Andrew's First Golf Meet

Andrew had his first golf meet today. It was in El Dorado. They left school at 12:30so they could get in some practice swings. He was kinda nervous this morning but seemed like he felt better this afternoon. He has the natural ability and practice makes perfect. I can't wait until he gets home!

Love Those Curley Wolves

Go Wolves go! Do your best! Remember you're fighting for PHS!
Tonight is the Presott Curley Wolves first ballgame. Really it's a scrimmage but.....they are playing Glen Rose. We are hoping for another exciting season! Show your school pride, sport that marroon and white and support those Curley Wolves!!!

Rewind

Rewind--3 days. Today is Thursday, August 21, 2008. Dusty and I have been married for 15 years today. It doesn't seem like it should be that long....seems like only yesterday we were getting ready to walk down the aisle at 7:30 p.m. in the candle light church. And so the saying goes, time flies when you are having fun! A little give and take here and there but Dusty and I love each other and will hopefully have many, many more anniversaries.
I intended on doing this post, thought about the picture and all, then didn't get it done that afternoon or night. So, since we never watch live tv, (DVR is the best thing ever) I thought, do what Sara yells when an advertisement comes on, "MOM, REWIND!!!" (that is meant to very forceful and loud)
This is the very bottle of champagne that was awaiting us in our room at the Arlington, napkin just the way it was in an ice bucket. We may drink it some day,if and when we acquire a taste for champagne.

Sara's "6" Today!

Sara is 6 years old today. She woke up ready for presents, cake and whatever else the day had in store. So we started with a few presents.....




Then we had some cake....


Of course, she wanted to cut it because it was "her" cake....

And have a little lick....

This was an awesome cake! Sara picked out what she wanted on the website, changed the colors a little and here it is. It is from All In Good Taste Bakery in Texarkana. It was huge, by the way! We'll be eating cake all week. Here is one up close picures of it.....

She also got a Dr. Pepper pillow she picked out in JCPenney's and a hot pink Ipod. It had to be hot pink and it was very hard to find.

All in all, Sara had a great 6th Birthday.


P.S.
Dusty, Andrew and I sent Sara a pink rose and balloons to school on Friday. It didn't dawn on me until we got home but the pink rose is the same as daddy and mom sent me the day I found out I was pregnant with Sara. Those 6 six years have flown by.

TGIF

Thank God it's Friday! We get to sleep late in the morning. It's sad, it's the only the first week of school. I am worn out. I think the first week always does that to me. The kids are tired too. Andrew is already asleep. Sara is fighting it, she does that. Then we'll just find her asleep where she falls.
Dusty had quite a restful week. He has been on vacation. Funny how he always does that on the first week of school. He gets the whole house to himself. No fair! He has done things around here that don't get done often and I appreciate that.
Andrew, Sara and I are all glad the weekend is here and Dusty is hoping it would stay away. For us it means sleeping late and no school, for him it means Monday is coming quick and he is going back to work.

Two Pretty Girls

Sara and Aunt Kim had their pictures made by the Picayune lady at P.E.S. open house. They said they both looked beautiful and needed their picture made. Aren't they two of the prettiest girls around?

Orca

Orca is loving the cool weather. Not so much the rain, but definitely the cool weather. He hasn't gotten to lay on the picnic table all summer without baking in the sun. And he can't lay there when we let Maggie out because she attacks him. And I know that probably gets on his nerves big time but he puts up with her. He's a pretty laid back cat. So is his owner, Andrew (a laid back cat).

Back To School

Today was the day--the first day of school. Andrew made his high school debut. I can't believe he is in the 9th grade. Boy, does time fly. It seems like only yesterday Dusty and I were making that loop in the car line to pick him from his first day of kindergarten. When he saw our truck he started crying, so I started crying.....when the door opened and he got in and said "I didn't know I was gonna have to stay that long." Dusty was home on vacation that week and got ME through the first week of school.
Now here we are.....Andrew and his friends had a meeting place for their first day of high school. It hadn't really hit me though, until I was driving to school by myself this morning. I left early and Dusty took the kids. I got half way to town and lost it. I was sobbing when I got to school and Janet thought something terrible had happened. I can't believe my baby is growing up so quickly. He is a terrific young man. So polite, kind, thoughtful, caring, grateful, loving and 14! His day went great. He got in his locker, found all this classes and was happy his friends were in most of them. He is at golf practice now and I am sure he will be worn out.
Sara was dropped off by her daddy. Mrs. Ingram, the counselor, told me she hopped out of that truck "looking like a million dollars in her new clothes and marched right in". (Those were her exact words.) She came in the office to tell me she was "here". And she was off. She was excited to see her friend, Sophie, she hadn't seen all summer. She was the leader today and Sophie the helper. Sara is also all the things I said Andrew was.
Both of my kids are wonderful, unique individuals. I love them more than anything else in the world! My friend, Kim Jim, said it first, they grow up soooooo fast! We should treasure every moment life gives us, not sweat the small stuff and soak up every minute! It is too often we take things for granted. I thank God everyday for the wonderful family he has blessed me with.

Tomorrow Is The BIg Day

School starts tomorrow. Sara is in the bathtub now. We already know what we are wearing tomorrow.
Neither of the kids are very excited. They're not dreading it but are just not quite ready to give summer up yet. I'm not really either so I can't blame them. It's not that I got to sleep late like them, I just got to get up in the piece and quite and get MYSELF ready. Believe it or not, sometimes school mornings are not the smoothest and happiest things around here. But enough of that, I am starting on a positive note.........
I know we will all have a good year. I want us to take time to stop and smell the flowers, appreciate the small things and each other more.
And of course tomorrow I will post first day of school pictures.......until then.

The Bunkin' Party

The night began with a "CHEERS" over Sara's requested grilled hamburgers(which I did in the rain) and crinkley cut french fries.




Then we opened presents. Sara got a cool Barbie and a "huge" Polly Pocket set.
This was Sara's first bunkin' party last night. She only wanted to invite her two best friends, Emily and Maggie.



We got a little cake (since the big one will be on her real birthday, August 23) and ice cream. Or should I say, Gran got it. Gran had to go to Walmart with a list and get stuff for us since Dusty was working over, golf practice, hair cuts, kids and us running everywhere.
Anyway, everyone told me three was a bad number but they were good and we had no tiffs. I think the whole thing went very well. My only complaint is that I don't think they ate enough. I sound like my Granny when I say that(and that makes me smile because that is a GREAT thing, to be like her, I mean) but Maggie and Emily probably went home and ate, ate, ate.
Sara ate a PBJ sandwich with chips and milk. She was konked out on the couch for a short nap after everyone went home.
We all had a good time and will party more next weekend. After all, how often is your baby girl turning "6"!

Whew, What A Day

I'm pooped! What a day! It was a busy day at school to say the least. Meeting that ended at 4:15 at school, Andrew's haircut at 4:30(we were late) in Hope, back to Prescott, home to get golf clubs, Andrew's first golf practice at country club........what will come next. Oh, and we haven't eaten supper, need groceries and bunkin' party tomorrow night. Dusty and I are going to have to duke it out to see who gets to make a flying trip to Walmart to get groceries (that being food for the girls to eat, stuff for lunches for school next week and something to eat around here since we "have nothing good").
Sara is really not 6 until next weekend but I figured we would do it this weekend since we will all be tired after the first week of school. So can't write much more, got to get a menu from Sara and get the bunkin' party preparations under way.

Open House

We have survived open house. Andrew and Sara both had their orientations for school today and yesterday.
Monday night was Andrew's first step into what will be his high school journey. He got his schedule, took a tour and listened to the speeches from a couple of the high school staff. He is ready. He doesn't seem nervous. His mother is not ready and very nervous. Not so much nervous, I just can't believe he is old enough to go to high school. It just doesn't seem like it's been that long since he starting kindergarten and didn't want to leave my side. I know, he is growing up and I am very proud of who he is. He is a great all around kid and I have to let go a bit. I know he will go far but he will always be my little baby boy. Ok, no more tears............
Tonight was Sara's open house. She and her daddy went to her room in first grade to meet Mrs. Avery. Sara's room has no desks yet, but she does have chairs. Since this is a new room, new furniture was ordered. It will be here this week, or so we were told.
They are both ready for school. Not so happy about getting up early but who is. We have to get back to a schedule. We have all been staying up late and sleeping even later. We will all be worn out after the first week of school.

The Long Awaited Lunchbox

Sara's lunchbox finally came from Land's End. She's been waiting for it. It has a "COOL" zip pocket in the top where her "drink will fit perfectly". She also wanted a flower embroidered on it.
With the countdown beginning, we are getting the final touches ready for school. We are now waiting for shoes for Andrew and that is IT!

TGIF

Our weekend has begun. Andrew called this morning. He, Gran, Grandma Strickland and Sebastian made it to Tennessee. They are going to a family reunion with my Grandpa Labe's family. That's my mom's dad who passed away a couple of years before I was born. It's great family there. We've been a few times when I was living at home and always had a blast. Andrew said he was enjoying it so far, too.
Sara and I tagged along while Dusty got a hair cut, went out to eat and have now been settled on the couch watching the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. Well, Sara and I are, Dusty is snoozing!


We are about 20 countries away from the US. Sara is waiting patiently. It's so exciting! I told Dusty if the 2012 Olympics are in New York we are definitely going. My baby will be a senior and that would be a great trip. Speaking of Andrew, he's calling. And here comes the USA, too!
I'm just glad it's Friday and we get to sleep late tomorrow!

The Three Musketeers

Maggie, Sara & Emily

Maggie & Sara playing ring around the rosie.

The girls cheesing for me one more time. I promised I would leave them alone after this one.


Sara, Emily and Maggie--or better known at PES as "The Three Musketeers". Emily and Maggie came over to play this afternoon. They swam after supper, from one pool to the other, then on to Sara's room for a little Bratz action. We took them home tonight and Sara feel asleep on the way back to our house.
Some of my best friends I made in kindergarten and I love them dearly. We made some great memories thru our school years that will last a lifetime. I chuckle as I think of many bunkin' parties, scary movies, cruising and fun times. I hope Sara, Maggie and Emily will remain best friends and have as many happy memories as I do. Oh, gosh, did I write that? They don't have to do everything I did.....

Then Came School Supplies

This is what a first grader at Prescott Elementary School needs to start school. I know, this could break the bank (and this list isn't one of the longest ones). I'm glad I only have 2 to buy for. Of course, Sara choose the pink Bratz backpack and pink crayon box. And today we found princess glue sticks and had to have those.
Andrew is just winging it. High school doesn't post a list, he will go class to class the first day and find out what he needs for each one. Then we will go shopping again for school supplies.

It's That Time Again

Preparations for school have begun. I had a bright idea! I wanted Andrew and Sara to have a back-to-school fashion show and take pictures for the blog. Andrew was all for it. Sara said she didn't want to try "all those clothes on". Andrew tried to work on her but it was no use. We just took pictures of the clothes.

Andrew is, of course, only going to wear AE. That's American Eagle for those of you don't have teenagers. He did get a few Razorback shirts. His shoes are ordered from Nike.com. I hope they come in before school starts. I'll post a picture later.
I hate to say it but we cleaned out his closet the other day. Afterwards I counted only 57 short sleeved shirts. Mostly AE! I know, it is ridiculous but what else could I spend it on. That's more pieces of clothing than I have in my whole side of the closet. Andrew does take care of his clothes though. Sounds like I'm just fishing for reasons to make myself feel better, huh?

Here is Sara and her clothes. She wanted in the picture, just didn't want to try them on. Do you see a theme here? Pink, pink and more pink. She is in an outgrowing stage right now. Nothing from last year fits. Andrew said "She has more than me." Looks that way, but as I said above, not really.

This Is No Apple

It's a tomato! Sara picked tomatoes out of the garden with Dusty yesterday. She ate the little ones and then wanted more so we told her to dig in. She ate the whole thing! That is a love she got from her daddy!

Only 4 Survived!

One in the freezer.....

Three in the utility room waiting to be eaten......

Andrew's watermelon were finally ready to be picked. Only four survived! Something munched on those that didn't turn black on the ends. We are proud though. I'll let ya know how they taste. Andrew's at a party tonight we have to wait 'til he gets home to eat the one in the freezer. It will be nice and cold when he he gets here. Hope they are as good as they look!

The Sharpie Pen

Andrew has looked many places for these Sharpie pens. He saw them on tv and it has been his goal to find them. I found a big pack of them in different colors at Sam's last night. He has tried each color. They are pretty cool,if I do say so myself.