Silly Hair

Bathtime can be loads of fun...or not. Sometimes it can be a fight, from start to finish. Other times are just plain F-U-N!!!

Wish us luck this weekend...No, scratch that. Wish Mimi, Grandad and Miss Kendra luck this weekend. Chip and I are off to Atlanta for a little adult-time. We're planning to take in a couple of Braves games, spend a couple of hours (or the whole day, depends on who you ask) at IKEA, possibly relax by the pool (no noodles, dive sticks or "mommy, watch this!"), but mostly we're going for those big, thick, dark curtains we'll find in our hotel room. We're looking forward to sleeping in past 7:00AM. Thanks to those keeping a close eye on our munchkins while we enjoy this mini-break.

Mountain Folk

We enjoyed a wonderful evening in the mountains Saturday with the kids. I will repeat what I've said a thousand times, if we were the Swiss Family Robinson, our kids would be the happiest kids in the entire world, hands down. They love to be outside...they get along perfectly together and are just at their all-around happiest when outdoors. As we left, I said something to the effect of "I love this. We have to do this more often." Even though we come up to the mountains several times a year, it should be way more. We definitely take advantage of the fact that we live so close to the Great Smoky Mountains! The saddest part of the day was when I told Chip I realized that they changed the OLD welcome sign that you've always seen in commercials, movies and photos when you enter the park. If I could have any photo, I think it would be a family photo in front of that old sign (not the new one, although, someday, I'll probably say the same thing about that one).

I couldn't get both kids to pose with me. I had to settle for one at a time. I love my little cheesers!
Of course Daddy could get them together at the same time!

We are walking along a ledge that went along the river, down below the road up to Cades Cove. It was actually pretty fun, the kids loved it. We got to a place where we crossed the "river" and then climbed up an embankment back up to a "trail" that led back to our picnic spot. FUN!

Both on the same rock, smiling at the same time!! PRICELESS! This never happens!

Speechless. I love this kid!

What you can't see is Kendall shaking her bootie. I love her, too. "Princess" and all.

A NEW School Day!!

Today was Cooper's first day back to his "new school" since the beginning of summer. Today was also Kendall's first day at this school, period. Luckily, Kendall has the same teacher that Cooper had last year, so she was already comfortable going in. My sweet baby couldn't have cared less when I kissed her goodbye and walked out the door!

Yesterday was a sad day. We left the school the kids have both been going to since they were 6 months old. While I know that this is a great transition for all four of us, it is sad to leave the confines of a place where your children have been so loved for so long.

This was the second picture I got of the two schoolkids showing off their new lunchboxes (Lightening McQueen and Dora, respectively). The FIRST picture was one of the best photos I've ever taken of the two of them together. And, guess what? I deleted it. After I edited it a bit in Photoshop, I somehow deleted it...it was nowhere to be found on my computer. UGH.

7/24/09 Update: THE SECOND DAY AT OUR NEW SCHOOL! I managed to get them to sit down again...I did not manage, however, to get them to look at me instead of Daddy. Oh well.

A Lesson in Lies

It's quite difficult to explain to a four year old exactly what "lying" means and all the different ways one can "lie." Let me tell you, I tried the other day. Chip was out of town on a golf trip, the kids and I were playing outside after church. I was getting ready to wash my car, which meant emptying the bucket of supplies onto the driveway so I could fill it with water and soap. The spray bottle of Armor All (I have no clue if that's how you spell that) was one of the supplies in the pile. I soon heard a blood curdling scream from Kendall and a quick "sooooorrry Kendall" from Coop. I asked what happened, Kendall said "Cooper sprayed me." The only thing I could see was the Armor All so I asked Cooper if he sprayed Kendall with it. He said "no" (of course). I ask Kendall to point to what he sprayed her with and she quickly runs to the black bottle in question. I ask Cooper again if he sprayed Kendall with it and he finally admitted what I suspected all along...yes, he indeed sprayed her with the Armor All.



So, we had two counts of trouble here...1) spraying his sister with anything, especially something that could be unsafe, and 2) lying about it afterwards.



Long after the Armor All was put up (I don't actually use it to begin with, so it didn't take long to put it away), we encountered "lie" number 2.



I took roughly 16 loads of useless junk and garbage out of my car and lined it up in the garage to be sorted. Cooper found a large bag of Tootsie Rolls I recently used as prizes at a fundraiser. I saw him eyeing it and he looked at me, smiled his cutest smile and said "Mommy, just keep cleaning the car and don't look over at me. Okay Mommy?" Now, contrary to what some might say, I ain't stupid. So, I said "okay" and walked to the other side of the car, out of sight. For about 4 seconds. Then I tiptoed back around the side of the car and watched him quietly sneak 2 tootsie rolls out of the bag.



Our Sunday School lesson this week was on doing the opposite of what your instinct would be or what you would normally do. So, instead of getting angry and putting him in time-out (my first instinct and what I would normally do), I used the opportunity while his mouth was full of chewy candy (so I couldn't be interrupted) to teach him a lesson about lying (again). If I had chosen to get angry, I would never have been able to speak to him in a calm voice while he was not crying about being in trouble.



Alas, that was one time. About 3 hours after said Sunday School lesson, so we'll see what happens the next time something like this happens.

Swim Lesson Comparison

This picture was taken in early March. Soon after this day, Cooper began taking his own lesson, without Kendall, with a more seasoned teacher one-on-one. It worked wonders. See videos below if you need proof. Last summer was not easy with two kids wanting to swim constantly. Cooper ended up wearing a life jacket so he could swim all over the pool by himself and I could keep Kendall from diving in all on her own. This summer isn't easier, probably harder, BUT, Cooper can swim. He LOVES to swim. He is a little fish, to say the least. Kendall is making progress, slowly. She has good days and bad days at swim lessons, but luckily she has a fantastic teacher that knows how to deal with...how shall we say this...her diva-like qualities.

Pearly Whites

While the kids have had their teeth scraped so clean at home, they could be in a Trident commercial... they have never actually had their teeth cleaned at Chip's office. We tried it once with Cooper nearly a year ago and well, we can say he's a DK. Not a PK (Preacher's Kid), but a DK, Dentist's Kid. He will sit still at home while Chip scrapes and picks at his teeth with every sharp instrument known to the dental world. When Chip tried to polish his teeth at the office, it was not pretty (or quiet). We got angry, used bribery and squeezed him so tight we thought he'd pop while Chip did his thing. It was not our favorite day. And only slightly embarrassing to talk about.

Yesterday was slightly different. Slightly. We didn't really warn the kids they were coming to the office after school, but once they got there and we told Cooper what was happening he was not happy. He tried to run out the front door actually. Long story short, I held and squeezed him tight while Miss Amber tried to polish his teeth. And then ... he laughed. Yes, he laughed. And giggled. And wiggled and smiled and giggled some more. Because "it tickles." It was one of my happier parental moments to feel him laughing while Amber polished away. He never cried again.

Cooper is all smiles while Miss Amber gives him a sticker for being so good! Don't those teeth shine?!

Daddy got to do his exam afterwards and Cooper was actually EXCITED to get back into the chair! Go figure!With a tight hold on Daddy's gloves, Kendall did great, too!! She was proud of her shiny teeth! The kids got to go shopping at Target for being so brave and good (eventually).

Whew! We are very happy to have the first official dental visit out of the way! Finally!!

And On That Farm...

...he had a GOAT! A dear friend and wonderful patients invited us out to see their prize-winning goats today. They have about 15 acres of gorgeous property overlooking even more gorgeous property and mountain views. Along all of this property you will find nearly 100 of the most beautiful and friendly goats you can imagine! The kids had a wonderful time, to say the least.

My first issue of the day came, however, before we even left the house. Kendall refused to wear the basic, match-any-farm-animal, brown sundress I had laid out for her. Instead, she wanted to wear her tutu. Honestly. To a farm. With goats. Then, Cooper overheard her refusing to wear her dress, so he picks out what HE wants to wear. Somehow he managed to agree to the shorts I picked out, but he chose a stark white shirt to go with them...for photos! In the sunshine! Good grief! My second issue came as soon as we got to the barn, 3 minutes from the house where I asked them if they needed to go potty. Luckily, Miss Debbie said it wasn't the first time someone has used her grass as a potty (tutu and all).

Cooper was the ham all morning, but somehow I got more pictures of Kendall. Cooper roamed on his own and was so gentle and quiet. I had to stay with the diva in the tutu to keep her from scaring the goats when they got too close.
Finally, a laugh. I believe this is Kendall's best friend from today, Shadow. She lived up to her name and followed Kendall everywhere all morning! She was behind her, snuggling, nuzzling and just watching her for two hours straight.
Cooper was all smiles...until we got to the top of the mountain, with the beautiful views -- you know, the perfect photo op. Once again, Kendall had a friend, close behind!

She didn't seem to want to look at me either. Miss Debbie made her happy by picking flowers with her.

My sweet little girl at the top of the mountain. In a tutu.

Cooper's fake smile. It was the best I got until we went back to the goats.

They had three of these gigantic dogs! We loved them!

And, there's Shadow! Giving Kendall a little nudge!

The kids even got to feed the chickens! I never knew that chickens ate worms (Kendall, tutu and all, held and fed the chicken a worm!).

It was a very memorable day!! I learned a LOT about goats (did you know their gestation period is 5 months? They average two 'kids' per birth? They demand that their water is crystal clear and clean? The males (bucks) are over 300 pounds!?!! They are herding animals?)!! I think my biggest surprise was how quiet over 90 goats could be! I am not sure I heard a peep out of any of them. I thought for sure we would be overwhelmed with the background vocals to Kendall's constant rendition of "Old McDonald"...

Happy Birthday America!

Yes, I said 4th of July, not Halloween. We spent the morning of the 4th playing dress-up. Chip came home from helping Kevin smoke some BBQ to pictures of Cooper in, let's say, slightly less masculine costumes. I'll just say that Cooper enjoyed Kendall's dress-up box just as much as his own.

She decided she wanted to be a "princess pirate" which gave me a pretty decent idea for her next Halloween costume!

We had a party on Saturday night and our backyard was a red, white and blue playground!Cooper is tying a string to the wagon, somehow thinking it will make it easier to carry this load!

Baby Sam dropped by for a bit, too! He was holding his mouth open for some BBQ, but his mean ole parents never obliged.The wagon was a popular toy that evening, here Drew has a much easier time pulling Jack than Cooper did above!Ooooh! Don't look...it's SEE-Food!!!Cooper and Ty, making silly faces...it's what these two are best at! Sweet Emma. It's the best way to describe this cutie! Drew in his festive wear!

Kendall was SO thrilled to have other girls to play with...she is usually the minority in our circle of friends. When the girls would go next door to play in the pool, Kendall would ask "where are the GIRLS?" over and over. Very sweet (and kinda sad).

We hope you all had a wonderful and safe Fourth of July!