We Want Tessert

Another One Bites the Dust

2012-01-29T19:15:00.000-06:00

The kids made this a fantastic birthday as they celebrated and yelled all day long: "Happy Birthday!!! You forgot it was your birthday, didn't you, mom?" They started the celebrations by making breakfast. Mike and I enjoyed our yogurt, strawberries, and toast (after we scraped off the inch of butter they'd put on it).

We all had fun as I opened my gifts: a new painted coffee cup, origami hearts, homemade cards, and footed pajamas of my very own. No, I will definitely NOT be posting a picture of those! Despite their similarity to the often-mocked Forever Lazy, they came in handy when I had to share the bed with my blanket-hog daughter last night. They are quite warm. We then watched K's basketball game and quickly sped to the Ringling Brothers Circus in Nashville. It was the first time K, C, or Mike had ever been.

Dinner and dessert at Menchie's made the day complete. Looking forward to seeing what the next year brings....and preparing to be more cautious with random comments like, "Oh, those footed pajamas look so warm."

Go Wildcats!

2012-01-22T11:32:00.001-06:00

Lookin' good in the blue uniform!

Sorry, Granddad, but we've had to root against the Vols once this season.

Not afraid to try against behemoth opponents
(we might need to see that kid's birth certificate).

A beautiful form (kinda' like his Uncle Allen's).

Growing Trees, Growing Children

2012-01-20T21:08:00.000-06:00

The smile was a constant when she saw her art on the wall at City Hall.

The mayor announced her name and she marched to receive her award and smiled for the cameras.

Second place in K-3 division for all of Rutherford County Schools.

"Growing Trees, Growing Children" was the title of her piece for the 2011-12 contest theme: Past, Present, Future.

Sad Dad

2012-01-19T20:36:00.000-06:00

Sigh. We said goodbye to our motorcycle today.
The kids are worried that their friends will no longer think their dad is cool.
We'll see how long it takes him to start looking for another one.
In the meantime, we'll enjoy a little extra space in the garage.

Already Celebrating 2012

2012-01-08T09:13:00.001-06:00

K scored his first (and second) goals during this week's basketball game. After starting the season feeling a little trepidation and not knowing any of the rules of the game, he has quickly become a key player on the team. Final score: 18-1! We celebrated with some ice cream after the game.

Other misc. celebrations:

K lost his 8th tooth Wednesday. The Tooth Fairy forgot to visit that night (oops!), but he was generously compensated Thursday night.
C entered a school district art contest. We'll find out Jan. 20 if she placed in the contest, but we're proud of her for entering. She was one of only 60 students (K-12) in the entire county to do so.

More of the Christmas 2011 Tour

2012-01-08T09:02:00.003-06:00

C enjoyed helping Mimi set the table for Christmas dinner.

Granddad is always ready to play whatever K's latest obsession is.

The kids stayed in Knoxville for 5 days. They enjoyed many activities including a trip to Dollywood with their cousin, Claire. After a quick trip home for scheduled dentist appointments, they went back to Chattanooga to spend a few days there. It goes without saying that mom and dad enjoyed a wonderful winter break!

Home for Christmas

2011-12-25T09:07:00.009-06:00

We enjoyed a fun and meaningful Christmas Eve service before snuggling in for a reading of The Night Before Christmas by the kids. They slept together in the playroom.

The Santa tape was intended to keep them in there until 6:15. K, however, woke up at 3:03 and just knew that the clock in the playroom was running too slowly. So he 'ninja-ed' himself through the paper to go check another clock. To his credit, when he found out that, yes, their clock was working correctly, he stealthily went back to his sleeping bag without peeking at the presents.

What do ya' know?!?
Santa does have access to the much-requested 'giant' pandas!

Does Santa understand how many possible fights are in the future?!?

Santa knows how much our girl loves to sing.

And our guy will be happy to 'beat the levels' on all of his new video games (while wearing the new pajamas that he hasn't 'hulked' his way out of).

Next stop: Knoxville

First Stop on the Christmas Tour

2011-12-23T21:52:00.000-06:00

We went to Chattanooga to celebrate Christmas with Nana, Papaw, Aunt Bobbi, and Uncle Dave. The kids were totally delighted with their gifts. All attempts to call off the rest of the gift-getting/giving were met with resistance. So I guess the festivities will continue.

Splits and Cartwheels

2011-12-23T21:46:00.000-06:00

Christmas Gymnastics Program
to the tune of "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer"
(over and over and over again)

Nervous C = fingers in mouth [STOP IT!]

Twas the Night Before Christmas

2011-12-11T20:55:00.001-06:00

Second Grade Christmas Program

Both had speaking parts (lines from Clement Clarke Moore's poem).

Girls' Day Out

2011-11-19T18:22:00.000-06:00

Ella joined us for a cupcake decorating class and lunch.

They made turkey cupcakes...

And a few were decorated any way they wanted.

It was a fun way to spend a Saturday morning.

Belated Boo

2011-11-13T09:48:00.001-06:00

Halloween has come and gone, but wanted to post proof of our celebrations.

They went with a Star Wars theme this year.
We all watched the original Star Wars movie the weekend before Halloween.

One of our neighbor's houses.

Traditional 'trick-or-treating' at our own house.

There was a division of genders this year as C and her friend, Kobi, walked around together. K and his friend, Zach, went a different route....even though we'd run into each other often.

The girls stopped to tell ghost stories and sample some candy.

C and her wicked friend, Ella.

Look at all that candy!

Happy Halloween, 2011 (7 years old)

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

2011-11-12T13:46:00.002-06:00

It's a no-brainer to kids these days.
Dad, however, needs an occasional reminder.

A Bad Day

2011-10-20T20:37:00.001-05:00

C: Don't bother asking me where I am.
I am right here crying, mom and dad.

First Author Signing

2011-10-16T18:01:00.004-05:00

Tom Angleberger was at the Southern Festival of Books.

While neither had read the books, both were enchanted with his fun presentation that included juggling (C got to join him on stage!), reading from the book, and teaching the audience how to make an origami Yoda.

K read four chapters on the way home.

What serendipity to get to meet the author of Origami Yoda and Darth Paper! We just watched the original Star Wars for the first time last night. In addition, K and C have decided to be Star Wars characters for Halloween.

K, my voracious reader, has decided he wants to be an author when he grows up. This event added to his excitement. I love that he loves to read. In fact, he read nine chapter books over fall break! I hope his love of reading stays with him as he gets older.....and I hope C catches the fever one day, too. Ahem.

You Might Be a Redneck If

2011-10-16T17:27:00.002-05:00

...you spray paint your faded patio umbrella to get a few more weeks out of it.

Caught In the Act

2011-09-21T19:46:00.000-05:00

Homemade Sidewalk Paint

2011-09-18T16:15:00.002-05:00

Old muffin tin + cornstarch + food coloring + water =

homemade sidewalk paint

Easy summer fun and much cheaper than $14.99 for this:

Homecoming '11

2011-09-10T14:25:00.002-05:00

Preparations:

The look K had on his face most of the night:

C with one of her gymnastics teachers, a senior attendant:

K was a good sport:

The handsome guys:

C loved every minute of it:

What a fun evening under the Friday Night Lights:

Getting Ready for the Ball

2011-09-06T17:48:00.001-05:00

Daddy Daughter Date Night

2011-08-28T08:27:00.001-05:00

Mike and C took advantage of Chick-fil-A's marketing plan by attending the Daddy Daughter Date Night.

The night included table service and shared milkshakes.

The girls were treated to manicures and makeup, photos with their daddies,

and a carriage ride with their prince.

Brilliant!

Second Grade

2011-08-20T08:45:00.001-05:00

Second grade has begun. C loves her 'still treat them like little children' teacher. K, on the other hand, is adjusting to his teacher's no-nonsense style. Despite tears the first week ("I'll never make it to third grade!"), he's gonna' do fine.

C's face was still a little scratched up from her face plant into the pool wall at summer camp.

K goofed off as C took pictures before we went into the building.

Two weeks down. We spent last night at Smyrna High's first football game and will celebrate their 7 1/2 birthday today.

And we're off....

The Great Wasp Relay

2011-07-30T11:25:00.001-05:00

The devil bugs (as my friend, Judy, calls them) invaded our house this week. Three wasps got in (that we are aware of) and C got stung once. We're not positive how they are getting in. Luckily, daddy destroyed a nest hiding on our potting bench and sealed any tiny holes he found in the house. Perhaps that will put an end to it.

In the meantime, it has become a bit of a game to kill them as they tend to end up on the second-story window above our front door.

Daddy throws a pillow at it (over and over and over again) to try to knock it down.

C stays at the bottom of the steps to catch the pillows.
[Please ignore the stack of clothes on their way to the consignment sale.]

K relays the pillows back up the steps to daddy.

And after much laughter (and grumbles from mommy each time the pillow hit a light fixture), the wasp is killed. Hooray!

Before and After

2011-07-30T10:56:00.000-05:00

BEFORE:

AFTER:

While it was so much fun to play with (when she was in the right mood), the tangles were just too much to deal with each morning. We will SIMPLIFY as second grade begins.

Fancy Camp

2011-07-08T10:29:00.001-05:00

C attended Fancy Camp this week at Faithful Strokes. Activities included a 'slumber' party, reading Fancy Nancy books, creating 'green' crafts with recycled materials, parading around the town square in fancy dresses, and enjoying a tea party.

It was the perfect camp for her as it was filled with crafts, art, and dining on beautiful cupcakes and party fare. Sometimes she seems so 'grown up' and ready to begin hosting her own parties...

...and then there are days when she totally acts her age. A summer storm rumbled through our town yesterday afternoon. She was so worried that there would be a tornado blowing through her room that she did this:

No, this isn't bags of stuffed animals ready to donate to thrift stores. She crammed all 8952 of her stuffed animals into countless garbage bags, brought them downstairs, and was ready to take them with her into our 'safe' closet if we had to go there. Don't know where she thought the humans were gonna' fit.

Happy Birthday, U.S.A.!

2011-07-04T09:27:00.000-05:00

Pink Lemonade

2011-06-30T12:03:00.000-05:00

C has great plans to be a 'bakery girl' when she grows up. Her store, to be called Best Bites, will have a secret door for children to go through that will lead to a cake decorating room for kids. Parties and decorating classes will be held there. The bakery will also have a balcony with tables for parents to sit and enjoy desserts and coffee while the children play. Her Papaw, who loves to build, has promised to help her find a building and remodel it to her wishes after she finishes college. Stay tuned.

We practice baking and decorating often. This week's creation was Pink Lemonade Cupcakes.

Really Gettin' Into Your Art

2011-06-28T21:04:00.001-05:00

iDad

2011-06-19T10:35:00.000-05:00

Mockingbird

2011-06-02T09:12:00.001-05:00

"Hey, mom. It's weird. That bird seems like he's trying to sound like lots of different birds."

And just like that my son teaches me another life lesson. While we'd been complaining about an early heatwave, the grass that's browning too quickly, and the dive-bombing, 13-year cicadas, my son took the time to sit and listen to one little bird resting on a branch in our yard. We stopped to enjoy its song selection and watched it fly away. I told K it was a mockingbird, a bird known for mimicking the sounds of other birds and animals. He said, "That means we're lucky! Our state bird just visited us!"

Culvers!

2011-05-17T21:34:00.000-05:00

Nothing to say. Still lickin' our lips.

Pop!

2011-04-27T10:47:00.001-05:00

Bubble remnants on a newbie.

A Whole New Girl

2011-04-09T22:14:00.001-05:00

"Mom, I'm a Whole New Girl!" This is what she said when I returned from a three-day conference in Atlanta. She'd removed her own art from the bulletin board in her room and replaced it with a torn ad from a magazine featuring Justin Beiber. Her room was clean (super unusual) and she'd removed her basket of costumes, replacing it with a small table to display her jewelry and lip gloss.

Who knows what brought on this change? And while I love the clean room, I'm having a hard time watching her slowly strip away some of the 'little girl' decor in her room. Nevertheless, I had to praise her cleaning and organizing efforts (and I really needed a pedicure myself) so we took off for the nail salon for a little mommy-daughter time. I'm going to enjoy every minute I can. It's going by too quickly.

Moonlit Miscellany

2011-03-21T06:26:00.001-05:00

My family was kind enough to suffer through Rutherford County’s Teacher of the Year reception with me last week. While introducing me and running through the the litany of my accomplishments (ha!), the superintendent announced that I had twin sons. C seemed to take it well, but we heard her singing a little opera in the shower that night: “My name is C E M.......and I am not a boy!”
Spring break 2011 started at 3:00 a.m. Saturday morning when C woke up with a stomach virus. It lasted about 12 hours. I’ll say this: she is a mean puker. K will let me hold him while he’s sick, rub his back, hold his head. C jerks away from me and yells pleasant lines such as “Rag!” “Wipe my mouth!” and “I don’t like it when you do that!” Nice. Despite that, she handles the rest of it without complaints and is a champion sleeper.
This weekend brought the ‘super moon’ that won’t be around again till the kids are 26. K enjoyed looking at it each night and reading information about it on the internet. C listened to K go on-and-on about it, rolled her eyes, and went back to sleep.

Meet Rob

2011-03-05T08:02:00.000-06:00

We always seem to have an abundance of golf club shipping boxes in the garage. C claims them before they are recycled in order to create some new masterpiece. Last night we got to meet Rob, the robot. Such a creative little girl (who makes such big messes).

They Blinded Me with Science

2011-02-20T20:50:00.002-06:00

Seven Years Old! Amazing.

Cake Lover's Dream

2011-02-06T19:34:00.001-06:00

One of C's Christmas presents was a trip to Paige's Pantry for cupcake decorating lessons which we were able to enjoy today before the Super Bowl. It was so much fun! She learned how to fill a decorator bag with buttercream frosting, techniques for using several tips, and how to make a ladybug cupcake. Then she was given an entire tub of frosting to bring home for more practice.

While she was hoping she was going to be involved in a challenge à la Food Network (and her hands got a little tired), she was perfectly happy taking the very first steps to opening her own bakery which she's already named Best Bites. Until then, we look forward to more lessons!

Sick Again

2011-02-01T16:32:00.001-06:00

'Tis healthy to be sick sometimes. ~Henry David Thoreau

If that quote holds true, then K is one of the healthiest kids I know. Much of first grade has been spent sitting on this table. Exactly one week after finishing a round of antibiotics, we ended up at the doctor again today. Therefore, we are going to see an Ear, Nose, and Throat Specialist tomorrow.

January?

2011-01-30T16:54:00.000-06:00

Warm enough for chalk drawings and playing catch with dad ~ a nice break from the cold.

2 x 21

2011-01-29T19:44:00.003-06:00

One birthday greeting card I received said, "The bad news is you're a year older. The good news is......"

You open the card and it's completely blank! While it was very funny, I'm gonna' have to disagree. This birthday was filled with good news and fun:

My parents drove down, took the kids to a hotel, and let us have a night alone. We ate at Maple Street Grill, our current favorite. This also allowed us to have a morning alone and I slept till 8:00 for the first time in seven years. I was amazed!
This week I learned that I was chosen as my school's 'teacher of the year.' As dad said, "I bet the other guy was upset!" That's because we only have about 25 faculty members. So this "award" is accepted cum grano salis.
Our book was published and shipped. We now have it in hand and ready to sell (or store in our attics/closets for the rest of our lives). Kinda' cool.
We got yet another snow day this week. We made it through the entire month of January without having to work a complete 5-day week. Woo Hoo!

They Keep Asking

2011-01-16T09:34:00.002-06:00

Birthday Countdown

January Voo Doo

2011-01-11T15:16:00.003-06:00

January 10th and 11th have been snow days......all thanks to my kids. Yes, we will take the credit. Sunday night we used the arsenal of tricks their teachers have taught them to make it to snow:

brush teeth with opposite hand
wear pajamas inside out
put a white crayon on the windowsill
put ice cubes in the toilets
put ice cubes around the trees (we put some in our houseplants instead---which may be why some of their leaves are falling off today)
run around the table five times
chant "Let it Snow!" "Let it Snow!" long enough and loud enough to annoy daddy

It worked!

[Doesn't our yard look great?! No mange-lookin' weeds, no dormant Bermuda creeping over from the neighbor's yard. Apparently, our house needs a little white camouflage to look its best. Beside the point.]

Point: C got to build a snowman! She had plans to build "the biggest, best" snowman. Well.....

Nevertheless, she had fun! And her snowman is even walking a snow dog. Cute!

We might keep our chanting and trickery to a minimum tonight. Snow days are (temporarily) losing their novelty.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-28T13:45:00.001-06:00

The day started at 5:45! K was so super-excited about Santa's visit that he told us it was two minutes after bedtime on Christmas Eve. He couldn't wait to get to bed---I'm surprised he slept at all!

We woke up to the first White Christmas since 1993.

More snow showed up December 26th.

The kids shoveled the driveway before we headed to Knoxville where we enjoyed opening presents, sledding with cousins, and eating a yummy Christmas dinner.

We took a quick trip to Gatlinburg on the 27th to see the snow-covered trees, visit The Donut Friar, and choose some treats at The Ole Smoky Candy Kitchen.

K and C will stay in Knoxville for the week as mommy and daddy return home to refinance the house (Merry Christmas to us!), organize, and enjoy a few date nights. Thanks, Mimi and Granddad!

"Gingerbread" Houses

2010-12-12T18:32:00.002-06:00

Haunted House Brownie Kit purchased at 75% off after Halloween equals

super-cheap-pretend-like-this-is-a-gingerbread-house Christmas activity.

Hooray!

P.S. This was inspired by my friend Robin's ideas for cheap Christmas fun. They got the 'thrill' of decorating houses without the expense of having to go purchase a kit ('cause y'all know I'm not gonna' make them from scratch). Up next? Marshmallow Snowball Fight!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas

2010-12-11T10:05:00.003-06:00

The Nativity Scene is in place. C and her cousin even tried out what it was like for the Three Wise Men on their journey to Bethlehem.

C knows exactly how much milk Santa wants in his glass on Christmas Eve (see his finger measurement!). K is in charge of setting out two cookies....and only two cookies because Santa has to watch his weight. I love this Santa!

Fred, our shelf elf, has finally made an appearance. He was a little tired after worrying about K all day (who has strep for the second time since Thanksgiving) so we found him resting on K's shelf. By the way, Fred is the only one in the world who can make C jump out of bed in the morning. She loves to see where he's hiding each day. I wish he could stay around all year.

Finally, attempts to come up with a picture for the 2010 Christmas card began. Once again, we failed.

Paparazzi

2010-11-27T21:57:00.003-06:00

So this is the best I could do with my own camera as I attempted to record the kids' experience with Santa. Local TV personalities (lady in tacky Christmas sweater on the left and man with green coat tied around his waist on the right) were filming as the kids tried to have a very serious conversation with Santa. Sadly, the footage was left on the cutting room floor.

Nevertheless, we could not escape the media attention. We were surprised to see the kids featured in The 26th Annual Fantasy of Trees paper. Apparently the anonymous creepy man who took their picture last year while they were on the carousel had a legitimate reason. Whew!

Doesn't Travel Well

2010-11-22T09:35:00.002-06:00

Daddy took the kids to Chattanooga this weekend so he they wouldn't have to suffer through my ~~party~~ book reading. My poor little whistler began getting sick around 4:00 Saturday afternoon and continued until 4:00 that morning. Somehow in all the chaos he lost a tooth and it was buried in the carpet or flushed down the toilet along with the contents of his stomach. Apparently the Tooth Fairy didn't know to look for lost teeth when he was out of town. K informed her last night and she happily (guiltily?) left a special treat under his pillow.

I am Whistler's Mother

2010-11-14T19:30:00.003-06:00

I never knew---or wanted to know---
how to teach my children to whistle.

Nevertheless, K figured it out
and it causes my hair bristle.

(Yes. I'm an awful mother and deserve to look like that.)

Planning and Organization

2010-11-06T06:21:00.000-05:00

I found this in my office last night and had to save it. Perhaps my daughter senses my stress and has vowed not to be so unprepared and unorganized when she grows up. She's seen what not to do and is taking control of her life:

Because I Said I Would

2010-11-04T18:08:00.001-05:00

~Because I said I would, I'm helping some friends write a book. Deadlines are looming, the launch party is being hosted at my house, and I'm fearing my ability to handle the stress.

~Because I said I would, I'm posting Halloween pictures so the grandparents can see this year's costumes. C wanted to be a witch with black lipstick and red hair; therefore, she was a witch with black lipstick and red hair (that is still a little pink). K was Iron Man Saturday night during the neighborhood party and a Stormtrooper for Trick-or-Treating. C loved getting as much candy as possible. K, on the other hand, was ready to head back home as soon as we stopped at the Wii Lady's house and he got a free Wii game.

~Because I said I would, I joined some of our students at Boxwell Reservation in Lebanon, TN. It was a beautiful, chilly November day wherein we took off our mean teacher hats and donned our let's-have-fun-and-challenge-ourselves hats. Those hats are much more fun to wear (and yet so ugly).

Fall is Flyin' By

2010-10-24T15:17:00.000-05:00

Our fall has been busy, but we try to pack in a little fun.

A trip to the zoo.

Restaurants with cool lights to entertain us.

A little raking....and re-raking.

And lots......

....and lots of soccer.

Got Cake?

2010-09-12T22:02:00.000-05:00

Apparently there is a bakery in our playroom.

The pastry chef makes cakes for special occasions.

She can poor a refreshing glass of lemonade, too.

Stop in when you need something sweet.

We got it.

Too Much Work to be Creative on Labor Day

2010-09-06T21:14:00.001-05:00

So here are a few pictures from our weekend....

Size Matters

2010-08-22T20:18:00.002-05:00

It would have been nice if I'd copied my mom's recipe for Up-All-Night Coffee Cake exactly. My recipe says, "One bag of Parker House rolls." It doesn't say what size bag. I'm guessing the one I purchased was too big.

Nevertheless, they were delicious: a special treat baked fresh this morning to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary.

If You Teach a Girl to Tie...

2010-07-28T18:07:00.000-05:00

She'll ask you for some ribbon.

When you give her some ribbon

She'll tie sponges to her feet.

The sponges will remind her of cleaning

So she'll ask you for some soap.

She'll pour soap all over the floor

and start "mopping."

And when she starts mopping

she'll tie one more heartstring around her mother's heart.

Cowabunga, Dude!

2010-07-14T22:07:00.002-05:00

When I was nursing twins and would happen to drive by a cow in a pasture who was feeding her calf, I'd have such sympathy for her. "I feel ya', mama!" She'd stand there chewing her cud, staring wistfully at the sunset and dreaming of running away to a secluded beach, all the while waiting patiently as another being was pulling and tugging on her body. Perhaps I read too much into the moment, but I felt a connection.

Flash forward a few years. We recently passed a pasture full of cows and calves and I hear this question from C: "Mom, how do baby cows get out of the mama cows?" ALERT!! ALERT!! OH NO!!! I'm not ready for this! I've told my kids about the surgery that was performed to get them out of mommy's belly. Easy for me to explain without having to go into private parts, huh? But the day came this week when I had to go into a little more (honest) detail. I don't know what I'm doing when it comes to this parenting stuff. I'll leave the details out and just say that by the time my quick explanation was over C was saying, "Gross. Let's change the subject!" I agree. Let's just go back to imagining bikini-clad cows sunbathing on the beach. The real world is just too real.

Being is Fun

2010-07-10T06:15:00.000-05:00

"I never lose sight of the fact that just being is fun. "

~Katharine Hepburn

"Don't get too wet" requests were ignored during our recent trip to the zoo. Having a fake snake spit water all over you is just too darn tempting.

Water dries.

Smiles and laughter endure.

And the world goes 'round.

Vanity

2010-07-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

Daddy recently cut K's hair. K asked why he had to get his hair cut and Mike replied that it was getting a little Shaggy-from-Scooby Doo-ish. K's reply was: "I don't care. I can't see myself." So sensible. I love you, K. You have so much to teach me.

Beauty and the Beast

2010-06-26T09:56:00.002-05:00

C is obviously the beauty, but I'm referring our recent mommy-daughter trip to see Beauty and the Beast at TPAC. Such a treat! As much as I enjoyed watching the play, I enjoyed looking at the awe and pure joy in her face more as she laughed and sang along. I think the boys in our family would have enjoyed it. However, since it happened to be Father's Day, they spent time together playing and shopping for toys (golf items for daddy and Bakugan for K).

Thanks, C, for a wonderful memory.

Finally...Summer!

2010-06-10T22:37:00.001-05:00

Today was our very first nothing-to-do, lazy summer day.

We started at the pool.

C likes to pretend to be mommy so she grabs a magazine and her sunglasses.

Please ignore the sign in the background.

Daddy took the training wheels off the bikes today.
What we thought would take days to learn took mere minutes.

We celebrated this special occasion by letting them buy ice cream from the Ice Cream Truck (the one that plays Jingle Bells all summer long).

Another milestone.

A great, lazy summer day.

How is it that the years go by so quickly?

Eleven Tiny Toes

2010-06-06T10:16:00.000-05:00

The newly blasted/painted neighborhood pool opened for the summer. Perhaps a little sanding/smoothing is in order? Ouch!

Do Re Mi

2010-05-29T08:00:00.000-05:00

Nothing wilder than a squirrel or the neighbor's dog whose invisible fence collar has run out of batteries has ever been in our yard. However, this morning while the kids were eating breakfast, C yelled, "DEER!" Two beautiful deer were tiptoeing through our backyard. They must have seen our shadows peering through the window because they quickly turned and ran away. What a beautiful treat! I said, "I guess we do live in the country" to which K replied, "No, looks like the country came to us!."

Appreciation

2010-05-23T10:45:00.002-05:00

Thank you to all who helped us make it through our first year of formal education. We survived and thrived in Kindergarten thanks to our great teachers, Mrs. Hannah and Ms. Lay. Friends and family helped along the way, too. Mommy and daddy couldn't have kept their jobs if it hadn't been for grandparents and surrogate grandparents keeping us on teacher inservice days or picking us up from school when they had meetings.

It was a great year! New friends were made (Tate, Ella, and Kobi) and old friendships grew stronger (Shannon and Connor). C lost six teeth and K lost two. We learned to read (K tested on the third-grade level), know how to drive mommy crazy by pointing out patterns, and can almost always tell time and tie our shoes without assistance. Now we look forward to a fun-filled summer (even though mommy promised 'homework' each week to keep us smart).

Love, K and C

Field Day

2010-05-22T20:39:00.000-05:00

They Love Me 'Everee Day' Because I Am 'Funee' and 'Sueet'

2010-05-10T19:55:00.004-05:00

Mother's Day weekend was delightful. I received a new bike, a new hair color, a pedicure, and a night out with friends. My favorite part, however, was Sunday spent hanging with my favorite little boy and girl. First we stopped at the zoo to renew our membership and play in the Jungle Gym area.

Then time for lunch at every mother's favorite restaurant, Burger King, because of the exciting Iron Man toys! The kids were so surprised that there weren't any lines out the door like there had been at all the other restaurants we'd passed. Are those people crazy?!?! We're talking IRON MAN toys!

Next stop: a visit to The Frist for the Chihuly exhibit. Loved it!

The kids, however, enjoyed the do-it-yourself art section so much more.

And we were home by 4:30. We had a great day!

Got Rain?

2010-05-02T19:14:00.004-05:00

Start with the neighborhood yard sale. K asked for a sign to drum up some business. He rode around on his scooter until it started raining. The sale closed after two hours.

And then this sweet little creek behind our house.....

...quickly became this....

...and then this.

Roads flooded and we were stranded (without milk!) for a while.

We feel so sorry for our neighbors who live on either side of this street.

This water receded when it stopped raining for a while...then flooded again Sunday.

Unbelievable!

Good news? No school Monday!!! Splashing in puddles will keep us entertained.

And someone in the family is ready to save the day if needed.

Busy

2010-04-18T08:13:00.001-05:00

8:40 Soccer pictures

9:30 Soccer game~ We thought K's team was in bad shape with only 4 of the 5 players showing up for the game. Then we saw that the other team had only two----and one of those was leaving early for a baseball game. So K played the entire first half for his team then volunteered to play the entire second half for the other team so they could continue playing two-on-two. Great sportsmanship!

10:15 Duncan Donuts to celebrate ~ They each got a donut and a bottle of milk. It wasn't Mayfield milk. It wasn't Purity milk. As K said, "Gross! We're drinking PET milk!" New readers do have a habit of taking things too literally.

12:45 How to Train Your Dragon (K and I cried---Guess who's the tough one in our family.)

2:00 Pioneer Days at Cannonsburgh to ride ponies and watch artists on pottery wheels and blacksmiths making swords (like in the movie we just saw)

The rest of the evening brought a little shopping, a visit to the book store, takeout from NEWK's, and roasting marshmallows over the fire on the patio. A great mommy/kid day (as daddy was playing in a golf tournament). Sunday was supposed to be a 'mommy' day, but daddy woke up with a fever and I accidentally gave him nighttime cold medicine. Here we go again.....

Easter 2010

2010-04-11T12:34:00.005-05:00

A beautiful morning

Lovely eggs

Easter Bunny treats

Rare hugs

Missing daddy (hurt back kept him home)

Traditional? Not So Much.

2010-04-09T19:40:00.004-05:00

If you saw the pictures of the Thanksgiving festivities that we enjoyed at Mimi and Granddad's house, then you won't be surprised by some of the unorthodox games we played Easter weekend. The boys enjoyed attempting to get an OREO from their forehead into their mouths without touching it (they could only use facial muscles). Fun!

The girls performed a lovely song (over and over and over again).

A little bit of conventional celebration was added to the mix.

Finally, we attempted to be the Easter Bunny (Easter Chicken?) by laying eggs into the basket. Shake it!

First Hunt of the Season

2010-03-29T20:32:00.001-05:00

On Your Mark...

Get Set...

Hunt!!!!

A Bug's Life

2010-03-20T20:00:00.002-05:00

My little butterfly and army ant (and handsome husband).

...and a quick little clip for the grandparents....

There Must Have Been Some Concern

2010-03-18T21:53:00.001-05:00

The kids performed as bugs in their first Kindergarten music program tonight (pictures later). It was great and, as C predicted, I cried. 'Had to jump on here so I wouldn't forget K's comment (and please remember that I'm just writing this stuff so I won't forget-----and that I understand that non-family readers will throw out a big 'ol "Who cares?!?"). It's just that I am never gonna' catch up in a 'baby' book (I think I stopped keeping records around day 17 of their existence), I'm never gonna' scrapbook, and I can't even figure out how to download and organize the pictures on my camera. So, I keep my memories here.

Enough justification for a less-than-entertaining post. Anyway, on the way home we were talking about the teacher at their school who was just awarded "Teacher of the Year" for the entire district. K didn't know her (she teaches second grade), but said, "I wish one of us had her." I proceeded to tell him that his teacher won TOY last year. "Oh," he said, "I'm fine then!" This is one of those 'you had to be there' comments, but it was so funny to hear the relief in his voice....as if he'd been gravely concerned about the quality of the education he was receiving.

Oh, well. We laughed.

A Sixth Birthday Must Start with Rainbow Pancakes

2010-02-27T10:21:00.000-06:00

Tonight, the Part of Mom Will Be Played by...

2010-02-18T20:49:00.003-06:00

I oftentimes feel as if I’m playing the role of mother. Not even the lead role....more of an understudy who’s hiding behind the curtain, going over and over my lines as I secretly hope I won’t be needed because I’m not quite ready. It’s still hard to comprehend that I really am one. I’m a mom. Huh?!?!? It’s been almost six years (it will be six years Saturday) and I’m still wondering how this happened. No rehashing of the actual ‘how’ here. I’m just trying to grasp how quickly I got to this point in my life, how quickly these six years have gone by, and how I continue day-by-day to learn my lines and play this part.

I did, however, have a breakthrough today. There are many, many things that I’ve done for my children that my mother did for me. I comb their hair, kiss away their boo boos, sing silly songs, make heart-shaped sandwiches, and read bedtime stories. But tonight, as I rubbed VICKS all over my son's chest, put a warm washcloth on top of it, and watched as he drew a deep breath and then sighed.....well, I felt like a mom.

Home Sweet Cocoon

2010-02-08T21:08:00.002-06:00

A crazy week at work (despite 2 snow days!) led me to choose coming home Friday to flop on the couch instead of joining friends for a GNO. I needed the rest, but I missed my friends. This post was a reminder to me that I need to get more face-to-face interaction during the winter. It’s too easy to snuggle up inside on cold, windy days instead of venturing out into the real world. While I do enjoy spending “time” with my friends online, I begin to rely on that avenue a little too much when the skies are gray. As Dawn states, “My online friends don’t know how messy my house is...or see the extra pounds I’ve put on this winter.”

I need to do the same for my children. We are so blessed that the kids play well together and often remark at how difficult it would be with only one child: Who would laugh at their silly, nonsensical jokes? Who would they face in their endless paper towel tube sword fights? Despite the fact that they came with built-in playmates, I need to remember that relationships with their friends are important, too. It’s too easy to hang out in our little cocoon. So, I’m putting this out there: I will set up a play date soon.....

....or maybe I should just get around to planning their 6th birthday party.

Mocking that Last "Snow"

2010-02-01T09:03:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday to me! A four-day weekend thanks to 4” of snow and ice that covered Middle Tennessee. The ice-packed snow was so crunchy Saturday that we barely made footprints (well, the kids didn't). By Sunday we were able to have snowball fights, make a snowman (granny?), and do more daddy-powered sledding.

Notice we're not wearing coats. It was surprisingly warm Sunday as we built our snow granny. No cabin fever.....yet. The house is clean and C has helped me cook several meals. She's made spaghetti pizza, baked potatoes, and Mother Goose popcorn. She keeps asking, "How did Mimi teach you to cook so well?" Ha! I'm glad she's easily impressed.

Random is How I Roll

2010-01-22T20:54:00.004-06:00

Haiti: I want to watch the news, but want to protect my children from the images. And then I think of the parents whose children are living those images. Unimaginable. Huggin’ my babies and praying.

Manners: The kids and I were snuggling on the couch watching the old school Batman Movie---the one of the “Holy Sunken Nemo!” variety. I expected some new kindergarten joke or prank when C suddenly smiled and told us both to pinch our noses. We did and she proceeded to pass gas loudly and proudly. Oh my.

Bad parenting: K and I have had lingering coughs since the middle of December. I forgot to give him cough medicine at bedtime tonight and had to wake him up to do so. K: “Is it still night?” “Yes, honey, you just fell asleep.” “No, YOU just woke me up!” Touché.

Making a difference (or more bad parenting?): I was talking to a former student’s father on the phone today and he was saying how great our school was for his son. Not thirty minutes later we got a phone call from the school board telling us that said son had just been arrested for dealing drugs at school. He’s on his way back.
Oh, yeah. Aarrgghhh!

Half-Inch Blizzard!!!!

2010-01-09T18:46:00.003-06:00

Two days back at work and then the first major snowstorm of 2010 hit with a vengeance...or not. We ended up with only a dusting of very powdery snow; however, this house was rockin' when we found out we were getting TWO SNOW DAYS!!!

C made a snow elephant (whose motto is 'Safety First!')...

...while K scraped the snow off the driveway. We didn't stay out long as the high was around 12.

So we spent most of our unexpected vacation snuggling (in matching PJs), watching movies (loved Ratatouille!), playing video games, and enjoying soup, grilled cheese sandwiches, and hot chocolate. What an unexpected gift!

Holiday Recap

2009-12-28T13:09:00.003-06:00

Start with a visit with Santa at Knoxville's Fantasy of Trees. This has been our tradition since the kids were one. He is a very patient, happy Santa who doesn't buckle under the weight of growing twins.

Throw in a trip to the Nutcracker for C and her friends and then a Christmas program with her gymnastics class (all on the same day).

C's class held a tray of "6 Burnt Cookies" in the 12 Days of Christmas play. Not sure what she's thinkin' in this picture, but it portrays her typical animation. She called the steps as her class demonstrated cartwheels and v-sits and she wasn't nervous at all! While the entire program was painfully long, we were very proud of our little star.

Next, make sure the guys are ready for all those holiday pictures. Daddy is getting better and better at cutting K's hair. The fear in K's eyes wasn't warranted---no nicks or cuts involved (this time).

Celebrate with daddy's side of the family in Chattanooga. Lots of good food, gifts, and laughs. Aunt Heidi and "Hannah Montana" pose for a picture here.

Get dressed up for Christmas Eve service. The night is finally here! Santa is coming!! The kids had no problem falling asleep (despite their excitement).

Wake up to great gifts from Santa (C's favorite seems to be the huge stuffed bulldog and K loves the air hockey table) then unwrap those from mom and dad. I was, perhaps, a little sleepy when wrapping some of their gifts because I accidentally wrapped the Barbie book with K's stuff. He was not amused.

Call the grandparents to say, "Merry Christmas" and tell them about all our gifts.

Finally, clean the house and prepare some food for relatives from mommy's side of the family traveling from Knoxville and Huntsville to visit our new home and celebrate Christmas.

It was a rare opportunity to have everyone together. Two brothers from Bristol, TN have produced a motley crew, no? Please note that my daughter had been wearing appropriate clothes. She always resorts to her favorite ballerina outfit when playing dress-up and I didn't have the opportunity (or energy) to make her change before pictures were taken.

Tired of sitting around the house with relatives? Why not sit in a car for an hour as you wait to get to Opryland Hotel and ICE?!?! Traffic and freezing temperature aside, it was an exciting, once-in-a-lifetime experience that all the kids loved. A few suggestions if you go: wear gloves, don't carry a purse, have hot chocolate in a thermos waiting in the car, and take tissues.

Now it's time to un-decorate, relax (thanks to Mimi and Granddad taking the kids back to Knoxville with them), and wind down the year. May 2010 be filled with more love and happy memories for us all. Happy New Year!

Anticipation

2009-12-13T20:35:00.000-06:00

We're just a little bit excited.

Christmas is SO MUCH FUN through the eyes of a child (or two).

Marshmallow Fun

2009-12-02T20:52:00.004-06:00

You can have your football on Thanksgiving Day.

We'll take 'Catch-a-Marshmallow-Hanging-From-a-Twirling-Ceiling-Fan' instead. While this is one of Granddad's inventive games that had the possibility of going wrong in so many ways, the kids and their cousins had a blast. No one was hit on the head by a falling ceiling fan or choked. What fun!!! Thanks, Granddad.

This is the Face

2009-11-29T14:17:00.002-06:00

This is the face of a happy little boy...

...who learned to tie his shoes.

I am proud of this accomplishment (as was he!) and thankful

for each small step as I watch my children learn and grow.

They're Always Listening and Watching

2009-11-10T20:08:00.000-06:00

Driving the kids home the other day (and using my best driving manners) led to this random conversation:

C: Mom, I like your way better.

Me: What are you talking about?

C: You wave and say thank you to the other cars.
Daddy says, "Dang it! Get out of my way!"

Don't You Want Me to Have a Good Day?!?

2009-11-04T21:46:00.000-06:00

He's been at it again. We've had a string of not-so-good reports about his behavior at school lately. K's days of yellow (caution) and red (you'd better stop now!) are accompanied by reports of 'talking out'. Turns out his 'talking out' can be blamed on answering all questions too quickly without raising his hand and being called on.

He's become THAT student. The one who knows all the answers and can't keep his mouth shut. The teacher in me can't stand THAT kid. The mommy in me is proud that he knows the answers, working on impulsivity and patience, and trying to find new and different ways to remind him to stay quiet while punishing his misbehavior.

It's been a hard week for all of us. Tonight he was banned from watching any television or playing on the computer and was given several extra chores. The radio was on in the background as he was "helping" me clean the kitchen and make dinner. The country song (sung by who-knows-who with a redder-than-red twang) called, "She Don't Know She's Beautiful" was playing. K said, "Mom, are they singing that about you?"

Oh. My. Sweet. Little. Boy.

Boo!

2009-11-01T11:33:00.000-06:00

C's pumpkin is being carved to her specifications.

Nobody knew who K was (Ben 10).

C brought good luck to the VOLS.

A great 'first' Halloween in our new home.

Deep In the Hundred Acre Wood

2009-10-12T18:25:00.012-05:00

We all paused to 'Ooh' and 'Aah' at the sight of THE castle.

We serendipitously ran into three parades.

The resort pool was perfect for 98 degree days.

K encountered an alien.

And then he met his "first favorite" super hero.

C trekked through China.

And then she goofed off with her first favorite hero.

Then Tigger ate them....so there's not much more to report.

We're Packing Again

2009-09-30T06:09:00.003-05:00

...but this time we'll use suitcases instead of cardboard boxes. My kids are so sheltered (as in not well-traveled) that they're just as excited about the prospect of staying in a hotel as they are about going to Disney World. I can't wait to watch all the magic unfold before them.

Random Conversations

2009-09-08T19:23:00.005-05:00

Another melting pot of moments to remember:

"I hate kindergarten!" K said this morning. "It's sooooooo long." This is not a good sign. He's also had several 'orange' and one 'red' day (poor marks for poor behavior). His infractions have always involved talking when he's not supposed to. He could talk to a post and he makes friends so quickly. He 's also very loud. Looks like it could be a long year.
"If you have a red day tomorrow, you will have a red bottom, too." ~Daddy (C thought this was hilarious!)
Obama gave his 'scary' speech to school children today. C was very excited to learn that everyone in the family was watching "I Rock Obama" stand in front of the blue words and talk to the students today. When asked what she learned, she said she learned that some kids don't have a daddy and school can be very hard at first. (Can't believe she was listening!) K said he learned to be better in school. He was watching this after he'd already received a 'yellow' warning for talking too much. Then he said, "I was trying to be better, but my teacher didn't recognize it." I hope he doesn't stop trying.
"Mom, I have a date!" C said to me today. "It's with one of my boyfriends." C, you are too young to go on a date. You do not have boyfriends. He is your friend. "But I'm 5 1/2 and we were in every center together today." What's his name? "I don't remember."

Edited to add one last conversation we had tonight at bedtime: K, please try your best to have a good day tomorrow. Don't talk when your teacher asks you not to. "But, mom, it's hard." It's not hard. Just keep your mouth shu......"Well, that's what your favorite president said today in his speech! School can be hard!"

I seriously cannot believe that they listened.....and that they are using it as ammunition.

"P.E. is Funner Than Learning"

2009-08-27T16:39:00.007-05:00

We made it to and through the first crazy phase-in week of Kindergarten. It could have been a logistical nightmare. However, thanks to Mimi, we were able to get them there and back without having to take days off from our own jobs. C and K have different teachers (school policy, but one I agree with) and have both adjusted rather well to their independence.
C was a little more clingy than K. On our way there a few days ago she asked, "Why do I feel like crying?" She admitted to one morning of missing her mommy. Other than that, it's all been positive. In fact, she's had 'blue' days every day (that means outstanding!).
K has wondered why Kindergarten is soooo long and is the one who admits that P.E. is much more exciting than just plain learning. Despite saying "My tummy is shaking" on the way there the first day, he didn't act nervous and seems to have made a few new friends already. I am most proud of the drawing/writing he's been bringing home. K has always been so reluctant to draw anything at all. This shows that in four days his teacher has convinced him to draw and write a sentence. Sounds a little Scottish, doesn't it?

Speaking of Art

2009-08-22T19:01:00.007-05:00

Arthur Obvious

Daddy trying eggs with mustard, which is how C likes 'em (thanks to Granddaddy).

Artsy Schmartsy

2009-08-22T05:39:00.006-05:00

One of our last summer excursions was a visit to The Frist, a Nashville treasure. The ArtQuest area has terrific hands-on activities for children (who get in free, by the way).

Despite K's aversion to anything 'artsy,' he enjoyed many of the stations (especially where he could listen to a variety of music and attempt to draw the sounds he heard).

C could have stayed all day. She loves all things art and knows she'll be an artist when she grows up (when she's not delivering papers, making cakes, and teaching gymnastics). I really should figure out a way to create a studio for her. She needs her own little potting shed in the backyard where she could spill glue and spatter paint to her heart's content.

Innocence

2009-08-08T06:44:00.002-05:00

So this post has nothing to do with their innocence or lack thereof. I was just missin' them and wanted to keep track of what's going on in their lives this month. They are away at camp with Mimi and Granddad this week. Empty nest syndrome has sunk in even though we've both been very busy getting ready for a new school year. They'll be back Sunday, attend kindergarten screening Monday, then ship off to Chattanooga to spend time with Nana and Papaw for the remainder of the week. The phase-in process of attending kindergarten doesn't even start till the last week of August. What a difficult schedule for working parents. Be good, kids. Mommy misses you.

Trepidation

2009-07-30T19:40:00.007-05:00

She was so excited to get a sassy haircut like her friends, Avery and Emily.

And yet this is the face she was making while it was being cut.

It needed to be done. Everything was crooked and tangling.
I was so worried she wouldn't like it.

No worries ~
She's ready for kindergarten!
[And, yes, this is her favorite outfit this summer.]

Cute and Trendy or a Cry for Help

2009-07-22T05:28:00.008-05:00

While driving to swimming lessons the other day, C started talking about nose rings. "Can I get one when I'm a teenager?" I told her I didn't think she'd want a big needle stuck through her nose. "NEEDLE?!?" That's all it took to dissuade her. Then she asked why people got nose rings. My quick and flippant remark was that they want attention. I started back-peddling (worried they'd point to someone and say, "Look! That guy wants some attention!" the next time we were at the grocery store) and began talking about how they're decorative, everyone has a different idea of beauty, yada, yada, yada. She interrupted me by asking, "What's attention?" Having one of those moments where I start feeling 'in over my head,' I began explaining that it's a way to get people to notice you.

Then K piped in: "I think I need to get one of those nose rings." Why?! "Because no one ever listens to me." Instant heartbreak. We had plenty of time left on our drive to discuss his feelings and the reasons behind them. He ended up saying, "It's not you guys. It's my friends." Well, if he's referring to the two crazies in his preschool class then I'm not worried. Those boys didn't communicate at all unless they were yelling or crying. Kindergarten starts in a few weeks. New friends will be made. He'll find some real friends who will listen to him without having to resort to being the first five-year-old with a nose ring. He will. Won't he?

Blueberries and Butterflies

2009-07-17T15:12:00.010-05:00

July is here. That means a trip to The Blueberry Patch.

Quick! Grab your camera and take a picture of your little one's back. Aren't backs cute? I've never taken a picture of her back before. I did it this time, however, because that's where the butterfly landed.

Because I Don't Scrapbook

2009-07-16T08:47:00.000-05:00

July 4th:

Brief. Or Curt and Abrupt.

2009-07-05T21:11:00.007-05:00

I hope I don’t start relying on this numerical/bullet system to keep up with our lives. However, it’s better than nothing...and that’s all I’ve got at the moment. Here’s what’s up:

PERK: Recently we’ve had two real play dates (one boy, one girl) at the house. It’s so nice to have room for little ones to play without having them remain underfoot. Children aren't so annoying when you can send them to another part of the house.

FUN: Last week we enjoyed our first official week of 100% summer vacation. No unpacking, no meetings. We had different pool guests three out of five days, swimming lessons four out of five, and lots of ice cream.

MEMORIES: We dared to go to Dollywood on July 4th and stayed for nine hours. It was an absolutely perfect day. The weather was great, the lines were short (to our amazement), and the kids ventured onto new, more ‘dangerous’ rides. Ferris wheels, river rampages, and shooting stars were favorites this time (along with the usual soaking of Granddad in the water play area). Mike and I even had a chance to ride a few coasters while the kids were entertained by their grandparents.

BAD KARMA: I can’t mention Dollywood without noting the amazing abundance of motorized scooters that were there. Let me just say that Tennessee’s recent ranking as the fourth fattest state in America was unequivocally confirmed. We even witnessed one family of four---ALL on scooters---following each other in frenzied formation. I'm sure you can guess the delicious treat the toothless mama was carrying as they followed her in their crazed chase.

PATRIOTISM: C was so much fun to watch as we sat on Mimi and Granddad’s deck Saturday night watching the city’s fireworks. Both kids totally get into any kind of celebration/festival. However, this holiday was made extra fun as C gathered her glow sticks, waved her flags, and thoroughly enjoyed ‘United States of America Day’. Too bad I forgot my camera.

Perhaps We'll Laugh Someday

2009-06-16T22:31:00.023-05:00

Taking a moment to remember what we did while we waited and worried.
1) Practiced learning how to do a cartwheel.
2) Spent time in Gatlinburg thanks to my brother and sister-in-law.
3) Visited the Knoxville Zoo.

4) Played Jenga in the garage of the new house (the builder let us store our stuff in the garage, but nothing could go into the house till we closed).

5) Failed to get into the garage through the inside door (Mike and his dad utilized every inch).

6) Created a quiet place to nap on moving day.

7) Watched and waited to get our own key to the pool. Sigh.

Be Careful What You Wish For

2009-06-15T05:13:00.002-05:00

It’s been four weeks since I’ve found the time to write. ‘Been a little out-of-sorts as we’ve had one ...uh....exciting(?) month. It was just March 16th that I was wishing for more space. The lofty dreams of a new home were just that---dreams. Remember this? Our house sold in four days! Today I write from a new abode after a whirlwind search for a home, hurried and unorganized packing, 10 days of unexpected homelessness, countless phone calls with incompetent/lazy/uncaring brokers and lenders, several misleading closing dates, choice words, lots of tears and prayers, and the generosity of family and friends. We are tired. And we are thankful. [I’ll post pictures when I can find/unpack all the computer cords.]

All At Once

2009-05-14T21:28:00.011-05:00

Ahem. It's a little crazy at our house right now. We went from the lovely (albeit staged) home from the earlier post to this mess in the middle of our living room. There's a 'SOLD' sign in our yard. If all goes well, we're outta' here. With all the 'adult' decisions concerning the house and the stress of winding up another school year, Mike and I are living on caffeine and adrenaline at this point. It's a scary and stressful time in our lives. However, in the midst of it all we got to enjoy this much more important milestone:

K and C's preschool graduation ceremony was tonight. I cried from the moment I was handed the program. They both did great, smiling and singing loudly and proudly through it all. Their favorite part was most likely the cake and punch at the reception. My favorite? Seeing them search for us in the crowd. They are happy, strong, and independent children who are moving on to a new phase of their lives. And yet... And yet we get to be the lucky ones whose eyes they seek, whose arms they want wrapped around them. What a joy! I am so proud of them and so very thankful for this moment that reminded me to take a deep breath and enjoy the blessings in our life.

Hat's a little crooked, but he worked it.

"That was so much fun!" -C