a week off with daddy

Carter finally used up some of his vacation days and took off all of last week. It was SO nice having him home for an entire week! I think I can speak for him in saying that he was able to enjoy each minute of it... he got in a day of golfing, slept in a little later each morning without waking to an alarm, stayed up in the evenings and caught some late night tv programs and even a movie or two, and even got to spend time with his brother- who came up to see us, and they even got in a concert together Friday night, but the best part about having off was spending time with Griffin and I, that-- we know for sure... last week we had unseasonably warm temperatures around here, so we were able to get in a lot of fun outdoor outings together. It was so nice having him home, we are missing him today already...

Fort Worth Stockshow

We had so much fun taking Griffin to the Stockshow in Fort Worth. It was great going during the week when hardly anyone was there and we got free reign of the place. Griffin was not too sure about any of the big cows or longhorns and for the first time did not want to be put down- he literally walked back to Carter or I (whoever happened to be holding him) and just clung to our leg... We laughed on our walk back to the car because our child was looking at every car in between there to where we were parked saying "Vroom, Vroom"- we joked that we should find a car show to take him to- sure enough, there is one coming this next weekend- too bad Daddy will be out of town : (

a beautiful longhorn

Griffin would not take his eye off of this cow- there were moo's all around, and he was not having anything to do with finding out which cows were mooing

turned around real quick for a picture

Hook 'Em

YeeHaw!

Walking over to the Petting Zoo together

Mommy and her Little Man

Griffin LOVED LOVED LOVED the baby goats at the petting zoo

And within seconds, they loved him too- he was surrounded!

Checking out the Mamma goat...

Awww...

Is Your Mama a Llama?

I don't mind watching them both...

So on Wednesday morning, Aurora and I had to go put up a bulletin board at one of the local elementary schools where we will be implementing a reading program for our sorority alumnae club over the next six weeks. Carter so graciously volunteered to take care of both kiddos- "Are you sure?" Here is how it went down... we did not hear from him the first hour and a half... and then... ring, ring C- "How much longer" L- "We are wrapping up things up right now, give me another 10-20 minutes". As we are checking out at the office- ring, ring C-"Where are you?" L-"Just now leaving"... We came home and the house was still in tact, two kiddos playing happy as can be and one Carter ready to see us. The stories were great, and he even had pictures of them playing together... Wonder if that offer will come around again some day. Thanks for taking care of both kiddos so we could get our job done without any distractions.

Playing cars together "Vroom Vroom"

Griffin showing Avery how to pull apart the stackers

Sharing the magnetic cars

Griffin reading a book and Avery playing with the puppy

Avery has decided the toy wagon is a lot of fun while Griffin makes piles with his stacking cups

fifteen months old calls for the new carseat and a trip to see airplanes

Griffin has officially graduated to his "Big Boy" carseat. We probably could have kept him in the other one longer, seeing as he was still a few pounds shy of being too big for it, but what the heck... something new and fun, right? So we loaded him up into his new carseat- he just looks so big sitting facing the front, and we headed out to the Observation Area at DFW Airport. I highly recommend taking your child there if you have not been. It is free and SO much fun! They have picnic tables, benches, super power binoculars, monuments and plenty of grassy space to sit and watch the airplanes come in and take off and you get to hear the control towers lead in the planes as well- a really cool experience. We went on Thursday afternoon and it was pretty crowded at 3:30- I can not imagine what kind of crowd it draws on a beautiful weekend!

All ready to go, but something feels a little different here

Big Boy in Big Boy Carseat

Griffin and Mommy ready to watch the planes

Look! Here comes the first one!

Every time Griffin sees or hears a plane he says "Oooohhhh", so you can imagine how many "Oooohhhs" he got out at the airport!

Watching a plane land on the runway

Here comes another one "Ohhhh"

Daddy and Griffin

Griffin was so excited, he could not even get the "ooohhhh" and other words out

Look!!!

Loving being at the airport

Only in Texas can you be outside wearing shorts and shortsleeves one day and need the heater on the next!

Just in awe at the airplanes!

They just come and go all day long out there! Very cool!

VIDEO OF THE WEEK:

As you know, our little man LOVES cars these days... So on Tuesday, I took him to Barnes and Noble, as I had to pick up a birthday gift, and as I was looking at the books on the shelf, Griffin was walking over to a particular area in the section saying "Vroom Vroom". Lo and behold, there on the bookshelf was a large CARS book. I took it down for him and he immedietly started turning the pages looking at all of the cars saying "Vroom Vroom". So I could not leave without getting it for him. It is one of his favorites... Turn up the volume and see for yourself!