Summertime, Summertime!

We've been on the go all summer, and now that it's winding down I'm a little sad that the fun - or maybe I should say being able to do whatever, whenever - is about to come to an end! Not that starting school isn't fun, right B??

We've done lots of art projects...



We've played in the sink a ton which is fabulous entertainment for a toddler...

We've had gymnastics classes...



We've started sporting pigtails...


We've watched a little baseball...

We've gone to a 4 year old check up which meant lots of shots, but this one is a tough cookie...

(still smiling afterwards!)
We've caught up with old friends...




We've celebrated birthdays...









Bethany and Towns worked so hard to keep it all a surprise...


We've had fun in the sun...


(Is it me or does it seem like Cate's always got a cupcake in her mouth and a face full of icing?!)
We've baked and iced our hearts out...

(Towns was so excited because she made the icing and iced the cupcakes all by herself)
We've watched B at cheer camp...



And had 3 handsome little men to play with while we were at it...

We've gone school supply shopping (sorry B for the picture, this was all I had!)

But here are some cute ones as we were heading out the door to do school shopping at Target...




We've gotten our first crush on a very cute little friend and insisted that we leave a note on his doorstep...


(You can barely see her, but she's dropping the note at his door)
We've not had a ton of this...

But that's ok, because all the fun we've had makes up for it!

Art Around the World

Last week Towns went to art camp - something that's right up her alley because she wants to be an artist when she grows up. I've always known that she could stay in the lines when she colors and that she was crafty with paint, but I honestly had know idea what she was capable of doing until we went to their end of the week art gallery on Friday morning. I was one proud mama! Every day they 'went' to a different country - Japan, France, etc. - and she came home saying a few words in their languages and talking about artists like Rousseau and Kandinsky! She really had a great week and that's all thanks to Mrs. Kelly, the fabulous art teacher!

Towns sitting in the circle with Mrs. Kelly


Such a little priss!



Can you spot the real version?

What about this one?

I'm kidding, but she did pretty good to be so young!
This picture of her that Mrs. Kelly took of her painting an egg is one of my favorites...


Vivi and Towns
She might be an artist, but she's also a clown...

Officially Official!

Today has been monumental in the biggest sense of the word!

I'm not sure you could have wiped the smile off of this girl's face:

And this is why:

We went to her school to pick up all of her cheerleading attire ! She's an officially official cheerleader!
Naturally, a fashion show was high priority when we got home...



B has two little ones who want to be just like her - with good reason. So I knew once they saw her in her cheer outfits they'd be begging for something similar. I was a step ahead of them and had it out before they started asking!

Please check out the poses - I said 'hands on hips, girls' and Cate must have had her head and her hips totally confused!
This next one might give you a little glimpse into what I do all day, every day...

They're the cheerleaders and I'm the official referee. Cate's constantly taking whatever Towns has, Towns is always melting down about it, and Cate's always giving me that devilish look you see here. Go ahead and click the picture to make it bigger so you can get the full affect! And I love Bethany's face here! Priceless!

We're SO proud of you, B! I absolutely cannot wait until cheer camp next week so you can teach me all of your dances!! You know how I am!
Can't wait to see your cute little self on the football field cheering your heart out!

All My Bags Are Packed

Today little blondie had major excitement in her life! My dad coaches American Legion baseball in Dothan and the team is playing in a tournament not too far from here, so he begged me to let her go spend just one night. She could hardly wait...

Clothes? Check. Toys? Check. Lawn chair? Check. Sunglasses? Check.
Sweet ride that pulls up right outside the house? Double Check.


She hopped on that charter bus so fast, she forgot about her teary-eyed Mom waiting for a hug and maybe even a kiss! She was quickly reminded, though, and ran back down the steps to me...

The rest of us couldn't figure out what to do with ourselves with her gone. So we did the only logical thing we could think of. We went out for ice cream, then Japanese, then a movie...

Rockstars

It's hot. Really hot. And 2/3 of my girl crew would prefer being outdoors rather than stuck inside in the nice, cool house (B's always on my side - she has a deep appreciation for air conditioning!). This morning when they were climbing the walls and begging to play outside, I had to think quick. They've been known to have a lot of energy, and they're also known for liking an audience. So I moved the dining room table and we transformed the dining room into a make-shift civic center for a concert.

We had front row seating, which is the only way to go when you're talking concerts...

We had a stage (the only thing Towns wanted for Christmas 2 years ago), a microphone, and a local celebrity to introduce the opening act...

{Side note: She wrote the book on home-made concerts...we've been watching her perform for years now and she's a pro! Usually our front porch is the prime time spot, but since we were all still in towel wraps (unless I get dressed before the kids wake up it's a two hour process) we decided an indoor concert would be best!}
We even had an official curtain opener, whom we'll have to work on because the opening act wasn't very happy when the curtains were opened before she was supposed to make her entrance. It drove Towns crazy, and Cate loved every minute of it!

After a minor meltdown, we talked her into performing despite the mischievous stagehand...


Naturally, Cate needed her turn with the mic and she sang us a new version of Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star...

Then it was Bethany's turn on the stage...

And the crowd went wild...

They couldn't stand it any longer and rushed the stage...






Cate was worn out from all the excitement, so she and her baby doll were going 'night-night' when she asked her Bebby to join her...

That's exactly how Cate sleeps in her baby bed - with her little knees folded under her. She's done it ever since she was a tiny baby and I love it!

B's the best sister in the world and helps me out when it comes to getting the girls dressed. Towns usually protests everything I iron for her to wear, so B will pretend like she's going to wear it instead which usually does the trick every time. This morning it worked like a charm with getting Cate to wear her pink bow...

Not only is she not too cool to wear bows in order to get her sisters to want to wear them, she's also not too cool to hang out tonight with her boring step-mom! She and I have a date to watch Confessions of a Shopaholic since we missed it in the theaters. She's leaving tomorrow to go to the beach which means we won't see her for over a week...that's a record. And not a fun one! She just came in here to tell me that she just realized that the tons of stuff she was packing meant that she was going to be away for such a long time. SAD! Of course I'm excited she's getting to go head south, but we'll miss her like crazy! She also reminded me that this is the longest she's been away from us since she's been here. Not sure I'm liking the idea, but at least we know she's having fun!
We already miss you, Bebby, and want you to hurry back!!