Crazy Car Line

I have to include this story so that one day Anna will read it and know the lengths of what I will do for her.

The car line at school is crazy! Of the morning there are long lines to drop children off at school. But the afternoon is really crazy. Of the afternoon, cars cannot starting lining up in the street until 2:30. Therefore, people start lining up in the church parking lot next door prior to 2:30. I have no idea what time the first car gets there (and have no desire to find out). I usually arrive around 2:15 and will be about 10th in line. Why do I arrive this early you ask? All for Anna! I don't want her to have to wait in the front lobby for 20 minutes or more for me to make it through the line. So I go and sit and read in my car so that she is picked up within about 5 minutes of school getting out. (Honestly I don't mind. As most mothers, I will do just about anything to make my kids lives easier. Plus I'm always ready to see Anna and hear about her day.) Most days it has been comfortable to sit with my windows down. However, there have been a few days that I had to turn on the truck and let the A/C run before I melted.

The funny (or maybe sad) thing about the car line is how mad people get over it. One day a car "cut line" and another lady got out and told them about it. Then she told a police officer about it later. I have just tried to figure out all the rules and not make anyone mad. They really should hand out a list of rules to parents that have never done car pickup before! There are no signs that tell what time you can line up and where you can line up. But this is what I've learned just by observing...One road lines up with traffic coming from both directions at 2:30. Then at 2:45 the lines moves up to allow cars into the school drive and up to the front door. At 3:00 cars can line up on another road in front of the school...but not before 3:00 or the police will come make you move. It is crazy!!

Settling into a New Routine

The past week found us adjusting to our new routines. (Well, it's really Anna and me that have a new routine. Kevin and Mason have the same routine they had all summer.) I drop Anna off at school of the morning, go home and work around the house or run errands, then pick Anna up when school gets out. I always take a snack for her to eat on the way home and she enjoys this. Some mornings she will say "Don't forget my snack this afternoon."

Anna had a great week at school. Every day the teacher sends home a sheet (calendar) that shows how Anna behaved. She either gets a smiley face or it tells how many cups her stick got moved. (They use a cup & stick method. Each time the child's stick gets moved to a cup the greater the discipline. Cup One results in not receiving a penny at the end of the day. The last cup, Cup Six, results in a trip to the Principal's Office.) Anna got a smiley face all five days. Because of this she got to pick a toy out of the treasure box on Friday. She picked a Baby Shrek that makes noise. She also earned more Bear Bucks this week and was excited about that. She just doesn't know when she gets to use them to buy things. I believe her Bear Bucks are burning a whole in her pocket!

I can't get Anna to give many details about her day. I don't know if she doesn't remember because it's all still overwhelming, or if she is too tired to remember, or just doesn't want to tell me. The best I can tell, she has a special class every day. It's either PE, art, music or computer class. She seems to be making new friends and also playing with her old friends. She always updates me on Cole's behavior (and it must be about the same as at PreK). I think he gets a lot of stick moving. But every afternoon she says that she had a good day. We didn't have any tears at drop off this week. The only negative thing she said was Sunday night. She said that she wished she could stay home with me. (That broke my heart. Part of me wishes she could too.)

Mason received a timeout at daycare this week for standing in his chair. Apparently he thinks his chair is for his FEET. We had a long talk about the situation and he said he would do better the next day. Wrong! He got in trouble again. I think his new teacher is learning how stubborn he can be at times. Friday afternoon she told me that she thought she made Mason "upset" by getting on to him. This seemed to really bother her (she is SO sweet). I told her not to worry about it, that he does get upset when he's told no. We've had another talk about chair rules. We'll see if that helps this week.

Saturday evening we were invited over to our friends, the Jernigan's. They had invited another family that we did not know that live fairly close. We had a nice evening, enjoyed meeting our neighbors (in the country definition of neighbors- they live within a few miles), and enjoyed the best homemade lasagna. The other family has a daughter in 2nd grade so Anna enjoyed playing with her. Anna was so excited that another little girl lives close and can't wait to have her over to play.

Now we are gearing up for the coming week. Time to back the backpack with snacks, naptime blanket, lunch money and all the essentials. One & a half weeks down...how many more to go????

Whew, What A Week!

Whew, last week was a big week...Mason moving classrooms, Anna's ear piercing and starting Kindergarten, new morning schedules, the ups & downs of drop off at school, etc. By Saturday we all needed a little break and some fun! Thankfully it was a beautiful day. The morning was cooler and we all went outside to play. They kids rode bikes, played on the swing set and in the sandbox. Everyone was in a really good mood too.

After playing a while we loaded up to go to Mimi's house to mow her yard. While Kevin sprayed and did some other things the kids rode their bikes. Anna rode up and down the road, and I pulled Mason in the wagon. Later in the day Kevin and Anna rode 4-wheelers. We all had a great day of outdoor fun.

2nd & 3rd Days of School

Thursday (2nd day of school) didn't go so well at drop off. I walked Anna to her classroom and helped put her backpack in her cubby. When she hugged me, it was a long hug and I looked down to find her crying. I finally had to push her toward her teacher and turn and leave the classroom. I felt horrible for doing that but I knew that lingering would only make things worse. That was a long, bummer of a day for me. All I could see in my mind was Anna crying when I left her. When I pulled up to the school to pick her up that afternoon, it was such a wonderful sight to see her smiling face! I asked her if she had cried for long that morning and she said "no". I asked what happened and she said "I leaned on [her teacher]". She told me about the day's events and was so excited that she got a sticker for sleeping at naptime. (I was amazed that she slept. But we did get in late from church the night before, and I think the new morning schedule was tiring her.) She was also excited that she got a pink tray at lunch. Later on I was talking to her about not crying Friday morning and naming reasons why she wouldn't need to cry (i.e. "You have fun", "I'll be here to get you when schools out.", etc.) So I asked "You're not going to cry tomorrow morning, right?" Anna replied "I'll try" (without much assurance in her voice.)

Friday (3rd day of school) went so much better than Thursday morning. While waiting in the longggggggg car line at school that morning, I told Anna that I would walk her to her classroom door but that I would not go in like the day before. I thought it might be easier on her plus come Monday parents cannot walk the kids into the building. At first she didn't like my idea but I explained the reasons why, including Monday she would HAVE to walk in by herself. Then she surprised me and said "Lets do it today." Meaning drop her off at the front door of the school. I asked her a hundred times to be certain that was what she wanted to do. She insisted it was and that's what we did. I pulled up in front of the school, we hugged and kissed as we waited our turn, she grabbed her backpack and out the door she went. I was so proud of her! Then I worried about what happened when she got inside but knew someone would help her if she got lost. She was wearing black and red for Spirit Day and looked so grown up. That afternoon she was full of more exciting news. I was asking lots of questions and it must have been overwhelming her. I asked what they had for lunch and she paused for a few seconds and asked "Can I have time to think?" She told me about getting to sit on a "hot bus" to learn bus rules "just in case I ever ride the bus". She was most excited about going to the gym and seeing the football players and cheerleaders. I never could understand exactly what they were doing (pep rally or what). Anna said one cheerleader told her that she had a "pretty bow" in her hair. That really made an impact on Anna. My little girl that not long ago wanted to be a basketball player now wants to be a cheerleader. She was also excited about getting "five bear bucks". Apparently they get bear bucks for good behavior and can use them to buy things. She even said "I hope I get more bear bucks tomorrow!" I told her that tomorrow was Saturday and no school. That didn't seem to upset her.

It's good to have the first week (half-week actually) of school behind us. It went much better than for some of my friends and their children. So I'm happy it went as good as it did! I pray that the weekend doesn't give us a setback come Monday morning.

Poem

This is the first day of school poem that I couldn't listen to on the radio on Anna's first day. (I'm not certain who wrote the poem because I saw two names credited for it on the internet.)

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

Dear World:
I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long.. and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sun when she runs.
I trust you'll treat her well.

She's slipping out of the backyard of my heart this morning...and skipping off down the street to her first day of school. And never again will she be completely mine.
Prim and proud she'll wave her young and independent hand this morning and say "Goodbye" and walk with little lady steps to the schoolhouse.

Now she'll learn to stand in lines...and wait by the alphabet for her name to be called. She'll learn to tune her ears for the sounds of school-bells...and deadlines...and she'll learn to giggle...and gossip...and look at the ceiling in a disinterested way when the little boy 'cross the aisle sticks out his tongue at her. And now she'll learn to be jealous. And now she'll learn how it is to feel hurt inside. And now she'll learn how not to cry.

No longer will she have time to sit on the front porch on a summer day and watch an ant scurry across the crack in the sidewalk. Nor will she have time to pop out of bed with the dawn and kiss lilac blooms in the morning dew. No, now she'll worry about those important things...like grades and which dress to wear and whose best friends is whose. And the magic of books and learning will replace the magic of her blocks and dolls. And now she'll find new heroes.

For five full years now I've been her sage and Santa Claus and pal and playmate and mother and friend. Now she'll learn to share her worship with her teachers ...which is only right. But no longer will I be the smartest woman in the whole world. Today when that school bell rings for the first time...she'll learn what it means to be a member of the group...with all its privileges and its disadvantages too.

She'll learn in time that proper young ladies do not laugh out loud...or kiss dogs...or keep frogs in pickle jars in bedrooms...or even watch ants scurry across cracks in sidewalks in the summer.
Today she'll learn for the first time that all who smile at her are not her friends. And I'll stand on the front porch and watch her start out on the long, lonely journey to becoming a woman.
So, world, I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two brown eyes...and a flash of light brown hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you'll treat her well.

1st Day of School Continued

I picked Anna up from school yesterday afternoon. It was quite an experience. The line was already starting to form when I arrived a little after 2:30. (I went early because I'd never done this and wanted to get an idea of how it worked.) As I sat more and more vehicles started lining up along the streets in front of the school. Finally about 3:10 the line started moving slowly and inching toward the front doors of the school. I was so anxious to see Anna and hear all about her day. When it was finally my turn I saw Anna's beautiful, smiling face waiting for me. The best sight of the day!! The car duty lady opened the door, Anna jumped in and we drove away. The first day of school was over!

As we drove Anna told me all about her day. One of the first things she said was "Nap was really, really short!" I know this must have excited her because she didn't like naptime at Pre-K. At Pre-K it was 2 hours, and she never slept. At Kindergarten it is only 40 minutes. She talked about art, recess, swinging and sliding, lunch (chicken fried steak, mashed tators), snack time, playing in centers, etc. She talked with enthusiasm (which delighted me.) After getting home she said "Maybe school aint so bad afterall." What a relief to know things went well on her first day!

Anna taught me a new song that she learned about the days of the week. Once Kevin got home and everyone was ready for church, Anna got to open a small gift. She loved "Hannah Montana the Movie" at the theater, so I bought her the movie. She was so excited.
Anna had a great first day of school!

Anna's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Today was the first day of Kindergarten. Anna was dressed from head to toe in Hannah Montana. She had on a Hannah Montana shirt, shorts, shoes and backpack!

Anna has been excited about starting school for a while. I was excited too but sad at the same time. School life will bring lots of changes for us. Tuesday night we had a little cry because we were going to miss each other. But this morning everything went well. I made myself think happy thoughts only (and didn't listen when they read the first day of school poem on the radio. That poem would have sent me over the edge!)

We arrived at school early, and Kevin & I walked Anna to her classroom. She put her backpack in her cubby and sat down at her desk. The teacher handed out coloring sheets and Anna started to color. She kept wanting a hug. After several hugs Kevin decided it was time to go before she got upset. So we said our goodbyes and left her in the care of her teacher. I felt emotional and choked up but kept my tears back. Then when I walked into the hallway I saw a couple of moms and a dad crying. That made my tears flow forth! But I regained my composure quickly and kept it in tact for the rest of the time. Kevin and I attended the BOOHOO Breakfast for parents of Kindergarteners and then we left the school. Kevin went to work. I went to Target and Walmart to kill time and keep myself busy!

At Target I ran into someone I knew and we were discussing Anna's first day of school. Another lady heard me say that I was shopping to take my mind off of it. She laughed and said "Me and my friend are shopping to celebrate school starting back!" She said they had older kids and that one day I'd be glad when school started. I'm sure there is some truth to her statement but today I didn't feel like celebrating.

I can't wait to pick Anna up and hear all about her first day. I keep watching the clock and wondering what she is doing. I finally got out her class schedule so I had an idea of what she might be doing. (She should be getting up from nap about now.) I'm certain that each day will get easier and soon it will all be routine. I can't believe my little girl is an official Kindergartener now!

Ear Piercing

The countdown...1, 2, 3, LOUD CLICKS!

Tuesday Anna got her ears pierced! We have been talking about ear piercing for several months but she wasn't ready to do it. (I was honest with her and told her that it would hurt some.) A little over a week ago, out of the blue, she said "I'm ready to get my ears pierced." We had plans to go to the lake and didn't want her to get them pierced and then get in the lake water. So we finally got around to it the day before school started. Anna was so brave! She barely moved when the guns went off. She didn't cry or even tear up. She said it stung a little but wasn't bad. Kevin and I were so proud of her.

She got her piercing done at Merle Norman (the same place that Grammy and I got ours done years ago. I was in 3rd grade when I did mine.) They pierce both ears at the same time which is great. Anna picked out the same type of earring that I had mine pierced with. They are small, gold hearts. She wanted the same kind that I got when I pierced my ears. (That melted my heart.)

Earrings now in!

After leaving Merle Norman, she was so excited to show someone. We stopped at the library and she ran up to Ms. Kim (the librarian that did summer story time) and showed her. Then at Walmart we ran into someone from church and she showed them again. Later we visited Mimi at work to show her as well. We also ran into Katelyn at the mall, so she got to show her best friend too! She is so excited about her new accessories!!

She has to wear this pair of earrings for 6 weeks. She is already excited about buying new ones and changing them out. Six weeks is going to be an eternity to her. She also has to turn them twice a day and alcohol them twice a day. This morning when I turned them I was afraid it would hurt. But she said it was a little sore but not too bad. I'm glad she is excited.

Movin' On Up

Ready for his new class!

Monday Mason moved to a new class at daycare as the new "school year" started for them. He is now a bigger boy and has to have school supplies too (markers, school box, etc). Thankfully he was already familiar with the new teacher and had a few friends move to the same class with him. The transition has went smoothly (from what I hear). His new teacher said that he is doing so well with the potty that after he runs out of diapers we can bring pull-ups. What a big boy!

Water, Water, Water

I finally did it. I got my nerve up to take Anna and Mason to the water park. This was Mason's first time to go. He got real excited when he saw all the pools, sprinklers, slides, etc. I think he had a good time (I know Anna did.) The only problem was there was only one of me! Mason wanted to play in one pool, while Anna wanted to play in another pool. I'm not ready to let Anna go on her own yet so it created a problem. We took turns rotating from Anna's choice of pool to Mason's choice of pool. Naturally, whoever wasn't in the pool they wanted to play in wasn't overly happy. At break time they were both happy though. Anna enjoyed her nachos and Dr. Pepper while Mason enjoyed Cheetos and juice. We ran into a couple of kids from church that Anna got to play with. She enjoyed that a lot. When we were leaving the water park Mason said "I wike dis wimming pool." ("I like this swimming pool.")

Friday evening (after having been to the water park that day) we went swimming in our pool. Kevin had a friend come over to help with installing electricty in our shop. He brought his 3 year old son, Ethan, with him. Since the kids and I were in the pool, he got in too. After swimming Anna and Ethan played inside, outside, inside, outside... They had such a great time. During all the playing Anna lost her 3rd tooth. She gave it to me and took off playing again.

Saturday afternoon Anna attended a "Back to School" swim party at her friend Zoey's house. Anna and Zoey were in the same room at daycare/Pre-K for the past three years. Anna was so excited to see Zoey and two other friends from her "old school". It was so cute to watch them hug and squeal when they first saw each other. They swam and played so hard.

Cydney, Zoey & Anna

Jumping in the pool holding hands.

Anna's turn at the pinata.

Time to say good-bye.

(Zoey, Anna, Cydney, Paige)

None of the girls were ready for the party to end. It is sad to know that Anna may never see any of them again since they will all be attending different schools and going in new directions. I guess that's just part of life. I know Anna will make new friends at her new school. Although she is beginning a new phase in her life, I think she will always treasure the friends she made early in life!

Kindergarten Open House

Ready for Kindergarten Open House!

Thursday evening was Anna's Kindergarten Open House. Anna loved the open house! She already knew that two of her former Pre-K friends were going to be in her class. But we found out there is another one too. So she already knows three kids in her class. That should make the adjustment even easier.

Outside her classroom by her name on the wall.

At her desk (which is right across from her Pre-K friend, Cole).

We thought Anna might act shy, but she was outgoing at the open house. She jumped right in and started playing with some of the other kids. She met her teacher (who seems really nice). She got to look all around her classroom. Then we walked to the cafeteria. Anna was so excited that the cafeteria had a small stage in it.

Standing on the stage.

Then we walked to the playground where she got really excited. She took off and started playing on everything. She loved the "tall slide". My first reaction to the playground was "oh, she's going to get hurt!" (Just because the playground equipment is larger than Pre-K's equipment. Guess I've got to let go and realize that she is growing up. But she's still my baby to me!)

On the "tall slide".

The worst part for Anna was having to leave the school! She wasn't ready to leave after an hour. She even said "I wish I started TODAY!" I told her "Pace yourself because you have a whole year to be here" (and many more too). When we got to the car Anna called Grammy and told her all about Open House. Then she told Mimi all about it when we picked up Mason. Then she called Aun'tee and told her too. I'm so thankful that she is excited!

Although Anna and Katelyn aren't in the same class, they are next door to each other. I'm sure they will see each other at recess and lunch.

Life is about to change! My sweet little girl is about to start school!

A Surprise Trip

Kevin surprised Anna and me late last week with a trip to the lake. We left Sunday morning after worship services and took Mason to Papaw and Grammy's house. Mason spent Sunday night with them and Monday night with Mimi. He seemed to have a great time with his grandparents. Every time we called him, he was in a great mood. He loves to talk on the phone but only for a few seconds at a time.

We stayed in a lodge/house of a guy that Kevin knows. I wasn't expecting anything much...but WOW was I wrong! When we pulled up in the driveway I realized my low expectations were way off! This is where we stayed...

It is great from the outside but even more beautiful on the inside (all hardwood floors, two stories with a third story loft, decorated gorgeous, etc.). Anna loved the second floor which held a pool table and toy slot machine. She spent a lot of time playing up there. This was her first time to play pool. However, she played by her rules (and as Kevin stated it was more of herding the balls into holes like they were cattle.) Sunday afternoon we drove around the lake a little and found a play area. Of course Anna wanted to play for a while.

Watching the hazy river on Monday morning.

Monday we rented a pontoon and went out on the lake. Anna has been to the lake twice before but she was so young that she doesn't remember either trip. So this was like a first time to her. She loved everything about the lake. She loved swimming, jumping off the boat into the water, and riding around the lake. She even did a little fishing with her new Barbie fishing pole. (Nothing was caught though.) The only thing she didn't like was a storm that blew up in the afternoon and ended our outing. We waited at the dock thinking it might blow over quickly and we could go back out on the lake. After waiting for over an hour we gave up and went back to the lodge to play. Anna did enjoy feeding the large fish at the dock while we waited.

Enjoying the ride!

"When Daddy let me drive."

Tuesday we went trout fishing on White River and Norfork River. Anna enjoyed riding in the fishing boat but the trout fishing was too slow paced for her. Plus she couldn't keep her feet and hands out of the water or stay quiet enough to fish! None of us caught a fish. But that is understandable when you spend more time riding around than actually fishing! The water in the rivers was freezing cold and it was all we could do to keep Anna from jumping in full body. She kept asking, "When can I get in?" It was all I could do to wade up to my ankles!

Using her Barbie fishing pole.

After several hours of "fishing" we packed up and headed back home to get our little man. Mason seemed happy to see us. When we picked him up at Mimi's house, we traded Anna for him. Anna spent the night with Mimi and played at her house on Wednesday. Mason was glad to be back home. He got home, put on his swim hat and started playing!

August Beginnings

It's hard to believe that August is here. The first day of school is just around the corner. Anna says that she is excited. I pray that she stays that way. Until school starts, we are trying to have a great time.

Monday evening Kevin and Anna took the tractor back to our friend's house (Kevin finally got all the post holes dug). Mason and I followed in my truck to pick them up. As Kevin and Anna were leaving the pasture, I realized that Anna was steering the tractor. It was hilarious! She was all over the place!! As they exited the driveway into the road, I thought she was going to wipe out a fence post. In the truck with Mason I said "KEVIN!" From the back seat Mason went "KEVIN!" At least someone was listening to me.

Wild driver!

Tuesday Anna and I met her friend, Brianna, and her mother, La-Rae, at Chuck-E-Cheese. We ate lunch and played lots of games. Then we took the girls to a local park that has a splash park too. The girls had a wonderful time together. They hadn't seen each other in over a month so they had a lot of catching up to do.

Anna, Brianna & Chuck-E-Cheese

Water fun on a hot day!

Saying goodbye until the next time.

Wednesday evening Katelyn came home with us after church services. I had told Anna that Katelyn could spend the night this summer, and I realized time was running out quickly. I hoped (without much faith) that they would come home from church and go to sleep fairly quickly. They were in bed a little after 9:30 but it was constantly something...we're scared, we need a drink, we need to potty, we're hot, etc, etc, etc...and the chattering was endless. Finally about 11:00 I went and laid down with them. They were both asleep within 5 minutes! Then at 6:00 a.m. they were awake and going strong! They played just about everything possible.

Singing

Drawing

Barbies

I think they both had a great time. But by the time we took Katelyn home they were both worn out. Anna fell asleep on the way back home.


Friday Mason stayed home from daycare and ran around with Anna & me. Anna had an appointment to get her hair trimmed. (You can't tell it was touched because she only wanted the ends trimmed. She wants it to grow longer.) After her appointment we went to the mall. I picked up a few items that were needed and then let them play on the playground. They had the best time. When we left they were both hot, tired and sweaty from running around like crazy. Friday evening we attended a beautiful wedding. Mrs. Barbara and Mr. Gary tied the knot! We are connected to them a couple of ways. We go to church with both Barbara and Gary, and Mrs. Barbara is Katelyn's (Anna's best friend) grandmother. We are so happy for them and their family. God is so good!

Saturday evening Mimi invited us over for dinner. It was delicious as always. The kids love going to Mimi's house to play. Before we went to Mimi's house, we dropped by the school that Anna will be attending to see the class list. We are excited that she will be in the same class as two other previous DI kids. I had prayed that she would have someone in her class that she already knew. Thankfully that prayer was answered. We also took Mason to the doctor for a cough and hoarseness when talking. The doctor said it looked like he had a little infection and that it might be turning into Bronchitis. So he gave him an Rx for an antibiotic and cough medicine. I must mention that it had been a while since Mason had been to the doctor! Thankfully Mason doesn't act like he feels bad.

Out of My Kids' Mouths & Minds

Sometimes the things that come out of Anna and Mason's mouths just tickle me. Here are some recent sayings that I want to remember for when they are older!

• While I was trying on swim suits, Anna told me that she didn't like one of them. Her comment "It looks like it's for someone younger."


• When Michael Jackson died, his picture was all over the news. Of course with Anna being 5 years old, she didn't know him. A picture of him was on the TV and she asked "Is he real????". (Oh so cute and precious! Even a 5 year old could tell he didn't look normal and thought maybe he wasn't REAL!)


• Anna is such a great big sister to Mason but sometimes she gets her fill of his antics. We had built a tent with a sheet in the living room. It wasn't tall enough for them to stand in so they had to crawl around in it. Mason kept standing and knocking it down. Anna and I would rebuild it just to have him knock it down again in no time. After about five or six times of Mason knocking it down Anna exclaimed "It's hard having a baby brother!"


• Anna was picking up her room one day and I told her to not forget a crown that was in the floor. She said "It's too small for me but I'm saving it for my baby sister." (Baby sister??? Where did that come from???)


• Mason has become quite a little tattle teller recently. He can be so animated and dramatic in his story telling. One of his favorite things is to come to me and say "Sissy pushed me, sissy pushed me (my) back!" The whole time he is telling this story he will be trying to get his hands behind his back to act out the pushing scene. (Most of the time Anna hasn't even touched him.)


• One day Anna was telling Mason something (not important). The flow of conversation was so funny. Here is how it went... Anna: "Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah." Mason: "Huh?" Anna: "Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah." Mason: "Huh?" Anna: "Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah!" Mason: "Huh?" Anna: "Oh, NEVER MIND!!"

• My mom (Grammy) was talking on the phone to Mason and asking him lots of questions. For example: Grammy: "Do you know I love you?" Mason: "Yeah"; Grammy: "Do you know Papaw loves you?" Mason: "Yeah" The questions continued with all Mason's answers being "Yeah". Then Grammy asked Mason "Do you love Grammy?" To which Mason responded "No." (What a toot!)

• Mason is in the habit of calling Anna "Sissy". One evening Anna was in trouble and I did the name thing. I said "Anna LAINE!". Mason repeated me by saying "SISSY Laine!"


• Mason has taken a liking to Dr. Pepper. (Which he doesn't get often.) But he calls it "Peppermint". He'll say "I wan peppamint." (Translated "I want peppermint.")


• Anna and I checked out the movie Snow Buddies from the local library. It is a movie about snow dogs. Mason called it "Buddy Dogs". He would say, "I wanna watch Buddy Dogs."


• Anna asked Mason one day "Who is your girlfriend?" Mason quickly replied "Katelyn". (This was the first time I had ever heard him talk about a girlfriend. I believe he said "Katelyn" because he hears Anna pretending to talk on the phone to Katelyn and I've noticed him recently doing the same thing. I'll ask him "Who are you talking to?" and he will say "Katelyn".)


• Everyone knows that Anna is a huge Taylor Swift fan. We listen to her CD in the truck a lot. Probably too much since Mason can now identify her singing! One day a Taylor Swift song came on the radio and from the back seat we heard Mason say "I wike dis song!" (Translated: I like this song.)


• Another Taylor Swift story...one evening a concert was coming on TV. I asked Mason "Who do you think it's going to be?" He replied "Tawor Wift!" (Translated: Taylor Swift). It ended up being Sugarland, not Taylor Swift. So Mason would say "Dat nowt Tawor Wift!" (Translated: That's not Taylor Swift.)


• Mason's teacher/child care provider's name is Jessica. He has started calling daycare "Jessica's house". He will say "Don't wanna go to Jessica's house." Or if I ask where he went today he will say "Jessica's house."


• "House" must be one of Mason's favorite words right now. Every building is now a "house" to him. One day we pulled up to a medical office and he said "I like this house." Then we went to Lowe's and he again said "I like this house."
  

Sometimes it's not what the kids say, but what they do, that cracks me up! Here are just a few examples...

Anna loves to dress Mason up in girly things. This is one of many times!

After this photo Kevin said "this needs to stop!"

I say that when you have young children the humor is endless, as is the love! Anna & Mason, you kids make me laugh and smile more than anything in the world. I'm so blessed that God sent you to me and Daddy! I love you forever!

Life After Vacation

Life goes on as usual after our vacation...no more maid service, all meals eaten out or playing all day long. Of course, I'm sure that would all get old after a while (wouldn't mind giving it a try though!). Now it's back to normal life.

Wednesday Anna and I went to story time at the library as usual. We ran errands and went to Walmart. That afternoon we both had dental checkups. Anna got a great report. Wish I could say the same about me. I get to go back in a couple of weeks for a couple of fillings (oh joy!). Anna does an awesome job at the dentist. They always say that she is their best child patient. (Yes, I'm sure they say that to other kids too.) But she is outstanding for them. She always wants to go first. She does everything they ask. Then when it is my turn the hygienist lets Anna push the button to take my x-rays. Anna thinks that is so cool. I can see the potential of a dental career for her.

Thursday morning Anna and I headed to Greenway to Papaw and Grammy's house. We planned to have lunch with them and then Anna was going to spend two nights. We were between Marmaduke and Rector when my phone rang and it was Mason's teacher. She said he had two diarrhea diapers and needed to be picked up. So I dropped Anna off and headed back to get Mason. Thankfully Mimi was able to pick Mason up from the daycare, and then I got him at Mimi's house. He didn't act like he felt bad. Actually he acted normal. This has happened before. I really think it is somehow connected to his past stomach issues.

Friday Mason stayed home with me. He still seemed to feel fine. We went to town and ran some errands. Then he played on the playground at the mall. He had a great time until a bigger boy came running around a corner and knocked him down, hard, into one of the animals. After that he was ready to go.

Bob the Builder, can he fix it? Bob the Builder, yes he can!

Friday evening I called to check on Anna at mom and dad's house, and she had had a wonderful day. Grammy had taken her to the park where she rode her bike for a LONG time. They had lunch with Aun'tee and Unc, and then played at Grammy's house. She asked if she could stay "one more night"(meaning stay Saturday night too).

Saturday was the annual Greenway Picnic. All the proceeds go to maintaining the Mitchell Cemetery outside of Greenway. This is where Granny Ruth and other relatives are buried. I've only missed this annual event about 3 or 4 times in my life. It's a great place to reconnect with people that I don't see often. This year was the first time that Mason was able to really enjoy it. (His first year he was only 4 months old, and we didn't make it last year.) My whole family was able to be there this year.

Aun'tee, Papaw, Unc, me, Mason, Anna, Kevin, Debra, Scott, Grammy

The kids love Grammy and Papaw!

Uncle Scott & Aunt Debra with the kids.

My parents are in charge of the ice cream stand every year. So we all hung out in it a lot. The weather was awesome for August 1st...a small amount of rain but nothing bad and much cooler temperatures than normal. The kids enjoyed the bouncy house, cars and train.

Mason and Ben (my childhood friend/college roommate's little boy).

Anna & Kaylee (a childhood friend's daughter).

Anna, a boy and Kaylee play with water balloons.

The adults enjoyed the delicious BBQ and ice cream. My brother, Scott, and sister-in-law, Debra, got talked into judging a beauty contest. Apparently they did a great job because no one complained to them, ha! I enjoyed seeing friends that I no longer get to see very often. It was a great day! Anna really wanted to spend one more night with Papaw and Grammy; however, we were ready for her to come home with us. We told her that she can go back again soon and spend the night again. I'm thankful that Anna and Mason have Papaw, Grammy and Mimi as loving grandparents!