School

Oh yes. I am "that mom."

This week was the girls' first week of daycare - a.k.a. "school".  I held them back a week to get better adjusted to life in Tennessee....we visited daddy at work, went on a big shopping trip to find their special backpacks, made a quick visit to their "school", met their teachers, we pumped it up, big time.  By the time the first day arrived, they were ecstatic!  Jumped out of the car squealing for the playground, little backpacks on their backs, and ran to the door.  Of course in my frenzy, I completely forgot my camera AND my phone - so not even a mobile photo to capture the day!  But, we dropped them off, watched them head over to their room, and left without one fuss!  What?  Really?  

So, later that morning, I drove back.  Chris told me they were outside on the playground, so I jumped in the car with my zoom lens, pulled over into a parking lot across the street, and snapped away.

Yes, I am "that mom."  

They were having a big time. How sweet to see them walking together, obeying the teachers when it was time to go back inside, I loved it! Then I got worried sick. Chris and I ran some much needed errands that afternoon and by late afternoon, neither he nor I had eaten. So, we decided to eat before picking them up.  I was a nervous wreck! "Chris. They are asking for mommy right now. They are ready for me to come get them." We finished lunch (late lunch), and headed to the daycare. I walked inside, saw them, ran over to them, got down on the floor next to them and said "Are you ready to go home?!" and Madeline looked at me and said "No home. I stay at school, Mommy!" What? Really? Huh?

Yes, the girls had a big day. They loved it. They wanted to stay and play longer. They had painted us a huge picture each, precious. And yes, I'm sure I'll still stalk them every once in a while just to be sure they are ok.  Sorry girls. Or, maybe I'm the one that needs to be stalked to make sure I'M ok....hmmm.....

Settling In

Can I possibly love my two girls any more??  Today we visited daddy at school to watch the students run a 5k race in the worst possible heat ever, I might add!  This is all these two did!  They played with two senior girls, laughed, giggled, hugged each other, precious. Savannah fell down and Madeline bent down, leaned forward and kissed her knee just making Savannah laugh hysterically!  So they hugged and laughed some more!  No....I had no camera with me for all that excitement, but, this pic from a few days ago sums it up perfectly.  They have been two giggly girls this past week -- which mean, YES, they are finally adjusting to this move!!  It has not been easy.  Not even close....But, this has been the magic week!  

They love riding the Jeep - no matter when, no matter how hot, no matter how many times I tell them it's too hot to ride the Jeep, we usually end up outside with me chasing after them as they take turns driving the Jeep.  

Apples!  Apples on the front porch has become a favorite thing to do.  They love visiting daddy at school and going to see all the "kids" as they call them!  They love going on many shopping trips with mommy during the day....they are finally settling into normal nap times...life is becoming more settled.  We're settling into new routines and they are loving every minute. How could they not when they have each other to settle in together with through all of life's changes (thus far!)?  It's all they've ever know.

The first pod they were in at the NICU....(and if you're wondering about size, just compare them to the size of the aspirator bulb above them!)

The last pod they were moved to in the NICU....

Home from the hospital to Grammy's....

On to their new home in Georgia....

And now to their new home in Tennessee...

They are truly best friends and it might be the sweetest gift ever to be their mother.

Summer

Since Chris has officially started school and I attended my first academy "icebreaker" in 18 years last night, I guess it's time to recognize the fact that summer is over and admit that I did a poor, poor job of capturing all of the special moments of Summer 2011.  I do have an excuse, though.  Just to play snapshot catch-up, here goes.

May --

The girls were able to spend some great time with their cousin McKenna during a week-long trip to Chattanooga for camp meeting.  Ever since then, the girls have not stopped saying "Big girl Kenna" about every "big girl" thing they want to do.  Sit on the potty without a potty seat?  "Mommy, I big girl Kenna."  Walk down a flight of stairs without holding Mommy's hand? "Mommy, I big girl Kenna."  Sit in a chair without a booster seat or high chair? You got it.  "I big girl Kenna."  They definitely look up to their cousin Kenna! I am amazed at the bond they have even though they don't get the chance to be together too often.

June --

In June we made our annual trip to the far east coast of Morehead City, North Carolina to visit Nana and Papa!  We absolutely adore our time there as it feels like a definite vacation and retreat each and every time we visit them....even to the literal red carpet they roll out when we roll into town!  

These girls had a ball.  It was nonstop from the minute we arrived, but all with such sweet happy memories!

At the end of our vacation, we received the sad news that our other Nana Reba back in Tennessee passed away.  She was an amazingly strong woman with an equally strong daughter, my step-mom, who stood by her side through the toughest illness of cancer anyone could face.  What sweet memories I have of her hospitality, amazing food, strong protectiveness, and the last big smiles I saw of her as she watched my girls play like crazy all over her house, getting into everything, yet bringing the brightest smile to her face.   We made a detour to my dad's house and through the saddness of our loss, we were able to make many happy memories on our unplanned trip with Papaw, Mimi, Aunt Ro Ro, and Lynsey!

July --

Then there's July.  Let's start with the fun part of July.  We spent several days at one of our favorite places in the world - Cohutta Springs.  Chris had meetings, the meetings were completely family focused so the girls and I came along, and the rest is magical relaxing history:

And then there's the rest of July.  I traveled over 1500 miles across the state of Tennessee for work with help from Nana and Papa, who made a trip all the way back to our house to help keep these girls while I was gone, and on the very last day of July, in a "by the way" sidebar, we moved to Chattanooga -- Ooltewah/Collegedale to be more exact, with help from Grammy and Papa Bob who kept the girls, making the last minute packing and literal move possible, and Aunt Ro Ro who drove down to help us with everything else, and Papaw who came down just a few days later to help me with unpacking and help with the girls while daddy left town for a few days for new duties of his new position calling!  Whew! Take a breath!  That's as hectic as the month felt.  But, what would we ever do without family?  Seriously!! 

So that brings me to my beginning note, that yes, Chris started school -- as the Academy's chaplain, and with it being my high school Alma mater, it was my first C.A. icebreaker in 18 years.  

Lots of great memories, lots of big changes, lots of great family, lots of blessings.  Life is good, life is good.