This is Why I Love Fall

Last weekend, Phillip and I decided to take the girls to Asheville for a day of fall fun.

Asheville is one of my favorite towns, and it is especially beautiful in October. We decided to first take a drive, do a little hiking, hit the Blue Ridge Parkway, and then spend the rest of the day playing in town. We set the GPS for Craggy Gardens, and followed the directions up a Forest Service road to the top of the mountain. While I typically am not fond of these types of roads, the drive was fairly easy and incredibly beautiful.

The girls fell asleep in the backseat on the way up the mountain, so Phillip and I were able to take our time and stop along the way to make pictures and enjoy the scenery.

Snow had already fallen on top of the mountain, which made the drive even more special. Unfortunately, when we got to Craggy Gardens, we discovered it had been closed due to bear activity, so we made our way onto the Blue Ridge Parkway, and enjoyed another beautiful ride. To reward the girls for behaving so well while in the car, we decided to treat them to some playtime at the park.

We let the girls play for about an hour before we loaded them up and took them to get ice cream at the Asheville Mall, which will henceforth be known to Isabella not as the Asheville Mall, but the "Ice Cream Store." Days like this are why I love fall so much.

Tiny Dancer

One of my longest-held dreams has finally been realized.

My little Isabella is finally taking dance lessons.

As much as I have always dreamed of my little girl taking ballet, I must admit that I initially had a few doubts as to whether or not she was ready. You see, I made the rookie mistake on the way to registration of telling her that she was going to get her foot measured for ballet and tap shoes. Since she had no idea what this actually meant, she assumed the worst and proceeded to do what three-year-olds do best: become negative. "No, mommy, I don't want to get my foot measured. No! I don't want Isabella's foot measured." She repeated her mantra for the next ten minutes, as though she truly believed some unspeakable horror was about to befall her feet.

However, when we walked in (or I should say I walked, she was dragged), she saw another little girl trying on shoes that to Isabella looked as though Cinderella herself had recently cast them aside. She immediately climbed up in a chair, ripped her tennis shoe off, and stuck her pale pink-painted toes into the face of a studio worker. While I paid her tuition, Isabella amused herself by trying on every shoe in the box. When she had exhausted the pile, she ran over to me and shouted, "Mommy, I got measured!" Oh, the joy on that little face.

Afterward, I took her into the studio and showed her where she would be learning how to "dance like a princess." With no hesitation whatsoever, she began to twirl around the room. With this bit of encouragement, I decided it was safe to indulge myself (and my wallet) in purchasing all of the dance accessories I could (I mean, "she could") want. I had more fun than I care to admit picking out leotards, tights, ballet skirts, a personalized dance bag, and even a ballet slipper key chain for her bag (yes, of course, she had to have one).

Her first day of class arrived, and unfortunately, her dance class falls on one of the days she attends preschool. What this means is that she must take a very condensed nap and I must wake her up a full hour before she is ready. And not only must I wake her, I must immediately wrangle tights, a leotard and ballet shoes on her. That first day, she was less than happy to cooperate. My memory is a little fuzzy, as I tried to erase the experience completely from my mind, but as I recall, she screamed something like, "I DON'T WANT TO WEAR THESE TIGHTS! I DON'T WANT TO WEAR THIS 'LEETARD!'" And, she proceeded to pull her shorts and tee-shirt out of the clothes hamper while attempting to rip off her tights.

(Obviously, she is not the happiest child when she first wakes up). So, I pulled out the big guns. I broke my rule about allowing her to watch the DVD player in the car while not on vacation. I have found that there is very little that an episode of "Max and Ruby" and a Hello Kitty thermos full of orange Gatorade won't fix.

We made it to the studio, clothes intact. Once there, she remembered that this was the place where princess shoes abound and little girls can twirl themselves into oblivion in front of full-length mirrors. She would hardly stand still long enough for me to tighten her tap shoes. She ran into the studio and after one short hour she had learned to "run like a ballerina," do the "First Position," and make really, really loud noises with her tap shoes. After class, she ran into the lobby with a stamp on one hand and a green lollipop in the other. On the way home, she told me repeatedly what a wonderful time she had. And for a super-frilly mommy like me, I couldn't have asked for more.

The Great Debates

Today's Topic for Our Debating Panel:

This toy kitchen

is less exciting than this toy kitchen. Discuss.

Obviously, this is a misleading debate topic. To most observers, the first kitchen is clearly superior.

For the sake of clarity, we'll say the target demographic for the first toy is a child of preschool age, hereinafter referred to as "Isabella." It has all of the fancies and frills any child (i.e., Isabella) could hope for. It has a realistic oven, microwave, and refrigerator. It has drawers, cabinets, and even a window. It also has over 100 realistic accessories including food, plates, cookware, and utensils. It even has a cordless phone with real buttons.

Truly, what more could a preschool-aged child want?

Well, for one, she could (and will) want the kitchen in the second picture, which is clearly smaller, simpler, and made for a child aged nine months and up.

Why, you may ask? Why would she pass up the opportunity to pretend boil a plastic eggplant and chocolate bar while talking to Dora the Explorer on the surprisingly-real phone in favor of opening and closing a green plastic oven door and shoving geometrically-shaped plastic ice cubes into a hole?

It's because the natural law that befalls all children between the ages of two and four decrees it. For the sake of this debate, I will refer to said law as, "The Law of Sibling Differentials," which states, "The party of the first part wants the smaller, less exciting toy, if and only if, the party of the second part, hereinafter referred to as 'Sophia,' wants it first."

My dear audience, I am at a loss. The "Great Kitchen Debate" is only one of many I have moderated today. I have also witnessed the "Great Musical Instrument Debate," the "Great Juice Box Debate," and the "Great Play-doh Accessory Debate," just to name a few.

In these tumultuous time, such topics must be discussed at length and we must pray that resolutions will soon be made. However, as Head of Diplomatic Sibling Relations, it is imperative that I maintain my sanity while negotiations are under way. In addition to the occasional bubble bath, Girl's Night Out, and manicure, I also indulge in a little fantasy. In my fantasy world, the following phrases would be stricken from my children's vocabulary: "Mine!," "No, Sister!," "That's not yours!," and the ever-popular, "Here, Sister, play with this one instead!"

But, like I said, that is a mere fantasy and not real life. So, for the time being, I suppose real life will involve tantrums, time outs, and tears--and that's just my life.

Where to Begin?

Hi, there. Remember me? I'm the one who made a promise not so long ago to do a better job of updating my blog so that all five of my loyal readers wouldn't have to chew down their manicures in anticipation of my next fascinating installment. Please accept my apologies and bear with me as I attempt to reaquaint myself with the art (craft?) of writing about my littlest family members.

It has been a wonderfully-eventful summer, but I'm now more than ready for fall. My sweet husband cringes when I utter such things; he loves summer, and the hotter the better as far as he's concerned. Since my naturally-curly hair and I have never quite made friends with high humidity, the season that garners my praise and passion is fall. I love everything about it. I love the aisles of back-to-school supplies in Wal-mart. I love the way Michael's craft stores smell like cinammon potpourri. I love my dining room table centerpiece that I can only use after Labor Day and before the Friday after Thanksgiving. I especially love the wave of "freshness," coupled with "new beginnings," that washes over me each year about this time. I think most people associate that feeling with springtime; I, however, am hit by the full force of it right about the time each new school year starts. I typically feel the urge to buy a bunch of new organizational accoutrements, break out my label maker, and take control of the things I have let slip during the summer. This year is no exception. Our summer was exceptionally full, so of course, my planner is exceptionally empty, as I have taken very little time to update my life, which is exceptionally frustrating. But, no matter. Fall is around the corner and fresh new plans and ideas will arrive with it.

One of the first orders of business is to update my blog, and yes, I really do have more to talk about than my obsession with fall and my obsessive-compulsiveness for all things Martha Stewart. I am anxious to share with you some of the highlights of our summer, but that will have to come in a future entry. I just heard my little ones stirring in their beds, so mommy's hiatus must soon come to an end. Again, I apologize for my long absence and hope you will bear with me as I attempt to get back into my writing and into a new season.

Preschool Highlights

Isabella's first year of preschool ended last week. I can hardly believe it. When I look back on the progress she's made, I have no doubt in my mind I made the right decision to send her (even though she was the youngest child in her class). I had faith in my little girl and I knew she would thrive; I just had no idea how much. Here are some photos from her first year in preschool.

This was her very first day of school. Isn't she tiny? I look back on this photo and wonder how I ever left her there that day.

Her teacher, Mrs. Juanita, took this picture on Isabella's first day. She cried for a few minutes after I left her, and then off and on during the day. She looks pretty upset here, poor little thing. And don't think for a second I didn't stand out in the hallway with tears in my own eyes after I left her. I watched the security camera monitor for twenty minutes, just to make sure she was okay.

Soon, however, Isabella decided she would rather be at school than just about anywhere else. She would frequently run down the hall, backpack in place, lunchbox swinging, to her teacher and friends with barely a backward glance at her poor mommy. What a difference just a few days made.

She had her second birthday just three weeks after school began. Yes, I started her in preschool before she was even two-years-old. I feel a little guilty about that, but like I said, I had a feeling she would do well. Mrs. Juanita decorated the classroom door in honor of Isabella's birthday.

I made cupcakes for her classmates that day. Chocolate on chocolate with sugary Elmo heads on top. Yum!

Early in the school year, the local fire department came to give a lesson on fire safety to all of the children. They brought their trucks for the kids to explore.

They were each given a plastic fireman helmet to take home. This was a big hit!

Here she is playing dress-up in the classroom. What a sense of style!

One of the highlights of the year was the Halloween parade. All of the children dressed up as one of "God's Creations." Isabella was a ladybug. They trick-or-treated their way through the church. I volunteered to hand out candy just so I could see how she responded to the excitement. The kids were adorable, especially my little ladybug.

Isabella really loved her daily time on the playground.

It took her awhile to get used to the swings, but she soon got the hang of them.

She became quite adventurous. This little girl loves to climb!

This log cabin was one of her favorite playground pieces. It's fitting, considering the family business.

Fall arrived and with it came sweet friendships between Isabella and her "Mingos." (This is Isabella's word for her friends. Mrs. Juanita taught them the Spanish word "Amigo" for "friend." Since she couldn't quite say it, she settled for "Mingo").

Here is my little girl on the night of the Christmas program. She was so excited to be on stage. Once she spotted her family, she spent the remainder of the program waving to us and yelling our names: "Hi, Pappy!" "Hi, Daddy!" "It's, Grammy!" "There's my Mommy!" And so on, and so on...

She really enjoyed physical education time in the gym. She learned how to do somersaults and how to play interactive games with other kids. This was some of the most valuable time spent in school this year. Her socialization skills really seemed to blossom during this time.



Here is a (very poorly recorded) video of Isabella's Spring performance. I don't know if I have ever tried so hard to keep from laughing and crying at the same time. Notice how the audience starts laughing when she begins her jumping routine. I apologize in advance for quality of the video. The kids are precious, regardless.

Lining up for the Easter Egg Hunt! She was so proud of her basket of eggs. When she came home, she very carefully laid out each egg, then organized them by color, and then by her favorite color. Next, she opened each one and was utterly delighted to find the surprises.

Here is Isabella and her classmates with their donations for the St. Jude Walk-a-thon. The kids actually took part in walking for this wonderful cause and my best friend, Amanda, came to tell the children about her own precious son's battle with leukemia, which he has beaten. God answers prayers.

Isabella and her "Mingos" with Mrs. Kristie during Enrichment. The time Mrs. Kristie spent with the class came to be a daily highlight for Isabella.

Isabella and her friend, Miles. Aren't they sweet together?

One of the best things about sending Isabella to preschool was the artwork that came to adorn the side of my refrigerator. I have saved each and every masterpiece.

Here she is painting my Mother's Day gift. For some reason, purple paint became her favorite medium.

Birthday cupcakes for one of Isabella's "Mingos."

Here are Phillip and Isabella eating gravy and biscuits during the special breakfast the school hosted for all the daddies. (Don't they look alike?)

Here's Isabella and her class on Pajama Day. They all wore their "jommies" (as Isabella calls them) to school, even Mrs. Juanita.

Isabella and Mrs. Juanita, the most precious teacher we could have hoped for. Isabella talks about her every day. She will truly be missed next year.

I'm so proud of how Isabella has grown this year. Each day she went to class changed her just a little bit. She would get in the car each afternoon and talk nonstop about her day. While I'm looking forward to our time together this summer, I can't wait to see how she'll grow next year.

A Wonderful Mother's Day Weekend

What a truly special Mother's Day I had this year. Phillip and my little ones went out of their way to make the entire weekend one to remember. It all began when I picked up Isabella from preschool late last week and was presented with my very first handmade Mother's Day gift.


Isabella and her teacher, Mrs. Juanita, made me this little flower. Isabella hand-painted the flower and little pot all by herself. She was so proud of it, she wanted to take it with her when I put her down for her nap. I managed to sneak this photo without waking her.

Next, Sophia made my Mother's Day extra special by taking her first continuous steps. She had already been taking one or two steps at a time, but last week she finally decided it was time to walk. Phillip managed to get one photo of her in action. Notice the blur behind her as she moved. My life is about to get even busier.

Saturday morning we got up and went to breakfast as a family, as we usually do. We love to take Isabella to McDonald's. She plays on the slide and then runs by our table every few minutes for a forkful of gravy and biscuits, her very favorite food.


Next, we went to Lowe's to buy flowers for our front flower beds. We let Isabella choose one special flower of her own to take care of. She chose a very pretty yellow one, which we planted right in the middle (where she told us to, of course). Isabella had a wonderful time digging with her pink trowel and watering everything but the flowers with her pink watering can. It was a very special thing to work in the yard for the first time as a family.

While the girls were asleep, Phillip brought me a bouquet of flowers for Mother's Day. He chose the white roses and purple penstemons himself. They made a beautiful spring arrangement.


After the girls got up from their naps, we went to mom and dad's house for dinner.


The girls had a ball riding the four-wheeler with their Daddy and Pappy.




The next morning we went to church. Phillip ordered my favorite Chinese take-out for lunch, and while we waited, we took some family pictures around the church after the parking lots cleared.







After the girls' nap, we visited with Phillip's mom and dad for a little while and then took the girls to the park. Sophia had a ball watching her big sister from her wagon seat and Isabella kept her daddy busy on the swings and slides.



After the girls went to bed, Phillip grilled steaks for dinner and we settled in to watch Desperate Housewives together. It was truly a very special weekend. I feel so blessed to have my little family and I know I will cherish these memories forever.