The Bryant Family

Love Story

2009-10-07T12:54:00.003-05:00

A few week's ago my mom and I took Laney to see Taylor Swift. Now, I don't know how many 3 year olds have been to a real live concert (other than a kids show), but I can say mine has. And I cannot tell you how much joy that brought to my heart. It was worth every penny spent.
Laney loves Taylor's song Love Story (and a few others too)! She was so excited and couldn't wait for her to sing that song and when she did Laney sang as loud as she could and I felt so overwhelmed at the moment we were sharing as I was holding her and we were singing live with Taylor Swift.This photo captures that moment and the happiness on my face and the awe in her eye!

After Kelly Pickler sang and we were waiting on Taylor, Laney told us that she must still be getting dressed ... of course she was:) Before the concert Laney told me and mom that she wanted to Taylor how cute she looked (she was saying that she looked cute not Taylor) so I told her she could tell her that but she would have to be really loud. So, when Taylor came out Laney was yelling "Look how cute I look!" ... obviously Taylor didn't hear her and turned to me and said "She can't hear me!" I told her she might have heard her but that Taylor is busy singing but I was sure she would think Laney was the cutest!

But what a fabulous experience it was! I was just so teary eyed at the beginning because I was feeling so unbelievably blessed ... Thank you Lord!

What Laney said ...

2009-10-07T12:50:00.002-05:00

2 cute things out of Laney's mouth in September (only 2 ... I must not have done a great job writing them down.)

Let me start this one by saying I LOVE reading Goodnight Moon to Laney, it is my favorite to read to her ... always has been ... she is getting smarter ... kind of made me sad though ...
"Houses don’t sleep, red balloons don’t sleep, that stuff doesn’t sleep, why are we telling it goodnight?”

Kevin: "Why did you make a mess?"
Laney: "Because Jesus said so."
Kevin: "Jesus said what?"
Laney: "He said to make a mess."
Let's just say Kevin didn't know what to say so he left it at that.

July & August ... out of Laney's mouth

2009-09-10T11:58:00.001-05:00

I surely do have on a big dress.

Turn off the fan, it is blowing out my curls.

Mommy should have told you I don’t like dots. (telling Daddy when he was making breakfast and I was out of town)

I didn’t know birds talked.

I am big now. I want to eat salad.

Laney: "Everybody's getting ready for my party." Mommy: "Are you getting ready too?" Laney: "Yes." Mommy: "What are you doing to get ready?" Laney: "Fixing to eat cake."

Why does he do art in heaven? (While teaching her The Lord’s Prayer)

Birthday Weekend

2009-08-19T13:16:00.009-05:00

It came and it couldn't have been better. Laney's 3rd birthday party was Saturday (August 15) at our house with the theme "The Wizard of Oz." It was so fun to decorate and prepare for it. Kevin and I both took off work on Friday so we could make sure that everything was perfect. The outside of our house is where the house landed on the Wicked Witch of the West and the beginning of the Land of Oz, which is Munckinland ... complete with the rainbow (that you had to go "over"), a yellow brick road, ruby red slippers and lollipops.

Inside was the flower field Dorothy, the Lion, the Tinman and the Scarecrow run through to get to the Emerald City.

The Emerald City began at the back doors which were covered with shiny green curtains and green balloons. The outside activities made up the Emerald City.

This birthday was so very fun. All the kids and parents had a blast. She is so blessed to have so many wonderful people in her life that cares about her. She got a lot of fabulous presents and lots of love.

On Sunday, her birthday, we went to Rod's Pizza for lunch then she and I went for her first Mani/Pedi's and she loved doing that. (She loves it when I do it too!) Then we went to the lake house and swam and ate a yummy dinner.

She is growing so quickly. But I am embracing all the changes and the phases that are ahead. I am not afraid of them I want to be ready for them, I want to be excited for them and I want to encourage them. It's what growing up is all about ... and Laney growing up (everyday) shows me what we have instilled in her ... we are shaping her into the woman she will one day be. We can't wait to see what she will become in the Lord.

Where oh where did my Laney go? Oh where oh where ...

2009-08-19T13:12:00.007-05:00

Some things I do as a mommy give me so much pride. Sometimes its little things and sometimes big things. This week I made a mad dash home at lunch. I knew I had to stop at the store for black elastic first. I did that ate a quick lunch then got to sewing. Laney started dance class this week and her tap shoes needed to be attached with elastic ... that just won't do for my honey. I had to add some pink and black zebra print ribbon to the elastic. Sewing that up gave me so much happiness as a mommy. I never thought I would be so excited to do something so small for my daughter.
I have to say how very excited I am about her dancing. It was always such a passion of mine and I hope she finds the joy in it that I did and still do (just in a different way). Me and Kevin were so proud of her at her class we both went, watched and took pictures. She is growing so fast, but I love the changes and phases.

IT WAS AWFUL! She hated it! She didn't mind, she cried ... let me rephrase she screamed! She was NOT my child, I promise, I am not just saying that, but seriously she didn't act like my child. I made her stay in there crying and having a horrible time. Kevin was so embarrassed he went and waited in the car. Thank goodness that came and went quickly ... and it's funny looking at the above pics you wouldn't have known what kind of experience we really had!

So, here we are and last night was our 3rd class and she loves it. She did get moved to different class with more kids (which I am glad for) and she is really learning, she can tell you and demonstrate a plié, relevé and tendu. I thank Jesus he gave me MY CHILD back! I love her in dance and love that it is one of the many things we can share. I am constantly going over the terms and demonstrating them for her ... thank you for Jesus for my knowledge.

Interview with my Daughter

2009-08-11T08:17:00.002-05:00

This was a cute idea one of my facebook friends did with their son so I decided to do it and put it on here!

Interview with Laney Nicole Bryant 2 yrs. old ... but almost 3 yrs. old.

1. What is something mom always says to you? No, no

2. What makes mom happy? Clean up my play room

3. What makes mom sad? Don't clean up my play room

4. How does your mom make you laugh? Tickel me

5. What was your mom like as a child? A little boy

6. How old is your mom? I don’t know

7. How tall is your mom? Like bigger

8. What is her favorite thing to do? Make me happy

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? Make me happy

11. What is your mom really good at? Good at daddy

12. What is your mom not very good at? Making me sad

13. What does your mom do for her job? Eat lunch

14. What's your mom's favorite food? Salad

15. What makes you proud of your mom? Just because I love you

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be? Nothing

17. What do you and your mom do together? Play play dough

18. How are you and your mom the same? We both wear dresses

19. How are you and your mom different? We’re pretty

20. How do you know your mom loves you? I love you too

I spend my life preparing

2009-08-08T14:06:00.006-05:00

I am currently supposed to be cleaning the house (while Kevin is cleaning outside) however I had a urge to write, so here I am. I spend so much of my life preparing ... its one of the things that makes me me (and thank goodness my family is okay with it), spend weeks or days preparing for things ... small and large things, trips, grocery store trips, weekends, holiday's. Speaking of holiday's ... we are fast approaching one of my very favorites ... LANEY'S BIRTHDAY! I love it, I do turn it into a holiday. Preparation for this particular holiday have been in full swing since June. Yes, that's right June ... I know I know she is only three and won't remember ... I don't really care if she will remember ... the look and excitement on her face will be so gratifying that two and a half months of preparation will be so worth it. It's so very hard to believe that just 3 short years ago I was preparing for her birth (that was definitely a 9 month preparation) ... had her room ready, the living room ready, the kitchen ready everything was waiting patiently for her arrival ... us too ... we waited and waited and waited, even the day she was born we waited all day and then at about 6:00 p.m. she was born into our world at a
fabulous 20 1/2 inches and 8 lbs and 11 oz. Once she was born I cried as I watch Kevin hold her (I do not regret letting him be the first to hold her one bit) ... I was so beside myself and overcome with joy that all I could do was watch and then after I gained my composure I held that beautiful baby girl that was already the center of my world. I can't even explain the love I have for her and how much it grows daily. She is everything I could have ever asked for in a sweet baby angel girl. She is already my best girlfriend and I know as we continue our journey together my love for her will grow stronger and our bond tighter. So, for her third birthday I am prepared to give her everything she has asked for ... a Wizard of Oz birthday party, complete with a yellow brick road, a witch under a house, lollipops and poppies ... and a PINK GUITAR. I am so very excited for her party and she is too (she is crossing the days off a calendar) and can't wait to see her face and her excitement next Saturday. Preparation is so worth it everytime!

Laneyism's-June

2009-07-23T08:41:00.002-05:00

Here are a few cute things Laney had to say in June:

Mommy: “Laney, do you want to go to bedtime stories at the library tonight?”
Laney: “Um, I want to go to the dollar store.”
***
Mommy: “Are you good and rested this morning?”
Laney: “Yes, like the Tin Man.”
It took me a second to figure out she thought I said rusted. So I took this opportunity to explain the difference, I was even sounding out the different vowel sounds and she was repeating me. So I asked again.
Mommy: “Are you rested this morning?”
Laney: “Like the Tin Man? What about the Scarecrow? What does Laney have to eat?”
The conversation was obviously over, and I must not have explained the difference between rest and rust very good.
***
Daddy: “Do you want to go on a boat ride?”
Laney:”No, I want to go swimming.”
Daddy: “Mommy and Daddy want to go on a boat ride. Don’t you want to go with us?”

Laney: “Ya’ll can go on a boat ride and I’ll stay here and swim.”
***
Laney: “Daddy go change clothes. Do you not know where your bathroom is?”
***
Mommy: “Stop messing with your tutee.”
Laney: “There’s something in there.”
Mommy: “What?”
Laney: “Sprinkles.”
***
Laney: “Turn this song off, I don’t like this song.”
At the Colbie Caillat concert
***
Laney: “I'm getting a pig for Christmas. A pink one. And its going to scare my doggies.”

***

Dora Dora Dora the Explorer

2009-07-18T07:45:00.005-05:00

Laney love live production ... she has been to 1) Doodlebops 2) Sesame Street Live 3) Dora Live & 4) Miss Arkansas. She is so good during them and is in ahh and just I can't even tell you how excited she gets about them. We are planning on taking her to Wizard of Oz at the pocket theater (local group) in October then maybe to see it at the Orpheum in Memphis in December (don't think I'm bad that she will be scared ... she LOVES Oz ... its her birthday party theme ... and quite possibly her favorite movie). Here are some pictures of her at Dora ... no cameras please!

She also just got one of her birthday presents from us ... a slide with pool. We gave it to her early so she could get some good play time on it and because we are going to let the kids use it at her party.

To splint or not to splint ... Miss Arkansas

2009-07-18T07:27:00.007-05:00

First let me update you on my still hurting thumb! Doc said no broken bones ... well I knew that. Just some probable torn ligaments and tendons ... here were this splint (that is making my thumb hurt in a totally different way) and put ice on it every night and take Advil regularly. If its not better by next Wednesday you will need to see an Ortho doc. Okay fine. I do have to say the splint has made what was hurting go away, but there is a whole new pain, whatever, I don't know what's better .... the spilt or none. I think today I'm going to go without and see what happens. I hate it for one, look at me trying to put lipstick on Laney that she so desperately wanted before we went to the Miss Arkansas Pageant.

So, the Miss Arkansas pageant was fantastic. Laney loved it and stuck it out for 2.5 hours before she was ready to leave. I wasn't sure if she would even like it. Our tickets were really good on the aisle and she could see great. All week she has been talking about seeing the "princesses and dancing girls." As soon as we got home from work/school she asked if she could pick out a crown to wear, so we did, then she asked if she could pick out her dress, so we did, then she asked if she could pick out my dress, so we did. We just had to wait like 3 hours to go. She was such a comedian commenting on the girls ... the lady in front of us told me at intermission that Laney was cracking her up!! Lots and lots of people commented on how cute Laney was and ohhed and ahhed over her and of course I LOVE that! First was swimsuit (Laney kept asking me if they were going swimming:) then was talent which Laney loved, most of them danced and there was some good dancing ... that's my favorite talent I guess because I actually know what they are doing and what is hard. It was obviously Laney's favorite too, because about 6 into evening gown she said she was ready to leave because the girls aren't dancing anymore. I think she would have lasted through the whole thing if they weren't asking each contestant a question ... I think Laney got bored with that. I will have to look at the paper today to see who won last night's preliminary. Tonight is the actual pageant for the top 10 but me and Kevin have a date so we couldn't go tonight. Next year though I will take her to the top 10. I am so glad she had a good time! My mom and I used to make it a girls trip and come to Hot Springs for the final night. I am so blessed to live in Hot Springs so we can just hop over there and watch whenever we like ...

Terrible Terrible

2009-07-14T16:27:00.002-05:00

I have been terrible about updating this thing. What is wrong with me? How is it I remember to do EVERYTHING else I need to do but this? I need to put it on my calendar. I just get so busy living life and loving every minute of it that I totally forget. And it is really bad when I say to myself or Kevin I have to blog about this ... and then never do. This one has to be quick because there is no need to type while my thumb is throbbing unless it is for work. So, I jammed my thumb ... crazy funny story: 4th of July weekend, contest with some family running around the "pirate ship," I slid into Kevin, my arm went under him and my thumb got jammed ... and it is still hurting ... I can't turn on the car the normal way, peel fruit, pick Laney up, type ... nothing that needs to be done with the 2nd joint on my thumb without it hurting. DOCTOR I'm coming to see you tomorrow morning. FIX my thumb. I really didn't even realize how much of a necessity a thumb is until now. I even teared up putting Laney into her car seat on Saturday ... she was sad for me and put (imaginary, and the best kind) of sticky tape on it in the car so it would feel better ... funny how that tape at that particular time did make it feel better --- I must say this wouldn't have happened if the car next to us didn't park TOO close to us at Wal-Mart, ugh! Everyone else is great at our house. I love Kevin and Laney very much and love just spending time with them. They are both comedians so they keep me laughing. Okay, that's all for now, I will let you all know about my thumb tomorrow!

Laneyism's

2009-06-02T11:31:00.003-05:00

Here are a few cute things Laney had to say in May.

Breezie: "Laney, what are a few of your favorite things?"
Laney: "Flowers and princesses and towers too."
***
Laney: “I want some pudding.”
Daddy: “We don’t have any pudding.”
Laney: “We do too, you need to learn what we have.”
***
Laney: “I don’t want to wear those shoes, they are yuck! I want to wear shoes with sparkles.”
***
Mommy: “Do you want bananas in your cereal?”
Laney: “That’s not what you put in cereal. You put milk in cereal.”

***
Laney: “I have to go pee pee.”
Mommy: “You just went you don’t really have to go.”
Laney: “Uh-huh, it’s coming out.”
Mommy: “No it’s not, I don’t see it.”
Laney: “It’s in my tutee right now.”

***

The Best Day

2009-05-19T12:35:00.000-05:00

Dear Laney,

You are at an age where you really are a little girl. You are opinionated, strong, bossy, independent, loving, sweet, generous and beautiful. Actually, you are a mini-me. Looking at you and seeing your reactions and actions I feel so blessed to be such a huge part of your life. Laney you are growing up too fast, I love this age and wish I could freeze it just a little longer, but I can’t so I have to take every minute I have and hold it close to my heart. You are so girly and I love that. You want your toes and fingernails to always be painted and you are quick to tell me they need to be touched up. That is one thing I love to do … manicures and pedicures with you and I love to take you to pick out new polish, it always intrigues me when you make your choice. Honey, you think that you have to wear a dress and that they make you a princess and beautiful. This is not something I want you to believe in and I am working on that with you. Dresses, necklaces, bracelets, crowns, none of that make you beautiful, I want you to understand that you are beautiful with or without them and that you can look like a ragamuffin and still be beautiful. This weekend I noticed you saying “I can’t do it very good.” All I could think was who taught you that? I quickly corrected and told you that you absolutely can do it very good, just try and you can. I hate those negative thoughts in your beautiful head. I want don’t want you to know “can’t do it very good!” Laney, you can do it because I know you can!!

I want you to always look to me for comfort and that place where you can be at peace with yourself, that place where it really doesn’t matter what you’re doing or what your look like, where you can 100% be yourself and have no worries about what will be thought of you. Believe me you do it now, you don’t care if you have snot on your forehead and tears streaming down your check when I’m around and I am honestly glad that you don’t hold back with me, it would hurt my feelings if you did.

I get so very excited about days alone with you because I swear at 2 ½ years old you are my best girlfriend. This Saturday your Daddy had to work so it was just you and me kiddo. On Saturday morning you woke up in the best most loving mood. We watched Mickey Mouse and I made Banana Nut muffins. We had a shower and then got dressed and headed out to the mall. We spent 3 hours at the mall, just two best friends hanging out. You were even suggesting stores to go in. We didn’t need anything but we did buy a little. We just walked through the mall holding hands, talking, sharing and browsing. As we were headed back to the lake you told me you were tired but you wanted to go out on a boat ride with me. So we packed up an ice chest, towels, sunscreen and the dogs and headed out onto the lake. We rode and talked for a then the sandman got you and you napped.

There on the lake where we rode around for about 2 hours all I could think about was you and the best day we just had and I had to say, thank You, Jesus, for blessing my life more than I could have ever asked, thank You for the honest and real relationship I already have with Laney, I know it is only going to get better and thank You for my mama who taught me how to have a honest and real relationship with my precious, angel, baby daughter.

Love, Love, Love You-
Mama

Catching Up

2009-04-17T21:00:00.013-05:00

It feels like I haven't blogged in forever ... but I have, it has just been a really busy last two weeks. To start it off my better half made the turn into adult-hood ... yes he turned 30. He actually didn't have an issue with it and for that I was thankful, but I just can't help but think dang he's not in his twenties anymore. I mean I really don't mind getting older, however I can't imagine not marking boxes on forms that don't start with a 2 ... I mean seriously I forget how old I am sometimes when filling that kind of thing out and mark like the 24-26 box and stuff ... hello ... not that age anymore. And I wonder just because I am having these thoughts now, will they go away or intensify by September 2010. I hope go away ... I know age is just a number and by no means do I feel my age (hence marking the wrong box) thankfully! Anyway, so for my wonderful hubby his birthday present from me was a 3 day trip to St. Louis to see Cardinals Opening Day. It was a fab time and its nice to get away just the two of us to reconnect and be able to enjoy just simply, each other's company. While we lived in The Lou (which ironically is also Laney's nickname) we never went to an opening day, just the festivities so we were super pumped and knew we were taking a gamble with what the weather would be like. But as you can see, it was HELLO Freezing the day of the game ... and yes that's right folks it was snowing ... but we had so much fun, very memorable.

When we got back on Tuesday we met her and Gigi (Kevin's Mom) in Caddo Valley then we got home to Hot Springs around 5:30 and got ourselves ready for the rest of the week ... Laney was getting tubes in her ears on Thursday. She just started having ear infections around October ... never had them as a baby so she was just know getting tubes (Tristan also got tubes this week ... goodness). Pics are from that day. And let me tell you what a trooper we have, she was fabulous, didn't have to sleep it off or anything and felt fine. Now the ear drops we had to give her well, it was Wrestle Mania in our house the first few times and the first time we put ear plugs in for bath ... I really think the neighbors think I was murdering her, but finally (thank the Good Lord) she calmed down. I hope it gets better, we are at the lake all summer and she is a water baby and is going to have to wear those every time she swims till they fall out. She has always been weird about her ears. She has never wanted me to mess with them, all before tubes or ear infections.

Then on Thursday family began making their way to the Spa City for the Arkansas Derby and Easter. Saturday was beautiful and Sunday, um not so much. We hunted eggs in the house. It was a good time.

Thought I would leave you with these 2 pictures that have nothing to do with anything I've written about.

Has anyone ever heard of a Golden Retriever loving a Rocker Recliner ... Minnie loves it here.

And I just love this ... I love them both more than I could ever convey. They are both the be all that ends all!

March Laneyism's

2009-04-14T09:03:00.003-05:00

Here are a few cute things Laney had to say in March.

Laney: “Let me take your picture.”
Mommy: “Okay.”
She takes the pretend picture on her play cell phone that has a picture of Cinderella on the face. She looks at the picture.
Laney: “That is a very nice picture.”

***

Laney: “It’s okay baby.”
To Tristan when he started to fuss when she was smothering him with kisses.

***

Laney: “I don’t think he needs his paci anymore.”
Tristan was crying and then after he got his paci he stopped and she thought he was done with it.

***

Laney: “He’s being ugly.”
Laney told me very loudly at the library about a kid we didn’t know who was pestering his sister. Everyone including the parents laughed.

***

“That was a little one. That was a big one. Let me look at my big poop. I just peeped on my poop, let me look.”
While she was potting she was providing a play-by-play.

***

Laney: “Um, that's good pudding!”
Daddy: “How do you know you haven’t even eaten it yet?”
Laney: “I like pudding ... And I like applesauce.”

***

Mommy: “Dear Jesus, make Laney a better woman than me.”
Laney: “I’m not gonna be a woman. I’m a big girl.”

***

Laney: “I have on a dress. I don’t think you can wear flip flops with a dress, because it’s a dress.”

Our Little Star

2009-03-30T20:01:00.004-05:00

Singing her favorite song! Look out American Idol ... here comes Laney Bryant give or take 13 years.

St. Patty's Day, Hot Springs National Park Style

2009-03-18T15:21:00.007-05:00

While in most cities St. Patrick's Day is just another day to wear green and pinch people for not wearing in ... however, Hot Springs National Park, AR has the World's Shortest St. Patrick's Day Parade and each year it gets shorter. We have a celebrity Grand Marshall and all kinds of quirky fun things in the parade and during the festivities ... like a kissing contest on the Hot Springs Blarney Stone (which Laney entered this year, but didn't win, but had fun ... and is now wanting to kiss big rocks every where we see one:) Here is something our local paper had to say about Laney the day after Green Day ...

Another contestant, Laney Bryant, 2, of Hot Springs, dressed in a green dress and donning shamrock antennae, had to have her mother, Amanda Bryant, show her the ropes, and eventually snuck in a second kiss.~The Sentinel-Record, March 18, 2009

It's A Love Story

2009-03-14T09:50:00.005-05:00

Laney's favorite song is Love Story by Taylor Swift, however, she calls it Juliet. When it comes on she automatically says "that's my favorite!" And when it's over she says "I wanna hear Juliet again!" And we turn it back on. We are both very thankful that we like the song ... she could've picked a favorite song that we didn't like, so we don't mind listening to it over and over, it makes her happy.

Introducing her first musical performance. There are 2 videos ... enjoy!!!

Love Story, by Taylor Swift & Laney Bryant

Dancing, Dancing, Dancing, Dancing Machine!

Weekend of Fun

2009-03-08T18:31:00.008-05:00

This weekend we started out on Friday night going to the Sun Belt Pep Band Spectacular and we had so much fun. Laney loved the music the bands played and danced up a storm. She liked the mascots from a distance. When the ULM bird (mascot) got me up to dance she didn't like that at all and started crying and got into her Daddy's lap. She said that the bird scared her and thought it was going to get me.

Laney eating her yummy hot dogs. They gave away free hot dogs, popcorn and drinks!

Laney dancing! Sorry its the wrong way I was caught up in the moment:)

On Saturday we started our day at the Garland County Library. It was our first time to go and Laney loved it. It was a hard decision when it came time to checking out books. She ended up with a Dora book, a book about bugs, a Curious George book and a Care Bears (she calls them color bears) DVD. We have read them all and watched our DVD already.

Laney getting her library card.

She loves books and loves to read so she was in heaven.

Then after the library we went to the Horse Races to visit Nana in the Jockey Club. Laney did good picking the ponies and seemed to always pick the #7 horse which happened to wear an orange blanket (that's her favorite color).

And then on Sunday we had a visit with Uncle Pompie, Aunt J & Tristan.

Laney loved on Tristan for a long time and gave him lots of hugs and kisses.

A Visit From Cupid

2009-03-06T21:12:00.007-06:00

A little late I know, however, her is our Valentine's Day. On the 13th her class had their party and she and I decorated her a Valentine Mailbox. She was very proud she did it all (except her name).
This is Maddie, Laney and Gracie at the Valentine Party.
Noah is the one lpoking at the camera and smiling, Laney says he's a "really good friend" and the one at the end of the table is Luck, who must have a crush on Laney because he hits her and is mean to her, she says he's not her friend cause he's "bad." The red head is Max and Laney is friends with him too.
Mommy & Daddy had fun at the party too!

On Valentine's Day, since all three of us were each other's Valentine's we had a family date and it was so much fun. First we had donuts, Laney's favorite. Then we went to Playtime Pizza in Little Rock for a late lunch and playtime!

She loved collecting the tickets.

Laney with all the toys she bought with her tickets!

Happy Late Valentine's Day Ya'll! Hope you shared it with people you love, we sure did ... (that was cheesy, I know, ha I'm a dork!)

Really Quick Thoughts

2009-03-05T09:24:00.003-06:00

I read two things this morning that I wanted to share, because I LOVED them both. How blessed I am reading two great things within a hour of each other! Hope you love them too!

"Skipping is just jumping for joy, step after step." ~Jessi Lane Adams

Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do! And whatever else you do, develop good judgment.
~ Proverbs 4:7

Have a fabulous day!

Laneyism's February

2009-03-03T16:02:00.006-06:00

Here is what our angel baby had to say in February 2009.

Laney: “I want a corn dog.”
Daddy: “We don’t have any corn dogs.”
Laney: “Are we out?”
Daddy: “Yes, we don’t have any”
Daddy quietly says to Mommy: “Should I go get her some?”
I shook my head no, thinking she could eat what we were eating for dinner. Laney didn’t see me shake my head no.
Laney: “Mommy said yes! Mommy said yes!”
Kevin went and got her corn dogs.

***

G-Dad: “Do you like Mexican food?”
Laney: “I don’t think so, but I like pudding!”

***

Laney: “Gosh, the wind is blowing.”
Pause
Laney: “My hair is blowing.”
Pause
Laney: “The wind is messing our hair up.”

***

Mommy: How did you feel today?
Laney: I feel bad because I hurt my hand.

***

Mommy: "Do you want to learn how to spell your name?"
Laney: "Yeah!"
Mommy & Laney: "L-L-A-A-N-N-E-E-Y-Y"
Mommy: "Very good, you spelled Laney."
Laney: "I just smelled ME!"

***

Laney: "Not our blessings, I need to say a different prayer I think."

9 Feet Down

2009-02-14T18:37:00.006-06:00

Last weekend we went to the lake to play on the bottom of the lake and let the dogs swim. They lowered the lake 9 feet this year, which hasn't been done in like 10 years. Any rocky surface is where the lake normally is.

Here you see how far out in the cove we are. This is a long way from the house.

Gracie and Minnie are walking on the "shallow spot" in the cove.

There are lots of rocks on the bottom of the lake (this isn't where you could touch bottom) and Laney found a big rock that she said was heavy. It took her a second to figure out how to hold it.

It also took her picking up and dropping it three times to get it in the lake.

Kevin got stuck trying to walk to the doc. Then I challenged him to walk in the "quick sand" on the bottom of the lake and he made it!

Laney's smile shows everyone how much we LOVE the lake, even in February!

Laneyism's

2009-02-10T14:39:00.003-06:00

In January I started writing things down that Laney said. I thought it would be a good way to remember her cuteness and share it with our blog readers. After each month I will post these Laneyism's.

January 2009

"He’s a very good friend"

~Talking about Noah

***

Mommy: "Do you want to say your prayers?"

Laney: "No."

Mommy: "Why not?"

Laney: "Because Laney’s Crying."

~She says this in response all the time when she’s sad, but really not crying, one time she said she didn’t like Breezie’s earrings because she was crying

***

"I’m going to Wal-Mart."

~After putting on her jacket and getting her purse

***

"I want some monies"

~When she needs to go to the pretend store, most of the time she eats the imaginary money

***

Mommy: “Laney ready to say your prayers?”

Laney: “Yes, I want to say to cookies.”

Mommy: “Okay.” Not know what she was talking about.

Laney: “God is good, Let us thank Him for our cookies, Amen.”

~We say our prayers every morning on the way to school and this is what she said one day

***

"Luke spanked me on my noggin."

~Luke hit Laney in the head at school, Granny taught her what a noggin is

***

"I have a good daddy. Santa Claus brought him to me."

~She told me this one night when I was trying to get her to sleep.

***

"Where’s my Jesus, I want to have him."

~When I told her Jesus was with her and she could talk to him, she wanted to hold him like a baby doll

***

"1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 11, 20, 13, 11teem"

~This is the way she counts

I'm with Gladys

2009-02-10T14:16:00.001-06:00

I'm with Gladys ... I do love Jesus and I do drink a little! Enjoy, I laughed really hard!!!!

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired

2009-02-04T09:12:00.010-06:00

Two weeks ago Laney has RSV, which has run amuck on Hot Springs this year. Just about everyone we know with kids has had it in their house. Luckily when a 2 year old has RSV it doesn't really affect them like it does babies, so here Laney and I are at home for a week and she mostly acted like nothing was wrong. I worked from home that week so it worked out that me nor Kevin had to take a week of sick days. I did get some cute pics of her during the week. ENJOY! Oh, and by the way, I am home again today because I have strep throat and Laney is actually with me because she has a strain that shows up as a rash, its called Scarlatina. I doubt I will be taking any pictures today.

First she hosted a tea party for Molly & Lolly, her American Girl twins.

Then she painted and ended up wanting a star on her face, so I painted one for her.

Then she wanted to put my make-up on.

Here is that finished result. She told me I looked beautiful, like a princess.

She wanted all the donuts to herself.

And she slept.

So Far This Year

2009-01-19T18:50:00.008-06:00

We have been very busy it seems so far this year. Here we are on day 19 and it feels like we are a couple of months in.

We went to visit Kevin's Grandad who is 96, it was a very good visit. Laney always takes a second to warm up, but by the end of the trip she was putting stickers on him, just like she was putting on all of us!

Another big step at the Bryant house was a new big girl bed. It was exciting and bittersweet all at the same time. Kevin and I both were good with her moving into a real bed. Instead of being sad, we rejoiced and celebrated this big step in her life. She really loves it! We did have that odd transition where she had room for us to sleep with her so she kept coning us into watching movies with her. Which we quickly found out was a bad idea. So we decided to start a reward program where if she slept all night in her bed by herself for 5 days she would get a candy bar of her choice (we are marking the days with stickers on a calendar in her room) and after a month she will get a trip to Playtime Pizza in Little Rock. She has done really good and she got her candy bar yesterday. However, last night was the first time she didn't do great and didn't get a sticker and was sad, so hopefully tonight we will be back on track. But the point is she loves her bed.

Minnie is still trying to learn and we are trying to learn how to have a 2 year old, puppy and a 10 year old dog. It is a totally different experience this time around. We did come to a conclusion this weekend that we are going to have to put out more effort in all things puppy. But Laney loves her very very much and I love Minnie even more for that. As we speak she is saying over and over to Minnie, "Because I Love You!"

This weekend also ushered in the 2009 Racing Season. Kevin LOVES the ponies and I do too. So Mike and Shelly stayed with us this weekend and we went to the Jockey Club on Saturday and didn't win any money. But it was fun!

And today to celebrate MLK the Chamber was closed for the first time. First we had a nice long morning with Laney and took her to school late and then Kevin and I had a day date ... it was fun. We ran errands, had lunch and went and saw Grand Turino (very good) and then picked Laney up from school early and played outside.

And finally the biggest thing to happen so far this year is NO MORE PACI'S!!! As Laney would bite them she would say they were broke and we would have her throw them away. A little more than a week ago the last one broke and we have been paci free every since, with no troubles!!! YEAH!!!

Resolutions

2009-01-02T08:53:00.005-06:00

Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man. ~Benjamin Franklin

Happy New Year to you and your families! A New Year is always ushered in full of optimism, full of resolutions. I always do really well for a few weeks, sometimes even months and last year was the first time that I had really completed my resolution, I ran the Little Rock Half-Marathon in March. This year I have decided I will make resolutions again ... its what we do for New Year's and then I will work had to keep them. I have to speak them aloud or I will not keep them. My main resolution this year is to run the St. Jude (Memphis) Half-Marathon in 2009. Hold me to it:) Regardless of resolutions I love the place I am in my life right now and tickled pink to be starting 2009 where I left off 2008.

Happy New Year from our family to yours. And good luck on those resolutions.

Christmas at The Bryant's

2008-12-28T17:37:00.005-06:00

Christmas morning was very exciting this year. Laney was very into Santa and frequently walked around the house singing Santa Clause is Coming to Town (and she is still singing it) she also really enjoyed making cookies and understood he would need a snack and some milk when he got to our house. As I said in the previous post she was getting EVERYTHING she asked Santa for (she is a very blessed little girl and she thanks Jesus everyday for her blessings in her prayers).

We decided to wrap a box with no bottom to put over the puppy (her name is Minnie). When Laney got up she was in a good mood until we walked into the living room and she got overwhelmed. Kevin and his parents (Gigi and G-Dad) were standing waiting and everyone said Merry Christmas and she saw all that Santa had brought and she got shy (which very rarely happens). We went to the box Minnie was in first, Laney wouldn't pick up the box so we helped and then she was in a weird state ... like stunned. It took her a second but she quickly began enjoying Minnie.

We had a very merry Christmas and Santa brought us lots of goodies. We have enjoyed our days off doing little nothings and being together. Hope you all had a very merry Christmas too!

That's Poo Poo

2008-12-28T17:29:00.002-06:00

Quick funny ... Last night to break from leftover ham we decided to go to Outback. We had ordered a blooming onion and Laney's chicken and fries and Laney had her Shirley Temple and Kevin and I were enjoying our beer's when our waitress brought us a yummy loaf of bread and butter. What a great thing to tide us all over until our food arrived. As I'm sure you know the bread is brown ... that information is needed for the rest of the story. As the waitress passed it to Kevin he asked Laney if she wanted some and as honest as a two-year-old gets she said "No, that's poo poo!" Kevin and I began laughing and we just couldn't quit, we laughed till we cried. Part of the continued laughter was because she was obviously proud because she was funny so she kept telling us that bread was poo poo ... and then of course she didn't want to eat any of the poo poo (even though we told here that it was bread and not poo poo). The rest of the meal was good and she ate her chicken and fries, because nothing resembled poo poo.

Santa is bringing ...

2008-12-19T11:23:00.004-06:00

Santa came to school Wednesday to visit all of the kids. I wasn't sure if Laney would want to sit on his lap (see Lights on the Landscape post). She did great. She told us that if you smile you get what you want and a candy cane ... guess that's what they told her at school. Thank goodness she won't be disappointed. Here is her picture.

St. Nicolas Day

2008-12-18T09:54:00.002-06:00

Aunt Shelly and Uncle Mike sent Laney this new sweater for her St. Nicolas Day present and she looked so cute in it I had to take her picture. She has started this new thing when she smiles for pictures to close her eyes, so then I have to tell her to open her eyes and we get this cute surprised look each and every time. Merry Merry!

I'm so excited and I just can't hide it

2008-12-17T08:08:00.003-06:00

When we first started discussing Christmas and asking Laney what she wanted all she asked for was Red Presents ... wow, that is easy! So I wrapped everything in Red with Red bows and they are all safely hidden in the attic. The hardest part about that was finding paper that wasn't red (or didn't have red as the main color) for all of our families gifts since they sit under the tree. I accomplished this (thank you Hobby Lobby). Well, we really haven't told her anything that Santa is bringing and since she didn't ask for anything we just bought her stuff she would like. Last week, she started asking for things ... she asked for a Dora (which we bought ... a doll and a movie) .... SCORE 1 ... she asked for a puppy (which we have bought and are picking up on Christmas Eve and she will get it on Christmas Day from Santa ... BIG SCORE 2 ... she asked for a slide and a swing (which Gigi, G-Dad and Nana got her, but it's really from Santa) ... BIG SCORE 3! I am thinking to myself WHAT how did we do so well, we obviously really know our child. Because she is getting what she wants this Christmas (all by accident) I am so very excited! When she told us she wanted a puppy I really got tears of joy because I was so happy!

She will be excited about all her new treasures! We are having Christmas in Texarkana with all my families this weekend and I know there are great things under their trees that will make her sparkly with joy. I need to do some old toy clean out this week to get the playroom ready for her new things.

I thank God everyday for all of our blessings and this year I feel so wonderfully and truly blessed.

Lights on the Landscape

2008-12-14T07:27:00.009-06:00

Last week we went to Garvan Woodland Gardens to see their Lights on
the Landscape. This is normally a weekend activity, however our weekends are few and far between before Christmas. Anyone else feel like your running out of time this year? Anyway, we had lots of fun and it was fab as always. When we pulled up I was excited to see that Santa would be visiting the Gingerbread House that evening. When we made it around to where Santa was we waited in line as all of the kids around us lit up with excitement, including Laney. We know Santa and his helper Pinky Clause so they were ext ta nice to us because Laney didn't want any part of him when it was her turn to see Santa ... Dick aka Santa just told me to sit on his lap with her ... it was OKAY and I stress OKAY. So we left and went to look at more lights ... God Bless Her Soul, she wanted to go back to see Santa ... Regret, this may have been her first experience with that emotion. So we went back and then it was our turn and she wouldn't go in, Santa said well I'm come out there, and then he hugged Kevin, then me but not Laney ... she doesn't want hugs, kisses or anything from Santa, except Red Presents (however, even though she won't show Santa any love, I know she does love him and is excited about the season).

Thanksgiving

2008-12-11T11:38:00.001-06:00

Too many pictures to post seperatly so I made a slide show. We had a full house at Thanksgiving ... our whole families were there (minus a few), I think we had 12! The food was great but the company was better!

A Christmas Survey

2008-12-10T11:15:00.000-06:00

Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate?
Hot Chocolate with lots of marshmallows and egg nog with that special sauce

Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
Both, only leaves out things that will look cool sitting out ... and this year Laney asked for red presents so all but 2 are wrapped

Colored lights on tree/house or white?
white

Do you hang mistletoe? I don’t have any but if I did I would hang it

When do you put your decorations up? Weekend after thanksgiving.

What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Ham from Weldon's Meat Market

Favorite holiday memory as a child: one year drew had a bigger "pile" than me and I was feeling sad and pouting and then my dad brought me out a TV that was hidden ... also remember getting my dooney & bourke ... also remember when Drew got a new truck ... and some new bicycles one year too ... goodness so so many good childhood Christmas memories

When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? What there's no Santa?

Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? Only Jammas

How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? With everything ... it’s fabulously and beautifully gaudy ... every year each of us gets an ornament that represents something with us (this year mine is an apple because it was my first time to go to NYC)

Snow! Love it or Dread it? Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

Can you ice skate? Yes, but I'm no Nancy Kerrigan

Do you remember your favorite gift? Um, diamond earring from Kevin ... and a really good shaded pearl necklace ... and everything else I've ever gotten (well almost)

What is the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Teaching Laney about Christmas and what it all really means

What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Coconut Cream Pie

What is your holiday tradition? Christmas Eve service, dinner (starting a new tradition this year and ordering pizza), reading the real Christmas story and Twas the night before Christmas ... Christmas day ... presents, breakfast, and late lunch

What tops your tree? A gold and frosted glass star Kevin and I bought our first year married ... its broken. We also have the first star from the first Christmas tree we shared ... it's not very pretty, I think it cost $1 ... on our tree

Which do you prefer giving or receiving? Giving

What is your favorite Christmas Song? Traditional: O Holy Night ... Non-Traditional: Christmas in Dixie

Candy Canes? Yum or yuck? Yummy

What do you want for Christmas? Stuff for our house. But I have to say I am super pumped about my present from Kevin this year ... I haven't said I wanted anything and he has been very secretive so I am so excited to see what it is!

Do you attend an annual Christmas Party? Several ... Tis the Season

Do you dress up on Christmas or wear PJs? Jammas

Do you own a Santa hat? Nope

Who do you normally spend Christmas with? My wonderful beautiful little family

Re-Cap of Summer Vacation

2008-12-06T07:31:00.003-06:00

Before we made it to "Christmas Vacation," I thought I would share a few pictures of our Seaside Vacation we made in September. It was Laney's first time at the beach ... and let me tell you, we have a BEACH BABY! She loved it and had so much fun. It was the best vacation and I can't wait to take her back. I created a slide show of a few pictures of our trip. There were too many so I had to narrow it down. Enjoy!

How we live our life

2008-12-05T07:21:00.013-06:00

Me, Kevin, & Laney ... my little family ... this is how we live our lives: on the go having fun. That is one thing that me and Kev both think is so important ... to have fun ... our lives shouldn't be all business. If you aren't having fun you are wasting the time God has given you. We are silly and I love it that way!!!! Here are some pictures of us living our lives ... theses were all taken last week after Thanksgiving ... I will post Thanksgiving pictures as soon as mom sends them to me (come on mom!).

Laney loves Gracie ... she gets so excited to hug her, she tells her bye and gives her a hug and a kiss every morning before we leave and as soon as we get in the car after school, she says go see daddy? go see Gracie?

This is Laney's first bedroom Christmas tree, she picked out the tree and put all the ornaments on by herself. And she wants it on ALL the time.

This is Aunt Shelly's dog Abbye. Laney made her a pallet and got her a baby to sleep with and got her a pillow. Abbye was good for a little while, then she got up off her pallet and Laney keep telling her to get back ... to funny!

Just some Razorback tailgating pictures. This was a game that I wanted to leave, esp. at half time when it was really raining ... but goodness gracious ... what a game, so glad we stayed.

We found Laney sleeping like this in her playroom. She was worn out!

Funday Sunday

2008-11-13T10:29:00.006-06:00

Laney and I had a Funday Sunday this weekend ... we loaded up and went shopping all afternoon, had treats in Books A Million and bought some Christmas presents and got a few other things we needed ... we had so much fun and the weather was beautiful, perfect for an outdoor shopping experience.

When we got home we changed out of our clothes and as you can see she wanted to leave her boots on but was continent taking off her outfit.

Then we finally got the PJ's on as long as we left our boots on. I walked out of her room for about 5 minutes and came back in and found her very asleep ... the day of shopping wore her out!

Finally Halloween

2008-11-12T16:01:00.004-06:00

Here are some pictures of Laney at Halloween! Enjoy our little cave girl! I made her costume and she is wearing shoes that were mine when I was here age! Pays off to keep things:)

Update on Big Girl Panties

2008-11-04T17:35:00.001-06:00

Laney did excellent today ... YEAH!! She didn't have any pee pee accidents ... potty every time. However, as some of you know the poop is harder and she did that twice in her big girl panties. But we are super excited about the pee pee ... one step at a time!!

Big Day for Laney

2008-11-04T09:30:00.002-06:00

Today at school Laney is wearing Big Girl Panties for the first time. We have been doing this at home on the weekends and evenings, but today is the first time out of the house in real panties!! She was excited (we are too:)! I will let you know how it goes ... we sent her in crocs (easy to wash), extra clothes and extra panties ... woo hoo ... my baby is growing up ... boo hoo! She went in Dora the Explorer (whom she loves) panties ...

Quick Funny Story

2008-10-31T10:18:00.002-05:00

We have been practicing "Trick or Treat" and teaching Laney how to do it and what will happen when we say it at doors tonight. This is a conversation we had this morning.

I said, "What are you supposed to say when we knock on people's doors tonight?"
She said, "Open the door up!"

I about died laughing at her sweet honest response.

Happy Halloween!

Our Cutie

2008-10-30T14:22:00.002-05:00

Two new cute photos to share ...

This was before school on Tuesday.

And this was this weekend ... Laney playing

"Sally Jane" in my socks and her goggles.

Catching Up

2008-10-28T20:52:00.008-05:00

I havent blogged in a week or so so I have a lot of catching up to do. First this is our new house:)

Mom brought Granny up to see the house and to have brunch ...

Then we went to the fair. We went last year, but Laney was too small to enjoy it. She LOVED the rides. On that day, I was very thankful that I wasn't Blessed with height ...

A classic, and our first ride.
This was her FAVORITE ride (our little risk taker, her father's child), we rode it a lot, over and over, I must admit, it was fun and the joy on her face was precious. She finally let go and kept her hands in the air.

Playing a game, every duck she picked up had the same number. She won a trumpet, but we lost it at the fair.

Lasso the Moon

2008-10-15T09:04:00.004-05:00

What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary.

I'll take it. Then what?

Well, then you can swallow it, and it'll all dissolve, see... and the moonbeams would shoot out of your fingers and your toes and the ends of your hair... am I talking too much?

On Friday Laney tried to jump to grab the moon. Thought it was really cute and adorable. Then this morning we were getting to the car--and you know how that is, mornings can be incredulous sometimes in good and not so good ways--she walked halfway down the driveway and was looking to the sky. I was in my normal "come on we have to go to school mode" and she looked and said I have to get the moon and she tried to jump at the sky she then looked at me and said where did the moon go so then I explained the difference between night and day. She wants the moon so bad ... I wish I could get it for her. But then again she already has moonbeams shooting out of her fingers and toes and the ends of her hair.

King

2008-10-08T15:19:00.005-05:00

Today Mom called to tell me she took King to the vet and was going to have to put him to sleep. I cried. We got him 13 years ago. He was the best, sweetest most faithful dog. He was a gentle soul in a big body. He loved his family and all the dogs that we've added over the years. He had become a companion to my Granny and didn't let her leave his sight. Sweet king enjoy doggy heaven ... find Sadie, you know she will be up for playing with you forever. Photo of King that Mom took this morning.

New York New York

2008-10-07T20:11:00.006-05:00

Thought I'd share a little about our first summer vacation ... we went to New York City the end of June. We stayed in NYC for 3 days and then went to Massachusetts for our cousin Liz's wedding. It was mine and Laney's first time in NYC, but it won't be the last. There is so much more to see. Enjoy the pcitures!

Laney on her first plane ride ... she had her moments but overall she was good.

Lady Liberty seen from the Hudson River.

Brooklyn Bridge and Manhattan skyline from the Hudson River.

Laney with riding on top of the Double Decker bus in Times Square. Kevin met Samual L. Jackson ... and Yasser Arafat ... HAHA ... not really this is Madame Tussaud's Wax Museam! Dancing in the booth at a VERY late dinner at Bubba Gump's in Time Square. After the VERY late dinner at the M&M store & Laney was so excited to finally be there.
At Toys R Us in Time Square ... they have a ferris wheel inside the store! We couldn't buy tickets quick enough ... she was ready to ride!
Kevin and I in Rockefeller Center.
Kevin and I on Top of the Rock, that is Central Park behind us.

Things are changing

2008-10-01T11:28:00.003-05:00

All I really have to say is I am so glad Fall is in the air ... OMG! I love the fall smell and all that goes along with it. I love the big spider webs I have started finding. The air is crisp and has a bite. This morning my car said it was 54 degrees ... I am putting up Halloween and fall decorations this week. I got the material for Laney's Halloween costume yesterday (she picked it out) and can't wait to start sewing it. Yes, I make homemade Halloween costumes.

We still don't have Internet at home ... I am about to pull my hair out! And now I had an appointment this AM for a tech to come to my house and they didn't come so I am on the phone now with them and they are saying the ticket is closed WHAT??????? so hopefully they will reschedule for this afternoon.

The only other thing going on at our house is potty training. We started a month or so ago and it's going okay. But there is no point in potty training when you have a diaper on (in my opinion), so in the evening and on the weekends if you were to show up at our house you would find a sweet little girl running around in her big girl panties (no not me ... Laney). She loves them and asks for them. She is doing pretty good ... but sometimes she forgets and oops, and then that hurts her feelings cause she messed up but we tell her its okay and then she is okay. I do have to say though I think that has prompted her to take her diaper off when she pee pees or poo poos in it ... she has taken it off and brought it to us several times ...

2008-09-26T11:12:00.005-05:00

Mark your calendar and join the Chamber for the 34th Annual Arkansas Oktoberfest! Bring your family and friends … and don’t be shy … tell everyone you know about it. Click here to buy tickets now!

Laney and I at last year's Oktoberfest ... my my how things change in a year.

Where's Laney's room?

2008-09-26T11:02:00.003-05:00

So we began our move into our new house a week ago today. And we are all in pictures on the walls and everything. We have a little left to do but should have it all done this weekend. Which is nice since the next few weekends are full of activities. Let me know if you want our new address ... I will send it to you ... after all it is almost Christmas card time (I cannot believe it (for those of you with kids that was said in the tone Leo says on Little Einsteins, haha)). Anyway, our Internet at home is still not working so I haven't blogged any pictures of the beach or our new house, but as soon as it is up and running I will send pictures.

A funny Laney story: So our new house is quiet a bit larger than our old house and essentially Laney has 2 rooms ... her bedroom and a playroom. Last Saturday when we were moving her and Gigi came for a visit to see what we had accomplished. She was playing in her new play room for a while. Then she came out in the great room (which has a fireplace in the middle that you can see from both sides, walk around it if you will) and she was running around it and then looked at me and said "Where is Laney's room?" so I pointed to her bed room ... and she walked in there and then right back out and said "That's not Laney's room!" She looked so perplexed as she keep walking around trying to find her room. Then she pointed to the play room and said "There it is!" and was so proud that she found her way and wasn't lost anymore ... cutie!

Let me assure you she knows where both of her rooms are now:)

Leaving Indy

2008-09-12T08:53:00.003-05:00

I am leaving Indy today... so ready to get home. Our flight leaves here at 12:30 (CST) and will get to LR at 4:40 ... We are flying from here to Detroit and have 30 minutes from the time we land there till we take off ... Pray our flight from Indy to Detroit is ON TIME! So as we leave here, Hot Springs is preparing for another hurricane ... crazy how we don't live near the ocean but we are on track to so far have 2 hurricane's in Hot Springs. Goodness. I hope it holds off ... we want to take Laney to the fair in the morning. Ta-ta for now:)

Woo Pig Sooie

2008-09-09T14:55:00.002-05:00

We didn't get back till late Friday, so Laney and I didn't go to the Razorback game ... but that didn't stop us from dressing the part.

New Friend

2008-09-08T22:20:00.002-05:00

So I am in Indianapolis. Kevin is taking care of Laney while I'm away.

He calls this afternoon and tells me the following story about our very smart 2 year old (who is in a new class with new kids). "When I went in to get Laney from school today she said 'Daddy this is Noah.' I said to Noah 'Is your name Noah?' and she said 'This is Noah.' She made a new friend and introduced us this afternoon,"Kevin told me. And ... OMG ... how cute, my heart was melting. Then he proceeded to tell me ... "When we were in the car on the way home she first asked for a book to look at so I gave her one then she said 'Daddy sing,' so I was singing then she said 'Sing loud,' so I did and then she told me 'Don't sing too loud I'm trying to read.'" ... OMG now I'm really melting, she is so smart and has such a great vocabulary ... we are so proud.

We just got back on Friday from our first beach trip with Laney. I do want to tell you about it and add pictures, but they are on my laptop at home (as opposed to my work laptop which I have with me) so until I get back home the posting will have to wait,however, I will say we had an absolutely wonderful time, Laney loved the beach and the ocean and she was an amazing doll the whole time. But I will write about our adventures soon, I promise.

Special Purpose

2008-09-07T16:16:00.006-05:00

This blog is here to show our friends and family what we are up to ... so here moving forward you can check back here to see what Kevin, Amanda & Laney (the most adorable, unbelievably smart and sweet as honey little girl) are up to. We are going to share our joys, love and laughter with you through words, pictures and video (don't you just love technology!). Ta-ta for now!