Summer Lovin'

Playin' shuffleboard with some cousins

Special reunion hair do's courtesy of McKenna...

Landry partaking of some yummy Morris Reunion desserts

Merry Go Rounding with my cuzins

They actually stopped laughing and chatting long enough to smile for the camera!

The pitiful looking craft we made this year ( it is a splash bomb made of out of cut up sponges and fishing line...)

we made special cards for special family members with cancer, and one who is in Iraq!

Yes, this is a hail storm, in which the children wanted to "collect" the stones via styrofoam cups...( Oh, to be young ...)

Landry and her new cute shades - what else?  pink POLKA DOTS!

Lawson at swim lessons with a big surprise...his friend "Titus" was there, too!

Just call him "Splash"  - that's him, alright!  

Being silly in the car ( this is AFTER 6 hours was under our belt!)

A little more serious after 8 hours...

We are definitely LOVIN' SUMMER!  As you can tell by the photos, we have been doing a myriad of things so far!  As I have told Land:  "You have no reason to put that sad face on - we have done SOMEthing FUN EVERY DAY since you were released from school.  So, here is a look at all we have done.  We have had play dates with friends, we swam nearly every day.   We LOVED on FAMILY at the reunion, we've had sleepovers, and so much more.   We still have a couple of VBSes to do and a VERY SPECIAL MOTHER/DAUGHTER TRIP TO VIRGINIA to see my SISTER-IN LOVE & SMILEY KYLEE!     Now, we are off to the library for some summer reading FUN.  We wish you a splashtastic summer time!

Morris Reunion 2008

We are glad to be home after a WILD RUIDOSO REUNION 2008...  Our first adventure included a special tour of the RUIDOSO, NEW MEXICO EMERGENCY ROOM!  Lawson had a fight with the downstairs fireplace at our condo - and, well, the fireplace WON. Needless to say, this blog post is not for the squeamish - - - So BEWARE of head injury photos up ahead! .....  Oh, and if it helps YOUR feelings any, while some of these photos were being taken, he was saying:  "  Are they gonna take my eyeball out?"   And, then about 2 hours later : " Why do we have to stay here?...Can't I just get a band aid and a popsicle and go home?"  Yah - we had to laugh, too.  

Happy Birthday BOYS!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

Our Handsome Birthday Boys!...

(special thanks to Aunt Shauna for the cute "matchy - matchy" shirts!)

Boys with their? toys...

Yes, our two guys turned one year older this week - and we are grateful for each of them - We love you Keenan and Lawson!   

Here are some benefits of being married to the eldest of the birthday boys....

 I know all components of an R-22 helicopter ( who do you think was his study buddy?)

 Our house is full of lots of laughter

 Our home is full of lots of WHISTLING....IN TUNE!

 I never have to repair ANYTHING in my house. ( Unless he is just simply GONE)

 I have free in house IT support  - or tele-support

 I can, now quote every highlight in each episode of "The Office"

 I have a daughter with ONE dimple on her left cheek because of HIM ( so cute...)

 I never have to wonder about what mood he is going to be in - He only has ONE:  Happy.

 I am a blessed mother who is allowed the privilege to be a "never-at-home" mom with two  beautiful children and am surrounded by anything and everything we need ( and even some  things we want) All because of that hard work....

 And Finally, the greatest benefit to marrying this June 1st baby is The constant "I Love You's " I get each and every day....  I love you, too Keenan!

How to tell if you are Lawson's mother.....

You always have a hot wheel located somewhere in your purse.

You have "Cars", the movie - memorized - including soundtrack.

You are always getting lots of "I love you mommy"s and hugs

You get extra special kisses on your hand or arm?

You get new carpet because the littlest birthday boy hoses down your old carpet.

You laugh ALOT because of the HILARIOUS & witty stuff he says each day...

And FINALLY, the best way to tell if you are Lawson's mother is, well, we all know you AREN'T... So, I will just say I LOVE YOU, LAWSON!

 

The Leatherwood LATEST

We have been very busy, as it is the end of the school year and Lawson will be turning 5 this Thursday!  Hopefully we will have some fun birthday photos very soon, but for now, here are a few 'pictoral answers' to the question we hear most often: "What have Y'all been UP TO?!?"....Enjoy!

Being our sweet selves....

Being unusually morning-person-ish! 

Being "tricky" ...

Bein' trickier....

AND....

Momentary amnesia - thought we were dog people for about 12 hours one Wednesday...( His name was Harley)

Had some fun with a few cousins...

Explored Mac Land - - - notice the nice pop art of Landry & friend!

Went on a field trip to Ft. Worth Star Telegram Newspaper 

Ate some chocolate cake....

Played in our cake....

Umm...Did I mention we LOVE us some chocolate cake?

Welcomed some VERY SPECIAL (not to mention cu-ute! ) guests from Virginia!

Ummm...Did I mention HOW cute they were?!

Played a little Tee Ball....

Cheered for our little brother who was playing 3rd base....

Honored some VERY Precious MOMS! ( Love you ladies!)

went to work and school, as usual...( isn't this too cute?)

And sometime in between all of that,....we RESTED!

See you in Leatherwood Land again SOON!

  

Gotcha, Kylee!

Today is the anniversary of a very special day in our family.  It is "GOTCHA DAY" for our niece, Kylee Hope Oswald!  ( A term commonly used in the adoption world for the first day that Joel & Shauna ( Keenan's Sis & Brother in law ) "got" Kylee in their arms for the very first time.  This VERY emotional journey ( at least for ME, anyway...)  Began what seems like ten years ago.  It may have been - have not checked that accuracy with Shauna?  I can not speak for my precious Shauna & Joel, however, this whole event just makes my heart want to burst.  So, I suppose it comes out in the form of LOTS of tears.  You can follow their beautiful family on their blog: "A Walk on The 'Walds' Side" at 1ne1tx1ch.blogspot.com.  As of today, they even have video of their special "Gotcha Day."  Boo Hoooo....Waaaaaa.  Be forewarned - it is too darn cute - and well, the music doesn't help.  - It only ADDS to the emotional trauma on this VERY PROUD AUNT.  We love you oodles, Kylee, Joel & Shauna!  ( Ihope I can get a cute pic of Kylee up on this post - but if I can't - Give yourself a special mother's day treat and check her out at their blog spot!)  

Muddy Miracle

  Well, as usual I can not keep anything a surprise - - - especially pictures of my children!  I was supposed to be saving this for his birthday invitation, but the doting mother in me has taken over!

  I guess I got a little retrospective, as well.  I am not one to take things for granted anyway, however, the way Lawson came into the world still takes my breath a little.  And to see him about to turn age five is still so amazing to me.  A walking, talking muddy miracle, he is!  And such a funny one, too.  That is just how God is - just giving us little bonuses we don't deserve every which way we turn.   

I leave you with these last few thoughts:  First, a definition I saw for a boy:  "A noise with dirt on it".  That pretty much sums it up for today.  I must go brush the grit out of my teeth.

May you all find your own mud puddle today! 

Pancakes & CHEESE! aka- The Gospel according to Dr. Seuss

No, we did not eat pancakes WITH cheese - We were just being "cheesey" while spending some family time this weekend.  Keenan decided he wanted pancakes for dinner on Friday night.  I would have been happy to make them, but he decided we could just go to IHOP.  I had also told the kids if they were super great this week ( I know, I know,....BIG shocker that they aren't ALWAYS super great ALL the time, right?), that I would take them to see "Horton Hears A Who"  Well, once we arrived at IHOP, to our sheer and culinary delight there was a HORTON HEARS A WHO -THEMED BREAKFAST MENU!  Hooray! Hooray!  Jesus DOES love The Leatherwoods!  Anywho, of course citizen #'s 3 & 4 promptly ordered the green eggs & ham with the special pancakes.  ( by special I mean turqouise & pink colored fruit syrup and a pink lollipop stuck in the middle. MMmmmm I love that kind of health food.  (gag.)  Kids LOVED it.  

They also decided to wash it down with some special drink, too.  By special, I mean it was sprite with miniature blue & red jello jiggler cubes that could be sucked up in the straw - ( see pics)  Well, at least the 'green' in the eggs was spinach - - - I guess they got a little Vitamins?  

We loved the movie - and despite one crude remark ( of course it is every little kid's favorite line, now ) It was virtuously pretty wholesome, clean fun with no off color, make you uncomfortable - kind of remarks.  In fact, right smack dab in the middle of the flick, I started seeing some REAL spiritual correlations to it.  Now, granted, I am a bit prejudiced - - - I LOVE Dr. Seuss.  I think he was GENIUS.  That being said, I wondered if there was any truth to the rumor that he was Christian.  Either way, 'Horton' provided an interesting topic of conversation for Seuss lovers from around the globe - especially those who Love the Lord.

Bad movies are bad, they leave me quite troubled

If you take kids to see them,  then they are bad - DOUBLED

I've gone into rhyming and rhyming is fun -

But as for this blog entry - it means I am done.

Aren't you GLAD?!