What Would We Do Without Buddies?

I always find myself saying that Riggs was meant to be a middle child, because nothing makes him happier than hanging with a slew of buddies.  Lucky for him, they only breed boys in Florida, so he's got a ton of little men that our turning into great friends. 

Just the group of kiddos all very interested in a bug.

Oh, we also had some buddies that were relatives stop by, of which Riggs (and all of us) loved, of course.

I feel the need...

....the need for speed.....just a little....really....please.....come on.  

Let me confirm something...

All parents are obsessed with their children while they're sleeping, correct?  I can't help but try and snap photos, with the flash, without waking them up.  I do what I do.

(Yes, Riggs' blanket is a bright pink heart blanket, courtesy of Gma W.  He loves it.  His pillow is Henry the Eagle, courtesy of Grandma Carlile.  He loves him.)

She is such a piece of work.

For the one doctor I know....

....that may or may not read my blog.  Kate, did you know babies can get strep throat?  Or at least that's what my pediatrician said Meredith had earlier this year.  She was clearly sick....mainly lethargic and not happy.  It was really sad.

For all you non-doctors....did you know there is even a lingering question as to if babies can get strep or not?  Yeah, I had no idea.  But here's what one looks like who has it.... supposedly. 

Missouri Facts & Trivia

So, I was of course spending too much time trying to come up with some witty title for this post, when I thought...what's that darn saying they always say...Oh yeah, that's it.  The Show Me State.  I thought, let's play on that some how.  Thus, I google, "why is MO called the Show Me State."  The answer, you  may ask....well, here is what the usually so informat internet tells me...

The 'Show Me State' expression may have began in 1899 when Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver stated, "I'm from Missouri and you've got to show me."

That left me dumbfounded, in dumbness.  Did I miss something?  I don't get it.  Some one fill me in.  My internet checking stopped there because I became so wrapped up in other MO trivia.  Like....

The state animal is the Mule. - Now, that's awesome.

Kansas City has more miles of boulevards than Paris and more fountains than any city except Rome. - Now, that is also awesome.

The tallest man in documented medical history was Robert Pershing Wadlow from St. Louis.  He was 8 feet, 11.1 inches tall.  - Now, that is severely awesome.

During Abraham Lincoln's campaign for the presidency, a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat named Valentine Tapley from Pike County, Missouri, swore that he would never shave again if Abe were elected.  Tapley kept his word and his chin whiskers went unshorn from November 1860 until he died in 1910, attaining a length of twelve feet six inches.  - Now that is the most awesome.

There are many great things about Missouri.  I don't have the time or the space or the patience to educate all of my blog readers on the misc facts I found.  However, some of Missouri's most awesomeness can be found in the beautiful outskirts of Nixa, MO.  And during the first week of the year there was additional awesomeness in Nixa, MO brought to you by Maple Grove, MN and Albany, OR.  Oh, and LOL, FL.  We anxiously await our next visit to the Show-Me-State.

We celebrated Jaycee's and Dad's birthdays.  Here we are at Jaycee's party at the awesome indoor gymnastics facility.

Sis happily watching the gymnasts.

Dad and his grandkids.

We did New Year's on the town in Springfield, MO.  Stopped at the Children's Museum, the YMCA.

               

 Riggs courting Jaycee at the YMCA, naturally.

Lots of fun time with the cousins, aunts, uncles, and Grandparents.

Oh, and plenty of time for other cuteness.  Here's Riggs on his way to the Dolly Stampede in Branson.  

 Post Church.

 Oh, hey, Show Me State....Show me this....

....Or how about this....