HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIMI!!!

Mimi. ....

She doesn't think twice before she climbs in the creek, or scales a mountain to collect firewood. She is sweet and sassy and full of FUN!

She fights tirelessly for the people she loves, and she gives GREAT hugs!

She is creative and incredibly generous.

She always smells like vanilla.

Her brain is always working, and always thinking, and always trying to make a good plan a BETTER plan.

She has a solution for ANYTHING. (whether I want to hear it or not!)

We love you Mimi!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

FINALLY. a massive NC update!

OKAY. it has been a CRAAAZY week around here. Trying to get caught up, do laundry, unpack, get settled, AND make bryce's halloween costume, and get ready for Eric's birthday, plus some Halloween festivities. BUT, without further ado, as fast as I can - before bryce wakes up - here are a ton of pictures from North Carolina, in no particular order! ENJOY! One of Bryce's all-time favorite activities at the cabin has always been to dig in the rocks - and this was no exception!!! He wanted to be outside, sitting in the driveway with a bucket and a truck any chance he could!!!
(I am pretty sure this face means, "Seriously Mom? STILL taking pictures? Whats your deal, woman?"

Having an in-depth conversation about leaves and rocks, and what's for lunch.

Playing Mousetrap with Mimi. (Funny how he carried the mice around the ENTIRE time we were there - they even came home with us! Not the game - just the mice!)

" fishing" in the creek with poppy! (the pole has a little plastic fish on the end. Bryce loved throwing it in the creek and then reeling it back in!)

Tromping through the woods at Timber Creek (anyone want to build a house?)

walking around downtown, shopping, eating, and getting treats!

playing "Spy" (which really sounds like "PIE" when bryce says it) with new walkie talkies! (and well, maybe jumping in the creek a time or two, as you can see by the wet pants!)

Roasting marshmallows (after a hamburger dinner on the porch, of course!)

You know there are a ton more pictures. But that's it for now.

Last night we went to the zoo for Spooktacular, a big Halloween event they do every year. The kids get to go from treat station to treat station, collect lots of goodies, and see lots of volunteers in costumes, look at a kajillion decorated pumpkins, lots of music, dancing and FOOD. It was SUCH fun. Not all of the animals are out, but we did get to see a jaguar, the giraffes, and the bobcats. Bryce was up REALLY late, and totally full of sugar. I think it was about 10 before he finally fell asleep!! Tonight we are going to go trick-or-treating and visiting family and friends, - which means I need to go put the finishing touches on the robot costume! I hope it makes it through the night! XOXO

its looking like fall around here!

thank goodness for FALL WEATHER. what we haven't felt in florida yet, we are certainly getting a healthy dose of here in North Carolina!! We spent pretty much the ENTIRE day outside today (including lunch and dinner!) Bryce is just about the happiest little person you could ever imagine. He spent the day digging in the rocks, walking in the creek, raking leaves, tromping through the woods, going for a wagon ride, and exploring EVERYWHERE. The weather is PERFECTION, and the leaves are AMAZING. I will try to share some more pictures soon!!! XOXOXO

one happy kid and his pumpkin

bryce has been DESPERATE for his first pumpkin of the year. (Yes, FIRST means there will be more to come.) Last year, he had a little collection of tiny pumpkins that stayed next to his bed, for weeks. . .until they started to rot and we had to get rid of them. And THAT my friends, was not a happy day!) So in honor of his extreme patience, I got him a pumpkin yesterday at the grocery store. He has taken it everywhere with him. He even took it to the coffee shop with us this morning, "Because our friend Marcy hasn't seen our pumpkin yet!!" (Marcy is our friend who works at the coffeeshop down the street.) HAPPY OCTOBER!!!!! We are off to North Carolina next week, where it will REALLY be feeling like October. Wooohooo!

i need you!!!!

today starts the FINAL round of the stamp contest I have been in. I am in the final four, and voting this week will determine the ONE winner. You can see my layout on MY blog, and voting will take place from noon MST Monday, through noon MST on Thursday, at www.stampcontest.blogspot.com

Please please PLEASE go vote!!! :)
THANK YOU!!
XOXOX

the beach

As promised, here are the photos from the beach! We went and played one night after dinner . . .the weather was perfect, and the sun was setting - it was such fun! We only stayed for a few minutes, but we definitely want to go back and do it again! I love how Bryce is standing on his tip toes on the photo of him by himself. He loves running down to the water and then letting the waves chase him back to dry sand. The tide was coming in REALLY quickly while we were there, so there was hardly ANY dry sand to run to!

XOXO

st. auggie or bust!

Our friend Bob, from Flagler (yes Karisse, "Flagler Bob") came down from New York to visit this past week, and we went EVERRRYWHERE. It has been a BUSY week. . . almost like WE have been on vacation, because the laundry has piled up, the bathrooms are a mess, and nothing has gotten done - except for PLAYING all day! We all piled into the minivan together, and spent a day in St. Augustine last Friday. We enjoyed wandering around downtown, playing at the playground (which I apparently got NO photos of) and picnicking (is that a word?) at the old fort. We all agreed, that somehow just BEING in St. Augustine makes the whole world okay. There's nothing in particular I feel like I have to do, and no place i HAVE to go. . .its just breathing in the St. Augustine air (minus the horse poop smell) that makes us all feel comfy, and happy. It really is a home away from home for each of us, even if we only spent four (or so) years there. So we had a TERRIFIC time. (And of course, what trip down to St. Augustine would be complete, without a stop at Dairy Queen on the way back!?) Stay tuned soon for pictures from Jax beach!

XOXO

the zoo and the rain

We have been having a great time with our friend Bob, who is here from New York. But before I catch you up on all of our adventures, here are some pictures from the past week or two. . . we visited the zoo on the first cool day of the year (well, maybe COOL is the wrong word. .. less-hot would be more appropriate) So we had a GREAT time, and enjoyed the nice weather. Then, it got a little (well a LOT) rainy, and I let Bryce play in the rain for a little while, which of course he TOTALLY LOVED!!!!

And super big thanks to everyone who voted for me, in the stamp contest. . . .I made it to Round 3!!!!!! Voting will start again on Monday! :)

if i beg and plead. . .

will you vote for me again!? I made it to Round 2 of that scrapbooking/stamping contest. Voting is open from 12:00MST Monday - 12:00MST on Thursday. The layouts should be up on the contest blog shortly, but mine is already up on MY blog if you'd like to see it now!

www.stampcontest.blogspot.com

Thanks everybody!!!
XXOXOXO

aunt B's visit

Finally, here are some pictures from our visit last week with Sabrina (adoringly known as Aunt B to the kiddos) We had lunch at the "outside mall" and then went to visit with the ducks and fish at the pond. (As well as went took a ride on the pelican fountains!)

Aunt B showed all the kids how to throw a coin over their shoulders and make a wish. Bryce just chucked his. Jillian attempted to hold her coin behind her head, but I'm not sure it ever made it out of her fingers!
Sabrina was such a sport, playing the usual Legos, racecars, and assorted games of Bryce's choice. He is excellent at politely demanding the attention of our guests and visitors. "Come on Aunt B. You drive this one and I will drive that one. Nooooo, Aunt B. . .like THIS." :) Thanks for coming to visit us Sabrina!!! Come back soon!!! XOXOXO

vote for me!!!

Okay, so I will spare you the long-winded story about this silly contest I entered, but I am in a scrapbooking contest and if you want all the details, you can look at my blog. . .

but in the meantime, will you go vote for me PLEASE!!??? (my name there is lauralooloo) and you can vote as many times as you want, from Monday at 12:00 MST through Thurday at 12:00 MST.

http://stampcontest.blogspot.com/

THANKS!!!! OXOXO

sabrina's photo shoot

sabrina (Aunt B) was here this week, and we had SO much fun. i really could have used another two or three or twelve days with her!!!! i needed a new photo of myself, so that i can finally update my profile photo, and have a decent headshot. . . .so we went out and played. here are just a few fun ones. and watch for my new profile photo SOON! we love you Aunt B!!!!

It has begun . . . .

September has hit, and my brain has begun its seasonal overtime, pondering ideas about Halloween costumes, birthday parties, birthday gifts, Christmas gifts, and all the celebrations packed into October through December in this lovely little household.

So here's the progress we've made so far. . . .
Bryce's Halloween costume, (or something remotely based upon this) can be seen HERE
(and by the way, i LOVE that website. . .for all things kid and family friendly!!!)

And yesterday, Bryce has begun the following Christmas list . . .
-a robot with a ray gun and a space shuttle. (hows THAT for specific, santa? I'd like to see you make THAT happen!)
-two stuffed animal camels (I guess the one he already owns needs some more friends of his own kind)
-new books (because apparently the weekly trips to the library just aren't doin' it for him anymore)

Mr. Sassy-pants

Mommy and Daddy have had QUITE enough of Mr. Sassy-pants and his big bad attitude. Today I printed out one of these and we are becoming a sticker chart society around here. Stickers for good choices, and for using self control. (Self-control would be something like, saying "No Mommy, I would not like Cheerios for breakfast, I would prefer Rice Krispies instead," rather than throwing oneself down on the ground screaming, "NO!NO!NO! I don't want that. I'm not your friend anymore!") I hope to report LOTS of stickers on the new sticker chart, soon!

here ya go.

just so you can all stop complaining. :) here are some pictures of bryce in the pool a few weeks ago. yes - weeks. i haven't been doing very well taking pictures lately!! but wait - there's more. allow me to entertain you with what Bryce said today. First he was on the phone with Doobie, and told him that he needed to make Lizzie and Gigi stop shopping. (Which we all know is NOT going to happen.) Doobie told him that he couldn't get them to stop. And Bryce said. . ..are you ready for this? "Well when I tell people to stop, they listen." Wow. Seriously? So funny.

So have a happy Labor Day, and I will be back in a week or so - if you're lucky. With more pictures :) tee hee!!! (Bad Laura, Bad!!!) XOXOXO

Guess WHAT?!

it's still raining. we haven't been past our doorstep, since tuesday i think. yes. today is friday. it has been raining basically non-stop for two days. it has been ridiculously windy. for two days. we're getting a bit stir crazy. just a bit.

Hey Fay!

In case you were wondering, we are doing just fine over here in the midst of Tropical Storm Fay. Granted, I don't think we have seen the worst of it yet, but we took a quick moment when things were quiet outside to snap a few pictures for you!!! :) Bryce looks classy in his boots and no shirt, doesn't he??

Happy Birthday Lizzie!!

Saturday is little miss Lizzie's 18th birthday!! Here are a few pictures taken this week of our favorite girl!!!! She will be enjoying her birthday driving to and from, and playing in a soccer tournament all day. Sniff sniff, we'll miss you on your big day sweetie!!! WE LOVE YOU LIZZIE!!!!! XOXO

no photos for this one . ..

bryce took a big sniff of the ground beef i am cooking for our sloppy joes tonight. . .and he said "Whats that mell?? (smell) It mells like the puppies at that puppy tore. (store)"

Lovely. my dinner smells like puppies. I dont know if i should be afraid, or horrified . . .or both!

:)

more from a few weeks ago. . .

since i haven't been taking pictures, and since i haven't been blogging. . . here are a few from a few weeks ago. i will take photos this week. i will. its my goal. i promise.

so what is bryce up to these days? he is having a blast with a giant cardboard box in the living room. he carries a stuffed animal with him everywhere he goes (and sometimes two or three.) his meals of choice are cheese quesadillas, peanut butter and jelly (but NOT crunchy peanut butter!), or chicken. he still can't pronounce the s-consonant sound. . .so "scoop" sounds like "Toop" and "stop" sounds like "TOP". It is actually QUITE adorable and I am in no hurry for him to get it right :) So thats whats new with the B-man. Oh, and he is collecting post cards. So feel free to send him some mail if you'd like!!! We are tucking them into the slats on his bunk bed, so he can look at them while he goes to sleep at night. Some of the more interesting ones we have accumulated have of course come from nancy. . ..like the one with the hippopotomus statue, and the UFOs flying over St. Louis. (Where does she find this stuff???!)