Summer Time Fun

So much for summer break! We have been busy, busy, busy around here! I don't even know where to begin! I think summer activities began June 2nd... Kaeley is in a 1st grade reading readiness program which meets at the Farragut Library every Tuesday. Kaeley and Ella are both in a Kinderdance summer camp, which meets on the other end of town every Monday, and of course they are in 2 different classes, but luckily it's back to back. Kaeley also has gymnastics, which has been on Tuesday afternoons, but it's been crazy on Monday and Tuesdays, so I've moved that to Thursday afternoons. And if that wasn't enough, we started swim lessons that runs for 8 days and started this past Monday for both girls. Ella is in a Mommy & Me class that meets at 10 and Kaeley's class is at 12. I feel like I'm running a taxi service! Oh, and did I mention we just got back Sunday from a week in Charleston? Whew! And how about the cake business? Well, I've been busy every week with at least one cake order. I promised my kitchen last night I would give it a good cleaning next week - with all the powdered sugar and crisco - it's in need! The bow business has also been steady... another little something to occupy the free time! :) Here are a few random pictures of the summer so far...I threw in the picture of Kaeley and her latest grin - she lost another tooth on the top. This one was dramatic! She decided at bed time one night - I think the week before we went to the beach, that she wanted to try to pull it. It was real loose, but probably had a few more days before it was good and ready. Well, she pushed on it a little and it started to bleed and was indeed really loose, we told her it needed to come out and she said it was hurting. We tried everything... Tylenol, a popsicle ... no go. She finally went to bed and the next morning she pulled it with no pain! Now, we're dreading the next loose tooth.

Ella after her 1st ballet class...

Ella and Anna ...

Papaw and Ella Beth...

Papaw and Kaeley...

The girls with daddy and uncle Gil...

Good-bye Kindergarten!

I can't believe this is Kaeley's end of the year school party! WHERE did the year go? The party was a Hawaiian Luau theme and they had free play, relay races, snack, and Mrs. Sweet even ordered pizza from the cafeteria so they had an outdoor picnic lunch. It was SO much fun! I was glad I was able to be there! Here are a few pictures...

Me and Kae...

Kaeley popping a balloon...
Kaeley and Emma T. in the big shirt race...

Kaeley in the dress up race...
I love this picture...Kae and her buddies -

Lily and Harper, all 3 of them are missing their top, center tooth!

Mrs. Sweet & the whole class!

I love this pic too, Kae and Nathaniel the artists...

Kae & Mrs. Sweet

It's been a GREAT year! Kindergarten is not like it used to be - it's much more academic than it used to be. I know I didn't come out of Kindergarten reading! Her report card - for the entire year - is literally filled with E's for Excellence! WOW! She received only 2 S's for Satisfactory the entire year! We are so PROUD of her! Good-bye Kindergarten - 1st Grade - here we come!!!!!

Girls Just Want to Have Fun!!!

The week before last Kaeley had 2 of her very best friends over for a playdate - Harper and Lily. I think the most exciting part for them was that they all got to ride home together from Kindergarten pickup. I pondered taking them somewhere - putt-putt, manicures, park, etc... but Kaeley wanted them just to come to the house and let me just tell you - these girls had some fun!!! Ella was here too and also I ended up watching Khloe, who is close to Ella's age. Yes - that's 5 girls! Whew! "I" was worn out! They all did great though and actually played well together. Couple of little whines - yes, credit that to my 6 year old! It's hard having to share your stuff and not getting your way! Harper said Kaeley's house was awesome... I've never really thought of it that way, but to a child, yes, I imagine that's quite possible! They played outside on the swingset, in the driveway on riding toys, in the playroom, in Kaeley's room, and even a full blown dress-up and re-enactment of their version of Cinderella in the basement. They really had a blast! I bought stuff to make ice cream sundaes... I have to say they were even too excited to really eat them! We'll do it again girls!

Happy Mother's Day!

This year for Mother's Day we made the trip to Ashevill, NC to spend the weekend with my grandmother, better known as my Nan. Greg was on a business trip to Raleigh, NC, so mom, bettern known as Mimi drove from Atlanta to Knoxville, and then the girls and I joined her for the trip to Asheville. I haven't been back there in a long time. I enjoy going back to visit, since I'm from there and attended college there, I have lots of memories. It was a great weekend, with lots of yummy food! Can't beat my Nan's chicken and dumplins! We also got to eat at the Coach House in Black Mountain, which is just a little seafood place, with food that really just can't be beat! Saturday we did a little shopping and then Sunday we all went to church with Nan and Pop - I know that was special for her to have us all there for Mother's Day! What a fun weekend!

Me, Nan & Mimi...
Me & Ella, Nan, Mimi & Kaeley...

And this picture was harder to get than one would imagine... especially with a not so cooperative 3 year old! All our hands... Thanks Jessica for the idea!

Kaeley And Her New Grin!

Well, for those of you who have seen Kaeley within the last week, you would know one of her top front teeth has been hanging on by a thread! That's how she does... she's so afraid to pull, she waits until they just fall out! This was her 4th tooth, the previous 3 have all been on the bottom. This is the first on the top - and boy, it's a biggie! I just had professional pictures made of the girls because I knew this was coming and I needed one more picture before her looked changed drastically. I will tell you that the new tooth has already broke through, so hopefully the gap will not be there long! She did actually pull this one... I had threatened that I would have to take her to the dentist and have it pulled if she didn't get it out. That was all it took! Her gum was looking inflamed and I told her if food got in there it could get infected. Oh...I just LOVE teeth, NOT!

BEFORE:
AFTER:

Lost Kitten...

Last Monday, Ella and I had a few errands to run and she decided mama kitten and her babies would come along...also known as Duchess, the mama, and Marmalade, Marie, and Toulouse. 3 of the names come from one of her favorite movies, The Aristocats. One of the few toys that we have that is always played with and has been named. The kittens are magnetic and can easily get detached from their mama. Well, we made a quick run into the kids department at Kohl's and Ella pushed the mama and her kittens in one of the Kohl's shopping carts. Then we headed to Kaeley's school to drop off box tops, then a quick run into Wal-Mart for some cereal and Tide, and lunch at Jason's Deli with Greg. The only place the kittens went inside was at Kohl's. After leaving Jason's, Ella asks "Mom, where's Marie?" I thought to myself, you've got to be kidding me! I immediately pulled the car over and searched for the cream colored kitty - Marie. I went back to Jason's - checked the parking lot. I went back to Wal-Mart - checked the parking lot, then to Kohl's - checked the lot, the lost and found, and searched high and low in the kids department. Went back the next day to Kohl's and Wal-Mart...checking the parking lot and lost and found at both. Checked ebay for a "spare" kitty. Checked prices of buying the whole set again ($25), checked the company website - Manhattan Toys. Sent them an email knowing that they would laugh, and if they even responded to my question of do you have replacement kitties, would say cough up the $25 and buy a new one! Much to my surprise, I received an email from them yesterday and they said my assumption was wrong and that there was good news - they have replacement kitties! $1.50 a piece and $3 to ship. I thought I had won the lottery! I called today and ordered them, thinking I could specify how many I wanted (thought extras couldn't hurt!) and the colors. Not that lucky. However, they only had 2 kitties and they are cream colored! That means Marie is coming home to mama! Hip, hip, hooray! And did I mention that I had called Kohl's again yesterday to check the lost and found - one more time!

Just a Swinging!

Last week the girls eyes lit up like it was Christmas morning when they saw their daddy's truck going up the back yard with pieces of their new swing set! One of our neighbors is moving and wanted to sale their swingset, so it now resides in our back yard! Yeah! The only downside is that it's been raining for days and according to the forecast tonight, more rain is on the way! We did have a break from the rain this afternoon and you had better believe the girls were out there playing! They absolutely love it! Their Papaw spoils them ROTTEN! Here's a few pics...