My Little WakeBoarders

Before we headed to the lake last Friday, Robert calls me and tells me he found a youth wake board on clearance.  And he bought it.  The kids were excited and talked a big game.  But I thought for sure they'd back out once we were on the lake.  BUT NO!!!   Landon hopped right in FIRST (which is huge) and gave it 100% effort!!  I don't think I can emphasize how big a deal this is.  This is the child that would not even get in the water 2 summers ago at the lake.  Maybe even last summer.  He's the child that we had to FORCE on the tube because we knew he would like it.  Then we couldn't get him off.

Anyway, I was a super proud mama!  Even though he couldn't stay up very long, he definitely could get up very easily.  He's SIX years old for crying out loud.  Do you know many 6 year olds that try and wake board???  It was so stinkin' cute watching them back there.  I really enjoy pulling Robert and the kids behind the boat. 

I'm sure by the time he's 8 he'll be giving me a heart attack trying tricks back there. 

Robert would stay in the water with him for some runs.  But he actually had his best run when he started out by himself. 

Olivia popped right up as well.  She's been skiing for a couple summers, so she has a little more experience behind the boat and knowing how to balance.

Saturday evening, our neighbor came over with his super cool wake boarding boat.  He was SO nice to pull Olivia and Landon.

Olivia was very good at taking instruction.

So cute out there!

By the end of the weekend, she was learning how to move around a little bit back there.  You pull the handle toward your hips to move.  She even got a little wild and did it one handed for a bit!!!

Here is Olivia in her best run that we caught on tape.  Then a little commentary from one of our friends.  :-)

Dog Days of Summer

And internet is back up!  Why didn't anyone tell me the pics were HORRIBLE from the last post.  I did it from my phone, so I couldn't tell.  I fixed it though.  SUPER happy to have our internet back up and running!!!


1.5 more weeks until school!  We are kinda bored because NOTHING is going on.  All the summer programs are over, and we're kinda burned out on swimming, McWane, and zoo.


I feel like I can't even think straight with such a lack of routine.  I'm definitely looking forward to getting back into one!!

So, until I can think straight again and tell you about our weekend at the LAKE...hint, the kids learned to WAKE BOARD!  Pretty.Darn.Awesome......I will leave you with a video my sis took of Rhodes on her phone.  He is just too silly!

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!!!

Lightning Strike!

What a crazy day yesterday! I started out of my driveway to run errands and in my rearview mirror, I watched our house get struck by lightning and begin smoking. Yeah, not something I see everyday.

Oh, and the sound was something I've NEVER heard before. Imagine the loudest thunder you've heard times 100!! I jumped out of the car and ran up to the corner of the house where it was smoking - which is where Lillian had just been napping. There is smoke and ashes falling on me. A couple of neighbors ran down to check on me.

Anyway, I called 911 just to have the firemen come and check things out. I didn't want anything smoldering or anything. It was quite exciting! Especially for the kids!

That is the tree that was hit as well. Huge pine tree. The firemen told us it was dead now and a good idea to get it removed now.

There are strips of pine laying all over our yard.













A little blue bird was also a victim. I don't know if it was on the tree or the phone line cord.



Here comes the truck....sirens, lights and all!

The top of the corner of the house where it was struck.

The above wire ran own to this box that pretty much blew up. The box was in TONS of pieces all over the yard.

Lots of firemen went through our house. I just happened to have ALL the beds made and the house generally picked up. Though if this had happened last week.....probably not.

I have to say that the firemen were SUPER nice and friendly. They were nice to the kids and offered up lots of advice as to what I should do from here.

I think we were super lucky to have only lost landline phone and internet. Everything else is replaceable....even if we have to go a week without Internet. :( Which is why I'm trying to blog from my phone.

We will miss the hubs a bit because he will have to stay at work with the Internet to get some things done. He is such a good provider!!!


I just hope it's like they say - that lightning doesn't strike the same place twice. Once was enough for me!!


- Posted from iPhone. Please excuse any typos. :)

SHINDIGS Catering Food Truck!

I'm SO excited to finally be blogging about this!  My brother in law's FOOD TRUCK!!  And this past weekend, we got to go out and find them. We've been watching all this unfold for the past several months and I know Mac and Chad (his partner) are thrilled to be up and running.  I think my Sis is too.  ;)

Quick shout out to Vaughn Design for the logo.  Isn't it great!

Shindigs Catering Food Truck

Mac and Chad have had Shindigs Catering for a while, and now it's on wheels!

You can follow them on twitter @ShindigsTrucks and find them on Facebook HERE.  Lately, they've been down near UAB in Birmingham during the week.  We found them at Railroad Park on Saturday.


Their email address is shindigscatering@gmail.com if you ever have any questions!

A peek inside...hard at work!

The kids loved it!  Seeing Uncle Mac in action. 

Your food comes in these cute little boxes. 

Now about that food.  It's good.  REAL GOOD.  Like spank your taste buds good!!

I got the Chadillac.  This is what their website says about it:

Chadillac (Free-Range Chicken) 

Country Ham, Cambozola and Caramelized Onion-Fig Mostarda


YUM!!!!


Here is what they say about the fries: the fries are cooked in rice bran oil, known to be one of the healthiest frying oils in the world and hypoallergenic.

How interesting!!


Robert had the salmon:

Delizioso (Organic Salmon) 

Crispy Prosciutto, Smoked Mozzarella, Balsamic Onions, Arugula and Pesto Yogurt

He said it was AMAZING!

Even the kids like it!  The little pork bun burgers!  They really liked the fries though!

Not to be outdone by the food truck, the ice cream truck circled around several times.  The kids each got a little something.

Rhodes (and Robert) thoroughly enjoyed his blue batman popsicle. 

Anyways, if you're in Birmingham you NEED to go and try it!  Definitely a fun and different way to pig out. 

One more thing, Mac and Chad also do private catering.  From parties of 2 to 2000 with lots of different ordering options!!



So proud of Mac and Chad and the Shindigs Catering Truck!!!!

Friday Iphone Dump: Beach Edition!

I can't believe I take so many pics with my phone.  Seriously, I think I mentally made fun of people who did...but I seem to have hundreds.  And my "iphone pics" folder is filling up fast on my computer.

Anywho, here are my top pics from the beach...


Floating away...he is hilarious in the pool.  He just floats and floats.  And gets around pretty well!

Trying to figure out this beach thing.

Daddy and the cheerleader pose.

One strong daddy!

We taught the kids how to play spoons.  It was so fun!  Brings back fun memories!

On one of the rainy days, we went to Bass Pro Shop and spotted Landon on one of the toys!  It's so fun still spotting them. 

So Rhodes is potty training himself.  I've never had a kid do this.  Even last night, after bath, he said "tee tee potty".  Then undressed himself, took his *still dry* diaper off, got on the potty and went tee tee.  I almost don't know what to do.  But I'm not holding my breath for him to be fully trained for a while.  I'm not quite ready yet...even though he might be getting there.  He also enjoys flushing and saying "bye bye tee tee!"

SOAKED after the bumper boats.

Headed out to Baytowne Wharf!

I rode the *FAST* merry go round with Lillian and Rhodes.

Landon and Daddy on the high ropes course!

Tidal pool!

Surfer dude!

One night we stayed out on the beach until 8:00!!  Then came in and cooked some fish and shrimp.   So after we put Rhodes and Lillian to bed,  we gave the kids a shrimp peeling lesson!

Tiger who?

Shaved ice is YUMMY!

Pool at the beach....

Last night!

Crab dip at Harry T's!

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!