The Three Muskateers

As many of you may know, this fellowship is pretty grueling for all involved.
Lee works long days and then has so many extras on top of him...research projects, football games on several evenings a week, every-Saturday clinic, conferences out of state, etc...
We knew this going in and we accept it.
But it is still a challenge to live it day-in-day-out. (Enter in coping mechanisms.)
And I also knew that this would be a special year for me to "zone in" on the girls before we return to family and friends in Montgomery next July. A year of the "Three Muskateers" so to speak. Now, I certainly don't mean to leave Lee out!
But this is about survival and making family and marriage work in this situation....and I am trying to focus on "the good" here.

This weekend was a prime example as Lee was away for the weekend after a very long work week.

The girls and I really did have a nice time together while he was away
 and I am thankful for the fun events that we got to share:

-Our Thursday lunch post-preschool at a very nice and new McDonald's that has a perfect toddler and big-kid play area.
-A Pajama Party at our local libary Thursday night.
-Pizza at a friend's house on Friday night.
-Painting pictures at our kitchen table.
-Finding Nemo in 3D on Saturday afternoon.
-Sunday School and Church together on Sunday morning.

Each of these events I really enjoyed with my two girls. Especially the movie...They were enthralled and we even stayed after the credits and danced in the aisle in the dark. They loved it! I wish I could have bottled up the moment.  And our new church is simply a gem of a place, offering so many programs to nourish each family member. I cannot emphasize enough how important this has been for me.

So, although this fellowship is stretching me and twisting me at times, I hope and pray that I can soak up this special season to be a proud and joyful leader of my Three Muskateers.

Ms. Christy!

Thanks for coming to visit us over the weekend, Ms. Christy!
We loved playing blocks, making chalk people and just being with you, friend! And those dreamcakes were just unforgettable...

In detail

I am thrilled when I get a chance to capture on camera real moments or experiences with my girls. Here is one such moment of Sawyer brushing her teeth the other night...really just playing and eating toothpaste.

Best Pet Ever

The neighbor's dog!
A lovely, older, gentle chocolate lab named Milly has taken to the girls...
coming over to house whenever she hears us outside.
We visit, love, Sawyer coos "Doggy Puppy" and Sullivan giggles. 
We play chase and run around for a bit.
We go home. Dog goes to her home.
Excellent situation.

Bewitching Hour

Popsicles post quiet time.
Visit with Milly, the neighbor's dog.
Quick paint project for girls.
Make their dinner.
Water from paint all over floor.
Girls don't like dinner. Not eating.
Drop part of my dinner on dirty floor.
Eat it anyway.
Work meeting online at 6p.
Sawyer vomits into my hands and on floor at 5:46p.
Fast cat bath in kitchen sink.
TV is not working.
Meeting in 3 minutes.
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom dvd will do.
Go to online meeting.
Sawyer playful, seems ok.
Sawyer bites Sullivan.
Sullivan's ok.
Finish meeting.
Mama sighs in relief.
Daddy calls...
Wants to see girls before working out.
Daddy swings home.
Girls refuse to give hugs or kisses.
Mama cleans up dinner mess.
Girls warm to Daddy.
Ahhh...sweet smiles.
Daddy goes to work out.
Mama puts girls to bed.
Daddy comes home.
Daddy gets called in to hospital.
Mama needs to mop kitchen floor.
5p-8p.
Truly the Bewitching Hour.

Sawyer, 2yr check up

Thankfully, Sawyer is quite healthy and problem-free. She is now in the 8.5% for height but in the .07% for weight for 24mos at 21lbs. Dr. Cook asked me lots of questions and in the end was not overly concerned.

She proceeded to then eat fries, chips and a chocolate milkshake at Brent's Drugs for lunch yesterday...turned up her nose at my veggie burger and her grilled cheese. I guess I will let her enjoy such a diet while she can!


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When I grow up...

Sullivan: I will be a painter.
Sawyer: (no response)

I can't wait to see how this evolves.

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Mystery Man

Not Johnson. Not Jetson. Not Jackson.
The little boy Sullivan has her eye on is Judson.
No wonder it was confusing...there is also a Jackson in the class.
I got a chance to sneak into her room this morning and saw Judson and Sullivan giggling at their table, scribbling away with markers on their drawing of a firetruck.
This Judson is just adorable with big brown eyes and blond hair. Sullivan smiled brightly at me and said, "Oh Mommy. This is Judson. And he is four, too!". They both proceeded to giggle in delight at how funny that was.

I think this is her first "friend crush". She is smitten.

New friends

Sullivan came home from school the other day stating that she would like to invite a boy from her class over to play. Funny thing is she wasn't quite sure if his name is Jackson, Jetson or Johnson. Regardless, she carefully colored an index card and instructed me to write down her request to come over and for his mom to call me and for me to include my phone number. I obliged and the note was delivered today back at school and hopefully we will hear back from Jackson/Jetson/Johnson and that they won't be too offended by the name misstep.
While Sullivan was at school, Sawyer made a precious new friend below, a fourth grader from a nearby school named Jimmy, while we were at the museum this week. Jimmy took a liking to helping Sawyer do all the activities she couldn't quite manage, like reach the xylophone. He was with his other classmates on a special "reward field trip" for doing his summer reading. He said that he read the entire Harry Potter series this summer! Go Jimmy!








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Sawyer's 2nd birthday

 The birthday girl!

 Gigi snuggles Sullivan during the stories.

 Story time.

 Our lay out.

 Fruit, displayed on my gorgeous Nora Fleming Platter from my dear Greenville gals.

 Sullivan and her new friend Sarah Katherine.

 Sawyer, all grown up. Check out her adorable Book t-shirt for the party.

 Dad and Lee.

 Singing Happy Birthday!

 Honey during storytime.

 Getting a little crazy post icecream and cake...

 Hampton and Jen McAdory came down from Tupelo to attend!

Organizing her new kitchen with her grandmothers...

The first week in September is always special to us, as we have so many family birthdays!
September 3 My mother in law, Colleen
September 4 My brother in law, Golson
September 6, My birthday
September 7, My other brother in law, Tyler
September 8, Sawyer!
As you can see, the weekend was so special as Sawyer turned 2 on Saturday! My parents and Colleen were able to come up and we had a party with our new friends here in town and gave Sawyer her gift of a shiny new retro pink KidCraft Kitchen! Our party was Book-themed, complete with Honey leading storytime, as you can see above, reading There Once Was a Lady Who Swallowed a Fly... and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.
The weekend went just as I had hoped it to and we were truly blessed with our first respite from the heat of a Mississippi summer, with a cool snap that was so welcome! I almost needed a sweater at times!?
Here are some of our photos from the weekend and the party...I am so grateful that Jackson already feels like a home for us, thanks to our wonderful new friends and fellow families that we are becoming close to. Happy 2nd birthday, Sawyer!

My Buddy

These days, Sawyer is pretty tight with her mechanical robot, Rockin' Elmo. He creeps me out a little bit with his clickety clacks and jolts, but not her. He eats with us at the table, goes to carpool, takes rides in the Cozy Coop (see below, notice the protective arm over him...) and sleeps with her in her crib. He is really a part of the family now.





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The big 4.5

I feel like Sullivan is morphing into a new, exciting level of childhood.
The signs are clear and frequent:

1. She is over Nick.Jr. Those silly questions and prompts are just too easy.
2. She often insists on brushing her own hair and can do it well. Watching her just precious...
3. She emerges from her quiet time in her room smelling of body splash and that strange bruise-like blur on her eye or cheek is really just her Hello Kitty makeup application.
4. As soon as I returned home from a pedicure this afternoon, she desperately needed me to give her one.
5.  She writes her name better and better each time and every letter is legible. Go girl!
6.  She now takes a computer/Ipad class at school. They start 'em early!

A new friend...

Hooray for popsicles!


Block castles are our craze these days...

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