WORLD'S BIGGEST CAT

MEET SUZY. THIS IS GAY AND JERRY'S BABY GIRL. SHE IS HUGE. I DONT KNOW WHAT SHE WEIGHS EXACTLY BUT IF YOU NOTICE THE LOOK ON KYLE'S FACE IT IS TAKING A BIT OF EFFORT TO LIFT HER. WE TEASE THAT IF THE KIDS GET TO CLOSE TO HER THAT SHE MIGHT EAT THEM. WE JUST THOUGHT THIS WAS SO HILARIOUS THAT WE HAD TO SHARE.

DADDY TEACHES MILES A NEW GAME

WE WENT TO BUDMAN AND GIGI'S HOUSE FOR A SEAFOOD BOIL. DADDY HAD A GREAT TIME TEACHING MILES THE GAME OF WASHERS. MILES HAD GREAT ACCURACY AND DID WELL WITH THE GAME. THE ONLY DOWNFALL WAS HE GOT SICK IN THE EVENING AND DIDNT GET TO PLAY AS LONG AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED. WE WILL HAVE TO PLAY AGAIN SOMETIME. I BET HE COULD BEAT MOMMY. DADDY IS GREAT AT THE GAME THOUGH. SUCH FUN!!

ALL BOY

LUKE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME PLAYING TODAY AT GIGI AND BUDMAN'S HOUSE. WE TOOK BUBBY'S MOTORCYCYLE FROM HOME AND LUKE JUST LOVED SITTING ON IT LISTENING TO THE DIFFERENT NOISES THAT IT MAKES. UNCLE BLAKE HAD HIM IN STITCHES. HE RAN AROUND ALL AFTERNOON DOING BOYISH THINGS. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY OUTSIDE...PERFECT DAY FOR A TRIP.

WANSTRATH CLAN

FIRST OF ALL, EITHER I AM IN NEED OF A NEW CAMERA OR MY NOSE FELL OFF BEFORE THIS PICTURE AND SOMEONE FORGOT TO TELL ME. ANYWHO, THIS IS A FAMILY PICTURE OF ME, KYLE, MY BABIES, MY INLAWS, AND MY BROTHER IN LAW. THIS WAS TAKEN IN CLARKSVILLE AT GIGI AND BUDMAN'S HOUSE.

BOWLING DISASTER

MY FRIEND, KERRY AND I SET OFF WITH THE OUR CHILDREN LAST WEEKEND FOR A FUN NIGHT OF BOWLING. MILES LOVES TO BOWL AND WAS SUPER EXCITED. LANDON AND REAGAN (HER TWO) LOVE IT AS WELL. THE ADVENTURE STARTED OFF EXCITING AND THE KIDS WERE HAVING FUN. WELL, MILES WENT UP TO BOWL AND STEPPED ON THE FOUL LINE AND THE BUZZER SOUNDED. IT ALL WENT DOWNHILL FROM THERE. IT SCARED HIM SO BADLY THAT HE REFUSED TO BOWL THE REST OF THE NIGHT. KERRY AND I HAD PAID FOR THE KIDS TO BOWL 2 GAMES EACH. WELL, MILES FLAT REFUSED AND HER KIDS BEGAN TO SAY THEY WERE OVER IT AS WELL. WE ENDED UP GETTING A REFUND ON THE 2ND GAME AND THE OPTED FOR VIDEO GAMES INSTEAD. GUESS WE WILL HOLD OFF ON BOWLING FOR A WHILE.

BUBBLE BOY

LUKE'S FIRST BUBBLE BATH WAS A HUGE SUCCESS. HE LOVED IT. HE SAID BUBBLES, BUBBLES, BUBBLES OVER AND OVER. WE EVEN MADE HIM A LITTLE BUBBLE BEARD. SINCE THIS FIRST BUBBLE BATH A FEW NIGHTS AGO, HE HAS INSISTED ON HAVING ONE EVERY NIGHT. I GUESS I WILL HAVE TO START STOCKING UP ON THE BUBBLE BATH. HOPE YOU ENJOY THE PICS OF THIS SWEET, SPECIAL ANGEL FROM GOD. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT GET TO BE AROUND HIM ALOT. HE IS SUCH A SWEET BABY WITH A GREAT PERSONALITY. A BIT ON THE SHY SIDE AT TIMES BUT LOVES TO LAUGH AND PLAY.

OUR NEWEST HALLOWEEN CRAFT PROJECT

MOMMY FOUND A NEAT HALLOWEEN CRAFT IDEA IN ONE OF HER MAGAZINES. MOMMY BOUGHT THE PUMPKINS AT THE STORE WHILE MILES WAS AT SCHOOL. WHEN HE GOT HOME I ASKED HIM IF HE COULD HELP ME PAINT. MILES PAINTED THE PUMPKINS (ONE BROWN AND TWO WHITE). MOMMY DID THE DETAILING. I GUESS THE THEME WITH 2 BOYS IS ATHELETIC HALLOWEEN. EVEN THOUGH LUKE WAS TOO YOUNG TO PARTICIPATE THIS YEAR, HE LOVES LOOKING AT THE BALLS....THAT IS HIS FAVORITE WORD. HOPE YOU ENJOY...IF WE COME UP WITH ANYTHING ELSE CRAFTY WE WILL POST.

SOCCER SEASON BEGINS

COACH DADDY HAS THE BLUE RANGERS UNDER CONTROL. MILES SCORED HIS FIRST 2 GOALS LAST WEEK. WE WERE SO PROUD. WE HAVE A VERY YOUNG TEAM SO COACH DADDY DOES THE BEST HE CAN WITH THE TROOPS. WE WON OUR GAME LAST WEEK. THIS IS MILES' SECOND SEASON TO PLAY AND HE SEEMS TO ENJOY IT. GO BLUE RANGERS!!!

RUB A DUB DUB TWO BOYS IN A TUB

WHAT A SWEET SIGHT. MY TWO BOYS LOVE TAKING A BATH TOGETHER. SOMEHOW, LUKE ALWAYS GETS THE RAW END OF THE DEAL. MILES ENDS UP "ACCIDENTALLY" SPLASHING HIM OR POORING WATER OVER HIS HEAD. I DONT KNOW HOW THAT KEEPS HAPPENING. AT ANY RATE, THEY HAVE A GOOD TIME PLAYING TOGETHER WITH BOATS, CROCODILES, AND BATH PAINTS. MILES INSISTS THAT WE ALWAYS WASH LUKE FIRST AND GET HIM OUT SO THAT HE CAN HAVE MORE PLAY TIME.

ALL ABOARD THE DEPOT GRILL

WE ENJOYED A GREAT TRIP TO SPRINGFIELD, TN. TO THE DEPOT GRILL. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DONT KNOW, MILES IS AN AVID TRAIN LOVER. THERE IS A RESTAURANT THERE NEXT TO THE TRAIN TRACKS DEDICATED TO TRAIN DECOR. WE ATE A DELICIOUS MEAL WITH MOMMY, DADDY, MILES, LUKE, GIGI, UNCLE BLAKE, AND AUNT SUZANNE. WE HAD A GREAT TIME. UNFORTUNATELY, A TRAIN DIDNT COME BY WHILE WE WERE EATING BUT AS SOON AS WE WERE HEADED TO THE CAR (PRIOR TO THIS PICTURE) WE HEARD ONE ON THE WAY. MILES WAS SO EXCITED AS THE TRAIN PASSED AND IT JUST COMPLETED A WONDERFUL TRIP. WE HOPE TO GO AGAIN SOMETIME.

A TRIP TO GRANNY AND PAW PAW'S

THE WHOLE FAMILY DECIDED TO TAKE A TRIP TO PARIS, TN. OVER THE LABOR DAY HOLIDAY TO SURPRISE GRANNY AND PAW PAW. WE ARRIVED AROUND 11:00 A.M. AND LET MILES KNOCK ON THE DOOR WHILE WE HID BESIDE THE HOUSE. GRANNY CAME TO THE DOOR AND SAW HIM STANDING THERE AND WAS THRILLED. PAW PAW WAS EAGER TO TRY ONE OF MILES' CHICKEN MCNUGGETS...HE DIDNT COMMENT SO I DONT KNOW IF IT WAS WHAT HE WAS EXPECTING. WE ALL PLAYED, LAUGHED, SHARED ICE CREAM, WENT UNDER GRANNY'S NEW PORCH AND ENJOYED HER GARDEN. IT WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL TRIP AND WE HOPE TO VISIT AGAIN SOON.

THIS IS WHAT LOVE LOOKS LIKE

MILES NO LONGER SPENDS HIS DAYS ALONE IN "TIME OUT." LUKE HAS RECENTLY BEGAN JOINING MILES DURING HIS TIME OUTS ON THE "NAUGHTY SPOT." IT JUST STARTED ONE DAY. I SENT MILES THERE FOR A PUNISHMENT AND LUKE WOULD FOLLOW. LUKE SITS THERE WITH MILES UNTIL HIS 4 MINUTES ARE UP AND THEN HE GETS UP JUST AS IF HIS TIME OUT IS OVER TOO. IT IS THE CUTEST THING I HAVE EVER SEEN. WHAT A SUPPORTIVE BROTHER. I WONDER IF MILES WILL REPAY THE FAVOR ONE DAY WHEN LUKE GETS OLD ENOUGH TO GO TO THE "NAUGHTY SPOT?" TIME WILL TELL.

DUCKS DUCKS EVERYWHERE

AUGUST 2007...A DAY OF FEEDING THE DUCKS WITH THE BOYS TURNED A LITTLE AGGRESSIVE. MILES, LUKE, AND I SET OUT WITH INTENTIONS OF A FUN FILLED DAY OF FEEDING THE DUCKS AT DRAKE'S CREEK PARK. WE HEADED OFF WITH OUR CRACKERS AND SMILES. WE DIDNT REALIZE THAT DUE TO THE RECENT HEAT WAVE THAT THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE USUALLY FEEDING THEM DAILY MUST HAVE STAYED AT HOME IN THE COOL AIR CONDITIONING. THEREFORE, WHEN WE GOT THERE THEY WERE VERY VERY HAPPY TO SEE US. WE COULD BARELY ESCAPE THE CAR WITH OUR CRACKERS IN HAND BEFORE THEY BEGAN SWARMING US. LUKE WAS CRYING, MILES WAS HOLDING MY LEG, AND I MYSELF WAS A BIT FRIGHTENED WITH HOW CLOSELY THEY WERE CLOSING IN. I GAVE LUKE A CRACKER TO EAT IN HIS STROLLER TO CONSOLE HIM ONLY TO HAVE ONE OF THE LITTLE DUCKIES SNATCH IT AWAY FROM HIM....MILES SAID LET'S GET OUT OF HERE AND I AGREED. WE RETREATED TO THE SWINGS TO PLAY. WE ENJOYED TO PLAYGROUND AND THEN HAD LUNCH TOGETHER. A GREAT DAY OF FUN...AND SOMETHING TO LAUGH ABOUT.

LUKE'S NICU CELEBRATION

FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW, LUKE WAS BORN 9 WEEKS PREMATURELY. HE SPENT 6 WEEKS IN BAPTIST HOSPITAL'S NICU. IT WAS A DIFFICULT TIME FOR ALL OF US AND HE HAS GONE THROUGH SO MUCH SINCE HIS BIRTH. HE IS DOING GREAT!!! EVERY YEAR BAPTIST HOLDS AN ANNUAL "BIRTHDAY PARTY" FOR THE SURVIVORS OF THE NICU. WE ATTENDED LAST YEAR AND AGAIN THIS YEAR IN AUGUST 2007. WE GET TO TALK WITH SOME OF LUKE'S DOCTORS THAT CARED FOR HIM DURING HIS STAY AND WE ALSO GET TO SEE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE NURSES. IT IS A VERY EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE AND WE LOVE GOING. IT REMINDS US HOW FAR WE HAVE COME AND BLESSED WE ARE. THIS YEAR THE NICU IS EXPANDING ITS UNIT FROM A 28 BED FACILITY TO A 53 BED FACILITY. LUKE WAS ABLE TO PUT HIS FOOTPRINT ON A CANVAS THAT WILL BE GOING INTO THE NEW NICU. WE ARE EXCITED TO VISIT UPON ITS COMPLETION. HE HAD A GREAT TIME AT THE CELEBRATION....HE AND HIS BROTHER WE ABLE TO GET BALLOON ANIMALS, NEW BOOKS, COTTON CANDY AND OTHER SNACKS, AS WELL AS VISITING WITH SOME OF THE OTHER CHILDREN THAT WE KNEW DURING OUR STAY AT THE NICU. WE ARE HOPING TO ATTEND EVERY YEAR.

MOMMY RETURNS TO WORK

WELL WE ALL KNOW WHAT AUGUST MEANS....THOSE OF US IN THE EDUCATION PROFESSION ANYWAY. BACK TO SCHOOL!!! I TOOK AN UNEXPECTED LEAVE OF ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL LAST YEAR TO BE WITH MY BABIES AND NURTURE LUKE'S DEVELOPMENT. WE ARE SO FORTUNATE THAT HIS HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT ARE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE AT THIS POINT. MOMMY IS RETURNING TO SCHOOL...BUT JUST PART TIME. MY GOOD FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE, SUSAN HINSON, WHO IS A NEW MOTHER TOO, ARE TEAM TEACHING 3RD GRADE. IT IS SUCH AN IDEAL SITUATION FOR TEACHERS WHO WANT TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH THEIR CHILDREN. I TEACH EVERY MON. AND TUES. SUSAN TEACHES ON WED. AND THUR. AND WE ALTERNATE FRIDAYS. WE LOVE IT AND SO FAR IT IS WORKING WELL. THIS IS US ON OUR FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL. WISH US LUCK....AUGUST 2007

HAPPY 4TH BIRTHDAY MILES

HAVE YOU EVER SEEN A CUTER PIRATE? MILES CELEBRATED HIS 4TH BIRTHDAY ON AUGUST 3, 2007 BY HAVING A PARTY AT THE LOCAL PARK PAVILION. IT ENDED UP BEING 102 DEGREES THAT DAY...LITTLE DID WE KNOW. THE THEME WAS PIRATES AND WE SUPPLIED EVERYONE WITH PIRATE HATS, TATOOS, HOOKS, AND EYEPATCHES. AFTER PLAYING AT THE PLAYGROUND AND PRETENDING TO BE PIRATES, THE CHILDREN ENJOYED JUICE BOXES, PIZZA, AND A PIRATE CAKE. MILES THEN OPENED ALL OF THE WONDERFUL PRESENTS FROM HIS FRIENDS. HE LOVED ALL OF HIS TOYS AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME HOME AND PLAY AFTER THE PARTY. THANKS TO ALL OF HIS FRIENDS FOR MAKING THE DAY SO SPECIAL.

LUKE'S FIRST BABY SHOW

MY DARLING LUKE WAS ENTERED IN THE LOCAL BABY PAGEANT. WE WERE AFRAID THAT HIS TEMPERAMENT MIGHT HINDER THE PERSONALITY PORTION OF THE COMPETITION. IT WAS JUST THE OPPOSITE. HE WAS LAUGHING AND WAVING....SMILING AT HIS NENE, PAW PAW, DADDY, AND BIG BROTHER. WE WERE A SHOE IN.....NOT TODAY. WE DIDNT PLACE BUT I REALIZED THAT IT WOULDNT HAVE MATTERED...HE IS ALWAYS FIRST PLACE TO ME.

MILES' BABY SHOW ADVENTURE

MILES WAS AGAIN ENTERED IN THE LOCAL BABY BEAUTY PAGEANT. I DONT KNOW WHY I CONTINUE TO ENTER THEM BECAUSE I DONT NEED ANYONE TO TELL ME THAT THEY ARE THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOYS IN THE WORLD. HIS CATEGORY ONLY HAD 13 BOYS AND WITH 4 PLACES BEING GIVEN...WE COULDNT LOSE....WRONG. WE DIDNT EVEN PLACE. THE FUNNY THING IS...MILES AND I LAUGHED THE ENTIRE BABY SHOW WHILE THE JUDGES WALKED AROUND, MAKING SILLY FACES AT ONE ANOTHER AND WAVING TO NENE AND PAW PAW IN THE CROWD. IT WAS SO MUCH FUN. AND WHEN IT WAS ALL OVER AND WE HAD NO RIBBON, WE WENT TO THE FAIR, RODE RIDES TOGETHER, PLAYED GAMES, AND WENT TO DAIRY QUEEN FOR ICE CREAM. IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT....JULY 2007

AARRGGG MATIES

GETTING READY FOR MILES' PIRATE PARTY...LUKE SPORTING HIS PIRATE HAT MOMENTARILY FOR A QUICK PHOTO.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

THE WANSTRATH FAMILY SPENT THE 4TH OF JULY AT SHANNON'S HOUSE WITH FRIENDS. WE HAD A HUGE COOKOUT WITH LOTS OF FANCY FIXINS....WE ALSO JUMPED ON THE TRAMPOLINE, WENT DOWN THE WATER SLIDE, PLAYED BADMITTON, AND ATE SNOW CONES. JOHN, JENNIFER, CLAYTON, BENJ, JACOB, J.D., SHANNON, ALEX, MOMMY, DADDY, MILES, AND LUKE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME. WE WERE SO EXHAUSTED AFTER THE DAYS EVENTS THAT THE BOYS FELL ASLEEP ON THE WAY HOME AND WE MISSED THE LOCAL FIREWORKS. MAYBE NEXT YEAR.

MILES' SWIMMING LESSONS

OUR LITTLE MILES WAS A LITTLE RELUCTANT TO TAKE SWIMMING LESSONS IN THE BEGINNING BUT HE ENDED UP LOVING IT. HE HAD NEVER PUT HIS FACE IN WATER BUT BY THE END OF DAY 1 OF LESSONS HE WAS JUMPING (ASSISTED) FROM THE DIVING BOARD. HE TOOK LESSONS FOR 2 WEEKS IN JUNE FROM TERESA CORLEW IN FAIRVIEW PLANTATION AND GRADUATED FROM THE BEGINNERS CLASS. HE LEARNED TO FLOAT, BLOW BUBBLES, JUMP FROM THE SIDE, AND BASIC STROKES. WE LOVED SEEING HIS PROGRESS. GREAT JOB MILES!!!

MOMMY AND DADDY'S VACATION

MOMMY AND DADDY WENT ON THEIR FIRST TRIP WITHOUT THE BOYS IN JUNE 2007. WE HEADED OUT WITH BUDMAN TO MEXICO BEACH, FL. IT WAS VERY RELAXING BUT MOMMY HAD A DIFFICULT TIME ADJUSTING WITHOUT THE BOYS. WE WERE ABLE TO FISH, BODY SURF, EAT PLENTY OF SEAFOOD, AND REST. IT WAS WONDERFUL. WE CAME HOME A DAY EARLY BECAUSE MILES WAS MISSING US SO BADLY. NICE VACATION BUT I DONT KNOW IF WE COULD LEAVE THE BOYS AGAIN.

FIRST BLOG

I AM JUST BEGINNING THIS BLOG SO BARE WITH ME. EVEN THOUGH SUMMER IS OVER I WOULD LIKE TO REFLECT AND PUBLISH SOME OF OUR FAMILIES LITTLE ADVENTURES OVER THE SUMMER. I HOPE YOU ENJOY VISITING OUR FAMILY. I AM SURE THIS BLOG WILL BE PACKED FULL OF EXCITEMENT FOR ALL TO VIEW.