Poor Layla

Our unfortunate dog, Layla, got out a while back and when she does, it's a game to get her back.  She was unlucky this time and got into an unfenced yard with a tied dog who she got too close to.  It tore her up.  We've since been keeping the vet in good business.  First she had to have about 20+ stitches to close up all the gashes around her neck and a drain put in a silver-dollar size hole in her side.  Then, we found our she had heart worms through the course of treating her.  Finally, she developed an infection that abscessed deep in her shoulder after being fine for 2 weeks.  She had to go under again for the vet to lance it and put another drain in.  A month later, things are getting back to normal.  We are treating for heartworms, she's still on antibiotics, and her hair is finally growing back over most of the scars. 

Caleb, The Big Boy

He did it!  Caleb made the transition into the big boy bed.  I'm almost done with getting his room cleared of baby stuff and making room for the big boy stuff.  We broke down his crib, put it on Craig's List, and it was sold and gone in less than 24 hours.  I was a little sad to see it go because both boys spent their first years in that bed.  However, with cash in hand, I made it through.  Caleb really loves his sleep so the transition has been completely smooth.  He doesn't flop around like he did in the crib.  He just lays right in the middle all night long. The only "hiccup", if you can call it that, is that he still doesn't get out of bed in the morning.  He yells, "Moooo-mmmmmmy" and waits for me to come get him up as if he's still in the crib.  Weird. 

Out it goes

Crawfish Eating

Time to eat crawfish!!  We had some friends invite us out to their lake house and eat our faces off.   Funny pictures!

Yes, Adam is swimming in a crawfish bucket

Caleb loved the crawfish!

Tunica Hills

We had a Saturday last week to think up a fun day trip for the 4 of us.  We chose Tunica Hills, about an hour and a half north of us on the LA/Miss border.  It's a series of hiking trails through some steep terrain and boasts of a few waterfalls.  In Louisiana you say?  Actually, that's what we wanted to check out for ourselves.  Low and behold, they do exist and they were beautiful.  We pulled on our Camelbacks, grabbed our walking sticks, and went exploring.

The view from the top

Down

And up again

Found a waterfall!!

Wading in the creek above the waterfall

Hey, Uncle Brian, Adam was really into doing the bouldering all by himself...may have a new fan!

T-Ball Time!

Adam has started T-Ball again and is on the Red Sox team!  He's practicing so hard and we're really pleased with his coaches and their style this year.  He's been playing first base for now and he hit a ball over 2nd base in his last game.  We're so proud and so glad that he really enjoys it. 

The team takes the field.

Big Hit

Easter 2012

We had a quiet, at home Easter this year.  However, our Easter came at 6:30am!  The boys popped up and they were ready to check out what the Easter Bunny brought during the night. 

Time to hunt eggs!

After scoring so many eggs, the boys spent some time opening them and checking out their loot.  Caleb ate candy nonstop until it was time to go to church.

Later that afternoon, we spent some family time dying Easter eggs. 

Now it's time to eat those monsters!!

Adam Turns 5!

I'm only a month behind blogging this, but Adam did turn 5 in March. We planned a great outside party again this year (third year in a row), but the weather was so chilly and wet again that we cancelled it 1 hour before and headed to the house. Friends and family were very kind to be so flexible. We threw up some party decorations and turned the garage into a play land in a few minutes and everything turned out fun anyway. I think next year we'll just plan an indoor party.

Adam was asking to get a package in the mail for his birthday.  The morning of the party, there was a knock on the door and the biggest box ever was on our doorstep. We got him his own kayak!

Oh, this cake!  I had totally different ideas, but icing doesn't follow a plan.  I think it turned out great though.  It was the same form that Chris' parents used for one of his childhood cakes and they passed it on to us. 

Blowing out the trick candles.

Adam wanted to eat Batman's head.

On Adam's real birthday, I brought a cookie cake to his class to celebrate at snack time. 

Then, later that night, for his real birthday supper, we had his two best friends over to eat.  They brought him chocolate cupcakes and they played all evening.  So, Adam got to draw out his birthday over several days this year.  We are so proud of him and the kind, creative, smart boy he has become over the last 5 years.  We look forward to all his adventures in the years to come.