Trip to Kentucky for a Very Special Weekend!

At the end of April we flew to Kentucky for a long weekend. We arrived on Thursday morning and headed over to WKU's South Lawn for an end of the semester festival for the students. It is always such a special feeling when we are able to spend time on campus. It's so fun to reminisce on all the great memories Patrick and I shared while we were students at WKU. It seems like a long time ago since we were there, but when you're in the moment standing in the middle of campus it feels just like yesterday:) It's also so fun to watch Walker play on campus and to think maybe one day he will also be walking to class there just like Pops, Jules, Daddy, Mommy, Uncle Matt Matt, his two great uncles and cousins. No pressure buddy:)

We couldn't walk to campus without bringing Walker's favorite dog, Tsavo!

Of course he wanted to go down the biggest jumpy slide there. I was so surprised he went down by himself. It was the largest jumpy I have ever seen and it was very fast. He loved it!

Can you see this face?

He is actually running trying to get away, because he spotted......

BIG RED!

Walker is not a fan of mascots. He knows who Big Red is and we talk about him all the time, but nope he wanted nothing to do with the Big Red blob who eats basketballs:)

Pops left the office and met us at the festival.

The extremely tall man on stilts made Walker a pet giraffe and he loved it.

Patrick and I shared the best 4 years of our life at WKU and each time we go back campus gets better and better. And it's because of a very special person in our lives who has transformed WKU into one of the best college universities in the country. Pops you have worked so hard over the last 14 years and we couldn't be more proud of you! We had a wonderful day celebrating your accomplishments and honoring you for your dedication, commitment and hard work. I can't think of anyone else in the world who is more deserving than you!!

Gary A. Ransdell Hall

On Friday, April 29, 2011 we attended the dedication of this beautiful building honoring Patrick's dad, Pops:) This is the new home for the College of Education and Behavioral Sciences.

Article on the ceremony: Ransdell Hall

On Saturday we visited Kentucky Down Under.

Yes, kangaroo's in Kentucky is a little weird and we really didn't know what to expect, but we actually had a really good time. Thanks to Jules for a great idea:)

We were able to feed lots and lots of birds.

Uncle Matt Matt was enjoying feeding these two Rainbow Lorikeets.

Walker really didn't know what to think about all of the birds.

Aunt Sandra wanted to take one home with her in her purse:)

They were every where!

The birds liked Uncle Matt Matt so much they pooped on his shirt.

This was definitely the highlight of the trip....Uncle Matt Matt did handle very well.

Maybe that's how the females mark their territory:):)

More birds.....

I love this...the 4 Ransdell Boys!

"The Dingo Ate My Baby"

Checking out the Kookaburra.

We learned something very special at the Kookaburra cage.

Jules is a Kookaburra Caller or she's going to be Kookaburra in her second life. Jules would make a sound/call and the Kookaburra would talk right back to her. It was absolutely hysterical. I never knew you had it in you Jules.

The things you will do to make your grandson happy:)

The kangaroos were awesome.

We were allowed to walk in their sanctuary along the sidewalk. The guide gave us instruction on how to pet them. It was so cool and they were so gentle.

Walker enjoyed petting the Kangaroos.

The coolest thing of the day was seeing this mother Kangaroo.

We could actually see the joey moving in her pouch.

We did a lot of relaxing, eating, drinking and playing outside. We had so much fun and it was so great to visit with family we don't get to see often. We can't wait to see you Pops, Jules, Uncle Matt Matt and Aunt Sandra in a few weeks at Mickey's House:) We love you!!

The Next Adventure!

Moving on to the next adventure!

The movers came on Wednesday, May 4, 2011 to begin packing the house and then the truck arrived on Thursday, May 5, 2011. On Walker's last day of school, we decided to let him see the big truck arrive. You know how much he loves big trucks. He stayed long enough to play on the truck and see the inside then it was off to school. He was so excited to tell his friends at school about the big truck at his house.

Daddy showing Walker the inside.

"Hey, mom I've never seen the inside of a big truck":)

Walker was very apprehensive about looking inside by himself.

And what do you know, it didn't take him too long to explore by himself!

We thought it would be best for Moppy to come stay with us and help out with Walker during the move. We wanted Walker to be able to see the boxes, the truck and all of our things being packed away. Looking back on it, I know we made the right decision. Thank you so much to Moppy for being there to help during such a stressful time. I don't know what we would have done without you!

Walker loved running up and down the ramp.

I promised Walker I would pick him up early from school so he could play some more on the truck.

One of Walker's best buds, Conner came over to see the big truck.

Only these two would go find a truck to play with on the ramp.

Conner will always be such a special little boy to us along with his parents, Tom and Edy! They were the first family we met in the neighborhood almost 4 years ago. Little did we know they would end up being such special friends to us.

The boys checked out every single thing on the truck.

Waiting very patiently for Scott to let them honk the horn!

Discussing how they were planning to escape in the big truck:)

The movers were absolutely fabulous. Scott, Matt and AJ were so kind to Walker. They even fell in love with Ribbie. Ribbie pretty much stayed outside all day with them. Scott promised the boys before they left they could drive and honk the horn in the truck. You can see Matt below taking a picture of the boys. He put the boys on the company facebook page:) I spent 3 very long days with these guys. When we left I told them they were officially my first 3 friends in Wilmington:) I couldn't have asked for anyone better than those guys. I'm actually looking forward to seeing them again when they move us into a house in the future.

Walker and Conner climbing up in the truck with Scott assisting!

Scott let them honk the big horn and it was so loud all the neighbors came outside to look. It was extremely loud and the boys would not stop pulling down on the horn. I know the horn seems loud on the interstate, but it's even louder in a neighborhood:) The louder the better the boys said:) All the kids playing outside were totally jealous of the boys:) and let me tell you Walker and Conner thought they were cool stuff!! The smiles on their faces were priceless! A memory I will cherish forever.

I just thought this picture was so cute. Walker found this old camera, so he took it outside pretending to take pictures. He thought it was so funny for us to take a picture of each other at the same time. For a few days he wanted to take this camera every where we went.

We miss all of our friends in Myrtle Beach, but we are so thankful we are not too far away to visit. I actually went back 3 Saturday's in a row with different things to do. We actually have some of our Myrtle Beach friends coming to stay a night with us this week! We can't wait to see them!

Watch Out David Beckham

Yes, that's right watch out David Beckham there is a new soccer player in town!

Back in the fall Beck, Walker's great grandmother gave him a soccer goal. He loves to play soccer in the backyard and especially when Daddy plays with him. They play a little game...when Walker makes a goal then Daddy chases him around the yard. I love to sit back and watch, because the laughter these two share together while playing totally feels my heart with so much joy.

#1 Rule: Do not touch the soccer ball with your hands.

Do you know how many times we say this to him?

That is the hardest part of trying to teach him how to play the game.

And the chase begins......

These two boys are the LOVE of my life!

They make me feel like the luckiest wife and mommy in the entire world.

Time Out!

Daddy I need to rest!

Okay, I'm ready to go in!

And finally this is what he usually looks like after an hour of playing soccer and chase with Daddy! Absolutely priceless!!

Happy Easter

I hope everyone had a very Happy Easter! We had a wonderful weekend filled with lots of love. It was an especially nice weekend, because the three of us were together.

Walker and Daddy enjoyed making the annual Easter Bunny Cake.

Walker could not wait until Daddy removed the cake out of the oven to start decorating .

Walker moved his step stool into the kitchen so he could be Daddy's assistant.

The finished annual Easter Bunny Cake made by Daddy and Walker.

The Bunny was definitely missing a few ingredients, thanks to me not getting everything at the grocery store, but it still turned out perfect. I was blamed for the worst bunny cake in history. See for yourself...I posted pictures below from 2009 and 2010.

2009 Bunny Cake

2010 Bunny Cake

The Easter Bunny was really good to Walker this year. He received lots of really fun stuff in his basket. He had so much fun going through it on Sunday morning. His favorite thing was Buddy the T-Rex from the PBS show Dinosaur Train. As most of you know he's obsessed with dinosaurs.

After church it was time to find all of the eggs the Easter Bunny left for Walker.

Super serious face trying to see what's inside of the egg.

All of the candy was eaten in 2.2 seconds:)

We could just eat this sweet face up!

We have so many things to be thankful for and I'm most thankful for my beautiful amazing little family!!

I couldn't resist posting this picture of Mr. GQ:)