Swim Lessons

Thomas went for his very first swim lesson. He basically cried the ENTIRE time! The water was a tad chilly and he has always been a very cold nature d child...so maybe that was it.You can't really tell but he is screaming in this picture. He never stopped screaming. Mia on the other hand was a FANTASTIC swimmer!

This may be the only shot where he does not look like he is crying...it is an illusion, because he was crying.

He is suppossed to be reaching out for the toy in front, like Mia. Instead he is digging his fingernails into my skin!

Mia being a super cute swim baby!

No Pants Dance

3 times out of 5 this is what I see when I turn around to look at Thomas, these days. He has become fond of the "no pants dance". The plumber was here this morning, I let him in and came back to the living room to a pants-less child!

One of the more striking tulips in the yard.

I am afraid the tulips are starting to wither away so wanted to get a couple of good pictures of them.

He got stuck.

Babying curious George.

His new golf set from his Aunts.
Hopefully he gets his Great-Grandpa Doil's golf skills and not his Dad's!

Hanging out with Jess before bedtime.

Same face as "st st st st" Steve!

Here is the garden with the new compost fence and asparagus planter. We already have the potatoes, onions, and garlic planted!

His latest bruise. He and the gate had a meeting of the face!

Wedding Shower - Lawrenceburg, IN

Thomas giving Great-Grandma Betty kisses.

Giggling with Aunt Megan.

Playing with Aunt Melanie

The Cousins.

The cousins....take 2

Cute

Even with a runny nose he is still super cute!

Playsets and Froggies

Our little frog!
It was a beautiful sunny (hot) day yesterday and what did our little V want...
his rain coat!

Frogs like baths right?!!!
This is his baby bathtub, hard to believe he ever actually fit in there.
He did actually fit in it...for a few weeks!

Froggies like to give bones to doggies.

The playset inventory and marking of every single piece of wood is COMPLETE! All 5 billion pieces!

This will (someday) be the playset!

For now Mommy and Daddy will have fun with the huge boxes!

Tommy showing us next years Halloween coffin!!!

And guess what...we haven't even started "Phase 1".
There are 47 phases by the way!!!

New Arrivals

My bday cake from last night! Lovely candles!

The playset has officially arrived! WAHOO
Oh yeah....and it is from Kansas!

Thomas is already enjoying the playset!

A surprise arrival from Aunt Megan, Aunt Melanie and Mere & Papa!
A shopping cart!
This one didn't take near as long to put together as the playset will!

It is perfect! The kid LOVES to push stuff!
THANK YOU!

Farm Festival

Took Thomas to the local "Farm Festival Days" yesterday. He had a great time! He got to plant some marigolds, which he is holding in the picture above. He petted a cow, horse, pig, bunny and chicken...but only after mommy touched each one first. He ate his weight in popcorn and also had a couple pieces of pork cracklin's!

He also got to "ride" on a John Deere tractor!

He really liked the steering wheel.

This is the first of 100 or so tulips to bloom. Tommy planted them all and they are going to be amazing when they have all bloomed.

Tommy decorated the house a bit with some lovely decorations my parents sent! THANKS MOM AND DAD! Thomas just had to have = cried until I gave him one, a "your 30" plate! I think he just wanted to rub it in a little!

Thomas has been really enjoying the black streamers and so have I!

Louisiana trip: Part 3

A couple of really great shots of my little tree hugger with his Mere and Papa.

Aunt Megan rolling Thomas around the house, in the cooler no less. Notice Aunt Megan's pup's following her around!

Sitting on the swing with Papa. Watching this reminded me of when this swing was hung on that tree. It was about five years ago for our wedding.

Thomas deciding what he will be eating at

You can barely see him in this picture but he is sitting under the tree with his back to us all by himself!

A visit with Papa Gene and Miss. Mary Alice.

Helping Mere mow the lawn...it may take awhile.

We went to Baton Rouge for a brief visit and got to see Mike the Tiger.

Thomas watching Mike very carefully.

Family portrait time.

You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get a herd of McLaughlin's to all look at the camera at the same time.

My favorite story of the week. These pants used to be khaki, and now are a lovely shade of yellow!

At the Metairie parade with Katie and Jeff.

Showing Jeff something.

Enjoying the last St. Patty's parade.

Gardening with Mere.

seefood

Eeyore.

Thomas got very intimate with a glass table top one evening. He cried for about 2 minutes and then was fine!

The next morning all that was left was a teeny tiny little bruise. This kid is TOUGH!

Blowing bubbles with Mere.

Giving a boot fashion show.

Bear hugs from Aunt Melanie.

V in the bear costume. This was HILARIOUS in person! You should have seen his bear butt wiggle!

Balloon animals are fun!

Sitting with his Aunts.

Aunt Bobbie and Uncle Danny

Smiles with Aunt Bobbie.

Super cute Biscuit!