Front Porch Sittin'

Another nice fall weekend! Tonight, Kendal helped host a fishing party to benefit Group Living, a fantastic nonprofit here in Arkadelphia. Following an afternoon of fishing, the Kaufman's treated everyone to a barbeque complete with kosher hot dogs, home-made potato salad and beans AND banana pudding! I brought the twins over for dinner and they loved running all around the Kaufman's log cabin and playing with their four dogs (all Humane Society rescues).



Last night, Kendal hosted a "Brill" for his brewing buddies. Drew and Conner helped brew a "nut brown ale" variety (it was actually brewed with chocolate!) while wives Elaine, Mary Elizabeth and I hung around outside and talked all about babies and... well, babies. While brewing, Kendal and the guys grilled fajita meat (hence the "brill") which we later feasted on - yum! In preparation for dinner (and fall in general) I bought four pumpkins to represent our family and wrote our intitials on each - I stole that idea from my fave show "Jon and Kate Plus 8" and I think it makes a nice front porch addition!

This morning, Kendal's parents came up for the day. We haven't seen them in over a month and they were amazed by how FAST the twins can run! They've just returned from an amazing trip to Europe (Hungary, Czech Republic, Romania) and brought the twins some beautiful Hungarian dolls (or "Hungry Dolls" and we kept saying). We had a fun day catching up and were so grateful for the time we are able to spend together. Meanwhile in Hattiesburg, my dad and sister were enjoying H'burg's finest "October Fest" at the Lutheran Church, a 'burg tradition. My mom is recovering from surgery so she missed the festivities this year BUT will make up for it when she and my dad help take the kids trick-or-treating during our late October visit to MS!

The kids were SO EXCITED about the Tigers' big win on Saturday and begged to go to church in their matching LSU smocked outfits (compliments of Nana!). So, mom happily obliged and dressed them in their Tiger togs. However... mom left the keys to her car in dad's car - which was already at church and dad was busy teaching Sunday School - so mom and twins were forced to skip church for the second Sunday in a row (last week courtesy of Ike and power loss). But the kids looked so darn cute I had to take a few quick pictures.



Afterward the impromptu photo session we all put our PJ's back on and cooked up a storm - mini muffins and pasta for the twins, chicken divan, etc. Kendal and I are having a bit of a time finding food the twins will consistently eat. Lucky for us they love bananas, sliced grapes, watered-down apple juice ("ooce") and any veggie from a can but they don't seem to like deli turkey, cheese (well, Carlisle does), mom's mini-muffins or mom's mini-peanut butter and jelly sandwiches cut into the shape of a pumpkin or apple. Carlisle has also gotten very good at pointing furiously at whatever YOU are eating while grunting forcefully. She doesn't always eat it, but she always wants it! Jackson Camper is a little more discriminating. He did go to town on chicken strips and sweet potato fries at a family dinner at the Burger Barn on Friday - whether that's a good or bad thing remains to be seen. These are the notes that I'm sure no one else really cares about, but this is as close to scrap-booking and baby-booking I'm getting anytime soon, so consider this simple documentation for future generations :)

I also wanted to post a really cute picture of "Warley" that we snapped last week at the fair. She loves to mug for the camera if you catch her at the right time...

The Fair!

We've had a great weekend with the kids so far. Friday was a wonderfully lazy day at home during which Kendal mowed the yard (so not so lazy for him), Lauren and the twins went to a kick-butt workout at the gym (so really not so lazy for Lauren) then the twins made their Clark County Fair debut (definitely not lazy for them or their new animal buddies!). So, I guess we've actually had a pretty busy weekend so far!

The Clark County Fair was fun, though we had several battles with Jackson Camper over why sheep/goat/rooster poo does not go in one's mouth. We went immediately to the section where the farm animals are shown (with Lauren trying her hardest to ignore the fact that a "beef cow" who has won first place at the fair most likely is not headed back to the farm...). We kept the kids in their stroller most of the trip, which was wise. Luckily the animals were friendly and were happy to poke their heads through their cages to get a pat. Carlisle has mastered the art of multi-tasking with a synchronized pet the friendly goat/suck on juice move that we were all most amazed by. Jackson Camper also enjoyed meeting his first goat and we were so happy that neither were scared by the animals. Perhaps next year, they will be showing sheep! Their daddy AND Nana are prize-winning sheep showers, so you never know...

After leaving the first animal area, we went to see the rabbits and roosters. Not nearly as exciting, though by this point the kids were walking around, hence the impromptu poo lesson. We ran into friends Audrey, J.R. and Jack Eldridge and got some quick photos on the baby bench. Jack is our best buddy Will's cousin - hey Will, looks like your cuz is making a move on your lady!! Jackson Camper is oblivious...

Following the fair (and a quick loop around the carnival section that removed any doubt that the kids were not ready for the sqeaky, creaky, rides) we enjoyed a family pizza dinner at Arkadelphia's newest restaurant, the Pizza Shak. We thought it was great - fab sweet tea, yummy cheese sticks and a bacon-ranch pizza with tomatoes and spinach that tasted just like a BLT. It was great and the kids were troopers. Yay, pizza!

Today, Lauren had a board meeting at Ouachita while Kendal kept the kids. Later we all cooked and cleaned a little, and now are enjoying the USC/Ohio State game, thankful we have power and wishing LSU were not on pay-per-view tonight and that we were not so cheap. Geaux Tigers!

A parting photo... Our house is filled to the brim with toys and goodies and the twins choose to play with... am empty detergent bottle. They played with it for over an hour! Kendal thinks J.C. is ready to start pulling his weight by taking over laundry duty - thoughts?

Oklahoma, OK!

We had the perfect Labor Day weekend in Oklahoma! We made the late-drive drive to Norman on Thursday night and arrived at 1AM with a backseat full of tired, cranky babies. Luckily they were in great moods when they woke up on Friday and got to play with some of their very best friends and godchildren, twins George and Abigail! All the kids were rolling around, walking, crawling, talking, singing - it was a zoo! Carrie, Carrie's mom, Kendal and I took the two sets of twins in matching letter tees for a quick photo-shoot on Friday morning - we got two good shots where everyone is looking at the camera and no one is yet crying hysterically! But, man, it was exhausting. On Friday afternoon, the rest of Carrie and Matt's family arrived, including 5th-grade twin cousins Evie and Kirby! The girls and their big bro Cliff were fantastic with all the babies and entertained them all weekend! We REALLY want to adopt Kirby and Evie!!

On Friday night, we drove up to Edmond to visit with one of Lauren's oldest friends, Cara, her husband Jake and their precious kids Cole (4) and Claire (9 months). We had a tapas feast and just watched the kids scoot all over the house, playing together so well! The "adults" had a great time catching up, too, and we just wished bed-time for all the kids didn't come so quickly. On Saturday, we enjoyed a lazy morning with Carrie and Matt's families and made some last-minute birthday party preparations. We then drove over to OU to tailgate for the first home game. And, yes, Jackson Camper and Carlisle are sporing Sooner crimson in the slide-show above! We had to be good sports, even though we would have much rather left their LSU Tigers gear on (but we feared a mauling on campus, which would have put a damper on the weekend). Later that night, we enjoyed fajitas and margaritas then gave all four kids a bath - again, a zoo!



Sunday was BIRTHDAY PARTY time! Matt and Carrie grilled burgers, then we feasted on delicious marble cake and home-made ice cream! YUM! George and Abs had their own mini-cakes to tear into - Abigail knew just what to do with her cake, but George took a little coaxing. But soon, he dove right in :) Jackson hung outside with Kendal during cake-time but Carlisle stood right at the foot of their high-chairs, waiting for crumbs (no kidding!). Luckily sweet Carrie baked the other kids cupcakes so the twins feasted. But the BEST treat was watermelon! We've been giving our twins watermelon chunks for a while now, but have never given them their own slice. Kendal stripped them down to their diapers (good move!) and let them have at the watermelon. They had a blast!! Jackson Camper ate two slices while Carlisle devoured and slurped down at least four. George and Abs wore appropriate watermelon-themed clothes for the party and looked darling! What a great way to say good-bye to the summer and celebrate our greatest treasure, these beautiful kids!!

"Callin' Baton Rouge..."

The twins and I returned late Sunday from a busy weekend in Louisiana. We spent Thursday night in Shreveport, then headed to Baton Rouge early the next morning. We got to town early enough to pick up New York Bagel (the best!) for my best friend from LSU, Elizabeth. Elizabeth (known to friends as LeeBee) is 28 weeks pregnant with TWIN GIRLS so we were all in town to celebrate! The twins quickly proved that LeeBee's house is NOT baby-proofed (but close!) and we had a great visit. We then met my parents and sister at the hotel and grabbed dinner at another favorite college haunt, Ninfa's. Our bestest friends Mike and Amy Sawyer and their daughter Claire joined us for dinner. The twins ate handfulls of sour cream (they love it, maybe confused with yogurt??) and Jackson Camper even enjoyed two of my crawfish quesadillas! That night, Anna and I stayed up late (with Jackson, who would not sleep) making a diaper cake for Elizabeth's shower.

The next day, we had a leisurely breakfast then visited with Lauren's college friend Kacie Ali who has just moved back to New Orleans from Boston - I've missed her so much! It was then time to head over to the shower. We had such a special day! Several of our Kappa Delta sisters came to the shower and we had a baby girl-fest with Elizabeth's friends and family. I am definitely in the mood for another baby now :) Her nursery is beautiful and the girls will be born into such a loving home. Only a few weeks to go until these babies arrive - say quick prayers that they don't come too early!



Saturday night, we went to the Chimes for dinner (an LSU tradition). Afterwards, we took the twins to meet Mike the Tiger at his gorgeous new habitat. Mike was quietly prowling around when we arrived so we got a peek. I later turned a corner and came face-to-face with Mike - and, naturally, I screamed bloody murder. He turned tail and ran away, never to be seen again... I hated that I scared him, but he scared me! We grabbed Marble Slab ice cream for dessert then stayed up late watching the Olympics (Team Phelps!) and awoke the next morning in time for lunch and a loooooong drive home. To make the drive even longer, I stopped for some Borque's Cajun Sausage Jalapeno bread and Nachidoghes meat pies - yum!

Now we're all home and still tired, but it was a great trip :) I miss seeing my family more often but treasure the times we do spend together. Nana (K's mom) is in town this week helping with the twins and we're having a really great time. We LOVE grandparents!!! And grandparents love babies :)

The Brew Master!

Kendal has officially cooked, brewed and bottled his first beer! "Arkadelphia Amber" is already a success and, technically, the brew still has a little bit before it reaches optimum "flavor" and such. Kendal even hosted a brew party on Friday night (when he was home alone!) for some friends and they sampled other home brews and cooked a dark variety for our friend Robert that is now fermenting in our downstairs closet... With only the slightest chance of exploding... I am really looking forward to his experimentation with strawberries and raspberries, but I think that's a plan for next summer! I really am so proud of him for taking up a hobby and doing something that is fun for him. I have my Zumba (if you don't know, don't ask!), he has beer - does it really get any better than that??

Last night, we hosted a fish fry for the young adults (and friends) at our church. Over 30 people came and it was a little packed, but a great time. Kendal fried fish he'd caught himself using a favorite Louisiana marinade (hot sauce and mustard) and it was really, really yummy. Everyone brought over a favorite summer dish and we had a spread featuring everything from fried deer sausage and fried biscuits and honey to a yellow tomato salad, potatoes, tons of great dips, homemade orange sherbert and sugar-free banana pudding! It was great and we have LOTS of leftovers in our fridge! We are continually reminded what great friends we have here in Arkadelphia and how lucky we are to be part of such a wonderful church family.

The kids had a pretty good time - they were a little overwhelmed by all the people, but they did have their buddy Will and new friend Zoe (who's their age, too!) to play with. We had a kiddie pool ready to be set up in the yard, but the kids all loved playing in the kitchen (minus the water) so we let them go to town.

We're hoping for a pretty quiet weekend. Next week I'm taking the kids to meet my family in Baton Rouge as we celebrate the upcoming birth if twin girls to my best friend from college, Elizabeth. Over Labor Day we'll be celebrating the first birthday of our best twin-friends George and Abigail - all the best things seem to come in twos!

And I really just had to post this picture... So, I gave the kids goldfish and strawberry newton bites for a snack today, then let them split one of my favorite cookies. It's a "Hit" cookie (ironically made in Germany) that I found at the local Brookshire's and remember well from my month of backpacking through Europe back in 2000. The chocolate on her upper lip made me think of another infamous German for some reason... I'm just saying...