Let the Festivities Begin!

Mom and Terry came in a couple of days early to spend some time with Campbell before all the craziness ensued. They wanted her to go ahead and open some of her presents from them tonight (tomorrow will be pretty crazy!).

She Really Is Growing Up

OK, like I said - I'm drinking it all in this week. She is changing before my eyes. I went to a consignment sale tonight while Grammie and Grandpa watched Campbell. Coming home with 'new' things spurred a fashion show from the 'fall closet'. She took a little break - and let me catch a smile. She just looks like such a big girl in this photo.

First Position...

Campbell had her first ballet class today. Just like home, she slipped off her shoes as soon as the activities were complete (a genetic trait from her mother!). Here she is with her friend Emma Frances.
Aren't they sweet?!

Who is the Fairest One of All?

I know, not a great quality photo. But, I could just eat her up. She is so cute floating around the house being Snow White (Mowgli, Peter Pan, Fancy Nancy, Mulan, Ariel, etc.). I love her imagination - and I am soaking in these last few days in the life of my 2 year old.

Say So Long to Summer...

We enjoyed one of the last days before school by joining some friends at Callaway Gardens for the beach and a picnic. The girls had fun digging in the sand.

If you look really hard - you might notice that Campbell is wearing sunscreen. Of course, who doesn't know that cool, overcast days in August still require the mandatory application of sunscreen? Apparently, her mother didn't remember this! I put it on her, but, thought that my pasty-Anglo complexion was still maintaining from it's last exposure back in June.
INSANE!
As I am posting this entry in the future, I will tell you. It is the 20th of August, and I am STILL peeling! I don't think I have EVER been burnt so badly. Therefore, I have never itched so badly.

You would think that 40 years would have taught me something!

Happy 40th Coleman!

Campbell and I made a great dinner of all of Coleman's favorites. It was topped off with banana pudding that Campbell and I made together.
He got a really cool camcorder from us and some parents (thank you!). Maybe we will post some new videos in the near future!

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

Birthday Vices

For all of the adult years of my husband's life, his family has taken some time between his sister's (Kim) and his birthday to celebrate the two occasions. Then, you add in Campbell and Phil (who are both in August too) - and you have a REALLY big reason to celebrate. We got together at Kim's for the afternoon. Of course, it was great being with family.

Girl's Night!

My Sweet Girl and I got the opportunity to spend a planned evening together for a
GIRL'S NIGHT!
We went out to dinner, and returned home to watch a movie and do our fingers and toes. It was really fun.
(In case you are wondering, Coleman took his 3RD vacation day of the year to enjoy some hiking with friends to celebrate his upcoming birthday - much deserved fun!)

She Caught...

the Ballet Bug.

She was so excited to dance around the room at the ballet school yesterday, as we tried on shoes and picked out leotards and tights. It is crazy to think that our baby is old enough for any type of class like this! Wasn't it just yesterday that I walked into a class?

She danced around like she was ready for The Nutcracker
(apparently, she will need to wait until she is 8 for that one!)

We do hope that she is as enthusiastic about her weekly classes, starting next week. As long as she is having fun, and dancing off some 'little girl' energy, it will be worth it!
(of course, seeing her looking too cute didn't hurt either!)

Watermelon Wednesday...

We hosted Wednesday Night Dinner this week. For some reason, I was in the mood to 'make from scratch'. I squeezed tomatoes to make 'gravy' for pasta and meatballs. Oh, and I made some beef/pork meatballs too!

My favorite item for the evening was the watermelon cooler for 'the kids'. As it turned out, the adults drank most of it - AND, it wasn't laced with anything of an 'adult' nature. Just pureed watermelon, a little sugar and lemon juice, and water. YUM! Try it for yourself when you find that you have an extra watermelon around!

HIT IT!

I know, surprise - a birthday party. Other than the 'big girls' you see one of the two in the photo - she was the only girl at this one. For some odd reason, there were TONS of boys born that will be in her grade. While, I'm sure, there are plenty of girls - we just don't know as many this age. A comment was made about how she was hitting the pinata with much less force than those 8 or 10 little boys.

Don't worry boys, we'll make sure she has lots of practice swinging a bat! And, for future reference, we've already put their Dads on notice that her Daddy has NO TROUBLE swinging a bat!

p.s. Happy Birthday Henry!

And the Thunder Rolls...

Well, I can report that Campbell is well on her way to understanding the mysteries of meteorology. At least what we can teach her at her age.

It seems that, of late, she is NOT very excited about thunder. This is directly related to the fact that we have had a good bit of thunder storm activity from the recent tropical weather. Here she is enjoying the sounds as Daddy explains that thunder is something that you shouldn't fear.

I have always, as far as I know, loved to watch thunder storms. However, I'm sure they rattled me a bit when I was younger. We will just walk her through this one as well as we can.

Until then, there may be noise-isolating earphones on stand-by for those extra rumbly nights.

Like Mother...

Like Daughter

When we were at the Children's Museum last week - the first thing we came upon was a little farmer's market for kids. She must go to the grocery store with me a minimum of 2 times a week. Each trip is usually a long one (getting baking supplies, etc.). Well, I certainly underestimated the joy she would receive from pushing around this little metal buggy. She gathered FOREVER!

After she had gathered her booty - she went to pay for her items. Apparently, this very patient little boy enjoyed the idea of running a cash register as much as she enjoyed shopping. He stood there and 'scanned' each and every item in her overstuffed buggy.

It was really cute to see her in action. Maybe we should visit adding the metal grocery cart and wooden food to the birthday list?
(it is getting long - trust me, she is helping add to the list daily!)

OOOOOOHHHHHHHHH....

"I'm a Lumberjack, and I'm OK!"

My hero! - He rid our little spot on the planet of 3 sweet gum trees (if you don't know, the tree shade is GREAT! - the *$&^*$ balls are a pain in the rear - or, bottom of the foot!)

Imagine It!

Kellan is such a big boy! We celebrated his 2nd birthday by visiting the Children's Museum in Atlanta. It was really fun.

Campbell enjoyed being in the 'thick of it' in the train area.

Moon Sand anyone?

"Don't worry - two isn't bad at all." Stated by River who just turned 2 himself!