The Bankston Family: 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:)