Popsicles, Playing and Cutting Down The Tree

Random yes, but here are a few pictures I wanted to share....

Austin LOVES popsicles just like his Daddy and many summer nights have been spent playing in the backyard, eating popsicles.

My parents bought him the Little People Amusement Park for Christmas and at the beginning of the summer I went to Once Upon A Child for the first time and scored some awesome Little People toys.  They have been a huge hit and he is constantly playing with them.  My grandparents had so many of these toys and I remember spending hours in their playroom as a child playing with the people, animals, cars, houses etc. so I'm glad he is enjoying them too.

Our big Bradford Pear tree died this summer and we had to have it cut down.  :(  It was sad for me and this marks the third big tree that has died at our house due to a disease.  Ummm...not sure what that says about us.  Maybe it is just coincidence.  We did have fun watching it come down though.

Hope Park

I've blogged about our favorite park before and you can read about it here, but recently the playground got a pretty cool make over.  The city, along with many businesses, volunteers and sponsors, created a playground called Hope Park.  Here is the description from the website...

     "Imagine a playground built to suit the needs of all children, at any age, with a focused consideration for children with special needs – an inclusive play adventure that brings children together and helps them build self-confidence, make friends and play as equals.  Hope Park’s design will be interactive, evoking a sensory play experience that engages children at many developmental levels." 

You can click on the website to learn even more, but in my opinion it is pretty cool and after our first visit a few months ago, the whole family agrees that this addition only makes our favorite park even better!  There are swings, slides, tunnels, stairs, ramps, storefronts of places in the city, cute signs and quotes, musical instruments, games, hidden objects to find and much more.  The original wooden playground is all still there and still very fun, but this new part was perfect for our toddler that loves to explore, climb and touch but who falls often and likes to eat the wood chips on the older side.  Hope Park is divided into two sides, one for younger kids and one for older kids.  My pictures are mostly from the younger side and hopefully soon we will go back and take some of the other side as well.  (It is HOT in Texas right now so the playground has not been on our to do list.) 

The city also updated the splash pad at the park and it is currently the only splash pad turned on in our city.  The night we went it was CROWDED and Tayt and I made a rookie parenting mistake by letting Austin play in it.  He loved it but there were kids running everywhere and he got knocked down twice.  The second time he was knocked clear off his feet by a big boy that was running full speed.  He hit his head hard and was DONE after that and so were we.  We'll give that another shot when he is a little older.

Anyway, I would highly recommend this playground and park but I would suggest you wait until it cools down some because plastic slides in the Texas heat are no fun for anyone.  See you in the fall!!

Hangin' At Home

We've been spending a lot of time at home this summer.  We love our little house and have lived here for three years now.  Here a few pictures from June.

He loves playing in his room and will go back there and play alone for a few minutes at a time.  Don't worry, I can hear him on the monitor and his room is just off the living room.

Eating dirt....again!!

Relaxing and watching cartoons!

Learning to eat with a fork and spoon!  It's MESSY!

Filling up the pool!

I love this sweet smile!  He is all about being outside.

Fun in the Sun!  Yep, the pool is big enough for Mama too!

Wee!

Sweet Summertime

It's SUMMER!!!!!!!!!  Summer is and always has been my favorite season.  Yes, I may complain occasionally in late August when it is HOT down here in Texas, but I would take 100+ temperatures over cold, snowy days or dreary, rainy days any day! 

I guess I always loved summer because it has always been a time of relaxation and fun for me.  As a child we always spent the summer swimming, playing outside, going on family vacations to the beach, grilling, eating popsicles and just enjoying the company of loved ones.  We spent almost every 4th of July at Lake Tawakoni in east Texas and the boys and I always spent time at my grandparents in Lindale, TX.  Through college I took a few summer classes and worked waiting tables but any other free time I had was spent with friends at the pool, traveling with the band, going to see concerts and probably, ok definitely, drinking too much beer. Now that I am a teacher I can still enjoy the summer.  I usually spend the first part of summer trying to clear my head of the previous school year...teachers need a break in the summer and a chance to hit the reset button, if you didn't already know that!! By mid July, I'm usually ready to start planning for my next set of kiddos and getting re energized by thoughts of a new school year.  That doesn't mean I start working like a crazy person, but I do plan a little here and there...in between the pool, lunch out, shopping, watching TV, playing and napping! 

I'm in week three of my summer vacation and my top priority this summer is Austin.  We are having too much fun and settling into a great summer schedule filled with play dates and pool time, eating and napping, watching Tayt play softball and cooking out.  Not having a set schedule and no real responsibilities right now is Heaven in my book and I'm enjoying every second.  I am living in a bathing suit, shorts and flip flops.  I rarely dry my hair in the summer so I have some out of control wavy beach hair...I need to look into some product that might help me tame it before I throw it up into a pony tail for the day.  I think I have worn make up twice in the last few weeks.  That might be my favorite thing right now! 

Tayt and I are going to the horse races at Lone Star Park Friday!  Wade Bowen and Kyle Park are playing after the races and I am super excited for a date night on a summer night with my hubby!  (I guess I will be putting on make up and real clothes on Friday!!)  HAPPY SUMMER to you all!!

Summer pics coming soon...

Daddy Cam

Tayt took some good pictures of Austin this week playing in the backyard, his favorite place! I just love him and I'll definitely be printing some of these!  Thanks babe!  He also took a few videos that sum up his personality at 16 months.  I'll post those soon too.

 

 

 

I'm obsessed with his cute blonde curls!  :)  :)

By the way, I've missed blogging and hope to post more this summer when I have time!

New Look

 Thought the blog could use a facelift! I like the simplicity of this page and the format!

We've been busy...

We've been busy lately...busy living life!  Things are great at the Todd House!  Tayt just finished his first semester of nursing school!  (Good work babe!)  I have three weeks of school left before summer and I'm so looking forward to it.  Austin's last week with his sitter was this week.  She is going back to teaching/coaching in the fall so we will be on the hunt this summer for a new perfect place for our little toddler!

Last month Austin had his 15 month check up at the doctor and here are his stats...

Weight: 21 lbs and 13 oz (35%)
Height 31 in. (41%)
Head: 18 in. (20%)
Physical Exam: A+, Normal
Development: Excellent!!, Very Social and Active!
Austin's words: ball, mama, dada, tantan, juice, water, book, night night, bye bye, snack, dog, duck, bear, row row, banana, bird, no no, oh no....I'm sure there are a few I'm forgetting but he definitely impressed the doctor with the number of words he already had!  Makes me proud!
*Allergic to penicillin.  We found out the hard way.  After being on amoxicillin for almost a week he had fever for two days and then broke out in a severe case of hives for three full days.  Steroids and Benadryl did the trick but it was pretty scarey.  We now know that is something he will never have again.

Our TODDLER, who will be16 months old in just a few days, is into a lot right now!!  He loves to play outside, play with balls, hit the golf ball with his plastic clubs, color, be around people, chase Tanner, read books, dig in the dirt, eat by himself, drink juice/water, dance to music, take a bath, slide down his slide, climb on the couch, snuggle with us after nap, during snack time or before bed.  Our sweet boy loves his mommy and daddy and his stuffed dog Rowdy (Row Row).  He talks all the time...some words we know and others we haven't figured out yet.  He constantly has skinned up knees and bumps and bruises.  He is constantly on the move and laughs and smiles all the time.  But he does have a temper and has been known to head butt and bite on occasion.  He is ALL BOY!  He is still an amazing sleeper!  He takes one nap a day usually in the afternoon now.  He goes to bed between 7 and 8 and wakes up between 7 and 8 (earlier if I was taking him to the sitter or later if we kept him out at night).  He is active and social and the cutest blonde haired blue eyed boy we have ever laid eyes on!  He is our life!

**I'll admit that I don't pick up my camera as much anymore.  Mostly because he is too fast and alwasy moving so I don't have time.  But I do have a lot of cute pictures on my phone that I need to download some day! ;)