Small Good-Byes

This is really our last week in Birmingham since next week we will be in the Bahamas.  Tuesday night, a small group of my close friends gathered at Emily's house for some girl time.   I wish I had taken more pictures of everyone there, but here are a few from the night.   I have been blessed with some really sweet girlfriends in Birmingham, all of whom I met after college.  I hope and pray that I am able to make just one new friend in Montgomery like any one of these ladies. 

 Andrea 

  

Sweet Friends that I am going to miss more than words can say.  Ashley, Emily, Burgess, Lauren Merrill and Lauren Baug.  Not pictured: Cali, Lori, Cary, and Catherine.

Wednesday night, Ashley, Darren, Barrett, and Caitlyn invited the Baugh family and us over for a YUMMY dinner and fun fellowship.  Ashley made her "Lazy Day Lasagna" from their recipe club.  You can check it out on their BLOG HERE.   Between us, we have 4 little wild boys and one precious girl.  Sweet Caitlyn just slept and hung out while the boys played.

Banks always loves a riding toy.....and from the looks of his top, wants to be Naomi from "Mama's Family"

Four sweet little boys eating supper together.  

They all had their ice cream outside.  This was Barrett and Banks' first bowl of ice cream.  Barrett kept saying "yummy" and ate every bite.  Banks, true to form, tasted one bite and then was back to his ball. 

 

Lendon, Barrett, and Collin loved the watermelon.  Banks was too busy playing basketball to sit down and eat his slice.  So while they were doing this.....

 ....Banks was doing a lot of this.

It was a great way to "say good-bye" to some of our best friends.  Even though it is not a real good-bye, it certainly was a good excuse for us all to get together. 

Father's Day Weekend and Lake FUN!

 We had SUCH a fun weekend with family and friends.  Bryan had to go to Selma to work all weekend, so I decided to head down to Tallassee to visit my family.   

We did a lot of BIKE riding.  Yes, the Butlers are a bike riding group, so naturally, I had to join in on the fun.  Banks was in heaven.

Leigh Anne rides this "Mean Lady from The Wizard of Oz" bike with a seat for Daniel on the back.  It was super fun to ride him on the back.

 Banks got upset when I rode off with Daniel, so when we came back to the house, Leigh Anne and I popped the Sir on for a short spin and...

HE LOVED IT!!!!!

 He kept waving when we drove by Leigh Anne and Michael.

 During dinner, all of the commotion had P.J. taking cover under the chair and desk.

 

Sunday for lunch, Banks and I rode over to Selma to have lunch with our DADDY!!!! 

Bryan is such a wonderful man,  Husband, and Father.  We love him so very much.

 My Daddy had a good time on the bike too!

 Daniel had a good time pushing Banks in the stroller.  Notice that Georgia is fussing at Daniel as they are walking.  Such the typical big Sissy!

 Banks decided to try Daniel's motorcycle and he loved it.

 Happy Father's Day Daddy!

 

Sweet Cousin Jack spent the night with us over at Nana and Papa's house.  

 No visit would be finished without a spin in the Jeep. 

On Monday, Tara invited us to her place.  Kenzie, Jackson, and Charlie were in town from Kansas City so it was 3 gals and 6 little boys at the pool

Nic

Noah

 Banks

 Charlie

 

 Tara, Kenzie, and Nate

 Jackson

 

 

 The slide at the pool is always a huge hit.  I will spare you the photos of me going down.

McWane Center

Sunday was such a rainy day here in Birmingham.  After Banks woke up from his nap, we decided to head to the McWane Center.  I have been wanting to take Banks before we move and yesterday was the perfect day to go.

At first, Bryan and I were having all of the fun.

Banks slowly warmed up to the indoor playground.

 Banks checked out the bubble station for a while, but could not quite get the concept.

Bryan, on the other hand, was having more fun than the children.

The engineer in Bryan was mesmerized by the balls and water and the balls with the air blowing to suspend them in mid-air. 

Sweet Banks kept waiting for the ball to fall into his hands.

I loved Light Bright as a little girl.    Bryan and I both said that game is probably banned now due to  choking hazard by those tiny lights.   They had a big light bright station and Banks LOVED it!  He was so happy.

He began to really get excited when he saw they had slides.

He goes down on his bottom....

.....and on his tummy.

He was way to busy to take a picture with Mommy or Daddy...but we tried.

Stuart Little or Templeton?

Well, we have both.

Much to my dismay, however, we have many more Templetons than Stuart Littles.

Who could forget those lovable E.B. White characters, but I am here to tell you, they are not as cute in person as they seemed in illustrations as a 3rd grader. 

I mean seriously, people!  This is ridiculous.  

Disgusting.

Nauseating.

These varmints are in my house.  Well, garage, but still.

Don't make me quote my cable guy.

"You got your mouse....you got your rat....and you got your "gopha"...(insert hand motions)....and you got gophas"

Actually, that was my Homewood house, but this house has rats.  Just look at the size of this freak compared to Bryan's hand.  

We grow 'em big in these parts (Mt. Brook, that is).

Here is a recent conversation:

Tori:  "I can not believe we have rats again!"

Bryan:  "Sweetie, we do not have rats, Thomas and Sarah Glover have rats."

Oh yeah, we rent this house now!

Okay, so on to the next problem. 

The raccoons.

Evidently, a mother raccoon had 4 babies on our property.

Casey killed 2.  (Bryan would not let me post the picture since she had her way with them).  We found the pieces in the back yard.

Sadly, the other 2 were left with no mother and decided that living by our retaining wall by the mailbox would be a good spot.  Again, seriously?

The city came out and placed some traps....and the rest is history.

We move in 21 days. 

Mr. Serious

On some days, Bryan's personality really comes through in Banks' behavior.  Our trip to the Zoo and the  splash pad last weekend is a perfect example.  Look how serious he was!  He was cautious and very laid back.