Thomas Goes Gardening

We spent the Fourth of July at my Aunt Dot and Uncle Ken's house. We picked some vegetables in the garden, rode the mule, and Thomas explored the outside with freedom. He had an absolute blast running up and down the rows, chasing the cat, and riding the mule up and down the hills. He kept telling Aunt Dot "Go, go, go!" on the mule. (unfortunately we have no pics of that!)

Picking peas

Picking snap beans

Working hard!

Cutting okra

Aunt Dot educating Thomas on the butter bean

"Picking" butter beans

Helping Daddy

Chasing Callie

The Loot: field peas, green beans, butter beans, okra, corn, eggplant, cucumbers (half eaten by Thomas) and a watermelon. ALL SHELLED. My aunts were so kind to come help us get everything shelled before we went home. It would have taken me 10 years by myself.

And squash. Missed these in the pic above!

An Attempt at a "Nice" Family Picture Vacation 2012 Part 3

Vacation 2012 Part 2

Just some more pictures of the beach!

Kaylea taking a nap in the sand?!

Some Father/Son time. :)

CHEESE! I think the sun is in his eyes! ha!

Sleepy Luke!

One second we are exploring the sand and the next: 

Surprise! Big wave!

The second day, he decided he loved the surf. He would run down and then let the waves chase him back up into the sand.

Grinning for Mommy!

Family pic in the water! He like it for the first few minutes, and then had enough. :)

Vacation 2012 Part 1

We spent 3 beautiful days at Fort Walton beach with tons of family. My immediate and extended family on my dad's side (except one cousin and his wife) plus Michael's parents and two nieces had tons of fun. The weather was perfect save for some gusty wind. Everyone got along well. I had a fabulous time, and I think everyone else did too. Here are some pics:

Kaylea (niece on Michael's side)

Clara Beth (Kaylea's sister)

Pops and Clara Beth jumping the waves!

The youngest Burks generation playing in the sand. Ashley is holding her son Luke. I am holding Thomas. Uncle Keith is holding his grandson Martin.

Luke much preferred hanging out in the baby pool with every single toy we had.

Pa and Nanny relaxing in the shade.

Family pic!

Mommy and Thomas! (we don't have enough pics together!)

Totally Tots

So I'm "trying" to do some educational activities with Thomas. I got this idea from the website 1plus1plus1equals1. He basically just played with the puff balls and put them in the bowls. Then he threw the bowls across the room and ate the puff balls. A good time was had by all. While he was annihilating  playing, I talked about the colors and the sizes of the balls he played with. Maybe he learned something.

A Day on Campus

Thomas and I were getting bored with the park. Plus it was super hot. So we spent the morning on MSU's campus a few weeks ago. First, he played by the Chapel of Memories bell tower and watched the fountains. Then we had a picnic on the Drill Field. We rounded out the day with Thomas (okay and mommy too!) playing in the fountain by the Health Center. He LOVED this! As you can tell...

Memorial Day

On Memorial day, we spent the afternoon relaxing in the backyard. I'm sure the neighbors found great humor in watching the two grown adults lay in the baby pool with the toddler. It was hot. Little man is growing to love the water. But he wants it on his terms. Enjoy the pics!