Fun Times with Family and Friends...

I've been fighting the "crud" for about a week now, so I was not able to go to Baton Rouge with Ty and Richard for fear of exposing Poppa to any germs before his treatment begins Tuesday. I was pretty much a recluse and rested and cleaned house, but today I met Mom, Dad, Aunt Susan, and Uncle Dennis at Julep for brunch. I really enjoyed spending time with them and hate to think that they leave in a matter of a couple of weeks to return to England - seven weeks seems as if it would feel like longer!!! After brunch, mom and Aunt Susan came out to our house and helped me finish cleaning - WOW - not how you treat "company" - so glad they are FAMILY - and also we worked on a digital scrapbook of their travels here in the USA. I really missed my two guys, but at the same time was really thankful for a great time of fellowship. Kinda makes me smile looking at the picture of me and Aunt Susan - I was four when we met so it is really strange to be the one looking down rather than up - love me some Aunt Susan....p.s. thank you for ironing our laundry....I'll just have to hop in your suitcase back to England to return the favor!!!

"1st Day at Big Boy School" Celebration

After a GREAT first day at school, Ty suggested that we take Richard to the new Chuck E Cheese to celebrate. It was relatively empty since it was a Wednesday night ( I think there were a dozen of us there - including the employees). He ate well and then headed for the games!! We bought a family deal, but were LOVIN' the fact that we had almost SEVENTY coins left over from one of my niece's birthday party last year. He loved Ski ball as usual, shooting baskets with daddy, throwing the football with daddy, the number game with mommy, riding the horse, and he absolutely LOVED the virtual roller coaster - I think I'm in for it..it is such a good thing that his daddy loves thrill rides - Ty will finally have a ride partner!! We were all exhausted and Richard fell asleep two minutes after leaving the parking lot...he slept so soundly that I changed his clothes, sponge bathed him, and dressed him for bed without him ever waking! What a fun and exciting day in our little boy's life!!!

"Big Boy School"

Well, we have hit a BIG milestone at our house: BIG BOY SCHOOL!!! The "orange and blue" school as Richard fondly calls it. This past Wednesday Richard had his first day of PreK3! WOW! How quickly the past three and a half years have flown by - everyone says that they do, but when you are in the moment it sometimes doesn't seem like they do..that is until BIG days like Wednesday. He LOVES his teacher Mrs. Montgomery! He is in class with Claire, Emma, and Manze; Wes is in a different class, but they see each other for enrichment classes, playground time, and at the after school program. I better take notes and a lot of pictures before time once again passes all to quickly and we find ourselves entering Kindergarten - I probably WILL cry then!!!!

You know it's love when....

you go to an even that you had vowed you would never attend again!! My daddy's birthday was at the end of July. He/we have cousins who have a cabin at the Neshoba County Fair...we went about 5 years ago - what I remember most about that trip was how miserably hot it was and I vowed to never attend again!!! WELL,,,,Daddy expressed that he REALLY wanted me to go and to bring Richard as well (Ty had to work)....so we got a room at the Golden Moon for the night before and after breakfast the next morning we headed to the fair in the ............wait for it............ wait for it.......the RAIN!!! Yes, my friends - it was raining and LOTS of it!!! So instead of scorching hot it was muggy and muddy....I do have to admit that Richard really enjoyed his cousins, feeding the animals, and the races though. Mom was a trooper and rode the rides which totally delighted Richard. I joked and told daddy that we had enough fun that I think I'm good for another TEN years till his 76th birthday!!!

It's that time again....

...the pink is a swim noodle cut into pieces because the janitor warned me that the floor wax would run under the door and seal everything it touched to the floor...

Where oh where did my summer vacation go?!?!?!?

It seems as if it was just yesterday that I was CRAMMING everything into my one tiny closet (they told us that EVERYTHING had to be off of the floor)!!! Richard was quite excited to discover that Wes (one of his best buddies) was at the school as well so they hung out, watched a movie, ate snacks, and drew pictures for a while so that Amy and I could work in our rooms! It has been an eventful summer and although I am really tired physically and emotionally, I am ready to start a new year and jump into another year in Rankin County - this is a milestone for me...believe it or not...this is my FIFTEENTH year of teaching...doesn't seem as if that could be true either!!! It's a great reminder to savor EVERY moment with my sweet Richard for the days do not slow down they just continue to pass in a blur....

A weekend trip to Baton Rouge...

Weekend before last, we headed (as is the norm these days) to Baton Rouge to see Poppa and PatPat. Richard did really well with the changes since our last visit and after his initial shyness he quickly took to the fact that Poppa was the same Poppa that loves ice cream, playing ball, and snuggling even if he doesn't have any hair right now. Richard enjoyed some great quality time with PatPat as well - they love coloring together and Richard STILL loves to be rocked to sleep by her!! Sunday service was fun for the singing part, but staying quiet for all of "teacher's" (aka preacher's) talk was kind of hard; so Richard and I walked around the church grounds and mommy (I) remenisced about how special this church is to me (that is where Ty and I were married) and thinking over how much life has changed in the past ten years...

Various things about summer that Richard LOVES....

Playing at an indoor playground AFTER he has eaten his lunch and the food man comes by to check his plate...

Watching DD help Mommy....I was stuck on step number five of my fold up hammock till my daddy came and "rescued" me - thanks Daddy...

Playing in his backyard pool....


Going to the matinee movie on Wednesdays with Mommy and then going and meeting daddy for lunch: pizza and arcade games - what fun!!


Going next door to the neighborhood pool and playing with little friends...



and just being silly with mommy....