My snack of the year...

Frozen grapes...Great snack!  I buy the 4lb pack from Costco for around $7, take them off the vine, wash them and then freeze them.  Easy to go and grab a handful.  It is especially good after being outside in 100 degree weather...I came home from work and found my two sweet girls taking them off the vine for me...thanks girls!

Ella moves in with Lani...

We have a 3/2 house, so it has always been the plan for Ella to move in with Lani before the 3rd child arrives...with only 3 months to go we decided to move Ella in so that she would begin to get used to sleeping in her big girl bed.  

She is doing great so far...She has not fallen out, but I did catch her a few nights ago completely reversed in her bed! 

The Proposal...

Let me tell you about something Lindsay and I have not done in a while...Go see a movie!  I am a big fan of movies in a theatre, but life after kids really does not allow for that opportunity very often. After that visit to the Rave it may continue to be something we do not do very often!

First, we went to Momma Goldbergs to eat b/c we both did not want to eat much.  We had already said that we both wanted a drink and popcorn for the movie (you have to have buttered popcorn)...So we arrived and learned that movies now cost $9.25 per person.  Let's start to add up the night out:

Momma G's:  $14.00

Rave tickets for The Proposal:  $18.50

2 medium drinks and popcorn:$14.00

Total: $48.50

Luckily the movie was pretty funny...girl movie, but good! 

The reason for not wanting to go back to the Rave: 

The theatre was dirty, as were the bathrooms.  

The air in the theatre was a bit stuffy and humid.  

The seats felt like you would need to scrub yourself with soap afterwards to cut the greasy feel....

Frank Gibson Photography

I am sure it has been a few years since my cousin Megan got married...Her photographer, Frank Gibson, looked as though he was doing a great job.  After a conversation or two we found out that he was from the area north of Atlanta where the Allens have a home in the mountains,  Blue Ridge, Ga. 

Shameless Plug:  if you are looking for a great Mountain getaway check out their rental website @ www.amazinggracelodge.com. 

Few years later, we hired him to photograph the Allen clan while we were up there for Fathers Day.  He charged $250 for 2 hours (stayed for 3) and provided all the photos on a disc so that we could print them as we desired...If you ask me, he did a great job...especially for the money! We look forward to using him in the future!

Enjoy!

RM

Obsession with Band Aids

Both my kids have an obsession with band aids...Lani of course loved them when she was around 2 and now Ella loves them as well.  I think everyday Ella could add an additional band aid to the body.  Currently, we have two on one leg...one I guess is technically on a "boo boo"and the other is on a make believe  "boo boo".  Some days they just go on the baby dolls.  I even go a diego band aid on my foot the other day.  It looked great with the sandals...

RM

Fun with cousin Taylor!

First a fun fact:  Taylor was born one month after Lani,  Myra Jane was born one month after Ella.   So both of the cousins are so close in age!  On top of that, The Bennetts (Matt and Karen) had their kids one month after Amie and Russell (Taylor and Myra Jane) both times as well.   We did not plan that, but it is pretty cool how that happened!  We are now on our third and neither one of those families followed our lead...

Now for the post: They did alot more than play dress up, I promise!  Since my sister dressed me up in a see through dress when I was about this age, and paraded me into the kitchen where my parents had people over, I thought I would give Taylor something 

to talk about when he is older!

For the record, Taylor is all boy, camouflage and all...

Flashback

Looking through pictures I found this one of Lani and Jack from May 2007.  This was a trip to the Zoo!

It is hot outside...what do you expect from a 2 yr old?

Ella,

These are the kind of pictures we will pull back out when you get engaged!

Block Party

Back in June we had a block party...Met a few new neighbors and enjoyed the rest of our other neighbors! Everyone brought an ice cream desert to combine and then share!  We have the perfect yard to use for these parties...We live on the corner with 2 cul -de sacs past us...It is a big front yard where everyone can gather and the kids can play. 

When we first gathered we had the Montgomery water works trucks checking out the sewage lines for one of our neighbors.  They quickly determined it was not their problem!

We hope we can do this more often Lauren (Our unofficial/official planner!)

Ella - Diaper changer to be...

I posted several days ago about how Ella likes to change her baby dolls diapers...Just another cute picture with her pearls, bracelet and high heels on changing her baby dolls diaper while holding the baby on her head.  We might want to practice before the new baby arrives!  4 more months!

You are so content playing by yourself at this point in your life!  Mommy and Daddy love you Ella!

Proud Parent Post

If it seems like there are a lot of post about how great my kids are...what do you expect? This is a family blog!  

At the end of the year we will go to blurb.com and create a book from all of our post as a new way to scrapbook.  Lindsay (thank you Lindsay for all of your hardwork!!) loves to scrapbook the old fashioned way...cutting out paper for letters and other crafty things...Well she does not have time as of late (last 2 years) for those detailed scrapbooks.  Thus the cool new way.  I cannot scrapbook like she does, but I can attempt blogging!

Now for the post:

Lani you continually amaze me with your abilities! Just another thing to remember...Making our name tags at the family reunion.  Can not wait to see how much you learn when you start kindergarten in a few months!  I love you sweet Lani!  Daddy

on the road again...

After hearing about my tremendous commitment to exercise by bike riding, Robb Carter called today to ride...Since I have been out riding over 4 times in the past 2 months I thought I was going to have to kind of be like a coach to Robb...Motivate him, tell him he too can make it to the 10 mile (which we did not make it this time) mark...

Lucky I had a camera...You be the judge.  Who had to coach who...

Robb, the competitive cyclist

Lewis Reunion - Grillin over the open pit

Every year for the Lewis Reunion we have some sort of meat prepared for the meal...For years we pretty much just had fried catfish, but in the past few cycles between the families we have added bar b que from The Edmons who own Twix n Tween bar b que restaurant in Centerville and Dad prepares ribs and chicken over the pit.  

I must admit the ribs and chicken are my favorite.  Here are a few pictures of what we did to prepare the meat and then cook it... We did not exactly cook it...Andy Lacey, who works for dad was in charge!  He did a great job!

First the cleaning of the meat:

 

 

As we needed fresh water to clean with we poured the old water into the front end loader of the tractor.

After the meat was all cleaned it was seasoned with Cavenders...

After the charcoal was ready the meat went on...

Covered...

Turned once...

Then thoroughly enjoyed!

Ella - Diaper changer to be...

Ella - 2 yrs old...she could change her babys diaper about 20 times a day!  She's so cute!

Lani and swimming lessons

Lindsay could write more about this one, but I did get to one swim lesson for a few minutes.  I believe this is her second round of swim lessons at this point.  She is swimming pretty well for 4, enough to where you can be just a little bit less worried about her being in and around water. She still has to really learn form and things like breathing as she swims.  Plenty of time to practice all that at the pool this summer!

While I was there the kids were jumping off the diving board and swimming over to the ladder.

Way to go Lani!  You are doing great!

 

Drudge Report mentioning us?

Will there be big news this weekend as we gather for the Lewis Reunion? I think so...stay tuned for the truth! Meanwhile look at what we have voted into office..


SECOND STIMULUS PACKAGE!

Joe Biden update: No 'private meetings,' just meetings closed to the press...

Cheese Toast

Just Curious.  When you make cheese toast, do you put butter on the bread or do you just load up the cheese on top of the toast?  Not grilled cheese, cheese toast...

Outing with the girls!

Saturday the girls and I went out for a few hours: 6/27/09

Chick-Fil-A for breakfast - Food and then time to run around in the playground area.  Might I add that the playground is nasty.  They need to clean the slide so that the kids actually slide down it...

 

Costco - Lindsay now makes fun of me b/c I take the girls to Costco for fun.  I like to visit Costco...What can I say!  We enjoy the food samples...I am telling you it is much better than a playground in the middle of the summer when it is 102 degrees outside. Side Note:  Do not try and give Lani the Sam's Club card to get into Costco...Too smart for that...

Academy Sports - Not on the normal circuit, but since it is new we had to see what it is all about...Nothing special.  I do end up buying them a little something when we go out like this...This time a very special $3 dog stuffed animal for both and some hair clips for Lani. We also saw Doug and the boys as we were leaving...

I do need to come up with some new ideas for us to do together...any suggestions?