Kids say the darndest things...

I'd like to take this post to say how much I love these three Texas rug rats. They are loud, wild, and insane but each one of them has a super big heart and really good morals and values. My sister and her husband have done pretty good with these three...
Here are a few funny things they've said that I can remember... We finish watching the worst movie I've ever seen in my life..."Cop Dog" and Cole (nine) says, "How do dogs do it? Maybe the boy dog licks the girl dog's nipples and the babies come out there?" Yeah Cole, I think you're right.

Little Aidan (seven) kept injuring his balls a few weeks ago when they slept over. He is so soft-spoken and kept saying, "Ow, I hurt my balls." I asked him what his problem was and he says, "my balls don't like me."

While driving and listening to the Eminem/Rhianna song today, Aidan asks me what the song means. I tell him that it's about relationships and how they're so great in the beginning but then the people get sick of each other and start fighting and they break up and make up and break up and make up...Cole says, kinda like Kevin and that girl. I ask him if he means our cousin, Stephanie, and he says, "yeah, them. I hope they don't break up again cuz that guy's awesome."

That's all I can think of now. We've been eating at Barleycorn on Wednesdays cuz they have half-price appetizers and kids eat free. That's how the Kanes roll...

Get your hair did

Ella's bangs have grown too long so she's been rocking a wonky ponytail until I can decide if I want to cut them. I kind of love the pony though...oh and she LOVES having her cousins around. Their visit is coming to an end and it will be a sad, sad day :(

Hoffman Fest

A few weeks back we met up with some relatives and headed to the Hoffman Estates fest.

It was fun playing games but when did the games go up to five dollars? Seriously? It's a freakin' carnival.

This kid and this banana...Aidan and I played a game and won a small, stuffed toy but he wanted a banana. So he played a game with someone else and won another small, stuffed toy. So since I'm the best, I asked one of the workers if I could trade the two small toys for a larger, stuffed banana. I presented the banana to Aidan with a smile on my face but he was severely disappointed my the bananas size (keep your minds outta the gutter!). So he proceeded to pout until Chris finally won him the large ass banana. Life lesson learned.

This is one of my favorite pics. Blake is crying because Aidan kicked him in the balls. Aidan is crying because I told Kerry that she should take the banana away from Aidan since he kicked Blake. Cole is crying because Joey didn't try hard enough to win him a large toy. And Kerry has no choice but to laugh!

Although the banana was a sore subject, he quickly warmed his way into our hearts and has become like a family member...

Hand, Foot, Mouth, Oh My!

So a few weeks back - the 4th of July weekend to be exact, Ella came down with a fever on a Friday night as we were headed to a wedding. Grandma Jeanie took good care of her but the next day she still wasn't right so while I was at work, Buzz took her to the doctor. They saw one sore in her mouth and with the fever said she probably had hand/foot/mouth disease. It's a fairly common, contagious infection that kids get. It's spread by saliva and you know how these little ones like to share shit - and by shit I don't mean actual shit, but pacifiers, toys, sippy cups...

So instead of going to Rocky and Jill's 4th of July party, Ella and I hung out at my parent's house with my three nephews. We had a great time and the next day Ella woke up fever free with no sore in her mouth. So I think her first major illness was a fluke. But how cute is she when she's sick?

Cole, the babysitter

A few weeks ago, I had to work at the Pet Clinic during the week so my sister offered to watch Ella for me. When I showed up at the house at 8 a.m., Cole answered the door with sleep in his eyes. He helped me bring Ella's things in and for the rest of the day was Ella's babysitter. He insisted on feeding her, trying to change her diaper and playing with her. What a sweetie-pie!

While Cole was hard at work with Ella, Aidan enjoyed a smoke on the patio. ;)

I swear my sister is here too but there aren't that many pics of her yet cuz she's the photographer. I love this one she took of Ella...

The boys are back in town

Cheesy title but it works...

So on Monday, June 28th, after a ton of miles, one drugged dog, one breakdown, and one dry town, my sister, her children, her dog and my dad arrived in Chicago. They come every summer and stay with my parents for at least a month. It is so hard to be away from them all year but I so look forward to this month every year. Buzz and my friends don't love it because I basically disappear for the entire time. Since I was laid off and my dad works for the airlines, I've been able to get to Austin three times since last summer so Ella is very familiar with her cousins. In fact, she adores them!

And they adore her.

Here is Ella's twin, Blake. She'll be lucky if she continues to look like him. We knew the kids would get along but the dogs were another story. Ziggy is a bit of an aggressive, bully of a dog so I was worried that he might hurt Otis or Greta ;)

Totally kidding -- I was actually afraid that Otis and Greta would tear Ziggy apart. We introduced them at the dog park with a squirt gun in hand and they've been getting along famously. So this is the reason my blogging has been slacking. More to come...

Keaton's First Birthday Party

A few weeks back, we celebrated Keaton Campbell's first b-day at Pat & Jerry's house. The party was a sweet theme and Jess did a fantastic job with the decorations and treats. The cake was ridiculous! Loved it. My highlight was when the St. Leger's called over an hour into the party to report that they were just leaving Jess & Brian's house - where they thought the party was. Suckers!

Cole, the Entertainer!

Twins sitting

A few weeks back my mom and I watched Amy's twins again. I was so excited because all the kids are really noticing each other now. My neighbor came by to see all the kiddos and ended up staying all night to help so each adult had one baby. Easy Peasy! Although, that Addison is a little rough with poor, innocent Ella!

One walker, one crawler and one flopper!

3 dogs and a baby!