Fun Times!

The weather has been perfect the last few days and we’ve taken great advantage of it!  Hayden has cut the grass three times this week- he got a new lawn mower and can’t stay off of it!  Haley loves it too.  Every time we get out of the car she tries to go climb up on the “tractor”.  Last Monday night we went to the Redbirds game.  Trey got to wear his new Cardinals attire (thanks, LeGrand’s!) and Haley LOVED Rocky Redbird.  She spent the whole game trying to spot him and when he came near us she ran right up to him- giving him high 5′s, hugs, and tugs.  He was really great with the kids and even wanted to hold Trey! 

We apparently had a pizza-filled weekend.  Chuck E. Cheese Friday night, Incredible Pizza Company Saturday, and Pizza in the Park Sunday!  We all had a blast running around Chuck E. Cheese’s.  I know the song says, “where a kid can be a kid,” but they should add, “where an adult can be a kid!”  Hayden was more excited to get cotton candy on the way out of the door than Haley was!  We met up with some friends in the park Sunday night and Hayden got some priceless pictures of the giggly little girls.  There is no sweeter sound…maybe except for cowbells ringing in the stadium…which is coming up VERY soon!  Haley will be ready.  She asks me all the time to sing the Bulldog Song.

Rocky Redbird isn’t the only large red animal Haley has seen in the past week.  We also went to story time at Barnes and Noble to meet Clifford!  Haley was “that kid”.  She instantly ran up to him and didn’t let go until I made her get away so the other kids could take pictures with him too.  It was SO cute.  They had to get Clifford to another part of the store for pictures because the kids were mobbing him on the stage and Haley walked with him, holding his hand across the store because she was NOT letting go that easily.  We try to take advantage of a lot of fun (free) things the city offers!

One last exciting thing is that Haley is starting school next week.  She will go twice a week.  We went to see her class and meet her teachers and I think it’s going to be great.  She was real shy and quiet while we were there but couldn’t stop talking about “her school” once we left…and she prays for her teachers every night without prompting.  So sweet.

Trey’s Dedication

On Sunday, August 16, we rejoiced in the opportunity to dedicate Trey to the Lord at Bellevue Baptist Church.  It was a nice ceremony at the beginning of the service and we were so proud to stand up there with our family.  Trey wore the Platten family Christening Gown and looked like an angel!  I promised him this would be the last time I made him wear a dress!  Hayden’s parents came in town for the weekend and my parents hosted lunch for us to celebrate Trey’s special day.  It’s so nice to get both families together and we enjoyed our time visiting.  Hayden and I took advantage of his parents being in town and attended a Love and Respect conference at church, while they got time with the kids.

Beach, Zoo

As promised, the photos from Laura’s trip to the beach with Haley and Trey are up.  They had a great time at the beach, but I was extremely happy to get them home.

My parents came up Thursday last week to visit.  Outside of just coming to visit for the sake of visiting, one of the main reasons they were in town was to see Trey’s dedication tonight.  Another was to keep the kids while Laura and I went to the Love and Respect conference at church.  Laura and I both learned a lot about how to Love and Respect each other.  It was a REALLY good conference.

Of course, we had a blast with them here.  I wish they came in more often.  I’m sure if they were here every weekend, though, we’d still say that.  Its just one of those things with parents.  I always wish we saw them more.  Same with Laura’s parents.  It is a crying shame that Laura’s parents live less than 30 minutes away, but I barely see them once or twice a month.

One thing I’m really happy about is that Haley is feeling better.  Apparently she picked something up at the beach.  When they got in last Saturday, she was running a fever.  She was running a fever again early last Sunday morning.  That meant childcare at the church was out.  So, Laura took Trey on to church and I stayed home with Haley.  About 8:30, Haley got up and had no fever.  She seemed to be feeling alright so we went to the zoo.  Man, was it HOT!

In the next couple of days, I’ll post some pictures from Trey’s dedication.

Haley and Bill “Watching the Tide Roll Away”

 
Sweet Haley watching the surf

Haley watching the sea lion show at the zoo

Haley at the zoo waiting on her dad to join her for “Ice Cream” aka, a Snow Cone

No Longer a Bachelor

I was a bachelor last week.  Man, did I miss the family.  Laura, Haley and Trey went to Fort Walton with Laura’s parents.  They left last Friday night and didn’t get back until late this past Saturday.  Julie and Kathleen went down too.  From the stories I’ve heard, they had a great time.  I’m glad they had fun.

Last Friday, right before they left, Haley and I went to Dora Live downtown at the Orpheum.  I decided that it would be fun for Haley and I to head down early and eat on Beale Street.  We ate at Pig on Beale (which, incidentally, is the same place Laura and I ate right before I asked her to marry me). 

Haley had a blast at Dora.  She was up dancing around and having a ball.  I managed to get a lady behind us to take our picture, but not without receiving a scolding (and a rather harsh scolding, I might add) from the usher.  I’m not sure what the big deal was with taking a picture before the show started, but apparently it is a big deal.  She told me she was going to take my camera if one more picture was taken.  Ouch. 

All in all, though, it was a great time.  I love to get the chance to spend some quality time with Haley.  Laura said she was talking all week at the beach about seeing the “real Dora”. 

I used some of the free “bachelor” time I had this week after work to ride my bike.  I forgot how much I enjoy riding.  It also helped get me ready for a triathlon I did this past weekend.  The triathlon was in Tupelo.  I actually finished it about 10 minutes faster than I was expecting.  No, I didn’t set any speed records in case you were wondering.  I’ll get more pictures up this week of the beach.