Clay's 1st Year In Review

I can't believe my baby will be One on Sunday. Where has the time gone??? He is getting his first tooth this month and just yesterday is started taking steps I think he'll be walking all the time in a few weeks. I love him so much. He is such a loving, goofy, easy going, patient, happy baby. Could you ask for anything more? So in honor of him here are some photos to review his first year.
Love you Baby Clay xoxoxo

Sonic

So I had never been to a Sonic before I don't think The OC has one. In Bama it's a different story there's one on every corner. So since Brock is in DC until Saturday I needed a fun evening activity so Sonic for treats it was. I called my personal drink secialist Paige and she gave me a great recommendation Diet Cherry Limeade with Grape. De-riccious as Owen would say. Owen wanted "blue" the lady said it was some berry coconut thing so that it was. I think Owen loved it . . .

Old Alabama Town

We went to a historic neighborhood in Montgomery with some JAG wives we had a good time. Here are some shots . . .

These are the JAG wives (clockwise) Brittany, Christie, Katie, and Me. Owen is in love with Katie and the other wives are starting to win him over.


Owen being a porch monkey . . . the cutest one I have seen


Owen asked me "What's this mommy? Bunny Rabbits?" I said "No, Owen it's cotton it comes from Sheep" what? cotton, sheep? I quickly corrected myself and luckily Owen doesn't know any better.


Our Shy Donkey

We really do have the greatest boys

We went out to dinner last night and as we were leaving this older couple stopped me and said "you really have very well behaved children and they are so cute". I just wanted to kiss that couple it's just what a mother needs from time to time. It's made me realize we really are working through these terrible 2's.

Montgomery Zoo

I took the boys to the Montgomery Zoo yesterday what a GREAT zoo

Atlanta Aquarium

We went to the Atlanta Georgia World's Largest Aquarium last weekend (a total let down but still good family fun)





I love those eyes!!

Our House in AZ

So I haven't posted about this before, if you have been watching the housing and mortgage industry you'll understand, we might end up walking away from the house if things don't calm down a bit. But before we left AZ we put a house under contract in the Palm Valley area of Goodyear. We really love that area of town. When we pulled up to AZ for the first time for a house search in February 2007 we pulled off on a random exit and immediately it felt like home and we were lucky enough to find a home that we loved with a great price. I guess the West Valley of Phoenix hasn't been considered the greatest (which is where Goodyear is). We don't understand why . . . it is new, clean, great schools, great parks, 45 min closer to CA and NV then those other Phoenix towns, and dude it has Target and Chili's and if you know the Ohlson's we don't need much more than that. Anyway we got an e-mail today from our home design consultant with photos of our granite for our kitchen and so I thought I would post some pics we took before we left in early July. Here are the stats of the house aprox 2900 sq. ft. 4 bed 2.5 bath formal living and dining (we'll use one as a den) bonus room (we'll use as a playroom) laundry room, and then the kitchen, nook and great room area. Maybe it will be ours in October . . .

Hunting Stories at Bedtime

Our new bedtime ritual is having Brock tell Owen hunting stories. It started out just an Antelope story but now Brock has to tell an Antelope, Elk, Turkey, Dear, and Snake Hunting story. I think it is getting out of control Owen loves to watch the hunting channel now and will get mad if we try to change the channel. Here is Owen telling me the Elk story. Sorry the sound isn't better . .

Owen Swimming

May not seem very exciting but Owen smiling in a pool wearing flooties . . . this is a first.

The conversation went something like this . . .

Owen: "I have to go poop I have to go poop I have to go poop" (while running to the bathroom holding his bottom as to make sure it doesn't fall out!)

Me: "Ok let's go buddy, mommy will help you" (I help him get up and situtated while he continues to hold his bottom)

Owen: "Leave mommy I need some alone time."

Alone time??? What?!? When did he become a 50 year old man who takes the paper into the crapper.

They grow up so fast.

If only all Bank of America's were 65 miles away

we would always have fun adventures. Brock needed to go into a Bank of America branch and surprise surprise Montgomery doesn't have one. The closest one to us is in Georgia so we decided to hop in the car and go. We found on Brocks iphone this fun looking place that was just 15 minutes from B of A so we went. It was so much fun it's called Callaway Gardens with over 13,000 acres of preserve type land. They have 7 man made lakes, a beach, put put golf, circus, butterfly exhibit, water skiiing, gun range, golf etc. etc. Needless to say we didn't do it all but we think we might head back for labor day when they have their hot air balloon extravaganza. We did do quite a bit though here are some shots from the adventure.

Us on the lake at Callaway Gardens (typical Owen pose)

Owen playing with the fish at the butterfly exhibit

There were over 1,000 butterflies at the exhibit

Fun at the bounce house

Great Grandpa Mers would be proud Owen would yell before he hit the ball "Get in the Hole" it was priceless

The FSU Circus (see the girl swinging upside down)

How come no one told me . . .

how BEAUTIFUL the Florida beaches are. We just returned from a three day trip to Eglin AFB where the AFB has it's own beach. The sands are like sugar the water like Evian I couldn't stop talking about it, people for sure knew we were tourists. Brock was busy during the day but we got evenings with him and had a great time. Owen told me this morning that he didn't want to go home he wanted to go to the beach again. It made me sad to think home isn't at the beach anymore, it is such a fun family spot.

How beautiful is the water . . .
>
the sand . . .

the fun . . .

this is what brock did while we were at the beach

Owen made a friend, another JAG's wife came with us, and put her to work