Gentry Farms 2015

Carter's first trip to Gentry Farms didn't start off on the right foot, because she fell down the stairs right before we were planning to leave.  She was so upset, but only ended up with a tiny bruise.  I think Daddy was more upset than anyone else, but we all recovered by the time we got to Franklin.  The girls had so much fun this year.  Charley just loves going to Gentry Farms and did all of her "favorites" including the playgrounds, barn maze, and tire swing.  We ran into the Artley's, so Sam and Charley got to run wild together for a little bit.  We took our annual pictures in all of my "favorite" spots, bought tons of pumpkins and even did the big maze this year.

Carter's 11 Month Photo Session

I could just cry knowing our monthly photo sessions are coming to an end.  Carter is all over the place and in to everything.  I don’t know what I will do when she starts walking…which won’t be long now.  In the last couple of weeks she has started free standing.  We have got to start putting shoes on her, but every time we try, she seems to hate them.  There is no way I have a girl that doesn’t love shoes???  It must be a phase!

Even though she looks just like her Daddy, I see more and more of her sister in her.  Maybe it’s her facial expressions or her hair, but the other day when she stood at the bookshelf and dumped all the books in the floor, I was immediately taken back to Charley doing the same thing at about the same age.  Carter loves to clap, jabber, say “Dada”, take baths, follow her sister, hold up her “1” finger, eat and chase the vacuum cleaner.  We just got her a big girl car seat, still facing backwards, and she seems to really love being able to see out the window.  I plan to soak up these last 30 days or so before she turns 1, while I work on her first birthday celebration…or in her Daddy’s words, her first birthday extravaganza!!! 

Sister didn't exactly cooperate for this session...haha!

MCHS Cheer Clinic 2015

I was really hoping Charley wouldn’t go down the same path as her Momma and would steer clear of cheerleading.  Unfortunately, it’s not looking too good…for me!  I have Granddaddy Charlie to thank for her current aspirations in life.  After going with him to a basketball game last winter, she has become obsessed with cheerleading and decided to be a Marshall County Cheerleader for Halloween.  She even agreed to wear orange, her least favorite color, because that is what a Marshall County Cheerleader wears.  While telling Ashley Rudolph about her Halloween plans, she told us that Charley needed to be at Clinic.  Of course I knew what that meant.  I attended MCHS Cheer Clinic every summer as a kid and then hosted it as a high school cheerleader.  So I also immediately knew that meant two weekends in a row in Kentucky, one for clinic and one to cheer the ballgame.  So, after signing up, shopping for tennis shoes, driving to Benton, picking up a custom “cheer” shirt the night before, inviting Laney to go with Charley, and practicing being “5” since clinic was only for Kindergarten and up, Miss Priss was ready for her first ever cheerleading clinic.

The girls had the best time together with the high school cheerleaders.  I think they practiced lots of sidelines to do at the football game the next week.  And maybe did a few cartwheels. 

For the Friday night game we curled hair to have a “cheerleading pony-tail” and headed to Benton for her big debut.  It was H-O-T at the game, but Charley and Laney had the best time!  They were so cute cheering with the big girls.  All week long we had practiced “hold that line” and before the kindergarten group finished their turn, I requested “hold that line” from the cheer coach, since I was taking pictures beside her.  The girls took lots of pictures and had popsicles, and we even got to leave before half time.

 As for now, Charley is still chanting, “If you want to win tonight, you’ve got to F*I*G*H*D…FIGHT!”  Granddad Mike and I went around and around convincing her it was “F*I*G*H*T…T…FIGHT!”  She has also changed her mind for Halloween.  The other day she leaned over and whispered, “Mommy, can you get me an Auburn cheerleading uniform?  That is my Daddy’s favorite team, so that is what I want to be for Halloween.”  Of course, sweet girl, one Auburn uniform coming right up…and maybe a windbreaker, visor and whistle for Coach Robinson…family dress up???  I like the way she thinks!

Carter's 10 Month Photo Session

Carter is ALL over the place.  From the minute she started crawling, she hasn't slowed down.  She crawls everywhere, and when you lose her, you can bet she is in the bathroom demolishing a roll of toilet paper!  Not sure how many rolls we've trashed over the last month, but they sure do make her happy.  She is such a good eater, and she loves to feed herself.  Some favorites so far are beans, corn, bananas, ham and turkey.  She is sleeping great...all night with a couple of good naps during the day.  She is practicing her "1" finger and LOVES to clap at how good of a job she is doing at everything.  I think chasing her sister around the house is one of her favorite things to do, too.  As a Momma, hearing the two girls laugh together is a new favorite for me.

Last First Day of Preschool for Miss Priss

As excited as I am to watch Charley grow and learn her way through the world, it's a little heart breaking to see her grow so quickly.  As she enters her last year of preschool, I can't help but think about her starting kindergarten next year.  I always thought "those" Moms were so silly to cry...yet again, I will be eating my words, I'm sure of it.  When Charley's teacher, Ms. Melissa called, I was so excited to hear that she is in the same class as her sweet, friend Olivia, and her and Sawyer are together for the third year in a row.  For the first day of school, she selected her outfit right off my Matilda Jane rack, accessorized with jewelry, paired with boots and ruffle socks and MULTIPLE COATS OF RED LIPSTICK!!!!  Every time I wiped a little off, she applied more "coats!"  I finally went with it for the sake of taking a little girl to drop off and instead of a tiny clown!

Drop off went pretty well...the only mini meltdown was over not sitting right beside Olivia.  Once we got over that, showed her where her cubby was and took pictures with Sawyer, I left and she had a big smile on her face.  In my typical down-to-the-wire-last-possible-minute way, I pulled into the parking lot on two wheels at 1:20...only FIVE minutes after the pick up line started....and was the last parent to pick up my kid.  ALL of the teachers were waiting outside, so Ms. Melissa walked Charley to the car.  She told me that she had a great first day, but Charley had told Ms. Tammy that Ms. Melissa was mean.  I laughed because I know how dramatic my little diva can be and said, "oh gosh, I am so sorry...she is such a kidder and I know she was joking."  Charley immediately and seriously responds, "I was NOT joking, she is mean!!!"  I laughed a little more, but Charley stood her ground on how she felt about her first day with her teacher.  I really hope and pray she was kidding, because Ms. Melissa was such a sweetheart!  Guess we shall see how next week goes!