The Nashville Zoo

Over Easter weekend (yes, I know it is July) we went to my parent's house in Hendersonville, TN.  On one day, before the rest of our family got there, we took a trip to the Nashville Zoo.  Rhonald and I are "zoo people"-seriously, we love a good zoo and this one was seriously one of the best we have been to.  The kids had a total blast and I think my parents did too.  This was their first time to go there as well.  While at my parents' house Cole found an old pair of binoculars that he insisted he bring to the zoo (and that he insisted he use every day all day while we were there).  It was a good thing too because we all used them at one time or another to see the animals.  We had beautiful weather and yummy junk food.  We spent all morning there and some of the afternoon but by about 1:00 we were all pooped.  Cole and Lily Kate were sound asleep before we were even out of the parking lot.  Cole really loved the petting zoo and brushing the goats.  We basically had to drag him out of there!  It was a wonderful day and I really hope to take the kids there again next time.

Boingo Bounce!

Boingo Bounce has to be one of our absolute favorite indoor play places!  1-2 hours there and everyone is ready for a nap!  We were lucky enough to be able to meet a group of friends there and play for a couple of hours to beat the heat!  The kids had such a great time bouncing and running and chasing one another.  And the moms had fun talking and chasing kids!  Even Lily Kate and Ethan had fun!  Poor Keisha, Ethan is walking now and I think she did more chasing than anyone!  It was a total blast and I hope we get to go again soon.

A Family Tradition

Rhonald's parents live in a cabin on the Little Red River - it really is one of the most beautiful places in Arkansas.

Somehow Rhonald got Cole to kiss this fish...yuck!

So, this is on the country road where Rhonald's parents live...from one driveway to the next...but to Cole it was like the Indy 500.

Fishing with live crickets...a 3 year old boys dream!

In a word, the Searcy men are fishermen.  It began a long, long time ago and continues on to the youngest of Searcy men.  The first time that Rhonald and I spent time together alone (11 years ago) we went fishing.  When Rhonald or his dad need time to think or relax they go fishing.  Rhonald's grandpa used to take him to school every morning when he was growing up but before school they would go look at the river.  Rhonald's grandpa held the state record for the largest catfish caught on rod and reel for many years (86 lbs).  Fishing is apart of daily life.  I knew when I found out I was having a baby boy 4 years ago that I was also giving birth to a fisherman.  It is in their blood.  When Cole could barely walk he would toddle in to Rhonald's office and look at his fishing books or watch Rhonald tie flies for fly fishing.  He knows every kind of fly Rhonald uses and loves to help Rhonald organize all of his fishing gear.  It was never pushed on him or taught to him...he gravitated toward it.  For Father's day we bought Rhonald some new things for fishing.  When we were in the local fly shop Cole said to the store owner and salesman, "When I grow big like you I'm going to work here and drive a cool car."  To which the owner replied, "Cole, I may just sell you this place."  Cole loves to fish any chance he gets...and he really loves to fish with his Daddy and Paw Paw.  Most 3 year olds wouldn't have the patience but Cole will sit out there for hours.  It is so amazing to see the bond they all share.  My only regret is that Rhonald's Grandpa is not here to witness it.  He would have adored fishing with Cole, just as he adored fishing with Rhonald.  Who knows where it will take him but the love Cole has for the river and the outdoors is unlike any I have seen in a boy his age.  I know it makes the older Searcy men very proud!

Paw Paw's Garden

We have 2 sick kiddos right now so I am taking this opportunity to post some things that are way overdue...like this trip to Searcy in May.  This is one of Cole's all time favorite places in the world (and one of his favorite people in the world) - his Paw Paw's garden.  As soon as the weather starts getting nice Rhonald's dad begins talking with Cole about what will be in the garden and Cole so looks forward to going to see it.  We were in Searcy 3 days during this trip and I think he spent half of his time working in the garden (and the other half fishing of course).  We learned last year that, if given the chance, Cole will pick anything and everything so Paw Paw had him help pick the weeds this year.  The veggies were not quite ready to be picked yet.  It did not matter to Cole...he followed Rhonald's dad around and picked every single weed that was in the garden.  And a few onions too.  He is still talking about that trip!  The best thing about Paw Paw's garden for me is that Cole will eat anything that comes from it (except tomatoes).  I will admit that I use this to my advantage and throughout the year will say something is from Paw Paw's garden when it really isn't just so he will try a new veggie.  His favorite item from the garden...Purple Hull Peas...he loves them!  I hope to have our own garden one of these days so that he can enjoy it all throughout the season and not just during our trips to Paw Paw and Grandma's.

My Bathing Beauty

Lily Kate totally loves the water as much as her brother.  It doesn't matter what the temperature of the water is - if she is in the pool she is happy!  It makes taking Cole swimming so much more fun and easy because she enjoys it so much too.  Lily is happy to hang out in her floaty most of the time but once I take her out she will not go back in.  In this last picture of her and Ethan she was splashing him so much - poor Ethan...I think if he could talk he would have had a lot to say about that.  She just laughs and laughs while she is watching the older kids playing.  She doesn't even care if she gets splashed in the face - she just goes with the flow.  I have loved watching her as well...I know she will be just as much of a dare devil as her big brother as she gets older!  Man, we really will have our hands full.

Mr. No Fear

It seems like every time we are in the pool Cole gets more and more confident and brave.  Oh my!  It is so exciting to watch him yet a bit scary too...I mean, when did he get to be so big?  Lately, his 2 favorite things to do while swimming are jump in from the side of the pool and put his face under water.  He really loves that now that he has a pair of super cool goggles.  We have 2 friends with pools that are sweet enough to share them regularly (thank goodness) so he has had a lot of time to practice this summer.  Cole absolutely loves being in the pool.  He is so happy and carefree but still remembers the rules.  The biggest rule we all have is "no touching in the pool" - it was taught to him last year by my friend, Kellie, and he holds it dear.  If anyone touches anyone he is the first to remind them that it is not safe.  I have thoroughly enjoyed watching him this summer.  He is such a little boy and is so full of energy and life and imagination.  It amazes me that he is ours...he is just so fun!

Lily Kate at 9 Months

This little lady has seriously stolen our hearts! Have you ever seen a more beautiful face?! Lily Kate has become so much fun this past month. Don't get me wrong...she is a busy little bee and is in to absolutely everything but that is part of what makes her so fun! She is officially crawling on her hands and knees like a big girl. She pulls up on everything and is interested in getting her hands on anything she can. She has become rather brave and will hold on to something with one hand and use her other hand for playing. She will take a few steps while she holds our hands. Lily Kate loves music. If that girl hears any kind of beat she will start to bounce and laugh and she will sometimes throw one hand in the air and shake it around. She loves books and will snuggle up in my lap to be read to (that is about all of the snuggling I get these days). Her favorite book is called I Love You Through And Through. It mentions lots of body parts and when I read it I point to whatever part it mentions (eyes, ears...) and when I do she laughs so hard! Now when I grab it out of her book basket so begins laughing too. Besides mom and dad, Cole is still her best buddy and she adores him. They play together so much and really have a neat relationship. Lily still takes 2 naps a day for about 1 1/2 - 2 hours each and then sleeps around 11-12 hours at night. She has been able to stay up later which is nice (by later I mean 7:15 - ha). She is eating stage 3 baby food - I gave up making her food when she obviously wanted chunky foods that she can chew and I don't have to tools (or time) to make it that way. She still takes 4 6 oz bottles of formula a day. Lily is practicing and doing very well with her sippy cup. I ended up buying one that sort of looks like Cole's and she is much more interested and happy with it. She loves finger foods and does well with small bits of soft fruits and veggies. You can tell she feels so big when she eats something like that. Lily Kate has 4 teeth. Lily has discovered baby dolls. She has one and she loves to hold it and "kiss" it (aka chomp on it's face). And, of course, she loves to play with anything that makes noise. That girl is seriously such a joy in all of our lives. We love her to pieces and spend the whole day enjoying watching her learn new things and grow.