Lately...

We have been busy getting back into the swing of fall, although there will be no glimmer of fall weather here anytime soon. Leyton started his (pre) pre-school class on Tuesday and did great. I can't believe how quickly he is growing up. I am amazed everyday at how my little baby is developing into a little person who talks, runs and attempts to boss us around because he surely knows best. Right now, he is obsessed with anything that has an engine, but especially airplanes. He still loves all things "animal," particularly cows. Here is a mod podge of photos taken recently.

with "Uncle Wee" (really Dave, but L prefers Wee)

big boy

waiting on Daddy

First day of "school"

Recently discovering the joys of Nutella

Last night we attended a "Block Party" hosted by our church. It was an event with live music, food and fun. Leyton stared blankly at the stage for awhile not really sure what to do. Shortly after, he was overtaken by a group of middle school girls. What can I say? He is quite popular with the ladies. And by the end of the night he was a bee-boppin', clappin' fool.

How low can you go?

"Livin' on a Prayer"

Wordless Wednesday

Thanks, Jenna for the pic!

Black thumb be gone!

My mom finally convinced me that I was capable of keeping a plant alive, so I took her word and took advantage of our local Target's gardening section's going out of business sale. I got these peppers, some cherry tomatoes and some flowers that were labeled "drought tolerant" (surely I could keep those alive, right?).

So here we are a few weeks later and all three plants are still alive! Sure I made a few phone calls to mom ("what do droopy leaves mean?"). The peppers started sprouting a few days ago, but I am am still waiting on my 'maters to start. And my drought tolerant bloom is doing pretty well, even though I have a tendency to over water them:

30.

Happy 30th, Jeremy! I love you so much!

Then

Now

In order to spare you from a long mushy post, I have compiled some nice quotes that should comfort you in this new era:

"The only time you really live fully is from thirty to sixty. The young are slaves to dreams; the old servants of regrets. Only the middle-aged have all their five senses in the keeping of their wits."

- Hervey Allen

"Everything I know I learned after I was thirty." - Georges Clemenceau

"When you turn thirty, a whole new thing happens. You see yourself acting like your parents."

- Blair Sabol

The I just woke up face of your 30's is the all day long face of your 40's.
-Libby Reid

"At twenty years of age, the will reigns; at thirty, the wit; and at forty, the judgement."

- Benjamin Franklin

So sit back, relax, enjoy (a)nother peanut butter cheesecake brownie cupcake, and enjoy the ride!

Oh and before you go, here is a video message from your son, complete with the outtakes.

My latest project

About 2 months ago I got the itch to do something creative. I haven't painted since I was pregnant and I have missed my creative outlets. I saw this idea on a DIY blog (can't remember which one) and I decided to go for it. It fit perfectly in the playroom, and Leyton is starting to recognize different letters. I maybe spent about $50 on the whole thing because I am kind of frugal like that, plus I had some things already. I got most of the letters between JoAnn's and Michael's. Some were a couple of bucks, but alot of them were on clearance for less than $1. I painted some of them, but on many of them I used scrapbook paper and some good ol' fashioned rubber cement. I am pretty happy with the result:

Love Bugs

just barely missed

Gulfport visit

While we were home, we were able to sneak away for an overnight trip to visit the Skaggs family. We finally got to meet sweet Jones and hangout with Trey and Heather. It was just like the old times. Except that we ate in shifts and went to bed at 11:00. I can't believe that I did not get one single picture of Trey and Heather. Just Jones. But you can see why he was the main attraction.

Jones & 'Uncle J'

Leyton was obsessed with Trey's guitars. Maybe he can overcome his musically challenged genetics?

Some Hattiesburg pics

L + Gran = silly

Leyton and Gigi playtime

Leyton loved Daphne. Daphne not so sure about Leyton.

sporting his new Southern Miss hat

Video Monday

Besides talking up a storm, lately this little boy has gotten so silly. I think if he were to get any more adorable he would explode. He is just so dang fun. I love this stage. Sure, it has its drawbacks (raging toddler who can do everything himself syndrome) but around here the silly outweighs the whiny.

PS. Please don't judge the appearance of my house. Leyton is a tornado, destructing all that lies in his path.

This is one mean dancing machine: watchyoself ladies

He pretty much has animal noises down pat- especially after our trip home. My favorite is the donkey, which he doesn't really do here as precisely as he usually does. It normally comes out "hee-ho, hee-ho"

Last night while I was cooking dinner, this little turkey snuck up behind me and blew a big zerbert on the back of my leg. After seeing how amusing it was both to myself and to him, he just couldn't get enough. Then before his bed time last night, he was going to give me a kiss on the lips and I got a facefull of zerbert. It was lovely. He is already a trickster.

MeeMaw & PeePaw

A funny thing happened while visiting my family. Leyton decided to change everyone's name. My dad had decided way back when that he would be "granddaddy." Leyton however, kept saying "Poppa." I don't really know where he picked it up, but he would point at my dad and declare that he was "poppa." So that is settled. He also changed my grandparents name's. My grandmother has always been "Ging-Ging" to me, my brother and cousins. We kept trying to get L to say it, but kept saying "MeeMaw." Now he has never heard "MeeMaw" but nonetheless she was MeeMaw our whole trip home and he still points at her pictures and says "MeeMaw." He also changed my grandfather's name from "Poppa" to "PeePaw." I mean, what good is a MeeMaw without a PeePaw?

Giving kisses

Brushing PeePaw's hair

Looking at the "birdys"

Onto MeeMaw's hair. He is a great stylist.

Attempting a photo. Fail.

scenes from the country, part 2