Epic fail. Epic save.

Back in the Spring when we decided to not send the twins to preschool, I decided to get them involved in an outside activity for a little “socialization.” I made the BIG mistake of telling them that instead of going to a preschool mommy was going to teach them at home and sign Audrey up for ballet and James up for karate. Why was that a mistake, you ask? Well, I learned the lesson of “Always check and make sure your child is old enough for said activity before you tell said child that he can do said activity and get him all pumped for it.” He was not old enough for karate, must be 6 years old. Poor James did not comprehend that. He broke down into heartbroken sobs when his sister came back with all her ballet goodies and he had nothing. Epic fail.

While we were at the beach we noticed how quickly he took to the water this time and a light bulb went off in my head and I heard a little voice say “Swimming Lessons, dude!” So when we got home, I checked at the YMCA in Thomasville and they had a class starting September 27.

We went on Tuesday for his first class and it was a little sketchy to begin with. He was all pumped about it before hand but once it was time to get in the water, he clung to me like white on rice bawling his eyes out. The aquatics director had told me earlier that this might happen and if it did we would have to step out to where he couldn’t see us. So we did and he eventually got a hold of himself and started enjoying it. There was one time when he was swimming back across the pool on a noodle and the proud smile on his face was worth a million dollars. Epic Save.

Today was a totally different story. He didn’t shed a tear when it was time to get in. His teacher, Ms. Katelyn, came and got him and he gave me a quick hug, took her hand and proudly marched over to the pool and got it. He will be taking them twice a week for a month for his first session. Not sure about the next.

3 Months

Olivia,
Again I am a few days late but it’s been a little hectic around here lately. We’ve all been crazed, overly tired and grumpy. Except for you my love. We hauled you to Birmingham for the first time last week and then to Danville for another hardshellin weekend and you didn’t skip a beat.

You did great on the trip to Alabama and acted like you had no idea you weren’t at home! You slept well each night and while we were there you started to bat at your toys on the bouncy seat. Your hand movements may still be erratic but you are definitely trying to touch them. And you are turning your head over so far and pushing so hard with your little legs, you will be rolling over in no time!! You also started being very verbal on your own whilest there which is to die for cute. So much of the time we would stop what ever we were doing to talk back to you. You also have fallen in love with your reflection in the mirror. I hold you up to one and you just grin so big! It’s hilarious.

You were an absolute angel at church all weekend too. We hauled you up there early Friday morning and stayed in church all day long and went back the next morning for some more! The only time you protested was when you were sleepy and all I’d have to do was gently rock back and forth and out you went. You were such a friendly little thing and smiled BIG at everybody that talked to you!! It was very exciting for me to take you “back home” at this age. Everybody had an absolute fit over you and kept saying how much you look like me. A few people said they didn’t even have to ask who’s baby it was because you look so much like me! Bless your heart.

On Saturday morning cousin Tammy was holding you and with out a peep or a poot you had the biggest blowout ever. I mean biggest ever. It came straight up your back (how these things happen.....) and got all over Tammy and your beautiful pink and white dress from Aunt Mary Lou. Not to mention your back, legs and even a little on your face. Gross. Thankfully Sis. Cathy Malone was in the bathroom at the time and she helped us so much. Tammy had her own mess to clean and there was no way I could do anything with you by myself!! Lets try not to do that again, Tookie!

I can’t believe 3 months has already passed and I look forward to the next 3 months, my sweet Livi Ray.

Of Being Thankful

We are back from Birmingham and the whirl wind trip to Danville for the meeting and even though both trips were simply marvelous, we are 100% tuckered out. Seriously. Yesterday didn’t pan out to well around here, it was just one of those Mondays I guess so today I am on strike. We are taking it easy and leaving a mess behind and I don’t care!!!!  I will leave you with this exchange that took place during a breakfast stop at MacDonald's on our trip home:

James: What did grandaddy get me to drink?
Me: Water.
James: (in his most annoying whiny voice) But I want apple juice, not water!!!!!!
Me: Son, you need to be thankful for what you have.
James: (in his very emphatic voice) I am thankful for the sausage biscuit just not the water.

Not much

Not to much has been happening around here so I’ll just go with the basics. I started a little preschool curriculum with the twins about 3 weeks ago and it’s been a wonderful addition to our daily routine. Well, it actually has given us a daily routine, a structured routine, and it’s great. Back in the Spring I made the decision not to send the kids to the Methodist Church 3 day a week preschool program I had previously enrolled them in and I’ve not regretted that decision in the least. When I pulled their names of the roll, I knew it would be up to me then to give them the structured learning atmosphere that they need at this age so I started researching and asking friends that home school and decided on the Little Hands To Heaven curriculum. Very pleased with it so far and I highly recommend it to any one looking for home schooling materials.

One thing that I added to our school time is computer time. Man o man do they love it! And I am so proud at how fast they have learned how to operate the computer. James especially, he even was clicking and dragging yesterday! Audrey tends to get frustrated to fast! And just an FYI, PBS Kids has great games for preschoolers. Clifford and Curious George are the twins’ favorites.

Another thing that I have discovered lately is Pinterest. If you are not pinteresting already, well, you should! I have found some wonderful recipes and ideas on there. I love it because of the way it saves all of your favorites; makes them look so pretty and it’s so easy to find everything. Love, love, love it!

        Would like to make this. So easy!

Pumkin Spice Latte, my FAVorite from 

Starbucks. Making TOday!

We have a busy week coming up. Hopefully all of us will be heading out for Birmingham tomorrow afternoon and hopefully the kids and I will be staying for a few days next week. Looking forward to that, let me assure you! We also hope to go up to the Ebeneezer Fellowship in Danville next weekend and I hope, hope, hope those plans follow through. It’s the weekend Jon and I got married, ya know. I can hardly believe we will soon be celebrating our 8th anniversary. Time flies when you are having fun!

Speaking of time flying, can you believe that in just 2 weeks we will be celebrating James and Audrey’s 4th birthday? I cannot. It doesn’t seem possible that I have 4 year old twins. Man I’m getting old, HA!

AND our precious little angel baby will be 3 months old in a week. If you count by weeks, she already is 12 weeks but I’m going by the date so we have a week still to go. Have I mentioned that she’s precious, perfect and an absolute doll baby that just goes with the flow?

Finally Friday!

Livi Ray is glad it’s Friday and so are the rest of us!

Orange Beach meets TS Lee

For months we had a family vacation at the beach planned for Labor Day weekend and not even a tropical storm could keep us away! Despite the torrential downpours and 65 mile per hr wind gusts, we had a great time! We had one sunny day and an inside pool so it was all good.

Looks like rain

Lets hurry up and have fun y’all

It hurts!!!!!

(That would be the stinging sand)

Hey, you’re little like me!

The sun came out!

We’ve got a swimmer on our hands

A happy ending!

Being Good

As you know, this week has been a very challenging week as James’ mother. Seems the boy can’t stay out of trouble. Last night as Jon was walking out the door to go to a meeting I heard him say ”someone has drawn on the playroom floor.” I thought my eyes were gonna pop out of my head. I went back in the dining room to ask who had done it (although we knew who the culprit was but I try to be fair) and James confessed that it had indeed been his little hands that had drawn ALL OVER the floor with BLUE, NON-WASHABLE CRAYON. I do not buy crayons or markers that don't have the words washable all over the box so how he managed to find the one non washable crayon that magically appeared is just amazing. Amazing.

Anyway, I made him get up, go take a shower and he went to bed at 6:30. But as I was washing him I was reading him the riot act about drawing on the floor and how he knows better and I told him I just didn’t understand why he was doing so many things lately that he knows he shouldn’t do. I, the adult, then asked the preschooler to “please help me understand why you are making so many bad choices this week” and as he had his eyes covered so the water wouldn’t get in his eyes he answered with “But mama I just don’t know how to be good ALL the time.” Oh my!!

Pleased to meet ya

We went to Jon’s school today for a meet and greet so all the teachers could "meet and greet" Olivia. It was originally scheduled for Friday after school but since we are taking off for the beach (woo hoo) soon as school lets out tomorrow, it got moved to today. Well Audrey has dance on Thursday from 3 to 3:45 so we left there a few minutes early and rushed out to Whigham. Of course in my hurry to get the bunch into the car to make dance on time, I forgot to grab Audge some other clothes or a pair of shorts at least. So, she got to parade around in her leotard. Classy!

It was such a nice little party and everyone went nuts over Liv. She smiled and talked a lot at first and then I guess she decided it was all too  much so she started giving everyone her primp face and let me tell you it’s a doozy. Best primp East of the Mississippi hands down!

Jon really is so blessed to work the group of ladies (and a few men!) that he works with. They are all so sweet and genuinely nice. We had a good time!

Just a few of the teachers/staff

I believe they both had like 10 cupcakes a piece!

Mrs. Cox, the boss lady!

I could strangle those J&A! This was our first family of 5

photo and look at their faces!! Stinkers...

p.s. it’s less than 24 hours now before we leave for the beach and I have nothing packed. Nothing.