Kate's birthday

I am not going straight from the first day of school to Halloween to Kate's birthday because it has been an uneventful fall; in reality, the fall has been our busiest one yet with everyone's growing schedules so I rarely stop to take pictures and write things down. Football season kept us in Oxford quite a bit, and with both Lindsey and Benton playing soccer we spent at least two nights each week at the fields. Lindsey also took tennis lessons and won her league! Wednesdays were our only down night, but I taught the second grade class at church and Benton started the Bible black belt program as well (he moved upstairs at church this fall--only one child left in the nursery area now). But back to Kate's birthday...It's always hard (I say always, knowing she is only three) to plan a party so close to Christmas. Two weeks before her actual birthday was the St. Jude half marathon (which I was supposed to run, but it was cancelled due to an ice storm), so we had her party the week before her actual birthday (not wanting to wait until Christmas weekend, her actual birthday). She was definitely confused by her party vs her real birthday, and throwing in celebrations for Jesus's birthday really threw her off. Regardless, we planned a cookie decorating party at church. It was low key--the kids came, decorated, ate lots of sweets, then left. Short and sweet and perfect for Kate. On her actual birthday, she had one request==Orange Leaf ice cream. That girl loves Orange Leaf as much as her dad loves Ole Miss winning and Mississippi State losing. Everyone should experience once in life the event that is driving Kate to Orange Leaf. She resembles Shelby when we used to take her to my parents' house (before we had kids and started leaving Shelby home alone). She starts screaming and bouncing and pointing as soon as the store comes in view. So she's three now. Our baby is not a baby. She adores "Minsey," her big sister, and Benton, too. She moved to a big girl bed about a month ago and had no problem with the transition from the crib. She also potty trained about two months ago and was the quickest learner out of our kids. She is spunky and has a feisty attitude but definitely keeps us laughing all the time.

Back to school

It is December 26 and I just saw that this post never published to the blog. There's no way I will remember what I planned to post on August 8 (yes, the kids started school on my birthday), so I will do a first semester recap. Benton loves kindergarten! We knew he would be fine since he is so easy going, but we weren't sure he would love it the way he loved going to Ms. Lynn's house or preschool. However, he has never complained about it and has learned so much already. His teachers are Natalie Taylor and Tina Jewel, two superstars to our kids (and David and me). Benton already knew them both through Lindsey and was so excited to be in their class. He only knew two girls in his class originally, Kathryn Ann Lay and Peyton Gunderson (both through Lindsey), but he has made friends and tells us stories of playing with new people all the time. He usually doesn't know anyone's name, even this late in the semester, but it doesn't faze him. His least favorite time of day is naptime, which was true in preschool as well. However, he now gets to go to speech with Ms. Emily during naptime several times a week so he thinks speech is great. He loves puzzles and drawing and coloring. We are so proud of his progress! Lindsey is doing great in second grade! While the work is definitely more rigorous, Lindsey still has all A's and still loves school. Reading is still her favorite subject, and she ended this semester #2 on the Accelerated REader chart for second grade! She constantly walks around with her nose in a book, much like her hero, Belle from Beauty and the Beast. She has several friends in her class this year and enjoys playing with them at recess and activity time. Her teachers are Holly Foreman and Lindsey Robinson, and we have definitely been pleased with them. Although Lindsey has been struggling lately with separation issues, she has such a kind heart and people constantly tell David and me how kind she is. We are so proud of the sweet child she is!

Halloween

We had some nasty weather Halloween week, but we managed to show off the kids' cute costumes and score some major candy between rain showers. Our neighborhood has a lot of kids all around the same age, which is so much fun for the kids--and the adults! We always meet at the front of the neighborhood and trick-or-treat as one big group, and the parents

have as much fun as the kids. This year we had a Minnie Mouse (homemade costume by B, who came to my rescue after my failed attempt to make Lindsey's costume like she wanted me to), a storm trooper (Benton insisted on repeating the Star Wars theme), and a little Minnie Mouse (the girls were still on their post-Disney high).

The whole Robinson Crossing crew

Benton and Mimi, still going strong even though they are no longer in the same class

These four are such good friends!

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!

This was Kate's exclamation every day for weeks prior to our trip to Disney.  Lindsey was in on the excitement too with her daily countdown that started in January.  Needless to say, everyone was excited for our trip to Disney World.  Popsey retired at the end of June, and his retirement plan was to take the entire family to Disney.  So on July 13, B and Popsey drove in, Ben and his crew flew in from Baltimore, and we flew in from Memphis.

Kate's other exclamation prior to the trip was "I'm going to fly in an airplane in the sky."  She said this every time she saw an airplane, and we see plenty living so close to the airport.  She was still excited about flying until the second we stepped on the plane, which is when she grabbed me in a choke hold and said "I WANNA DRIVE IN THE CAR!!!"  Luckily some cookies from the flight attendant convinced her to give the plane a chance, and she (and the others) did great on the flight. 

We arrived at the Polynesian and it was the nicest hotel I have seen.  My dad planned every detail of this trip and it was evident.  Everything about the trip was perfect!  We were all ready to head to Magic Kingdom, so we loaded on the monorail (that was in our hotel--score!) and got to Magic Kingdom just as the afternoon parade began which was a great greeting for us but also a little overwhelming for the little ones.  Then we headed to the Buzz Lightyear ride in Tomorrowland as our first ride.  As we were standing in the line, it started to rain.  Now this is an understatement; we actually were standing outside in the middle of a massive storm.  In fact, a tree blew over right beside us.  Mom and I huddled over the kids, who were scared out of their minds, and we all got soaked.  This was the first of many, many rain storms on our trip.  Orlando was going through an unseasonably wet summer, but we just got wet and kept Disney-ing.  After our Buzz experience we went to our character dinner at Crystal Palace and enjoyed a dry meal with Winnie the Pooh and friends.  After dinner we discovered Kate's two favorite rides--Dumbo and the tea cups--which we ended up riding several times over the course of the trip.  They are two of my favorites too, so I had no problem riding those while David and Benton rode "mountains."  We couldn't go back to the hotel without riding Lindsey's favorite, It's a Small World.

Sunday we had a character breakfast at the hotel with Lilo and Stitch.  Mickey was there, and this is where Benton began his obsession with meeting Mickey everywhere we went.  From there we headed to Hollywood Studios, and our main plan there was for Benton to attend Jedi training.  This was the highlight of the trip for him, as he took a lesson to become a Jedi then used his skills to defeat Darth Vadar. 

The highlight of the trip for Lindsey was going to storytime with Belle at her castle in the new Fantasyland.  This was very authentic.  Dad was with us and was selected to play the part of the knight in shining armor at the castle.  After story time we ate lunch at Be Our Guest, which was the coolest restaurant there in my opinion.  We truly felt like we were eating in the Beast's castle. 

Our other character meals were Chef Mickey at the Contemporary (my favorite), family-style dinner at Ohana in the Polynesian, Hollywood and Vine in Hollywood Studios, and Princess Breakfast at Epcot.  We were well-fed the entire trip.

Most nights we were able to watch the fireworks over Cinderella's castle from our hotel, and it was nice to already be back at the hotel instead of fighting the crowds at Magic Kingdom.  The last night we watched Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios, and it was a perfect way to end the week. 

At this point, the days started running together, but I know we spent ample time at each park and loved Magic Kingdom the most (so we kept going back).  Lindsey loved getting autographs and trading pins; Benton loved seeing Mickey and riding splash and thunder mountains; Kate loved Dumbo and teacups.  David and I loved seeing the kids have so much fun all week.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip with my entire family, and we are so grateful for my parents planning this trip for us!

Celebrating Independence Day in June

Our annual neighborhood parage and picnic for the Fourth of July was last Saturday.  We had storms come through Friday and since then we have had remarkably cool weather (it is 70 degrees while I type this in Mississippi in July).  I had plans on Saturday to spend the day in Columbus with my book club (shopping, eating, and touring Tennessee Williams' home), so David had kid duty.  I was a little concerned about how he would get everyone dressed, bikes decorated, and hot dogs cooked by himself, but he handled it better than I usually do.  The kids biked and strolled through the neighborhood, then I got back in time for the cookout.  There are a lot of young kids in the neighborhood, so these gatherings are always fun!

This pictures is funny because Gordon is not holding his own baby (he doesn't even have a baby), so I'm sure people on Facebook were really confused

The girls look so old here.  Maybe it's because they are not wearing bows and anything smocked. 

We now call her Maria Sharapova

Lindsey had tennis lessons during the month of June four days a week.  The tennis instructors did a great job with the camp and the kids had a great time while learning to play tennis.  Lindsey is not aggressive so we think a non-contact sport like tennis may be her best bet for an Olympic run. 

Henry Ruff, Benton's little brother

Question:  What do you do when your five-year-old son develops an inferiority complex because he has too many sisters and girl dogs and female friends?
Answer: You adopt a boy dog from the humane society.
Meet Henry Ruff.  David's father's day present (to himself, not my doing.  At all.) and Benton's adopted brother.

P.S: He really is a sweet, cute, lovable dog. 

Summer is Ruff

One of my students sent this picture to me last week and it was the perfect way to describe the week. 
I started having chest pains the first day of summer, and they got so bad (and I got so paranoid) over the weekend when David was at a golf tournament that I decided to go to the emergency room.  Luckily, a wise doctor at church convinced me to just wait and see my doctor that week.  My doctor determined that my heart is fine so I had some kind of inflammation.  Two weeks later, I still have some pain, but nothing like I had before.  All my bunco friends convinced me it was stress.  I have no idea what could be causing my stress (see two posts ago re: Kate). 
In the midst of the chest pains, we had a day where our garage was overtaken by lizards.  Lizards are ugly and fast, so even though they are not harmful, try convincing the kids that they are no big deal.  They were all over the door frame and steps into the house.  So each time I loaded up the kids to go or unloaded them when we returned (which was multiple times a day with cheer camp, swimming lessons, and gym for me), I had to carry three screaming children who were holding me with a death grip.  L and B are over the lizard-phobia;  Kate still freaks out every time we open the back door. 

And finally, to end my first-world problems, Benton decided he did not like swimming lessons on the third day of class.  His solution was to hide under his bed when it was time to go, which resulted in me running through (and around) the house screaming his name because I assumed my child had runaway.  I finally found him when I heard whimpers from his room.  Pitiful.

Since then, we have gone swimming several times (three days in a row last week) and Benton was fine each day.  He was a fish. 

Guess last week was just destined to be ruff.

Stomp...and scream...for the Jaguar team!

We heard those words over and over and over last week because Lindsey went to the cheer camp at my school.  Lindsey desperately wants to be a cheerleader when she is older, but there is nothing in me that wants to be a cheer mom.  She had tennis lessons from 8-9 and cheer camp from 9-12, and she would talk about cheer the rest of the day. 

Lindsey with the cheer captain, who is one of my precious students.  Lindsey thought it was so cool that Anna Morgan called her Little Ruff!

Lindsey and Lily with a photo bomb by Kate.  At the pep rally on Friday, when Lindsey's group got on the floor to perform, Kate ran out of the bleachers and sprinted to the floor.  She wasn't necessarily heading straight for Lindsey; I think she just wanted to dance.

Now this was fun for the girls

I told them to lift Lindsey higher.  If Lindsey was not already in their arms, she would have refused to go this high.  But look how proud she is!

Is there a summer camp for two year olds?

Two days into summer break, and I am waving my white flag.  I surrender.  The toddler has won.

I ned to start by making sure it is clear I love Kate intensely.  She is the only child who was allowed to sleep in my bed ever, much less for the first six months of her life.  On my pillow.  Snuggled up against me.  And I'm not a snuggler.  She has more personality than the other four of us combined, and she is the cutest toddler I know.

But:  she is a handful. 

It didn't help that Lindsey was gone for a few days to Tupelo so I did not have my built-in babysitter here to help.  Kate is awake for 12 hours a day, and she talks at least 11 and a half of those.  If she has nothing new to say, she begins repeating. 

Here's a typical scene in our house while I'm cooking supper.  "Inna help.  Inna help.  Inna help!  You have pockets?  Whas in you pockets?  I have pockets? Why I not have pockets?  Inna hold you.  Inna hold you.  Inna hold youuuuuu!!!!  I need you phone.  I wanna play Anbirs (translation: angry birds).  I need my shoes.  Where my shoes?  Inna stroll.  Inna stroll.  I want ICE CREAM!!!!"

Wow.

I can handle sixteen-year-old drama so much better than this.  Bring on whining about unfair grades and stupid boys anyday.

But as someone wise once stated, "The days are long but the years are short."  I know ten weeks from now I will be sitting here lamenting the end of summer and the end of days at home with my constant sidekick.

It should be telling that we have a closet full of princess dress up clothes but Kate insists on dressing like Spider Man every time she gets into the costumes.

On a different note, these two.  Benton and Mimi have been dating for as long as they have known each other.  I'm not a fan of "girlfriends" in preschool, but Benton and Mimi have no clue they are not the same gender.  They are simply best friends.  She reached first base and he informed her (and her dad, the first base coach), "Look.  We will get married one day and she can kiss me all the time.  But not now."

I guess the good thing about being the Ruff who can't play tennis is that David and the kids have a photographer and ball girl.