Hanging with the Hollands

We were excited to get to go to NC for a week AND that Ryan finally got to go with us. He hadn't been home since Christmas so it was definitely time for a visit.  Here are just a few of the fun memories from being with the Hollands. 

Playing with Aunt Randy 

Celebrating Ryan's birthday- James was so sure everyone was singing to him!

Wagon ride 

First ever Happy Meal from McDonalds 

Perfecting the golf swing 

Aunt Whitney is so fun 

Pop makes a good horse 

Revel

One event I look forward to each year here is the Red River Revel. We actually missed it last year so we were excited this year to get to get some  yummy food, and James was old enough to actually participate in the kids' activities. Best of all the Jarvis family met  us there for the fun!

Checking it all out 

Doing a little grocery shopping at Brookshires 

I think he got a few things that weren't on his list!

Checkout 

Attempting to make a puppet 

Checking out the final product 

First time getting face painted- a hilarious disaster 

James was MESMERIZED by Taylor's face paint. I could not get him to stop walking around  in circles looking at it. Too funny! Taylor doesn't look too thrilled.

Learning a little about nutrition 

Listening to Daddy's heartbeat 

I don't know if its being a girl or that she is almost a year older than James but boy is  there a big difference between what these two can do some times! :) 

 We had to get some various desserts: funnel cake, cinnamon pecans, and of course ice cream for you know who! 

It was a fun time for all of us! 

Pumpkins

Time to play catch up with the blog- I'm way behind once again! James has been somewhat obsessed with pumpkins and the pumpkin patch.  Every night we have to read our books about pumpkins (I'm re-learning all sorts  of random pumpkin facts) and he has been eager to get to the pumpkin patch.  The weather was cold (for LA standards) and a little bit rainy but we didn't let it deter us.

He knew exactly which pumpkin he wanted

Not too interested in taking a picture with Mama 

Headed to the car 

September

This month sure went by a lot faster than August (which Ryan and I have agreed is the most painfully slow month in Louisiana).  We are thankful that the fall has come to Shreveport. Of course when I say fall I mean temps in the 90's instead of the 100's. Definitely more bearable though! We have been trying to spend more time outside and it's been really nice.  I was too lazy to do many posts over the past month so here are all of our random photos and memories! 

Dressed up for church with his pirate squeakers on. He went CRAZY when I put these shoes on and now keeps wanting to wear them all the time 

Dining al fresco!

Our new favorite park 

He wants to swing high! (as he demands)

Another park we like, just not so close 

I think I'm getting too old for this. I could barely make it down the slide! 

It's no secret that we love to eat at Shogun.  Best vegetables ever (coming from someone who doesn't like veggies).  Now that they offer lunch we go SO much more.  It's much cheaper and we are always the first ones there for an early lunch so we get the place all to ourselves.

Watching the show.  The cook always makes JT some scrambled eggs as an appetizer.

Spent an afternoon strolling around the boardwalk

Lately whenever we hang out with families with babies James always wants to help hold the baby. He especially loves baby Reece! :) 

Helping Daddy put together the bookshelf 

Ryan has worked a lot this month so one day we killed a bunch of time by pushing the shopping cart around Petsmart.  The snakes and turtles were pretty exciting...

Cutie pie 

We finally got a car seat in Ryan's car so sometimes as a special treat he takes James home after we have met up. (a treat for James or a treat for myself??? Lol) Ryan turned around at a stoplight and James had gotten his stethoscope and put it on. Doctor in training? This mamma hopes not! (for the sake of whoever JT marries in the future, haha!)

James has loved to read books for quite some time now.  I have been really excited because he has a long enough attention span that I have been able to get out some of the books I used when teaching. I'm such a bookworm that I LOVE that he enjoys reading.  He likes to fill in the words while we are reading stories such as in this little video of us reading Good Night Moon.   Decided to post this for the grandparents' viewing pleasure. :)

And while I'm on a video kick I might as well include this one. Ryan will be embarrassed that I put this on the blog but I was SO proud that he was interviewed for the local news to give out information regarding prostate cancer.  Check him out- it's important info!