Kansas City

I'm sorry it has taken me so long to make this post. Ben and I were home only for a few days after our KC trip before we (just the 2 of us) went to Birmingham for several days. Ben had a convention at a resort on the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail. I went for "moral support" and to enjoy the resort. It was such a refreshing time for us. We enjoyed relaxing by the pool and watching everyone swim, but realized it would be a different kind of fun if Hampton had been there. Thanks Mom for keeping Hampton and blessing us with some alone time!!!

Our trip to Kansas City was great. Hampton and I left on a Tuesday to visit Jerry, Julee, Carolina and Olivia (my aunt, uncle and cousins). We had fun playing in the basement, watching the girls swim, swimming in the pool, trying to play with Grizz and just relaxing at the house. The most exciting event was Hampton's first tube ride and playing in the lake. He liked the tube, but tried to climb out into the water when we were going slow. He did much better when we went a little faster. Julee and the girls kept Hampton and sent me to get a pedicure. It was fun to go by myself. Thank you girls! Ben joined us on Thursday evening. We had a great dinner and a relaxing sunset on the dock. I was thankful for some awesome conversations with both Jerry and Julee. Carolina is such a little mommy. She loved Hampton and wanted to help in any way she could. Olivia enjoyed him, but enjoyed time away too...I totally understand.

So much fun with Carolina and Olivia

Ready for the lake

First tube ride

Mommy and Me

So cute in his life jacket

Climbing the ladder

Precious faces

After the lake

Hampton was so glad to see Daddy. They played hard and he was all smiles when Daddy was there. I am so thankful that he loves his daddy so much and that they have such a fun relationship. However, I wish he would be that excited to see me!

Oh the stairs...

Tackling Daddy

Olivia could really make him laugh.

After our visit at Jerry and Julee's we moved to Kelly and David's (Ben's sister and her husband). Hampton enjoyed seeing his cousins, but was a little more excited about climbing the stairs. Their house has an awesome basement with all kinds of fun toys for kiddos. Hampton liked playing down there and Madison was a huge help keeping him away from the steps. Ben worked at the corporate office on Friday and Kelly and I took the kids to the pool. As usual, Hampton loved the water. Kelly had a "swim ring" for him to wear and he loved it. It gave him more independence. We spent a good portion of our day on Saturday at the PaySpot family picnic. Hampton got to take his first swings at a pinata. It was fun to meet Jamie and his family (Ben's boss). They are a neat family. Sunday was a relaxing day. We went to church, ate lunch at Bravo and hung out at the house. Hampton and I took short naps while Kelly, David and Ben installed a new, fancy TV up stairs. WE LOVE YOU SHEWMAKERS!!!

Tough to get a group shot with a 14 month old who wants to swim

He loved the "bug catcher." He would look in from in the pool and then climb out to see it from the top.

poor kid...look at those dorky ear plugs

Oh Elizabeth

He carried around all the goggles he could find.

"Look what came out of that thing...this would make my tummy feel so sick"

He loved to look at the jeep and climb on the jeep, but was not a fan when it moved.

Sweet Cousins

We have had so much fun seeing lots of family this summer, but are thankful for some time to rest before labor day.

Photo Shoot with Kelly

We spent this past week in Kansas City with the J Dugan family and the Shewmakers. We had SOOOO much fun. Here are a few pics that my amazing sister-in-law took in her back yard. She is very talented!!! I will make an official post a little later today...hopefully.

San Antonio

This past week we visited family in San Antonio. My great aunt and uncle and 2nd cousins live there. Ben had a trade show, so we only paid for my flight and my food...not a bad vacation on a budget. We stayed on the Riverwalk and got to enjoy the area a little bit. We spent most of our time with Moppy and Jack either at their house, eating, or shopping for some shoes for Hampton...we forgot his. A man on the elevator asked where his shoes were and if he was a country boy who didn't need shoes. We won't forget shoes again.

I must admit, I was a little anxious about taking H to my aunt and uncle's house. They have lots and lots of pretty things that little hands cannot touch. I wasn't sure how H would handle hearing no all the time. He did awesome. I was so proud of how obedient he was. All I would say was "no touch" and he would move on to something else. Thank you Lord for your provision...again.

We celebrated Jack's birthday at Polly and Hank's house on Thursday night. Rob, Sara, Audrey, Sadie, Uncle Bob and Diane made the trip from Boerne. It was so much fun to see them. It has been years :(. Audrey and Sadie (Rob and Sara's girls) are PRECIOUS. They were so excited to meet Hampton and he loved them. Hampton was in the highchair (fit for a prince) and Sadie went in to see him and said, "Hampton, I'm back." He had a huge grin on his face when he saw her. They played very well with him and made sure he didn't touch any of the breakables (there were lots). Hampton found a broom and dust pan that he played with for at least an hour. He has a strange facination with long, skinny objects.

Thank you all for such a fun visit!

Moppy and Hampton (with a drum stick in his mouth)

Jack - Hampton - Moppy

Audrey - H - Sadie

Hampton's new buddies

Such precious girls

Hampton with his broom

This boy loves to clean!!!

Family Picture

Uncle Bob and Diane - The Rob Potter Family - The Noble Family - The Stites Family - Moppy and Jack

"Just my size"

"Now how do I get in this one?"

Never knew you could play a house with a drum stick?

Look at all the antique toys behind him!

Playing the piano

4th of July

Hampton, Ben and I spent the evening of the 3rd at the Addison Airport with some of Ben's colleagues. We ate hamburgers, hot dogs and homemade ice cream while we watched vintage airplanes fly and do tricks. Hampton is crazy about airplanes and was fascinated to see them flying so close. He even got to touch a real plane :). We stayed way past Hampton's bedtime to watch the fireworks. We were a little concerned about how he would handle the loud noise, but he was too mesmerized by their beauty to even notice the sound. He was such a good sport and the hit of the party.

Margret and Luke feeding Hampton choclate ice cream.

WOW! A real airplane!!!

Watching the planes with Daddy

The plane in the background would fly straight up as far as it could fight gravity and then free fall. It was a little scary how close it would come to the ground on its way down.

Family Pics

Watching the fireworks

You can tell he was a tiny bit concerned by the look on his face and his grip on my shirt.

We got up on the morning of the 4th for our neighborhood 4th of July Parade. It was a warm morning and the mosquitos were in full force. The parade route is pretty short and the turn out was small, but we enjoyed it. Hampton was the youngest participant and of course loved watching all the big kids. At the end of the parade, out HOA had bagels and juice for everyone and awards for the best decorations. Hampton got a "Special Award" aka participation award. Next year we may invest some time in decorations.

Notice Ben fighting the mosquitos. They are crazy about him.

After the parade, we went to lunch with the Ruiz family and then took the boys to the Splashground. It was the coolest thing. You can see from the pictures that it is like a water playground. Hampton LOVED it. He is such a water boy. Caleb was not as crazy about it.

Fascinated by the big kids.

Caleb and Hampton

It's hard to see his face, but he was squealing with excitement.

It is so much fun to see Hampton with Uncle Drew. He thinks UD is wonderful.