Fall Break Trip to Louisville

For Fall Break, we decided just to go on a mini-vacation....we wanted to stay near home and do something fun with the boys.  So, we ended up in Louisville and man did it deliver!  We stayed at the Galt House Hotel which worked out perfectly because it was within walking distance of two of our three destinations to check out.  

Having a snack in their pj's at the hotel

The boys in front of the HUGE bat at the museum

 First, we checked out the Louisville Slugger Museum...

Landen being silly one morning

The boys LOVED this dugout in the museum

We enjoyed watching Bubba give it a try though

Landen wanted to bat in the cages so bad but he was too small

I LOVE this picture of the two of them!

Next, we visited the Kentucky Science Center...

We spent a day going to the mall and hanging out at the HUGE Bass Pro that is right over the Indiana/Kentucky state line...the boys loved the pond/nature set-ups that the store had...it is a two-story Bass Pro much larger than the one at Opry-Mills.

Our next stop was the Louisville Zoo (the last time that we had been Ethan was around 4...so it's been about 4 years or so)...

The boy's favorites at the zoo were the goat petting area and the polar bear.  The polar bear kept swimming down to say "hi" to them, it was awesome!  Landen also loved the lion. After the zoo we grabbed some dinner and then went to watch "The Odd Life of Timothy Green".  

It was a very nice little 4-day trip.  Lots of fun and a little bit of relaxing always mixes well together.  We were even able to spend a few days of Fall Break at home, which never usually happens.  

Dress Up Dayz and Sick Cooties

Tonight is Ethan's last Fall baseball game.  The month-long season has went by so fast!  We are so excited about the improvements that Ethan is making.  He is hitting harder/farther, running faster, and giving hind-catching a try.  I love watching my boy play ball and can't wait until Landen can play too.  

The boys after Ethan's baseball game on Sept. 13th

Two weeks ago Ethan's class walked to the Homecoming parade.  My grandmother, Landen, and myself walked with them.  Landen had a blast hanging out with all of the kids in Ethan's class and Ethan was wound UP!  The boys all loved the "cool" cars at the parade and I was glad to see that they didn't really miss the candy too much.  This is the first year that the parade participants haven't been allowed to throw candy and I was afraid that the kids would be upset but they were fine with having a snack once they got back to school.  

Last week Ethan's school had dress-up week to celebrate high attendance.  Ethan had a stomach bug and unfortunately wasn't able to be at school on Tuesday but I did get a couple of pictures throughout the week...

Dress as what you want to be when you grow up....a soldier!

My "hillbilly" with his little brother

"Hillbilly Day"  

You know that stomach bug that I mentioned Ethan having earlier??  Well, guess who had it the next day....Landen.  Only it didn't just last one day with Landen....it lasted an entire week!  He first got sick on Wednesday (9/19) and then he had no appetite and other "issues" on Thursday and Friday, he got sick again during the wee hours of the morning (3am) on Saturday (9/22), back to no appetite and the other "issue" for Sunday and Monday, and then sick again at midnight Monday (9/24) night.  On top of all of this he had started limping on Sunday (9/16), we thought it was just a bruise or sore muscle from running, jumping, playing, falling, etc.  By Wednesday (9/19) it was worse and on Thursday his left foot started turning outward when he walked/ran.  So, on Friday we went to the pediatrician and he said that Landen had "toxic synovitis" which is a bacterial infection that settles into your joint.  It is common in kids after they have had several illnesses in a short time period (Landen has had an ear infection, upper respiratory infection, and stomach bug all in 3 weeks!).  In Landen's case it had settled into his left hip.  There is no medicine other than Ibuprofen twice daily.  So, he took that and by the first of the week he was walking better.  Now, it is almost back to 100% normal, thankfully.  I did mention to the ped. that Landen had caught the stomach bug from his older brother but since at that point he hadn't vomited since Wednesday we thought it was going away.  BUT when he got sick again Friday night AND Monday night and still wasn't eating or drinking well we decided to take him BACK to the pediatrician on Tuesday (9/25) and he said that inside the intestine are lots of small "fingers" that stick out and help to absorb food.  He said that this yucky old stomach bug has caused those "fingers" to dull and so his intestine isn't absorbing food/drink like it should.  So, in order to allow those to grow back Landen had to cut out all sugar for a few days and take probiotics to help build his digestive system back up.  We have been doing that for 3 days now and so far so good.  His appetite seems to be improving and so to his symptoms of "the bug".  Thank the Lord!

My sick baby sleeping.

Pretending he's asleep on the exam table

Cutie pie at the ped's office

Being silly :)

Handsome

"Cheese"

This is Ethan's "Please, I want these?" face.  See that gleam in his eye??  He LOVED this shoe and we were seriously going to get them but the smallest size that they come in is a 3 and he wears a 1.5....poor guy!

Nothing too exciting...just everyday life with precious boys!

These were taken at the lake on Labor Day weekend.  It rained all weekend so we made the best of it by riding the UTV on the trails at LBL, going to the shooting range, and swimming in between rain showers.  Ignore Landen's eyes being closed in the top pic, please....I had to put it on here anyway because I love how his little feet are crossed.  He is a little water bug!!






We stopped at Cracker Barrel on the way home and the boys enjoyed a game of checkers....Landen style.

The biggest argument the boys have is over who is going to play the Ipod.  The other night I caught them playing it together.  They looked so sweet, I just had to capture it on camera.

One day last week, Landen wanted to sit in the driver's seat of our vehicle and play while I unloaded groceries.  When I came back to get him he had on my sunglasses and was pretend driving...

That's about all that's been going on with us besides having a couple of baseball games each week.  Ethan has been hind-catching and I had to try to get a picture of him Monday night with his gear on.  I didn't get a very good one but you get the idea.  I think he's just too cute with it on!  Of course, I think he's cute no matter what, I'm just a little bit partial!

Who needs steering when they have reverse??

Ethan has started practicing for Fall baseball, last Saturday Landen played soccer while waiting for his brother to be finished with baseball practice.  I couldn't get over how tall he looks in these pictures...

Landen can't wait to play baseball.  Every time we go to practice he cries and cries to go out on the field with his brother.  We are hoping to get him signed up for t-ball next Summer.

                                                                                                                                                                   

I caught them being sweet to one another a few nights ago.

                                                                                                                                                                   

On Tuesday, Landen and I were playing outside and we decided to get out his brother's jeep that he has outgrown and see if Landen could drive it.  He LOVED it!!!  He doesn't really turn the steering wheel, he just goes straight forward until he hits something and then he puts it in reverse and goes backwards until he hits something else, and then repeats the process. I laughed at him so hard!  The jeep has a radio and that may just be Landen's favorite part.  He would just park and dance to the music.  When the battery started getting low I tried to turn the radio off to save the battery power, but Landen was NOT having that.  He would turn it back on immediately!

Of course we had to swing while we were out playing.  I love his big grin in these pics.

                                                                                                                                                                           

   That silly boy put his potty seat on his head!!!  He'll do anything for a laugh!

                                                                                                                                                                   On Wednesday evening, we took Ethan and his buddy Carter to the batting cages.  Those boys had a blast!!

Ethan up to bat

Carter and Landen watching Ethan

Carter batting

Ethan batting again

Josh, Carter, and Landen

Landen had to play too so we went outside of the cages to bat.

Big ball players!

Back to School Bravery

On Tuesday of last week, Ethan had a 24 hour stomach virus.  He was a sick little guy for a little while there but his brother was more than happy to keep him company while they played Ipad and piled stuffed animals on the bed. It was sweet!

By that evening Ethan was feeling a little better and his fever was gone so to cheer him up Josh challenged the boys to a Nerf war after he got home from work...I don't know who enjoys it more, Josh or the kids, ha!

We spent Saturday at Opry Mills back to school shopping and of course Ethan had to ride the train that is inside the mall.  Landen would have loved the train ride too but we left him at home with grandparents since he isn't much of a shopper.  Ethan loved the new Lego store at the mall!  He has been saving his allowance for a few weeks and spent every last dollar in there.  Of course, he had to try on clothes in order to go to the Lego store.  I can pretty much judge on shirts without him having to try them on but pants/jeans are another story.

One day earlier this week I found them in Ethan's bed watching cartoons and snacking with their cowboy hats on....crack up!!!

Yesterday, Ethan went to stay with his Nannie for a few hours to enjoy some time together before school started back and Landen came into the kitchen wearing these Cookie Monster goggles and said "Wike my gwasses Mama?"  I could kiss his cheeks off!

And last but not least, today Ethan headed back to school.  Our Summer break has come to an end and he is a big 2nd grader now!

Ethan showing off his new backpack...

Landen wanted shoes and a "pac-pac" like brother.

This morning was hard. You would think that by 2nd grade you would be used to them going to school but it's difficult to entrust your child with a teacher who you've met once.  It was also hard because Ethan decided that he didn't want me to walk him into school on the first day for the first time EVER.  He said it makes him cry when I leave the room.  I was so sad but so proud at the same time.  He is so mature sometimes and I am proud that he was able to face his first day on his own.  He was a little nervous and needed a little reassurance last night and again this morning but he was BRAVE when it came time to get out of the truck!  His little brother cried saying "Jar come back".  He will miss having him home to play with and fuss with.  And I might have shed a tear or two as I watched my almost eight year old (who by the way, should still be four) walk into school without me on the first day.  I found this quote that suited today...

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"Listen to the desires of your children. Encourage them and then give them the autonomy to make their own decision."  - Denis Waitley

Well, I am headed out shortly to pick up my sweet boy and hopefully hear about his AWESOME day!!