Football 101

Kam's convo with Brian at lunch on Sunday....

"So, Uncle Bubby, who are you versing this week?"

Translation:  Who are the Panthers playing this week?    I knew exactly what she was saying but it took Brian a second.  The slow grin on his face was hilarious though.... guess we need to work on our sports terminology.  So ready for some football!!

Weekend Rewind

Ugh!  I really don't like Monday's.  They are usually a struggle for me and the kids after busy weekends.  This weekend was no different.  Kam went to Little Rock with Donna, Kenzie, and Avery for a "girls night out" sleepover at Kylie and Kamryn's.  Mimi and Pop took Cooper to Larry's with Braxton so Mark and I could have dinner with Shane and Deana.  It was so nice to visit!  I'm pretty sure we almost closed the restaurant down and Mom was seriously wondering where we were when we came to get Coop later on.  

Mark played in a church golf tournament on Saturday and I took Cooper to a birthday party that morning.  Here are some of his friends from school. The boys are seriously outnumbered!!  One of the mom's told me that if she could pick a boy for her daughter, it would be Cooper.  I took that as a serious compliment!  You have to look for Cooper in the picture...he's at the top right behind the bars.  He was more interested in playing than posing! 

MC's mom posted these pics from the party.  Cooper loves pinata's but they make me so nervous.....something about him swinging a bat wildly with little ones around....but he did great!  

I so enjoyed spending the day one-on-one with my little man.  It's nice to devote a day individually to each child now and then.  We played with all his new toys and games and had a really great time!  He is growing up so fast and I am trying to soak up every little moment that I can!

Kam's First Day of First Grade

Kamdyn was up and anxious to get to school for the first day of first grade!  I know I keep saying it, but I just cannot believe that she is a big first grader now!!  

We had to change outfits at the last minute, but we still had time to take pictures. 

Hands on hip, ready to pose...

Where has the time gone?  Saying that makes me sound old, I know... 

 I absolutely love this picture to death!  

 We've got to work on our posing.....

 As you can see, neither one was too thrilled about getting their picture made together.  Cooper gets this look on his face when he doesn't want to do what you want him too.....he gets all shy and zones out.

I'm shocked that Kam has her arm around Cooper and isn't choking him.... she really has a love/hate relationship with him right now.  I mean that in the nicest way possible.  More on that another day!

Cooper was actually going back to preschool on this same day after being off for a few weeks.  It's his last year at Mae's and I'm really, really not ready for him to leave there.  If I could freeze time, I would keep both kids at Mae's forever!  But time must march on!

  Kam and Mark...doesn't he look thrilled to be having his picture taken again?

Me and Kam.....everyone says that she looks just like me.  Most days I would agree with that, but I still say she acts like her daddy!!  Let me just say that I barely slept the night before and looking at this picture confirms it! 

And last but certainly not least, Kam and Mimi....she stopped by to pick up Cooper for school just in time to see Kam before she left. 

 Kam actually let me park and walk her up to school which secretly thrilled me.  I really didn't want to just drop her off and have to leave.  She saw her friends on the playground playing and said, "I have to get out there and help them!"  I think they were playing chase.  It excited me to see her want to go and play.

When we got to the gate, I asked her to let me take her picture before she went in and she said "no" very vehemently.  So I asked for a hug and she just gave me this look like she thought (but wasn't too sure) that she might be too big for that. Sniff.  Sniff.  So I told her to have a great day and off she went...

So I have to admit that when I called Mark to tell him about it, I cried a little.  I knew it wasn't personal... and I got over it.  I watched her go line up with her class (because we never get there in time to play on the first day with all the picture-taking!). She got in line with Dane and I watched them laugh and "chat".... too cute! 

When I picked her up, she said she loved first grade and had a great day!  I said the same thing I did last year after her first day of kindergarten... this was fun, but do we have to do it again tomorrow?  

Open House

Kam hasn't been too pumped about going back to school so I was hoping that open house last Monday night would get her a little more excited.  We pulled in right behind the Efird's and walked in with them.  Avery is starting pre-k and was excited to meet her teacher.

We secretly knew that Kam had gotten Ms. Teague for her teacher and she was so excited when we told her.  She had actually told me that she didn't want to go to school because she was afraid that she was going to get a certain teacher.  Once she found out she had Ms. Teague, she was ready to go!

I was so excited that Kam got Ms. Teague because she was my first-grade teacher exactly thirty years ago!!  Go ahead and do the math on my age- I know you're dying to!  I swear I don't think that this woman has changed any and I have promised Kam that I am going to go back and look for pictures of her to prove it.  When we left, Kam said, "oh, momma, Ms. Teague is so beautiful!" 

Kam's desk is right beside her friend Dane's and she already told me they could "chat."  Their daddy's have both said they will be talking non-stop! 

I was thrilled that Kamdyn got in a class with some kids that we know.  They are all boys, but that's ok with me!  Last year, Kam didn't know anyone in her class but it didn't bother her one bit (it bothered me way more!).  She's very social and has no problem making new friends.  

She is begging us to ride the school bus this year but I'm just not ready for that.  When I rode the bus, I had cousins who rode with me and looked out for me.  She doesn't have that....plus, we just enjoy dropping her off everyday.

Open House was a big success!  Kam got excited about school....the kids got to play....Mark and Cooper both loved Ms. Teague as well....we saw lots of friends....met some new people.  I am looking forward to a great year! 

We ran into friends from church and ended up having dinner with them all after at el Bismarcko.  The kids had a lot of fun and it's always nice to fellowship!

I took these pictures the night before school started.  Needless to say, Kam was bouncing off the walls and all over the place posing...

Pretty girl.... who needs her hair brushed!!!

We have the hardest time getting our kids to settle down at bedtime.  It's like the moment they get in bed they go spastic.

Being silly before prayers...

I can hardly believe that this silly girl is now a first grader!  Oh my!  And I'm not even going to think about Cooper starting kindergarten next year.  I can't handle it!! 

The Night Before First Grade

Dear Kamdyn,

It's hard to believe one year has passed since I wrote you a "night before kindergarten" letter.  When I went back and read it, I had to chuckle when I read the part about you promising to give me a hug before you left for school every morning.  You know Daddy says that one of us left crying almost every morning last school year over your hair!  I'm hoping we've both matured a lot since then. 

Certainly, you look and act more grown up than one year ago.  You start sentences with "dude" (even though I'm not a dude!) and I just about fell out the other day when I heard you say that something was "epic."  I had to define it for your Aunt JJ when you said it!

You are still as strong willed as ever and I stand by the conviction that one day that will be a trait I admire in you as a teenager and adult.  Until then, you are teaching me patience on a daily basis!  On the other hand, your sense of humor and witty comments keep us all in stitches.  There really is never a dull moment when you're around!

I'm so excited about what this year holds for you.  You have a fabulous teacher in Mrs. Teague and a fantastic class as well.  It should be awesome, or "epic", as you now say!  Remember to treat others  the way you would like to be treated and always look for ways to help people!

We are so proud of you!  I love you to the sun and moon and back!!!

Love,
Mommy

Happy Anniversary!!!

Mark and I have been married for nine years today!  Seems like nineteen, um, I mean yesterday since we first got married.  For those of you who followed our courtship, you know it took about that long for us to finally get married!!

It's been an interesting nine years full of ups and downs (what marriage isn't?).... but who wouldn't love this guy?

I can truthfully say that Mark is everything that I'm not and that's what I love about him most.  He's the calm (which makes me the storm!) in my world and I know that's not always easy for him.  I will admit that I'm not an easy person to live with or be married to (my mom will verify that!)....but he takes it all in stride! 

This morning he emailed me to say that our garage door was fixed today so "happy anniversary!"  I told him that I probably shouldn't hold my breath for flowers then...I'm pretty sure I made some comment about maybe he would send them to my funeral.  I guess it worked because about an hour later, flowers were delivered to me!  Even though I shamed him into it, I'll take them!

More than anything, Mark has given me a family that I love dearly.  Our house is always loud and hectic, but I wouldn't trade anything for it.  These three people mean everything to me.  Happy anniversary, Mark!  I love you and look forward to many more years together!!  P.S.  I'm also looking forward to our 10-year getaway!!!