Today was a long day because it was Field Day. Field Day at Town Center is no ordinary Field Day. They have Field Day at a park that has an awesome playground, a water park, sand volleyball, baseball fields, and you name it. The classes rotate around to various bounce houses (one bounce house was three stories tall and rumor has it that it cost $1000 to rent), water obstacle courses, the swimming pool, etc. Basically, it is a day of water play. Last year I was so surprised at how enormous Field Day was, and it honestly bothered me to see how much money was spent on a play day. This year, I just had fun going around with classes, and enjoyed it for what it was - a day of fun in the sun. (I did get just a little burned after being out in the sun!) After Field Day, I headed over to my old school that I taught at -- T.J. Lee. T.J. Lee had its 50 year anniversary and there was a big party. I made it over there just in time to see some of my old friends. It was nice.

After visiting with everyone, I headed to get my wonderful kids. When I walked into Lauren's room today, she was lying on the floor. I said, "Hi Lauren!" She looked right at me and got the biggest smile on her face! She then tried to talk to me. It was so cute! She is normally sleeping when I pick her up, so this was a nice surprise. Of course we went to get Jackson, and he had big news for us. His school had a bounce house, and he played on it today!! Jackson finally tried out a bounce house! He loved it. Too fun!

Tonight, Jackson started playing Pat-a-Cake with Lauren. She LOVED it! She kept smiling and laughing! Here are some pictures of them playing together.

Lauren is really starting to reach out and touch things. When I am close to her, she reaches out and touches my face. She still is a little jerky with her movements though. You can see that she reached out for Jackson's face in this picture. It's funny how you forget some of the stages that babies go through!

Update on Me

My parents left for Italy on Friday. They are there for six weeks! Dad is a visiting professor for University of Florence so they have a flat that they are renting out. Since we are out of phone contact, I am going to try to update the blog more frequently. I decided that if I am going to type what is going on in the lives of the Larriviere family, I should just post it to the blog. So, if you are wondering why I am posting more often, that's why!

Lauren gave us a little scare today. She had not had a BM since Sunday at noon. We called daycare to see how she was doing midday today. She was crying a lot and gassy. If you know Lauren, she NEVER fusses. She is so easy going. Thomas called the doctor at 2:00, and we waited all afternoon for them to call back. Meanwhile, I rushed over to daycare after a meeting after school to get the kids, and she had finally gone. Yeah! The teachers said that she pooped and then gave her big smile that she gives out and was happy!

For those of you that don't know, I have a new job for the next school year!! I'm so excited! I will be working in Lovejoy ISD at Hart Elementary School as the LMS (Library Media Specialist). Tonight, they presented the new hires to the school board. My new principal said some really nice things about me and presented me with a kind note, a nice pen, and a fancy chocolate covered apple! It was really neat! I know next year is going to be fabulous!

Memorial Day

On Memorial Day, we went over to our neighbor's house to grill and swim in their pool. Thomas smoked ribs and the neighbors grilled shrimp. It was yummy! Jackson actually got in the pool without crying! He had fun pretending he was a scuba diver! Lauren got in the pool too! She enjoyed it, but was very sleepy, so she didn't stay in the water too long. I did get a picture of Lauren in her swimsuit. I did not take pictures of the kids in the water because the pictures would include Thomas or I in our swimsuit. We decided that the world was a better place without pictures of either of us in our swimsuits!!!

Here's Lauren in her swimsuit. What a cutie pie! I did have a learning lesson about girl's swimsuits. . . buy them A LOT bigger. This one is a 6-9 month and it was really tight on little girl. I think I need to buy a bigger one now for later in the season.

Lauren's Newest Accomplishment

On Sunday, we put Lauren under her gym to play a little. She LOVES playing with her toys. Not long after putting her under her toys, she started drifting off to sleep. It was so sweet because she fell asleep holding onto a toy! It was hard to get a picture because we didn't want to wake her, but here she is:

Of course a few minutes later, Jackson came by and woke her up!

Here's Lauren startled by Jackson!

Then she had another milestone. She rolled to her side! Since Sunday, she keeps rolling to her side over and over again. I think she has this trick down!

Lauren on her side.

Lauren's Christening

Sunday, May 17th was an important day in our family. Lauren was Christened. We wanted to have her Christened at Christ UMC in College Station because we are close to the preacher, Jerry House. Jerry married Thomas and I and also Christened Jackson. Jerry did a wonderful job and it was a special moment for us. Jerry also included Jackson in the service and had him pour the water from the pitcher into the bowl. Jackson was excited to be a part of Lauren's Christening.

The family gathered at the front of the church.


Lauren is Christened.

Jerry talked to Lauren and showed her off to the church.

Jerry told us after the service that he thought Lauren was going to start talking to him. We agreed that she was about to talk to him!

After Lauren's Christening, it was time for children's time. Papa J took Lauren up to the front. Jackson and Lauren's Godmother's boy Weston went up there too.

Jackson really got into the lesson. He kept looking at Jerry with a HUGE grin on his face. At the end of the message, Jackson answered Jerry's question and said, "JOY!" Since he was so close to Jerry's microphone, his voice was carried through the church. It was really sweet.

After church, we headed back to my parent's house for a luncheon. My parent's Fellowship group came to the church and back to the house to celebrate with us.

We took pictures outside as soon as we got there.

What a sweet girl!

The four generations of "Faye"s.

Lauren's entire family on my side.

Lauren with her family, grandparents, and great-grandma.

The Larriviere family.

Another picture

The three Savell kids with Lauren.

Mama J and Papa J with Lauren.

Lauren and Grandma

Lauren with her Godmother, Shelly.

Shelly had a baby, Sawyer, just a little over a month ago. We were so grateful that Shelly and her family could attend Lauren's Christening. Here's a picture of Shelly holding Lauren and me getting to hold Sawyer. He is a cutie-pie! I think Lauren and Sawyer will be good friends! Jackson also got to play with Shelly's oldest son, Weston. They were two peas in a pod!

Second Crawfish Boil

Last weekend, everyone headed down to College Station for Lauren's Christening. Friday evening, we attended the funeral of our beloved Sara June Goode. Sara June was a wonderful woman that served as a mother figure to my dad and a honorary grandmother to the rest of us. Unfortunately, she never met Lauren. She would have loved seeing Lauren's dimple! She loved Thomas' dimple. When Lauren was born and I saw her dimple, I thought of Sara June instantly. Sara June will be missed by all.

On Saturday, we decided to have a crawfish boil. Dad also wanted to test out a new recipe for ribs. So we had ribs as appetizers and crawfish as the main dish! It was a wonderful day of eating (and my hips show it)! The Averyts and Diana Davidson also came over to enjoy in the festivities.

Jonathan and Thomas dump in the crawfish.

The ribs that Dad cooked. They were the best ribs I have EVER eaten!

Miss Kaci and Lauren

Jackson woke up from his nap just in time. Of course he had bed hair!

Uncle Jonathan stirs the pot.

Thomas and Jonathan dump the boil.

We only boiled one sack because we did not want leftovers.

Jackson went to town peeling his crawfish. . .


and of course, sucking the heads!

Jackson and Mr. Bill cleaned the BBQ pit. Jackson had fun with the water hose and ended up squirting Thomas. Thomas did get him back in return!

Mother's Day

Mother's Day weekend was wonderful! This was the first Mother's Day that we celebrated. My first Mother's Day was spent with my entire extended family, so we really concentrated on my grandmother and mother. The next year, Thomas and Jackson went to New Orleans for my nieces graduation party (with my permission and encouragement of course). Last year, I went to Houston to visit my Dad while he was in the hospital at MD Anderson. So, this was my first true Mother's Day celebration.

On Saturday, I went shopping for myself all by myself. It was wonderful! It is not often that I get to spend some time by myself doing something for myself. Then Saturday night, we went to Benihana. I thought Jackson would really enjoy the hibachi grill. Turns out, he LOVED it! Sunday morning was church day and home for the rest of the day. It was a nice Mother's Day weekend!

Lauren in her seat.

Jackson loved his hat!

Mommy and daughter

Mommy and son

Jackson is very proficient at chopsticks. Amazing! He cracks us up every time we eat Chinese and he uses them perfectly!

Jackson's meal came with ice cream. He was in heaven!

A proud mommy (with an ice cream mouth son)!

Father-Son Time

Lately, Thomas and Jackson have had movie night on Friday night. They make a pallet on the floor and pop in a movie. They end of falling asleep together too. Jackson loves movie night with Daddy!

Finding Hands

Lauren found her hands a couple of weeks ago. It was so funny to watch her watching her hands! I could just imagine her thinking, "what are these strange things?"

Sibling Cuddle Time

Jackson loves to cuddle Lauren in his bed. He asked to cuddle with her the other night. What a sweet team!

Surprise at a Wedding

A couple of weekends ago, Jackson, Lauren and I went to my cousin's wedding with Mama J and Papa J in Ferris, TX. Papa J knew the fire chief and spoke to him for a while at the wedding. During the conversation, the fire chief said that we needed to come to the fire station some time so Jackson could see the firetrucks. About 30 minutes later, he came to tell us to take Jackson outside. He had called the firemen and woman at the station and told them to bring the firetruck to the wedding so that Jackson could see it!! How many 3 year olds get to tour a firetruck by themselves?!? Well, if you know Jackson, you know what happened! Yes, he cried and asked to be taken back outside over and over again! Typical Jackson! (He doesn't like surprises too much and gets scared of big things that are new unless we talk about them before hand.) I kept assuring the firemen and woman that he would talk about the firetruck for days even though he was crying. Sure enough, I was right! Jackson's highlight for the weekend was the firetruck and told everyone about it.

Papa J and Jackson check out the firetruck. Papa J insisted that Jackson look at everything on the truck. Jackson would look at whatever Papa J was showing him and then cling to him and cry about wanting to go back inside.

Jackson and Papa J check out the gauges.

They touch the hoses and look at where they "sleep".

Jackson doesn't want to get inside the truck and DID NOT want to try on the fireman's helmet!

Papa J and Jackson pose with the firemen and woman.

After taking this picture, they said they would turn on their lights as they were leaving. Jackson looked at them, stopped crying, and said, "OK. Wait for my mommy to take a picture though. I want my mommy to take a picture." My child!