Another Funny....

I just went to get the oil changed in my car & while we were sitting there she started whining....I said "Oh, you are just sleepy." to which she adamantly replied...."I NOT SLEEPY!! I JUST RYLIE!"

Rylie update

Rylie is 22 months old today....her 2nd birthday is just around the corner! I can't believe how time flies!! I took her to Portrait Innovations today, but alas, we had another unsuccessful visit. It was a repeat of the attempt at 18 months.....let me paint the scenario for you......an otherwise jovial child, always quick to talk or smile.....as we enter the threshold of P.I. , assumes a vice-like grip on my neck, averting her eyes from all other human so as not to be captured by their tractor-beams.....She literally wrapped herself around me like a monkey & would not even let me put her down beside me! I tried to sit her in the "princess chair" they had on set & this resulted in a screech & the arching of her back much like that of a cat being placed in a bathtub. So, if you wonder why there are no professional pictures of my child from age 12 months to oh, say 15yrs (at this rate) ...that is why! ( Above: Rylie, Jonah & Kaylen having a hotdog!)

On to other topics...here is the Taj Mahal of dog houses, created by none other than my father! Here he is posing by the duplex (custom built for Jersey & Houston). Note that Houston already took up residence in the left side of the house before they could even get the doghouse in place! Pretty funny! We got him out & he jumped back in at least 3 times while they were moving it! Stewart later painted it to match our house!

Rylie's current faves: chocolate milk, Charlotte's Web, baby dolls & accessories, swinging, coloring with markers & singing/dancing to songs like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star", etc. She is also sleeping in her"big girl bed" now & loves for her Daddy to read her stories each night at bedtime. She says the funniest things, too....today she said "I've got a good idea!" & she is getting better at saying please & thank-you! We are working on the potty training thing, but it is hit-or-miss....literally!

I was getting ready the other day & Rylie was sitting beside me in the bathroom. I looked over & heard her say "uh-oh" & this is what she had done~ Little did I know that she could get the lid off my mascara ! The "uh-oh" was because she got it on her cheek! Notice the rest is on her "eyes"!

Rylie & her daddy enjoying a fresh baked chocolate chip cookie with whipped cream! Oh-so-healthy!

One Big Happy Family

What a great day! This was last Sunday afternoon outside of Casa Blanca. We all went to church together & had a wonderful afternoon. Grandma Fox & Theresa (Darlene's daughter) were also at church, but weren't able to go to lunch. What a blessing to have Skyler with us...as you all know he has been through quite a lot in the past month. He is recovering from his head injury quite nicely...he is not 100% yet, so keep him in your prayers! He is doing great though & what a blessing to have him go to church with everyone! (From L to Right...Gary Fox,Darlene Fox, Skyler Fox, John Gavin Fox, Lindsay Fox, Clay Buie, Alaney Buie,Lakyn Buie, Sherry Buie, Me, Rylie Fox & Stewart Fox!)

Casa Del Fox

Here are the long-awaited photos of our newly renovated backyard! Stewart & his amigo friends worked vigorously designing & installing the stone on our patio...I love it! Stewart is very talented & he is ALWAYS working in our yard!

Here is the "inspector" coming to check things out....she became fast friends with Nacho, one of the guys working on the patio. He & his son Gustavo worked tirelessly, hand laying each stone! Certain sections are random patterned, which takes some major skill to do correctly. Rylie would come out after the guys had gone home & say..."Where's Nacho?" & "Those are Nacho's tools".

Another view of the columns & fire pit area. Stewart later installed lighting on the columns & it is so nice to sit out on the patio at night.

The inspector isn't happy!!! But it has nothing to do with the patio....probably just nap time! She sure enjoyed playing in all that dirt & sand though!

A lovely place for us to spend our mornings before it gets too hot! I can't wait to have our first cookout!

This begins the "before" shots...I wanted to include some so you would know how drastically different it is now! These are a little out of order...forgive me! In this shot you can see the columns beginning to go up......Stewart, Juan & Nacho in the pic!

Stewart & the official "ground breaking". (More like earth shattering or waking the dead, if you will). There is never a dull moment in the Fox household....he had been talking about starting this "little" project for some time, so lo & behold, as I drifted into a peaceful slumber while getting Rylie down for her nap, I was abruptly awakened by the sound of a machine gun...or so I thought as I wrestled my eyes open to see where I was! Sheesh! Warn somebody next time why dontcha! :)

I just realized that this picture is remarkably similar to the one above.....oh, well, feast your eyes once again!!

Here are Stewart & Nacho discussing the finer points of patio design......

...and once again our little inspector on the scene with her shovel, come what may!

**Thank you, Lord, for all of our blessings! Big or small, they all come from You!

The Foxes on the Funship

Here are some shots from one of our weekend adventures aboard the "Funship", our lovely vintage pontoon boat. It has made for many a fun weekend.......here is my handsome hubby on Skyler's jet ski.

Pawpaw & Rylie Kate hanging out on board...


Rylie & John Gavin having a Cheetos fest. Those kids love their Cheetos!
"Unca Skyler"

I love this picture of my in laws! It is so cute! Darlene was a trooper....she didn't feel too well that day, but came out anyway & ended up jumping in with her clothes on! We even rode the tube together:) A fun day!

John Gavin was worn out....he fell asleep on Pawpaw's shoulder!

***As many of you know, Skyler (Stewart's bro.) has been in the hospital for a week & a half now after suffering from a traumatic brain injury in an accident. He was in Neuro ICU for 4 days & then to a room & is now at HealthSouth undergoing treatment. He has come a long way in his recovery, but he still needs your prayers. He is still experiencing short term memory loss & vision problems. God is the great physician.....he will heal us physically & spiritually. Keep Skyler & the fam in your prayers....they need them:)

Birmingham Zoo

Rylie & I went to the Birmingham zoo with Dawn & Kaylen Wilson. We had so much fun! Here is a lovely shot of Dawn breaking the rules, feeding the giraffe! Some kid was trying to do it & he couldn't reach, so Dawn said "let me see it" & the giraffe took it! Great photo op....did I mention she is a teacher? HAHA! Such a rebel!

Rylie & Kaylen found this bunny statue outside of the butterfly house & they both started hugging it! So cute!

Hangin' out in the strollers! This was taken in the monkey house. There was a baby monkey in there with all the adult monkeys & it was acting crazy! It was fun to watch.

The look on their faces was classic! This was a birdhouse you could go inside & they would land on you & fly around your head....a bit creepy.

Posing in the botanical garden...

O.k......this is totally not at the zoo, but cute, nonetheless? It is in our front yard & I just had to throw it in the mix!

A little about our day....we got to the zoo & it was 1/2 price day, so it was pretty packed. We went inside & grabbed some lunch & headed for the live animal show. As we waited in the sweltering heat ( no shade in this area on a sunny July day) with at least 50 other visitors anxious for some animal interaction, Rylie & Kaylen began to get bored & played in the rocks, with Kaylen eventually taking the stage. After 2:30 came & went we assumed there would be no show & left the theater area. We ventured up to the area where the elephants are housed only to find THERE ARE NO ELEPHANTS!!! What!?! Rylie loves elephants & there were none to be found. Isn't that a zoo staple? So on we went & we found an area where you could ride a camel. We went all over looking for an ATM (cash only for the rides) & when we found the lone ATM machine, wouldn't you know it....it was out-of-order! What the French, toast? Apparently no one in the entire zoo can provide you with cash, so there were no camels ridden by us that day. We came to the conclusion that 1/2 off day is just that....you get what you pay for! Sheesh!

Here was one of the cool things we saw....the Rhino getting a mani.....or is it a pedi? Anyway, the zookeeper blew his whistle told him to sit & he did! Who knew they were trained like that? Rylie saw the Rhino & said "Dinosaur!". Pretty funny!

Rylie checking out "flow-ders" in the butterfly garden!

See her eyes wild with excitement! Nothing like a "pock-scicle" as big as your head to cool you down!

Rylie Kate

I just wanted to add these....I love the simple black & white. These capture the essence of a warm summer day, just swinging in the yard! All you need is some lemonade! I will try to have some more posts up later this week....I have tons of pics on my camera that need uploading!

Rylie is getting so big.....she learned her colors & shapes & when we ask her "what's mommy's name?" she says "A-mily" & "what's daddy's name" she says "Stewart" & if you ask her name she proudly says "Rylie Kate Fox". It is so fun to watch her grow & learn new things every day! She loves to say the blessing & we all have to hold hands around the table. She is trying to learn "God our Father" (especially since her buddy Kaylen says it!). Last night while we were having dinner, it suddenly occured to me just how blessed we really are to have dinner each night, to not have to worry where our next meal is coming from, like so many less fortunate than us do. God is Great......God is Good.