Merry Merry!

E

Elizabeth Magee is really counting down the days till Christmas.  Her teacher sent home a Santa with numbers on his beard.  She also included a ziplock bag of 25 cotton balls. Each and every morning, Elizabeth Magee has added her cotton ball and counted the days.  She was THRILLED this morning that there were only four days left.

We did the Fancy Nancy Hair Party at the library again with Annie this year.  The big girls got really into it and Mary Thorne got REALLY REALLY FANCY....and she loved it.  We saw Ms. Claus at the library also....Mary Thorne walked up to her....closed one eye pointed at her and said, "Hey, you are NOT Santa Claus."  It was priceless.



Elizabeth Magee and I went with friends to the Nutcracker.  She paid attention the whole time.  Her favorite part is the Mouse King with eight heads.

Our unexpected Christmas event has been that sweet sweet Ally broke her toe.  We aren't exactly sure what happened but she's getting lots of tender loving care!

We went to Senatobia on Thursday and had a long relaxing Christmas weekend.  The girls made cookies but they didn't really like them.........These pictures are from Thursday before Baby Caroline arrived....I'll update with that half of Christmas next!

Thankful for Many Blessings!

Before we start our Thanksgiving celebrations --I wanted to catch up on our recent adventures!

Oliver was ordained an Elder earlier this month. It was a beautiful service and I am so proud of his commitment to our church!

Biscuit and Mark spent a weekend with us and entertained the girls --- Mark has an app that lets you see Santa feed the reindeer -- very special!!

Last weekend was the Ole Miss LSU game in Oxford. We got to see lots of friends. Rebecca and Quinton came with their children and I loved watching Harris and the girls play!

EM got my ticket to the game and I think her uncle and daddy spoiled her rotten during the game - Oliver said she didn't complain once about the freezing cold!!

I snapped this picture of the girls before school on Monday. For some reason, Elizabeth Magee looks so big to me -- time really needs to stop! 

Happy Halloween!!!

This picture of Oliver and Mary Thorne may be my favorite picture of the year.  She is a little 2 year old version of Oliver Williams.  He likes to think he's in charge....but she's in charge.  And she reminds both of us of this fact on a regular basis.....if 2 is in indication of 15......we are in TROUBLE.

The threat of rain does not stop Halloween in Crestline!  The parade was at 4 on Saturday.....the rain held off till a little after 5....just enough time for the parade and a little trick or treating!

I love this picture of Poppy's smile....she's a little stingy with her smiles around the camera so I feel like this one is extra special!

Mary Thorne is SO proud of school crafts...and she has completely caught on to me throwing them away.  She bring them home and ask me to NOT throw them away.....

The girls and I did a pre-Halloween trick or treat at Kirkwood Retirement.  We went last year and it was a lot of fun!

At the day school, the 4s and 5s have a Halloween Parade for the younger children.....they get to wear their costumes to school.  This is a BIG deal if you are 4 or 5.....the parade was last Thursday and Elizabeth Magee was so cute!  I can't believe she'll be in kindergarten next year.  I cry every time I think about her being gone from 8 to 3 (and really it's going to be the morning time that I miss with her).......we pack a lot in before school at 9!

Our church had it's annual fall festival a two Sundays ago.  The weather was perfect.  Not to hot or cold.....cold enough for a bon fire but not so cold that you needed a coat!

Memphis!

Elizabeth Magee had her "Special Week" last week at school.  She made a poster to tell the class about her life.  I developed the pictures, bought the glue and poster and she did the rest.  I wrote a few things that she wanted on the bottom.  She wanted me to make Monkey Bread for her class and I read Good Night Memphis to the class.   The author, Grace Skertich was sweet enough to write her a little note in the front of the book and we read that to the class also!

Our library had the Children's Theatre perform "The Little Red Hen" a few days ago.....this was the first play that I think Annie and Elizabeth Magee paid attention.

We spent last weekend in Memphis with the Bowies and these SIX had a great playdate....next time we see them it will be SEVEN!!!  We had a great dinner with Garner, Martha and Mr. James at Porcellinos on Friday night.  The Memphis v. Ole Miss game was more than disappointing.....but I loved getting to see our Memphis friends.....it's strange to me that my girls have no memory of living there....EM was only 15 months and the twins weren't even born when we moved....

We painted pumpkins today at Oak Street Nursery.  Mary Thorne put about 100 goggly eyes on her pumpkin.  She loves to paint....especially her toes!

Poppy had developed a little bit of an obsessive personality.  She will only wear things that are RED and talks about DOGS all day long.  And if a red pick up truck goes by she LOSES it....she screams, "I love red trucks....I love red trucks....look mommy a RED truck!"  

It's Been Awhile

It's been awhile since I've updated our blog! We are some busy little people around here. But it's a good busy and I'm thankful for every single day!

We celebrated Oliver's 32nd birthday on October 3rd. The girls made his cake with very little help -- it was a mess but you've never seen such a loved cake!  

Oliver is coaching U5 Sunday Soccer. Elizabeth Magee loves having her daddy coach. Watching Mary Thorne watch them will make you cry. She wants to play SO bad!!! She claps and runs onto the field to kick the ball. She's better than anyone on our actual team. She says "daddy coach me when I bigger". 

And to THE most exciting news of the year -- our new "baby cousin" Caroline Grace!!! I got to spend a long weekend with her and Sis and Siggi! It was wonderful And I'm really glad to get to be Aunt Sis or Sissie -- waiting to see what Caroline prefers!

We had some special Memphis friends drop by for an hour play date -- and I loved it!

  I've worked more than usual the past week. Friday morning Poppy told me she was going to work and to come visit her office. I walked outside and found this:

Ole Miss

Mary Thorne and Poppy got their first "real" haircut last week.  Mary Thorne LOVED it she soaked it up like such a big girl and didn't want to get out of the chair.  She has said at least once a day, "Go get hair cut?"  It's good she liked it because Farrah told me that Mary Thorne has a double crown - so hair swoops from two spots in the back of her head!  Poppy sat still and was real good but didn't love it.  Farrah says that Poppy has the "perfect" hair and is going to have a nice balance of wavy hair that will be easy to straighten.

We've spent the last two Saturdays in the Grove.    The girls went with us this week and it was great!  Sis, Ryan, Thomas, and Laura were all in town.  My girls got to play with family all weekend and it made me wish we all lived in the same town.  In the span of a morning, my girls saw both their grandfathers, their uncles on my side and Oliver's side, grandmother, aunt, and various cousins.  Pop took EM to hear the band and Garner played chase in the Grove --- the newest reason it's worth the effort to get to Ole Miss!

Our first stop was the Tri Delt house.  As we were pulling up to the Grove, EM said, "There is a place at Ole Miss called the Tri Delt house and they have ICE CREAM."  Of course, our first stop was the Tri Delt house.

We are adjusting to our new weekly routine and it's a good one!  The twins and I are going to Ms. Kat's story time on Monday mornings after we take Elizabeth Magee to school.  When they were newborns, Elizabeth Magee was in Ms. Kat's storytime --- doesn't seem like it's been two years!

Labor Day and Lambie

I think Poppy looks like a movie star in this picture.  She has really gotten into her baby dolls.  She has such a funny little personality.  She could care less about me if we are home or she is comfortable.  BUT away from home she is a clinger.  So far, she does not like school.  She says, "Poppy NOT like school."  She cried all the way there on Tuesday but was fine once she got out of the car.

We spent Labor Day weekend in Oxford for the first home game.  The girls spent Saturday night having a cousin sleepover with Biscuit.  Oliver and I went to Como Steakhouse and spent the night with Net - a real treat! We all attended Poppy's family reunion on Sunday and then spent Labor Day at the pool.  The second week of school is in full swing and I feel like EM going four days a week is a big deal!  She has loved every minute of it so far.  AND a huge milestone for her - has left Lambie at home the last TWO days!!!!

Last Days and First Days

I did NOT want summer to end.  We've had such a great time.....perfect balance of play, travel, work, fun, friends, just us time, explore away from home and exploring at home.....I think part of my not wanting it to end is not wanting the pool to close -- we've gone almost everyday since May!  But all good things must end, right?  So we celebrated it big and went to Chuck E Cheese on Friday with friends.  The girls LOVED it.  I haven't been to Chuck E Cheese since I was probably 10.....it was clean and safe and everyone had a great time.

 Elizabeth Magee INSISTED on wearing her Mouse Costume -- even though it is an 18 mo. and more like a mouse shirt.

Our group was 30 minutes early....nothing left to do but have frosties from Wendy's at 10 a.m.!

Saturday morning Elizabeth Magee woke up DETERMINED to have a lemonade stand.  So we did...it was a nice day and not to hot.  She earned a couple of bucks and then bought herself something "new" at  a neighbor's yard sale.  I think she learned a little something from the experience!

Elizabeth Magee and Ticer started 4K at IPC yesterday.  It was fun having them back together.  Ticer was a little unsure since he had never been to school at IPC before.  I wish they had the same teacher but they are in rooms next door to each other!  In only two days, Elizabeth Magee has come home saying, "I don't like milk." (She still is drinking it).  She is singing new songs and writing her whole name.  She already seems older.  I can't believe she's going back tomorrow and the next day!  Four days seems like a lot!

Poppy and Mary Thorne started this morning.  Of course, I got no pictures but the photographer at our church got some.....so I'll have to update!

Poppy got in "trouble" on the first day.  She wore her crocs to school and the PE teacher walked her to the car in carpool....she told me that Poppy didn't need to wear crocs anymore but tennis shoes.  Poppy looked at her and said, "No.  Poppy wear crocs."  Yikes!  And she's the easy one!

When the twins were born, Oliver started taking Elizabeth Magee to Tuesday night storytime at the Library.  The twins have never gotten to go....until today....they loved it!  But who wouldn't like wearing pjs to the library, getting stories and cookies?