow out the candles in your pumpkins... Your pumpkins will burn and look very deformed around the stem !!! Tyler is very worried about our pumpkins, he thinks they are sick.

Jack-O-Lanter Carving Night

Philip & I have always been very competitive about our pumpkin carving. We usually get votes from people we know and who ever gets the most is the champ... Of course, I am ALWAYS the champion. Well, except for one year but that year doesn't count b/c our voters were at Philip's level..... (Had to get that low blow in there). Anyway, Tyler thought carving the pumpkins was a lot of fun but he refused to get down and dirty with the pumpkin cleaning. He literally sat in his lawn chair and watched. Smart kid if you ask me.

Which one do you think looks the best ?? I'll take your votes.


I really think we did a good job !! We should be professionals.

So before you think "what on earth is she wearing?" just know that I got home from work and the temperature had dropped really fast so I was really cold. I ran inside and just threw some sweat pants on, which didn't match, but I was warm.

Pumpkin Patch

We went to the Pumpkin Patch off of Hatchell this year. We found some really nice pumpkins. Tyler did not want to take pictures like the years before so what you see is what you get....

Sonia saying 'hi' to Peter the Pumpkin Eater

Tyler was determined that HE was going to pull the pumpkin wagon around the patch but he finally submitted and asked Philip to help him.

Tyler and Philip wishing that I would just give up trying to get a good picture of the two of them.

NOW here's my sweet little boy. Once we got home he was all smiles for the camera. He thought it was great that he could sit on his pumpkin.


Yesterday when we got home from school/work Tyler was so excited to see his pumpkins. He went and gave them all hugs and kisses. He even made me open the back door last night so he could tell them goodnite. What a sweet little moment, even if it was a brief moment.

Ashley's 2nd Birthday Party

Today is actually Ashley's birthday so Happy Birthday my little Minnie Mouse !!! We celebrated her birthday Sunday @ their house. The weather was perfect. I can only wish for such wonderful weather for my kids birthday. Ashley of course was beautiful with her beautiful little dress and her pretty little pink bow. I can't believe how quickly time has passed. I remember her being born like it was yesterday.

Suzanne & Ashley - Suzanne can never get a good smiling shot of Ashley, me either.

Philip adores Ashley. Besides Kalli & Tyler, Ashley is the only little one that he will hold. He thinks she is the most beautiful little girl.

Ashley's Minnie Mouse cake

This was hysterical. All day Tyler was looking forward to having cake and ice cream so when he saw the cake busted out he ran to the table, grabbed a plate and patiently stood there waiting for his turn. After a few seconds of what looked like his heart breaking I got Deanne's attention and Tyler was promptly served his desert. - Look how skinny Tyler's legs are !!!

Ashley's cake face

Tyler eating his ice cream

The kid table. From left to right: Tyler, Megan, Katelynne, Ashley and Sarah

JJ hanging the pinata and Philip and Bubba supervising as usual.

Megan and Tyler really had a good time playing with one another. They were playing chase for most of the party and they finally crashed by the pinata with grandma.

Tyler and Ashley chillin after the party.

Tyler and Ashley really didn't want the party to end. :(

Audubon Aquarium - New Orleans, LA

Philip and I just celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary last week. We weren't quite sure of what we wanted to do but we did agree that we wanted to include Tyler in our plans. We decided to venture out to New Orleans to go to the aquarium. Tyler really liked running around like a wild animal himself. He really belonged in the zoo. We all really enjoyed the tropical area b/c of the wild birds flying over, some of which tried to poop on us, which Tyler thought was awesome.




Below is the bird that followed us around the tropical room. It would hop around and look straight at us. We were probably 2 ft. away from him and Tyler would chase him around. Then finally he retreated to a higher perch and he tried to poop on us.

Tyler and Philip watching our little bird friend eat.

Me & Tyler. My belly looks so big in this shot.

Mr. FIX IT

Someone had given Tyler this little tool box with wooden tools in it and for about a year ago. I wouldn't let him play with them b/c he was too small to realize that they really are tools and they can hurt people. Since he is older now I gave them to him and he had turned into a little repair man. He ran to his room to grab his tool box and then I watched him flip his truck over & start 'fixin' it.

AN ALL GIRLS TRIP

My grandmother's birthday is Sept. 27th and for her birthday this year she wanted to go to Fairhope, AL. A few of us that were capable of going all went and we really had a great time. It was me, Suzanne, Kathie, my grandmother, CC, Deanne, Dana, Mitzi, Laura and Alison. This was the first time that I had ever been on a girls trip with them. I had so much fun, I laughed more than I have laughed in years. At one point when CC tried to run over Deanne I had to physically stop, hunch over & pray that I could control my bladder - which I did thank goodness. We had a great time and if they want to go next year I'll be on board. The location was gorgeous and I really hope to go back again with Philip & Tyler. Me and Suzanne shared a room and out of us that went we by far had to best view and room.

From left to right: top row: Deanne, Suzanne, CC, Mitzi, Dana, Alison, myself --- bottom row: Kathie, Mama and Laura.

Dana & Alison giving mama a ride around the grounds.

Deanne on her biking expedition. Deanne, Kathie, Alison, Mitzi, Laura and Dana decided that they were going to go biking to the shopping district. What they didn't know that the round trip added up to about NINE miles, which doesn't sound too bad but considering the hills they had to bike up and down were a factor, they were all pretty whooped. Kathie went over a bridge and apparently misjudged her distanced b/c she crashed into some nice full bushes SO Laura felt bad for her and went back to the hotel to rest. I would have given anything to witness that bust.

The kid section of the swimming area.

More of the kid area.

Yet some more kid friendly area

This is looking to the left from our room.

This is looking to the right from our balcony.

This is our room.

The lodging area surrounds this beautiful lake. All around the lake are little nooks that one can escape to. They had a bunch of ducks and fountains. This place really is gorgeous.

Tyler's NEW ROOM !!

Can anyone say CARS ?? We finally finished Tyler's new room. And yes, it is red and blue but Tyler loves it. Philip really put in alot of time working to get his room perfect. Philip did a great job.

We waited for all the furniture to be put together before we let him see his room and he was so excited about the bright colors. Still everynight he tells me that his room is red/blue.

We were kind of nervous about bedtime since this would be his first night in an entirely new room. He did really well. It was really sad b/c that next morning he woke me up by calling my name out and when I went into his room I could tell that he was really confused and wasn't quite sure of where he was. I reminded him that he was in his new room and then he was good to go. No more problems.

Philip's Birthday / Hurricane Gustav

Hurricane Gustav blessed Louisiana on Sept. 1st. I'll just post a few pictures from the storm.




Philip's Birthday is Sept. 2nd so we had a mattress party for 'dad' . Tyler & I got Philip an IPOD since he HAD to have it and to be honest Philip loves it. He uses it all the time and he now believes that he should be a professional singer. HEHE


You think Daisy was in doggy heaven or what ??

The storm blew through on Monday and by Tuesday evening Mrs. Sonia and Mr. Jimmy had power so they cooked Philip a nice birthday dinner. We had some really good brownies for desert.