Happy New Year!

It has been awhile since I posted something -- Caitlin and I have been sick. Here's a short recap -- we were supposed to go to Ft. Smith on Christmas day. That part of the state got a snow/ice storm on Christmas Eve and it didn't thaw until the day after Christmas.

Na Na and Po Po came over for awhile on Christmas day and we put Caitlin's new Tinkerbell toddler canopy bed up. She loved it and slept in it that night with no trouble. Her crib went with Na Na and Po Po to Conway for baby Layton and Aunt Megan's new baby (due in July) to use.

Ft. Smith thawed the next day, so we headed there to see Pop Pop. There was still snow on the ground and the kids loved it! Caitlin and I both got sick, so we didn't enjoy the visit as much as we hoped and cut it short to come home and get well.

Both kids were so excited to see snow!

Throwing snowballs

Conall and his "Snow Opossum"

Conall's "Snow Opossum"

We came back here and have spent most of the week recuperating. Caitlin went to the doctor on the 30th and luckily, the only thing wrong with her was a persistent cough. We forced some honey and warm coke down her and she did much better. We also got a prescription for some cough syrup in case she needed it. She was much better the next day and has been since, but still has a snotty nose.

Conall opening gifts at Pop Pop's

Caitlin opening gifts at Pop Pop's -- this was minutes before she began puking

We spent New Year's Eve, our 10th anniversary, at home with the kids. We had some good snuggles with both of them on the couch before they went to bed.

New Year's day we headed to Na Na and Po Po's to celebrate Christmas with the Berryhill side of the family.

Unfortunately, Aunt Brooke was sick, so the Hoofmans didn't make it and Layton didn't get to use the crib that was set up and ready for him -- it looks so pretty in Na Na's guest room.

Too bad Layton didn't get to use the crib, because the bigger kids really enjoyed it!

Na Na and the kids were excited that we had a kids table for the first year!

Labor Day Was Really Labor Day

Last weekend we headed back to Fort Smith for the first time in months, hoping to spend a nice, long weekend with family. Unfortunately, things didn't work out that way. We had been there less than 24 hours when we got a call from our neighbors about a water line break in our front yard. Molly got out and Animal Control and the police were called to catch her. And, Caitlin puked and had diarrhea while there.

Due to everything that needed to be fixed at home, we didn't get to visit with my mom or Stu's grandmother. But, the kids did get a really nice visit with my dad and my aunt and uncle. Everything is fixed (we hope) for the time being. Here are some of the photos I got while we were there.

Conall making cookies with Pop Pop -- this it their "tradition"

Digging in the dirt in the front yard -- they were so dirty we had to change clothes immediately!

Filling up a wheelbarrow with dirt

Caitlin's first ride in Pop Pop's truck

Loving the ride in the truck

Conall in Pop Pop's chair

Video of Pop Pop Reading

I thought the kids would enjoy watching this video when they are older. It started with Pop Pop reading to Caitlin, then Conall climbed into his lap to hear the story too.
As soon as I got the camera out, Conall assumed I was taking his photo. You can see him posing for the camera. I guess he eventually gave up on me because he finally quit posing!

Reading with Pop Pop

One of Caitlin's favorite things to do is to bring you a stack of books and have you read to her. She especially loves to do this with her grandparents. We keep several board books at Pop Pop's and usually pack some recent favorites to take with us. The "old" books have become special books to read with Pop Pop and Aunt Jackie.

One of Caitlin's favorite books lately is Pinkalicious about a girl who LOVES pink. Pop Pop doesn't think Caitlin should be too girly, so he thinks it is funny to read it to her with "pink" changed to "blue." Pop Pop is really ornery that way.

At first Caitlin seemed really confused by this, but never got very upset about it. When we got home and I read it to her, she seemed confused that it was back to being about pink and kept saying "blue?" when I'd read the word "pink."

Dancing in Her Sleep With Sleeping Photos

On the way back from Fort Smith, both kids fell asleep in the car. Caitlin had been asleep for awhile when she started moving a lot. We both looked into the backseat to see if she was okay. She was moving her head (almost headbanging) and her arms like she does when she "dances" in the car.

We thought maybe Caitlin had woken up and suddenly started "dancing." Then, she cried for a few seconds, closed her eyes, and went right back to sleep. Our best guess is that she was dreaming she was dancing. It was so precious!

Sleeping in the car

Conall using "Rusty" the stuffed animal as his pillow

Quick Visit

We just got back from a quick visit in Fort Smith. We'd hoped to leave Friday afternoon, but all of the storms there and here delayed us until Saturday morning. Thus, the trip was shorter than we would have liked.

Of course, it has been too long between trips. I wanted to check on Pop Pop since he's been having so much trouble with his knees and legs and check on Aunt Jackie since her Parkinson's didn't sound like it was improving. I found them both doing much better than I had expected and in good spirits, despite the fact that the storms Friday knocked down a tree and the power lines to Aunt Jackie's house. Luckily, Jackie's power was restored Sunday morning. Since Jackie and Bill are in their 80s, we were worried about them being without power in the heat.

On the way to Fort Smith, Caitlin started sneezing in the car. She now has a full snotty nose and congestion. At first, we thought it was allergies until we noticed she was putting everything in her mouth. She's also drooling a lot, so I think it must be one of her molars. She hasn't eaten well for the last week or so, which we attributed to reflux. Now, I'm starting to think it is the teething.

Caitlin was the poor baby who got a snotty nose every time she cut a tooth. I'd almost forgotten. I don't know how I could have! I guess we block out some of the intense unpleasant things about babies being babies.

We didn't take a ton of pictures while we were in Fort Smith since it was a short trip. I have a few I'll post later.

Conall started his summer program today. We'll see how he does. Stu said Conall was a little freaked out and was crying when he left. He seemed upset that none of his classmates from school were there. Poor guy -- he doesn't do well with change. We're hoping that being around other kids and having fun will override his obsessive change-hating personality. I'll know more after I pick him up today.

Playing at the Mall in Fort Smith

When we were in Fort Smith, we met my mom at the mall's inside play area. The kids had a lot of fun, especially considering that the weather was rainy and cold. The play area had trees, bridges, boats, ladybugs, frogs, bees, water, etc.

Both kids climbing the bridge

Caitlin sitting on the "bee"

Both kids climbing through a log


Caitlin on the tree stump

Caitlin climbing through and going down the tree slide

Watching the Rain With Pop Pop

Caitlin "It's rainging, it's rainging"

Caitlin watching the rain with her Pop Pop

Safely at the Fort

The kids and I made it safely to Fort Smith yesterday. The drive wasn't even that bad by myself, which must be a miracle. And, both kids slept through the night without too much bedtime trouble (of course, Caitlin screamed for awhile, but no surprise there). It is amazing!

Right now, I'm trying to find things to do while dad is at work. It is 40 something degrees here, so too cold for most outside stuff. And, it is supposed to rain all day tomorrow. Oh, well, we'll figure it out.

Pictures of Christmas at Pop Pop's

Reading With Jackie and Bill

Computer Time

Conall has really been enjoying playing on the computer lately. His favorites are the Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine sites. He has a computer station in his classroom and a computer class at least once a week, so we've been encouraging his new-found interest in playing games on the computer.

Once we got to Pop Pop's last weekend, Conall had to play a game on Pop Pop's computer. And, Caitlin had to watch! She is so in awe of her big brother.

I Want Pop Pop

All day today Caitlin has been saying "I want Pop Pop." When we were in Ft. Smith she constantly wanted to know "where's Pop Pop?" if he wasn't in the same room. When she woke up from a nap or in the morning, she'd ask for him. She started calling him "my Pop Pop." I think she's right.

At one point, I was holding her after she woke up from her nap. She suddenly got down out of my lap and went over to Pop Pop's recliner, where he was sleeping very soundly with his feet up. She scurried up his legs, sat in his lap and turned around and looked at him like, "I'm here, why aren't you paying attention to me?". It was absolutely precious -- I wish I'd had the video camera on to tape it.

Playing Football

While we were at Pop Pop's (before Halloween) Conall kept asking to play football with Daddy and Pop Pop. While I gave Caitlin a much-needed bath, they went outside to play. Conall was able to catch the ball a couple of times, which is an improvement. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get a photo of that. Conall had so much fun playing that he wants to "play football" with his daddy all the time now and has started "playing" it with the boy next door, too.

Fort Smith Visit

We spent some time this weekend in Fort Smith. As always, I wish the time spent there could have been longer. However, it was nice to get both the kids into their own rooms and beds tonight.
Here are photos from the trip.

Caitlin and Pop Pop. Can you see the family resemblance?

Caitlin and Conall playing with Pop Pop's hat

Caitlin wearing Pop Pop's hat

Caitlin and her puppy drawing

Conall drawing a pumpkin for Aunt Jackie

Tow Mater

If you are ever taking I-40 West, stop at Knoxville (on the way to Ft. Smith) and get a look at Tow Mater. We stopped by chance because Caitlin was screaming on the way to Fort Smith Saturday. At one of the two gas stations off the exit, there was a Tow Mater.



Here are the photos of Conall checking it out. We couldn't get him to look at the camera because he was enjoying looking at Mater so much. I think Conall thought it really was Mater!

Tired, But Ok

We went to Ft. Smith this weekend for the Labor Day weekend and to celebrate my birthday. We got to see most of my family, which we aren't always able to do, so it was a really good trip. Everyone slept through the night and there weren't any p & p (puke and poop) problems while we were there. We made it back before the worst of the storm and rain moved into the state, so we had a nice drive back.
We've been busy since getting home. One (or all) of the cats puked all over the house, so on top of the laundry from the trip and the unpacking to do, there was extra to clean. I've been gathering up Conall and Caitlin's outgrown clothes for a kids consignment sale. I had to have everything ironed, tagged, entered into the computer database, and hung up to take and drop off yesterday. I spent most of yesterday morning working on what I had left to do for this (I accidentally left all of the sale clothes in the kids' closets, so I couldn't work on it Monday night, ugh!). Then, I carried it all into the sale in the pouring rain.
Last night they had a pre-sale for the consignors to shop. I found some wonderful things for the kids at good prices, including an umbrella for Conall (he's been wanting one for some time, but this weather has really made him want one) and a raincoat for Caitlin. While I was at the sale, Caitlin puked BIG. When she puked, some of it hit Conall's stuffed tiger, Henry, that Conall left next to Caitlin's crib. He got upset at this and then he puked a little.
On top of that mess, Caitlin then wouldn't go to sleep. She kept crying for me. And, Conall's school fundraising sale forms/money was due today. It was a busy night, again, and the house looks like Gustav has been in here.
So, as you can tell, things have been insane here since we got home. I have lots of cute pictures from the trip that I'll post once I find and unpack the camera, find time to download the memory card and have time to post more. Just wanted to let everyone know we're ok -- just tired and busy.

Snuggling With Pop Pop

Caitlin loves her Pop Pop and has so much fun playing with him. She also really likes snuggling with him.

Enjoying the Pool

We went to Aunt Amy's parents' house this weekend to swim. Conall was so excited because I had told him that another boy was going to be there to play with.

As soon as we got out of the car and to the pool, it started to thunder. It kept thundering and raining on and off for about an hour and a half. Amy's mom kept checking the weather to see if the storm passed over. The kids did really well with the waiting and staying out of the pool until it was ok to get in (especially Conall).

Caitlin LOVED the pool and the water. It was everything we could do to keep her from walking straight into the pool! Conall didn't want to get in at first. But, then the oldest of "Amy's kids" (as Conall calls them) finally was able to convince him to get in. He spent most of the time in the float that he called a canoe, but he had fun. We finally had to get them both out because their teeth were chattering so bad. I think they would have stayed in all night.

They both were so worn out that night that they went to sleep almost immediately after going to bed!

Conall trying not to run around the pool.

Caitlin LOVING the water!

Conall and his new friends riding in the "canoe" and "fishing"

Playing at Pop Pop's