Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Day

So here's how it all went down...

We went to McDonalds for breakfast as a family.  Fine dinning for sure.  It was good and we enjoyed ourselves.

Then we went to Toys R Us to allow Bailey to browse the toys for her birthday.  We were on a mission to pick up a gift for her from Nonnie.  Mission Accomplished.

Next stop: James Avery.  All was well as we picked out yet another birthday present.  Yes, I realize that the birthday girl was with us, but that's how we roll.  As I got ready to pay I realized that I didn't have my debit card.  I ended up using Judd's, all the while freaking out about where mine could be.  

Upon leaving JA, Judd took the kids next door to Babies R Us while I went to the car to search for my debit card.  No luck.  I called McDonalds to see if I had left it there.  Nope.  I finally called the bank and had them cancel my card.  They assured me that it had not been used so that made me feel better.  I joined the fam in Babies R Us.

On our way to the car, we found that we had a FLAT tire.  Lucky for us, it was a tire that had not been replaced so we didn't have a warranty on it.  (Sense the sarcasm...)  Thankfully we had a can of Fix-A-Flat so Judd went to work.  Unfortunately, it was a dud.  There was fix-a-flat stuff all over the tire, all over the ground, and all over Judd, but none inside the tire!  Thankful yet again, we just happened to have a second can in the trunk that worked like a charm.  We drove the short distance to Discount Tire and got ready to endure the two hours that it would take to get a new tire.  Since it was noon we decided to kill the time at the neighboring Chili's where we learned that our son likes salsa.  He ended up putting his entire hand in the bowl of salsa and eating it.  He must not have thought it was hot - he loved it!

Bailey wanted me to take her picture too.

As we left the restaurant, it started POURING!  Remember, we walked from Discount Tire with our two children.  There were two other restaurants between Chili's and DT so we stopped at Saltgrass and hung out on the porch to wait for the rain to subside.   

Bailey enjoyed jumping in the puddles

Campbell loved the water too!

All wet and nowhere to go!

Our wet Baylor Bear

The rain finally let up and we were able to walk the rest of the way to Discount Tire to get our car.  We were glad to get home and put this day behind us.  And what did I find when I walked though the door?  My debit card sitting on the dinning room table.  Of course.  

Wait...it gets better...

I went to the grocery store by myself (oh the luxury) while Judd stayed home with the kids. Campbell fell and tore that little piece of skin that connects the lip to the gums.  It bled pretty bad, but Judd got it to stop and all was good.  We ate pancakes for dinner and then the kids played with the dog on the living room floor.  Cam must have bumped his mouth on something because it started bleeding again.  We tried to get the bleeding to stop, but it just kept coming.  We decided to take him to the Urgent Care Clinic in case he needed stitches or something.  It finally stopped bleeding while we waited to see the doctor, but not before dripping blood everywhere.  The doctor said, and I quote, "It's only ripped halfway, not completely."  That made us feel so much better.  (Sarcasm again.)  The doc assured us that it would heal on its own and that he may have a swollen lip tomorrow.  Joy! 

Bailey and I made brownies tonight and we ate them out of the pan.  We can do that because we had a terrible horrible no good very bad day.  And now I'm going to bed.  

Water Park

On Tuesday, Judd took the youth to Six Flags Fiesta Texas in San Antonio so he left very early in the morning and got home very late that night.  The kids and I decided to go the Blue Bell Aquatic Center to pass away the time while Daddy was gone.  We love that place!  The summer we moved here, we went once every week or two.  Last summer we only went once because Campbell was so tiny.  I had planned on going quite a bit this summer, but it just hasn't happened.  We've been so busy this summer!  

I told Bailey that we were going to the Blue Bell pool and she didn't want to go.  She said she wanted to stay home and swim in her elephant pool in our backyard.  Despite her wishes, we went anyway.  When we got there, she said, "This isn't the Blue Bell pool.  This is the water park."  My bad.  I should have known better.  You can read about last year's visit to the "water park"  here.  

the banana split slide

she can climb up the ladder by herself this year!

Campbell's first trip to the water park - he loved it!

Bailey is constantly grabbing Campbell and trying to hug him -

 more like strangle him - poor thing

always following sister

Bailey-isms

• Tonight I told Bailey that she only had one more year at her school and then she would go to kindergarten. She said, "Yeah, and it will be my dream come true." I thought it was hilarious!

• When I told Judd this story, he told me that they had a similar conversation while they were out getting snow cones. He told her that next year she wouldn't go to the school where she goes now, and that she would go to a different school for kindergarten. Bailey said, "What's kindergarten?" Judd explained the best he could and she said, "Oh, that's my dream come true!"

• Last night Bailey told me that she needed to sleep in the office because she was starving. I asked her if she knew what starving meant. She said no, so I told her that it meant that she was very very hungry. Then she said, "Ok, but I need to sleep in the office because I'm starving."

Today Bailey came up to me with a wet washcloth in her hand. She said, "I need to put this on my head because you and Dad talk to Campbell too much." I have no idea what that's all about!

Pray for Stellan

Baby Stellan is in dire need of our prayers. Click on his picture above to learn more about his situation.

We Heart Buc-ees

Confession:  I had no idea what Buc-ees was or that there could be such a fascination with a convenience store until I went to Women of Faith in San Antonio with the ladies from my church.  We stopped at Buc-ees on the way and when I mentioned that I had never been there, I heard several gasps!  After my first visit, I too became a huge fan.  

The term "convenience store" really doesn't do it justice.  First of all, Buc-ees has THE CLEANEST restrooms on the planet.  Seriously.  They also have a huge selection of fountain drinks, refrigerated drinks, snacks, and candy.  Not to mention a coffee bar, deli, homemade fudge, and lots of unique candies, snacks, jellies, and salsas.  You can also get clothing (and not just Buc-ees T-shirts), bags, decor, and children's gifts.  I'm telling you, they have everything!  

There is a new Buc-ees in Madisonville which happens to be on our way to Dallas/Kaufman. Now every time we go home, we have to stop!  Bailey loves it just as much as the biggest Buc-ees fan!

an outhouse inside Buc-ees

Bailey and the bears

Campbell would not go near the bears!

Bailey and her Buc-ees friends from church

Top row (left to right): Sam, Megan, Anna

Bottom row (left to right): Amber, Bailey, Emily

Cochran Family Gathering

We usually only see Judd's extended family at Thanksgiving and Christmas, so this year we planned a summer get-together.  Everyone was able to attend and we all had a great time.  The kids kept us entertained and we ate some wonderful food - all day long!

Four of the five great-grandchildren in the pool

Emily, Bailey, and Beau in the playhouse

Uncle Matt had the girls standing on the picnic table singing!

Singing Happy Birthday to Aunt Judy

It was great to see Memommie, Grandaddy, Judy, Linda & Phil, Heather, Neil, & Emily, Lauren & Derek, and of course Nonnie & Bubba, Uncle Matt, Aunt Calie, Beau, & Charlie!  

The Cousins Came to Town

Nonnie and Aunt Calie made a trip to Sealy last week. They are saints because they made the trip with four children four and under! Bailey and Campbell had been gone for six days so we were so excited to see them. After Bailey give Aunt Calie, Beau, and Charlie the grand tour of the house, the girls got busy playing with everything they could get their hands on. Our house stayed so clean while the kids were gone, but that changed the instant they walked through the door! I wouldn't trade it for anything though!

Beau and Bailey took the Caddy for a spin

Beau and Bailey playing before bedtime

Sound asleep

It's amazing how different they are in the way that they sleep! One is completely under the covers and one is on top of the covers with no blankets at all. One is lying in the right direction and one is not.

Thank you, Nonnie and Aunt Calie for coming to visit and for bringing the cousins. (Sorry I didn't get any pictures of Campbell and Charlie.)

Kid-less

The week we all got back from camp, I had to go to a two day workshop for work.  My mom graciously agreed to come down and watch the kids for us.  She was already planning on taking Bailey home with her because she and my dad got tickets to take her to see Dora Live!   Our good friend Kelly Carter was getting married that weekend so Mom took Campbell home with her too so that Judd and I could go to the wedding in Austin.  So, Mom left with the kids on Thursday and kept them until Sunday when Judd's mom picked them up.  Then she and Calie would bring them home on Tuesday.  Five nights and six days without our kids.  We've never both been away from them at the same time and I've never been away from Campbell for that long.  I knew they would have a great time with their grandparents and we certainly took advantage of our time alone.  Here are a few things that we did while kid-less:

• took long naps
• watched lots of movies
• went to Austin for Kelly's wedding
• had coffee with the bezners
• went to Waco on our way home from Austin.  yes, it was out of the way, but so worth it! we went to the baylor bookstore, common gounds, hearts & crafts, and spice!
• went shopping - leisurely!
• went out to eat without kids

We had a great time together.  It was really good for us to have that time to ourselves.  I'm not going to lie though, I was so ready for them to be home by Sunday!

Unfortunately, I charged my camera battery before the wedding and forgot to put the battery back in my camera so I didn't get to take any pictures at the wedding.  Bummer!  Here are some that Julie sent me.  

Maw-Maw and Pop Camp

After spending a few days in Kaufman, we continued our "camp" adventure in Garland visiting Maw-Maw and Pop.  

My mom bought this chair for Bailey at IKEA, 

but Campbell enjoyed it just as much!

We went to Amazing Jakes in Plano to eat pizza and play!

Bailey loves to sit in Pop's lap!

Campbell putting away blueberry pancakes!

Not pictured:

• We visited my good friend and former college roommate Linz.  She and her husband are expecting their first baby, a boy, in November.  It was fun to see her new house and sit and chat for a while.
• Sprinkles cupcakes - enough said!
• We had dinner with Kenny & Meike.  My dad grilled steaks and corn on the cob.  We also had baked potatoes, green beans, and rolls.  Yum-Yum!!
• On Friday night, Bailey went to church with my mom.  My dad and brother kept Campbell so that I could spend some time with my friend Joanne.  We went shopping at North Park and ate sushi!  It was my first experience with sushi.  Joanne was a great teacher and I wanted so badly to like it, but it just didn't happen.  I think I'll stick to cooked food!  

Nonnie and Bubba Camp

When Judd went to youth camp July 5 - 11, the kids and I went to our own camp - to visit the grandparents!  Our first destination was Kaufman to see Nonnie and Bubba.  

Nonnie & Bubba live in the country, 

where apparently clothing is optional!  

Here's Campbell with cousins Beau and Charlie

Campbell looooves balls and pulled this tether ball around forever!

Ma came to visit - she read stories

and helped build with blocks

I just had to include this picture because he's so darn cute!

We spent a lot of time in the pool.  

No swimsuits necessary for the little ones - it's the redneck way!

We went to Ham's Orchards to eat hamburgers and ice cream...yum!

The kids played in the playhouse.  Poor Campbell loved playing in it, 

but Bailey kept telling him, "No babies and no boys allowed!"

Our last stop in Kaufman was lunch at McDonald's with my Aunt Kim

We also saw Me-Mommie and Grandaddy (Judd's grandparents) while we were in Kaufman, but unfortunately I didn't take any pictures.