Daddy Daughter Date!

Turner and Mady
All the Daddies and their Sweet Girls
My Favorite Daddy-Daughter Combo!



Turner and Thomas had a very special date night last night. They went to the "Daddy-Daughter Date" at our local Chick-fil-A. It was so much fun! Chick-fil-A took reservations several weeks ago and pulled out the tablecloths, fresh flowers and purple lip gloss for this memorable evening. Turner felt sooo beautiful -- we curled her hair and Thomas gave her her very first corsage (which she LOVED!).


They went with a few buddies, and everyone had a lovely time. It is such a blessing to have these opportunities to make memories and teach Turner how she should expect to be treated by a fellow. I already pray for the man she will someday marry, and I cannot think of any guy I'd prefer to model great "partner" material than her precious Daddy!

Gymnastics!

Here are a few photos of Turner in her new 5-6 year old class! She is LOVING the new challenges and so proud of herself! She asks me almost every day if it is a gymnastics day...

Groundhog Princess

Have you ever played "Groundhog Princess?" Chances are...you have not! Turner and her friends made up this game earlier in the week. Here are the rules:

You are a princess.

If you look out the castle window and see your shadow, then you have to quickly run back to your bed and go to sleep.

If you DON'T see your shadow, then you have to run around. Hopefully no dragons catch you...or they'll stick you in their "burrows."

Gotta love it!

...On a ROYALLY related note, the above photo (with Queen Turner and her brother, who she dressed in the pink tiara and satin gloves) was taken the other night...right after I overheard Turner tell Parker to "bow down to the Queen." Where to begin???

Torn...

Turner captured it best the other day when she was told it was time for her to "move up" in gymnastics to the 5-6 year old class.

She was elated at first: "Mommy, I'm moving up!!!"

This was quickly followed by tears and..."Mommy, I'm sad. I love Miss Rose. I love my class. What if I can't do all the new stuff? What if I don't like my new teacher?"

I FEEL it today. I am so torn. Torn between joy and sadness. Torn between the comfort of the past and the hope of the future.

You see, I registered my firstborn baby girl for Kindergarten today. I never thought I'd get all mushy and sentimental about Kindergarten. But, alas, I AM!

And as cliche as it all is, it seems like a blink since she was in my arms for the first time. And now she's on the verge of entering public school and learning to read and ride the bus and spend more hours in her day AWAY from me than with me. Yikes.

I am excited for her. She is ready. She is prepared. And as for me, I plan to pray big prayers, sit back, encourage her, and watch her blossom into the amazing girl God has created her to be!

Watch out, PEEPLES ELEMENTARY!

Pick up Sticks!

I put the kiddos to work yesterday! It was ingenious (if I don't say so myself)! I had them help me collect all the sticks and branches from our beds, and after an hour, we had the yard cleaned up! Check out our pile!

Diversified!

You know what I love, love, love about my sweet little Parker?

He is just at home with a Barbie in his hand, as he is holding a Tonka truck! This kid has real promise, when it comes to being good husband/father material someday.

Turner had a couple girls from her class over the other day, and they were in the hall playing Barbies. I overheard one of the little girls tell Parker he could play, too. So...next thing I know, they are all in a circle, holding Barbies and singing about snow. And Parker...he was RIGHT there with them!

Then, after music class yesterday (see, I am working on a REAL Renaissance man!), there was a group of guys playing basketball in the rec department gym. Parker peeked in, and then would NOT leave. I kept urging him to go, and he said, "No, Mommy. Watch basketball." So, for 15 minutes, we stood watching the game, with Parker cheering the guys on. He was completely engaged. At the end, all the men (who had gotten a kick out of their sole spectator), gave him high fives. His day was MADE. ...Not to mention that his father is thrilled at the prospect of a sports junkie companion.

I love you, little man! :)

Ice Storm Fun

Ice Angel

Sledding!

We had a huge ice/snow storm in Atlanta this week! Daddy was sick (boo!), but the kids and I were able to have some fun, improvising with our wave board on the ice!