Labor Day Weekend

Ohmygosh...when did Tucker start looking this old? When he saw this pic, he proclaimed, "He's nekkid!"

This is Lauren's drawing of "Max and Ruby," which is a cartoon she watches starring bunny rabbits. I had to take a pic since it was on the doodle pad so I could save it for posterity...what an artiste!!

We are having a good Labor Day weekend so far. Yesterday, L & T went to the park with Daddy in the morning and we spent the afternoon at the pool, before coming home to our football season opener on TV...the kids made it through the 7:00 kickoff and promptly went to bed.

Today has been more of the same, church, the park, Target...outside baths on the deck (probably the last one...ever, since Lauren is getting too old for it)

And the day off to look forward to tomorrow!!!

Two Quick Stories

I know, I need to post more. I will venture to take some pics this weekend and get them up quickly.


Conversation with me and Lauren circa two days ago...
L: Can I get a lunchbox?
M: Yes, but it will have to be next month. You have to eat in the cafeteria this month.
L: In a few days?
M: No, a month is a long time. It will be a few weeks.
L: Well...Can I dream about my lunchbox tonight?
M: Yes, you may.

As we all know, this weekend is the kickoff of football season. (YAY!) This morning, when I dropped Tucker off at school, dutifully wearing his Alabama t-shirt, Ms. A said that he had been hilarious yesterday. Apparently he wanted to 'stomp like an elephant' down the hall, and while doing so, Ms. A asked Tucker, "What sound does an elephant make?" To which Tucker replied enthusiastically, "ROLL TIDE!"

His daddy will be so proud. His granddaddy...not so much.

Into the Great Wide Open

Ah, the first day of Kindergarten. Lauren had a good morning (they had 1:00 dismissal today)

The big moment! Lauren was impressed upon arrival that other students' shirts matched hers!!
I am glad that the teachers let us parents back in the classroom. It was much easier to leave her rather than to have her walk off down the hall (very bravely, not looking back)!! I love this pic...all the excitement of the countdown is written all over her face!

And Lauren FINALLY got to solve the mystery of the "blue thing and yellow thing" on the playground...it is a 4-person bouncer. (She has been scoping out the playground for weeks before and after mass.)

As soon as she got in the car, she informed me that she HAD to get a backpack --peer pressure already, everyone else has one--so we have paid a visit to Target this afternoon already. Fortunately, I was able to...um, convince her to go with the plain pink variety, rather than Tinkerbell, Hello Kitty, or My Little Pony (her first request was, of course, Diego).

So, we have survived the First Day of School!

Last Day of Preschool

Such a sweet baby...


One of my all-time favorite Lauren pics...

A Bama girl from early on...
A great imagination...
Always has been a good sleeper...

How quickly time flies..

Where are you going my little one, little one

Where are you going my baby, my own?

Where are you going my little one, little one

Where are you going my baby, my own

Turn around, and you're two,Turn around, and you're four

Turn around and you're a young girl, going out of the door.

A Peck of Pickled Pears from Pa

This summer we have been the beneficiaries of many, many different types of produce from Andy's dad's garden. Tomatoes, okra, peas, blueberries, cucumbers, pears...even the occasional squash (ewww!) has wandered into our kitchen and into our bellies. We have received the fruits of his labor in past years, but for some reason it has taken on the new meaning this year. Maybe it is the realization that a mere handful of blueberries goes for $5 in the store (not to mention the $25 of gas it costs to get there), and we have literally eaten bucketsful over the past couple of months? But for me it is more than that. Lauren and Tucker have thoroughly enjoyed being outside and (Lauren especially) picking the fruit themselves. It is something really cool that not every 5 and 2 year old get to do. I may never have a functioning garden of my own, but it is truly a luxury being able to eat freshly picked fruits and veggies, especially when they are grown by someone you love. I hope that Lauren and Tucker have lifelong memories of picking and eating food grown in their Pa's garden.