Senior Football Night

 I do love a good football game....only, I like it most when my son isn't on the field :/ Why? Because I don't want injury to occur....head, knee, arm, leg, all of the above!  I know that is over the top but it is what it is.  Pryce on the other hand works hard and plays harder....he gives football his all on the field and he loves every minute of it.  And I love that about him....he wanted to play, he jumped in full speed ahead and has never looked back.  So, tho I begged him just to be the water boy for the team, he instead chose to play.  Each season I have counted down the games and prayed diligently for his safety.  Senior year is different.  I still pray for his safety and for the team's safety but I also don't want the games to end....they are having their very best season yet, they have won all but one game - never in our four years of high school has the football team done so well!  It has been a good ride and one that we don't want to slow down just yet.  

Kindergarten: Take One

Sweet girl started Kindergarten.  She will follow in the footsteps of her brother and sisters - one year of half-day Kindergarten and then she will attend Kindergarten again for a full day.  It's just how the ball rolls when you have a birthday two days before cutoff :/ Luckily, she LOVES school!  She is so excited to be with her new friends and with her new teachers who are great friends of ours!  

She is learning so much!  My favorite thing this week has been listening to her vocabulary.  It has grown so much lately.  Today she told me I was "esstracting her" LOL. I apologized for distracting her right away and we were able to move on!

 

September 11, 2001

 Never forget.  

19 years ago, our family was living just outside of Boston, Ma.  

Ironically, Ryan was in Augusta, Ga, our current home, on a business trip.  Colin and I has stayed behind and had plans to join friends for a playdate at the Little Gym that morning.  With Colin plugged in front of the TV watching Baby Einstein, I hopped into the shower and began getting ready for our day.  The TV was on in our room with the Today Show on the air.  I was half-listening to the Katie Couric and Matt Lauer when all of a sudden I heard Matt begin to speak of a plane hitting a World Trade Center tower.  I stepped into the room to hear more, watched the video playback - Matt was guessing the type of plane as that information was not readily available at that moment.  Then, as one tower was shone burning on the screen, another plane came in and hit the second tower just minutes later.  Matt was stunned as was all of America.  We were under attack.

I listened to the radio as we drove to our playdate....panic was setting in all over the world.  Planes were grounded, towers were falling due to the inability to withstand the heat, and yet another plane would soon hit the Pentagon and another would nosedive into a field in Pennsylvania.  By noon, America was well aware of the danger of the situation, and the deaths were adding up by the minute.  Families were frantically calling their loved ones.  

What I remember about that day most are the clear blue skies.  It was beautiful.  The crisp air, a slight breeze, Fall was coming quickly to the New England states and that particular day was ideal.  With all of the beauty that surrounded me, it was hard to believe that just 40 minutes from our location, two planes had taken off destined for tragedy, led by horrible people.  

Ryan was due to return home the next day.  His flight was immediately canceled until further notice.  The more we watched and were updated on the situation of that day, the more terrified I became.  My family was all in SC.  My husband was in GA. Thankfully, Ryan was able to get one of the last rental cars from the airport.  He and his coworker drove home that day and arrived safely well into the night.  He still speaks of the smoke and flames he saw as they drove around NYC.  

It's hard to imagine that I lived through that.  It's even harder to realize that it has been 19 years  - it truly seems like yesterday.  

Happiest of Birthdays, dear Chapman!

And last but certainly not least, we celebrated Chapman's birthday!!  It is hard for the youngest sister to watch her two big sisters have birthday celebrations right before her own is celebrated....way hard.  But, she does it each year and we all celebrate big when her day/week arrives.

Our girl LOVES all things outdoors and animals - all the animals, big, little, slimy, and soft.  So, this called for a trip to the zoo.  She loved every minute of this and begged to stay longer.  

Birthday week was spent at school with her new Kindergarten friends and they all sang Happy Birthday to her - she gifted them each with a special cupcake.  Her actual birthday was spent doing all things little girl.....manis, pedis and an ice cream lunch that included a special treat from the ice cream store.  

Lastly, we had a big day of family singing and presents and her favorite, a Peppa Pig cake.  Oh, and a singing birthday card from Gran and Pop.  Singing cards have become a hot item during birthday time.  

We are so thankful for this gift.  She is all things precious - quite a combination of the personalities of her siblings.  She is absolutely the sweetest, cuddliest little one yet there is some spice in her too.  She has all sorts of knowledge that we often wonder where she has learned things but don't ask her to read or write as those two things are not on her agenda just yet.  She loves playing with her big sisters but can be just as content to play by herself.  She is a fish in the pool.  To know her is to love her - the cuteness factor is big.  Her one request this birthday was a lamb stuffed animal with glasses just like hers.....thankfully, one was found and her day was made!  

 

Happy 8th Birthday, Maryn!

Eight looks great on Maryn!  She lost a lot of her teeth this year - actually, they loosened and she pulled them out all by herself knowing that the tooth fairy would come and provide money with chocolate coins.  She aced first grade and transitioned into homeschooling like a champ.  She finished up hip hop and jazz and moved into ballet like her two big sisters - the verdict is still out if this will be a favorite but she has her eye on pointe shoes so....She loves all things Hamilton - the words to every song, the movie, all the things - she is hoping to go to NYC to see it live in the future.  Her love for Chapman has blossomed into a full blown friendship.  Just when I thought they were done wearing matching clothes, they decided that being "twins" was the best thing ever and now they want to match every.single.day.  They have their own language, they love playing games together, they really just love being together - this is a blessing from Covid time. She has spent the year growing her hair out from her cute bob to a current shoulder length - she loves her hair.  She also loves that she doesn't always have to wear a bow - breaks this mama's heart when they start asking to forego the bows but I do get it....so, we do bow headbands and save the bows for church and other special occasions.  

Maryn has asked for an electric scooter since she could talk.  Knowing our Maryn as we do - she rides fast looking backwards while driving full speed ahead on her bike - we have always told her she would have to wait until she turned 8 as that is the recommended age for an electric scooter.  Well, 8 arrived and so did her beloved scooter - and a brand new sparkly helmet!  She has been riding it like a champ!

Her day was perfect!  She spent time in the pool surrounded by three of her favorite friends, they painted mermaid tails together, we all sang happy birthday and made the best sundaes ever!  Family party was later in the day with cake, ice cream, and presents!  We adore this little one and we all had the best time celebrating her special day!  She is loved!

 

Happy 11th Birthday, Maddox!

 Happiest of birthdays to our Maddox Ren!  This year has been a big one for Mads.  She was cast as Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker with her ballet company, she was able to get her braces off, she is now a homeschool student, she had her first set of random stitches due to a run in with a car door, she discovered a love for art, she has fallen in love with babies  - she is known as the baby whisperer, and she continues to grow and thrive in a way that only our Maddox Ren does.  To know her is to love her.  She is everyone's friend, she will tell you like it is in the most compassionate way, she can show empathy for others like no one else can, she is a good friend and an even better big sister!  We adore this girl and we love that she is ours!

It's Coming to An End

So the long summer vacation is coming to a fast end.  Here are a few outtakes from our summer....Maryn loves to read!  She loves to read to us and to Chapman....such a wonderful thing for a big sister to do!

Sometimes watching TV with your sister is best when you are on her back....

When your oldest sister loves to cook cookies, you stay close by and offer to help in hopes of getting a bite of the cookie dough....

It is amazing what can be done with cups and craft sticks....

and they constructed this without any assistance from an adult!

One little girl doesn't always like to admit she needs a nap but sometimes she just takes one on her own....

And this guy....well, the time has come and his senior year is here!  Not sure how and when this happened and I am really thinking I am NOT ready for it but his day spent with a local photographer for senior pics made it official.  Ready or not world, here he comes!