He is ready

Ben is my true little boy. He doesn't mind dirt, he loves guns/knives, he thinks hunting is so cool, and his heroes are cowboys, soldiers, and policemen/law enforcement. To get ready for fall, we went to buy boots today. He, of course, picked out the camo John Deere boots. He LOVES them! He has not taken them off since we bought them. He even went to the potty and didn't get totally naked because he wanted to keep his boots on!!! Now all he needs is a trip to the deer camp!

Hooks' Pizzeria

Grandmother has been here for a few days to help out while Rhyne is on a business trip (thankful for Grandmother)!! Tonight the kids helped Grandmother make homemade pizzas. Will even made a gluten free pizza! They had so much fun! I am thankful for the memories!!

Ann Phelps' first day

First- Ann Phelps started a K2 program at Covenant on Thursday, August 18. We had computer problems, so I am a day late!

Now......

When the boys reached the age of 2, they started a Mom's Morning Out program. To cut down on my running around, we put AP in the K2 program at Covenant where Ben attends. She loves it!! She feels like a big kid getting out at carpool every Tuesday and Thursday. Of course, her being old enough for any program makes me sad. I miss my little baby girl!! But she never looked back when she got out of the car yesterday!!

Ben's Turn

So handsome and clean


The chocolate milk disaster

We ended it well

Ben started K3 today at Covenant Preschool. I felt like super-mom because I fought traffic on I-20 and I-55 and still got Will to school on time. Then it was smooth sailing to Covenant where I was the 6th car in line, ready for the doors to open for Ben's first day. It always happens, when I start feeling my super-mom cape flowing in the breeze, something comes along to snatch it off. This was the case today when the doors at Covenant finally opened and traffic began to move..... Ben, my sweet middle child who has a balance problem, managed to dump an entire bottle of chocolate milk all over his clothes. Now, if this had happened to Will, we would have had to go home and start the day over, but Ben said "uh-oh" and thought I was going to let him get out of the car with milk all over him! Since we commute 30 minutes one-way to school, I am usually prepared with extra clothes - not today! All I had in the car was extra underwear!! I cleaned up the milk and Ben got back in his car seat with just his underwear and a polo on and we headed to Target - the nearest place open that sells shorts. I have now made a contact list of all boy-mamas in the Covenant Preschool vicinity that we can call and bum shorts/etc.. off of!! We finally made it to school (late) around 9:15am! For a split second after all of that, I really considered taking Ann Phelps to a nice restaurant for breakfast instead of Chick-fil-a so I could have a bloody mary/mimosa!!!!! BUT- everything turned out well!! I love you Ben, you definitely keep me going even if you don't always help my super-mom status!!!!

It Begins

Today was Will's first day of kindergarten. He has officially begun his tenure at First Presbyterian Day School! His teacher is Mrs. McDade and her assistant, Mrs. Howard. I do admit, seeing him in his uniform made me a little emotional - I can't help but think how far we have come since his first day on earth! God is so good (all the time)!!

A Little History Lesson

walking into the huge state's

monument - I love how amazed

they were!

She is crying because I took the picture before

she had time to sit down on the bench!!

The most exciting part....the gunboat!!

Ben loves all weapons!!

At the end of the day, we enjoyed a real Coke

float from the Coke museum! They thought these

were awesome! My Mimi used to make these for me

every time I stayed with her! Memories!!

Showing her frothy mustache!

Since I once was a history teacher and still love the subject, I wanted to introduce my kids to a little history today. We visited the Vicksburg Military Park. Of course with it being 102', we mainly drove through the park and stopped at the gunboat and visitor center! I was happy that the kids seemed very interested in the lesson! I might be raising three history buffs!!

Destructor

He likes to dig trenches


This spot once had pine straw and grass. And
the stepping stones didn't have holes under them!



He can take the gutter drains off
the house



The gutter drain!

This is Otis' new "transformer name"! He is destructive!! He is our 3rd lab to have and the first to be so destructive!

New Beds

I feel like we play fruit-basket-turnover every 3 months with the sleeping arrangements around here. I thought everyone was happy when Will got his own room - he quickly decided that he would rather have company. So.....we now have 3 kids sharing one room and finally have a playroom!! We purchased (cheap-because it won't make me sad when AP marks on them with permanent marker or Ben beats them with his sword) full-size bunk beds. We also had room to put up a twin bed so we have plenty of places for everyone!! The first night with the beds, Rhyne's family happened to be in town so of course the kids wanted them to try out the beds too! Who sleeps on top, bottom, twin bed, etc.. changes each night, but as long as we all get sleep, it works for me!!

Memories with Grandmother (and Pop and Mae Mae and MaMaw)

I get to play with markers at Grandmother's

Yum watermelon

Love to swim

Snuggling with Mae Mae

picking berries

AP and Will probably arguing over who is in charge

Grandmother and Great-Grandmother

This is poor Prudence - obsessed wouldn't

begin to describe AP's relationship with

this sweet pup!!

My kids are blessed to have wonderful grandparents. They love visiting both sets because they get to be free country kids at both houses!! When we are at my parents' house, I am there to take tons of pictures (my parents don't take pics, glad I do). When my 3 go to Rhyne's parents', I am not there to take pics because I take that time to be free (from kids :) ) I never have to worry about not getting pictures to document all the fun they have because my Mother-in-law takes plenty of pics!! The above is a montage of the fun they have had over the summer at Grandmother's!!! And I never document the fun I have when they are visiting Grandmother because most would think it is boring - sleeping, blogging, running errands (but it is fun for me because I only have to worry about me, myself, and I)!!! Thanks Grandmother (and Pop and Mae Mae and MaMaw) for making sure they have so much fun!!

Relax with a Bubble Bath

When you have three kids and you want to take a relaxing bubble bath to unwind...... you only have Tinker Bell or Spiderman bubbles to choose from!!!! I chose Tinker Bell because it has more of a "girly" scent!!