Best Day Ever!!

In the fall, our weekends are pretty busy.  Between birthday parties, gymnastics, the boys' flag football games, SEC football games, etc, it seems we are always on the go. 

 

This weekend, we had a semi-reprieve from all the busyness.  No birthday parties on Saturday and Melody's gymnastics was cancelled due to a meet being held at the gym. 

 

So, the only big event on our calendar was the boys' regularly scheduled football games combined with their team photos being taken.  Since Melody and I had no real part in that we decided to treat ourselves to a little girl time.

 

So....

 

We road tripped it to Auburn for the day for some mommy/daughter bonding (which means we had a great time shopping at the cute stores in Auburn) and some AUBURN football!

 

Melody is, by far, my favorite shopping partner.  She always tells me I look great and encourages me to buy whatever I like.

After lunch at an Auburn favorite, Momma G's, we joined up with friends for some fun tailgating.  And what is tailgating without some tree climbing?

 

We meet up with friends for Tiger Walk.

 

 

 

 

 

And we went to the game.  I had no idea Melody was so into football.  She was captivated by the game. And her popcorn, chips, cotton candy, and strawberry frozen lemonade.  Don't judge. I only got her the popcorn.  She just so cute, all the people we were with just wanted to treat her to all kinds of things!

 

 

But, seriously.  She watched the whole game.  Asked questioned.  Cheered like crazy.  When we left, and before she crashed in the car, she proclaimed this the

Best Day Ever!!!
 

 I think that about sums it up.

The Last First...

Day of Preschool!

 

Last Tuesday morning, after dropping Jack and Melody off at school, Charlie and I headed out for a special treat...

 

 

What's the occasion?

 

It was his last first-day-of-preschool!

 

 

Charlie is following in his sister and brother's footsteps and is a Zebra this year with our very favorite teachers, Ms. Catherine and Ms. Dale.
 

 

He is super excited!

 

Additionally, since his name begins with a letter near the top of the alphabet, he was also the leader on the third day of school.  The leader is not merely the line leader, but also says the date, holds the flag while the pledge is recited, and does the weather.  The highlight of one's leader day is the toy.  The leader is allowed to bring a toy from home, show it to his/her classmates and then answer three questions about the toy. 

 

You can only image how Charlie felt on Thursday!  

(Ok, he was way more excited than that! I just think this picture is hilarious. He only allows me to take one picture before he gets annoyed and this is his "I'm too cool to have my mom take my picture" look.)

 

Yep! His last year of preschool is off to a great start.

Handprints

If  you read my blog you are probably well aware that I

a) have chronic baby fever

and

b) am working feverishly to find a way to stop time so my children will stop growing up!

 

Yesterday, I was driving the two bigs to school and then headed to preschool to drop of this little angel for his last first-day-of-preschool.

 

 

(Yes, of course I cried!  Charlie, on the other hand, popped right out of the car and hopped off to school without so much as a backwards glance.)

As we were driving, I saw this on the car.  Can you see it?

 

I looked and noticed that they were everywhere.

 

I said, "I see handprints on the windshield.  Has someone been climbing on my car?"

 

*Crickets*

 

Finally, a tiny voice from the back.  Melody, who just can't not say anything,

 

"Yes. Charlie and I were.  Sometimes we just like to sit on your car."

 

I didn't really know how to respond and then that sweet little poem about handprints popped into my mind.  You know the one.  The one that always makes you cry.

 

Sometimes you get discouraged because I am so small,

And always leave my fingerprints on furniture and walls.

But everyday I'm growing, I'll be grown up someday,

And all these tiny handprints will simply fade away.

So here's a final handprint just so you can recall,

Exactly how my fingers looked when I was very small.

 

Of course I got teary then and Charlie said, "Well, we might not have done it if we knew it would make you cry!"

12 Years...

ago, I said "I do" to this wonderful man. 

That was such an amazing, special day and it's only gotten better.

In honor of our twelfth anniversary and because my husband commented to me that he doesn't think he gets enough face time on the blog I'm going to write 12 things I love about him.

In no particular order...

1.  He makes me laugh.  Usually with sarcasm.  (Don't roll your eyes, you know sarcasm is funny too!)

2.  He puts up with my annoying habits. *I'm not admitting to any annoying habits here, but if I had some, I'm pretty sure he would tolerate them graciously.

3.  He loves action packed superhero moves too. But, he will watch the sappy movies with me when I ask him (yes, that means he has seen Twilight).

4.  He tells me I'm beautiful all the time.  Even when I know that there's no way I'm looking good at the moment.

5.  He's an Auburn fan.

6.  He's gorgeous.  I would put a picture of him here shirtless, laying out on the beach, but I don't want all y'all to get too jealous. 

7.   He loves God, his family, and his friends. And in that order.

8.  He honest.  Sometimes too honest.  Whatever he says and what ever he does, I can count on him to do it with integrity. 

9.  When he takes me out on a date, he always treats me as though I'm the girl he's been dying to go out with and is so happy to finally be out with me.

10.  He's a hard worker.  Sometimes I complain that he works too hard but, in actuality, he's very committed to doing the best he can, he has a strong work ethic, and goes above and beyond always.

11.  He's always calm, cool, and collected.  There are moments I wish he would just panic right along with me, but when it comes down to it, I know that I can always count on him to be the rational one.

12.  He works hard at our marriage.  I have to admit, he works harder than me. He is almost always the better person and in that way, encourages me to be a better person.  I know he will always strive to put our marriage first and that his commitment to me and our relationship is unwavering.

Happy anniversary, babe! The past 12 years have been wonderful and, from what I hear, the best is still yet to come!

Cousin love!

Right before school started, we took a trip over Jackson to visit my parents.  My brother and SIL were also in town so Ben could take the Mississippi bar.  Since they currently live in Denver, we are always excited to see them any chance we get, but this time we were doubly excited because...

 

We also got to meet sweet baby Hayes!!

 

We don't get to see our CO cousins enough (and cannot wait for them to move to MS so we can see them much more often!) so when we do we are sure to smoother them with all kinds of love and affection

Charlie had fun getting to be the "big kid" for a change.

 

Melody had fun practicing her babysitting skills

 

I tried to get as much of a baby fix as possible.

 

After all, who can resist a precious baby smile like this!?

 

 

Jack realized how fun it was to boss around a 2yo who will do whatever he's told. What could be a better activity for a firstborn, type A child!?

 

And we tried to get a group shot.  Well, we got a group shot.  We tried to get a good one! Tried being the key word here...

 

 

Just a few more weeks and our CO cousins will be living in the south permanently!

And we're off...

Starting another school year!

Although we started this race last week.  I'm just behind. I know, I know.  Although if you read my post here, you'll know that timeliness is not really a priority for me anymore.  As if it ever was. 

This year, Jack is in 4th grade.  He was very excited to get Mrs. Campbell as his teacher.  Aside from just being a wonderful teacher who truly loves her students, she also has a no homework policy.  Yes, this is one thrilled 4th grader and one thrilled Mommy.

 

Melody is off to 1st grade.  She has a new teacher this year, Ms Benefield,  She's super excited that her friends, Jordyn and Anji, are in her class.  She also told me she can't wait to take her first math test.  I know, I don't know how she's related to me either.

And, last but not least, this cutie gets to hang with me for another few weeks.  Pre-K starts next Tuesday.  He's very excited about being a Zebra with the teachers we love love love, Ms Dale and Ms. Catherine.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to cry on my last baby's last first day of preschool. But until then, Charlie and I will be packing in the fun these last few days of summer break!

I promise...

I have not abandoned my blog again!  I have a list of stuff to post and will be doing that this week.  In the meantime, I'm blogging over here today. Go check it out...