I know this is old, but since the Alabama vs. Tennessee game is this weekend, I had to post this. This isn't an actor and there is no script. This is just heartfelt hatred for the Vols.
10/22/2009
Camera dump
I am finally getting around to downloading some pictures from my camera. So, I figured I could update the family on what we have been up to.
Most afternoons are spent like this:
Most afternoons are spent like this:
Payton is such a good student and usually gets started on her homework right away. She is loving that our school has started the Accelerated Reader program this year and always has her nose in a book. One of her favorite authors right now is Andrew Clements. Her teacher read "Frindle" to the class and Payton was hooked.
When we get home from school, Hayden immediately strips out of her uniform and takes her rubber bands out. Most days she immediately puts her pajamas on. She will sometimes try to hide them behind the couch cushions so she can get right to them when she gets home. On this particular day she actually opted for clothes. Matching her clothes is not a priority for her. Her homework method of choice is to do her entire homework packet for the week on Monday. That way she only has her reading to do on all the other nights. Her reading has just blossomed this year. She did fine last year, but never wanted to read out loud to me. That has all changed. She wants to start reading her book to me as soon as she gets in the car sometimes. I love to hear her read.
Fourth grade has been an adjustment for Taylor. She is having to work harder for her good grades this year. It is not unusual for her to spend 45 minutes on homework each night. On parent night at the beginning of the year, her teacher said the state guidelines suggest that a fourth grader should be spending 45-50 minutes on homework every night. Now that she knows what and how she needs to study and how everything is supposed to be done, the frustrating moments are becoming fewer. They do still happen, though. (as recently as today) She loves her teacher and seems to be just soaking everything up. I love for her to come home and be excited about the inertia experiment they did or want to tell me everything she learned about the role Alabama has played in the space program. She has even been excited to share with me her new way of doing 2 digit multiplication. This is going to be a great school year.
Apparently she got ahold of my camera one day. These made me smile when I discovered them.
Obviously our Saturdays always involve watching the Alabama game. I love this family tradition. I love remembering those Saturdays when Bryan and I were first dating that we would spend at Bryant-Denny Stadium. I love seeing Bryan totally in his element yelling at the TV and losing his voice cheering when the Crimson Tide scores. I love seeing the girls in their Alabama t-shirts and knowing that it is kick-off time because I can hear them yelling ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLL TIDE!!!!!!!! I love that when I run errands on Saturday everyone is wearing there crimson and white and also trying to get back home in time for "the game." I love that you can say "the game" to anyone and they know what you are talking about. I love singing the fight song after every touchdown. I love chanting "Rammer Jammer" after a big win and I love remembering chanting it in a stadium full of 90,000+ other fans yelling the same thing after the Iron Bowl. This is Alabama Football!
Our time has also been spent doing a lot of extra-curricular activities at school. Both Taylor and Payton sing in the school choir and are on the Student Council. The SC is only open to 3rd-5th grade. In 3rd grade you can run for class representative and in 4th and 5th grade you can run for an officer position. Taylor was excited to have that opportunity this year so she decided to run for Historian. She chose this office because she "likes to scrapbook and take pictures." When I found out that 10 other kids were running for that office I was a little worried for her. I wanted her to try, but I sure didn't want her to fail. We made her posters as a family and put them up Monday morning. By Monday afternoon, this is what the stairwell looked like:
Taylor was so excited to be part of it all. She kept saying she was OK if she didn't win, she just liked running for office, making posters, and asking people to vote for her. Here she is on Friday with one of her posters. I was surprised the balloons stayed inflated all week.
This was right after she made her speech and you can tell she has the biggest smile. The speech couldn't have gone any better. The speeches were given at an assembly of all the 2nd-5th graders, teachers, and parents. I figured there were at least 600 people there. Taylor had her speech memorized and she delivered it perfectly. Everyone else must have thought so to, because SHE WON!!! They didn't make the announcement until the following Monday morning. I think that was the longest weekend of Taylor's life. I have to admit, I was pretty anxious about it to. We had even talked about what she would do if she didn't hear her name called or if she felt like she might get upset. But, none of that was necessary. The following week, the classes held elections for their representatives. Payton was excited to be able to run for that since she is in 3rd grade. She was even more excited that she also won a position on the Student Council. They have already had their first meeting and their first event. The Student Council made signs and held them up along the route on National Walk to School Day. Payton stood on one of the routes holding her sign and Taylor walked all over taking pictures.
The girls are also running with the cross country team. Here they are after their first 5K of the school year.
The cross country team is not affiliated with the school this year so they don't practice there anymore. The practices have been a little difficult for us to make as often as we would like, but the girls totally love it when they can go.
Taylor was so excited to be part of it all. She kept saying she was OK if she didn't win, she just liked running for office, making posters, and asking people to vote for her. Here she is on Friday with one of her posters. I was surprised the balloons stayed inflated all week.This was right after she made her speech and you can tell she has the biggest smile. The speech couldn't have gone any better. The speeches were given at an assembly of all the 2nd-5th graders, teachers, and parents. I figured there were at least 600 people there. Taylor had her speech memorized and she delivered it perfectly. Everyone else must have thought so to, because SHE WON!!! They didn't make the announcement until the following Monday morning. I think that was the longest weekend of Taylor's life. I have to admit, I was pretty anxious about it to. We had even talked about what she would do if she didn't hear her name called or if she felt like she might get upset. But, none of that was necessary. The following week, the classes held elections for their representatives. Payton was excited to be able to run for that since she is in 3rd grade. She was even more excited that she also won a position on the Student Council. They have already had their first meeting and their first event. The Student Council made signs and held them up along the route on National Walk to School Day. Payton stood on one of the routes holding her sign and Taylor walked all over taking pictures.The girls are also running with the cross country team. Here they are after their first 5K of the school year.
The cross country team is not affiliated with the school this year so they don't practice there anymore. The practices have been a little difficult for us to make as often as we would like, but the girls totally love it when they can go.Between all of these things, Taylor singing with Mobile Singing Children, PTA, PTA, PTA, church callings, Activity Days, etc. we still try to find time to spend time as a family. The girls enjoy playing games together. There recent favorites are Mancala and Farkle.
Last month Payton was selected as the Terrific Tiger for her class. This used to be called All-Star but was renamed Terrific Tiger to coincide with a character education program the counselors are implementing this year. Whatever they call it, this little girl deserves it. She is such a sweet girl to her classmates, is always willing to help out the teacher, and always does her best.
(You know what the out of uniform shirt means----Perfect attendance for the month including no tardies. Yay, me!)
While I am on the subject of thanking Lynne. Thank you for the pumpkin bread recipe. I made that Saturday. Thank you for showing me how to make rolls. I made those Sunday. Thank you for teaching me how to make cinnamon rolls. I made those Monday. I'll have to give you a recipe for the crumb cake I made Tuesday. Thank you for telling me about chocolate covered popcorn. I made that Wednesday. Thanks for the chocolate covered cinnamon bears that came in the mail today. I am sure those won't last long. Thanks for showing me how to make these brownies. I will probably make them tomorrow. Now I just need one more thing from you....
Last month Payton was selected as the Terrific Tiger for her class. This used to be called All-Star but was renamed Terrific Tiger to coincide with a character education program the counselors are implementing this year. Whatever they call it, this little girl deserves it. She is such a sweet girl to her classmates, is always willing to help out the teacher, and always does her best.
(You know what the out of uniform shirt means----Perfect attendance for the month including no tardies. Yay, me!)This is a camera dump so here is some more misc. information. I am loving my Silhouette. It is perfect for YW handouts, Student Council posters etc. I especially love it now that I have some vinyl. Thanks, Lynne. You are the best. And thanks, Mom for the gingersnap recipe. You're the best. They were so good but I don't know if I can make them again before you come visit. I don't know if Payton can handle it. The smell of them baking reminded her too much of you. I guess you will know if I made them, because I am sure she will want to call you again.
Maybe I should write a book about that. If you make some gingersnaps, your house will start to smell like Mimi's. If your house smells like Mimi's, it will make Payton sad. ... You get the idea.
While I am on the subject of thanking Lynne. Thank you for the pumpkin bread recipe. I made that Saturday. Thank you for showing me how to make rolls. I made those Sunday. Thank you for teaching me how to make cinnamon rolls. I made those Monday. I'll have to give you a recipe for the crumb cake I made Tuesday. Thank you for telling me about chocolate covered popcorn. I made that Wednesday. Thanks for the chocolate covered cinnamon bears that came in the mail today. I am sure those won't last long. Thanks for showing me how to make these brownies. I will probably make them tomorrow. Now I just need one more thing from you........ A New Pair of Pants!
Pumpkin bread and gingersnaps only mean one thing. We had Fall this week. I hope everyone enjoyed it because that is about how long it lasts in Mobile. When we had Fall this week, the girls loved being outside. My driveway has the art gallery to prove it.
Pumpkin bread and gingersnaps only mean one thing. We had Fall this week. I hope everyone enjoyed it because that is about how long it lasts in Mobile. When we had Fall this week, the girls loved being outside. My driveway has the art gallery to prove it.
Baking isn't the only thing I use to distract myself from the never-ending pile of laundry. I sometimes sew to block out those pesky thoughts. The sound of the sewing machine is louder than the voice in my head telling me to unload the dishwasher or mop the floor. I am still a beginner but I am learning. I love quick, easy projects that are idiot proof. After Lynne taught me how to make aprons this summer, I have tried to branch out. Shawna showed me how to make rag quilts and I have made a couple of those. I made my kids some mini-quilts to make sure I had it down before I tried for a regular sized one. I think I have it figured out, because the two I made for baby gifts seemed to be appreciated. Here is Hayden with her dinosaur quilt. 
When I decided to make quilts for the girls I took them to Joanne's and let them pick out the fabric. Hayden saw this fabric and knew she had to have it. This picture was taken right before bed a couple of months ago when she had Bronchitis. With her allergies and "touch of asthma" as the doctor called it, she has become quite the pro at using the breathing machine. She doesn't have to use it all the time just for a week or so here and there. In this picture, you can also see right below her eye where she busted her face on kitchen table. This happened the week after she got her boot off from her broken ankle. Nothing a trip to the Immediate Care and some Dermabond can't fix.
When I decided to make quilts for the girls I took them to Joanne's and let them pick out the fabric. Hayden saw this fabric and knew she had to have it. This picture was taken right before bed a couple of months ago when she had Bronchitis. With her allergies and "touch of asthma" as the doctor called it, she has become quite the pro at using the breathing machine. She doesn't have to use it all the time just for a week or so here and there. In this picture, you can also see right below her eye where she busted her face on kitchen table. This happened the week after she got her boot off from her broken ankle. Nothing a trip to the Immediate Care and some Dermabond can't fix.Back to the sewing. I have a friend who has a sweet hook up on cute kid fabric remnants. She got me a bag full of pink chenille dot fabric remnants. I have had it for a couple of weeks trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it. Well I used part of it tonight and made Hayden this little outfit.
I have never made pants before but I had read a tutorial online and I just went off what I could remember. They aren't perfect so don't look to close, but she was super excited about them. She said they were the softest thing she had ever felt. You know how she likes her soft things. Always has. We had this cute little t-shirt so I decided to applique a matching "H" on it.
Some of the things I have not taken pictures because I never remember to charge my camera are:
On another random note: At the end of August, the Activity Day girls had a father/daughter luau that Bryan took Taylor and Payton to. That left me and Hayden alone for our own date. We decided the best way to spend it was at the library then getting smoothies. We spent our time picking out dinosaur books and we looked through some of Graeme Base's books. We had to bring some of those home to share, too. Then we headed over to Smoothie King to drink smoothies and read dinosaur books. It was a great way to spend time with my baby who is getting bigger every time I blink. Somebody make it stop.
Some of the things I have not taken pictures because I never remember to charge my camera are:Taylor's field trip to the Mobile Museum of Art
Hayden's field trip to Seward Farms and the corn field maze
1st grade Honor's Day when Hayden got her A-honor Roll certificate.
A visit from Daylyn, Jilly, Addy, and Ezra
All of the other day to day activites that fill our lives.
Even when I don't have a camera around to document , I always remember I am the luckiest mom in the world!
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