Laney's Awards

We attended Laney's first award ceremony of Kindergarten. They have an awards ceremony every six weeks (can you believe six weeks of school has already gone by?). The purpose of the awards is to praise the kids that have done well in certain areas and it is also a reminder of what the child might need a little work on. Laney received a perfect attendence award (I was surprised we haven't missed for being sick.. lots of new kids = lots of new germs..eeek), a best effort award and an award for having no strikes in P.E. (so not getting in trouble). Landon and I were so proud of her. She defintley deserved ice cream afterwards. I think I heard her mention to several people after that she got ice cream.. without Kipton. I guess she thought she was pretty special.. and that's because she is ;) I am so glad she is loving Kindergarten and is always ready and willing to learn more. Smart little cookie!!

Proud Mommy and Daddy

Mrs. Putman's Kindergarten class



Our little ice cream date

My little Fishy

What a whirlwind of a week already. We started Laney in swimming classes at COM. She goes two times a week, which is going to keep us busy busy. She has always loved the water and really not scared of it but I felt it was important to get her some lessons so she is real comfortable with it. She loved her first lesson but her brother on the other hand was not happy at all he couldn't get it. He can start in Decemeber when he almost three. Hopefully he can hold out until then :) They do parent tot lessons but I would rather him be by himself with a teacher. Plus I am not feeling up to being in a bathing suit twice a week for some reason.

Kip and I waiting on his sister to finish her swim lessons.

Laney jumping in from the side of the pool.

For now Laney is hoping to join a swim team but we will see how she feels after lessons. She is also wanting to start gymnastics again and play soccer. We have an active little girl on our hands.

Fall really?!?

Another fun weekend in the books. Landon and I helped out at the Baker Hughes appreciation clay shoot on Friday. I was happy since that got me out of the office for the day. It was rainy and a little chilly but I enjoyed time with my hubby and even got to shoot Landon's a gun a few times. Well, let me rephrase that.. Landon made me shoot his gun a few times.. lol.

We just recently started helping out in the Junior High ministry at Stonegate. This weekend they had Genesis weekend. There were 180 kids that signed up to participate. They stayed in host homes Friday night and Saturday. Landon and I were team leaders in the activities on Saturday. We had a great time getting to know some awesome kids. Landon and I have always had a heart for youth kids, so we are excited to get involved with this ministry. This weekend was all about connecting and I feel we did just that.

Sunday, Landon fixed Kipton's bed into a big boy bed. He was so excited. I think I heard, "I big boy" 20 or so times. He took a nap in it Sunday afternoon and got out of his bed once, I told him to go back to bed so he doesn't get a spanking and he was out within 10 minutes. Then, last night he went straight to sleep without getting out of his big boy bed a single time. I was so shocked. He has always loved his sleep so I should have expected that from him. Laney was so different though. It took her a long time to adjust to being able to go to sleep without getting up a million times. And even still she will get out of bed for anything... she is thirsty, she needs another kiss, another hug, she is scared. Crazy how they are so different but I love them all the same ;)

Fall.... I cannot believe it is that time. I just haven't been able to get into the groove so far. I am not really looking forward to getting out fall decorations. I might just not... not sure yet. We did buy some big ol pumpkins at Sams for the kids to paint and that was fun, a mess, but fun. I am for sure loving the cooler weather though!!!

We did buy Halloween costumes and I am not sure they will last until Halloween. Both kids persist on wearing them every day. Here is a sneak peek of Kipton's.

Cousins, cousins and more cousins

This past weekend we hi-tailed it to Abilene to celebrate my grandmothers 71st birthday. She loves when we can get all the family together because it rarely happens these days with everyone's crazy schedules. We rented out a restuarant Saturday since there was so many of us. Luckily that gave the kids freedom to play and make as much noise as they wanted.

2nd cousins... (minus a few)

Then Sunday, we watched Parker and Liam (the kids cousins) so their parents could move and unpack things into their new home. The kids played so well together. I love that they decided to not move to Houston, so that the kids can grow up together and have plenty of time to see each other.

Fun car ride with all four :)

My favorite pic ;) Liam loves his uncle Landon.

Now, here is to a crazy week and weekend ahead ;)

Lately ;)

So, Kindergarten is going pretty well these days...besides the fact that my little girl likes to talk therefore tends to get in trouble. Starting off Kindergarten, Laney was excited but she also wanted to make sure that Landon and I knew that she was going to be shy at first. We told her it's ok to be shy, alot of the kids the first few weeks will be shy. Her teacher calls me the 2nd day of school to go over some things and she lets me know that Laney is not shy, she has made all kinds of friends. At this point, I am happy that she has adjusted so well. The 2nd week of school I learn that she has gotten moved to 3 different tables because she likes to talk. So, Landon and I have a serious talk with her. making sure she knows when she needs to listen and when she can talk to all her new friends. She has done so much better this week and has gotten a smiley face every day. What can I say... this girl likes to talk just like her daddy :)

She has also become very independant. She begs to ride the school bus (which just isn't going to happen) and when Landon drops her off in the mornings she stops him about 4 rooms down from hers and tells him, dad, I can walk by myself from here. Lil Miss Independant.

A little kite flying fun!!

Thanks for all the prayers, thoughts, texts, flowers, and messages regarding my hearing problems. I realized I hadn't really posted any updates until I recieved a sweet message on facebook asking me about an update and telling me that she had been praying for me... how thoughtful!!!! Anywho... after having blood work ($5,000 worth.. holy cow.. luckily insurance paid for all but $72 of that) those tests all came back negative, I then went to have a MRI. Scarey.... I laid in this huge table with horrible louds noises, freezing and all I could think about is what is wrong with me and then of course cry because my baby was starting Kindergarten the next week and songs kept coming on that reminded me of her. I recieved a call that same afternoon from Dr. Patel and he said my MRI came back good. He couldn't see any problems besides allergies. Praise the Lord!!!!! I still have unusual hearing loss that he just doesnt have an answer for.. The only thing he is thinking is.. genetics. I am now in the process of testing out different hearing aids and what a pain... I can hear better without the hearing aids at this point. But the Dr keeps reeasurring me that this will be a process and he wants to make sure I am 100% positive that they help me hear before making this huge purchase... yuck!! So again, thanks for all the prayers through the process. I think I want to cry just about every time I walk into Audio Acoustics for an appointment. ha!

That's about I can come up with at the moment. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

Go Red Raiders!!

This weekend Baker Hughes (both mine and Landon's employer) hosted a tailgate up in Lubbock at the Tech game. Landon was signed up to work it so we decided it would be fun to have an overnight trip without the kiddos. We left the kids with my mom and left early Saturday morning. Landon had to help set up the tailgate shindig, so my friend Darci (who's husband also works for Baker) decided we had a few hours to go shopping. So we left for a few hours, showed back up and all the work was done... now just time to sit and relax. The guys made some delicious fajitas and we got some nice visiting in. After all the hard work for them cooking in the heat for customers, potential customers, employees and just random people walking up that wanted free food and drinks, we then got to go inside and watch the game. We actually got rained on the first 30 minutes so the game was delayed but man that rain sure did cool things off.

We were so thankful for our family who watched the kids for us. It is always so nice to get away and enjoy just the two of us. When we returned Laney was begging to stay the night at Parker's (her cousins) on Sunday. She said, "Did you get a nice break from us, you can always leave us again." Haha... I would say both kids had a fun time with their grandparents on Saturday and their Uncle, Aunt and cousins on Sunday. The kids were wiped out.. so Kipton took a two hour nap along with mommy on Sunday ;)

Go Red Raiders!!!

Kindergarten and weekend fun!

Our baby girl started Kindergarten Monday. I was actually alot more prepared than I thought I would be. Landon and I both took Kipton to school first, then took Laney to get settled into her new classroom. Kipton had a harder time than Laney did. He was so sad that his sister wasn't going inside daycare with him. He cried for a little bit, then I am sure he was fine shortly after.

After dropping Laney off, we went and ate breakfast and took our time getting to work. Then, we of course left work early to go pick her up. She had a great day. I had to pry information out of her but she met a new friend, got to spend some time with her other friends that go to Pease and really liked her teacher. She was ready to go back the next day, so that made me feel good.

My sweet little girl!

She was giving Kip a hug and telling him.. I won't be able to watch cartoons with you this morning or watch you on the play ground because I am going to a new school now ;( He loves loves loves his sister!

We had a great weekend also. We spent some time with our friends, Dusty, Sarah and their tweedle bugs and a few other friends. We went out to Dusty's parents house and ate some yummy food, the kids fed the horses, had fun watching the fishes in the pond and played, played, played.

Marsha letting Kip pet the horse, Cowboy, and fed him a cookie. He talked about that horse forever!

Laney met a new friend that is a year younger than her and they called each other best friends all night. It was too cute!

Sunday we had fun at the driving range with Papa.

Laney was out of control with that club.. haha

Kip LOVES golf like his daddy!

My loves!

This is a rare moment for me. Landon used to always take me to the driving range and really wishes I could play with him. Since kids we haven't been able to find much time but now that Kip is a little older we should make this a monthly family night.

Papa improving his swing too!

Five Minute Fridays - Last!

I am linking up to Lisa-Jo Baker's Five Minute Fridays.



The prompt today: Last

This word has been weighed so heavy on me the past few months. My little girl's last day of preschool is today. Last day my little girl will be with her teachers and friends she absolutley loves. Last day my little girl will be at the same school as her little brother. She tells me all the time that she watches him and makes sure he is okay throughout the day. (melt me)

We went to meet the teacher last night and Laney was looking so sad. My husband looked at her and said what is wrong baby. She was devasted that she wouldn't see her Pre-K teachers anymore. She is truly going to miss them.

I will cherish the last moments of preschool and pray that she love her Kindergarten teacher just as much as she loves her teacher now. And I pray that she will have an easy transition come Monday. I pray that God will place students in her class that could become her lifetime friends.

We have so much to look forward to in the coming years but it always to hard to think about the lasts. I know we will have hard days but I also know we will have great days to come also!

So, heres to our First's. First day of Kindergarten!!!

Momma's Boy for sure :)

Wow.. 2 blog posts in 1 day, I am on a roll.

My sweet little boy is 2 years and 7 months and loves his mommy. He loves his daddy and sister too but can't get enough of his mommy. Landon will ask for a kiss and he say's no these are mommy's kisses. Although, he was given a kiss by the cutest little girl at church a few weeks ago (they actually go to school together too)and I told him that those are mommy's kisses and he said.. "Mommy, we have to share." Too precious!

The sweetest thing happened the other day. I was walking out of my bedroom and Kipton said "Hey babe". I think I just about melted. So now he goes around calling me his babe. I know I am Landon's babe but I also know that Kipton won't call me that forever so I am going to cherish every little second of being called "babe".

Jhett is here!!!!

Jhett Dixon McLeod has arrived weighing in at 7 lbs 15 oz, 21.25 inches long. My sister did so great... 4 hours of labor (all natural I might add) and 2 hours of pushing. Crazy quick labor being her first child. I am one proud Auntie!

Beautiful baby boy!

Proud Aunt Cara

Proud Uncle Landon

Isn't he so precious?!?

Laney loves her Aunt Cheche and new cousin :)

We love those long toes ;)

Meeting Jhett for the first time!






We had to stop at the buld a bear store in the Tyler mall. Laney picked a Princess Bear and Kipton picked a turtle and named him Pete! I have no idea where he came up with that name but I thought it was cute. The turtle's shell comes off and he calls it his backpack.. haha.



 

They gave their animals a bath, and brushed it's hair.

A little shopping at Brookshire's. Kipton loved having his own basket! I think he might have only ran over one person.. lol!

And we made some time to take the kids to the Caldwell Zoo in Tyler. They had lots of fun with cousin Aiden.