RILEY IS 15 MONTHS NOW!!!

And nothing special is happening...I just liked this picture of the cute booger. It is one of the last ones we took b.hc. (before haircut). I am horrible as I haven't taken any pics of him since the haircut and now it has grown back out...so, he still looks like this:) He is very smart...he knows how to get a kleenex and blow his nose (and he actually blows it), he knows how to feed himself (and doesn't make as much of a mess feeding himself than me feeding him). He tells us "bye" a lot...I think he's trying to tell us something. His PKU is under control...he eats all the time. His mild form of the disease allows me to even give him baby food with a little meat in it at this time. As he grows, he will be more vegetarian than vegan (yes, there is a difference). He is doing very well and keeps us laughing with his antics.

BA TURNED 60...with a surprise party!!!

Because Regan and Dad's birthday's are 2 days apart (for his 50th b-day, I got Dad a Regan), and because Dad stays in the dark and clueless 95% of the time, it was so easy to throw him a surprise 60th Birthday Party! My mom and his sister Margie hosted it and Dad didn't have a clue...why? Because he thought he was going to Regan's birthday party! Regan and Draik played the story of Regan's B-day party for 2 weeks...because Regan's whole class was invited, it was going to be held at a local club house (that should have been his first clue-duh). Then, when he pulls into the club house at party time, he didn't notice all the license plates from Polk County (where his sister and her family lives)...he walked into the club house and no one was in there but me (hello dad!!!). Oh, and all the black table cloths and decorations. He says "Where is everyone...where are the kids?" and I very quickly said "Oh, they are over there through that door in the kitchen...by the way, can you go in there and bust up some ice for me??" And he starts griping (while walking to the kitchen) "I'm not going to bust up ice blah blah blah blah" and he opens the door and everyone yells "Happy Birthday!!!!" The look on his face was priceless...Hey got the picture of his reaction (since I was standing behind him, all I got was his rump, hehe). He was very, very, very touched and emotional (well, emotional for Dad) that everyone through him a party. And he was very, very, very upset with his 2 bestest friends (Draik and Regan) for keeping it from him! Good turnout, good food (Adam made homemade spaghetti) and a great cake! And...he even got great gifts (and his very first cell phone)!

A VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY FOR REGAN

Regan recently celebrated his 10th Birthday...it seems like only yesterday that I was bringing the extremely tiny (5 lbs, 2 oz) fella home to listen to approximately 3 years of screaming and crying before he got used to being in the world. For such a special occasion, we had his birthday at the Chattanooga Zoo with all of his friends! We had a wonderful time, and Regan had a great birthday. Unfortunately, the batteries in my camera died not long after the tour started, but I did manage to get a few shots of the animals in the zoo.Regan and his friend, Brandon, hanging out with a turtle in the party room.Regan wouldn't go near the snakes, but his classmate did...you go girl!Ba became quite upset when they put him in the chimp exhibit (hehehe).This is a daddy monkey with his 1 month old twins (1 is beside him, 1 is on his back looking over his shoulder). I don't remember what this species of monkey is, but we were told that once moma has the baby/ies, the daddy raises them!

All of their feathered animals (from parrots to peacocks) were absolutely beautiful...very vivid coloring.

And finally, the zoo was putting their most dangerous species of animal into their van to transport to a circus for display...this species is known as Goofysillyboycrazyteengirls. They were an extremely wild bunch of animals and drove us crazy with their loudness and goofiness.

Riley is 10 Months Old!!!

It is so hard to believe that the Rilester is 10 months old! He is talking and jabbering and walking all over the place. He is such a smart, sweet baby...always happy. The only problem we have with him so far is his ability to stay, not only awake, but active for such long periods of time! His PHE levels are still low and at his last check a few weeks ago, we were again assured that he had the extremely rare mild case of PKU. The picture above is sitting on Dad's stomach, pulling his sweatshirt string and below is him bouncing on Adam:)

The Tree House

Regan has asked me to post some photos of the new tree house. We had a dilemma as to how to make the tree house since we have no trees with low limbs in the yard. My dad came up with the frame and did a wonderful job. Regan loves his new tree house. Above is Regan on the right and his friend Cameron, who lives a couple of houses down. Below is the tree house from our deck.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DRAIK...A FEW WEEKS LATE

Draik did have a wonderful 13th, even though the plans changed. We were supposed to do the ghost-hunt, but unfortunately, it rained. And rained. And raiiiiiiiiiined. It was so flooded all 25 of the 7th and 8th grades spent the first 5 hours of the party in the basement watching Ghost Hunter episodes, eating pizza, snacks, and cake. It did stop raining long enough for everyone to go outside and dance to "Party in the U.S.A." (yes, there's a dance to it). They also split up and some went on the deck, some went right outside the basement underneath the deck and a few went up into the treehouse across from the deck and they had Nerf/Acorn wars. After 11 p.m., the boys left, leaving the 17 girls spending the night....they split up and the 9 that weren't scared after watching ghost hunters slept down in the basement...the other 8 slept in the living room. Even though the rain dampened the plans (and we are rescheduling the ghost hunt towards the end of October...maybe it'll be for MY birthday party), I believe all the kids had a kicking good time. Adam was very impressed that this year, nothing was broken, no neighbors showed up to complain (BIG SURPRISE!) and all the kids were, with the exception of being LOUD, very well behaved. Unfortunately, with that many kids, I didn't keep the camera out for long...and Draik's camera was busted (guess what Santa's bringing her for Christmas?), but we did get a few pictures.

Happy Birthday to Draik!!! There were so many people there, the guests were in the kitchen, dining room, living room and hall singing to her!

Riley even got to join in the fun and have some cake...he preferred to wipe it all over the place, though.

JEKYLL '09

Ahhh...the 7th grade field trip to the 4-H science center at Jekyll. I'm sure she did a lot more than just stay at the beach the whole time, but these were a few of the pics from her camera...beach shots and turtles. You know, looking through these pictures one would think Draik had been on an episode of "Survivor"...

Contestant #1...Draik Grant from Calhoun, GA
The extremely dangerous and vile swamp-lands of Jekyll Island
The even more dangerous and full of evil jungles of Jekyll Island
Draik and her BFF Jeanna (Maizie didn't get to go because she had the flu at the last minute).
Draik and her friend Britney.
Draik and her friend Taylor.
A really big turtle (and btw...Draik has over 50 pictures of turtles...just turtles)
Sand Art
Kissing the worlds "smallest fish"
Star Fish
Draik has goals to become a "Shrimp Boat Captain"The Beach