Bring on Summer!

I love this weather!

Banks had his first trip to the pool of the year! He doesn't even remember the pool from last year, so this was a new experience. He was pretty clingy to us, because he was unsteady in the water. But he liked to splash around!

We also took Banks to Bruster's for his first real ice cream! OK, can I say I have never gotten him interested in feeding himself with a spoon until said spoon was filled with ice cream?! He's like his daddy.... loves ice cream! Lucky for us, Bruster's gives a free kiddy cone with adult purchase so it will be a while before he breaks the bank!


And on Saturday we played with Kennedy and Whit! I love this picture... Banks on the John Deere with a girl on the back reading her Bible! Oh, sweet babies!

And I hope Katie doesn't yell at me for posting a picture of K in her diaper, but how sweet is this?! How great is summer when you get to play outside in your bare feet as the sun is going down? Everybody is sunkissed from being outside all day... mmmmmmm.... so great!

A sampling of videos

I have not posted videos in a really long time! So, tonight you get a random assortment of videos! OK, some are long. I'm very aware that the only people likely to watch the whole things are the grandparents! That's OK! :)

The first video is really my favorite. The last time we were at the lake, Banks got REALLY BUSY on the dock! He was so into the dogs and throwing the ball into the water! And, as you can see, we stayed really busy blocking off the side of the dock so he wouldn't jump in! Surprisingly, he was pretty timid about getting close to the edge so the blocking was just precautionary! When it sounds like he's crying, he's not.... he's talking up a storm and yelling!

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How does your garden grow?

Last weekend I decided I was going to start planting things. I guess I just realized that I'm starting to spend a lot of time outside with Banks now, so it would be very easy to take care of a few plants while I'm out there. And, I thought it would be a great learning experience for Banks! Jonathan laughs at that though. He says I'm the one obsessed with learning because I literally check the plants every day to gauge their growth! So, I'm going to try and track them weekly on the blog. I figured it would be good enough motivation to keep everything alive!

I decided I needed herbs indoors. Do I ever cook with fresh herbs?
No. But I might if I had them around! I planted Parsley, Basil, Chives and Oregano.

Here's my garden right after planting... I went back and put straw around the plants to make it a little less ugly since the garden is right in my flower beds... I planted a watermelon, green bell peppers, tomatoes, and strawberries. I also planted zucchini from seed because Lowe's didn't have any young plants. I'd also like to note that Jonathan wouldn't let me buy a tomato plant that was already full grown. He said I might as well go to the grocery store. I needed the "experience" of growing the plant!
Oh well... it will be a while before we have tomatoes around here.

What a sweet little helper!

And now, one week later...
I have sprouts!! Check out my green thumb! The parsley is not pictured because I'm not really sure the parsley is going to make it...

My strawberry plant has new berries, and a blossom!
It's a good bit bigger than when I planted it!

And here's my zucchini! I planted it in a pot because I had no more room in the flower bed, and since I was planting from seed I wasn't sure if we would have any success. But check it out! Three little sprouts!

Easter Sunday

Ok, this is the last post about Easter, but I still have one more post from that weekend complete with video that I need to upload.

Easter Sunday - here's a picture of us with some sweet friends at the church I grew up at in Sumter! This is Daniel, Lisa and baby Jenkins. Jenkins is the cutest thing ever! I grew up with Daniel, and I've enjoyed seeing his family grow as he married the most beautiful girl and then had a precious little boy! Banks and Jenkins are going to love growing up on the lake together! I see many fishing trips in their future!
I just had to put this picture up of Bailey. What a silly dog chasing bubbles out into the lake.

The Easter Basket

I know I'm still blogging about Easter. Since blogger makes ordering your pictures difficult, I've found it easier to bunch pictures in groups. And considering I took about 400 pictures last weekend, I still have a ways to go. There is something about being outside that just makes me want to snap snap snap away on the camera! When I'm inside, like today, I hardly think about the camera!


Enjoy my little bunny checking out his basket!

15 months old

Dear Sweet Banks,

15 months already? Didn't we just celebrate your birthday?

You are more and more fun every day. I love the smile I get when I wake you up in the morning, like you have been laying there all night just waiting for me to come back and get you! I love the way you wrap your little arms around my neck and hug me in the day when you want to be cuddled. I love the way you sit in my lap at night and make little prayer hands to let me know it's time to say our night night prayers (even though you refuse to make little prayer hands yourself during the prayers!). I love the way that after our prayers, you try to climb into your crib by yourself. You are as serious about your sleep as your mommy is about her sleep!

What else are you doing at 15 months?

- You love to be "SIDE!" Your word for outside. If you can't be 'side' then you throw a fit. It doesn't matter what we do when we're 'side'... we can play with cars, trucks, golf clubs, balls, etc. It just matters that we are 'side.' Often, when we get home from school, we go directly to playing 'side' without so much as setting foot inside the house!

- You've become a really picky eater. At school, you'll eat anything. At home, nothing. Bagels and yogurt. That's about it now.


- You're trying to run! You aren't very steady when you get going fast, but you get faster every day.

- Most days, your daily report card says you were 'busy.' I can't think of a better word to describe you myself!

- You are growing extremely attached to "Da." He's the coolest. Ever.

- You have more teeth! Just last month I was noting you had the same 7 teeth you've had since 9 months. You now have 1 molar (boy, was that painful for all of us when it came in!) and 1 other bottom tooth. Looks like a few more are on their way. Your little mouth seems to hurt all the time.

- You really understand us well now, and you've been following instructions for quite a while now.

- We tell you to go to the bath, and you immediately grab our hands and start pulling us toward the bath! You do love a bath...

- You really love books! But you prefer to read them to us.

Sweet baby, you just have such a personality now! You show us when you're happy, sad, hurting, excited, angry and busy.

I love you more than I ever thought possible.

All our love,
Mommy and Daddy (aka MA! and DA!)

Bike riding

On Saturday night, Uncle "Kis" took Banks on a bike ride! He was supposed to be occupying Banks while I worked on dinner. Banks had been tired from playing outside all day, and I wanted him to eat and go to bed early. I just needed a few more minutes...

As you can see, Banks is having a good time!

And this is how my son was returned to me...

Banks feel so hard and fast asleep that he didn't even open his eyes when Jonathan picked him up! No dinner that night... Banks went right to sleep and didn't wake up until morning!

Note to self: Bike riding does not keep your baby occupied while you cook dinner. It knocks him out!

Sandbox Fun

Banks spent some serious quality time in the sandbox this weekend! I really think he spent hours on end in there and was so good! I just had to share some pictures of this sweet little face!

BALL!

Banks's favorite things in life are, in order, the following: Dog. Ball. and Duck. Ma and Da are somewhere in the mix too.

And when he says "ball," it is "BALL!!!" With enthusiasm. Every time. So, you can imagine the thrill of a day spent playing with footballs and basketballs!

Uncle "Kis"! Uncle "Bet"! Can you lift me up to the net? BALL!

Nellie, why am I not holding a ball? BALL!

Who wants to play ball? BALL!

Go long.... BALL!

Heisman pose! BALL!

First Kiss

Today as I was leaving school with Banks, he leaned over and kissed his best friend Marley. On the mouth. With some pucker to it. Banks has a girlfriend?!

I was going to post some Easter pics tonight, but my camera died as I prepared to upload them to the computer. So, you'll just have to wait!

Because He Lives

God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

And then one day, I'll cross the river,
I'll fight life's final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to vict'ry,
I'll see the lights of glory and I'll know He lives!

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!

~ William and Gloria Gaither

Second Easter Egg Hunt of the Season

On Saturday we had our second egg hunt of the season!

Banks continues to be distracted by the toys or candy inside the egg! It really hinders our ability to find multiple eggs! Enjoy these pictures from a very fun afternoon with friends!

All the kids with their stash of eggs!

Finding one of only a few eggs before we got distracted by the goodies inside.

I know there is an egg in here somewhere...

Banks and his buddy Parker! I really think they are starting to love being friends!! Parker is the sweetest thing... I could listen to him talk to Banks all day long.

Sweet baby.

Banks, meet the Easter Bunny...

Banks met the Easter Bunny on Sunday! Banks was not a fan... the only reason he isn't hysterical in these pictures is because Jonathan is holding him.