The Bankston Family: January 2013

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

First Day of School, Gymnastics and The Beach!

This Summer Matt and I decided to take a little trip to the beach. Orange Beach to be specific. We are typically Destin people but Matt's parents live in Orange Beach (right across the street from the beach) and we just couldn't turn a free trip down! They have had the place for a few years and sadly this is the first time we have been able to go. It has always been so hard to find the time and we were never brave enough to make the trip with the girls. I'm thinking this Summer is looking good though. So anyways, we played a little "house swap". They came up here to keep the girls and we went down there. Very much needed time off!! Both girls were sick and on a ton of meds which basically stressed me out putting someone else in control. I had to get over it though. There was a slight miscommunication with meds at the beginning but after that it was all good. As soon as we got there we rode our bikes across the street to the beach and put our feet in the sand! Here I am showing off my shell. We didn't really do much of anything. We rode their bikes a lot and had a blast doing that. It was like we were kids again. SOOO carefree! We would eat beignets, then hop on bikes and ride through parking lots chasing sea gulls. Our neighbors happened to be there at the same time and actually witnessed us chasing those birds! Pretty embarrassing! We loved hanging out with Bill, Charlotte, Laura, Clay, Kirsten and Lilly. They seriously are like family. We were lucky they were there cause we got our Tahoe stuck in the sand one day when we were trying to park somewhere we shouldn't have. Bill to the rescue! No matter if we are in Shreveport or Orange Beach, we always need him for something! Deep down we know he loves it though. He has a huge diesel truck with this big wrench and all the tools to pull a car. He was proud cause it was the first time he's needed it. Good memories- HA! He will never let us live that one down.

Oh Melody......what a funny little girl you are:) Thought you and Bubbi kinda resembled eachother right here.

This was Addison's first day of Pre-K 4. It was actually only a few hours so the parents could have a meeting. So y'all read a book and had a frog cookie. Y'all are the "Friendly Frogs" this year and like last year we had to make you your very own cookie to resemble the others that were made in a bakery. Last year we had to do an owl. We are getting pretty good at this! I will explain this in another post in way more detail but you will be starting a program in Dallas with your Allergist that will cure you of your peanut allergy!!! We will start in August and will more than likely have to go once a week. They have had amazing success with it and have been doing it for years! So by the time you get to Kindergarten you will more than likely be able to eat a peanut without going into anaphalactic shock!! The travel will be hard but will be worth it knowing you will be much safer since peanuts are life threatening right now.

Listening to Mrs. Davison read. You got to meet Mrs. Davison about a week before school started so that we could go over your action plan for the allergy. We showed her how to use the epi pens and went over snack rules. We then discussed the injury and just told her that you tend to still walk on your toes when you aren't focusing on it and when you get in a hurry. We explained that your braces keep your heels down. We also wanted to stress that Cognitive is completely fine and the only thing you would need some help with is fine motor skills. She still helps a little with your cutting. Your Occupational Therapist did your assessment not too long ago and you are getting closer and closer to catching up! You are only 6 months behind with fine motor!!! We are so excited and are really happy to be bridging you next year. We think it will be a great way for you to catch up, and I also selfishly want to keep you under our roof for as long as possible!! If I could hold you back 2 years I would! We will most certainly do the same for Melody.

Melody started gymnastics this Fall and it was right down her alley. She was probably the youngest in the class and loved it so much BUT would not listen. I seriously would chase her all over the place from station to station. In her defense it would be hard to line up against the wall and listen to each stations instructions that take a few minutes. I just sat back thinking does it really require this much explaining? Melody had had it and would always take off. She hated waiting her turn and would just fly through everything. I was exhausted by the end and it was to the point where the instructors just kinda looked at us in that special way. After awhile I just gave up and let you run around and burn that energy. I mean, isn't that why we're really there? So even though you do flips and are so very physical, I just don't think you were mature enough yet. I was refunded for the remaining classes and we will just try again next Fall!

Here you are "shopping" for gym shorts in the lobby.

Addison's first day of Pre-k 4. So precious. She was pretty excited to head back to school. For awhile there she thought she had 2 classes. Mrs. Davison's and Mrs. Blanchard's (from last year). She will still randomly want to walk down the hall to Mrs. Blanchard's just to say "Hi" and to tell her all the things she is learning. Melody will have Mrs. Blanchard next year and we are super excited about that!

Melody is all sass right here.

The good ole forced smile! I think it's so funny!

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

What's up with us??

Well, since it is almost February and these are all Summer pics, looks like I have some major catching up to do. That's always the case! Never enough time. I've been trying to be more relaxed about it and not let it bug me as much. Seems to be working:) We did some swimming this Summer at Southern Trace. So much fun! Addison loved it and loved showing off her new swimming skills. We are thinking we will do private swim lessons there this Summer. It would just be easier cause it is the next neighborhood over and we wouldn't have to stay in Ruston for 2 weeks! I also want private since it will give the girls more time in the water.

Miss Independent. Showing us how she brushes her teeth. She is actually very good at this!

Chillin' with Daddy and the new Leapster. I think Daddy enjoyed it more than Addison!

We all went to Lilly's birthday party and they had a face painter there. What a cool idea! This seems to be the "new" thing and you loved it!

There is no telling what number juice box that was.

Melody, you are fearless. You could barely reach the gas pedal but you were all over the place in that thing!

There is a pond at Totsie and Papa's house across the street that is FULL of catfish (thanks to Papa). He has been wanting to take y'all out there and let you see them eat. (Yes, he feeds them). We went fishing one day and caught a few. I let you help me reel one in. It was so much fun!

Check that face out!

Papa is definitely in his element!

I was determined to introduce Addison to the worms. As a kid, I would always bate my own hook and I just kinda wanted the same for her. Maybe not bate it yet but certainly be able to touch the worms without freaking out! Well, within 5 minutes those worms were her best friends. She was picking them up and naming all of them. Squirmy was one of them. I was pretty proud:)

We went to Monroe one day and hung out at Nona's house. She showed them everything and where Papa's room was when he was growing up. They were really excited about the bayou.

I will have to say this is where I just started tearing up. Nona was so excited about showing y'all these rooms and explaining the history and it just got to me. Watching her hold Addison's hand and walk her through those halls was a glimpse of my past and how fast it has all gone. Addison just looks so much like I did as a girl and it was so sweet to watch but also very heartbreaking. If I could find a way to make the clocks stop, I swear I would.

Poor Melody and her life jacket! I got it last minute that morning at CVS and it was the only one they had. It has FLAMES on the sides. Yup. Sweet little Melody wearing some FLAMES in her pretty little pink monogrammed swimsuit. Hey, but it did the job!!!

Y'all loved the baby pool!

I love this pic of you! Pretty sweet and innocent:)

Oh Insanity. Oh yes we did! This is the craziest most intense DVD workout yet. It is INSANE! We had always heard about it and one day I was like, "I wanna try that"! It was so awesome! I loved it and it was hard! Matt of course goes along with whatever and he did it too. Every night after we got the kids down we would turn the living room into a gym and go at it. Matt's knees bothered him sometimes but he stuck with it. Afterwards you gotta mail in your before and after photo to get "THE TSHIRT". They make it sound super special to where you want that tshirt more than anything.

Looking pretty cute with shorts on your head!

Addison loves anything arts and crafts. Glue, scissors, coloring......

This is Addison's sweatshirt that Melody just LOVES. Anytime she sees it in the closet or lying around, she just has to put it on. It's kind of a worn/ vintage looking sweatshirt. I'd wear it too!

McDonalds for breakfast. Y'all are crazy about those hashbrowns. We rarely do their breakfast but on this day we were headed to the doctor so I figured why not.

Chillin' at the doctor. I was holding it together pretty good I think:) That has got to be one of the most challenging things- going to the doctor with multiple kids on your own. It just makes me sweat thinking about it.

Love these times.

Sometimes the squeezing gets a little out of hand. But y'all love eachother so much

You would always put this outfit together and say you were going to the beach. You did like this whole thing where you would act it out and everything. Poor thing- we gotta get you to the beach this year. You haven't been since you were a baby. We just aren't sure about the car ride!!

This is the picture everyone says looked just like me as a little girl.

Here we are in Monroe at Melanie Massey's main office. This was the first time Melanie did a full work up on Addison and just watched everything. I loved it. Afterwards she typed up some specific things to work on with her and faxed them over to the Shreveport office. We will go back to Melanie maybe every 4-6 months just for a reassessment.

This is the main stretch that can benefit you. You are a tip-toe walker right now and your braces are used to pull your heels down. This stretch just keeps you flexible. Matt is going to build one for us to use at home.

You with John Wesley and Melanie Massey. John Wesley use to work in the Shreveport office and y'all loved each other. It was a big treat for y'all to hang out that day in Monroe.

Melody posing at Outback. Y'all still love you some Outback!

This was the catfish I caught and was pretty proud! We had to take this picture cause we have one identical to this when I was about 7 and caught my first catfish. Pretty special:)