Go Bears!

It's my first College football tailgater! Here I am watching the marching band go by. We're right outside the Univ. of Central AR bears' stadium.

We've got to watch out for Layton...he's already chasing little cheerleaders! Zoe and Larson tailgating it! Zoe is our neighbors' granddaughter that Mommy has been babysitting for a bit. Her gma got us Tshirts, tickets, and all the cheer misc. What great neighbors we have. Thanks so much!
Is it time to go on the field yet? We're getting bored?

Now that's what I call a front row seat! "Check out that cheerleader!"

Cousin Brady's not camera shy...so photogenic!

Look closely at the picture! This sums up Larson...always "gotta go!"

Coney Family Times

A party for Uncle Ed's visit at Pawmaws house!
Uncle Ed (from Virginia) Uncle Gerald and our Pawmaw
Ed, Barb and the Coney grandkids

Front row seat to see cousin, Owen get baptised!
Picture perfect family....Aunt Beth, Uncle Tim, Timmy, Collin, Owen
me and pawmaw
Layton and Pa

Magic Springs (August 16)

Mommy and Layton in flight....
Larson on the final stretch of the log ride w/ Aunt Ali & Uncle Marc.
Dad even got in on the mix--twirly, whirly.
Crystal Falls is now apart of Magic Springs. Wow...2 for 1!
Everyone got to ride and everyone got wet! We enjoyed time with Uncle Danny, Aunt Jill, Brady, Kenzie, Uncle Marc and Aunt Alison! Our favorite part was getting wet!

More Bubby Talk and Tendencies

Larson told Daddy this AM, as we were dressing for church, "Mom already dressed my hair, I just need pants and a shirt now!"

Eating out---Larson told Daddy... "Mommy and I are going to the bathroom, please keep my ice cream from getting wet and watery. We'll be right back."

Larson- Mommy, can I be a Fire Spiderman for Halloween....he's dressed himself in his Spiderman PJs with a fireman's helmet! Mommy says, "how about a Spider Fireman...ha!"

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Layton has become our little repeater. Our favorite thing to do with him is start a phrase and have him finish...
"chicken, chicken.....bock, bock"
"stop, stop.....go, go" which Mommy uses for big bro when riding bikes-at stop signs we say STOP STOP while looking right, then left...finally we say go, go while looking right, then left again (something I made up to get them to look more than once).
"ready, set....go" as he's pushing cars (one in each hand). He now asks us to say it by saying "red, say, go"
He sings along with any song, commercial, the priests homily prayers, etc. He's all about the la, la, las.
He somehow wakes out of a sleep when his Pooh Dreamscape quits at bedtime, restarts it and returns to an instant sleep position. -Mommy and Daddy watch him on the monitor cam! It's hilarious!

Larson's 1st School

Also on this day we can't forget 7 years ago...9.11.01 where you were, what you were doing and what happened. Let us not forget. God bless.

Larson...all prepped up for Meet N Greet Play Day to see his school for the first time!


















Here's Mrs. Ruth, my teacher for the 3 year old class. I was posed so nicely, but Mom has a delay on her cam!









We couldn't find Larson on the playground after his teacher talked with us. We found him hiding in the playhouse with his new friend, Brenna! Uh huh!










His actual first day...wanting to walk by himself like a big boy-"don't hold my hand, Mom." Mr. Social is already making friends in the parking lot, as he greets everyone!

My name comes first in the class, so it's easy to remember where to find my backpack and cubby....they're first!










Larson & another friend, Bryan-
What glorious memories I'll have here, paving a wonderful foundation for a world of knowledge still to come....which may entail COLLEGE!

Our First Baby (March 2004)

Greer's Ferry Lake Here We Come

summer 2004 Cove Creek Property
helping hands...golf buddies...true buddies

heave hoe....



Aug 06 foundation complete
June 08 siding complete
Aug 06 loft area
Aug 07 loft area; bathroom separates 2 rooms
Aug 08 loft area

kitchen area Aug 06

kitchen area Aug 07

kitchen area June 08family room view Aug 07 complete with Coney Garage Doors

family room view June 08

June 08 custom doors built by Mr. Handyman himself

Feb 08 tin roof ceiling installed by his truly

A LONG TIME COMING.....



For those of you that didn't know, we invested in some lake property on Greer's Ferry Lake (for a steal) in March of 2004. We decided to take on a project since our lives didn't seem to entail kids at the time, even though we wanted that to happen more than anything since 2000! Let's put our minds to rest with something new!!!!!!!!!!! We weren't sure if we wanted the land for camping, a mobile home, or a small cabin that Mr. Handy Larry could build. We purchased the land and got started clear cutting, bulldozing, etc. I was lifting boulders, piling tree logs, grading pathways, you name it! We had cleared it enough to have our first BBQ on site during Spring Break of 2004. A few days later, we made a big discovery! I was expecting.........WoW!


Well, needless to say, the property was put on the back burner about 9 months later and then again a year and a half later! What happened........2 beautiful baby boys entered the picture! Handyman Larry wanted to take on the challenge to build a "SMALL" cabin....800 sq ft...Okay for those of you that know my husband, he doesn't do much that's small, I believe he doubled that! Yes, I am truly amazed by my husband's talents. He has put his heart and soul into this place....going up 1 or 2 days a week for the last 4 years. He has missed out on a lot of weekend family life here and there in order to create for us this wonderful luxury! He did 80% of the workload, to include the huge foundation beams/structures, paint, tin ceiling, trim, plumbing, electrical, flooring, cabinets (going in now), bathrooms, and lots lots more that I'm not even aware of that's needed for a home! How lucky are we? Well, we got to stay our first night with about 75% completion, as of Memorial Day weekend! What a triumph! I am so proud of Larry! I am humbled by his masterpiece as we soak in all the new to do there!

Above you saw the before and after shots and now 4 years down the road, we can finally enjoy the lake life! Now we just need a boat! The boys have a grand time in the "country," they call it! Their favorite thing there is to get wet out on the deck w/ their small pool or sprinkler!

Below the picture you can see a short video of the sweet brothers enjoying their new territory!

5/26/08 Our 1st weekend to enjoy the premises....Larson and cuz, Brady having a splash!

Click on the play icon in the middle to view this video:

Bubby Talk

I have to give credit where credit is due.....

My friend Shannon started a "Child's Language Blog" and posts her little darlings' cutest sayings periodically. We were talking the other day and she commented that I should add something funny that Larson said to my Blog. So every now and then I will add "Kids' Cutest Sayings" section. Thanks goes to Shannon for this great idea! What a wonderful idea to cherish the baby talk that will fade ever so quickly, I know!

I have shared this cute saying of Larson's over the last 2 weeks........
Larson is my outgoing, entertainer, welcome wagon, flamboyant type

Larson went w/ me to take Layton for his 18 mo. Dr. well check. All was fine until Layton got his hands shut in the clinic room door while waiting to see the Dr. Layton continues to whale the entire visit. To my surprise they've added a new shot to this appt. (which means I would have not taken Larson to witness this)! :D As the shot nurse arrives with a needle held high and Layton still whaling....Larson takes a big look up and shouts, "OH BOY, I GOT A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS ONE!" I don't know where he picked this up, but it was so hard not to bust out laughing as poor Layton was fussing!

Larson's favorites at age 3.5:
~riding bikes
~riding his scooter
~swimming
~wacking golf balls in the yard
~playing with friends in the yard..Noah and Parker
~fixing things w/ daddy, using his play tools
~being with cousins Brady, Collin and Timmy
~building structures w/ Lincoln logs or Mega blocks
~weekend trips to the cabin


Layton's my observer....quiet, funny, sneaky explorer type
He's started talking in a few 2 word combos, but usually likes to sign or direct our attention to his acknowledgments. Within the last few weeks, he has started pitching balls (like a shot put) and saying "Bye ball," which we think is precious. Some new words that are more or less mummbled and "caught" not always purposeful: Elmo, Say Say (Sadie dog), Lar Lar, Hey Da da, roar sound w/ a claw sign, side side (outside), shewwz (shoes)-loves shoes!!!

His favorties: at 18 months old
~anything big brother is doing
~climb and stand on chairs or anything he can-yikes
~rub his finger over his lips for a mouth harp--he does this to entertain himself when bored....especially long car rides--who needs a toy
~CMT videos and music-he brings me the remote about 8am every AM
~Mom's mops, brooms, dust pans, etc.
~trying on anyone's shoes left for the taking
~pushing little cars around the house w/ motor sounds
~toting a golf club and ball around the yard
~pushing a kiddie rider around the yard as if he's mowing w/ mommy