So Much FUN!!!

You'll want to pause the music at the bottom of the page so you can hear Hampton.

Boys and Their Toys

One evening last week, Ben mowed the yard. Of course, Hampton wanted to be outside too. He followed Ben all over the yard and really wanted to help push. I wouldn't let him get that close. He loves being outside and loves to imitate his Daddy. The next day Hampton and I went to a consignment sale. He was in the stroller and I was shopping around. All of a sudden he started pointing, signing please and grunting. I looked up and there it was...a completely faded and worn out plastic lawn mower (I think it used to blow bubbles). I let him down and he pushed that thing all over the place. When it was time to leave, I wanted to put him back in the stroller to make things easier on me. Hampton did not want to let go of his lawn mower. I finally convinced him to let go, but he was definitely not going to let it out of his sight. We bought the tired, worn out lawn mower for $2.50. It is his favorite thing in the world. The whole way home, he pointed at it and signed please. When we pulled into the garage, I unloaded him and his new toy. We have started a new routine where I unload him and he knocks on the back door for Ben to let him in. This time, he was especially excited to see Daddy and show him his lawn mower. He pushed it to the door, knocked and entered with his chest up and a huge smile on his face. He was so proud to have a lawnmower like Daddy's. He was so excited he couldn't even take his afternoon nap. Sweet boy!!! That was a week ago and he still doesn't want the thing out of his sight.

It's harder to push in the grass.

Parking beside Daddy

Check This Out!!!

Our yard sale was a success. Aside from the money we made...

LOOK AT THIS

Those of you who have been to our house, probably don't recognize this as our garage. But it is!!! We actually have our bikes hanging and you could probably fit 2 cars in there. We still have some things that have to be stored out there, but we have made major progress!!! Thanks for your help Ben!

This past Saturday we had a yard sale with some of our friends, The Kreusch family. Their son Jack is exactly 1 week younger than Hampton. They have become really good friends and our sale would not have been any fun without them. Thanks so much Jay and Caren for your friendship and fun!!!

First Haircut

I put off cutting Hampton's hair as long as possible. It had gotten pretty shaggy and was really long over his ears. So, Friday I took him to Kids B Kids for his first haircut. When it was finally his turn, he got to sit in a police car and watch Elmo while she cut his hair. As I was strapping him into the car, I asked if she had been unable to cut a child's hair because they wouldn't sit still. She said, "No, because if they are too wiggly, I just give them a sucker." I replied, "Hopefully he will sit still, because we don't do suckers." She sprayed his hair, made 2 cuts and apparently decided he was too wiggly. So she popped a grape sucker in his mouth. It happened so fast that I couldn't stop it. She also took the liberty to spike the front of his hair...just the front. Oh well. He ended up with a cute haircut and a sticky face.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

Each morning when I get Hampton out of bed, the first thing he says is, "Dada?" as he points to the door. Yesterday morning when I told him that Daddy was not home because he was working he sat down and burst in to devastated tears. The boy absolutely LOVES his Daddy.

Thank you, Lord for giving my little boy such an amazing Daddy who strives to mirror Christ to Hampton.

Add to the Beauty

I read this recently on the myspace page of Sara Groves. I think it paints a beautiful and exciting picture of our faith. I pray that my son lives a life that adds to the beauty.

God has invited us, as mere human beings, to add to the beauty of his plan and creation. Unbelievable. The Kingdom of God transcends politics and policy, nationality, gender and race. It transcends the way we do church, and makes us a real live body of believers. It gives us the ability to be very different and still bear with one another. It gives us the power to extend the same kind of grace that has been extended to us, and to love each other with a love that never fails. The very real kingdom of God calls out of us, its inhabitants, beautiful art, creative lives, and redemptive work. Adding to the beauty is for all of us: homemakers, businessmen, clergy, car dealers, bowling alley attendants in the everydayness of the kingdom we are invited to be brilliantly beautiful, all of us moons with no light of our own, invited to shine.

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