Visiting the Kameraths

On the last day of our trip, the Kameraths joined us for church and a little sight seeing.  At the end of the day Jared and Grayson flew home while the girls and I stayed with Tami in Maryland for a few more days.

I basically vegged on Tami's coach for three days.  I had fun watching Tami cook for me. 

She made yummy tortilla's from scratch.  

 She also made like a million of these evil cinnamon rolls. I think she had a plan to make me gain 10 pounds. 

The girls made a few crafts.

They especailly loved doing these paintings we got at Micheal's.

The kids had a little cheese puff party.  They seriously ate an entire bag of cheese puffs in minutes. Can you tell I was on vacation from being a mom.  

Thanks Tami for all the yummy food, fun shopping trips, and letting us destroy your home.  I can't wait for you to come and so we can do it again. 

Happy Halloween

We had a good day. Carving Pumpkins, making pizza, trick or treating, and watching Ichabod Crane. 

Grayson drew and cut his own pumpkin this year. I was impressed he could do the whole thing by himself. 

We trick-or-treated with our neighbors and dear friends the Lesieurs. We went out in a down pour but the kids were good not to complain. 

The costumes:

Grayson got so many high fives and compliments on his costume.  He loved all the attention. 

The Forest Fairy aka Tinkerbell. 

The Water Fairy

The Garden Fairy

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.