Playdate with Lola Grace

Last year in 3K, Avery's best friend was Lola Grace. When she found out that LG was not going to be in her class this year, she was REALLY upset. I told her that she'd have new best friends (which she HAS made), yet occasionally, she would still say that she missed Lola Grace or that she had a dream about her. So, I decided that we HAD to invite Lola Grace over for a play date. This afternoon was the big day, and Avery was ecstatic! The girls had so much fun together. We are thankful for friendships both new AND old!

Brynn's Political Views

Brynn is at the adorable age where we can ask her to repeat random words, and when she says them, she pronounces them really funny. Here's an example of a recent conversation:

"Brynn, can you say Mississippi?"
"Miss-i-siss-i-pee."
"Can you say entomologist?"
"Eto-mo-lo-gist" (She's pretty good at that one)
"Can you say republican?"
"Re-pelican."
"Can you say democrat?"
"Demo-craP!" (She really enunciates the last P in the word too!)

Even my family and friends that are democrats had to admit that was hilareous!!

I Didn't Sleep At ALL Last Night!

Some nights at our house are so ridiculous it's comical. Last night was one of those. Bryan and I stayed up until midnight talking (which often proves to be a poor judgment call). At 3:30, Brynn came walking into our room, scared to death because she said she saw a cockroach. Bryan got up to handle that situation (thank you, honey) and by that time, Avery was awake as well. It took him about 15 minutes to get the girls settled down before he came back to bed. I went back to sleep, only to wake up at 5:30 because Asa was crying. Bryan offered to take care of this as well (yes, I have a great husband) because he had NOT even gone back to sleep. It took him about 30 minutes to get Asa back to sleep. Bryan had the clock set for 6, so 3 1/2 hours of sleep is all he got (don't know HOW he's gonna make it today.) I woke up this morning at about 7:15, and the tendancy was for me to think about how tired I was, but God gave me one of those sweet reminders that He often gives to keep me from complaining. I went in to check on the girls at about 8:00, and they were both asleep together in Brynn's crib. They looked so sweet, and I could just imagine the 2 of them scared of cockroaches, so they decided to sleep together to calm their fears. With our children the ages they are, it's rare that we get a full night's sleep without someone waking up at night. It's mentally and physically exhausting, but today I was able to look past that and just appreciate my children, even if I didn't sleep at ALL last night!

Deja Vu!

Today, I walked in on Asa playing in the kitchen, and he had climbed up into our dishwasher. As if that wasn't shocking in and off itself, I had this strange feeling that I'd seen that exact same thing before. Sure enough, I pulled out Brynn's 1 year scrapbook, and there it was! Is Asa going to be as much trouble as his big sister? It sure looks that way!

Left: Brynn - 14 months; Right: Asa 10 months

The First Day of School

Avery and Brynn had their first day of preschool today. They both go to Ingleside Baptist, and Avery is in 4K and Brynn is in 2K. They were both very excited. I've been trying to gear them up for it all week, especially Brynn, since she still cries a little when I leave her. We've been reading The Kissing Hand before going to bed and talking about growing up and acting like a big girl. They both woke up excited and ready to go. We took their pictures and headed out. When we got there, I dropped Avery off first. She didn't give me a backward glance but went straight for the puzzles. I was heading away with Brynn, somewhat dejected if you want to know the truth, when I heard Avery scream, "Mommy, wait, you forgot to give me my kissing hand!!" I couldn't believe she remembered, and it absolutely melted my heart. Now it was Brynn's turn. She went straight inside her room, and only whimpered a LITTLE when I told her I'd see her later. By the time I got around to the viewing window to take a peek at her, she was already playing with toys and meeting new friends. I can't believe that 2 of my babies are in school. As I strolled out of the building with Asa, I was sure thankful that I still have one more to go. They just grow up so fast. I'm sure I'll be the mom at the window bawling my eyes out when my last little baby starts school. I had a nice, quiet morning cleaning the house and doing laundry while Asa napped, before I went to pick the girls up. They both had a wonderful day, and they can't wait to go back!

These 2 little girls are ready to go to school!!

Sweet sisters!! Is Mommy ready to let them grow up?

Avery is in the Friendly Frogs class, and she loves her new teacher, Mrs. Laurie. When we got home, she told me that they read The Kissing Hand at school today too!

Brynn's class is called the Colorful Crayons.

She came out saying, "I saw Mrs. Dana & Mrs. Kathy." (teachers)

Looks like everyone is off to a GREAT start!!

Thankful Thursday

Here are 10 random things that I am thankful for this morning....

• A husband who left a love note for me when I got up
• Little girls who are sleeping late
• "Mommy love" from Asa this morning
• Fresh running water - as much as I want
• Friends that I can go see "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" with tonight
• A wonderful job that allows me to be both Mommy AND teacher
• That today is my day off, and I get to be with my children
• 3 sets of parents who live in the same town - who can watch my kids grow up (and babysit them too)
• My mini-van (don't know how I lived without it)
• A cool house in the heat of summer
• My computer

Summer Sum Up!

Boy, summers are different than they used to be. Obviously, it's a lot HOTTER than it was when I grew up. The most marked difference, however, is that summers are so much SHORTER! I actually went back to work in July this year! The kids will start school next week. Avery and Brynn will be in 4K and 2K, and Asa will go to Mother's Morning Out on 2 mornings a week. As the vacation comes to an end, I am thankful for a fun-filled summer with family. Here are some of the highlights.

We welcomed a new cousin, Myra Jane to the family. Shawn and Ashley brought her home from China on July 2. We had a big welcome home party for them.

We spent the 4th of July in St. Simons with Grandma Shirley and PaPa.

Family vacation with Grandpapa and Grandmommy in Hilton Head is always a blast! The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins Cannon, Allie Ann, and Bailey.

We went to Charleston with Granddad and Nonna. We enjoyed a boatride in the Charleston harbor, going to the South Carolina Aquarium, and wading in the downtown fountains.

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Sit Back and Smell the Powder

OK, I don't really intend on always "back-blogging" events of the past, but this is just one of those stories that will be etched in my mind for the rest of my life! It happened last November. I was in the living room with Asa, Granddad, and Nonna. Avery and Brynn were playing nicely together in Asa's room with the door shut. I was talking to the grandparents about how I was trying to loosen up a little and not hover over the kids all the time to keep them from getting into trouble. A very good friend of mine had said, "I mean, how much trouble can they get in?" (My kids? Plenty!) No sooner had the words come out of my mouth, when I noticed a strange silence. I said, "I better go see what they're up to." When I opened the door to the room, I nearly choked on the clouds of dust that billowed out! Brynn was standing there, covered head to toe in baby powder, and all I could really see were those big blue eyes. It was one of those moments when I thought, "Do I kill them or just laugh?" Avery stood nearby, powder in hand, looking very guilty and somewhat proud of herself! I said, "Girl, you are in BIG trouble.....after I get my camera. Wait there and don't move!!" I captured some great pictures of them and then put them straight in the bathtub. Asa couldn't sleep in his room for 2 days!! I still laugh when I think about it. I guess being a parent is full of moments like this - when your emotions tell you to explode, but something deeper says, "Just LAUGH! One day, (and it will come sooner than I can imagine), they won't be making messes like this anymore." So, for this time at least, I will just sit back and smell the baby powder!