Happy Birthday, Papa!!

We had a great time celebrating Papa's birthday this weekend. As you can tell from the picture, it wasn't exactly relaxing, but a fun time nonetheless! Hope you enjoy your Wii as much as we did - maybe you'll finally get a chance to play it now all the kids are gone!!

Ladies who lunch

Georgia and I got the chance to visit with my friend, Beth, on Wednesday. Beth is one of my oldest and dearest friends - you know the kind, when you don't even remember a time when you weren't the best of friends - you just always were. Our time together is especially dear now that she lives in England. It calls for alot of catching up! So we've kind of made a yearly ritual out of meeting for lunch once a year when she's in the States. She and her mother Terry come to Jonesboro and each have lunch with their best friends from high school - she and her friend, Holly; and myself and Beth. And of course, Georgia got to join in this year. We had a great food and an even better time. Thanks for inviting us, Bethy. We miss you. (And Georgia loves her new "English" tea set!)

Sam's 1st Day of Kindergarten

Well, today was the day that I have been dreading for the past several years....Sam's first day of school. We've been talking it up for the past several weeks and have even visited his teacher ( a good friend of mine) and his classroom a few times. Well, all our efforts must have paid off because, HE DID GREAT!!!!!!!!!!! And so did Mommy, thank you very much! They don't allow parents to walk their children into school here - not even on the first day :( so you have to drop them off at the front door and an aide or teacher gets them out of the car and walks them in. I fully expected to have a fit on my hands when we got there, but once again my smart little boy proved me wrong and reminded me that we can never doubt what he's able to accomplish. He gave us (Kev was able to go in late this morning and be there, as well) a kiss and a high-five and jumped out of the car taking Miss Shari's hand, only turning around once to wave bye! Not so much as a tear - from any of us!! Which is quite a feat considering even the thought of it has had me literally nauseous for the past couple of days! Wow.....I couldn't be more proud of the little man he's growing into. So strong and capable. Please join us in praying that this transition continues to go smoothly and that today be just the beginning of a long list of Sam's successful accomplishments.

A day of firsts.....

Georgia learned to wave (at everyone and anything!) while we were on vacation in Gulf Shores last week. But, yesterday she finally was able to put it together while saying "bye"! So cute! And while grinning at me so big (she was very proud of herself!) I noticed another first - she has a top tooth now! Her left central incisor (tooth "f" to be exact) - sorry, that's just the dental hygienist in me! So now the tooth count is at three and counting!

Back from the beach!

We made it back from vacation on Friday, and boy did we hate to leave! Sam absolutely LOVES the ocean! Too bad we don't live any closer! Pictures coming soon! (I only have hundreds to sort through....)

Peek-A-Boo!!!

Grammy and Papa -this one's for you!!! Look familiar?!?!?!?

My sweet "baby" boy!

Guess I can't call him that much longer :( He's such fun, sweet spirited little boy! Don't know if you can tell from these pictures, but his eyes matched the exact color of his shorts this morning. Just beautiful......

In her Sunday best....

This is the first dress that Georgia's Grammy bought for her when we found out she was a girl! It didn't take too long - we were out shopping an hour after my ultrasound!! She looks like a little angel in it! Thanks for the beautiful dress, Grammy! ( And for the dozens more you've bought since!)

Gentlemen, start your engines!

What a beautiful Saturday afternoon!

We spent the weekend just as it was intended - playing outside in this unseasonably beautiful August weather! Only wish it would stay this way......

Fast asleep......

The sweetest sound...

This afternoon in the car on the way back home from Target (our second home!) I heard the most beautiful sound......."mamamamama"! I wasn't sure if she was just jabbering or if she truly meant to say it until we pulled into the garage and as I was getting her out of the carseat, she looked up at me with those big, bright eyes and said "Mama!" How sweet the sound!

Happy Anniversary, Honey!!

Today, Kevin and I have been married 9 years. Wow, sometimes it seems like just yesterday, and then on others, it seems like an eternity!! We've had a really low key day, but plan on a date night of dinner at Omar's (our favorite) and a movie (the new Batman) tomorrow night. Grammy was kind enough to offer her services for a much needed parents' night out!

Happy anniversary, Kevin! I love you more than words can express. Thanks for being such a wonderful husband, daddy, and friend.

Dada, Dada, Dada

That's the sound around our house this week! Georgia's saying "Dada"!!!! Over, and over, and over again!!!! It's music to her Daddy's ears!! So cute - I'll try to post video of it soon!!

Wow.....he's really about to start kindergarten....

I took Sam for his Kindergarten physical on Tuesday. I guess this means he really is about to start to school......boy, do I have mixed feelings about this one. He begins the week after we get back from vacation. I just hope I can enjoy myself on vacation and not worry about it all week long. Of course, he'll be fine, and I'm sure he will love school - it's me I'm worried about!!! Anyway, he saw Dr. Bailey for his physical and Sam weighs 46 lbs and is 46 inches tall. I wasn't sure of his exact measurements, since - and I kid you not - besides, his yearly well-child check-ups, Sam has not been sick or to the doctor in almost 3 YEARS!!!!!!!!!!!!! No kidding,he is seriously one of the healthiest kids I've ever heard of. Almost unnaturally healthy - like his immune system is in overdrive!!! So needless to say we're not regulars at the pediatricians' office. And I like it that way!! He got a clean bill of health, and Dr. Bailey says that he is in the 95th percentile in height (guess he's got my families tall genes!) and 75th percentile in weight. Just perfect.....but I didn't need a doctor to tell me that.

Tuesdays Visitors

My Aunt Beebo (no that's not her real name - its Marcia - not sure where the Beebo came from), her granddaughter Carrie and Carrie's husband, Jacob, came up for a visit on Tuesday. They were sweet enough to watch Georgia for me while I took Sam for his Kindergarten physical. And then, as if babysitting for me wasn't enough, they then took us out for lunch! The kids and I had such a wonderful time and were so thankful for their visit. You guys are the best! Come back anytime!!!

What a big girl!!

Oh, she is so pleased with herself!!! Doesn't she look so funny and tiny sitting up there at the table?!?! 7 months going on 7 years.......

That hair!!!!!!!!!!!

These were taken right after her bath last night - doesn't she look just like one of those little baby orangutans?!?!?!??

Our weekend guests

My cousin, Shelly, and her two children, (gosh, guess they're not really "children" anymore - man, do I feel old!!) Alex & Erinn came up from Benton Friday and spent the night with us on their way to a family reunion. We enjoyed alot of great visiting and great food (they never make a trip up this way without a trip to Couch's for BBQ and chocolate fried pies!!) They are out of this world!! Sure wish ya'll lived a little closer - I never had to worry for a minute about the kiddos - they had everyone's undivided attention the entire time!! Come back again soon!!

Georgia and her Grammy

These two are crazy about each other!