Back to school!

It's been a while since we posted so I'll try to catch up.....

The kids started a new school, First Baptist Day School, in early August after a week at home with me. Needless to say we were all ready for school to begin when the week was over (God bless those of you who have kids home all summer and Lord help me when my time comes!).   Gray is in a class of 5 and is the youngest of the "Terrific Turtles" and loving all the big-kid interaction. He's the only one who isn't potty trained yet, since he's the youngest, and that's been great for kick starting the process. I guess that means no more dragging our feet around here. Stay tuned for more on that topic, as I'm sure it will provide some entertaining pictures and stories. Gray's new program includes weekly Spanish class, Kindermusik, and Gigglebytes computer class. He loves his teacher, his new friends, and especially the moon bounce in the gym that they get to play on when the weather doesn't cooperate. His teacher says he's very vocal and playful, which I'm sure means loud and rowdy. I used to think all boys were, but I'm starting to think it might just be him. Oh well, he's so much fun and I get so tickled by his antics. I don't know where he comes up with this stuff, but he's says things like, "I love shopping, it's great!" and "That is one awesome fountain". When P came to town and slept in his bed with him, he woke her up and said, "Too loud, P....you're snoring!".  Lord help us....

Hayes is a "Little Ladybug" and adores her teachers and all of the fun crafts projects they do. We were all nervous about how she'd take to sleeping on a nap mat, but they must really wear her out because they say she goes right to sleep with no fussing or help. I say this with amazement because even though Hayes has been a great sleeper from the start, lately she's been tough to put down and waking up super early. Come to find out the child has grown about 7 teeth in the last 6-8 weeks, which explains her all-around fussiness and resistance to sleep. Poor thing......1 tooth is bad but multiple teeth coming in at one time is pure torture! And her hair is trying to keep up with her rapid teeth growth and has gotten long enough to put in a ponytail. Clearly, both kids got Adam's full head of hair and it truly makes Hayes look like a 2 year old instead of the 14.5 month old that she really is.  She loves to make animal sounds (cow, sheep, and duck) and can also "arghhh" like a pirate. She says "bye-bye", "Gray-Gray", "night-night", and "snack" and can sign for "more" and "eat". Every day it's something new and we are loving every minute of watching this precious girl grow up.

This summer seems like it has been one birthday after another....first Hayes', then Adam's, and tons of our little friends. We celebrated Campbell Cole's 2nd birthday with a beach party at the Cole's and had a great time watching all of the little ones help themselves (literally) to the cake and splash in the kiddie pool.

P came in town the next week to stay with the kids while Adam and I went to Orlando and she took them to their friend Annie's 3rd birthday party down the street. They loved riding the pony and of course Gray had so much fun chasing after Annie. He does not like the fact that he has competition for Annie's heart from our neighbors, the Crump boys, but I guess it's best that he learn that lesson in love earlier rather than later in life.

Next was our niece, Greer's, 1st birthday party. It was so fun to get together with family and friends to celebrate sweet  Greer's big day. She adored her Dora the Explorer cake and showed off her new walking skills. Yea Greer! Since Greer's birthday is only a day before mine, her party happened to be on my actual birthday, which was such a treat. I made this door sign for Greer's party and thought it came out so cute and sweet, just like her!

 We celebrated my birthday after hers with a family dinner and some yummy steaks and key lime pie....Mama's favorite! The hubs also took me out for a date at the new Sweet Grass restaurant and we were so thrilled that it lived up to all the hype. We will definitely be returning! Thanks to Lovie and Papa for keeping the kids while we got some alone time.

For Labor Day, we headed down to ole Red Stick to stay with my parents at their new place. We stopped at our favorite restaurant in Jackson, Ms (Keifer's) on the way there AND the way back and indulged in the feta dressing, which we are still tirelessly trying to recreate with no success. The weekend was filled with delicious food and good wine, as always, and we had a great time catching up with our family. We drove over to Franklin for the day to visit with my 88-year-old grandmother and all of my aunts and uncles and I am so glad that she was finally able to meet Hayes. I only wish we could get down there more.

 On the way back, we stopped in Lafayette, where I grew up, and visited with my 78-year-old godfather, Parrain Ted. It was so neat watching the kids play with the same toys from the same toy drawer that Mal and I played with on the many, many trips to Parrain's house growing up. His house holds great memories for me and now it will for my kids too.

The weather here is absolutely beautiful and we are soaking up the cool temps, knowing they won't last long. Last weekend we went down to Kidz Kountry farm in Southaven for a barnyard birthday party for another little friend and then over to my friend Angie's to celebrate her twin boys' 2nd birthday. They were both so much fun and I just love that theme with all of the red gingham, raffia, and mason jars.....here's the door sign Angie commissioned me to do for the party, which is now hanging on the boys' bedroom.

We also went to the Germantown Festival, which was the perfect outing for such a beautiful day. We ate "fair food", people-watched, played on the playground, got a snow cone, and even rode some rides. There was nothing cuter than watching Hayes get to ride the "big kid" rides like her brother. She is such a daredevil and screamed for more. Here we go, all over again......so much like Gray in some ways, and yet so different. That's what makes them such perfectly unique creatures I suppose.

Until next time,
The Pattersons