memorial day weekend

We had a fantasic Memorial Day weekend!! We were very lucky to start our weekend on Thursday night and headed on down to the beach house in Panama City. Lee spent a lot of time here when he was younger and I think it's great that Tripp gets to enjoy it now too!

Friday we were joined by great friends and we all had a lot of fun. Worried about the predicted rainy forecase, we actually managed to have some great mornings and afternoons with sunshine and no rain!! We had a house full of toddlers (5 to be exact) and there was never a dull moment for sure!

A little overcast Friday afternoon, but at least it wasn't raining....

Playing with Price in the sand

Tripp and Ella Jane playing around...

Tripp and Gates on the beach in the rain Saturday morning...

We moved under the house for a little while...

Then on to the baby pool!

Gates, Tripp and Ella Jane

The boys watching a movie... Gates, Price and Tripp

Saturday afternoon it cleared up and we had a great time down on the beach!!

Playing the sand... Big helpers helping their daddies.

Tripp and Lila

Tripp and Ella Jane searching for sea shells.

More fun in the baby pool.... Gates, Ella Jane, Price and Tripp
This was a great way to wash off the sand!

Sunday morning was pretty too!!

Lila, Tripp, Ella Jane, Price and Gates
Pretty hard to get all of them still, and looking at the camera.

Taking a break from the big pool. Sunday afternoon we ventured over to the pool at Sterling Beach next door.

We had a wonderful time! It was such a great break, maybe not relaxing, but it was a nice getaway. Speaking of relaxing, we are already planning the next beach trip - couples only!!

it's been a while...

It's been too long since I last posted. We've been going here and there. I have a few things to post, including a mega post from Memorial Day.

The last weekend in April, my sisters, me and our husbands went to the race in Talladega. It's kinda become a tradition ever since we got into it. I never thought I would like watching it, but once we went to Bristol a few years ago, we were hooked. It's a lot of fun and the people watching is just as interesting!! We had a great time and can't wait to go back!



I took several pictures of the Montgomery flood a few weeks back, but I have yet to load them on my computer. It was pretty wild, I never have seen anything like that. Tripp loves playing in any kind of water, and he was outside with my dad and there were tons of puddles. My dad showed him how to stomp in them and he just thought it was hilarious. We got a little video... I just love his laugh!

Two weeks ago I was out of town for work and Tripp and Mrs. Whatley went to see Bob the Builder downtown at the Performing Arts Center. She said he had a great time watching all the tractors move around! He didn't want his picture taken, but here is a picture from the show.

May and June are always fun because Tripp has lots of birthday parties (several cute pictures coming soon when I can find my battery charger for my camera), including his own. He turned 23 months on Monday, and I can't believe he is just one month away from turning TWO! He is turning more and more into a little boy every day. He is talking nonstop. He points and yells at every big truck, tractor, bus, airplane, etc. that he sees. He loves playing outside. He loves milk, and wakes up asking for it. For several months now, his pa-pa (paci) stays in the bed. He knows when I come get him out of bed, to leave it on his pillow. He usually doesn't ever ask for it during the day, but as soon as he's going down, he always wants it. I was planning on doing away with it at 2, but he sleeps so well with it, and as long as it stays in the bed, maybe he'll get to keep it a little longer. Tripp's favorite song is Wheels on the Bus. I think they sing it at school a lot! He knows the motions and loves going beep beep beep! He also has been throwing some fits if he doesn't get what he wants. I usually just walk away, and he gets right back up. Apparently he has learned the art of "no," whenever he bumps into something or something bumps into him, he'll cry for like a sec and then say (in a stern voice of course) "No ___" and call out whatever he hit or whatever has upset him. It's hard not to laugh because he's so cute! I just can't believe how fast he's learning and changing.

Hopefully I can post from our exciting Memorial Day weekend tomorrow!

starting early...

Lee has been around trucks all his life. It's only natural that Tripp loves "big trucks" too! Friday afternoon I took Tripp to Lee's office to visit. He loved seeing all the trucks. He even got to sit in the driver's seat... Watch out!

spring fling

Tripp's school had a Spring Fling on Friday. Included in the activities was a spring fashion show. I wasn't sure exactly how they were going to get toddlers to participate in a fashion show, but apparently they practiced all week. They even sent home index cards to describe whatever outfit you chose to wear.

All ready to go! Doesn't he look good!?!?

Walking up the stage...

He ran across and I didn't get a good picture of him waving before they helped him down.

He still wanted to wave after he was done...

Cheeeeessseee!

It was a cute little fashion show, the teachers were definitely in to it! When it was over they had a cookout for everybody and several bounce houses to play in. Tripp had fun playing with his school friends. It was so HOT on Friday, it seemed like it was July or August! His little face was so red, but it didn't slow him down one bit!

easter weekend

We had a great Easter weekend! It was a beautiful weekend and we throughly enjoyed ourselves. We started early Saturday with an egg hunt at church. Tripp and two of his friends had a great time watching puppets and finding eggs.

It's pretty hard to get three toddlers to look at the camera and smile. Maybe someone got a better shot than me. :) But don't they look so cute!!

Tripp and Price wanted an up-close view of the puppets!

Tripp and Ella Jane on the hunt!

One down, one to go! Tripp and I head home to get Lee for round two, Wynlakes Easter Egg Hunt. They had all sorts of fun things to do. Tripp jumped in the bounce house and went down the big slide.

He made a beeline for this blow up bunny!

And surprisingly he also ran right up to the "real" bunny!

I really wanted him to sit still to make this a pretty picture, but there was too much going on!

Off he goes!

He did really well the second time around!

Sunday morning we woke up early to see if the Easter Bunny had arrived.... He (it is a he right?) hid Tripp's basket, but not to worry, he found it!

Sunday after a great service at church we enjoyed lunch with both of our families!

The Easter bunny came two more times for Tripp... new golf clubs, new sandals, new books, and legos!

We hope everyone else had a great Easter too!

day out with thomas!

With Tripp's love for trains and Thomas, we couldn't pass up the opportunity to go see the real Thomas in Calera for Day Out with Thomas. The big blue engine was the first thing we saw when we got there. Tripp was so excited! When we boarded the train, he was a little unsure at first, but once we got going he was yelling go Thomas go!

There was so much to do after riding the train. They had a tent set up with train tables, Tripp loved this!! He ventured to several different ones and didn't let the big kids get in his way!

There were bounce houses and putt putt too!

Tripp loved meeting Sir Topham Hat and really wanted to hold his hand. He wouldn't even look at the camera. Maybe it was the plastic face he was mesmerized by. He didn't really want to leave him.

He really enjoyed feeding the goats. He even tried to "love" on them like he does the dogs. We were sure to wipe him down right after that!

There were also old rail cars and he loved seeing them (so did my Dad)! We had a great time and the weather was perfect! I am pretty sure Tripp had a blast! He woke up the next morning asking for choo-choo.