First, First Day of School

I can't believe this day is here.  My little prince had his first, first day of school today.

You know I love a list, so here is a list of things I loved about the first day of school. 

First (or 1)-I love that when Michael asked Avery what he go to do today as soon as he woke up he said shouted "GO TO SCHOOL"

2.  I love the super cute way our boy marched out the door with his backpack and lunch box. 

3.  I love the way even though I was little nervous and edgy Avery was nothing but thrilled to get going and head out the door.

4.  I love the way Avery made it easy to leave him.  By the time I could grab my camera he was already playing and having fun in his new classroom.

5.  That at the parents orientation meeting Avery's preschool director told us how she, the teachers, and the preschool board of directors have been praying for our children since before they knew who was enrolled this year.


6.  I love that I held it together until I got in my car and heard the obnoxious kids' song CD, then I started crying (soooo didn't know I would be that mom.) 

7.  I loved the special time I got to have with my littler prince.

8.  I love that Michael is now his own boss.  While I love to give him grief about "building a business" I am so thankful that means he can now leave work to go to preschool meet the teacher, the first day of preschool, and to take out a little bit sad mamma and baby brother to lunch while big brother is at his first day of preschool.  (I am also thankful for Michael's 2 understanding business partners.) 

9.  That Avery got a good report from his teachers, even if he was part of the no need to lay down on the nap mat crew. 

10.  The sweet way Avery chattered all about school all the way HOME!

New Quote

I just read a quote I love...wish I had known it Friday!

...for the secret of the care of the patient
is in caring for the patient.
Francis W. Peabody, October 25, 1925

read in Cutting for Stone
Abraham Verghese

5 Question Friday

Copy and paste the questions and answer so that we can know more about you. Feel free to answer in the comment section as well.

1. How many pets do you have?
One, poor Cleo the unloved pug. 


2. If you could switch places with anyone in the world for one day, who would it be?
that's really hard.... maybe michael, it would be really cool to actually understand what he really does rather than just smile and nod when it gets complicated. 


3. What is your favorite money saving tip?
hmmm... can't say that i am the queen of money saving.  but i feel like making a list before going to the store, grocery, target, wherever is huge in keeping me on track and under budget.


4. What do you want your kids to be when they grow up?
i'm pretty sure avery wants to be a "big truck" driver...high aspirations!


5. What is your favorite quote?
"i am one stomach bug away from my goal weight." jennifer weiner, i can't remember which book.  :)


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Embrace the Camera Meet the Teacher Edition

Today was a very big day for my favorite 2 year old.  If you have driven past the church with his school, or any other red brick church, with him in the car in the last 3-4 months you have heard "there's my school, it will be so fun!"  Yesterday I could finally say tomorrow when Avery asked when he would get to go to school.  

We have spent the past few weeks getting all ready.  Honey got us some school clothes.  LouLou got us some fancy new shoes.  Mamma and Daddy got a back pack, lunch box and nap mat. 

We read The Berenstain Bears Go to School last night and first thing this morning we got ready

for Meet The Teacher!!

Here he is SO excited to go meet the teachers!!!

Ms. Sharon and Ms. Kathy did not disappoint.  Despite the weird face Avery loved them!  (He was mad I made him stop playing for a picture.)  He gave them both hugs and said "Hi my name is Avery" just like we practiced.  I am very impressed with the bios they gave us and sweet way they embraced all 4 members of our family while we were there.  They were even sweet to compliment him on how well he played and socialized with the other kids.  My nervous stomach quickly went away and we had a great meet the teacher experience. 

I am sure going to miss this face on Mondays and Thursdays this year, but I am thrilled he is so excited to learn and grow!! 

5 Question Friday-ish

Well, I know it's already Saturday....
But I like seeing these on Brooke's blog so here goes!

I would love to see your answers to these questions! Copy, paste, and answer on your own blog. If you would like to link up, click on the button above and add your blog to the list. No blog? Feel free to answer in the comment section. Here are this week's questions:

1. Do you have any nicknames and if so how did it come about?
Abbe Jo (shortened from my legal name, answered to this until school age, still do to friends and family on occasion), Abs, AbbeyDooby, Abbacadabra, Abbenormal, AJ...nothing to exciting there



2. What is your birth order amongst your siblings?
FIRST born love it, proud member of a first born club and my sister will tell you I am a very stereotypical first born


3. In a movie of your life, who would play your significant other?
Freddy Prince Jr, back in the day Michael was always told he looked like him.  We hadn't heard that in forever, and the worker at pokey-o's told us that earlier this summer, we both got a great laugh out of that blast from the past!


4. What is currently your favorite song?
I never really have a favorite song, I love them all.  But Avery's current favorite is Rumble Rumble in the Jungle... we boogie down all the time!


5. Are you saving your money for anything right now? Big or small purchase?
Well according to Michael we are "building a business" famous last words I will NEVER let him live down, so we are saving for that I guess... 

5 Months Old

I can't believe this little friend is well on his way to his half Birthday! 

Hank the tank continues to be a precious baby boy.  I can say that because we are back to sleeping much better.  While I can't say we are where we were, we no longer have 1-3 hour "bonding sessions" in the middle of the night.  YAY!!!!  I am great with a quick plug in the passy or reswaddle my little buritto baby several nights a week instead. 

We are having so much fun watching Hank discover the world of toys like the exersaucer and bumbo, and it is becoming clear that he will be a very happy boy when he can sit up.  We have also entered the roller baby phase of life.  It never fails to crack me up when he has rolled under the coffee table or ottoman and gets good and stuck and therefor MAD!  It also makes me laugh that he still gets on his tummy and lays there crying because he doesn't like his tummy time even though he is more than capable of just rolling over.  Hank continues to think that Avery is the greatest, and is my child learning to love the TV.  He will break his neck trying to turn around and see Avery or the TV.  We still say his highs and are high and his lows are low!  But I love my little chatty friend.  I think we may be in for a very busy, LOUD household when Hank can really tell us how he feels!

Always, Sometimes, Never

I always.....

love the color purple
have a plan
eat my food one thing at a time
fall asleep best when i have my popples propped under my shoulder
smile at babies
want friends and family to stay later
love to read
wish i could sleep a few more minutes
stay up too late
love chips and salsa or queso
love looking at people's pictures
like background noise like the radio or TV

I sometimes.....

like the color pink

follow my plan

let exception foods like beans and rice or chips and dip touch on my plate

sleep with popples (at 25 i've decided he's too old and valuable to travel)

talk to stranger babies

overstay my welcome at friends' and families' houses

read more than one book at a time

put the boys in bed with me to snuggle AND buy a few more minutes of sleep

choose cookies as a snack with a salty treat like chips and queso (i know, i wonder why i can't loose the last of the baby weight)

remember to pack the camera for family events
say things i wish i had thought through a little more
listen to NPR

I never....

like the color mustard yellow, even though i love mustard!

let things like peas and carrots mix on my plate

fall asleep as soon as i lay down

talk to adult strangers

care if someone overstays their welcome at my house

want my boys to stop snuggling in the mornings in our bed

choose sweet over salty

remember to take pictures at family gatherings

call and catch up with friends like i intend to
wear shoes inside the house

thanks for the idea annalee, krisitin, and maddie!

And the winner is....

Remember a LONG time ago when I promised a give away....well....

After an official drawing in a GREEN bowl

the winner is.....

JILL!!!!!

shoot me an e-mail and claim your prize (or you can tell me at church on Sunday)

This drawing was verified by the independent counting firm of Womble and Brother, ABC 123

Remember, even if you weren't a winner you can go get fabulous green products like the bug bands and reusable bags at Aunt Susan Jo's website!  Thanks for the prize ASJ!!!

Embrace the Camera Sea World Edition

I had so much fun embracing these two little friends this weekend! 

Avery and Adelaide had a blast at Sea World.  I have thought so many times since our fun trip with our favorite travel buddies about how grateful I am for our friends!

It is so important to me that our kids have adults outside of our families that love and embrace them, and that prayer is constantly being answered! 

We are so thankful for Adelaide and Graham's friendship with our kiddos, and consider their mom and dad an answered prayer!

I am loving Thursdays more and more these days!  You, too should embrace the camera.  Read more at the link above.

Sea World

Dear Sea World,
We would like to say a huge thank you for making all our dreams come true....

You see our parents made lots of promises about our big family vacation to Sea World. 

They promised we would see Shamu and maybe even the precious baby Shamu.

They said we could feed the dolphins.

They promised we could watch a fabulous show with Sea Lions.

They promised dancing and fun with Adelaide.

They promised Sharks!

They promised penguins (stuffed and real)

They promised alligators.

And of course they promised swimming

and ice cream

From start

to finish

We had blast!!!!

You gave us the best first family of four vacation we could ever have asked for!

Love,

Avery and Hank