A Princess Parade

One of the benefits of a neighborhood!

An impromptu dress up party turns into a royal affair allowing three mamas to get a few things done!

Thank you Mary Frances!

A Colorful Tradition

You may remember this fun tradition from Mary Frances and then Stephen.  Well now it is Walker's turn.  A crayon arrived on our mailbox inviting him to attend Kindergarten Orientation.

 He could not wait to get it down and inside.  What is it with boys?  Stephen was the same way.

 Apparently, it is much more fun to play with than admire on your mailbox.

Yesterday, I said that you and Betsy were going to miss each other in the fall.  The reality is that she is going to miss you, sweet boy.  You are going to love being at Crestline with your big sister and brother.

Today is Monday

On Monday, I slept in.  Sleeping in, for me, means that I didn't get out of bed until 6:00.  Sleeping in also means that I didn't do many of the things I typically do when my house is still quiet.  This is particularly dangerous on Monday.  Because I didn't review my calendar and e-mail and various other tools that I use to keep chaos at bay, I forgot that Stephen was slated to say the pledge on broadcast at school.  Not only was he late to the broadcast room, he had a big bed head.

Let it be known that his father and I both attempted to get him to brush his hair with water, but apparently this was the look he was going for!

I only realized that I had slipped up when I went to check Mary Frances out of school at 8:05.  I know that sounds terribly silly, but because the school day begins at 7:50 this allowed her to get to school and unpack her backpack before she left to go to the orthodontist.

Have I told you we have braces?  Well, I guess you noticed in my pictures from Easter, but yes we have braces!  Our braces coincided with the arrival of the spring baseball season and in my dismal ability to keep up with our lives in writing was simply overlooked.  

Upon dropping Mary Frances back at school, I took the little ones to the zoo for an hour.  I see my time with multiple preschoolers at home slipping away.  While that does not upset me, I want to capitalize on the time that I do have.

Who knew that the turtles would be one of the highlights of our zoo experience, but it has been for as long as I can remember.

And then of course there are walls.  Walls are always fun to climb on and off of.

They are going to miss each other next year.

Do you find yourself asking where the animals might be?

We really did see quite a few of the exhibits, but the animals aren't as fun to photograph as my children!

Now, this is something I want to remember - always.  The ruffle bottom, pink head cowboy boots, and headband.  She doesn't go many places without one.  In fact she sleeps with one.  Sometimes it is even clenched in her hand.  To her credit, she is amenable to taking it off when I prepare her.  Say for a baptism!  This is one of those phases that I realize the less said the more quickly it passes.

Welcome Happy Morning

Priceless

As you've probably guessed from the upswing of blog posts, life is in perpetual motion around here.  When isn't it!  I'm trying to make a concerted effort to document our experiences.  As I sat on the playground watching my children play and visiting with a friend while waiting on the conclusion of baseball practice, I snapped this photo.

To make it even more priceless, as I was walking back to the group Walker's friend asked, "Is Betsy going to marry that boy she's holding hands with?"

During this "first adolescence" stage we are going through with Betsy, these are the moments I most remember and cherish.  It isn't all bad and hard!  We just have to stay strong and power through.  At least we get to pass these stage with her before we enter true adolescence with Mary Frances.

Life's Tough

It is hard to be the baby.

It is especially hard to be the baby when you are 3 and want to keep up with your siblings.

T.G.I.F.

Spring Break Recap

Until now we have always spent our spring breaks at home and loved it.  This year was different.  We decided to take a long weekend and travel to New Orleans.  No need to bore you on the details of how we landed there, but it was great.  The initial plan was to head south early Thursday morning and hit some of the kid stuff in the Big Easy before my brother, his family, and my mom joined us on Saturday to go to the zoo.

But then our dear friends invited us to spend the first weekend with them on the Alabama Coast.  It seemed quite silly to return home on Monday to drive south again on Thursday so we spent the interim time in Mobile at my mother's house.  Fortunately, Frank has the luxury of a Mobile office where he could spend his days.  That is the only reason this worked!

Without further ado, here are some pictures with minimal commentary...

 Man, it felt good to be on salt water!

Sweet Stephen loves it here!

Betsy finally made friends with Margaret Moore!

What's not to love!

Nothing really to report from our time in Mobile - wet and cold.  Just like it has been in Birmingham for months on end.  More of the same…

And then we headed to NOLA.  I did some reading and planned a bit, but we had no definitive agenda.  We wanted the children to experience some of the quintessential New Orleans highlights    

Day 1 - Lunch at Felix's, a jaunt around Jackson Square, a gander at the Mighty Mississippi, and on up Canal to the Insectarium where one child threw up.  Nice, I know.  Back to the hotel.  Time in the room.  Time at the pool.  Out to supper at The Pelican Club.  Sorry no pictures.

Day 2 - Breakfast at Mothers, the Aquarium and Imax.  Rain rain go away!  Back to the room and lots of time at the pool.

Day 3 - Breakfast at Camilla Grill, on to the Audobon Zoo, change for supper, early meal, more time at the pool.  Too many pictures.  It is more fun to take pictures with cousins.

Day 4 - Breakfast at Cafe DuMonde, deliver the Mobile crew to the Aquarium, load the car, drive home.

So where was everyone else?

Upon returning home, remind my crew that they have nine weeks of school and we will finish strong.