Little Casanova

Well, my biggest news is my four-year-old son has already had his first kiss. The details are sketchy, but during an outside play date at his friend's house, Connor and his classmate, Isabella, shared a "moment" while playing in the tunnel of a blow-up water slide. Seems that while inside the tunnel, Isabella asked Connor to give him a kiss. Connor eagerly stepped up to the challenge. Isabella asked Connor not to tell his mom, but being the perfect son (and a big gossip) Connor ran and told me right away. In his words: "Mom, I have a sequet. I kissed Isabewa . . . on the WIPS!" - all in a whisper, since he wasn't supposed to tell. I was soooo not ready for this information. However, I would like for him to always feel like he can share these things, so I tried not to show my mini-heart attack. How is he already kissing girls? He's not even in elementary school yet! It started to rain, so we put on a movie for the kiddos while the moms gabbed away in another room. Each one of us would take turns checking on them from time to time. After one of these checks, a mom came in and told the rest of us to come check out Connor and Isabella. I, of course, brought my camera along. We peeked around the corner to see Connor's head in Isabella's lap, and Isabella stroking Connor's hair. My baby!!!!

Home Again

I am back home in Chicago. I have actually been home for a few days, but I have been trying to get my life back in some kind of order. I am not saying that Kevin had this place in a complete mess. All I am saying is that he forgot to clean anything for the nearly three weeks I was gone. The floors were covered with everything he had tracked in. The furniture was covered with dust. The bathrooms were untouchable! And I have a new crawler!!! Something had to be done and quickly. So for the past three days, I have been mopping and dusting and scrubbing, all while keeping up with my two cherubs.

I did have a wonderful time at Mom's house. I was able to see my family and a couple of friends. I also got to visit Chattanooga a couple of time, which was nice. It is always nice to go back down south. I get to come home to what is familiar to me. I get to spend time with my family. I get to travel familiar roads. I get to see old and dear friends. Oh, and the best part, eat good ole Southern cookin'! My grandmother is as Connor puts it, "a really good cooker!" Whenever I am in, Granny always treats me to my favorite meal - fried chicken, mashed potatoes (with gravy), peas, and the best biscuits (or as Connor says, "bixits") around. Mmmmm.

Our 4th of July was fun. I went to Chattanooga with Connor, Mom, and my uncle, Ed. That was actually on the 3rd. While we where there, we listened to the Chattanooga symphony play a variety of patriotic songs, Connor played in the sprinkler park there, and we topped off the night watching a spectacular fireworks display. On the 4th, Marvin spent hours making the best barbeque I have in my life. He's from Memphis, so he knows his barbeque. Granny and Papa and Ed joined us for dinner - so good to spend a holiday with my family. After dinner, we went outside for some games. Marvin, Ed, Granny, Mom, and I played bean bags, and Connor, Ed, and Mom had a little batting practice. I was really surprised at how well Connor could hit the ball - Ed, and Mom, you did a good job too.

I had to take off back home the next day, but what a perfect ending to a memorable trip.

Lane 60th Anniversary

I have been travelling lately, so that is why I haven't posted. I drove, yes, drove, to Chattanooga with the two kids (12 hours). I did the trip in two days, so that made it easier. I arrived at Mom's house on a Thursday afternoon. We rested for a whopping 18 hours before getting in the car again and heading for West Virginia. My grandparents were celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary on Saturday, so we drove to Daddy's house that Friday evening. The kids were real troopers.

We all had a wonderful time at the anniversary party. They had a cookout at a local park. The weather cooperated, and we had a great day for an outside party. Connor really liked the facility. There were woods all around and a lake to the side. He was beside himself. There was lots of running and leaf-throwing and rock skipping to be done. In the meantime, Kendall enjoyed meeting her relatives for the first time. She enjoyed constant attention. I enjoyed seeing everyone again. I hadn't seen some for 10 years probably. So, that was nice. The food was delicious, and the cake was awesome! I have been trying to lose this baby weight, so it was very hard to be a good dieter under these circumstances!

It sure was nice to be able to help celebrate a marriage that has lasted for 60 years. Only 54 more years to go for Kevin and me!