Oh the fun - Part 1

ARG Matey! Here's were the pirate treasure is burried!!!! Go around the turtle and "x" marks the spot...treasure is burried here!

Aunt Kristi showing the kids the treasure map

Digging for treasure!

Brookston found a boat!

Kaisley enjoying the water with daddy!

Jumping waves

I love this one!

Baby feet in the sand

Aunt Kristi and Sutton exploring the water!

Rain at the beach

Our trip started off with some rain. Luckily it was on and off, so we made the best of it. We were outside when the weather cleared and we took a few walks in the rain, which turned out to be quite a bit of fun!

This was from our first beach walk. It was only raining a little bit, so the kids had fun. Our second beach walk in the rain, the sky opened up on us, so we have no pictures from that walk. We were down by the playground, which was 1.3 miles from our house and decided to walk home. The minute Nana and Papa drove off, the rain started...and fast. But with the intense rain, I got Brookston to run a large majority of it home. I was very proud of his run!

Inside fun!

Sutton playing with Uncle Adam

Ahhhh, my little loves!

Kaisley took a little time to warm up to the water

Brookston's favorite non water activity...throwing shells in the water

Daddy and his kiddos

Where to start??

In mid September, I flew up to North Carolina with just Kaisley and Sutton. A lot went into the decision, but Brookston and Richard stayed back home for a week for work and school, while I enjoyed getting together with some friends from college and a pregnancy buddy I met back in 2008.

The flight up there went amazingly well. The first flight both Kaisley and Sutton were entertained almost exclusively with no toys. Between the excitement of the plane, the drinks and snacks and just, well, nothing, neither of them had a problem on the first flight. The second flight Sutton fell asleep before we even took off. Which was a big blessing. I could have seen this flight being a disaster if Sutton was cranky and that meant Kaisley got little to no attention. Instead a sleeping baby meant one on one time for Kaisley, the entire time.

While in NC, I was able to visit my two best friends from college. One had a little boy very close to Kaisley's age. So they had a blast. And they both had babies, that I had not yet met!

Here we are with our kiddos (just missing my buddy, Brookston).

Kaisley and her new buddy!

Nana and Kaisley making muffins!

Then we headed to one of our favorite children's museums! LOVE this place! And I was so happy that my friend, her husband, and her two kids could join us. Along with my mom's friend and her grandson. So, we had 3 two year olds and two babies!

Somehow I had never seen this baby area...Sutton and his friend had a blast!

It was a totally different experience being at the museum this time. Last time, Brookston was about 2 1/2, Kaisley was 7 months. This time Kaisley was 2 1/2 and Sutton was 10 months. Brookston plays very different than Kaisley. Where Brookston could spend 2 hours in just one area of this huge museum, Kaisley hit the entire thing (at least all she wanted to of it) in less than 2 hours!

Our next stop was the beach...this however will take a while to organize...I think I took over 200 pictures in 6 days!

The Family

I thought it was time to update the family picture!

Geaux Hall Kids!

Kaisley - First Day of School & First Dentist

Kaisley had her first day of "school" (Mother's Day Out) on Tuesday. She has been waiting for this day for at least a year! Ever since she was about 7 months old, she's watched Brookston go to school (at the time, also MDO). But last year she REALLY wanted to go. So when she heard it was her turn, she was THRILLED. For a while now, if you asked her when she got to go to school, she would say, "In September". And who are your teachers? "Ms. Bonnie and Ms. Nancy!" She was READY!!!!

I dropped her off in her classroom and she never turned back. I tried multiple times to tell her bye. To tell her I'd be back in a little and have fun with your friends. To ask her if she remembers her teachers. If she remembered where the potty was. To tell her to have a great day. Have fun. Okay mommy is leaving. NOTHING! She went STRAIGHT for the puzzle she was talking about earlier that morning. The one she remembered playing with at "meet the teacher". I could see her through the window when I went to my car and she was still playing and very determined to master that puzzle.

Her teachers said she had a great day! And even asked to go potty! :)

Then, just to add to her firsts. Kaisley also visited the dentist for the first time. Luckily Brookston has a blast at the dentist, so Kaisley wasn't nervous at all going back there. They are GREAT there. They make sure to let the kids play before having them sit in the chair and use very kid friendly words. It's a pediatric dentist and they treat them so well. I think my favorite part is that the dentist just dresses in street clothes, even a baseball cap, so he doesn't look all scary! :)

They have toys and games in the back and the kids came out with so many treats. Kaisley had a "pearl necklace", Brookston a jeep toy car. They each had a figurine animal, stickers, a balloon, new toothbrushes. Seriously exciting stuff! :)

The picture is something they do for each child during their first visit. Kaisley had a great check up and no concerns at all. She did have a few tears when the dentist came by, but she sat in Ms. Hailey's lap and did pretty good in the end.

Brookston, while he did great and came out with big smiles, has two small cavities. Uh oh! Luckily the amazing dentist said he's very determined to keep their positive relationship, so I'm confident he will do a great job when Brookston has his teeth "painted" next month.

Food & bowling

This boy sure does make a mess of a meal....

As part of our rainy (tropical storm) Labor Day weekend, we went bowling with some friends. The kids had a great time and did rather well!

They were very excited about their shoes!

Brookston had two styles for bowling, as seen below. One is the granny throw, between the legs. And the other is the side toss.

Last Pool Day

Labor Day weekend were the last days our neighborhood pool would be open. However, a tropical storm decided to take it's time and pass by the entire weekend. So, little did we know, but when we were at the pool the weekend before, THAT was our last time at the pool for the season. I was so glad I brought my camera and captured some sweet sibling moments!

9 months old

Someone please explain how this little guy will be one year old in just 3 short months???? Richard has asked me a couple times if I have started to plan his 1st birthday party. No, I refuse to believe it. Has it really already been 9 months?

My "skinny" baby is 18 pounds, 12 ounces and 28.25 inches, putting him right at 50th percentile for both. (Although I think they were off on the height, we shall see next time I guess!) This 50th percentile thing is such uncharted territory in our family, I just don't know what to make of it! :)

And pssst, it's a secret, but he's sleeping a tad better these days.

PLEASE don't tell anyone!!!! I don't want to jinx things! ;)

His pictures started off a little shaky. He wasn't into it at all. There were a couple poses that we got NOTHING because he was clingy, didn't want to sit, didn't want to smile. But we busted out with some props and he was a HAPPY boy! He loved the football, sitting in the chair, and especially loved the briefcase (and so did I!)