Labor Day Weekend 2011

First of all, I just want to say Praise be to God! The weather today was absolutely beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect end to this Labor Day Weekend. We had such a great day today that I couldn't wait to get it all down in my blog!

Daniel has been so busy at work lately so we were so thrilled to have him home for an extra day after the long weekend. We decided today was going to be a family day so spur of the moment we asked the kids if they wanted to go swimming and they both just lost it with excitement. Funny enough we actually compared Cooper's excitement to Maggie Mae's whenever we ask her if she wants to go for a ride....lol. She basically spins around in a circle and jumps up and down with giddiness. I must say that Cooper pretty much resembled her to a "T" and it was hilarious. We hurriedly all put our swimsuits on and headed over to the neighborhood pool.

We were really expecting it to be crowded because of the beautiful weather and because today was a holiday but to our surprise there was only one lady there! We were able to enjoy the kiddy pool all to ourselves! It was so much fun watching our little water babies splash and have such a great time.....even if the water felt like ice! The kiddy pool area is shaded by a blue tarp and I think that even though the shade is probably ideal for those unbearably hot summer days today was not one of them and we really needed that sun to warm up the water! Nevertheless, the kids had a great time and we finally had to call it quits when I noticed the 4 teeth in Kyleigh's mouth start to chatter...lol. They were both a little disappointed that it was time to leave but we knew once we got them home they would both collapse into bed and that they did!

We had a low key dinner and then decided to enjoy more of that perfect weather this evening so we went out to the backyard and had a little fun in "Cooper's Clubhouse" (as he likes to call it) and the play area we have set up for the kids with the sandbox, small slide, and water table. All in all we could not have asked for a more perfect day to spend as a family and I can't wait for the opportunity to do it again very VERY soon!

A&M vs. SMU - 1st game of 2011

WHOOP! In case you can't tell, I couldn't be more excited that it is FINALLY football season here in Aggieland. It is really hard to describe the anticipation leading up to this blessed event every year if you aren't familiar with what it means to be an Aggie. I am so proud to call myself an Aggie and I'm so thankful that I met my amazing husband here in Aggieland! College Station will always be special to me because Daniel and I met here and the fact that we get to live here now and actually be in the middle of all the hoopla is kind of amazing!

We kind of knew in moving here that we would be running our very own, "Hotel Hindes" as we like to call it, especially during football season. We had but one guest this weekend, one of my best friends from college, Allen. It was so nice to catch up with him while he was here and as a thank you for letting him stay at our house, he invited me to go to the game because he had one extra ticket. I struggled with whether or not I should go because I hate going to the games without Daniel but he urged me to go because I might not get another opportunity and he said if the roles were reversed I would for sure be ushering him out the door so off I went.

Our seats at the game were probably some of the best I've had. I'm a bit afraid of heights so when Allen told me that our seats were in the top of the Zone, I became a bit terrified. I'm so glad that we had those seats though because otherwise I probably would've never been forced to go up there. After going to the Cotton Bowl this past winter at Cowboys Stadium, the Zone seemed like the height of a small kiddy slide. We were about 9 rows up in Section 522 and I would recommend the seats to anyone wishing to go to a game. You can see everything very well and I was able to get some great pictures even with just my small point-and-shoot Canon. We had such a great time and the game being as exciting as it was was sort of a bonus. I'm so glad that the Aggies are off to a fantastic season and I hope the momentum from this week carries into the weeks to come. I'm also looking forward to the many more guests (I'm sure) that we will be hosting very soon.......get your reservation in now before it's too late! LOL

Cooper & his Cowboy Hat

Cooper has been asking us for quite some time to get one of Daniel's cowboy hats down from the top of our closet because he can see them. Finally last night Daniel decided he would go through the hats and find one of his that was an old one that he doesn't wear anymore. He found one that actually fit Cooper's head strangely well and I couldn't believe how cute he looked in it! He's never had a cowboy hat on before and now that I've seen him in one I can't wait to get him one of his own that he can wear this fall and winter! He was being so silly after he put it on and I managed to snap a few cute pictures of him and his new accessory.

Kyleigh is 15 months!

I took Kyleigh today for her 15 month well check-up. It seems like just yesterday I was taking her for her 1 year check-up and here we are again! She is really growing well and her height is off the charts! Here are the stats:

Weight: 24.4 lbs 70%tile

Height: 33 in 98%tile

I can't believe she's almost as tall as her brother! She is beginning to walk and feel more secure with herself. She is still somewhat lazy and will usually just sit down immediately if anyone sees her walk and praises her for it....lol It's really kind of funny but I'm so ready for her to walk...she is getting to be a handful when she just lunges out from my arms telling me she wants to get down. She is still eating everything under the sun so I can't really pinpoint anything that would be her favorite. She wears mostly 18 month clothing now because of her height and in fact I bought a ton of clothes for her the other day and for all the one piece outfits I bought 24 months! That was a little difficult to swallow.

She is really just the funniest little girl and is always keeping us on our toes. She talks constantly even though you can't always understand what she says. She loves to mimic you and at least try to say what you are saying. She has the most adorable curls at the base of her neck and I don't know if I will ever be able to cut her hair! It's beginning to be a little shaggy on the side but I just can't do it. She will just have to look a little shaggy for awhile! She plays very well with her brother....for the most part. She does have a little bit of an attitude and is not afraid to stand up for herself. I think growing up with an older brother will really help her confidence and hopefully she will continue to pick up on all of his good habits rather than bad. I love that they are attached at the hip and if the other one isn't there they constantly look for them. I know that sometimes I think What the heck were we doing having our kids so close together but I always keep in mind that they are so much closer because of it. I hope that their friendship and love for one another continues into adulthood!

We just love you to pieces, Kyleigh Reese! You are really becoming a little girl and not a baby anymore which really makes Mommy sad. I love your spunky personality and can't wait to see how you grow and change over the next few months until we head back to the doctor for your 18 month check-up! That will be even harder for Mommy to deal with because you will be so close to turning 2 and that just doesn't seem possible!

We love you!

Mommy and Daddy & Big Brother Cooper

Random Happenings of Late

SO, I think we've all established that I am terrible at keeping up with this thing. It seems like every time I sit down to write, a little person decides to interrupt me for whatever it is that they need at that particular moment. Don't get me wrong, I love that both of my children still need me so much but every now and then I really enjoy just getting to have some quiet time to get my thoughts down and to document all the funny things that are our crazy life.

Like right now for instance, Cooper has decided to tell me he wants "Daddy's General Lee". What he is referring to is the remote control Dukes of Hazzard car that I got Daniel back some years ago. That is definitely his current obsession. He is also doing so well with his vocabulary and is really starting to form correct sentences and not just a jumble of words. I have really noticed this just in the past week or two. It seems so strange to me because I think I forget that he is 3 now. It's hard to think that I all ready have a 3 year old, mostly because he is still wearing a diaper. Potty training.....well that's a whole other post. Let's just say it's not going so well.....well right now it's not "going" at all. He has decided to tell me that "I am not a big boy" He says that because the whole time we were potty training I told him that big boys go in the potty and babies like Kyleigh wear diapers. Well....I guess he got the point. I know that eventually it will click with him just like everything else that he has done up until now but that doesn't make it any less frustrating. He is supposed to go to preschool in September but I'm afraid he's not going to be ready to go because he has to be FULLY potty trained. Maybe next year! He is also very into saying "I do it by myself" pretty much about everything. Can we say independent?

Kyleigh is so crazy right now. That's about all I can say....it makes me laugh just thinking about her. She has 4 teeth but I noticed today that there are two jaw teeth coming in on top and just beginning to break through the skin. She is getting so close to walking...she has really made huge strides in the past couple of days. Today she let go on her own a little and took 3 or 4 steps and then would just stand there for about 20 seconds before plopping down on her bottom. I have decided that she too is going to be rather independent....I can't imagine where they get it from? She is also talking and trying to copy everything we say. Tonight on the phone with her MiMi she cut her off early when MiMi told her "I love you" instead of saying I love you back she said Bye Bye! She also says ball, cup, milk, shirt, mama, dada, bubba, and several other things I can't recall right now. She is just constantly soaking up everything we tell her. She also eats everything in sight....basically anything that doesn't eat her first. I haven't really found anything that she doesn't like but some of her favorites are corn, yogurt, cheese, turkey, ham, broccoli with cheese, and absolutely anything sweet especially ice cream (a girl after my own heart :)

I promise to try and keep this thing more updated from now on because my sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Amanda and Jerrod, are serving the Lord as missionaries in South Africa. This will be one of few ways they will be able to keep up with our ever growing children over the next few months. We are in such awe of their amazing faith and their selflessness to go and minister to those who may have never had the chance to hear the gospel. Please pray for them as they embark on this journey....pray for safety, and pray for God to open the hearts of those they will be ministering to. We love you guys and miss you like crazy all ready!

Annual Rockport Trip

The last weekend in July, we made the trek to Rockport. We started this trip last year with Daniel's family and we had such a great time that we decided to do it again this year. We also wanted to do something special as a family since Amanda and Jerrod were leaving for Africa for a year in August to be missionaries. It happened to fall this year on my birthday so I was so glad that my parents and grandparents were able to join us for the trip. I can't even remember the last birthday I got to spend with all of my family (minus my brother).

We had such a great time and it was so nice getting to all be together one last time before Amanda and Jerrod left. We ate great seafood, got lots of good tanning time at the beach, and had wonderful late nights just laughing and talking. I really hope we continue the tradition of all getting together somewhere at least once a year and that Amanda and Jerrod will be here to enjoy it with us next year!