Daddy Rules!

Photographic evidence that baths did happen.

Or is it Daddy's Rules?? Either way, it works for this particular post. Last week, I went to one of my most favorite conferences at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories. It was a great trip, but a long time to be without my two favorite people. So what happened while I was gone?? In between Westin's first Zoo Class (about farm animals--apparently we were quite lucky that the skunk in the petting zoo was fixed. Incidentally, skunks do not like to be petted like dogs do.) and his first tumbling class, he enjoyed luxurious bubble baths (with jets), and eating food in interesting places. At least Dalen, got West to eat food....

It's the Cat in the Hat! The PBS kids iPad app, rules!

Apparently, dinner happened under the table one night.Whatever works, right?

A Frog's Life

September started with a gloriously hot day...only one thing to do: SWIM! Happily, we now have a functional pool and Dalen decided that the water was finally warm enough for Westin to swim. The water is cold up here, folks-and the pool has only been fixed since the beginning of August-which has been wonderfully mild, and consequently not good for warming up cold pool water. I was happy that a got a text at work, showing something like this:

Thanks to Grandma Moore for sending such a super fun pool toy!

Ah, summer, so long old friend. Labor Day is here and we woke up to temps in the upper 40's. This is my favorite weather, so don't be sad. Also College Football is back!!! Despite the heart stopper on Saturday with Auburn barely scraping by Utah State-the first Saturday of college football was not dull. I have a feeling that nothing about this season is going to be dull, and I couldn't be more excited! War Eagle!

Now, I will leave you guys with a question: how do you eat Cheerios at your house. This is how West decided to eat his 'Oh's', also called, "ooze" the other day:

Clearly, someone has been watching CopperDog a wee bit too closely.

Mama's Best Birthday Ever!

It was difficult getting a posed shot with this squirmy, independent little boy

On August 14th, we celebrated my birthday. Westin planned the entire day. We had donuts instead of birthday cake. We took a short drive over to Yankton to visit the Aquarium, which could probably fit well within the gift shop of the Georgia Aquarium, but it was really nicely done.

Out back of the aquarium they had special trout pools.

Once Westin figured out who exactly the fish food was for (incidentally, NOT little boys), it all became really fun!

Then we went to go play mini-golf and Westin was our caddy.

Westin goes to a Ball Game!

This was it! The last night on vacation, and we were staying overnight in St.Louis, MO--mainly to take Westin to see the Cardinals at Busch Stadium. We got our tickets weeks before and didn't realize what a treat we were in for: the Cardinals and Brewers battling it out for the Pennant Race.

Busch Stadium is one of the kewlest stadiums in the country-even though the rumors have it falling to bits and pieces. We got tickets in the nosebleeds and were pretty happy with that choice. This game went into extra innings, with the Brewers taking it from the Cardinals. It was exciting. Although, we think that Westin was more interested in playing with the little girl sitting behind us than the action on the baseball field, but at least, fun was had by all!

And then just like that (ok-not really, the I-29 closures made the roads closer to home a mess, again-but we were more efficient this time) we were home! And happily, happy to be home. Something happened while we were gone. It had gotten cooler, dryer and all the bugs were gone (they were really only gone for a couple of days, but we appreciated the break). Of course after being gone from my little lab for weeks meant that I had a lot of catching up to do. We almost immediately started getting to work on some home projects. The pool in the backyard is fixed and lovely! We have new carpet in the finished attic-soon to be Westin's playroom and my office. But the vacation was great, and in fact, I think that I got one of my best grant writing ideas yet!

The long road home

For us, the road home led us through Michigan City, Mississippi. What, you don't know where that is??? Really close to Memphis in some of the most stunning farmland that you will ever see. Ever. I mean it. We got to stay one more evening with Grandpa and Grandma Moore before the trek home really began. Westin LOVED getting to know Grandma Moore's guineas and some ducks (aka in toddler-speak: 'duck-ducks'). And it was nice to relax for one more evening in such a lovely home.

3 generations of Moores!

Westin goes on a Cruise!

 When we were planning this epic trip to the SouthLand, Grandpa and Grandma Moore asked us if we wanted to go on a cruise. We said, SURE! So on Thursday August 8th, we all loaded up on a Big Boat and headed off to Cozumel. And we had loads of fun!

Grandma Moore surprised Westin with his very own sand pail. I think we have a sand castle architect in the making!

Um, yeah, this beach is totally below a Senor Frog's. Don't judge. Do you really want to jaunt off to a beach in a taxi with a young child whom you don't know if he will even enjoy said beach? This little beach was PERFECT for everyone :)

In case you are wondering where the cute little beach outfit came from-that would have Westin's Aunt Sandy (Big Monkey) written all over it :)

Grandma Moore having so much fun at dinner. Westin thought this was the BEST! :)

Dada and Westin setting up the approach.

'Oh woaw"-Westin's version of 'Oh, Wow" when he hit the ball.

Westin got so excited when his ball went in the hole!

So relaxing!! Thank you, thank you Grandma and Grandpa Moore!

The Loveliest Village on the Plains

When we left Aunt Shannon's, we were heading to Mobile, Alabama to meet Dalen's parents. So, we decided to eat lunch in Auburn at Hamilton's, which is right on the way. The quick trip to Auburn was lovely-it is such a special place!

Sadly, we can't talk about Auburn, without giving due attention to those lovely Live Oaks:
I didn't take any pictures of the Oaks. They looked worse than I imagined and it was truly heartbreaking to see in person. Some of you may not know, but we lived in Auburn when I was 3 and 4. One of my earliest memories is walking under those trees with the sunlight streaming through. Now I couldn't tell you why we were walking there or what time of year it was, but that image I have in my head of being under their canopy is one that I will never forget. In fact, as an itty bitty I pictured those Oaks when reading Shel Silverstein's The Giving Tree. That's powerful stuff. A memory that I was hoping to imprint in Westin, but alas, a piece of riffraff with a bunch of poison killed that dream. I have read many articles about the Oaks; however, this one captures the history and sentiments better than any article that I have read-it is a long read, but totally worth it! My hope for that little corner is that a kickass memorial goes up-one that will keep Tradition alive and gracefully reside at that corner as those Oaks have for decades. Silly ole 'Al from Dadeville' will learn the hard way that you might try to hold a Tiger down, but that amazing Auburn Spirit is pretty tough to contain. War Eagle!