"Audrey turn!"

Last school year, Audrey was always so excited to see Aiden's classroom at Friends School that we decided to let her go two days a week from 9-12 in the two year old room this year.

Tuesday August 19 was her first day. Travis picked me up from school and we took her together. She pranced down the hall with her "dancy girl" backpack and went right in to her classroom. She walked right into the room and made herself quite comfortable in the block area, not even giving us a second thought.

She played in the kitchen area

and in the sandbox,

finally making it to the coloring table.

She had a blast that day and got a good report stating she was happy, excited, energetic, and that she had already made some good friends. One of them is another little girl named Avery with whom she likes to exchange hair bows.

I am so excited for her future. Audrey is such a sponge, absorbing everything around her. She is so eager to learn and wants to be such a big girl, moreso than I really prefer. Her sweet smile and bounce in her step can win over the hardest of hearts. I am truly a better person for having her in my life. don't ask me how, but this little two year old blessing keeps me grounded.

And yes, many of these pictures are fuzzy because my little blessing broke my camera!

Day 1 of the Next 13 Years

Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday Aiden was a sweet little non sleeping baby. Fast forward to present day...Aiden started kindergarten at St. Matthews Elementary Tuesday.

He was so excited to go! We had already gone in to meet his teacher, Ms. Hunt, and to let him get acclimated to the room. Unfortunately his first day was my first day with students, too. However, St. Matthews is literally right behind Waggener so Travis stopped him by before dropping him off. D'Arci was kind enough to get our picture together and he was off for day 1!


After we picked him up that afternoon, and dried his tears caused by the confusion of the car rider dismissal, he was so ready to tell us all he did that day...this has never happened before! He usually pleads the fifth but not today! He told me he did all of the following things:

1. Went to the library to check out books
2. Read three books
3. Listened to Ms. Hunt read about a racoon and a box
4. Play on the playground
5. Eat lunch in the lunchroom
6. Play in the gym
7. Went to music

Does all of that activity sufficiently explain these photos taken about 15 minutes after we got home?




Now my sleepless baby boy has turned into a sleepy little kindergartener. My how things change!

Dancy girl and the Jedi Knight

Here are the pictures Renee posted on her website of our photosession last Wednesday at Locust Grove. I love the pictures as she has a wonderful eye. It was a montrously humid day, which explains Audrey's excessive curls and Aiden's sweat drenched hair.





Her website is www.reneelewisphotograpy.typepad.com. You should not only visit the site to see her gorgeous work and read the sweet words that accompany her posts, you should use her! She is terrific with the kids and adults. Very easy to work with and such beautiful photos! She knows how to capture the spirits of her subjects.

Magic #112

As everyone who doesn't live under a rock knows, Breaking Dawn, the last book from Bella's point of view in the Twilight series, came out at midnight today. Due to the overwhelming phenomenon of this series, many bookstores had midnight release parties. Jeni "Nancy" Delancey, Amy "chili dog" Ritchie and I decided that was a must attend party!

There were trivia games, costume contests and lots of talking smack about Team Edward v. Team Jacob.Amy and I are staunch Jacob supporters while Jeni (the one in the brown) seems to care for Edward. Sometimes we wonder if she is taking all her meds. I was #112 out of about 200 to get the book at Borders at midnight. Now my bracelet serves as my bookmark.


Travis assumed I'd stay up all night to devour the story. This cannot be farther from the truth. I like reading it over a little bit longer period of time so I can savor the relationships between these characters. Even though there is more to the story on Edward's side, I just want to enjoy the book and the literary decisions that Stephenie Meyer made to create this unique series.

PS: Jeni has stayed in the Forks and LaPush area. Last night she brought a picture of her camping in LaPush....I could swear I saw Jacob in the bushes! If she'll send it to me, I'll post it...hint hint!