Pet Day

Last Friday was Pet Day at school, and being that we really don't have a pet that lasts very long around here, taking our pet to school was easy breezy. No leashes, no cages, no fish bowls...Towns threw her Fur Real kitty in her backpack that morning and was ready to go!

I'm telling you, that's my kind of pet. It'll walk, purr, meow, etc. but requires nothing additional from yours truly! :)

She showed everyone how it could walk...

Emma brought Lilly, and my children think Lilly is the coolest creature on Earth...

She can wave on command, which is why they think she's so neat!
One of the last pictures of the two of us at a preschool function...

I'm learning to cope! Ha!

Later that afternoon the girls changed into something festive enough for a date to the post office, the park, and the local ice cream joint...

As if the cat hasn't been let out of the bag enough, I'm obsessed with owls. Call me crazy. Or call me a die hard, love it 'til the day I die Chi Omega. Either way, I'm loving that owls are so "it" now. Since she knows the depths of my obsession, April got her friend Shea (she has a link to her applique site on her blog) to make an owl shirt for Towns for her birthday. And well, thankfully she got Cate one while she was at it. These days it's much easier when we have 2 of everything. And I do mean everything. Hello sisterly knock-down, drag-outs.
Anyway, the park is always a source of good fun and entertainment for the girls. Not so much for B, therefore she opted to stay at home on her air conditioned throne.
The girls spotted something new first bat out of the box...

They might have been overly interested in the big green turtle because of this...

That would be Turtlicious (pronounced turtle-icious).
We spotted him trying to cross the road a few weeks ago. It was a busy road, and the girls and I couldn't bear the thought of him not making it. So I stopped the car, grabbed 417 napkins, and proceeded to pick him up and put him in a gift bag which was the only thing I had. I honestly thought I was doing a good deed because a turtle is supposed to be slow and couldn't possibly have crossed the road without getting flattened. Wrong! It turned out to be a quick mover. We put him in the yard and 15 minutes later the sucker was gone! Growing up when we would catch turtles, my grandfather would say that if you tie a string around their leg they won't go far because they think they're tied to something. I can't exactly say I'm sad about the turtle finding a new home, but I sure didn't think it would be that quick!
Cate showing Bebby her turtle (before it activated its jet packs)...


Back to the park - the girls were loving the new swing...

And were really loving the fact that they both could swing in it...
.
The elder of the two dare devils couldn't sit still for long, though. She had some flipping to do...

Didn't realize until I was looking back at these pictures that she doesn't even have her hands on the bar when she's doing that. Makes my heart do its own little flip!!
And I caught her doing this...

She didn't want to walk all the way around the playground to the stairs, so she improvised. How she got over that railing above her I don't know, but she sure did it!
We played long enough to work up an appetite for ice cream which took up some time until Daddy got home. He wanted to go to dinner in Huntsville that night and on the way I happened to get a very telling picture. If I didn't know any better, I'd say that it could be called a sign of the times. Or it could be called "prize for who can fit the most kids in the back of a small company car". We'd win, hands down.
Three ring circus-24 hours a day.

Count 'em...1, 2, and 3.
And all 3 going to town on the 3G network.
Lots to report on soon - B's award's day, Towns and Cate's last day of school, a high school graduation, trip to the botanical gardens, etc. I need to get on the ball!
But right now, as the famous Diana Decker would say, it's gotta be 5 o'clock somewhere!!
Happy weekend, folks!

Just Another Day at the Park

It started out fairly routine...

And then before I knew it...

This might be an appropriate (if anything about this is appropriate) time to tell you that we were at the playground at the neighborhood Presbyterian church. And the reason behind her need for such freedom? She said her belly was full. Mercy!

Everyone in the neighborhood who comes home around 5 o'clock got an eye full (talk about onlooker's delays)! It's almost summer. And in my book that means anything goes...

Towns conquered the big, bad monkey bars while we were there. She's an old pro at the monkey bars, but these were a first. They're super tall and it's a long way from one end to the other.
Today she heard what I heard umpteen times a day as a kid:
If at first you don't succeed...

Try, try again!
And she did just that.
I screamed, I did impromptu cheers, and I might or might not have done a toe touch.
And low and behold - she got all the way across!
Seems like a small task, but to this chick it was a major feat!
She was pretty worn out, so I stuck the front wheel of her bike in the bottom of the stroller and towed her and her exhibitionist sister (she did clothe herself before we left, thank goodness) all the way home...

If you're ever in need of action or just a good laugh, give us a call.
We won't disappoint!

"We're A Grand Ol' Class"

That was the title of Towns' ended of the year program at school yesterday, and guess what...I didn't cry!!!!! Thanks to a good friend sending up lots o' prayers for me, I made it through! :)

J has been in Destin since Tuesday teaching a training class, so when Towns realized he wouldn't be at her program she really got upset. He was equally as distraught about not being able to be there. He had to miss her Thanksgiving Feast for the very same reason and she hasn't let him forget it! I promised her the next best thing, though. Bebby got to ditch school for a little while and come watch her which was super special. Towns has always loved showing off her big sister! And it worked out well, because she was my moral support!!




Each 4 year old class got their turn on stage to say a Bible verse and sing a song. I had the camera ready when it was time for her class to recite their Bible verse...

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 5:16

They sang a song that we love to sing at home - "This Little Light of Mine"

The picture above is one of her favorite parts of that song - the part that says "don't let Satan blow it out". Boy, did they get into it!
And they liked this part, too...

That's the "let it shine 'til Jesus comes" part if you couldn't tell! :)

After all the classes finished, they sang "What A Mighty God We Serve" together...

They all did a fantastic job - so proud!!!
When the program was over, we all headed upstairs to the ROC for lunch, fellowship with friends, and to pick up sweet surprises...

Her teachers put together a scrapbook of all the fun things they've done together over the course of the school year. I knew better than to look at it there, which turned out to be a good thing. Because when I got to the very end and each teacher had written Towns a precious letter, I needed a boat load of Kleenex and waterproof mascara!
Here she is with Mrs. Michelle...

And with Mrs. Glenda...

The way they've loved on her all year has been a main reason she's enjoyed school so much. I'm so thankful for how sweet they've been to my baby girl - who's not so much a baby anymore. I can't really explain how it feels to leave her at school 3 mornings a week and never worry a minute about her because she's in the hands of people who love her, love teaching, and most importantly love the Lord.
She ran around with her friends while B and I found her artwork to take home with us...

And I snapped pictures for as long as she was willing to let me...








It was a big day for another reason...

Her first ever Book Fair!
She got a book in her Easter basket about a Book Fair. That was always a source of major excitement for me in elementary school for some reason, and I was hoping she'd be just as excited. It came as no surprise that she was all about it!
She browsed for a long time before she settled on approximately 54 books.

We narrowed it down to a few favorites, and by that time Cate was out of her class and got to pick a couple of books out too...

Cate might win the award for how thrilled she was about it! She opted for Clifford and a book about an ice cream truck that plays the tune that gets stuck in your head (an added bonus is that the batteries do come out). We payed for our books, said our goodbyes, and headed to the car where Towns found a few little treats waiting for her on her special day...

My mom gave me that Dr. Seuss book the day I graduated from Auburn.
I know she's just "graduating" from preschool, but it's a big deal to a certain sentimental Mama!

Spring Break & Five Minutes' Peace

We're almost out for summer, and I'm just now getting to Spring Break...such is life when you've got one like ours! Ha! Spring break was very late for us this year, and we all definitely needed a break by the time it finally rolled around. We had planned a beach trip for the first half of the week because J was flying to Orlando for business the last half of the week. But thank God for a 10 day forecast because when we realized it was going to be raining the entire time we would have been there, we decided to change our plan. We headed north instead to stay at the Opry in Nashville. It was the first time for all of us except J, and I'm pretty sure that given the chance we'd all go back in a heartbeat. I'll be excited to take them all to Disney after the reaction we got from the Opry. They thought it was the grandest place on Earth! Actually, give them an indoor pool and a hot tub and they're sold.

We took a trip to Bridge Street the Sunday afternoon before we left for a few last minute things. Namely an Ulta stop for Bare Minerals Well Rested for yours truly. Because if you never get rest and look like you're in dire need of it, well, you just can't beat it! B did her own thing while we attempted a carousel ride...

The girls were none too thrilled that the teenage carousel operator had ditched her job and was nowhere to be found. I had to divert their attention. And fast. Otherwise they were about to scale the fence. It's amazing how fast a little sugar and chocolate can change their tune..

Towns got a piece of cookie cake that Buggy was very interested in. It had a big bumble bee on it and she couldn't quite figure out why were laughing when she kept asking Towns if her cookie cake had an "Imma Be" on it...


Do you pick your battles?
I do.
Prime example...

Every soul at Bridge Street did a double take and then looked at me like I was crazy, but I don't care! Cate is a little eccentric, no doubt about it. Who am I to take that away from her?!

We set out for Nashville Monday afternoon - much later than planned, of course. And we hit the pool and hot tub the minute we dropped our suitcases in our room...






While Daddy played with Cate in the indoor pool, I taught Towns how to do this...

When I was a little older than she is, my Pop taught me how to float on my back in the lake where we went camping every summer. He was an expert swimmer and taught us all how to swim. Sure do wish he was still here so he could do the honors.
She was determined to figure the swimming part out pretty much on her own, though...

And now she's a fish! A really cute, really proud-of-herself fish! :)

What's this look, you ask?

That usually means her wheels are turning and something dangerous is about to go down.
And 2 seconds later...

She slid from the very top to the very bottom.
This is a look of serious satisfaction...

Fearless, I tell ya!

That night we browsed (got lost and walked in circles actually, but enjoyed the scenery no less) around the Opry and grabbed a late dinner...




J taught Towns "step on a crack and break your mother's back"...

And we've done it every day since. She really thinks I'm in danger and takes it very seriously.
Buggy put her babies to bed in the nightstand drawer and we were down for the count...


We had the best breakfast the next morning - complete with chocolate syrup and sprinkle covered waffles that were too good to eat with utensils...

And who says you can't swim on a full belly?
To the pool we went!
Well, everyone except B because she wanted a full 2 hours to get ready in peace and quiet in true teenage fashion!

Towns practiced her swimming some more...

Each time she'd set out to go a little further than the time before.
Her daddy was her biggest cheerleader, especially when she looked back to see how far she'd just gone...

Cate Bug was a little miffed that she wasn't in on the swimming thing...

So she made better use of her time by throwing all of our shoes in the pool and then retrieving them over and over and over again (thank goodness they were rubber and unable to sink)...

That, my friends, is what you call redneck pool toys!
She and her little sassy self were cracking me up prancing around that pool like she was on a mission...


While I was watching her I noticed something...

Not sure if you can tell it by this picture, but she's got teeny tiny freckles on her nose and across her cheeks. I love them! I fear the day she realizes she doesn't, though. I vividly remember being in Kindergarten and the kids in my class making fun of my freckles. But my teacher whispered in my ear one day and told me that they were angel kisses...and I've never forgotten it. I'm sure Buggy and I will have that conversation soon enough.

When I got out of the pool to get a towel I noticed something else...

Buggy making her little footprints right beside mine. Goodness, I love her!!

She finally came to the conclusion that she wasn't missing out on the swimming fun a second longer...

Don't count her out just yet, she'll be a fish just like her sister before we know it...



We got cleaned up and made time for lunch at the Rainforest Cafe before heading home...

The last time we went was when B was younger and Towns was about Cate's age. They were still just as amazed this go 'round...

Naturally, the older two weren't a bit scared to go right up to the big life-like gorillas and elephants, but Cate told us she was completely fine taking it all in from right where she was...

Those were pretty much her exact words. And of course she insisted that she wasn't scared, but she wasn't even thinking about getting out from under Daddy!

When we got home that afternoon, Towns got super fancy and learned how to do this...

Don't know which part was more fun for her, blowing it up or letting it go...

She was so excited she finally learned how to blow up a balloon. She's been working on it for a while. Apparently it's the 5 year old equivalent of building an atomic bomb! :)

One more thing before I go...
When I picked the girls up from school Friday, I was pleasantly surprised at the Mother's Day treats that they'd made. Sweet hand prints galore, handmade cards, and something I'd never seen before...

The one at the bottom peaked my interest. The tag read "Five Minutes' Peace" and Towns was ever so excited about me opening it. They'd read a book at school about a family of elephants and with all the daily activities of the mother elephant, all she asked for at the end of the day was five minutes' peace. Every time she tried to sneak her five minutes, her children showed up needing or wanting something from her. Totally unrelatable, huh? Kidding. She went to take a hot bath thinking she'd finally get her quiet time, and she got a full 3 minutes and 45 seconds to herself before her children came begging to hop in with her. So the idea behind the gift Towns' gave me was that I would have everything I needed to have five minutes' peace on Mother's Day...a piece of bread for toast, jelly, ingredients for hot tea, a cupcake she iced and decorated, bubble bath she made herself, and a book of flowers she made for me to read. I didn't get a chance to enjoy it until last night. And just like the story, I had two little chins resting on the side of the bath tub with the look in their eyes that said "please ask us to get in with you". So I did. And I don't think I got even a full 3 minutes and 45 seconds' peace, but I wouldn't have it any other way!