Let's go Outback tonight

Anyone for some LOADED CHEESE FRIES??

Vanessa & Laken - - Shanda & Kara - - V and another "man" allowed on the outing (tee is tucked under the table, asleep)

Mamacita & Big Papa - - me and my mama - - Papacita and Rachelle

We do love to go to Outback, so while shanda and I were in town....we just had to go. And even though it was a "girls night" we had to have dad come....its not a party without "fasha". I love my sisters and my family...which is why Virginia is not yet perfect. I'm only still alive because I have one sister with me....Shanda! I love her and she is my saving my life. Without any other family near by, she is such a big help with all my little "horrible adorables" as mom likes to call them!

Splashpad at mom's house

Tee loved the splash pad....this in one of many pics....I love this one!

This is what we thought of ole Fay!

So during T.S. Fay, we decided to do what any normal person would do during a tropical storm...we got in our bathing suits and jumped in the pool! Vanessa and her kids had school canceled so we had a "hurricane party" at mom's house.

Chicken fights with James, Henry, Duce and Jett ----Jett doing a handstand

Something about swimming in the pool with my sisters made us all resort to our childhood antics...races, fancy dives, underwater "butt busters", old fashion hair styles, and say, "hey mom, watch me....watch me, mom...mom...mom...watch this..."

Avery and me posing under the water - - - - Duce doing his underwater hand stand

Question?

I know this is a random thought...random weird maybe a little personal thought, but many of you know my "upfrontness" about my breast milk. ( I can breast feed a small nation and I've had two brothers totally swear off anything with dairy in it at my house while I'm nursing. I've been known to make "special" smoothies and milkshakes for all my kids....why waste it!)

So here is my thought....Tee is my only child who doesn't seem to like baby food. I know all the professionals say to introduce veggies first...but who really does that? So Tee is nearly 7 months old and for the last two months I've been having to practically pry his mouth open with the spoon to get him to eat anything...bananas, pears, etc. The other day, I noticed I had some peas so I thought I'd try that and the boy TANKED it....like he hadn't eaten in days. Since then I've tried other veggies and he LOVES them. He still gags on any fruit. So what does this mean....is my milk more like green beans than bananas?

Tee loves his women!

GOLIDE AND TEE at the Quigley's house

Tee and Kate at Grandma's house

One of the highlights of the Forida trip was all my sisters' babies....and Tee enjoyed the girls! Too bad I didn't get any pics of him with his only boy cousin his age, Declan!

Michael Phelps Who?

We have decided to groom the next swimming superstars!

Another Duce-ism

This evening
Setting: kids are outside, using the hose to fill the dog bowls with water
Me: "Don't play in the water....we are going to Dad's practice in a minute
Duce: "I know mom. If we get wet, we will spank ourselves."

hurricane Fay...more like thunderstorm Fay

Before we left for Florida, I told Shanda that I sort of wanted a hurricane to come while we were there. I have this weird love of storms...ever since I was little. I LOVE the thunder and the lightning and the wind and the rain. Ofcourse, I don't want the death and destruction that sometimes comes along with it....but I do LOVE a good storm. So here comes Fay....the newscasters here are HILLARIOUS! They live for this sort of stuff. They are all camped out on different beaches, scanning the horizon for "feeder bands". I think they all secretly wish for them, too so they can dedicate an entire newscast to the storm. Fay doesn't look like she will be anything to get worked up over...probably nothing more than your typical summer afternoon thunderstorm by the time it gets to us....but atleast school was canceled so we can spend more time with cousins before we leave for Virginia on Friday!

Quote from Duce

setting: Duce and Grandma Munns are sitting in the TV room watching the Chinese gymnastics girls during the summer olympics

Duce turns to Grandma and says:
"I like their faces. They have good faces"

Teeter Totter

So I know I said "peace out for two weeks" but I want to try and avoid the MASS post that will ensue when I get back to Virginia, so I thought while I have a minute here at my mom's, I would do few posts. This is the first....Tee loves the Quigley's excersaucer (spelling?) When we went over to their house, he had a blast in it..plenty of things to chew and drool on! He is getting SO big!

Fishing at off the dock

One of the things my kids look forward most about being in Florida is the fishing. And what better spot than grandma and go-dad's lake! Just about every morning, the boys get up at first light and set out for the dock.

Who can fish without getting into the water?!

Josie - Jett - Duce - Riley (my nephew) - Avery

what is it about kids and fishing??? My kids could fish ALL day long. They've learned to put a hook on the line and cast it out all on their own. They even catch their own bait. Occasionally, they'll even catch one!

"I'm going home.....

.....back to the place where I belong"

We are leaving for FLORIDA in the morning. Tyler and Jordan are busy with two-a-days, so we are going! (we will miss them and wish they could ditch football and come with us) Couldn't be more excited to be with our family. Babies are growing and we are missing it. The kids have had a countdown for the last 2 weeks and finally this morning they all erupted in screams....."TOMORROW IS FRIDAY! ONLY ONE MORE DAY" There will be plenty of swimming, eating, and gaming to be had!

PEACE OUT for for two weeks!

ode to Kolt

We are very excited for Florida....and for those of you who didn't know, Kolt (Shanda's little brother) came to stay with us for a couple of weeks. The boys LOVE Kolt...especially Jett. So much, that his favorite boxers are handmedowns from Kolt. His favorite tee shirts are handmedowns from Kolt. Anyway....apparently they didn't get enough of him while he was here, because they are excited to see him again. So thanks, Kolt, for coming to Virginia and having fun with us! We miss you and can't wait to see you in Florida

BYTHEWAY...TWO DAYS UNTIL FLORIDA!