Barnyard Boo

A few weeks ago we thought we were going to spend a fun day at the Scarecrow festival at Thanksgiving Point. When we got there we realized it had been cancelled. We visited the Barnyard Boo instead. It wasn't the scarecrow festival but the kids still had a fun time.

Making slime

They loved wearing vampire teeth.

Clarissa wasn't sure what to think of the pony ride. 

I want to be baptized

Grayson and I were talking on a walk a year ago when he told me, "My teachers at church told me I don't have to be baptized, it's my choice." I held my breath not sure if I liked where this was going. Before I could reply he quickly said, "But, I want to be baptized, it's what I choose."  I could tell it was something he had thought about and was so proud of him.  

He was baptized October 9th, 2010 by his father Jared with his uncles Jonathan Kidd and Thomas Kidd as witnesses. 

In the weeks leading up to his baptism he kept asking if his best friend Porter would be there for the special day. I was surprised that he didn't ask about him coming to his birthday party. He didn't want to be baptized without Porter there. Luckily, we were able to make it happen. 

These two are really more like brothers than cousins. Grayson doesn't know life without him. Porter was there the day he was born and he has been trying to catch up ever since. One of Porters first words was Gee-Gee (Grayson). I'm so glad they have stayed such good friends even though they live on opposite sides of the country. 

I took some photos of Grayson for an invitation to the baptism.  I was surprised at how much he liked it. I think he's watched Lydia model a little to much. 

Basically, he thinks he is a stud. Sometimes I agree. 

Visiting Arkansas and the Razorbacks

Okay Jared has had this little dream that finally came true.  Probably since Grayson was born he has been dying to take his son to a SEC football game in Arkansas. Jared served the second half of his mission in Arkansas. 

Last weekend Jared and Grayson flew out to Arkansas to watch the Arkansas-Alabama game.

Even though Alabama won in the end they had a fabulous time.

Grayson especailly like doing the hog call with all the Razorback fans. 

They were only in Arkansas for a couple days but they managed to fit in some good site seeing. Try not to be too jealous of the amazing sites they saw. 

This is Grayson in front of the very first Walmart. 

They visited Little Rock Central High. The site were people watched around the world as integration was first test following Brown v. Board. 

Grayson's only wish was to visit the bayou. He has watched The Princess and the Frog too many times. Jared says this building is a restaurant on the bayou, and it is suppose to look old and run down.  Unfortunately it was closed and Grayson didn't get to see the bayou. 

Grayson sitting by or on the "Little Rock"?  I'm not sure.

A view of the city.

Lastly they visited Clinton's library.  Jared is a big fan of 

Presidential History. This was a treat. 

Aren't you all dying to visit Arkansas too?

Kate's in Preschool

Kate started finally started preschool.  She was so excited to finally be going. Before school started she asked me several times a day to go to school. I was tired of telling her it wasn't ready.    

I was so worried about having here start with her speech being a little behind.  But, honestly she has come leaps and bounds in her speech in the last month.  I'm wishing she had preschool everyday. 

She loves her school and her teacher.  She is so proud of everything she makes and brings home.  I have to be sneaky of getting rid of things. 

The second time I went to drop her off, I let her out of the car and she yelled, "Bye Mom". When I started walking with her she said, "Mom, I said BYE."  She wanted me to drop her off at the curb like Grayson and Lydia. 

Kate thinks she is super funny, and is a delight. 

I love to hear her counting and recognizing all the letters around her.  

Who needs them anyway?

Lydia and Kate had their tonsils out on the first of September. We had a rough ten day recovery, but are now back to normal. I was so worried that I made the wrong choice having them do the surgery. It's so hard to see your children in pain and suffering. I've been surprised at what a difference it's made already. I was just trying to avoid several more cases of strep, but both girls are sleeping so much better at night. Kate isn't tired and grumpy all day and her speech has improved.

Kate hated her Hospital PJ's, especially the socks.

They gave both the girls a cloth doll to draw on and play doctor with. This was a huge help in calming their anxiety.

Lydia especially enjoyed playing doctor.

Kate named her doll "baby." It was one of the first things she asked about when she woke up.

We put the guest room mattress out in the family room, this is where they lived for days. Jared and I took turns sleeping with them the first few nights. They had to take meds every five hourse. Waking up several times in the night got to be exhausting.

We have so many great friends and family that spoiled the girls with gifts. They each had a gift bag and balloons that had to be transported back and forth from their bed upstairs to the bed downstairs.

Kate was a nightmare with her medicine in the beginning. She refused to take it. We had to hold her down, she would hold her breath and spit it out. After a few days we figured out a system that worked better. Eventually I think she got addicted to it. She kept asking for it and would try and sneak it at times.

They were also very attached to their dolls and had to have them with them at all times.

Lydia wouldn't eat for the first 8 days. I got to be pretty good at making smoothies and shakes. I was so grateful for the Magic Bullet Grayson gave us six years ago. The girls favorite drinks were root-beer float shakes, strawberry- banana shakes, peach smoothies, and tropical smoothies.

Clair was a mess without her sisters. She wanted to crawl all over them all day. Keeping her off was a battle on it's own.

Lydia's voice is still a little raspy. I'm hoping it will be normal by the primary program next week. She's supposed to sing a solo.

Thanks to all that helped us through recovery. We couldn't have done it without you. I have a new appreciation for heathy happy kids.

It's that time again

We are all so excited to be back in school. We're a little sad that best friends are in different classes. Thank goodness for recess. Grayson has been a great big brother. He's been greeting Lydia at lunch with a giant hug every day.

2nd Grade

1st Grade

Kate's a lost soul, dying to go to school. I don't know if she can wait until her school starts in a couple of weeks. I'm pretty sure she asks me 100 times a day to go to school. She's also told me numerous times that her school is ready.

I'm excited and sad to see how much they will learn and grow this year.

Hunger Games

With the third book coming out last week my sister Shelly and her friends threw a Hunger Games party. It was the perfect way to refresh my memory before reading the final book.

Shelly lives down the street from the capitol so we had to take a walk up there for some pictures. I'm sure people thought we were crazy with our costumes and signs.

These four are from the "Capitol"

Shelly and Melissa both dressed as Katniss. Shelly was Katniss on her way to the games and Melissa is Katniss while hunting.

more friends from the capitol and a miner from district 12.

This is my lame attempt to dress up. I'm suppose to be Katniss's mom. I'm holding tree bark and a jar of healing leaves. i also have a medicine pouch around my neck.

It was a fun night. We played a trivia game, ate hunger games inspired food like pita's and goat cheese, fought over prizes from the cornucopia and talked about what will happen next.

I'm so glad I didn't give into peer pressure and stay up for the 12 am release. Instead I had a good nights sleep and enough energy to spend the next day reading.

I also made these cookies, they were hit.

Flying Solo

My nephew Porter has been at our home for the last six weeks. Yesterday, He and Grayson flew to his home in Maryland. Delta, recently changed their policy and now allow unaccompanied minors over five to travel with buddy passes. The boys were thrilled to travel alone. I have to admit, it was a little scary for me. I don't like these boys growing up.

Here is Grayson finding out that they got first class seats.

The little punks, how come there aren't any first class seats when I travel.