The Zoo Crew....

We celebrated Poppy's birthday with a lot of wild animals... and I am not talking about the children... just look at the picture below.  It was a very strange Memphis day with low humidity and a high in the low 80s.  Addie and Drew loved getting to share time with Ninnie and Poppy at the zoo... which is one of their favorite places.  We had two special experinces that day!  We had the chance to feed the giraffes.  Addie was a little timid and Drew really did not want a part in the experience.  Kyle let one eat the lettuce leaf from his mouth (which Addie's reply to that was "you are not getting a kiss from me until you brush your teeth")  and I was just amazed at how long their tongues were.  

Addie and Poppy also rode a camel.  Addie is not ready to trade in her car seat for a camel and gave it a big thumbs down in comfort.   What a great day full of family and fun!

Tripp loving the zoo!!!

Kristen, Addie, and me feeding the birds...

Checking out the zebras...

Kyle being the cool dad:)

1st days of school...

I have a special place in my heart for the 1st day of school.  The new supplies... the fresh, nice looking clothes... new haircuts... new shoes... squeaky clean classrooms... I really just love the start of a school year.  It is full of possibilities.   
Addie has been excited about starting 1st grade since the last day of kindergarten.  I have a feeling this little girl of mine might just have my love for school.  When she walked in the door of our lovely school for Open House she said, "Wow... I love that school smell!  I sure have missed this place!"  Well with that being said here is a look at Miss Addie's 1st days of school....

Addie's 2 year old Mother's Day Out @ Walnut Street

3 Year Old Preschool @ FUMC

4 Year Old Preschool @ FUMC

Kindergarten

1st Grade

She is ready to roll...

Addie's wonderful teacher Mrs. Annette

 

Drew will begin his journey this year.  He started Preschool @ First Baptist this morning.  Daddy took him and made my heart happy by lugging the "good camera" to take pics for me.  I am impressed with my fellas because they did a great job.  Drew walked in with zero tears and had a great day with new teachers and friends.   I am very blessed that Drew is spending the day with two friends that are going to be his teachers.  They have done an amazing job creating a brand new preschool program at our church. 

I don't know about this...

I think he is going to like it!

 

Happy School Year to everyone!!!! 

 Hug a teacher for me... we need it sometimes:)

Summertime...

I once read on another blog about a mom who counted her children's summers down.  Sounds a little depressing but also puts things in perspective.  Addie has 12 more summers at home before she leaves our home and Drew has 15 more summers.  So what do I wish to do with those summers??  Soak up all of the goodness that makes for long days but short summers with my favorite people.  Now that we are in the school years... dance... soccer... gymnastics... and the other million things we do as a family, summertime is even more special to me. I love the no schedule, pool going, playground finding, daddy stopping by for lunch, summer night walks to get flowers, cartoon watching, cuddles on the sofa reading books, and much much more.  I hope Addie and Drew have enjoyed their summer because I know I have enjoyed mine. 

Swim Time Anyone???

This summer has been full of my favorite summer past time... swimming!  This is about the only activity that can wear out both of my little peeps.  We have gone swimming in the ocean, lakes, rivers, and many.many.many pools.  Addie had swim lessons again this year and is just a little mermaid.  Last week she swam to the bottom of Uncle Clint's pool which is 9ft deep!  She can swim without stopping for hours... which I hear is just like her mommy when I was little.  

Drew has been a little more of a "lifeguard" this summer.  He has not really wanted to get in the water or put on his swimmys but Kyle has made some progress with him and this past weekend, Drew swam in the pool... with swimmys... for about two hours!  

I LOVE Summer!!!!

Summer Camps...

Today both of my kiddos went to summer camp for the day.  

This little fella was not very excited about going to preschool camp.  Sometimes I just don't get kids because, Drew's camp was at church... with several of his friends... with teachers that he sees on a regular basis... but he still was a very sad camper when I left.  Lucky for me and for himself, he snaps out of the whinnies and had a great day.  The kids are learning about the seasons and Drew was happy to tell us after camp, they talked about Spring,  rainbows, and butterflies.  After preschool camp, the boy who NEVER takes a nap on a regular basis, slept for 3 hours. 

 

On the flip side, this pretty little girl woke up bright and early ready to go.  She came down the stairs with her clothes and a big smile.  Addie is going to Camp Renaissance for the week from 8-5!!!  She gets to repel, tube, swim, shoot a BB gun, archery, rock climb, explore a cave, zip line.  She came home today very tired and very hungry but ready for more tomorrow.  Her favorite thing about camp so far... spending the whole day with Aubree!  The funny for today's camping experience... Aubree lost her shoes at camp and Addie "came to the rescue" with her extra pair. 

So what did I do with no little people??

I found out my class list for this year... went to the Doctor for a check up... did some retail therapy... cleaned the floors in the kitchen... three loads of laundry... and talked to three friends uninterrupted.  

Drew's Three....

Flashback post to March 23rd 2013

This little fella has turned 3!!!!!  Where did the time go????

We had a Meeska-Mouska- good time at our Clubhouse to celebrate with all of our favorite people.  

Drew was very excited and this was the first birthday that he got the fact that it was ALL.ABOUT. HIM!!!! 

So what is this little guy into these days???

Some of his favorites are:

the colors blue and red

yogurt and hot dogs

 eggs and bacon 

Scooby and Shaggy

playing Pirates and Bob the Builder

riding around in his Jeep and Tractor

being the best little bother... I mean brother

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?

Amazing Grace and Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.

HaPpY BiRtHdAy DrEW 

RIP Goldie...

Flashback post to around March 10th, 2013

Meet Goldie... also known as Sally 2.... also known as Rapunzel.... our fish that came to us from the Henderson County Fair.  Goldie has been a great pet.  She swam around that tree like it was the best tree... the only tree around.  Goldie loved being apart of our family until.....

 I came home from school one day to find that Goldie was not in the bowl but in the floor.  We were in a hurry trying to get to gymnastics.  Kyle was taking Addie and I was staying home with Drew for the evening.  I was trying to find Addie flip flops and that's when I noticed the lovely orange pet was not in her lovely glass bowl.  I looked around trying not to bring attention to the situation because I knew Addie would fall apart.... and there the fish was on the floor dead!  I sent Addie out the door to the car and Kyle was in disbelief... the fish jumped out of the bowl into the floor... fishicide!!!!

When Kyle and Addie got in the car, I called him to ask about a plan.  The plan would be for me to put the fish in the toilet and wait for Addie to get home to say her goodbyes.

Sounds like a great plan... well you have to remember the Drew factor.... because he does not think anything is wrong with a fish floating in the toilet when he goes potty.  Drew peed on the fish but I was able to stop him before the flush.  So know our fish is floating around in a sea of yellow. I guess it could have been worse.

Well Addie and Kyle arrived back home from gymnastics.  We prepared Addie for the news.  She.was.not.happy.  There were tears, sobs, and more tears.  We took her to the bathroom and what do our wondering eyes should appear... Goldie swimming around the toilet bowl.... She came back from the dead!

Apparently the ammonia in Drew's pee can bring fish back to life for a short period..... 12 hours to be exact.  We are still looking for a new fish... maybe after the beach.

 

I Pee Pee in the Potty!!!

Well it seemed like it took forever but we finally did it... Drew is out of diapers! 

He started potty training at Granny Franny's last spring but would NOT do it at home.  We tried everything but it just did not take.  After Christmas, when everything settled down and I had a week off from school, we hit it really hard.  Drew was walking around the house in his big boy undies.... We were reading the Potty Book... Addie was even giving her advice on the matter.

This was the conversation Addie and Drew had while I was cleaning the carpet after an accident.

Drew: "I don't want to pee-pee in the potty."

Addie:  "Drew it is easy.  In the bathroom, there is this white thing with a hole in it.  It is called a toliet.  You put the pee in it.... not on the floor... not in your pants."

This was the conversation she heard from her teacher, Mrs. Janessa, when the boys peed in the floor at school.  Life lessons are the most important ones of all, because now Addie knows what to say to her little boy.

 

So we have been out of diapers for about a month now.  EVERY TIME he uses the potty, you can hear a voice in the bathroom saying, "I am so proud of you!"  Drew likes to cheer himself on.  Drew is sleeping in undies and has not wet the bed yet.  He is good about waking up to use the potty, which is a good thing but we are getting use to the night time wake up calls again.  

So once we get the sippy cup gone, the baby stage will be done for Drew Boy.  We are very happy for him but I just cannot believe that diapers are gone from the house.  Almost 6 years of diapers, Destin, and wipes.  I am still getting use to not looking for the changing pad and basket of goodies to put on our bed in the morning.  Change is just hard for this momma... even good change.

November Ordinary Days....

Kindergarten Field Trip to the Renaissance Center to see

 Alexander and the Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. 

Kyle was the best Dad chaperone. 

Playing upstairs after dinner... cake anyone???

Practiced our civil duties...

Late night nap = wild hair

Our new toy bought with her piggy bank money.

They have been watching Toy Story in aftercare at school and Addie is in love with Jesse.

Addie loves studying about Thanksgiving.... even though it is her least favorite holiday because it is about all of the food she does not like.