Miles watching the Pig Races. (Yes, Pig Races. This is the South you know.)
Family Portrait to prove we didn't leave Grant at home in the closet. See Mom.
He looks so still but I promise this was dumb luck that we caught him like this.
Hay in the diaper is never comfy.
"Hmmm. Which one?"
MY Little PumpkinNo, it's the Blue Angels! Marci invited us to go with her to the LRAFB Air Show where the Blue Angels were appearing. The fair may not have been Miles' cup of tea, but the airplanes were - only if you could take away the noise.
We arrived in the nick of time to see the Angels fly. We hurriedly got out of the car and Miles was immediately pointing to the sky screaming "ooooooo!!!" and "whassthat?" Then, one of the jets flew right over us with its deafening rumble and Miles trembled all over while trying to figure out what was going on. I attempted to show him how to put his hands to cover his ears but he didn't quite get it and we did it for him as they flew overhead. The show was impressive with their dangerous stunts and formations. After the Blue Angels were finished, we walked around looking at the different kinds of airplanes. I nor Mason has ever been to an air show before so it was a new adventure for the whole family. I plan on taking both of the boys again next year - with ear muffs!
"Ooooooooh! Whasthat?"
Notice the death-grip Miles has on Mason's shirt.
In front of one of the really big planes - I can't remember its model. C130 maybe?
The Coast Guard had a plane, boat and helicopter at the air show. Miles was impresed with all three. We paid this helicopter a visit in homage to Uncle Jerod. Hurry home - we miss you!I started this other blog sometime ago about my other passion - all things food related - and kind of forgot about it in the hullabaloo of having two kids. I have decided to revive it after some contemplation due to a question of an acquaintance. She asked me "Where did you learn to cook so well?" I was laughing inside because I do not think there is anything special about my cooking. Then a light went off. I realized that probably most of my cohorts do not cook dinner every night and that is why my cooking is different. I have practiced and really anyone can cook as well as I do with some practice. I don't really follow recipes that often now, but that is how I got started. If you need some inspiration to get the ball rolling, check out my blog What's for Dinner? for some help. I will be posting what we had or will be having for dinner at Hazelwood House. I might not post everyday but hopefully a few times a week so check back regularly. If this thing gets popular, I might even post a menu and shopping list. We will see.
This picture doesn't need much explaining. Grant has awakened - which means smiles (and isn't it the prettiest smile you have ever seen? Except maybe Miles' smiles.) He is also starting to get into something that vaguely resembles a schedule. In due time since I will be starting back to work late this week.
I was so excited to take Miles to the state fair this year. In hindsight, I had inflated expectations that Miles would be equally as excited about it. We hired a babysitter to watch Grant so we wouldn't have to haul him around and so we could focus all our attention on Miles. We had fun but it was not the experience I was hoping it to be. I don't know where all the animals went but there were maybe 6 cows in all the stables. Maybe they were showing them? I don't know? We did get to see a few bunnies and luckily AR Farm Bureau had an Ag display with animals . Miles did not get as excited as I thought he would. Actually he was terrified (trembling) if a cow or sheep made a noise while he was in arm's reach.
We did enjoy some fair fare - gyros, corndogs, lemonade, fried oreos, and some pineapple whip. We wanted to try some fried Wisconsin cheese and I really wanted some roasted corn on the cob but our pocketbook nor stomachs would let us. We stayed away from the chocolate dipped bacon (seriously) and the hot beef sundae. I don't understand the allure of chocolate covered bacon. Chocolate is good. Bacon is good. But not together. I guess I can't knock it until I have tried it.
We only observed the rides and I can really see how the fair was probably an overwhelming experience for Miles. It was extremely loud by all the rides. You practically had to scream in each other's ears to talk and with all the lights and colors, not to mention screaming carnies and passengers as they fell out of the sky, it is more like a nightmare. Luckily there was a family section and the rides were more of the classic variety and the carnies weren't quite as scary. I thought Miles would be pointing left and right saying "whatsthat" and screaming with excitement. He didn't. He just sat there motionless looking left and right. Under normal circumstances that would be a great thing. This time I was disappointed.
There is always next year. I will have to find out where all the animals went as to not repeat our experience and maybe Miles won't be so overwhelmed. At least it only cost a dollar to get in. And maybe next year I will try that chocolate dipped bacon if it is still around.
Around 4 pm Miles usually starts to go stir crazy for Daddy to get home. He will run around the bar about this time in the afternoon screaming at the top of his lungs. So we have to find something to do. The weather has been really nice the past few weeks (though it could be a tad cooler to be perfect) and we went outside to run off some of that energy until Daddy got home. We pretended to water the flowers, ran around the yard and played in the rocks. Daddy finally got home and Miles greeted him at the fence with a big sweaty smile!
We checked out the slide.
"Watered" my dying plants
Ran through the yard
Miles and his shadow playing against the wall
"Hi. Whatcha doin'?"
Mmmm, these rocks are tasty.
This is our neighbor's treehouse. I thought it looked nice with the sun setting behind it. Miles always runs over to our fence and stares longingly at their yard. It has the playset, treehouse, sandbox, powerwheels, and a trampoline.It only took two (or maybe three) months to get these pictures on here. These are the promised images of a few projects I took on before Grant got here (knowing they would never be completed after he arrived.)
(Note the braided chenille rug I got at a consignment sale for $20.
We took our playdate this week to one of my favorite play places - The Church at Rock Creek. They have a fantastic indoor playground. Think McDonalds but much bigger and cleaner. We ended up with quite a group of friends, so it was great! Kim and Allison; Kathy with Amelia and Sam; and Beth and Scarlett all played. Thanks Beth for the pics!
Miles and Allison coming down the slide!
Scarlett chasing Miles up the bumpy ramp. Brave little souls.
Miles' best buddy Sam. Seriously, you would have to be best buds to get in each others faces like that. I'm pretty sure Miles' teeth haven't been brushed in a couple days. That's love. 
Miles chasing Scarlett (and her Cheerios) out the slide
Even the bambinos got some play time. The "pink" baby is pretty little Amelia, Sam's sister. Grant laid on the floor with her for a whole 30 seconds. He doesn't like laying flat. 
