Eye Exam

It was that time of year again for me to make a visit to the optometrist. I am lucky enough that means time with my husband! I called SCO and made an appointment. This was my first appointment with Murray and all loyalty aside he did a fantastic job! My right eye is a bit of a nuisance but he got it to not bother me as much. He also found lenses that are very comfortable, which I really appreciate! Thank you Murr, I love you!

Elmo Live

Mary's friend Rhylan invited her to go see Elmo Live earlier in the month and it was SO much fun! The Daddy's stayed home with the babies and the Mommies took the big girls out to the show. Mary sat on my lap and watched wide eyed the entire time. She turned to grab my face and talk to me a few times about what was happening because she thought it was so great. I have to say I enjoyed it just as much as she did. We were all smiling the entire time :)

First Day of Work

I started working a few hours a week for a little speech therapy practice in Southaven. I am visiting children in their homes and working with them on their developmental goals. It is the same thing I do at home with our children :) Murray's school schedule allows him to be home more this semester. This means the girls can be with him while I work a bit, outside the home that is.

I Can Be Obedient

Tonight I was talking to Mary while she was in bed. We were talking about what obedience is and all the ways she could be obedient and listen to mommy and daddy. She asked me to keep listing different ways she could follow directions and really seemed to like it. I thought this is so great! Let's close this lesson and I told her to happily say "I can be obedient." Mary replied "I don't want to be obedient." I thought maybe she didn't understand and needed another chance. I asked again and she said "No, I don't want to be obedient." I felt so sad! I gave her a kiss, said goodnight and went out to tell Murray what happened. Murray went in to say goodnight. Murray said the first thing Mary told him when he went in was "Daddy, I can be obedient." That was most definitely the best part of my day!

Joy School

We started joy school for the first time last week. I say "we" because I will be on a rotation with the other mothers to teach. I love preschool age children and the curriculum, it is fun! Bring on the music, books, shapes, colors, play-doh, glue, crayons, construction paper etc.

Mary on her first day of Joy School

The Delta Fair

We headed over to the Delta Fair to check it out and had a great time! We took the girls to the best petting zoo I have ever seen. It helped that we were the only people there. We pushed the girls strollers right up to the animals and they completely enjoyed it. Rachels eyes were so big you could tell how much she liked it, which made it my favorite part of the fair. Then we headed over to the rodeo. It was really so much fun. We did have a scary incident when Mary was looking through the bars at the big arena and they let a bucking horse out that came close enough to her that she felt its mane touch her! It happened so fast and we weren't expecting it. We now know to remain in your seats when there is a large insane animal bucking around in arena, no matter how large that arena may be.

The girls with Miss Tennessee High School Rodeo

A camel chewing on Mary's stroller without Mary noticing

Mary noticing a camel was chewing on her stroller

The camel stealing Rachels cheerios out of the stroller and Murray trying to retrieve them

Rachel skipped the riding a pony and went straight for a full grown horse!

First day of School

Mary had her first day of Thursday School. When we walked into the classroom Mary hid behind my leg and wouldn't greet her new teachers or friends. It was actually kind of nice for me because typically Mary runs off without a hug or a kiss. She is always telling me to go on a date with daddy so she can be left at a friends house. Needless to say it felt nice to be needed or wanted, I guess. So we sat down with one of her friends from Church to work on a puzzle. After a bit Mary pointed to the door and said "Go Mom". I laughed as my time of being wanted was up! Oh, and I did get a kiss goodbye.

When I picked Mary up she was eating an apple and happily telling me she learned about "lower case a".

Mary's Calendar

Monday nights we have family night. During family night we sing songs, play games, learn a lesson, have a treat and go over our calendars together. Mary felt quite left out during the calendar portion of the evening, so we made a Mary calendar.

Pergola

Our Labor Day holiday was full of labor as we spent the first half of the day building a pergola over our back patio. We still have a few finishing touches, but we are so happy with how it turned out. We couldn't have done it without our great neighbor Ben lending his plans, tools and advice. And a whole crew of friends showed up to lend their help, which was so nice. Thanks to everyone who helped.

Here is the finished product:

The before picture:

5 hours later:

Some of the crew working at different stations:

The work in progress:

Mississippi Riverwalk

Brian, Aubrey and Celeste came to visit and we had such a great time with them here! We had lots of fun visiting different places! We packed a picnic lunch, enjoyed the riverwalk and even saw a fox! It was some of the best weather we have experienced while in Memphis. Sadly it left with them too.

Rachel relaxed in the wagon

Celeste and Mary running around

Brian and Murray with their girls

Mary and Celeste spashing in the deeper water

Aubrey and I with the girls

Family Picture Time

Our last family pictures were taken 2 weeks before I had Rachel. We really needed to get some taken with her sweet face. We headed over to the Grotto where the Sullengers took our pictures and they did a fantastic job! We appreciate them SO much!

Mary was as cooperative as expected from a 2 year old. She was feeling finished with pictures after the first 10 minutes. Then we were attacked by killer mosquitos that left us itching like crazy. For some reason it got super humid and we all started sweating. Yet some how Kash got pictures of us that I love! The process isn't alwasy easy but I love the outcome! Can't wait to do it again in 6 months, maybe a year!