USA Baby Playdate

A few weeks ago we met Amanda, Tyler and Endi over at USA Baby for a playdate in the giant indoor playground that is FREE!! We were able to test drive all the little cars and play on the many different jungle gyms/swing sets....lots of fun was had by both the kiddies and the 'rents!!

Gus is still just a wee bit small for this car!!

But these cars were just he and Endi's size! Here is Endi giving it a go!

Gus modeling his special present from Endi.....cool, keeps his head nice and warm stylin blue hat!! Thank you very much Endi and family, he has worn it almost everyday since!!!

Here goes Gus, giving the car a test drive......standing and driving!! WOW!



Mommy and Gusley going down the slide.....his interest is obviously somewhere else!!!

For whatever reason Gus was in rare form when we placed he and Endi in this swimming pool to play....he was all over in the darn thing. Amanda, this picture is for you.....you said you could not stop laughing at him in the pool :-)!!

Gus attempting to go UP the slide!

In the bubble!!

Making rasberries in the bubble!

Swinging, a favorite pastime of ours!!

Two peas in a pod!!!! I know, I know why are they in the wrong color cars you ask? Well, it was just grap the car that is close by and lets ride!!

Happy 1st Thanksgiving Gusley!!

Today was Gusley's very first Thanksgiving! I would like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, we hope you and your family had a wonderful day together and we want to let our family that we could not be with today know that we love and miss them very much and we know Thanksgiving wasn't the same without us :-) !!!!!

We had a great day. Gus got us off to a really good start, he slept till 8:22am!! Thank you babe'! For breakfast we had Cafe du Monde' biegnets thanks to Aunt Lisa and after breakfast Jake and mom began prepping the turkey. Jake had the honors of cleaning it out.....no pictures of that. This is where the "fun" began.....

Injecting the yummy flavors into the turkey!

Morgus the Magnificent???

Just one more "shot" turkey!

Mom very focused on the gravy and Aunt Lisa making some yummy, yummy brownies!



Jake takes the babe' for a walk around the block....too pretty not to!!



Driving like a big boy!! One hand on the wheel the other on his lap!

"Full speed ahead daddy!!"

He looks like Metallica would be cranked super loud on his radio and he is rockin out!!

Sweet thing!

Like the pose Cenac!

Gus is keeping a close eye on Buttercup!

First time in a looooong time that these two actually play together......we forgot how entertaining they were!!!

Buttercup, trying to catch her breath after a big round of fetch!

Let's EAT!!

Family picture.....not the best, but it is what it is!! First time we get one with the cat, dog, child, mother and father!!!!!

All done, clean up time!!

Though we did not get any pictures of the food is was quite a spread and a very colorful spread at that! We had fried turkey, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, rolls, rice and gravy and what is Thanksgiving without cranberry sauce!!! A very good time was had by all!!

9 Month Photoshoot

11.14.08 - Gusley Norman is now 9 months old!! I have been pretty good about making a little sign and taking Gus' pictures on his month birthday. Here are a few from his 9 month photoshoot!! He did pretty good except that I think he is part billy goat....any spec of paper he sees it goes straight to his little mouth so I took a picture of just the sign because I could not get one of him holding it or sitting next to it without him attacking it!

Watching Sesame Street!

Walking along with his push toy that he also likes to climb on!

Here is the sign...in two pieces! Little Billy Goat Gus!

Mommy, all those pictures wore me out!

Percy Warner Park

11.09.08 - This was one of the first COLD days we had! The three of us bundled up and headed to Nashville because Brian Wilson (Beach Boys singer/songwriter) was going to be signing records at a local record shop downtown. We got there for 1:30 he started at 1:00pm......well we are all pumped, more so Jake than myself, but regardless, we were going to get an autograph!! We get in line to be told that Mr. Wilson had requested to stop the line and not let anyone else get in line. WHAT?? He had only been signing for 30 minutes...Weirdo!! Anyway, Jake was bummed and Gus and I were bummed for him. I suggested we just ride around looking at the beautiful fall colors. I feel like a kid in a candy shop these days with the fall foliage, I have really developed a love for autumn/fall! Jake took us to the Cheekwood Botanical Gardens (we saw the entrance it was 2:00 and they close at 4:30 and it was a $10 each admission so we opted to save that for another day!) Next to that was Percy Warner Park, which we have heard so much about, we just hadn't found it yet, but today was the day!!!!

We drove in and were immediately in awe. It was just beautiful, the colors, the location, the lookout points, everything was amazing! Thanks to Brian Wilson we discovered a new favorite place! I have posted some of our favorite pictures from the day....hope you enjoy them and that the autumn colors make some of you want to come up and visit next year!!!!

This is looking down at the entrance to the park.

Again, looking down and out!

Jake and Gus at one of the trail markers. This is a tradition of Jake's that we have adopted as a family tradition of our own!

Gus and I at our first lookout....stunning!

Long and winding road....





Jake and Gus laughing at me trying to take the picture, throw leaves in the air and keep warm.....I guess I was pretty funny because they both have great smiles!!!

This is what cold, awesome weather does to me....makes me frolic in the leaves and even attempt a cartwheel!! I am fixing to cartwheel!

Gus and I playing peek-a-boo with the tree!!

Enjoying the views!

Family photo!! We love Gus' face....he is like "burrr, I'm cold and enough pictures already, sheeezz!"

Never saw this in Louisiana!

Our little leaf angel....should be too much longer and we will be posting pictures of our little SNOW angel!! Can't wait!

There were 3 pavilions like this. This one had the fireplace going and extra wood too! We decided this is a great place for birthday parties!!!!

Scenic drive

My favorite Autumn picture yet! Thanks Jake, this one is spectacular with all the many different colors!!!

Me and sleepy bones Cenac....he had had enough!!