NOLA Trip Part 1

The end of school meant we had to take a little trip! We headed to New Orleans for an overnight trip, and we packed as much in as we possibly could. On Friday we went to the aquarium and insectarium, cruised around downtown, and swam in the hotel indoor pool. On Saturday we went to the zoo. (Those pictures will be in the next post.) I only took around 150 pictures :) I did my best to narrow them down.

On the Riverwalk waiting to go inside the aquarium.

Instant amazement!

Brantlee couldn't part with her Skittles and sunglasses. They made it in many of our photos :)

Not the best angle or picture, but this is Collin with his hand in the water touching the stingrays!

Seeing the anaconda!

Posing at the wishing fountain before we left. (Notice B's cooperative spirit-ha!)

It was hot in NOLA! The kids stayed cool with push-up icecream.

Here we are not far from Jackson Square.

We just love it here! We worried about how the kids would do in strollers all day, but they really enjoyed it!

Next was the insectarium. Collin loved it most of all.

Brantlee eventually got interested too.

The best thing about it was the butterfly exhibit, which also had some amazing fish.

Thanks to Poppa for getting us a room in the French Quarter.

We were on the 20th floor! Yikes!

We enjoyed some time in the pool before heading out again for dinner.

The kids are FEARLESS this year swimming.

Next post will be zoo pictures!

End of the year

This week marks the end of the school year! And this means Collin has completed his first year of 3 year old kindergarten!! What a year! Last week, his school had their Spring Program. They sang several sweet, sweet songs, and I was able to slip away from the high school to watch. I've had to miss just about everything at his school this year, so I was sooo excited to be able to take some pictures and film ;)

Collin looked so nervous, but he didn't miss a beat!

Brantlee was so calm and watched... she can't wait to go to "princess school" herself one day

It looks like things have calmed down around here, and we enjoyed sleeping in this past weekend. Kyle and I are rejoicing over the fact that for the last few months it is just the two of us in our bed (first time in almost 4 years!). But sometimes we still have a little visitor around 5 a.m. With a face this sweet, of course I look forward to snuggling with her :) :)

Collin enjoyed some Netflix Saturday morning- his latest obsession!

 Also on Saturday while I was taking out some garbage, I opened the door and saw this smiling face:

YIKES! This is our neighbor's neice's dog (or something like that). Anyway, he is a massive German Shepard that has been hanging out at our house. The picture doesn't do him justice. I almost had a heart attack when I flung open the door and looked up! Good thing he is friendly! We think he made it back home for good. However, Collin was a little upset when he had to leave this afternoon. He had already given him the name "Aladdin"- ha. Fitting, don't you think?

But the BEST thing about the weekend was that Tate finally came home!!! 10 days is a looong time to be in the hospital. He is doing great and so is the rest of the Reid clan.

Look at that smile. That's not just gas, folks. He was ready to get out of there!



Old friends, good times

For the second year in a row we've hosted a crawfish boil with some of Kyle's MC football friends and some other close friends! It was even more fun than last year, with even more kiddos running around. The weather was perfect and the crawfish was divine! The best part was catching up with old friends that we only get to see through Facebook and blogs ;)

We also ran the Day in the Park 5K, which is a 3rd year tradition. Payton, Jan, and their twin boys Preston and Pace (18 months) spent the night with us Friday night and joined us for the race Saturday!

Thank you to Poppy who came to the 5K to watch C and B.

He hooked them up with some taffy and cotton candy!!

Kyle did great! 3rd place in his age group!

Payton wasn't far behind him pushing both boys in a stroller- WOW!

Then it was time to get everything ready for the crawfish- the highlight of the day.

Although the jump was the highlight for the kids for sure!

Like last year, Collin was fascinated by the crawfish. He liked them dead and alive -ha!

This day turned out to be quite an event

Collin and Allie :)

B in her ridiculous swimsuit, but neither one of us could resist it

Ryder, Charlie and Pace

Charlie and Ryder in the Barbie car ;)

The newest addition to the group is Miss Reese Kingrea (aka the best baby EVER!)

Sweet Fishcer

Admiring the live crawfish

Whew! We were worn out from the weekend, but it was SO worth it! It was a blast, and we are already looking forward to next year!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day this year was bittersweet. Our family is so incredibly blessed to have so many precious little ones! At the same time, we are still praying constantly for Baby Tate and Casey. As an update from the last post, he is still on oxygen and has finally been diagnosed with pneumonia. He is improving more every day, and today they actually removed his IV. The plan is to begin weaning him again from the oxygen today.  He is nursing like a champ, and he is such a peaceful baby boy! We know for sure he will  be in the hospital until Friday.  Casey was discharged Sunday, but is still staying some as a guest.  She is basically supermom, and she is handling everything so well. Still, this wasn't something she (or any of us) expected.  Please remember Tate, Casey, Derek and Fischer in your prayers. We are ready for him to be home so they can all be together safe and sound.  Not to mention, Fischer is yet to meet this baby brother we've been talking about for months now. Can't you just see the excitement :)

Fischer and Casey on Mother's Day.

Kyle and Collin went to church with Nana and Aunt Eloyce and then took them out for lunch. Brantlee and I went to the hospital to visit and celebrate the day together. 

Checking out the hospital lima beans- ha

Seriously, what would we do without moms?

When we all got home, Collin and Brantlee spent some time in B's room decorating for a "mother's day party." See the bows? They were strewed all over her room ;)

And the necklaces hung on the furniture. How sweet of them!

Then we played outside for a little while in the sunshine. Collin is in heaven here playing in the water. (Notice B in the background. She stays in trouble for shaking and pulling over Daddy's fruit trees. I find it hilarious typical that she is doing it in this picture.)

Then we visited MeeMaw, Paw Paw, and Pammie, which the kids LOVED. This is how I found the them when we pulled in the garage late that afternoon.

More pictures to come  later from the weekend !

Tate's Arrival

Forest Tate Reid was born at around 2 a.m. this morning! She went into labor yesterday afternoon. So we just knew he would be a Cinco de Mayo baby (5/5), which is also Casey and Derek's wedding anniversary!! BUT he arrived on May 6th weighing 7 lbs exactly and is over 21 inches long. Tall boy!

Casey did an amazing job in delivery, and she was so calm and strong.  However, little Tate is still in the unit because he still needs some help breathing on his own :( :(  In other words, we haven't been able to get our hands on this little angel!!

Oh my word! He is so handsome.

We can't wait to attack these cheeks!

Here is Casey around midnight last night doing great!

We are praying that Tate gets out of the unit soon,  hopefully tomorrow. Casey has been so strong and calm about not being able to hold him, but I know she can't stand it!  We are praying for her and Derek as well.

When I mentioned in the last post that we had a fun, busy weekend planned, this wasn't what I was referring to ;) But isn't God's timing amazing!

I turned my back for 2 seconds!

Sigh. We are obsessed with piling up every pillow we can find and playing on them. Which isn't that big of deal... unless the rest of the room gets destroyed too. I'm telling you, it happens in the blink of an eye! The other day, they piled up my closet full of stuff, to the point that I couldn't even open the door! In the kids' defense, Mommy has been so mentally preoccupied with things lately that they have had to be a little creative in entertaining themselves :/

This picture below also happened before I realized it.

Yes, that is pink Strawberry Shortcake nail polish about to make it on Collin's toes. And this was not a school day, so that is why Collin never made it out of his pj shirt. Don't judge me! He didn't want to take it off! And while we are at it, let me explain Brantlee's wardrobe. She must wear her Minnie Mouse dress every.single.day. In fact, she is wearing it right this very minute. It was high drama when we had to wash it the other day.

Well we are officially on the countdown for summer now, and we have a very fun weekend planned! Happy Hump Day!