Father's Day '09

Father's Day was pretty low-key this year. We went to church and then came home and had a late lunch/early dinner. Blake and I wrapped a present for Tony. Blake was so funny. He was really confused at why Daddy was getting a present when it wasn't his birthday. Blake kept asking where Daddy's birthday cake was! Blake also "signed" the card for his daddy. Blake loved giving Daddy his present and card. When we picked Blake up from nursery at church, he was so excited to give Daddy the little treat he had made. Blake had also picked out the cards that was sent to his grandfathers and added his own personal touch by choosing a special sticker for each card. It is so fun, as Blake gets older, to see him not only happy to receive presents, but also to give them.

I love my boys!!!





I am so grateful my boys have such a wonderful daddy! I am also grateful for my own father and the extraordiary example he has been to me throughout my life. My boys also have 3 wonderful grandfathers who I hope they will know and learn from throughout their own lives. I have been blessed to have both my grandfathers in my life and to have gotten to know them. I know my family has truly been blessed with many great fathers in our lives!

So close...

...to walking!!! My baby took his first step May 21st when he was barely 9 months old. Until tonight, he would only take one step at a time and you could never tell when he was going to do it. He would only get brave enough to take that one step about 3 times a week. Tonight he just took off and took about 4 steps at once! It's hard to believe my baby is taking his first steps! With Blake, I was always looking forward to the next milestone. This time, I have just wanted to enjoy every day and try not to let him grow up too fast. Unfortunately, time doesn't slow down any. My baby is just growing up before my eyes! Although it will be a few years, I can really tell that I'm not done having kids just yet. I just love babies! And, I miss mine already. Of course, I do love watching my boys play together and enjoy being able to do more with the two of them now that Egan's a little older.

Kids are so funny. Seems one thing all little ones have in common is the mess they can make while eating. Here's house Egan looked the other day after a little bit of squash (or maybe carrots?)...





Then, just a couple nights ago, Egan decided I needed to share my pudding cup...



Blake is so funny, he grabbed the spatula I used to make his grilled cheese and decided it would make a nice spoon...



While uploading some pictures from my camera onto the computer, I found some other great food photos!



Painting with ranch dressing!





Man, my life would be so boring without these two!!!

The big move

The last weekend in May, the boys and I packed up our things and moved to Little Rock, AR. Tony had already been working in Little Rock for a couple weeks before we came out. Somehow, we managed to fit almost everything in a tiny U-Haul trailer and the bed of my dad's truck! I think we were all surprised by what actually fit!

Although excited for the change, it was difficult to leave our Missouri family and friends behind. We said goodbye to our first house...



...and moved into our West Little Rock Apartment...



Many exciting things have already happened since we've moved here to Little Rock! (some good, and some not-so-good)...

During the first week, Blake fell off our bed and hit his head on our dresser on the way down. As I was trying to console him (and Egan, who was hit on the way down), I noticed blood streaming down his hair. Since we have no doctor in Arkansas, I called my doctor's office in Warrensburg. Of course, they advised me to take him to the ER. Luckily, Tony works at and otolaryngology (ENT) center and they were generous enough to see Blake there (for free!). A very kind doctor (Barbara) glued him back together for us. She said he would have a nice scar, but luckily it is on a very discreet part of his head. He was so nervous and didn't want anyone to touch his head. Once they mentioned Popsicles, he got distracted arguing over which color he wanted. They told him to pick a color, and he said yellow. Of course, yellow was a color of Popsicle they didn't have! He finally settled for orange. He also made it out of there with over a half dozen stickers!!!



Last week while Tony was working, I drove the boys about and hour and a half north to visit Tony's mom and step dad at the resort they were staying at. Although we weren't there very long until it started to thunder, we did catch a few minutes in the pool. Blake, of course, loved it! He had his little ring and was jumping in and out and swimming around all by himself. It was Egan's first time in the water and he wasn't such a fan. I guess we'll have to warm him up to the water a little more. He sure looked cute in his swimming outfit though! (It was a hand-me-down from Blake!)




Last Friday (June 5th), I got back in the car with the boys and traveled 6 hours back up north to watch one of my best friends get married. Angela and I have known each other since we were in preschool and have done just about everything together for over 20 years. She made such a beautiful bride, although she may be upset to find out the only picture I have of her in her gown is one in which she is eating! (Sorry, Angela!!!)



The boys of course had fun with their Grandma and Grandpa Harris and their aunts and uncles in Missouri.



Now we are back home in Little Rock and things should settle down for us. I will spend this week at home with the boys and then start my new job next week. Blake really likes our "Arkansas House." Every time we leave he says, "I wanna go back Arkansas!" He seems to think our apartment is "Arkansas." We are going to miss our Missouri family and friends, but we are all excited for our time here in Little Rock!