The Blog

I'm trying to make the blog more interactive. First, you can always comment on a post that you enjoyed reading or enjoyed the photo from or that you have an opinion about. Every post has a place below it to allow you to "comment." Next, I put up a section where you can sign up to "follow" the blog. Now, I've added a poll to the blog. It is located to the right and gives you a place to vote on whether or not you like the new design.

I'd really like some feedback from you guys so that I know you are reading it and that it is worth the effort to post pictures, put together slide shows, and tell you about what the kids are doing. I am doing the blog so that our family and friends can stay connected and stay up-to-date on any news about the kids. I appreciate those of you who have signed up to "follow" the blog or who regularly make "comments" on the posts. It lets me know that you do read it, you enjoy it, and it is worth the time and effort.

Pumpkin Patch Slideshow

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Motley Patch Photos

Here are a couple of photos until I get the slideshow put together and posted.

Pumpkin Patch Trip 2 (for Conall)

We took the kids to a pumpkin patch today. It isn't the one we normally go to -- for some reason that one is closed this year. To put it very nicely, the one we went to today was much more "country" than our normal one.


We waited in line for over 30 minutes for the tractor to come take us to the field where the pumpkins are. The whole area was very dry and dusty and there were people smoking. The kids really did not enjoy waiting for the hayride, nor did we. Caitlin and I are better today, but not that much better. And, the cigarette smoke didn't help any of us.


We finally got on the hayride and taken to the pumpkin patch. The ride was really dusty and bumpy and was quite a long way from where we started. The patch itself was pretty dusty and dry, too, but there were a ton of pumpkins to choose from.


Caitlin planted herself next to one pumpkin and would not leave it. She tried to take a step away from it once, but acted like she was scared of the pumpkin vines and plants and would not move. So, that is the pumpkin we got for her.


On the ride into the patch, Conall declared that he wanted a really small pumpkin. Then he decided it had to be green. We tried to explain that these pumpkins weren't of the green variety and would turn orange as they ripen. He didn't care, he was determined to have a small green pumpkin. So, that's the one Conall got.


The kids seemed to have fun on the ride back in. Caitlin squirmed and squirmed until Stu put her down in the hay. She proceeded to try to bury herself in it. On the way in, the blow-up jumping thing for the kids collapsed with kids in it. I'm glad Conall didn't get in it!


I really hope our regular pumpkin patch is open next year.

Headed to the pumpkin patch

Conall stomping through the patch

Caitlin and her pumpkin

Caitlin playing in the hay

Apple Picking

We went to Battle's Cadron Creek Orchard in Guy on Saturday morning. Aunt Amy went with us -- this was her first visit to an orchard to pick apples. They were picking Arkansas blacks, Granny Smith's, and Fuji's.

Conall's class has been studying apples and will continue learning about them this week. He's been wanting to go pick apples all year and make an apple pie, so we figured it was a good weekend to go to the orchard. The closest one that was picking apples this year was Battle's.

We picked 30 lbs. of apples (plus Aunt Amy's 7 lbs.). We will be making apple pie and applesauce until they are all gone! Conall also picked a few Arkansas black apples to take to his teacher and teacher's aide tomorrow.

There were so many photos that I had a hard time choosing which ones to put on the blog, so I made another slide show (bear with me Pop Pop, but once you know how to play it, it isn't hard).

Make a Smilebox slideshow

And, for Pop Pop, here are a couple of photos:

The Princess Rides in the Car Cart

Yesterday evening, all four of us loaded up for a quick trip to the grocery store. Conall ran into the store, past the pumpkins (can you believe it?), looking for a car cart. There wasn't one with the other carts. He started to get upset and Stu went to the other door to look for one. There wasn't one and Conall proceeded to have a fit, so Stu left with him and took him to the car.

Caitlin and I used a regular cart and started our shopping. We were at the end of the aisle when I heard Caitlin say really loud "Hi Conall, Hi Conall, Hi Conall!" with all the exuberance of a little sister. Stu and Conall had come back into the store and Conall was riding in a car cart. We switched Caitlin to the car cart with Conall and finished our shopping.

As we were leaving, Conall was "driving" the cart. Caitlin started saying "Bye" to the checker and the store. She kept waving, without even looking back, like a little princess on a float at a parade. It was so cute! She is just the happiest little girl.

Family Portrait by Conall

Conall drew a family portrait with his bath markers.

From left to right: Conall, Mommy, Daddy and Caitlin "with her curly hair."

Playing Candyland

One of Conall's favorite games is Candyland. We usually play it when Caitlin is napping or in bed for the night. The other night, Daddy thought we ought to all play the game together. After the kids took their bath, we set the game up. Stu's plan was for him to hold Caitlin while the rest of us played the game. Caitlin had other ideas and was soon put in the playpen. Here are the photos from before she was put in the playpen.

Family Week at School

Conall's class is celebrating and learning about their families this week. Last week, they asked us to send a photo of our family and to identify the family members in the photos by their full names. The teacher said they'd leave the photos up in the classroom all year.



We sent the latest family photo we have -- from Easter (some of the moms today were talking about how their most recent family photos were over a year old, so I no longer feel bad). We took the photo at Pop Pop's (my dad's) on the front steps. I showed Conall what photo we were sending and he and I talked a little bit about where we were, what we were doing that day, etc. before he took the photo to school.



At his school's Open House tonight, we saw the photo along with the information they'd transcribed from Conall. Here's what he told them about the photo (pictured below) "This is a picture of us at Pop Pop's. His last name is Leo. It is mommy, daddy, me and my sister, who is only a little big." Stu and I laughed and laughed at his comments. It was just so Conall.

Choo Choo

We met my mom (Granny Gill) at Creekmore Park for a picnic and visit with the kids. While we were there, the park was getting the train ready to run. Both kids were fascinated and wanted to ride the train.

Conall has been on it before, but was really interested because it is a steam train (they use diesel instead of coal to fire the engine). Caitlin has never been on it, but was really excited about it. As we waited in line (and it was a long line) to ride the train, Caitlin kept saying "choo choo" and pointing at it like she couldn't believe it was big enough for her to ride.

Caitlin loved the ride and giggled through most of it. She rode the first time around with daddy because there were limited seats. The second time around, she rode it with my mom and I. She let mom hold her through the ride.

For the next day or so, we heard about the "choo choo" and had multiple requests from Caitlin to ride it again (at least that seemed like what she was asking for).

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Happy Father's Day Stu! We had homemade pancakes for breakfast, which everyone seemed to enjoy, including Conall. Conall actually ate 2 of them! Here's a photo of Stu and the kids at breakfast.

Caitlin's Cast

Some of our friends and family that didn't get to see Caitlin with her cast on have asked to see pictures of her with it. It is a long story -- if you don't know the details, you'll have to ask. We're just glad it came off, she has healed and she is sleeping much better now.

Pop Pop Has Internet Access

Stu and I have been saying for years how nice it would be for my dad (or any of our Ft. Smith family) to have Internet access. We would talk about how wonderful it would be to be able to send pictures regularly and almost instantly, to be able to communicate through e-mail, send links to information, etc. Well, Pop Pop finally got a computer and Internet access! And, he's taking computer classes. We are so proud of him and so excited to be able to communicate this way. He doesn't have it all figured out yet, but we are certain he will soon.