Catching Our Breath...

Lately the weekdays around here have felt a bit like a marathon. We've of course got busy days and our nights are keeping up the pace. Sometimes Brandon and I switch out the kids with a tag team approach and wonder if we are actually living in the same house! Each new (school) year, we have to get back in the swing of things...and realize our swing is going to move quickly for several months M-F! However, we have had weekends that are clear enough to catch our breath. (And by that I mean doing laundry, cleaning closets, and playing enough to keep us entertained!) We don't mind staying busy but sometimes it nice not to have to be anywhere. It feels much more leisurely when we decide it on our own:) 

Here are some random pictures of lately...again mostly weekend because we haven't been still enough to take any during the week!

Friday we had NFL day at school. Here are Parker and I with our bleary eyed morning looks. Not our most flattering picture, but oh well!

Tinley joined us in the spirit although she's not at school with us...and yes we are in a "split" phase. As I'm writing this, the Panthers are playing and we hope our team spirit comes through this time! (By the time I got ready to post, they lost:( maybe next time)

Saturday we went to Discovery Place because Tinley has asked if we can go every time we pass it since the summer. We got there to find many tents and a festival out front. It was starting to rain but not before we got some FREE (we usually have to pay!) face painting.

Of course Parker asked for the green ninja mask.

However when we got home, we determined that it looked more like the Green Lantern...but thats okay we have that costume too. He tried multiple ways to get me to take a picture that looked like he was flying.

Today we went to the park and brought Sarah along. Again...crazy eyes continue to happen when Parker gets excited.

Tinley was happy to practice some of her gymnastics on the rings.

Loving on Sarah!

I accidentally put the color selection on and with the look on Tinley's face and the bars, this looks kind of like a horror movie scene.. don't ya think?

I'm on the phone Mom!

Take my picture too, Mom!

We went on a leaf hunt that was very exciting!

Tinley was so happy to have pockets that would hold her leaves!

I think we've caught our breath now!

And after you catch your breath...time to go again!

Happy Fall Ya'll

As much as I love the summer, Fall has quite of few of my favorite things as well...Its a busy time for most people but the beautiful weather is a great reminder to stop and enjoy it...go to a fall festival...sit by a fire...watch for the leaves to change...enjoy the football game...get your Halloween costume (a month in advance around here).  We got off to a nice start..hope you did too!

We had our first official fire in our new outdoor fireplace. 

Brandon's parents got a new one and we were happy to give this one a new home.

Our neighbors came over and what's a fire without some marshmallows. I've really got to work with Parker on the crazy eyes...

Look at these little friends by the fire!

And we just can't have an event without dancing.

Saturday we were ready for football. And not that I like every second of football...but I like the idea...I like it when I'm there...and when I have a team to cheer on...and of course I like anything when I can dress my children up.

Some of our favorite college friends got this outfit for Tinley when she was 1..but since she doesn't grow too much it still fits! She was happy it was like the pirate on Daddy's car.

And although the pirates did not win...(I know you Tarheel fans are happy!) We didn't tell Tinley. She was happy to keep jumping and cheering and performing her newest tricks!

Happy Fall Ya'll!

A "Fair"(ly) fun day!

Yes, we love a good fair. The kind that smells good (except for the livestock), looks happy and bright, and leaves you with no cash, some silly prizes and feeling like you need another shower from all the dirt:) Sometimes we are able to go to the NC state fair, but we miss it more often now that we are not so close by. We have found that the Cabarrus County Fair is a pretty nice little county fair and this was our second time going. Probably going to be a tradition for us!

For starters...the rides!

Tinley wasn't tall enough for a lot of the rides, but was excited for her first pony ride! (Parker also rode his first pony at the state fair when he was 2.)

She did get to go on this car ride but I had to ride with her so this was the best picture I got.

This picture was kind of a mistake because I couldn't catch these monster trucks fast enough but I thought the sunglasses barely looking over the dash was kind of funny.

And then the games... I have a general rule for the games for the kids...If we are going to pay for them, they have to be easy enough to do and a guaranteed prize. Not because I think you shouldn't learn to fail sometimes but there are plenty of ways to fail for less than $5 a turn and at this age, they are mostly in it for the prize!

Example 1- You can find these at most fair or carnival. Hook the fishes (take as long as you want!)

Example 2- And my favorite...pick a duck...and they all have Small, Medium, or Large prize.

And when we don't know if we can win, we let Brandon play for fun:)

We don't bring too much cash so after rides and games, we say we can no longer spend money and enjoy all the exhibits!

There are always strange but amusing things to see. 
Like a  dog jumping off a ladder with a teeny tiny helmet.

Or pigs racing to get to an oreo cookie.

                    

We even managed to learn a little. The agricultural department had a scavenger hunt where we had to find secret words to answer questions. Since we had to turn this in for a prize, we looked at every. single. exhibit.

I will never be less than amazed at these intricate sand castles. How do they do this?

We saw lots of animals.

This poor cow has been milked for a long while by people that don't know what they are doing. I think the look says it all.

And lastly my least favorite animal...which I will not get close enough to take a good picture of.  Look at that long neck and those beady eyes...scary, scary!

So long fun little fair!

TGIF and TG for lots of other stuff!

This week has been so busy with dentist appointments, curriculum nights, meetings, and Wed night church starting again that I haven't had time for any great updates here....but in honor of surviving the week, I decided it was time to update. I haven't even uploaded new pictures from my camera lately and will probably wait till the weekend...so I was just looking for a picture that made me smile...or laugh.

This was from some sort of charades at the beach ("underwear man") early in the summer...no cares in the world. My son may dislike me one day for this picture, but right now he's looking at it and thinks its pretty awesome. 

Trying to reflect on all God's gifts and things I am thankful for in just this single school week! Here are a few...

*Tinley still loves school.

*Parker did his dentist appt. by himself and did 

not totally freak.

*I did my dentist appt. and did not totally freak.

*I got through my curriculum night and 

parents were very nice:)

*Tiffany for always picking up my children!

*Being back at church on Wed. nights is refreshing.

*I do miss Brandon and the kids on some long days...but so happy to see them when the time comes! 

*Great cell phone chats/texts with Mom and my girls to 

keep me going!

*Laughing with my co-workers about beginning 

of school craziness :)

* Sweet students bringing me apples (which are 0 points)

*Butterbean sending a chuck e cheese gift card so we can say "yes" next time they ask (they already have!)

*Getting Parker's work home to see that he wrote/drew about Target when asked to respond to why reading is important..so we can see the sign to go to Target.

*Tinley telling me she loves me "all day" instead of just in the morning or in the evening as related to skinny marinky dink (I'm spelling it my way!)

*Great time of encouragement at Starbucks with Belinda.

Tinley 2's

She did it. 

She went to school for the first time ever (and she did wear all her clothes.)

And although she was trying to figure out this new territory, I think she likes being a part of the Teddy Bear 2 year old class.

She says they played and sat in a circle and were quiet. And they lined up. And read a book.

We laughed at her folder because it said "Tinley 2's." Sounds like one of her many nicknames. Or maybe like she's in charge of the class.

Get ready.You will have some of your biggest adventures at school...I know I still do!

Tea Time and Presidential Experience

But not at the same time...we did not have a tea party with the President...and no political tea party statements going on here. This just happens to be two of our Labor Day weekend events:) 

Saturday morning we got ready for Sadie's birthday party which we knew was a tea party. Tinley picked out her biggest bow and best princess shoes. Parker decided he should wear his tie (and bring his sword- does one need protection at the tea party?)

We arrived to a room full of pink and frilly and teacups. And a very excited birthday girl. She didn't want to stop for a picture, but I got this one mid exciting jitters.

Here is the table as the guests were being seated.

Parker and his ever silly faces...Tinley  already finding something sweet. Between the two of them I think about 10 sugar cubes were added to their tea.

Such a lady in charge of this tea time. We just love this 4 year old princess!

And as always a beautiful cake...shaped like a pretty pink teapot. 

 The kids couldn't stay fancy for too long...so on to the bathing suits and water fun for all!

We had a great time!

Sunday we headed to the busiest place in the area...downtown Charlotte. So far we haven't had too much going on our way with the Democratic Convention...but they are certainly getting ready downtown. We saw lots of police cars, helicopters, and blocked roads. Brandon had heard about an exhibit called the Presidential Experience. It is not really associated with the convention but it is set up here for the week and we thought we should take advantage before it got even busier!

What do you think? Could we be a presidential family. Tinley picked up the phone for our picture with no prompting. She looks pretty serious....maybe she has a future here!

Parker couldn't resist trying out the desk by his self although if he were President surely the desk would be made of legos!

Here we are trying to motivate America...and not fall down.

Parker built his very first log cabin out of Lincoln logs. 

Air Force One...I told them to look like they were the President's family coming off the plane...this is what I got.

We saw lots of First Lady outfits...this one is Jaqueline Kennedy...and of course we loved the pink.

All in all it was a fun experience. We all learned a little something about some of the Presidents, the Oval Office, Air Force One, and some other fun facts. Parker picked out a souveneir of a picture of the White House dog that he remembered learning about last year. Tinley wanted her picture with the every single cardboard cut out including the First Lady.  Brandon had to make a quick save before she and the President went tumbling down after Tinley knocked them over.  Whew...that might not have gone over well!

Meanwhile we're getting ready for a big day tomorrow...Tinley has her first day of preschool. She has a new Hello Kitty backpack and a Barbie lunch box that she picked out. This picture reminds me of that bad dream where you get to school and you forgot to get all the way dressed. Say a prayer for her in the morning!