First Day of School

The blog is BACK. I promise, swear, cross my heart, lighting strike me dead, etc... The blog is back and it will be consistent. Of course the preceding statements are meant for me. Although life is full and hectic, I just miss this so much. And it is SO worth it. Once again, can't decide if I am going to just start fresh or attempt to (gulp) back blog. Ok - to get my fingers fluid again ( I know my writing will be terrible for a while until I find a groove! ), let's start with this year's first day of school. For everyone. Everyone!!! Isn't there still a baby that needs me at home?! No? Anyone??? Nope. All THREE of my precious muffins had a first day of school this year. This pic hit me like a ton of bricks yesterday. 2. 3. 4. Whoa. That is a large pill to swallow, my friends. This year we will have three children three years a part in school. Next year, Hayes will take a breather and transition into the "older" two year old class. Thank goodness.

Our big boy. The leader of our little pack. Loves books and learning and thrives on being independent. We have catch up sessions every night for about fifteen minutes in his bed before he goes to sleep. I was thinking the other day that this is truly my absolute favorite part of my day. Nothing is rushed, things are quiet and he is so into our conversation.

 

My sweet, sweet sassy. Loves everyone and everything and changes her "outfit" at least thirteen times a day. Her smile is so infectious and genuine. She is such a little mama lately, always tending to Hayes. She still dances more than she walks and will start ballet this Fall!!!

My forever baby. Cannot even fathom that the baby stage is ending with this one, and in turn, our entire house. Rest assured, I will be hanging on to every single, tiny morsel of "babyness". Sorry Hayes.

Our first day Motley Crew.

Beyond thrilled to watch them grow and learn this year!!

What a difference...two and a half months makes???

What a difference indeed. 

when it rains...call a plumber...and a pediatrician.

Why do kids put things in their mouths?  My FOUR year old swallowed a penny today.  Yep, a penny.  Gross.  Trying really hard not to think about all of the funk that was on the penny that he found in the laundry room while he was suppose to be napping.  Eww.  Why, oh why, sweet child.  He immediately panicked, and so did I.  So much so that I pulled his dad off of a conference call, so I could frantically tell him, "Ashton swallowed a penny!!! A penny!!".  Of course, my ever calm and anti-panicked husband tells me to call the pediatrician.  Duh. 

Guess what I get to sift through for the next few days.

Apparently, we need to "put eyes" on that darned penny.  If we don't see it by day four, we will be heading to our local ultrasound tech.  Good times.

Of course I am counting my blessings that the little daredevil didn't choke.  Can't even go there in my mind.

As for the plumber, turns out every time we have used our sinks (located in three different areas) in our kitchen over the past few days, water has been pouring out of a busted pipe in our garage.  Same calm husband discovered said leak.  Thank God. 

Might be breaking out the Cabernet tonight.  And maybe the bourbon before what I'll be doing several times over the next few days...

why a son needs a dad.

We have had this little coffee table book since Ashton was born.  Ashton LOVES for his dad to read excerpts from it to him.  Usually early in the morning or before bed, when things are calm.  The other day, they were engrossed in one of their early morning reads, and baby Hayes crawled over and climbed up into daddy's lap.  One of the guys, and not to be left out.  Not sure what I did to deserve this man and these two little men (and my sweet lil sass), but I thank God for them every single day, usually early in the morning or before bed, when things are calm ;)

Why a son needs a dad.

Some of my favorite excerpts:

• A son needs a dad to wrestle with him in the grass.
• A son needs a dad to listen when others have grown tired of listening.
• A son needs a dad to teach him to apologize for reckless words.
• A son needs a dad to lead him toward faith.
• A son needs a dad to teach him how to be a gentleman.
• A son needs a dad that allows him to question.
• A son needs a dad so that he will have at least one hero to lean on.
• A son needs a dad who will discipline him firmly and fairly, while loving him relentlessly.

favorite spot.

Hayes has an official favorite spot in our house.  The puzzle table in the playroom.  Can't find baby Hayes?  Check the puzzle table.  Cracks me up.  He hoists his little heiny up there, tucks his legs up under him and immediately sports a look of smug accomplishment on his little dimpled face.  Like, "Oh yeah, I did it.  I am AWESOME.".  Dear Lord help me when this child decides to start walking.  Thankfully, for now, my 14m old is totally content on all fours, or better yet, being carted around in his mama's arms.  Just fine by me...just fine by me.

It was time.

Beyond time. I had really been avoiding my sweet baby boy getting his locks chopped (as I prefer to refer to it.  sounds more dramatic.) for the first time.  People were starting to mistake Hayes for a girl...a lot.  Oh yeah, and he totally couldn't see through his six inch long bangs.  So, it was time.  Sigh. 

He did great.  So did I.

The before and after.  Hippie baby on the left and seeing the world clearly for the first time on the right!

three.

My baby girl turns three tomorrow. 

 

Three...wow.  Time flies when you're sassy!  My girl certainly is.  Full of sass...and zeal and heart and joy and life.  She is the child who's gears start turning well before her little size 6 feet hit the floor in the morning.  "Good morning, mama!".  "Why do we need to be quiet mama?".  "I'm hungry.  I'm thirsty.".  And that is before we clear her bedroom door, God bless her.  I carry her up the stairs every morning after I get her out of her bed and field the first 15 or so questions.  I mainly do this so she doesn't hop up the stairs and wake her brothers up at what is usually 5:30ish. But it is not her fault - God has instilled this zest for life in my sassafras.  She is bursting at the seams with it.  She loves everyone and everything.  She also loves getting her way :)  I guess that is her way of retaining her diva status. 

Her first words spoken to Baby Hayes every morning are the same.  "Hello little baby, how are you!!!!", sometimes exclaimed with such excitement and in such a high octave, it would be hard to understand if you didn't hear it every morning.  She tells every member in our family just how much she loves us too many times in a day to properly count.  Pink, plastic shoes are her go to.  She sleeps with her hands in the prayer position, tucked up under her cheek.  She adores purple fruitable juice boxes and veggie "cheese" slices.  She is genuinely polite.  She tells me thank you and means it whenever it is warranted. 

She adores her big brother and tends to follow his lead quite often.  Almost always while wearing some sort of pink, frilly dress up frock.  She loves to "spin" and calls herself beautiful several times a day.  She can eat her brothers under the table and has the metabolism of an athlete.  If she isn't playing dress up, putting her babies "down for their naps", following around her big bro or eating, she is asking to go outside and swing on her swing set or asking to watch "Dowah" (Dora). 

Her daddy and her papa each hung the moon, respectively.  I hear about how she misses each one of them throughout the day, everyday.  "Mama, I weallllly miss my daddy.".  "I just want my papa." (usually spoken when her current situation is less than appealing).  Her favorite thing to do with her daddy is read her bedtime stories.  He has commented lately how his heart melts just a little every time she finishes his sentence when reading her book.  They grow so fast...  If she continues on her current path, she may just be the girl that people find admirable on the inside as well as the outside.  The Good Lord willing.  My favorite thing to do with my little shadow is really everything.  Our days consist of making up silly songs while I fold laundry, impromptu dance recitals while Hayes naps, cuddling on the couch, little legs crossed at the ankle in front of her, while she takes in a tv show and I sip coffee, her being a "big guwl helpuw" with the dishes, etc.  I soak her in.  It is truly hard not to; she takes up the whole room when she's in it.  If I had one prayer for her coming years, it would be that she never loses the zest.  Hold fast to it, sweet sass.

Emory Anne - at three years, you keep me on my toes, fill my world with pink princesses and baby dolls, are not doing anything to help the laugh lines at the corners of my mouth, and keep our grocery bills on the incline.  Most of all, you remind me of my empathetic heart and daddy's strong spirit.  You are twirl through life with such Grace, and would wrap your little arms around the world, if you could.  Happy, happy birthday, sweet sassafras. 

today was an event.

Big events are coming and going. Events that I haven't blogged yet. Events that I really want to remember. Today was an event. We had our precious new friends over to play. Our NEW FRIENDS! One of the hardest parts about uprooting your children and moving them across the country is leaving behind friends. When you are two or three...or four, friends mean familiarity. Routine. Comfort. I have been so worried about this. Worried that my little bits will somehow be negatively affected by lack of familiar friend play. Well, worry has gone out the window. About a month after Ashton started school, he came home talking nonstop about one child.

Major.

 

 "Mama, can Major come to our house and play?" "Major loves racecars just like me." "Mama, pa-leezeeeee call Major's mama!" and so on and so forth. So, finally, I did. Well, first I asked Ashton's teacher if Major's mom was normal because Ashton would not stop talking about Major. Ha! After being assured that Major's mom, Jaime, was indeed "normal", I contacted her. Thank you Lord for Jaime. Ever meet someone and immediately think "I get her. Yep. I think we will be friends for a very long time."? Jaime. Not sure I have ever had so much in common with someone. And the kicker? We are NEIGHBORS and had NO idea. The Lord works in wonderful ways...

Ashton's main man, Major and sweet Lilla. Ashton is not the only one who has found a new friend. Emory has become quite enthralled with Lilla.



New friends make us giddy.
 

As far as Emory's concerned, if Lilla ain't doing it, it ain't right.




The baby of the family, Ande. Did I mention they have three little munchkins just like us?! Yes, she is just as precious in real life.




Can't leave out this little guy. Daddy threatened to come hijack him and get his haircut today. I keep saying that I'm going to cut it... then I run my fingers through his manly little sidepart, melt into a puddle and decide to put it off another day. Maybe tomorrow.

 

Today was an event.

2 more days.

Can't decide whether to keep this post light and happy or unload what I'm really feeling about this little milestone birthday.  I think I'll unload.  Sorry ;)  To say I am having a hard time with little Haysie's upcoming birthday is a bit understated.  I'm kinda a mess.  Hayes is my last baby.  Those words are even hard to type.  Things feel final. Definitive. Ending.  John is so content with this.  He is ready to raise up our children in the way that they should go and savor every moment and memory along the way.  Me?  I want to cross my arms and pout (and cry ad naseum).  No more rocking in silence for comfort, no more baby fat rolls, no more goo's and gaa's, no more tiny toes, no more...  Two more days.  I promise, next post will be filled with happiness and glee courtesy of the big first birthday.  I know these weepy moments will pass.  Poor Hayes - he is totally going to be taking his prom pics while I'm wailing, taking pictures, repeatedly wiping lipstick off his cheek and telling everyone how cute he was as a baby.  ;)

chefs.

My little chefs.  We made pumpkin cream cheese cupcakes.  When making multi-step baking items with your four and two year olds, expect a mess.  A big one.  A "Omg, what was I thinking?  I'm going to be cleaning cream cheese and flour out of every crevis of this kitchen for the next ten years!" kinda mess.  But those usually are the best kinds.  The memory making kind.  I love these two little best friends.  They are so dang excited to be wearing their aprons.  And even more excited to helping with such an important project.  Ashton would say, "Ok, Emory, it's your turn to pour the eggs in!!" and she would reply, "Oh boy!!!!" and so on and so forth.  Two little giggle box mess makers.  The pumpkin cupcakes turned out sweet. Life is sweeter.

 

Fall Festival

We are loving our first Fall in Macon.  The leaves change colors, the temperature dips into the 60's by early October and pumpkins and mums are overflowing everywhere you look.  Beautiful.  The way Fall should be.  We went to our first Fall festival last week at Emory's school.  It was such a good time.  If I could put a positive spin on the fact that we haven't really made any good friends yet, it would be that daddy and I have been enjoying having lots of "firsts" and "experiences" with our little family of five.

Haysie and Daddy


Snow cones!  When asked what flavor she would like, Emory said, "pink, please".  She settles for "puwple".


This Fall fest had a Chick-fil-a tent!  Welcome to Georgia!!  Bouncing, playing festival games and eating lots of sugar makes for a tired sassafras.


Fun was had by all!  Can't wait for our next Fall festival this week at Ashton's school!

backbloggin'

We are in Tallahassee right now. One of the best things about living three hours away is jetting "home" whenever we darn well please. Fabulous, really. It is rainy, the kids are watching Mickey Mouse (still in their pj's) and I was searching through my mama's archived pictures. What better time to do a little back blogging?! Ashton's first FSU football game. A historic day in our household. I know a certain daddy and certain papa that had probably dreamed about that very day many, many times.  Thank you mom for bringing your camera!  So glad I found these!  :)

We started the day off right with a tailgate.  Ashton honed in on this bag of chips and when Papa asked if he could have one, Ashton said, "No thanks, Papa."  After I assured him that the bag would be taken swiftly away if he didn't share, he obliged and broke off the teeny, tiny tip of one chip and handed it to Papa.  Serious as a heart attack with his chips. 

 

The band was warming up near our tailgate.  Daddy took him over to listen.

 

As if his first game wasn't exciting enough, Ashton had a super special treat in store.  He got to walk on the field with Papa for Alumni player appreciation day.  He was pumped. 

On their way in...

 

NOT a flattering picture, but wanted to preserve the moment.  Aunt Tatie and baby Hagen ;)

 

Practicing his three point stance while they wait.  Just like the "senimole" players.

d

Celebrities.

 

Waving to adoring fans is tiring work.  Especially when it's past your nap time. 

 

My fave.  Also my mom's new screen saver.

 

Very special moment for daddy and Ashton.  Their first of many football games together.  Notice Ashton's wardrobe change.  Grammie and Papa bought him his very own jersey.  Future "Senimole".

 

Ashton took this pic of daddy and Uncle Tripp during a lapse in excitement on the field.

 

His favorite thing about the outing.  Junk food.  And lots of it...  A huge treat for this primarily organic eating little man.

 

It really was a wonderful day.  He lasted until 7 minutes were left in the game - I couldn't believe it. 

This is the first of many Seminole games to come.  As Ashton yelled repeatedly all throughout the game...  Go Noles!  Scalp 'em!!!!!