Getting to know you, getting to know all about you

We bought the girls new tennis shoes over the weekend (Ellen needed a new pair; Lilly didn't have any).  Cute.  Colorful.  Cheap.  Unfortunately they ended up being cheap in more ways than one.  I knew it was too good to be true!  Ellen's started coming apart after only two wears.  Lesson learned.

Some days I feel like I have lived a million past lives.

I made my first Starbucks drink purchase of 2014 this morning - hot chocolate - out of pure necessity.  They finally broke me.  It's 90 some odd degrees outside and in my cubicle I sit day after day shivering, wearing at least 3 layers on top (usually 4), pants, socks, shoes and sometimes my headset (even though I am rarely on the phone) to keep at least one of my ears warm(ish).  I'm still miserable and feel like my body could shut down at any moment but hey, I am doing my part.  I know, I know... get a heater.  I should.  But I shouldn't have to.  I will continue to suffer in silence until my voice is heard.

[Something I find funny (and somewhat disturbing), over the last 2.5 months we have had "Summer Fridays" (tomorrow being the last one) where you can wear shorts, t-shirts and flip flops.  Yeah right!  I wouldn't last 5 minutes with that much exposure to the elements.]

Ellen is still enjoying gymnastics.  I wouldn't say she's a natural but I am glad she's having fun.

I started reading again.  Last time I did this, started reading again, it didn't last long.  I am hoping to make it a priority this time.

Other things I want to make a priority....

1.  Family dinners (I got my copy of Jenny Rosenstratch's new book, Dinner: The Playbook, in the mail today!)
2.  Bedtime stories (this used to be an intrical part of our nightly routine)
3.  Cuddle time (I blame electronics)
4.  Bible homework (this also fell by the wayside months ago but Ellen will be in Ms. Judy's class next quarter (and for all of second grade) and she doesn't play)
5.  Fun family outings (we've been slacking lately)

Now that school has started it seems like things are slowing down for us... at home, work and even church (Is it bad to say that I am happy/relieved to not be teaching at all next quarter?)  Ellen being in homework club is a contributing factor (less weeknight stress).  If I was making a list of things I am thankful for, homework club would be near the top.  Even if this is just the calm before the storm, I am grateful for this change of pace.

Williamson County Schools are launching a new district-wide slogan next week - "Be Nice."  Love it!  They are having a "Be Nice" Bash at Heritage Middle on September 3rd.

Lilly has been pacifier-free for almost 2 weeks now.  Freedom!  She still asks/cries for one on occasion but only when upset about not getting her way #terribletwos (of course we should have done this months ago but it was hard to let go).  Bedtime has been a challenge, it takes longer for her to settle (meaning she goes temporarily insane), but we are determined to tame the beast #lessscreamingmoresleeping

So no pacifier but still wearing diapers/pull-ups.  Lilly is mostly potty-trained at daycare but flat out refuses to sit on the toilet at home (I'm talking major tantrums).  Phillip and I joke that she leads a double life.  This is not going to be easy.

Ellen's birthday is a week from today.  We are celebrating this weekend with Kendra and Laurie, on Thursday as a family and next weekend with my parents in Chattanooga.  We kicked off the festivities tonight by letting her open presents from Nana, Grandpa and Uncle David (their package was being delivered as we pulled into the neighborhood this afternoon).  By the way, my mom and sister (especially my sister) would not approve of this but I am not opposed to celebrating early... in fact, I encourage it :)

Looking forward to a 3-day weekend!

Back to school

Well, second grade is happening.

Ellen is having a great year so far (this is only her second full week but the reviews have been positive).  We are very pleased with her teachers, Mrs. Roney and Ms. Whaley.  We missed Popsicles on the Patio (the girls and I were in Asheville) but I got to meet them both at Parent Orientation on Monday night.  Mrs. Roney is Ellen's homeroom teacher.  She teaches reading, writing and grammar.  Ellen goes to Ms. Whaley's classroom in the afternoons.  She teaches math, science and social studies.

She has the same five specials:  Library/Guidance (M), P.E. (Tues/Thurs), Music (W) and Art (F).  She goes to lunch at 12:40 - the latest in the building!

One perk of being in second grade... Ellen gets to check out two books at a time from the library as opposed to only one.  Another perk is the agenda/planner each student was given.  This is used to communicate homework and track behavior (we love it).

She has math and reading homework every night (we signed Ellen up for Homework Club at SACC which meets every afternoon at 4:00 but now I am rethinking that decision).  She will have weekly spelling and vocabulary tests.

We retired Ellen's brown polka dot backpack this year (sad face).  It got her through kindergarten and first grade just fine but is too small to hold the Trapper Keeper, lunch box, sweater (for use in Ms. Whaley's room) and other miscellaneous items she totes around every day.

Ashley, Shiloh and McKenna are a few of the girls Ellen has befriended thus far and there are several familiar faces in her class.  She knows Teagan from SACC, Mallory, Conner and Crue from kindergarten and Mason was in Ms. Gildemeister's class with her last year.  

That is all I can think of for now.

We are looking forward to another fantastic school year at Heritage Elementary!

Mrs. Roney (first day of school)

 I'm not sure who likes Ellen's new backpack more... her or Phillip

Must be Phillip!

(I am not a fan of animal print but I was out-voted 2 to 1)

Snippets from Summer

A few events, mostly celebrations, that never made the blog (or happened recently)...

Morgan's Wedding

Neighbor Lily's Birthday Party (did I already post these?)

Visiting Bryce at Vanderbilt a few days before he was released

Meow!

Dinner at Chile Burrito 

Garrett Moore's Eagle Scout Induction Ceremony

Randomly there was a balloon artist in attendance :)

And speaking of balloons... family night at Chick-Fil-a (just because)

Dan and Linda Cottrell's 50th Wedding Anniversary

Phillip's Birthday Dinner at Chuy's

Bunny ears courtesy of Ellen

Had to include this one too :)

Cousins in Tennessee!

Quinn's 2nd Birthday

Good times!

Throwback to last Thursday

The girls and I got to see Bryce (and play with Wyatt) last week.

So little, so cute.  

I also had Ellen pose with the school supplies I painstakingly gathered... minus the fine tip black dry erase marker and the Ticonderoga pencils we picked up later that night.  (This was the day before her first half day of school, same evening we went to the fair.)

34 no more!

(Finally!  I have been waiting over a year to use this blog post title.)

Happy 35th birthday to my love...

Phillip's company volunteered at the Martha O'Bryan Center yesterday.  He was on yard work duty.

Lessons learned today:

1.  The 35 year old body just doesn't recover as quickly as the 25 year old body... or the 30 year old body, for that matter :)  Phillip is very sore from working outside all day yesterday.  Oh my aching back!  He's feeling the burn.

2.  You can't give Ellen a Krispy Kreme doughnut and tell her only to eat half, saving the rest for her sister.  She can't handle it.

3.  Remove all clothes from the premises you do not want your child to wear as they will continue to find the black shorts that are too short and not understand, even after multiple explanations, why they cannot be worn in public.

4.  Don't drive over the yellow line even if you are just trying to bypass people in a turn lane to get into the straight lane (he got pulled over-along with many others-but did not get a ticket).  School traffic is no joke.

5.  Birthday Ramen tastes surprisingly similar to non-birthday Ramen.

Side note:  If anyone would like to volunteer to be on the receiving end of Phillip's daily Fitbit stats/updates (he won it at work and started a trend) please let me know.  That is something I can't handle :)

Ellen:  Daddy, that bracelet doesn't look good with your outfit.

*Full disclosure: I couldn't be trusted to eat only half a doughnut either, even if the other half was for my sister.  Sorry, Andrea.

Two reasons why a quick trip to Walmart (or any store) is nearly impossible for our crew

Reason 1:  Lilly

If she stayed in the cart as pictured we could easily shave 30 minutes off our time

Reason 2:  Ellen

Little Miss Footloose and Fancy Free has trouble staying on task

Always and adventure with these two!

Asheville: Part 2

We went to the Nature Center on Tuesday.  Later that evening the girls and I met Mom and Dad for dinner at Tupelo Honey.  They drove more than 2 hours just to see us.  That is love!

Wednesday was our travel home day.  I gave Lilly Dramamine and hoped for the best.  Thankfully she did not get sick.  I'm not sure I could have handled it.

Rebecca (Mimi) made blueberry pancakes, blueberry pie and blueberry crisp with our spoils from Long Branch.  All three were delicious.

 Molly!

Nature Center

Snack exchange

I was really looking forward to the Butterfly Garden but we were either too early or too late - whatever the case may be, we missed it

Cousin rivalry

Grandmother and Granddaddy!

Mimi's Garden

Carrots!

Pulling up a few beets for Keith

-------------------------

Reflections...

1.  Hospitality (thankful for Keith and Rebecca'a generosity)

2.  Good weather (a lot cooler than Nashville!)

3.  Beautiful scenery (mountains, trees, green everywhere)

4.  Family

5.  How very different Andrea and I are :)