Saturday fun at the Richardson home

This is something fun to do with those boxes you get from Costco. Believe it or not, it was their MOMMY'S suggestion they use the boxes to slide down the stairs. You should have seen it when they went down on a plastic sled a few years back! Talk about something that you shouldn't try at home?! Think even Steve-O would have been proud...but we didn't manage to get that one video. And yes, Clay was just fine. In fact, he is pretty proud of his tumble.

What's different?

Boy what a difference 6 months makes. Both of these pictures were taken while in the camper of Clay and Lanie sitting on the couch. See if you spot the differences. Here are the ones I have discovered so far. Lanie is only 10 days old in one. She is pretty floppy in one and and much stronger and not-so floppy in the other. In one, she has enough hair to wear a bow. Clay is wearing a shirt in one. The couch is wearing a quilt in one. One is at Tannehill and the other is at Logan's Landing. She cried much less and slept WAY more on one of those outings. Guess which one? Let's just say we probably won't be taking the camper back out for a good while! But probably the most noticeable difference is in the quality of the pictures. One was taken with a little point-and-shoot Nikon that we have had and used FOREVER. You know, the first and only digital camera we ever bought that worked just fine...until! The other was taken with our much nicer, newer Canon D-SLR, which we were FORCED to purchase a few weeks after Lanie arrived. The Nikon just didn't cut it anymore when it came to taking pictures of Lanie...oops, I meant to say our family. We needed something that would snap 3 shots/sec and zoom quickly 'cause everyone knows little babies are extremely active and an SLR is a must, right? We were just so amazed that we actually had a little girl (and sometimes now we just stare at her and comment that we STILL can't believe we have a girl) and had so much fun taking her picture...even when she did nothing but lay there like a baby, that we sprang for the better camera. And that's one purchase we haven't regretted! I guess it is true that little girls have a different effect on mommies and daddies. Don't get me wrong now...Turner and Clay were both beautiful babies, are becoming handsome, wonderful boys and will always be special blessings in their own ways...but there is just something about being a daddy and having that cute little girl. Heck, I probably take more pictures of her than Meghan does! I guess Turner and Clay will look back one day and wonder why we didn't spring for the better camera when they were born. But I think they already understand 'cause from the ga-ga smiles they give when they see her bouncing in the doorway jumper to the quick "stop-and-kiss-Lanie-on-the-forehead" moves while talking to her in their best baby voices while running through the den, we know they think little "Wanie Bug" is a pretty awesome addition to family. But they will quickly tell you they do get tired of us making them pose for so many pictures now that we have the new camera! Did I mention I just got a new Flip Video Camera? I wonder who will get the most face time on that...
I will try and get a video up from it soon!

The drive home from camping...

So the camping trip was great with lots of adventures and fun, even if the jetski only ran for 2 hours. We had our fun and also got more 'water time' despite the jetski breakdown on uncle Stanley's pontoon with Grandmama and Grandaddy. But it didn't end when we pulled out of the campground on Monday. Meghan, Clay and Lanie left before Turner (my truck driving partner) and I so they were a few minutes ahead of us. Turner and I were cruising down 280 with a little wobble happening from the truck, but not enough to make me worry. After all, the truck is pretty rough and never has been all that smooth of a ride and was missing the tire tools when I bought it...but what do you expect for 2700.00 from the auction!? I always cruise along, pulling our 10K camper and see OTHER trucks/campers pulled over with blown tires and wonder when my time would come. Well, it came and it could not have been better! Here's why. While truckin' along @ about 55 mph, the right rear truck tire EXPLODED! Not just a little deflation! This was a full-on exlposion! Turner asked if the truck was on fire 'cause it was so dang loud. No worries....we were in the right lane and I eased us off the hwy pretty quickly and safely. I got out squimishly wondering what I was about to see and my fears were quickly made real. I was prepared for a flat on the camper but lacked the one wrench I needed to change the truck tire. I know...what a dummy! Well, here's where the perfect timing part comes in. I know one mechanic...Johnny. I called his brother Brian to ask him a question to ask Johnny. Well, they were enjoying Labor Day at their mom's house, who by the way delivered both our boys, and happens to live about 5 mins from where I blew the tire! They hopped in the car without hesitation, brought an impact wrench (which was a must because I don't think these lugs had been off in years and may not have come off with just a lug wrench, even if it was the right size) and helped me change the tire. They even ran to the parts store to fetch a deep socket which was what I was missing. Meghan came back and got Turner so he wouldn't have to wait. But Johnny's wrench and their kindness helped me get back on the road in less than an hour! What luck! But don't worry, I did most of the work and know how to change a tire. I just didn't have what I needed to do it. I knew my time would come, was gambling and I just got lucky. You better believe I learned my lesson and now have what I need to change my tire WHEN it happens again. But hopefully the 150.00 tire I went and immediately bought to replace the busted one will last a while. Its always something with the Richardsons! Heck, just this week the water heater in our condo in FL busted and leaked into the unit below!
When it rains it pours...literally! But that's another post.