First Day of Kindergarten

Today was Emma Cate's first day of Kindergarten. She was so excited! We decided to keep her at First Christian Prep School this year. It is the preschool that she was already at and is where the boys are at also. They all love it there and she is very comfortable and feels very loved. It is the most nurturing place in the world! Her class has 9 children in it and it is only until 12:00. It is also a good way to break her mommy into real school! Her teacher's name is Ms. Sharman and she came home today saying that she was so funny! Ms. Lane is the teacher's aide and she is also really sweet and goes to church with us. Emma Cate was all smiles when I picked her up and she had the best day! We are looking forward to a fantastic year!

Leaving for school. It was a rainy day today, so no outside pics!

Emma Cate walking into her school.

Emma Cate standing outside of her new classroom.

It is decorated with animals everywhere! That is what they are studying.

Emma Cate and her teacher Ms. Sharman.

I Trust You'll Treat Her Well

Dear World:

I bequeath to you today one little girl...in a crispy dress...with two blue eyes...and a happy laugh that ripples all day long...and a flash of light blonde 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 across 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 friend 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 Clause 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 blue eyes...and a flash of light blonde hair that bounces in the sunlight when she runs.

I trust you'll treat her well.

author Victor Buono

Hurricane Gustav

My friend Gina, that was my Big sis in my sorority and my matron of honor in my wedding, came for a visit this weekend. She lives in Lake Charles, Louisiana and was evacuating from the hurricane. We were so excited to get to visit with her and her family. She has 3 kids of her own, so we had a very busy few days keeping everybody busy and happy. Her kids are Caroline which is 9, Benjamin which is 7 and Elizabeth which is the baby of the family and she is 4. They came Saturday night and left Monday night. They stayed in the cabinet (that is what Chance calls the cabin) around the corner from our house at night and visited with us during the day. It was the perfect situation! We went to church, the pool, out to dinner, had a Care Bears party, Kids Station, a movie, cooked out and roasted s'mores! Whew! That makes me tired just typing it! It was a blast and all the kids had so much fun together, especially since they do not get to see each other that often. The hurricane came and they went home as soon as they got the all clear. It was a really fantastic Labor Day weekend!

Campbell was ready for the hurricane!

Cooking s'mores!

Benjamin and his marshmallow!

Elizabeth went for the chocolate instead!

Eating was very calm and relaxing with this crew!

Emma Cate, Caroline and Elizabeth at the pool!

Campbell and his ice cream!

The whole crew in swimsuits and wet!

The whole crew out to eat at Cheddars, minus 1 cranky Campbell!

The girls!

Elizabeth and my friend Gina!

Benjamin and Chance were big buddies!

Emma Cate was so sad when Caroline left that she cried!

Me and my friend Gina! It has been a long time since we have had a
party pic together!

Tae Kwon Do Graduation

On Friday night Chance had his graduation. That means he received his green belt from the testing that I posted on the blog previously. Master Sam is so funny and good with the kids. You will see from the video how great he is with Chance.

Chance and Master Sam

Summer Blow Out!

We waited until everyone was in school to go on our last trip of the summer. We went to San Antonio last week and stayed at the Hyatt Hill Country. It was so much fun! The kids loved riding along the lazy river, making smores, building sandcastles, riding bikes and swimming. They even show a movie outside on a big screen and serve popcorn! It is little kid heaven! One day was devoted to Sea World which was great because it wasn't crowded at all and we almost left Emma Cate there swimming with the dolphins. She especially loved feeding and petting the animals. She might honestly be a trainer there one day! Another whole day was devoted to Six Flags Fiesta Texas. We all rode rides all day long and once again having no lines was fabulous!
So as you can see from the pictures below, we all had a blast!!!Click here to view our slide show until I can post it on the blog. I am having technical difficulties at the moment.

First Day of Soccer

Chance has been waiting to play soccer ever since Emma Cate turned 4 and joined her first team. Well, after waiting patiently and playing soccer on the sidelines for 3 seasons, his turn is finally here! Tonight was his first practice and he was so excited! He did great and met some new friends, too! When I went to dress Campbell to go and watch Bubba I went to put his jon jon on him. He protested and wanted soccer clothes, also. So as you can see in the pictures they were two peas in a pod. Campbell will now have to wait his turn patiently (which is not one of his strong points) on the sidelines.

My new team and friends!

Soccer is so cool!

Water break!!!

It is hot out here!

Chance and his little bro, Campbell.

Chance and his best buddy, Sterrett.

All summer, Emma Cate and Allie have been scheming, asking, and ploying to have a sleep over. It was time to "make good" on our promise to let them have a sleep over. Emma Cate had to go support her brother in his karate ventures, and then she went to Allie's. Allie was waiting from her bedroom window.Meredith said they played for a long while and she didn't hear a peep out of them. They both wanted on the top bunk, so they easily worked it out....they BOTH slept up there! They went to bed after 10 Emma Cate said! They woke up around 7, and I took them dough nuts . We took the girls with us to have our toes done, and they LOVED it!


The girls sporting their matching pj's from their birthday party they had together.
Waiting for the popcorn to pop

Sharing a chair. Emma Cate chose a very bright pink. Allie chose yellow...of course.

They giggled the whole time.

Mary wanted pink too.



Ready for school!

Green Belt Testing

Chance tested to get a new belt last night in Tae Kwon Do. He is now going to have a green belt. The order of the belts goes white, orange, yellow, camo and then green, for those of you who are not familiar with that sort of thing. He is doing really well and has had a great time! As you can see he was one of the littlest ones testing. They were so cute!


Chance and his buddies Cooper and Kayden.

Practicing before the testing began.

Cheese!

Testing for his belt.

Chance and Kayden, his sidekick.

Chance and Cooper after testing. Yeah! We did it!

I did it!


Sparring for his testing



Green belt testing

Tiny Tiger Oath