Popping ankles

So most days around 1pm you will find me laying down beside Austin trying to get him to take a nap. This routine consists of a small drink, turning on his fan for white noise, reading 2 books and sometimes listening to his music mix that I burned for him. After about 10 minutes, I will whisper, "Austin" and he will usually be out cold but there have been a few times he replies with an irritated, "what"? When he doesn't answer, I get up very slowly, and it never fails....my ankles pop like crazy! They don't always wake him up but trust me, there have been enough times it has happened that I am blogging about this annoying occurrence. Since the popping occurs during movement I am sure there is nothing I can do to make it stop...it is just annoying. Here is a little info on the cracking of joints just in case you are bored!

Retrieved from http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/joint.html
Your joints can make a variety of sounds: popping, cracking, grinding, and snapping. The joints that "crack" are the knuckles, knees, ankles, back, and neck. There are different reasons why these joints "sound off".

Escaping gases: Scientists explain that synovial fluid present in your joints acts as a lubricant. The fluid contains the gases oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide. When you pop or crack a joint, you stretch the joint capsule. Gas is rapidly released, which forms bubbles. In order to crack the same knuckle again, you have to wait until the gases return to the synovial fluid.
Movement of joints, tendons and ligaments: When a joint moves, the tendon’s position changes and moves slightly out of place. You may hear a snapping sound as the tendon returns to its original position. In addition, your ligaments may tighten as you move your joints. This commonly occurs in your knee or ankle, and can make a cracking sound.
Rough surfaces: Arthritic joints make sounds caused by the loss of smooth cartilage and the roughness of the joint surface.

Taste of Summer

Every Summer, Blue Bell hosts their Taste of Summer. This consists of a tour of the Blue Bell plant, inflatables, crafts, car show, firetrucks, police cars, and of course all you can eat ice cream and 103 degree weather! We decided to brave it up and head out first thing Saturday morning. Austin just loved looking at all the Corvette car engines and of course the firetrucks and police cars were right up his alley too. My mom and Nick's mom were both in town so they joined in on the fun. We also met up with some friends from church. We all took turns sitting in the shade with Vivian. She was a real trooper until she kindly let us know she was ready to go by crying until we got in the nice cool car!




Austin loves his cars!


Candice and her enormous Popsicle


Me and Candice



He doesn't always look this goofy


Rivals but still friends


This is what it looks like when you try to eat the ice cream fast because the chocolate is melting before you even open it!





Austin and his 5lb Popsicle


Nick and Austin


Austin with his Nana

Austin and Mimi

Vvian is 3 months

Vivian had her 3 month pictures taken yesterday. Children's pictures always stress me out but it ended up being a pleasant experience. I was by myself so it was definitely hard deciding which poses to get. Here are a few off the CD I purchased. She is growing so fast! I want to cherish every baby moment because I think she is our last!

So sweet!



I think purple is her color



She is a bow girl



So innocent, but not for long



She always has her arms like this, especially when she is sleeping



I had no intention of getting in the photo but it turned out pretty good!

Girls Night Out

So our Bunko group decided we were all in need of a good Girls Night Out (although I just had one a few weekends ago). We went to the new Charlestons that just opened up...yum! One member of our group just had a baby and another is due in a few weeks. Plus we try to celebrate everyone's birthday and we had 3 this month. Happy birthday to Shannon, Monica and Shelley! We always have such a good time chatting just a little bit about everything we can think of. I managed to catch a few pictures of some of us...yes I am the dork that brings my camera most places! I look so tired in this picture but who cares.... both my kids got me up last night :)


Me and Meagan

Monica and Candice

Father's Day

God has truly blessed me with an awesome husband! He loves us so much and he amazes me every day by the life he lives. Austin and Vivian are lucky to have him as their daddy because Nick strives to be like his Heavenly father. He sets a Holy example for their innocent eyes and has a great heart. Plus, he is good looking, fun, goofy and a smarty pants! Okay, I will stop there but seriously I love him a ton! (he hardly ever reads our blog...I know it's sad that I have to remind him to take a look at it from time to time)!
Here are a few pictures from today....

Before church...isn't he hot?



I made the boys breakfast in bed. I thought the plate was perfect for Father's Day



Cheesin it up here



Just waking up...I thought he would be up to help but he was snoozing. He wasn't so happy to be woken up.



He did help with the dishes though!



Some sprinkler fun

Playdate

A few of my church friends got together yesterday for a play date at Ashley's house. I absolutely love her neighborhood! I call it Wisteria Lane from Desperate Housewives. All the lawns are perfectly manicured and when you drive into the neighborhood it feels like you are on a movie set. I guess we could be the Desperate Housewives...nah. Anyways here are some pictures from yesterday. We had 4 toddler boys and 3 newborns. Only 1 newborn was forgotten about outside on the deck in "his" car seat. That is the only clue I will give you as to who it was:) I don't want to embarrass his mommy.

The boys eating lunch


Vivian and her new friend

Toddler Night on the Town

My friend Candice just recently had her third son so I decided to take her son and Austin to see the new Pixar movie, Up. We met my friend Amy and her daughter Hannah as well. Notice who is always sitting or standing by Hannah. They all three had to hold hands everywhere they went. Lets face it, Hannah is a lucky girl to get to go with two guys to the movie. Our group of toddlers only got shhhhed about 10 times. :) It was a kids movie afterall!

Gone Fishing

Austin has had this CARS fishing pole since his birthday back in March. His Uncle Matt got it for him and he goes around the house fishing for toys, shoes, books, etc. Nick doesn't fish so when Austin went to OKC this weekend my brother took him and my nephew to a local pond. Here is a picture of him fishing...I was told they didn't catch anything but he still had lots of fun.

Girls Night Out

Last night I got together with 5 girls I went to Oklahoma Christian with....Jess, Natalie, Erin, Keitha and Anastasia. We try to get together about once a year but with kiddos and living in different states it is hard. Last night we all met in Tulsa at the spa. We purchased the "couples package" because it was the best deal so I hope the staff didn't think we were really couples! We then headed to dinner at Los Cabos for some food and music and then back to the hotel for some good chatting. This morning we got to sleep in (this was almost my favorite part), had a late breakfast and then headed for some good ole shopping, which we do best. It has been 10 years since we met our freshmen year at OC. They were are all the same fun loving girls I fell in love with. I can't wait till next year. Thanks for a fun weekend girls.




Keitha, Erin and me


Erin and Jess


Jessica, Anastasia and Natalie...Natalie and I were roomies my sophomore year


Me and Erin...roomies our junior year


Anastasia and Keitha

Flashback Friday

Summer is the time for vacations. Austin was 4 months old on this vacation and we went to Hilton Head, SC with Nick's mom, my parents and my best friend and her fiance. We have since just taken vacations by ourselves and left the kiddos at home. We are due for another Family vacation! Maybe next summer??



Just the three of us


Having a goofy ole time



He is not getting burned!

Awesome Quote

“Making the decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body.”


Elizabeth Stone

Boo Boo's

Austin got a new pair of Thomas the Train shoes that he wore to Thomas Live last week. They were hand me downs and they were too big. He insisted on wearing them at all times! We were eating dinner the other night and he dove face first into the oven. Here is the result.

Goose egg...he has to show everyone his boo boo



Isn't this the saddest face? Gotta love the spagettios on his face


ON A BRIGHTER NOTE...

I only wish there was tummy time for adults...wouldn't that be nice?

She is 10 weeks....passing some gas here...doesn't that make you feel better?

They're two, they're four, they're six, they're eight!

We went to see Thomas the Train Live today. Austin has been talking about going all week so I was glad today finally came. We went with some friends from church and pre-school. They were all festive and decked out in their Thomas gear. Austin would get a little upset if Thomas had to leave the stage for a few minutes but he lived. Of coarse we had to buy the $15 spinning toy that will probably be broken tomorrow! I highly reccomend the show. We bought the cheap seats and they were really good seats!




Before the show...Austin & Luke



Ashley and Luke



All the kids



Me and Austin...I left my Thomas shirt at home


Thomas and Percy


Thomas & Friends