Thames Family Lake House

Yes, it's true. The Thames family now has a lake house - just not THIS Thames family. Christopher's brother and his wife are now the proud owners of an amazing lake house on the Auburn side of Lake Martin. To celebrate their little boy's 1st birthday, they invited all of the family to come break it in! Although it wasn't warm enough to get in the water, the kids had a great time digging in the sand, roasting marshmallows, and just spending time together. We had 7 kids all under 5 so there was lots of action. What a wonderful place to grow-up! We look forward to many memories there together! Thanks Allyn and Ashley for inviting us!!

Loved putting our feet (and then some) into the water. I think I dried his shorts twice that day.

Baby Allyn celebrating his 1st birthday!

Does not like the cake on his hands!

Papa fishing on the pier - where does Rutland get his personality from?

And his good looks??

Rutland pulling Hill in the wagon.

Couldn't wait to get in his birthday suit! His clothes were probably in the dryer - again!

Hill playing in the sand - get is also in her birthday suit. 

Bedtime in the bunk room. Winding down to a movie

A Movie Star is Born

Ever since Christopher got his precious new i phone, he has done a great job of taking pictures and video of the kids. I have to admit, he always remembers to take the time to capture the best moments! I always forget (or am so busy doing everything else, a-hem, I don't have a free hand) - either way, I'm very thankful because he's captured some great material. Funny, it all involves our new little movie star - Rutland. He loves to be videoed so he can watch himself back - he's very amused with himself. So, I am attempting to post the best ones thus far and will try to keep a running tally of my little Brad Pitt's work.

**In order to hear the wonderful commentary by Christopher (who sounds like he might live 2 doors down from a doublewide - can you hear the redneck come out?) you will need to scroll down to the music that normally plays on the blog and pause it.

Video #1: White Boy Loves His Ribs

Our friends and 3 doors up neighbors Robb & Libby got a smoker (aka Robb got a new toy) so they invite us up often to eat BBQ b/c Robb likes to practice his technique. Rutland is by far my best eater and will readily try anything we give him. So after playing all afternoon and working up a pretty good appetite, he didn't think twice about tearing into a rib. With BBQ sauce spread from cheek to cheek, he tore into that poor little rib like a T-rex. He proceeded to down 2 more after the first one. He'll be ready for a 4th of July rib eating contest soon!

Video #2 - Rambo

Once again, our dear friends Robb & Libby are responsible for video #2. One night as things were winding down at our house, Robb, Libby, Harris and Miller stop by with what?? Machine guns! They bought their boys some and were kind enough to think of Rutland. He loves it and C caught him "shooting" the people on TV. Please note how he tilts his head to aim - priceless!

Video #3 - Evil Kenevil

Rutland is 100% boy and will usually figure out a "dangerous" way to use a perfectly safe toy. I guess the thrill was gone on his little 4-wheeler, so he decided to ride standing up to terrify us. Thankfully, he's pretty good at it and has way more balance, coordination, and athletic ability than his sister.

Surprise!

Those were the words I had to tell my husband over 2 years ago, when I found out I was pregnant with Rutland. And boy has he lived up to the word! Rutland is the tiniest little package, but has so much energy, emotion, laughter, did I mention energy? I swear he has been in the same size diaper for a year and is not moving any time soon. He goes for his 2 year check up on Tuesday, but I know we still won't be on the growth chart for weight. He has had trouble with his ears and we have been in and out of Vestavia Peds one too many co-pays since January, so I know he only weighs about 22.5lbs. There are many 9 month olds (John Burke Henderson) we know who surpass him. But, don't think that bothers him one bit. He is disturbingly strong, tough, fast, and full of mischief. He can destroy my house in less than 15 minutes flat and still manage to flash a grin, give me a hug, and say "yuv you mamma" so that I'm so smitten I can hardly spank him. Which by the way does not bother him one bit. You can spank him all day long and he will whine one second and giggle at your frustration the next. It drives me nuts! Ask his teachers at school - I get a little mini report card everyday from his sweet teachers and on Friday it said "Rutland did not obey us today, but we love him anyway." And they told me every time they tried to talk to him or get him to do something he would run around the room trying to get them to chase him. He is a RASCAL! Because he's had so much trouble with his ears, we are now getting tubes put in at the first of March. Probably about a year too late. He's got fluid behind both ears and he didn't pass his hearing test, which means he can only hear muffled sounds. This has contributed to a speech delay, we think. Don't get me wrong, he talks all day long, but his sounds are not crisp so it makes it difficult to understand him. My mom says he sounds like the women at the nail salon, but we hope getting tubes put in and draining the fluid from his ears will help bring him up to speed in that department. (Like we need another talker in the house - Caroline still talks non-stop all day long, another reason her brother can't get a word in edgewise.) Rutland is such a monkey, diving off furniture, squeezing toothpaste all over his tummy, unwrapping all 8 paper towel rolls in my new pack, hiding socks in weird places, opening doors and wandering outside unsupervised, always getting into my make-up, pulling his sister's hair, spraying water from my squirt bottle everywhere, tinkling in the potty without my help!, and the list goes on. BUT, all that said, he is never too busy to say thank you (tank tu), I love you (yuv you), give me kisses or hugs, flash me a smile, show me his muscles, or make me laugh. For that little buddy, I love you too. He always brightens my day at some point and makes me laugh. He will probably be just like his daddy in that department. Happy Birthday baby boy!! You are my sunshine ;)

He loves to copy cat - especially with Papa and Daddy.

Trouble from day 1...

Started climbing 

Loves stuffing TP or anything other paper product (paper towles, magazines, tissues, etc) in the toilet

Loves being in the buff - tiniest buns I've ever seen!

WILD MAN at 1 

Oh so bald! Please note there is NO red hair on that head. Granted there is little hair at all...

Always willing to be dressed up

Stealing easter eggs when he thinks no one is looking...

Still climbing...

Showing his muscles - ughhhhhhhh!

Mommy, but I'm such an angel :)

Look at my boys! Rutland is wearing Christopher's little camel coat from when he was a boy. Rutland jumped all over the chance to wear it once he saw Christopher come in with his on for church. I think he looks like Paddington Bear - adorable!

He's a charmer!

Birthdays!

Lots going on since Christmas around our house. But mostly we've just been on the birthday circuit. Lots of family birthdays and now that we have 2 children of "party" age, lots of kiddie parties too. I can't say much though because my birthday was in January and Rutland's birthday is next weekend, February 19th - sniff sniff. I can't go there yet, but look for a future post dedicated to my little buddy! We went to a train party for our little friend Cooper Moore that was really cute. There was a small train that rode the kids (and adults) around the neighborhood. Rutland loved the conductor's hat and whistle they gave everyone. Then that same afternoon, Caroline had a ballerina party for her friend Ellison Sizemore who turned 3. She loves ballet parties, especially getting the opportunity to watch herself twirl in all those mirrors! Lots of fun and we always appreciate how tired they get from playing with their friends :)

Two peas in a pod - Rutland & Cooper (the birthday boy!)

He loved riding Thomas!

Caroline & Tate

Rutland in his conductor's hat! He LOVED it!

Riding that train :)

Caroline, Mary Brandt, and Ellison (the birthday girl) at the ballet party!

Singing Happy Birthday

The birthday girl getting some cake

Caroline and Campbell

Santa Claus Came to Town

Christmas morning was so fun at our house this year. Caroline is 3 1/2 and Rutland is almost 2, and they are both full speed ahead every single day. Of course Rutland was up around 7:15. We had to keep him occupied until about 7:45, when we finally woke Caroline up. She was still getting her beauty sleep. Caroline runs int the den and the 1st thing she does is find the magic elf. Is was as if nothing else was in the room! I couldn't believe she was the most interested in that. But, Rutland ran straight for the "tractor" and jumped in. He was very excited to have his own John Deer gator. Caroline then went straight to her Cinderella's castle, where she stayed and played until I encouraged her to look at some of her other toys. Cup of hot chocolate, snow falling outside, and fire roaring in the fireplace - it truly was a perfect Christmas. Both our parents braved the weather and drove up from Montgomery for the day. The kids were so surprised and excited to see them. We didn't get to test out the gator on Christmas day, other than Rutland ramming it into everything in the den. But we bundled him up the day after Christmas and he rode in circles in the front yard for an hour before he started crying because his nose was numb. We felt so blessed this year and thank God for all that he has given us.