Love sac

The Love Sac was an instant hit. Thank you Grandma and Grandpa Stapley!

Bonded as brothers

Every night at bedtime, when I ask Logan to tell me the best part of his day, he always answers: “Playing with Dylan.” When I ask him for the worst part of his day, he also answers: “Playing with Dylan.” Suffice it to say, they’re bonded as brothers.

-Randy Pausch, The Last Lecture

This quote reminds me of my boys. Despite all the fighting, pushing and crying, there are many times I walk in to find them having a grand ole time. They seem to have gotten a lot closer now that Caleb has gotten old enough to actually play. It's been fun to see their bond develop.

Trimming the tree

We put up our tree Thanksgiving weekend. This is a far cry from our usual timing, which is the week before Christmas. Of course Vance is old enough now to remind us that once Thanksgiving is over, it's time for Christmas.

Vance and Caleb both helped out this year. Vance wanted to make sure that I read the instructions, "because they tell you what you're supposed to do with the tree."

Caleb was quite intrigued with the whole process, and did all he could to thwart it.

I let Vance take pictures. He started taking ones like the one above, but soon digressed to more creative angles.

Ryan was in charge of the lights.

Vance was in charge of the bobbles.

Caleb was in charge of entropy.

Caleb enjoyed the ornament container.

Which soon went on the head, because that is where everything goes.

Then Vance had to copy it, because that is what Vance does.

Despite instructions to the contrary, all the ornaments ended up on one branch as usual.

Vance put on the final touch.


Ta da!

Mammoth Caves

Ryan had some time off during Thanksgiving weekend, so we took a trip up to Mammoth Caves in Kentucky.

We took the historic tour through the caverns. They were so big, it didn't seem like we were in a cave at all.

Caleb just wanted to run around and play in the dirt.

I asked Vance what his favorite part of the cave was. He replied, "The tunnel."




It was a long trip to drive up and back in one day, but we had fun.

Heavy reading

Autumn in Alabama

We had a very beautiful autumn this year. I wasn't expecting much as everyone told us that it didn't get cold enough here for a real fall. They said that the leaves just gradually turned brown and fell off. Luckily for us, this year was different, and the trees were very colorful. Of course the kids and I had to go out and play and Vance collected leaves in a bag like he was trick or treating.

Caleb loves being outside, though he was a bit frustrated that he couldn't walk on the uneven ground.

He was more interested in pine cones and sticks than in leaves.

Vance was excited that I let him wear his rain boots.

All aboard!

The McWane Science Center is currently having a train exhibit with model trains, toy trains, and a train ride outside the building.

Caleb enjoyed playing with the toy trains but enjoyed the giant lite brite much more. He would have spent the whole day putting the pegs into the holes if I had let him.

Vance had fun looking at all the trains, but was most excited about the train ride outside. All the kids rode in the blue car, leaving us adults in the others. I'm sure the passing cars got a laugh at all the moms crammed into the tiny train.


Here are Vance and Caleb waiting in line. Caleb didn't know what was going on, but he had a lot of fun anyway.

Caleb took off his own shoe. I'm not that bad of a mom.