OK - first post on the new blog. I so don't have time for a new project, but the purpose is to keep everyone updated on what's new around here, as well as to preserve the things that are somehow not being recorded in either baby books nor my memory.

So...IN REVIEW...

Reid spent last week in Fredericksburg with Freda (and with Ron for a few days.) He arrived home on Sunday with all sorts of creatures - cicadas, scorpions, a walking stick, a "bug board" (all previously mentioned creatures were alive, the bug board was not.) And, two fiddler crabs for pets.

Cole is talking much more in the past two weeks - probably a new word each day, but still relies heavily on his interesting brand of non-verbal communication. Unfortunately, there are four people in the house who can mostly figure out what he wants, so he doesn't have much incentive to change his ways.

Gray is freaking out his mama. On Wed (Brad's birthday) he just up and crawled across the living room. He's been up on all fours for awhile, but hadn't actually crawled yet. Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of it. However, THREE days later, I did capture him doing this:



Now, he can't get enough of it - pulls up on everything in the living room. Horrifying. Need I remind everyone he's NOT EVEN 8 MONTHS OLD. And while he's clearly advanced on his gross motor skills, his eating habits are only slowly gaining. He's chomping on cheerios like a champ, but success with actual baby food is still elusive. Oh well, he's at least going three hours between nighttime feeding instead of two hours.



The biggest news (literally) arrived on Friday. We got a new tree from a nursery in houston, and Brad and some of his crew planted it on Saturday. By "crew", I obviously mean not only the work crew, but his little helpers as well. Luke is truly happiest when he's out working with the "guys". And he knows the difference between busy work and the real work - and he wants to get in there with the grown-ups. I think his favorite part is eating lunch on the grass with the crew and washing up with the hose, then getting back to work. And Cole seems to be following in his footsteps.

















After planting the tree and much trimming of the existing trees, they hung a new tire swing. The boys haven't gotten off of it since. An Brad and I haven't stopped admiring the new tree.














On Sunday, we had a birthday party for Grand Pink. Everyone wore pink, all the gifts were pink, the cake was pink, the lemonade was pink, and I think the guest of honor was tickled pink by the whole thing. Did I mention she turned 87!?! The boys helped blow out all those candles....

OK - that's it for today. Or should I say tomorrow. Considering it's 1:03am. Perhaps next week I'll write about my attempt at better time management.