summer fun!

Here is a random assortment of recent pictures...

We have gone to the mall to play

And then we went home to relax. Once upon a time I said I would NEVER let my children watch Barney. Turns out, the big purple dinosaur teaches valuable lessons and the kids LOVE it! Never say never...

Campbell has been known to refuse to take a nap this summer. I guess because he is sleeping later in the mornings, he isn't ready to go down for a nap. This picture was taken after bathtime one night. He fell asleep in his chair at 6:15 PM! That's what's happens when you don't take a nap, little mister!

We love to go to the park

and eat ice cream!

Bailey has enjoyed sleeping on the top bunk of Campbell's bed. We haven't put the ladder up yet because as soon as we do we won't be able to keep the kids from getting up there. We just lift Bailey up and she calls for us when she wants down. Now that she has slept there, she doesn't want to sleep in her own bed ever again!

shoe-tying-queen

This post is long overdue, but I want to document this little accomplishment nonetheless.

On Easter Sunday, Bailey learned how to tie her shoes! After only a bit of instruction and modeling from Daddy and Maw-Maw, the girl had it down! By the end of the day she was tying everyone's shoes in the house! We haven't looked back since...she is a pro!

Take me out to the ballgame...

Last night we took the kids to their first Astros game! I got two free tickets for running in the Race for the Pennant, Campbell got in free, and Bailey's ticket was a $1. What a deal! Overall, the kids had a blast and they lasted the entire game! Campbell started telling us that it was over during the sixth inning. Bailey told me that she was bored and ready to go home. We got them a huge bucket of popcorn which kept them occupied for quite a while! The Astros ended up losing, but Bailey said we could just pretend that they won!

We sat in the outfield - it really wasn't bad - especially for $1.00!

the train in Minute Maid Park

the popcorn kept them busy & bought us some time!!

Cochran Family Reunion

Last weekend we celebrated the second annual Cochran Family Reunion. Everyone was in attendance and we had a great time eating and visiting! It's amazing that a little over five years ago, there were no babies and now there are eight! I got pictures of all of them except the youngest family member, Dean. Campbell was sick the night before so I tried to stay away from the itty-bitty-baby (he's not even three months old!) I also didn't get any pictures of the adults - oh well!

Emily, Campbell, and Bailey

Future Americal Idol?

Emily, Beau, and Bailey -

these girls will all start kindergarten in the fall!!!!

Campbell

Charlie -

she would not put down the Sunkist for the picture!

Baby Jackson

Scottie & Bailey

Happy Father's Day!

The card that I got Judd for Father's Day said it perfectly:

"I see it in their eyes

when they look up at you...

I hear it in their voices

every time they say "Daddy"...

I feel it in the burst of excited energy

when you walk through the door...

You're a dad who's loved

more than you could ever, ever know."

Every word of it is true.

Not only do Bailey and Campbell love and adore their Daddy,

their momma does too!

Daddy's first picture with Bailey - August 12, 2005

Daddy's first picture with Campbell - May 12, 2008

Yes, he was wearing the same New York hoodie! On our tour of the hospital before Bailey was born, he thought the delivery rooms were freezing cold so he was going to be prepared!

Second time's a charm!

Bailey was so disappointed that we didn't get to go the Blue Bell pool on Wednesday. The next day, when we were convinced that the sunny skies were here to stay, we decided to give it another try. Bailey and Campbell had a blast! They both loved the banana split slide! Campbell wore his floaties, but didn't want me to hold onto him. I have two little fishies on my hands! They love the water!

You can't go to Blue Bell without getting ice cream!

oh what a day!

• On Wednesday we went to Brenham to visit the Blue Bell Creamery. My friend Rachel, her 9 month old son, and 8 year old niece joined us. We planned on going to the BB pool afterward so we wore our swimsuits and coverups. (This ended up being pure genius...not!)
• After the tour of the creamery we got to eat some Blue Bell ice cream. I chose the new Vanilla Cookies & Cream - delicious!
• We didn't get ANY pictures while we were there because cameras are forbidden inside the creamery and it was POURING DOWN RAIN when our tour was over so we couldn't even take any pictures outside.
• We knew going to the pool was out so we decided to go to McDonalds for lunch and let the kids play.
• As we loaded the kids in our cars, I noticed that I had a FLAT tire. Are you kidding me? In the rain!!!
• Thankfully, Rachel drove her own car so she followed me to the nearest gas station where the two of us filled my tire with air (in the rain.) I'd like to mention that neither one of us had ever done this before!
• Then she followed me to Discount Tire where we put my kids' carseats in her car...in the rain! During the transfer, I put Campbell in the front seat of Rachel's car. At one point, we realized that Campbell had locked all four children inside the car while it was running. Thankfully, Rachel's niece was old enough to understand what happened and began to make her way up to the front seat. At the same time, Campbell rolled down the window so I ran over and unlocked the door. Whew!
• We finally made our way to McDonalds while my tire was getting fixed. We ate lunch. The kids played. It continued to rain.
• When we made it back to Discount Tire, we transfered the carseats again and were ready to go HOME! The good thing about the whole ordeal was that the tire was under warrany so it didn't cost a thing. Allelujah!

You may remember another flat tire in the rain story from last summer. What is the deal?

Eden

This weekend, we got to go to a couple's baby shower for my friend Eden. She and her husband Sean are expecting a baby boy at the end of June. Eden and I met in third grade because we were in the same class then realized we lived down the street from each other. From then on, we were pretty much inseparable. I spent A LOT of time at her house when we were young, especially during the summer. Eden's family had a pool and we would swim all day, sleep in our swimsuits, then swim again the next day! After high school, we didn't see each other as much, but she is one of those friends that you can pick right up where you left off no matter how much time has passed. Eden is still one of my greatest friends! It was so fun to see her and I can't wait to meet baby Cullen!

Sweet Summertime!

Today was my last day of work. Woo-hoo! We don't have any big plans for the summer, but lots of little plans. Does that make sense to anyone but me? I do have plans to READ, READ, READ! Here is a list of books that I want to conquer. Any other suggestions?

• Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay (this is our June book club book)
• Spoken from the Heart by Laura Bush
• The Firstborn series by Karen Kingsbury (I'm on book two.)
• Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
• True Colors by Kristin Hannah
• Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
• So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore
• The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks

Memorial Day

We spent Memorial Day with the Croslands. We went to the pool and then had pork loin, homemade potato salad, baked beans, bread, and blackberry cobbler. Great fun...great food...great friends!

Campbell swimming with Daddy

Bailey taking a break from the kick board

Rachel and I with the kids

Cody captured these pictures of Campbell...love them!

Bailey and Colton

Bailey & Campbell love baby Colton!