Strollin'

I don't think this is what the manufacturer had in mind when they designed this two-seater stroller.

I can't decide if Lola is just being lazy or Jamie's too tired to go chasing after her!

Pizza Anyone?

Melissa took her time and picked toppings from a slice a pizza and cut them into small pieces for Lincoln's lunch.

After looking at the nice bite sized chunks, Lincoln just grabbed a slice and licked it clean.

This boy knows how to eat pizza!

Birthday Skating Party

It's not unusual for Violet or Lincoln to have a "friend" who's having a birthday almost every other weekend. Parents spend hours trying to create the most exciting birthday party. That's another whole other story that I don't even want to get into.

But yesterday the Taylors went to a birthday party at a roller rink. Melissa kept posting Snaps of Jamie trying to "help" Violet skate around the rink. From what I understand, Jamie spent most of the birthday party helping all the kids around the rink. But it was so funny watching Violet try to stand on those skates. This is one birthday party I wish I would have attended.

Violet's Field Trip & Babysitting Lincoln

Violet had her first field trip to a train station. Appropriate since her great grandfather spent the first several years of his career riding a train.

Melissa is worried because she thinks Violet is the "shy" kid. I'd much rather have a child who is quiet than the one running around screaming like a mad man.

I think Violet is more like Michele. Extremely intelligent. She's always analyzing the situation and determining whether or not it's worth her time to even add her two cents.

Meanwhile, I was back at the Taylor home babysitting Lincoln. As soon as everyone left, Lincoln started yawning which meant nap time. It only took me 10 minutes to get him to sleep. After an hour's nap he played with all the toys he could find. I think he was so happy to pick up a toy and hold it without Violet ripping it out of his hands. Not one time did he cry because his mother wasn't there. But as soon as she walked in the door, his face lit up and he only wanted her.

My next assignment is next Friday while Melissa and Violet go to the eye doctor. Hopefully the results will be the same.

Sister and Brother

Violet doesn't always show how much she loves Lincoln.

But when she does, Melissa seems to be able to capture the moment!

Squirrel on the Deck

Okay, I admit it. I do need help. 

Either that or I'm so bored that I'm taking pictures of squirrels running up on my deck. I don't have time to keep my blog up to date, but I almost broke my neck snapping this picture.

Lincoln is 10 Months Old

In 2 more months we'll be celebrating his first birthday.

I've said it in so many other posts, where does the time go. He's not walking yet, but my guess he'll be up and running before his first birthday.

Winefest

The girls got together for this year's Winefest at the Bingham Waggoner Estate in Independence.

We always start out with good intentions of sampling wine from all the vendors but the lines are so long and by the time it's your turn they give you barely a sip of wine. So we end up buying wine by the bottle, setting up our lawn chairs and enjoying the blue grass bands.

Violet Goes to School

The day is finally here. Violet is starting preschool.

Melissa reports she woke up ready to start school. No tears and no screaming. I can't say the same for Melissa.

I don't understand why parents cry when they send their children to school. From what I can remember, I was more than happy for school to start. Hopefully Violet will stay this excited about going to school when she reaches high school.

Florida Vacation

It's been quite a while since I've been on vacation. So when my friends wanted to go to Florida, I thought this would be the perfect time to get away. While my friends flew to Florida, I thought it might be fun to drive, taking my time and spending some time at my favorite gambling casinos. I don't mind the long drive but I don't have the free hands to take pictures along the way and the only stops I make are gas stations and McDonald's. Then when I get to where I'm going, I forget to take pictures. So the trip down was peaceful but uneventful.

I spent a couple days at Vero Beach then met my friends in Orlando to begin our beach week at New Smyrna Beach.

Most of the days were spent at the beach or shopping and the evenings spent doing karaoke, dining and dancing.

All too soon the week was up. As I was dropping them off at the airport it finally hit me that I had 22 hours to drive home. Yikes! So off I headed. My first stop back was in Tampa so I only had a few hours to drive. Instead of printing off directions I decided to be tech savvy and use the GPS on my phone to drive from Tampa to Tunica, MS. It never dawned on me that the battery on my phone would only last a few hours. You can imagine my dismay when the phone beeped only 20% battery life left and I was somewhere deep within no where of Alabama. I finally pulled into, what seemed to me, a bigger town and I thought for sure there would be a Walmart. All Walmarts sell electronics, right? So you can imagine my relief when I saw a T-Mobile. Screeching to a stop, I ran inside and was back on the road with my phone securely plugged into a charger. Good thing, too, because there is no direct major highway to Tunica. I went through so many small towns and made so many turns. If it wasn't for the T-Mobile store, I'd probably be living in Alabama now.

I had instructions from Violet to bring her back 10 surprise souvenirs. Most of the stuff I bought her was from hotel gift shops and Walmarts in different towns. With Violet right now it's not quality that counts but quantity. I didn't realize I got her 2 different gifts featuring "poop". One was cow poop and the other was flamingo poop (candy). Not quite the thing you want a three year old laughing about and continuously shouting days before she begins preschool.

Lincoln was easier. He got a plastic key chain and a t-shirt. Key chains are his favorite right now.

As much as I loved getting away I still miss seeing the smiling faces of my kids anytime I want.

Winter is quickly approaching. Do I plan another trip or spend the day with Violet and Lincoln? Only time will tell.