How Things Have Changed Around Here



I love my three little things. Just take a second to compare this recent photo to the one in the header on the ol' blog. We're growing like weeds and just won't stop!

It's summertime and we are in full swing. We've already been to the east coast of Florida for a week-long experience at the beach. NOTICE I didn't say, "vacation"!


We've been bouncing in the bounce house, making doctor's visits, washing cars, painting the sidewalks with chalk, dressing up like tigers, brainstorming ideas for a movie (don't ask!) and all the typical summer activities. We've bought lemonade from a neighbor's stand, scheduled swimming lessons, signed up for VBS and gymnastics camps, and planned out another road trip to the north Georgia mountains.

We'll be taking our two eldest to visit Tennessee to see the place where I grew up, the places I love, the place I miss. They'll get to visit their grandmother they never got to meet and maybe we'll swing by the house I called home for 15 years. It's for sale, and I've tinkered with the idea of scheduling a showing with the real estate agent!

What I mean to say is, we are on the move. We are living life and I'm trying to enjoy it while it is sweet, while it is innocent, while it is within my reach. For sooner than I know it, those little things up there will be on their way out the door.

And On, And On, And On...

Yesterday, the Kindergarten threw a wild luau to celebrate the end of the year.

So of course there were leis and limbo dancing:



 On their bellies like worms...


 Sister joined in


Loco in the limbo line


Sweet friends gone crazy


Love the wink!


More extreme limbo


Squeeeeeeeze under there!


Any which way you can!


After the party, HJ and SJ and I joined the big sister for lunch in the cafeteria. 


Darling friend who will be in class with AE next year

And here's our AE on her last day of Kindergarten!



First Day of Kindergarten


First Day

 Last Day of Kindergarten


She's headed to 1st grade!




Moving On

First Day of Pre-K

Last Day of Pre-K

Last Day of Pre-K

 Meet the Teacher

 Last Day with Mrs. Santilli

 Last Day with Mrs. Hosler


Ready for Summer!
Ready for Kindergarten!!!

HJ is growing out her hair as long as Rapunzel's in preparation for the first day of Kindergarten. She is ready, ready, ready!

Take Me to the Candy Shoppe...


To kick off the summer, our sweet neighbor, Beth invited the girls to come to a candy shop party at Sassafras. Come inside the tiny and charming store...

Everything and anything you can imagine in here!

 World's largest gummy worm!

 HJ checking out the possibilities

SJ pointing out all the delicious eye-candy, the store is decorated so sweetly!

After checking out the store, we headed into the back room all decked out in dots.


 First the girls played a game involving some delicious and not-so-delicious results.

 They spun the spinner to see which color to pick, and each color could be one of two flavors! 
Can you read the flavors? YUCK!

SJ enjoyed playing with a balloon while the girls played their game.


When he was done with the balloon, he moved onto the Safety Pop!

 Then the girls decorated their candy buckets which contained $3 of "money" to shop in the store.

 Our neighbor's daughter, Peri with AE

 Peri's friend, Sophie with HJ

Peri and Sophie just graduated from 8th grade and were enjoying the beginning of their summer with us. 

 SJ on Safety Pop #2

The shop is decorated with some fun vintage and retro pieces.


 Miss Beth and SJ

 After a candy scavenger hunt through the store, the girls returned to the party room to decorate cupcakes.


 AE's creation


 HJ licked the icing bag right after I took that shot!

 Sprinkles!



 Yes, she ate all those sprinkles and icing!

 Sweet AE got out of school to enjoy the party; she still has class until next Thursday.

 Back to the stroller with his sticky hands!

 The party girls! (And awesome, future babysitters!)


P.S. It's been so long since I posted, that Blogger has totally changed! Whoops!