Football Fanatics

Jordan is playing tackle football this year and he has games every Saturday. His team is the Longhorns, and despite Keith's dedication to Alabama football, we dress up in our burnt orange garb and cheer him on. We even bought Julia a Longhorn Cheerleader outfit so she can clap and cheer with the team cheerleaders. A couple weeks ago, Heather, Tim and Kade came out to watch one of Jordan's games. Julia and Kade had fun playing together. It's really fun to watch them interact now that they both have little personalities. They are so cute!

Julia: Look Kade, it's easy. You just shake it like this.
Kade: Mom, she's making me play with pom-poms!
Julia: (pouting because Kade won't play pom-poms)
Kade: Okay, okay. I'm shaking it Julia.
Julia: Kade, your mommy always has good snacks.
Kade: Yeah, but I like to throw them on the ground first before I eat 'em. Gives 'em flavor.

Yummy!

Antique Merry-Go-Round

When we were in Florida over the summer, we went to Pier Park, which is a huge outdoor shopping center with tons of stores, restaurants and a movie theater. There is an old wooden carousel in the center of the park that used to be located at Miracle Strip Amusement Park. Miracle Strip was around when Keith was little, but it isn't there anymore. Keith's family spent a lot of time in Panama City when he was young and he spent many days every summer at the amusement park. Keith took many rides on the wooden merry-go-round when he visited the amusement park. Miracle Strip was torn down quite a few years ago and the carousel was dismantled and abandoned in any empty lot. Phylly has a newspaper clipping that tells the story of a man who discovered the broken down antique merry-go-round. When Pier Park was built the man had the wooden carousel restored and put back in service at Pier Park. Keith thought it would be really neat to take his daughter for a ride on the same carousel that he rode on as a little boy. What a memorable ride that was for the both of them.

Catching Up Part I

Hello All!

I know it's been a while since I have updated this blog and I sincerely apologize. I signed up for facebook and all my time has been sucked up by that useless social networking site (but I do love it so!) So I decided it was time to take a break from facebook and start catching up on the Skeen Family's exciting summer!

We went to visit Phylly and Jerry in Panama City Beach, Florida at the end of June and had a nice long visit with them. Julia did very well on her first plane ride.

This picture was taken right before we boarded the plane. She started out in such a great mood.

And this one was taken right after we landed in Florida. Everyone is still in a good mood, although mom's smile seems a little bit fake after such a rocky landing!

Our first day there, we took the kids to the beach. Jordan has been many times before and absolutely loves getting in the water. Julia, on the other hand, is just like her momma - doesn't like the salty water and doesn't like to get dirty! Julia was very excited to see the water for the first time ~ she was just in awe at the expansiveness of it. But she didn't want to be put down because she didn't want to get dirty. I finally was able to get her to sit between my legs in the sand and eventually, she actually let me get up so I could take a few pictures of the kiddos.

Jordan loves to splash in the water as the waves come in.

Here's my favorite picture of all . . . although I wish I had moved the bag of cheese balls away from her before I took the picture. She has such a beautiful back. I want to take another one like this when she turns 16 and have them framed side by side.

My two sweethearts watching the waves come in.

Julia finally conquered her fear of getting dirty and put her toes in the sand. I love little baby feet - even when they're dirty!

Oh, how I love sitting on the beach. It's so quiet and peaceful - I love to hear the sound of the water washing up onto the shore. I have a lot more pictures of our trips to the beach that I will post later. We spent a good 13 days in Florida and did a lot of fun things while we were there. I promise to post episode II of our Florida vacation soon. Until next time . . . .

Drum Camp

Jordan spent all last week at Drum Camp at a local music school. There were only 4 other students and they spent all week learning different grooves. Every day Jordan came home with a new drum pattern to show us. He actually learned a lot in just one week and has some pretty good fundamentals to be a great drummer if he keeps practicing what they taught him.

Heather picked him up from camp every day and kept him until we got off work. He LOVED staying with Heather and playing with Kade. She took him swimming and to the spray park. He came home the first day proclaiming how wonderful the sandwich was that Heather made for him. I can only imagine what Heather thinks about what I feed the poor child!

On the last day of camp, they put on a little concert to show us everything they learned throughout the week. Since the power was out at Julia's daycare, I stayed home with her and we were able to go to the concert. My mom came and so did Heather and Kade. I know Jordan was so proud to have so many of his family there to watch him.

Here is a little video of the group playing Jordan's new favorite song - Back In Black.

My little rockstar jamming on the drums while his instructor, Dylan, plays the guitar.

4 drum kits and a guitar were a little loud for the little ones.

It Ain't Easy Playin' Green

The other day I was playing the guitar and letting Julia strum it with me. I started singing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and she happily played and sang along. When the song was over, she started singing her own song. It was such a pretty little melody and it seemed like she really knew what she was singing. I asked her what she was singing and without hesitation she said, "Green." So now, every time we ask her to sing us a song, she always sings "Green". We thought she might have just been a little bit confused with her colors and songs or something, but Mattie confirmed that they have a record that they play at daycare and it has a song for every color. If you ask her what her favorite song is, she will tell you, "Green".

No Boy's Allowed

Just a couple weeks ago

My mommy made me mad

She put a boy in my bath

which freaked me out real bad

A bath is made for one, you see

I just think two's a crowd

It's obvious we don't agree

But mom, No Boys Allowed

So fill my tub with bubbles

And give me all my toys

Let me play and swim around

Don't make me share my bath with boys!

Butch Walker Concert

Keith and I finally got to see Butch Walker live at the House of Blues in Dallas a couple weeks ago. We actually both saw Butch for a brief moment several years ago when he was playing with Marvelous 3. They actually did a show at an outdoor music festival in Dothan back in 1999 or 2000. Keith and I didn't know each other yet, but we were both at the show, along with about 6 other people. Seriously ~ there wasn't anyone in the audience. I didn't really know who Marvelous 3 was at the time, but my band had played on another stage earlier in the day and I thought I'd stick around and see what they were like. They didn't even make it through the first song when Butch ran off the stage. Someone came out a few minutes later saying that Butch had twisted his ankle and wouldn't be able to perform. Keith and I have questioned on many occasion whether he really twisted his ankle or just saw that there were only a handful of people there to see them and didn't want to play. If I ever get to meet him, I will probably ask him about it.

Anyway, Butch put on a great show at the House of Blues in Dallas. There was an opening band called Ponderosa from Atlanta, who were incredible. The singer had an amazing voice. Butch's drummer was also the drummer for Ponderosa.

When Butch finally took the stage, he was supposed to start off with a song on the guitar. He apparently had some sound problems with his guitar and went right over to the keyboard and opened the show with 'ATL', which is off of his latest album, Sycamore Meadows. This is an incredibly moving song to begin with, but to hear him do it live was so heart wrenching.

Butch has the best stage presence ever and really has a knack for getting the crowd going.

Here's Butch's guitar player. I don't know his name, but we called him Mr. Personality because he didn't seem to care whether he was there or not. This shot of him makes him appear to be much more entertaining than he actually was.

Butch's drummer. Check out his plaid tank top. Awesomeness.

I always cringe when I see musicians do things like stand on the bass drum or smash their guitar, but I have to admit it is pretty entertaining.

We had a great time at the show. It's always nice when Keith and I are able to get away from the kids for a night and go see a live band. Butch Walker was amazing and he put on a show that we definitely won't forget.