October Update

Well... I guess it would make sense to post something that fills everyone in on everything huh?

Matt and I had been planning for several months to make a trip "down south" in October. We had not seen my sisters' boys yet and my mom was the only person in my family who had met Caelan. We couldn't wait to see everyone!

On Friday, October 16th, my dad died. It was a bit of a traumatic situation and series of events so it pulled the rug out from beneath us to put it mildly. I do not want to go into those things right now. Our hearts ache.

So we left several days earlier than we had originally planned. We loaded up the car... literally packed to the gills! We had clothes for 3 people for 3 weeks- which had to include dress clothes, swim clothes, clothes for cool and warm weather. We had the pack-n-play, stroller, booster chair, toys and books. We had a 41 pound pumpkin.

We left on Sunday night, got there Monday night... late. Tired. We stayed in Pensacola until Thursday afternoon.

Then we headed over to Gulf Shores- We had an awesome condo on the beach! We had dinner with my mom at Lamberts (home of throwed rolls) and hung out with her for a while. Wanda and Brittani came down Friday evening and stayed for 2 nights with us. We took the kids down onto the beach- Caelan walked around on the sand.... and tasted it too! We had a great time there- wish we coulda stayed longer!!

Then we headed up to Jackson on Monday night- stayed at Wanda's house for a few nights. We were able to go out to dinner with Dr. Seago and Rosemary one night. We spent a couple of hours with Scott and Penny and their boys one evening- it was sooo much fun to see them playing together! Quinn is just a month younger than Caelan. We also surprised my long time best friend Alethea by going up to the school where she works. She and I have been friends since 7th grade- and it is so cool because we can always pick up right where we left off.

We headed back to Pensacola on Thursday- Mary Margaret, Sally, Jason, Matt and I took the boys to the fair. We had such a blast! A much needed break. We carved pumpkins on Friday night and took the boys trick or treating on Saturday night. We spent Sunday afternoon back at Mom's and then started our forever long drive back home.

Of course there are a lot of details left out of everything- (partly cause it is late and I am tired). Anyway.... we took close to 1100 pictures and video while down there. So I will be posting them over a period of time and wanted things to make a little sense. I have pictures of everyone!! Wanda and Brittani, Elaine and Judy, Mom, Sally and Jason and Luke, Mary Margaret and Jay and Solon, Scott and Penny and Nash and Quinn, Dr Seago and Rosemary, Janie, Alethea and Caitlyn, a duck and Yoda and a toddler sized banker from Wall Street.

Will continue soon!

Scrub-a-Dub-Dub...

Three boys in a tub!!

The boys had a lot of fun playing in the tub together.... and of course the mommies were loving it too!!

Caelan started bawling all of a sudden- we think he had gotten soap in his brand new bobo. He had fallen at the park and scraped his chin.

The 3 Sister-moms and their BOYS!!

Family Picture

Janie (my youngest sister), Vanna and Bill (my dad's brother and his wife), Cheryl, me, Vicki (they are daddy's cousins- Ronnie was unable to be there), Steve (my dad's youngest brother), Mary Margaret and Sally (my little sister and next little sister)

Just...a little... bit... closer..

After we spent 28 hours traveling down to Florida (getting in at midnight on Monday), attending my dad's funeral that Tuesday morning and spending the afternoon over at Sally's with lots of family and close friends..... we were all WIPED OUT. We had gone back to the hotel room to rest and all 3 of us were sacked out on the bed. I had gotten up a few hours later to go to the store. Caelan had not only scooted up against Matt but kept scooting closer and closer- up onto the pillow and almost onto Matt's head! It was sooooo sweet! Caelan actually ended up sleeping from about 6pm until 9 or 10 am the next morning.

I just LOVE those IRISH guys!

Super Sized

Matt had picked up these two awesome pumpkins for us to carve- the smaller one is 41 pounds and the larger one is 62 pounds. We had wanted to carve out the larger of the two and put Caelan in it. We never got the chance to do it though. We took the smaller one down south with us and carved it there. There was no room left in the trunk for the other one to go as well.

It's an Oompa Loompa!

Nooooo!! It's not an Oompa Loompa!!! It's Caelan James after eating spaghetti!

(one of his favorites!)

*these were taken in late September

My Dad

My dad died yesterday. I am unable to access any pictures of him right now but I wanted to make sure I got this posted on here.

Services are in Pensacola on Tuesday at 10 am. We are leaving tomorrow night to drive down.

James Christopher (Chris) Sparkman

proudly AKA "POP"

September 17, 1944- October 16, 2009

At the Park

Caelan and I had Daddy meet us at the park one day after he got off work- we ate dinner and then played for a while.

The smiles on the swing didn't last long.... he was ok at first but then started fussing. We thought he would really like it since he loved his swings so much as a baby but..... not quite!

So on to the bouncing horse they went!

This didn't last long either. Once down the slide was more than enough in his opinion....

so on to the....

chimes?? They make different pitches when you hit them. THESE he LIKED!

Then we just played in the grass for a while- he liked that too!

Ready? Set......

GO!!

A Handful....

I slept out on the porch a lot through the summer when it was warm. One night Caelan woke up fussy and wanted to sleep with someone- so I took him out on the porch with me. Matt came out and took this picture before he went to work. It is a bit difficult to see (picture taken in night mode- it was still dark outside) but Caelan has a handful of my hair. He often plays with my hair- especially if he is sleepy. So he got all comfy, had a handful of my hair and went to sleep.

Entranced......

oooooooooo.......

....... it's sooo....

COOOOOLLLLL!!

I HELP!!!!

We keep cases of canned cat food on a book case near the back door- Caelan often sits there pulling them all off the shelves..... well one day he pulled off a can of food, crawled into the kitchen over to Ries's food bowl and put it in there!

He was quite proud of himself!

Picnic at Interlochen

Ok.... I have to explain this one- as we were walking down the path to the deck, I looked up in the tree and there was this spoon..... yes, a spoon. It was bent perfectly and draped over one of the branches. Wonder how many people notic it there??

Canoers out on the water (to the left)

Caelan waved at them-