Forever Friends

The other day the Oldham and the Slater kids met up at the mall. As we were leaving to meet them there Keagan started throwing a fit - because he didn't want to get his coat on.  Kellen's response was this: "Keagan - we are leaving - I'm going and you can stay here if you don't wear your coat - but I'M going to meet MY best friend.

Holding hands.....

This is too precious....and I know that one day soon they won't do this because the other one will have cooties! This is one of those times when I wish I could just freeze time. 

A week with Ruby

 Last week my sister Shannon and her husband went on a caribbean cruise.  I had the priviledge of getting to take care of Ruby during the week.  The boys and I traveled to Springfield to watch her and so I could also have some help.  Ruby is so sweet and my boys adore her.  We had a great time and I was so glad that Shannon and Matt did too! Let's just say 4 kids 4 and under kept me on my toes!! But I would do it again in a heartbeat.

We had several visitors come during the week to see Ruby and the boys.  Grandma and Grandpa Gardner came one morning.

Ruby had just got up from a nap when they arrived (pardon the fly away).

Great Grandpa Gardner and Ruby

Grandma and Kade

Kade and Ruby enjoying sink baths together.  (they were happier than this picture depicts)

Grandma Dudley came over one evening for dinner and spent time with her great-grandchildren.

I think Grandma Dudley enjoyed holding Ruby while she took her bed time bottle.

Kade having fun on his belly

Ruby army crawled everywhere.....it's so stinkn' cute! She loved to play peek-a-boo around the footstool.

Kade and Ruby played with the wipes foverever.  They would take it from each other and then would laugh.

Here is a short video of Ruby watching her parents on the computer.  Shannon and Matt had made Ruby some videos for when they were gone.  This is part of her reaction when she saw them.  I didn't get the best of it...but you'll get the idea.

Kade @ 7 months

Wow how time flies.  Today is the 7 month mark.  This past month has been fairly dull for us.  You had (and are still recovering from) your first experience with an illness.  We have all had the flu and thankfully I don't think yours got to that level but you were still pretty miserable.  Poor baby.

7 months old!!

What mommy? You love to sit up and play.  Floor time on your back or tummy is not your favorite thing.  In fact I don't think you last more than 5 minutes.

You can't tell but I'm chewing on my first puff!!

mmm water...not sure what to do with this

Oh! You chew on it!

You actually are able to get a little water from the cup but most of it comes right back out.

You are such a big guy and I keep telling your Daddy that you should not be or act this old already! I guess with each subsequent child it seems they grow up even faster!!

You are doing so well with eating solids, nursing, and trying new foods.  I have given you some of those baby mum mum crackers and you bit off such a big chunk I had to go in and fish it out before you choked!

You are still sleeping about 11 hours at night and two good naps during the day.  I really can't complain at all about your sleeping abilities.  (Although since you have been sick you have been up at night the past 3 nights coughing and whining).  I think you are on the mend though.

You love to watch your brothers and play with Daddy.  I think you can anticipate some wrestle time with Daddy in the evenings.  All he has to do is give you this "look" and you break out in smiles and giggles.

Oh dear boy, I love you!  You bring much happiness to my life.  I love getting you up from your naps because most of the time when I go in you blow these big raspberries at me...I love it and I love you!!

A girls weekend

Where should I begin???? What a week it has been.  Last weekend I took off (by myself) and headed to Chicago to Morgan's house for a girls weekend with my sisters and cousins.  This has been a yearly tradition for us for the past 3 years.  I look forward to this time every year and my husband has always been very generous and gracious in letting me go and leaving him with the kiddos for two days.  I'm sooooo thankful for that! I feel like no matter what is going on or where we are in our own lives we can always pick up where we left off.  This year Tara was able to join us too!

Tara, Morgan, Shannon, Lesley, and Brooke

Lesley got brave and got up on stage for an improv debut!!

I had to bum these photos off my sister because like always, my camera dies.

On Friday morning I drove to my sister Shannon's house, then we drove up together to Morgans and "treated" ourselves at Morgan's office.  One of the offices she works at is in an outdoor shopping plaza above a victoria secrets and bath and body works store! Super nice! Then we picked up Lesley and Tara at the train station and relaxed the rest of the evening.  Saturday we shopped, got pedicures, and headed to a comedy club that night.  I had a really great time but unfortunately was sick the entire time!  I was pretty ticked off when I got home because go figure the one time I have some time to myself I am sick and miserable! Oh well. There is always next year.....and there will be a next year!!! Thank you ladies for a great weekend.....I l ove you!!!