Rib Fest!

We went to our local Rib fest on Saturday night. We have lived here for 3 years and have never gone, so this was our 1st annual Rib Fest! They have local vender's, a few bands and fireworks at the end. We weren't sure what to expect, so Dawn helped us out, by giving us some idea's (taking our own cooler, chairs, blanket etc) So glad we did cause we were there all night! We met up with Steve, Dawn, and the kids, Grandma and Grandpa and a few guys Alvin works with. We sat next to the play ground so that the kids could go play, so we just plopped ourselves down and enjoyed the night! Might I add it was HOOOOOT! It was really almost to hot for us, other than that we had fun.

Ray and Brandon on the tire swing...

I think his expression here is cute...I really don't know what to say about this picture....one thing that comes to mind is, OH HE IS SO ADORABLE!!!The Texas Roadhouse armadillo that was giving out Free kids meal tokens...the same one that Ray HATED!!! I swear Ray could see him a mile down the road. Guess we wont be making a trip to Disney anytime soon (we hadn't even talked about it)Trying to keep cool, Alvin would splash water on him...This was really the best picture I had of the fireworks. I was really hoping Ray would stay awake long enough to see the fireworks, but the people putting on the show were running behind, so I think they started about a 1/2 hour late and he didn't make it. If they had gotten started on time he would have seen them, and he slept right though them, he didn't even budge. We enjoyed ourselves and it was a nice night (despite how HOOOOOT it was) I am looking forward to this week, because I only work 3 days then I'm off for a week. Cant wait!

Bye for now!!!

Micheal!

Oh I can still remember kissing this picture while it was hung on my wall, when I think I was about 10! How sad it is that he has died! He was such a part of my growing up, I still remember waiting in front of MTV to watch the premiere of "Thriller" What a sad week for deaths in Hollywood, 1st Ed, then Farrah and then Micheal, hope thats all! Bye for now!!!

Washin' the truck with Daddy...

When Alvin got home tonight he said "after dinner, Ray and I are going to wash the truck". Well, that is just the perfect opportunity for me to get some pictures. It was to cute watching him with his daddy, I think they like each other "a little". Ray looked pretty cute in his WAY to big of swim trunks and they are a size 12 month. I added a new song to my playlist, its Rodney Adkins "My little Buckaroo" cause it reminds me so much of the two of them..

Daddy let me help... There is no hope for this truck...Here daddy let me do it...He's not doing it right...You missed a spot daddy...I cant reach the sponge....That was hard work....Now on to the "cool" ride...I gotta look good...in my ride
Bye for now!!!

Happy Fathers Day!

I hope all you dads had a good day! We really didn't do anything today, just got in the pool and hung around the house (we didn't leave at all as a matter of fact) I think Alvin had an OK day, Ray and I got him a t-shirt that says "Indianapolis's Best Dad" its a Colts shirt and Alvin had to have it in my opinion.

Here are some pictures from our weekend...

Sleepy Ray...The best present of all...Guess who used a spoon really well this morning...Today at lunch, very very sleepy...Bye for now!!!

We did it again...

We took Ray out to dinner again last night, (if don't know what I'm talking about, you can read it in my post "seriously") but anyway, we thought we needed to try again and I got some idea's from some girls at work. They thought maybe we need to take him out more because we really never go out to dinner. We went to TGI Friday's, 1st thing is we put him in the high chair, he cryed a little and wanted his daddy, but we got out his cheese puffs and he was fine (who said a little bribery was bad?) I ordered his meal when I ordered drinks, while we waited we let him color, before we knew it his food was there and he could start eating, he didn't eat a whole lot (I wonder if the cheese puffs had anything to do with that) To make a long story short, he sat in the high chair the whole time, only fussed at 1st, Alvin and I got to eat our meal not stressed, Ray was a very good boy, and we will do it again. Now that's not to say next time wont be another story, but last night was good! Thanks to you girls that gave me advise, (you know who you are:) We shall see if it works again next time!

Playin' with the water hose..

Tonight when I went out to water my tomato plant, Alvin let Ray play with the hose, boy did he ever have fun...

Let me tell you, that water was cold, but he didn't mind. He got kinda mad when his daddy got the water on his head. He was soaked, we had to strip him down and get a towel to bring him inside. In just the short time we were out there, a mosquito decided to feast on Ray and Alvin! So we decided to come in and from now on the "bug stuff" will get put on my boy!

I put Ray down for bed the other night and this was how he settled, he was using his bear as a pillow. Alvin and I went to Build a Bear before Ray was born and had that bear made for him, I cryed when she put the heart in him (I'm sure pregnancy hormones had nothing to with that LOL) so this bear has alot of meaning to me, and I hope it will mean alot to him one day too...

Everything is really good. I'm looking forward to fathers day this weekend. I don't think we are going to do anything, but it will be fun to play outside if the weather is good. It seems like it has done nothing but rain lately, so I'm hoping it will be good that day.

Bye for now!!

Fathers Day for Grandpa J.

We celebrated Fathers day early for Grandpa J this year. This way Mike and Rachel don't have to come to this side of town 2 days in a row next weekend cause Saturday we will be celebrating Jess's 8Th birthday. Talk about growing up, where has that 8 years gone? Her actual birthday is on the 18Th. Now back to early Fathers day, we had a good day, we spent the afternoon at grandma's house, she made chicken, corn, beans, and mac & cheese, and of course lots of desserts! It was not a very "pretty" day but that's OK! We were able to get some good shots of all the guys...

Can you tell they are related?

Ray and Daddy..

Ray and Brandon...Daddy (Uncle Alvin) reading a book...My handsome boy in his "preppy" outfit...(compliments of grandma and grandpa)Have I told you guys lately that I am absolutely in love with this boy...

Ray "driving" daddy's truck...can you see the smile on his face?Ray with his ALL TIME favorite food...cheese puffs!

Ray showing us something very important...Ray pushing daddy...Bye for now!!

Seriously!

How do you make a 15 months old behave in public? Alvin took Ray and I out to dinner Friday night and we said we will never do it again!!! Ray was awful!!! He wouldn't sit in the high chair, so Alvin held him (I know that was our mistake) Then all he did was cry cause he wanted down. I mean he didn't just cryed...he CRYED!! Now, if we didn't think we were bothering and disturbing every one's dinner, we would have just let him cry (I think). Luckily we were at a restaurant that was very loud. We were those people that we used to feel sorry for! What happened to the days it was easy to take him to dinner. Now having said all this I really do think Ray is a pretty good kid. He just wanted to get down and play and he just didn't realize that that wasn't the time or the place to do it. But that leads me to my question, How do you teach that to a 15 month old? I realize its never to early to learn, but isn't there a way other than putting him in that high chair and letting him scream for a hour or so? I wrote Friday night off as "Ray won the battle" and I hate that! Any body got any suggestions, I'm open!
I think maybe "part" of his problem is he's cutting 2 molars! I looked in his mouth today and sure enough 2 big bulges, so maybe you will suggest not going to dinner when he's cutting teeth! I dont know but I know I have to get a handle on this cause before we know it he will be winning all the battle's and I will have one rotten kid on my hand!
Bye for now!!

15 Month Check Up!

Ray had his check up today. 1st I just want to say that Ray is not suppose to be "walking" into the room that the Dr checked him in. I still remember carrying him in that "pumpkin seat"! He is just getting way to big for me, and speaking of big...(not really)He weighed in at 22lbs 2oz, that puts him in the 24%, he gained 1 lb since his 12 month check, he is 31 inches, that put him in the 62%, that's 1 inch since his last check. He's consistent with his 1's. A girl at work said "he's gonna be tall and skinny" and that sounds about right. The Dr. said his weight is fine and she obviously would like for us to feed him "better foods", we will sure give that a try. He is doing very well! I really like his Dr. and hope that we can continue with her when Alvin gets his new insurance. He got his 2 shots and he of course cryed, I had to blow in his face to get him to breathe cause he cryed so hard. I was fine, I guess maybe I am "toughening up" a bit.

I haven't taken any new pictures, but I have to throw one (a couple) in here anyway, in honor of that "pumpkin seat"...They were both taken when he was 3 months old, the 2ND one was when we went to the Cabin to surprise my mom and dad, it was taken when we were getting ready to cross the bridge in Louisville..

Just some silly little things...

This is my favorite new outfit, compliments of Grandma and Grandpa J. They went out and got Ray lots of new outfits, I just love this one...

I think he just looks cute in this picture, his messy self and all...You cant tell, but Daddy and Ray are bouncing, Ray thought that was pretty funny...as if you couldn't tell by the look on his face...Alvin's face looks funny too...Ray has his 15 month check up tomorrow, I'm a little nervous to see about his weight, I feel he hasn't gained any because he just isn't an eater, and I feel like we don't feed him well. But after talking to the girls I work with, it seems like he eats what every other kid eats (with the exception of Jillian, I swear that girl will eat anything, I tell her mom she's a weird kid LOL Jamie:) We feed him what he eats, and that's chicken nuggets, fish sticks, hot dogs, smoked sausage, just a bunch of processed foods! I hate that!!! He does eat cheese. We will give him a veggie or fruit and most of the time it just sits there, then the next time we give it to him, he will scarf it down. The kid will eat a pickle and jalapeno Doritos though, maybe we need to feed him spicy things! Feeding Ray has been by far the hardest part of parenting for me, and its really the one thing I didn't worry about before I became a parent. But back to the doctors appointment, he is going to get 2 vaccines, oh my poor baby! (I know its for the best and it only lasts a couple of seconds, but I still feel sorry for him) I am planning on taking the afternoon off so I can be with him the rest of the day. (I know that's silly) I could also use a day just to be with him.

Alvin's new job is going really well, he's staying busy and that's a very important thing with the way he gets paid, (he gets paid for the work he does, sort of like commission, so the busier, the better) He gets home later than before, but he makes up for it when he is at home. I hope everyone is well, and I will post again tomorrow after his doctor appointment.

Bye for now!!

What a differance almost a year makes!

Where does the time go? These pictures make me happy and then again they make me sad! He was so tiny and now he's turning into a big boy! At least he still fits into the same raft, I can only imagine what I will be like when he doesn't!

Handsome boys...

Bucket Head....Bye for now!!

Wordless Wednesday!

Not alot going on!

We didn't do hardly anything this weekend except stay at home! It was a great break from having some very busy weekends. The only thing Ray and I did was go to a graduation party on Saturday. Daddy stayed home and did some yard work. Alvin has been very busy pulling up bushes and shrubs and laying mulch. Our house was landscaped when we moved in, but Alvin and I didn't know how to take care of the shrubs and they pretty much looked like weeds, so Alvin pulled them all up, and it looks SOOO much better! We had 2 bushes by our garage that Alvin never liked, one of them wasn't doing so good, so Alvin dug it out, and the other one he replanted. So cross your fingers that it survives in the backyard.

Some pictures of Ray helping daddy with the yard work...

Flowers that DID NOT get dug up...Ray on Daddy's ladder...don't worry Alvin was right there....

I realized that I haven't posted about things Ray says these days so here goes...more (with the sign & voice), kitty, again, dog, ball, night-night, he goes "mmmmm" when he likes what he is eating. I'm sure there is a few more but I cant think of them.

He noticed the moon the other day, it was Saturday and you could see the moon, he looked up and pointed. He's running around like hes been doing it all his life. He is just getting so big so fast.

Alvin started his new job on Monday. He really didn't have anything bad to say, only that it was different. I hope that this job will work out for him.

Hope everybody is doing good!

Bye for now!!