September is only a hop, skip and a jump away. Here's what's happening:
August 29th-September 2nd (Labor Day Weekend) - Mom and Dad (Grandmother and Granddaddy) in town
September 3rd - Lilly's school picture (she did not cooperate last time)
September 4th - Ellen's 6th birthday
September 6th-8th - Phillip's parents (Nana and Grandpa) in town
September 7th - My company picnic at the Nashville Zoo
September 9th-13th - Spirit Week at HES
September 13th - Heritage Night at Independence High School (football!)
September 15th - Adult mentoring program kickoff (at church) - Ellen is matched with Mrs. Bufford
September 18th-20th - PMX (big work conference for Phillip, the one he named)
September 26th - Boosterthon Fun Run (don't worry family, we learned our lesson last year)
September 27th - In-house field trip with Mr. Bond, The Science Guy
Fall Festival at The Children's Academy
Cade's 4th Birthday
September 28th - Fish Fry at Southern Hills (an annual event)
..........................
My pants broke today. I had trouble with the zipper when I put them on this morning so it didn't come as a total shock but it was highly inconvenient. Most of my pants are on their last leg (no pun intended) for various reasons - missing hooks, missing buttons, unraveling and/or tattered hems - but I wear them anyway. It keeps life interesting.
Phillip's fantasy football draft was a success (it went much better than he thought it would). Highlights: Aaron Rogers, Trent Richardson and Greg Jennings.
Two missing teeth and several loose ones (#3 will be coming out soon) makes for one drooly kid! (A drooly kid who talks kind of funny.) Ellen leaves a little trail behind her wherever she goes. Her mouth is really changing. Just another sign she is growing up. (It's hard watching them grow up sometimes.)
I knew life would never be the same the day Lilly figured out how to take the caps off of the ballpoint pens on the backs of the pews at church, because then it was only a matter of time before she discovered she could take the lids off of Ellen's markers. It's been a several months since she mastered these skills and no major incidents have occurred but with Lilly anything is possible (we have one child who never would have dreamed of writing on the walls and then we have our wild card). She is so much fun right now.
Two cakes. Two [small family] parties. Lunch with Daddy on her birthday, including ice cream for all of her classmates. Turning 6 is going to be "awesome". When Ellen was around age 3 I remember thinking that when she turned 5 it was going to be a big deal (for me as a parent), and it was, but Sara Jo was right... there is something special about 6 (a lot happens between 5 and 6).
Phillip and I have been dealing with allergy/sinus issues since the middle of last week. Lilly too. And Ellen complained about her throat hurting last night. This time of year is both a blessing and a curse. (Everyone I work around either just got over it (finally), are in the recovery stages, have it now (full-blown) or are feeling it coming on. And our family always seems to get sick around birthdays and major holidays anyway so there really is no escaping it for us.) Cough, cough. Hack, hack. Crinkle, Crinkle (the sound of me opening yet another cough drop). I recommend Halls Breezers - creamy strawberry is my favorite.
"I wish I was an only child" (I thought we were making good progress... I guess we have more work to do.)
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Simply Sugar
Ellen had her first spelling test Friday (she will have one every Friday). She also brought home her first homework packet (review material, should take no more than 10 minutes, helps us see what Ellen is learning in class). The homework expectation in first grade is that each child reads for 20 minutes every night and completes the corresponding day's page in the homework packet. We got a head start on the homework this afternoon.
"Mama, do you want your child to learn more?" (Ellen, after I told her she could not play math games on the computer.)
The Loco Donut truck was in Green Hills Friday morning. I got simply sugar and they were simply delicious. Best donuts ever."Mama, do you want your child to learn more?" (Ellen, after I told her she could not play math games on the computer.)
Ellen wants to move to Canada. I told her that was fine with me but she had to take Lilly with her.
Ellen is really into these movies with the talking dogs. Disney's Snow Buddies is the one we watched this weekend. Twice. She can't get enough. It seems like there isn't a good selection of TV shows for her age, they are either too babyish or too mature, so it is nice having these as an alternative. Plus I've noticed she's been a lot more loving toward our own dogs since she got hooked on the Buddies.
Ellen is really into these movies with the talking dogs. Disney's Snow Buddies is the one we watched this weekend. Twice. She can't get enough. It seems like there isn't a good selection of TV shows for her age, they are either too babyish or too mature, so it is nice having these as an alternative. Plus I've noticed she's been a lot more loving toward our own dogs since she got hooked on the Buddies.
We washed both of our cars yesterday. The girls had a great time!
Today is Phillip's fantasy football draft. I hope all goes well (he came in 2nd place last year and doesn't think he is going to have a good team this year based on draft position).
Ellen lost her second tooth Tuesday afternoon while at school (she said it popped right out and didn't hurt or bleed a bit). The tooth fairy left $2 under her pillow. She can put it toward her plane ticket to Canada.
(Seriously, it's that bad)
Lilly loves talking on the phone. She jabbers nonstop until you take the phone away and then she screams bloody murder. And we always have to take the phone away. She never runs out of things to say (if she asks for your number, don't give it to her).
Me: Lilly wants to say hi...
Phillip: I don't have time to talk
(Seriously, it's that bad)
I do enjoy our conversations, she is so sweet on the phone, but it's always hard for the parent on the other end of the line.
Thursday, August 22, 2013
Sunday, August 18, 2013
A short but sweet weekend update
I saw The Way Way Back Friday night.
We had an issue with our smoke alarms early (very early) Saturday morning that cost us all a few hours of sleep in the middle of the night. It was crazy. I may never recover.
Ellen is thriving in her new gymnastics class.
Between baseball and preseason football Phillip is one happy guy (well, as happy as any Cubs fan can be).
"Lilly, come play!"
The Emperor has new clothes (aka Phillip spent his birthday money this weekend).
Lilly was chasing Ellen around the house this morning when she ran full force into a door frame. She had a big goose egg on her forehead but now it is just a bruise. She has been falling down/tripping more than usual lately but this was by far worse than any other "injury" she has ever sustained.
Ellen has her very first list of spelling words: man, can, nap, tap, cat, hat, not & does (after this week there will be 10 words on each list). I am excited. Spelling is my favorite. As I was giving Ellen an impromptu quiz she said "I don't have to know how to spell them, just how to read them." She's in denial.
Lilly is a pro at putting quarters in the collection plate.
We met Kendra and Laurie at P.F. Chang's today for Phillip's third and final birthday lunch (lucky). Good times.
I finally fluffed, folded and put away two loads of clean laundry that I had been pretending did not exist for more than a week. Also, we are all sleeping on clean sheets tonight.
I inadvertently stopped the DVR from recording Breaking Bad at it's regular time this evening. Good thing it comes on again at 10:30.
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In other news, Ellen has been going through a weird phase. She complains about her station in life, makes comments like "I'll just be in my room since no one appreciates me" and she thinks Lilly has it much better than she does (ha!) I want the old Ellen back. The one who is not jealous of her little sister. The one who is generally in a good mood. The one with the positive outlook on life. I miss you, sweet girl. Come back.
We had an issue with our smoke alarms early (very early) Saturday morning that cost us all a few hours of sleep in the middle of the night. It was crazy. I may never recover.
Ellen is thriving in her new gymnastics class.
Between baseball and preseason football Phillip is one happy guy (well, as happy as any Cubs fan can be).
"Lilly, come play!"
The Emperor has new clothes (aka Phillip spent his birthday money this weekend).
Fashion Police
Lilly was chasing Ellen around the house this morning when she ran full force into a door frame. She had a big goose egg on her forehead but now it is just a bruise. She has been falling down/tripping more than usual lately but this was by far worse than any other "injury" she has ever sustained.
Ellen has her very first list of spelling words: man, can, nap, tap, cat, hat, not & does (after this week there will be 10 words on each list). I am excited. Spelling is my favorite. As I was giving Ellen an impromptu quiz she said "I don't have to know how to spell them, just how to read them." She's in denial.
Lilly is a pro at putting quarters in the collection plate.
We met Kendra and Laurie at P.F. Chang's today for Phillip's third and final birthday lunch (lucky). Good times.
I finally fluffed, folded and put away two loads of clean laundry that I had been pretending did not exist for more than a week. Also, we are all sleeping on clean sheets tonight.
I inadvertently stopped the DVR from recording Breaking Bad at it's regular time this evening. Good thing it comes on again at 10:30.
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In other news, Ellen has been going through a weird phase. She complains about her station in life, makes comments like "I'll just be in my room since no one appreciates me" and she thinks Lilly has it much better than she does (ha!) I want the old Ellen back. The one who is not jealous of her little sister. The one who is generally in a good mood. The one with the positive outlook on life. I miss you, sweet girl. Come back.
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
In his prime
Today is Phillip's 34th birthday (it's about time he caught up with me). We thought it would be fun to start the week off with a celebratory lunch at Amigo's followed by ice cream at Marble Slab. (I wanted this year to be special - he deserves it!)
And then we all got sick and Ellen missed her first full day of school. True story.
But who cares about a little upset stomach, nausea and vomiting when it's your birthday? Am I right?
You don't look sick to me
(he wasn't sick yet)
I wasn't smiling come 5:00 Sunday evening. It didn't hit Ellen until Monday morning.
So far Lilly hasn't shown any signs of the stomach bug...
So she never stopped smiling :)
Gift-wise (so far), Phillip got three shirts and a pair of jeans from me and the girls, a gift card from his parents to go toward the PlayStation 4 that comes out in November, a package from my parents which included money for clothes and a Duke t-shirt (Go Duke!) and an original drawing (Art by Ashling) and iTunes gift card from Andrea, Caleb, Ashling, Cade and Quinn.
Best birthday ever? Possibly.
And the fun continues... we are celebrating with Kendra and Laurie on Sunday. Phillip gets to pick the restaurant. My only request, NO MEXICAN!
P.S. It rained today (it always rains on Phillip's birthday and this year is no exception)
Monday, August 12, 2013
Mine!
Lilly is a little chatterbox these days. She has a lot to say and her vocabulary seemed to triple overnight! She has the sweetest voice; I could listen to her talk all day. Some of my favorites include hi, play, Bible, Jesus, Sissy, cheese, doggie, night night, please and bye bye. And she repeats what we say, in her own way, which is very cute. Did I mention she has the sweetest voice?
Like clockwork Lilly poops every evening before dinner (usually within 15 minutes of being home) and she almost always poops in the morning before Phillip takes the girls to school.
She is a good eater. She feeds herself and prefers to do so with a fork or spoon. She regularly blows on her food, hot or cold. Cheese, yogurt, fruit, sandwich meat (ham/turkey), chicken and vegetables make up the majority of her diet. On the vegetable front, limas are her current favorite but she also likes corn, peas, broccoli, black beans and pintos. (No green beans, no way.) She likes to snack on cereal, pretzel chips, gold fish and popcorn. If we are dipping, she wants to dip... salsa, ketchup, hummus, etc.
She still likes to wash her hands, brush her teeth and brush her hair. She is usually helpful when getting dressed or undressed. She loves shoes!
She loves being outside (riding/pushing her car, trying to ride the scooter, throwing a ball to me or Phillip, pulling weeds), playing with Ellen (especially chase and with stuffed animals on Ellen's bed) and Ellen's toys (Barbies, Polly Pocket) and reading/looking at books.
Lilly is a little chunk (she can hold her own!) and has bright blue eyes and as Ellen would say, golden hair.
She is always on the move. She likes to help with household chores - laundry, recycling, picking up toys.
She is observant, ticklish, strong-willed and we are almost positive she is going to be left handed.
Lilly is really into climbing into one of the kitchen chairs and sitting at the table (this has led to her standing in the chair, sitting on the table and standing on the table).
She has a few favorite toys/activities but the play kitchen seems to be her go to place.
Lilly is still a good shopper but she will not sit in the cart as long as she used to. She and Ellen rode in one of the car carts last week at Kroger (it was Lilly's first time - she loved it!) Ellen asks for one of those carts almost every time we go to the grocery store but I try to avoid them because 1) they are hard to steer and 2) the basket is smaller. I may have to give in more often because these girls are growing up way too fast!
Like clockwork Lilly poops every evening before dinner (usually within 15 minutes of being home) and she almost always poops in the morning before Phillip takes the girls to school.
She is a good eater. She feeds herself and prefers to do so with a fork or spoon. She regularly blows on her food, hot or cold. Cheese, yogurt, fruit, sandwich meat (ham/turkey), chicken and vegetables make up the majority of her diet. On the vegetable front, limas are her current favorite but she also likes corn, peas, broccoli, black beans and pintos. (No green beans, no way.) She likes to snack on cereal, pretzel chips, gold fish and popcorn. If we are dipping, she wants to dip... salsa, ketchup, hummus, etc.
She still likes to wash her hands, brush her teeth and brush her hair. She is usually helpful when getting dressed or undressed. She loves shoes!
She can throw a mean tantrum.
Lilly is a little chunk (she can hold her own!) and has bright blue eyes and as Ellen would say, golden hair.
She is always on the move. She likes to help with household chores - laundry, recycling, picking up toys.
She is observant, ticklish, strong-willed and we are almost positive she is going to be left handed.
Lilly is really into climbing into one of the kitchen chairs and sitting at the table (this has led to her standing in the chair, sitting on the table and standing on the table).
She has a few favorite toys/activities but the play kitchen seems to be her go to place.
Lilly is still a good shopper but she will not sit in the cart as long as she used to. She and Ellen rode in one of the car carts last week at Kroger (it was Lilly's first time - she loved it!) Ellen asks for one of those carts almost every time we go to the grocery store but I try to avoid them because 1) they are hard to steer and 2) the basket is smaller. I may have to give in more often because these girls are growing up way too fast!
Saturday, August 10, 2013
First Grade = Awesome
This has been a hard week. And a busy week. I am not sure why it was so hard but I don't think it has as much to do with being busy as might be expected/inferred. I like being busy. I don't like how I have been feeling lately. Overwhelmed with a touch of meanness? Ellen to me: You could be a little nicer. Phillip agreed.
SACC was closed this week (M-Th) in preparation for the new school year so Ellen went to The Children's Academy on Monday and Tuesday and I took off Wednesday and Thursday to spend time with both girls (Lilly was at daycare part of the day Thursday). Sadly, Ellen's kindergarten reunion was cancelled due to the rain (it's been raining off and on all week) but we still managed to have fun.
Ellen had a dentist appointment Thursday morning. She was really excited (mostly because she gets to choose the flavor of toothpaste they use to clean her teeth - she chose strawberry). Dr. Harding joined Dr. Swang's practice a few years ago but this was Ellen's first time meeting her (she actually cleaned Ellen's teeth so it was more than just an introduction/quick look in her mouth). No cavities! Ellen has since added dentist to her list of possible professions (librarian, artist and singer are also contenders).
I attempted to talk to Ellen about school on our way to Nashville. After a lackluster response or two I got asked what every mother dreams of when trying to have a meaningful conversation with their child... "Why are you asking me these questions?" Good thing she was in the back seat and I couldn't reach her :)
SACC was closed this week (M-Th) in preparation for the new school year so Ellen went to The Children's Academy on Monday and Tuesday and I took off Wednesday and Thursday to spend time with both girls (Lilly was at daycare part of the day Thursday). Sadly, Ellen's kindergarten reunion was cancelled due to the rain (it's been raining off and on all week) but we still managed to have fun.
Ellen had a dentist appointment Thursday morning. She was really excited (mostly because she gets to choose the flavor of toothpaste they use to clean her teeth - she chose strawberry). Dr. Harding joined Dr. Swang's practice a few years ago but this was Ellen's first time meeting her (she actually cleaned Ellen's teeth so it was more than just an introduction/quick look in her mouth). No cavities! Ellen has since added dentist to her list of possible professions (librarian, artist and singer are also contenders).
I attempted to talk to Ellen about school on our way to Nashville. After a lackluster response or two I got asked what every mother dreams of when trying to have a meaningful conversation with their child... "Why are you asking me these questions?" Good thing she was in the back seat and I couldn't reach her :)
Ready and waiting for her cleaning
After the dentist we met Phillip for an early lunch at Nacho's in Franklin and then went to the mall (Ellen's choice). We looked in a few stores before heading to the kid's play area, the reason she wanted to go to the mall in the first place. We picked Lilly up around 2:00.
Happily giving me bunny ears at the restaurant
(My face isn't that red in real life, or is it?)
Yesterday, August 9th, was Ellen's first day of school (it was a half day). The word "awesome" was used several times as Ellen recounted the events of her day and "nice" was how she repeatedly described her teacher. Yay! (We saw Ms. Gildemeister at Target last night!)
Class Schedule
Daily Folder/Notebook
Backing up a few days, Tuesday evening was Popsicles on the Patio for 1st-5th graders (I keep calling it Popsicles on the Porch). I was expecting to have an opportunity to talk to Ms. Gildemesiter and see Ellen's new classroom but it was really more of a greet your teacher in the hallway while your parent(s) fills out an information sheet kind of thing. We were in and out in less than 15 minutes including Popsicle-eating time. Phillip was going to meet us there after work but I called him at 5:15 and told him we were already walking to the car. "It's over?" The good news is Parent Orientation is on Tuesday, August 20th. I am looking forward to it.
At Heritage, waiting for the doors to open
(we got there a few minutes before 5:00)
Ellen and Ms. Gildemeister
We went to the Williamson County Fair this afternoon. Phillip accidentally paid for Ellen, under age 6 is free and she will be 5 for a few more weeks, but all was forgiven when a nice stranger gave us 10 free tickets. Lilly should be tall enough to ride more than just the carousel next year but she still had a good time.
As always, Little One's Farming was great!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
The Eighth Month
August is shaping up to be a busy month, especially the first half.
On the calendar so far...
- Williamson County Fair (2-10)
- Popsicles on the Patio (meet and greet with new teachers/classmates before school starts)
- Kindergarten Reunion at Harvey Park
- Dentist Appointment for Ellen
- First Day of School
- Lilly's promotion to Shining Stars
- Phillip's 34th Birthday
- Dentist Appointment for Phillip
Also, tax free weekend is coming up this weekend and on the 16th, a baby shower for one of my co-workers.
And Quinn will be 1 year old on August 17th!
We are getting a little closer to fall (a girl can dream), pretty close to the season premieres of my favorite TV shows (oh, how I have missed you) and very close to paying my car off (only one more payment to go).
This is how we spent the last weekend of July:
We are starting the month off with another family anti-bacteria/anti-staph infection treatment and Lilly is currently on antibiotics (2nd time in 3 weeks) but we aren't going to let that bring us down!
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