September Update (Lily 5, Clara 3)

I feel like this month hasn't been as busy as previous ones but that's probably because we've settled into a routine with school. Lily is enjoying school but still not a fan of drop off in the morning....it's a work in progress. This month we were able to go to a few tailgates, go to zoo/rescue, get ice cream and go out on the boat twice. 

Lily's September Update:

School continues to be a major adjustment for Lily. Not only is drop tough to get through but also after school when Lily comes home. We learned the hard way not to plan anything after school because Lily definitely needs time to unwind after school. We tried planning a few fun hours on the Tennessee River after school one Wednesday which ended in a crying screaming meltdown when it was time to go home. So now I've set my expectations WAYYYY low and as long as we make it to bedtime all in one piece we're doing good. 

 At the beginning of this month Lily "lost" her first tooth. I put it air quotes because it was helped out of her mouth by mommy, some dental floss and a slamming door (before you call CPS she asked me to because it was so loose and was driving her crazy). 

What Lily loves

-riding her bike 

-school 

-the movie "The Parent Trap"

-tubing (going outside the wake)

-Sonic ice cream

-cleaning 

What Lily hates

-school drop off

-

What Lily is saying

- (at 4am) "Mommy can you go downstairs and get a very special bracelet I made for Daddy out of my backpack?"

- "Volcano lamp" (aka: Lava Lamp)

- "Back pedicure" (a massage)

Clara's September Update:

It's taken a little adjustment for Clara to get used to Lily going to school too. While she enjoys running errands with just her and mommy (it's seriously like 10,000% easier with just one kid) she still gets bored at home and is constantly asking for me to play with her. However, when Lily does get home she's so tired from school that Lily gets upset a lot easier and gets mad at Clara. There have been several times when I hear "::angry voices:: I'M TELLING MOMMY" and I reply "DON'T COME TELL ME ANYTHING". Thank goodness for early bedtimes. 

What Clara loves

-taking random pictures with my phone

-her new baby cousin Charlotte

-using the vacuum or steam mop to clean

-playing charades

-Peppa Pig

What Clara hates

-not having Lily to play with when she's at school

The girls spent the night with Nana and Pop and then went to a football game.

part Blue tick Coonhound part pony

It's GONE!!

Lily and Charlotte

Found this from when the girls stole my phone and took pictures.

I thought it was accurate to how our season was going.

so many poses....Lily what are you doing?

too much tailgating

The Little Ponderosa Zoo

"Come back camel!"

"If you feed them they will come"

Fishing Saturday

Ewww

Fish #1

Henry and Uncle Andy

Fish #2

now how are you supposed to drive the boat Andy

we've done our fishing so now it's time to make a sacrifice to the fish gods

Ice Cream treat after dinner

 Other pictures from this month:

Playing charades with Mamaw

they volunteered to clean the car

first time tubing without any grownups

why Clara isn't allowed to have any pens

Uncle level: expert (with minimum energy being used)

"I'M BORED!!!"

Karns High school football game= too much sugar. 

August Update (Lily 5, Clara 3)

...And just like that our carefree days of summer are over and we've started school. This month we went to meet the teacher for Lily and she had her 2 staggered days before starting school. We were able to a family "camping" trip before school started and we've gone to a few birthday parties,  had friends over to play and football season started. It was a busy month.  

Lily's August Update:

At the beginning of August Lily started Kindergarten. Her first 2 days were 1/2 days and she LOVED school and did fantastic. After her 2nd full day of school she decided that school was not for her and she had tons of anxiety and fear surrounding being away from mommy and going to after school. After 2 weeks of me carrying a screaming, thrashing child into school we got a call from the vice principal and got a plan in place. Now a guidance counselor meets us in the car drop off line and get Lily out of the car. I'm thrilled that I'm not late for work anymore and that I don't leave the school covered in sweat, tears and snot. Once she's at school she does FANTASTIC it's just that morning drop off that is hard. Fingers crossed it's getting a little easier every day. 

Lily loves 

-swimming

-LOL dolls and Hatchimals
-pickles 

-watching kids Youtube

Lily Hates: 

-her after school program

What Lily is saying 
- (look at picture of me and Andy when we were dating) "Mommy this picture looks like you went to the spa and they took all the wrinkles off your face" (Have kids they said....it will be fun they said)

Clara's August Update:

A lot of people have asked Clara if she misses Lily when she's at school. To be honest I think she prefers it. She loves playing with whatever toys she wants without a fight. I had great hopes that because they would have some time to themselves Lily and Clara would get along better at home. That has not been the case for a few reasons 1) Lily is tired after a long day of kindergarten and afterschool and 2) Clara knows what it feels like to not have to fight for toys. I've added a referee whistle to my next Amazon purchase. Even though she says she doesn't miss Lily the first week she came with me to the grocery store while Lily was at school and she buckled a box of cosmic brownies into the car seat next to her and called it "her friend". 

What Clara's saying 

-"Mommy I love you....and you pooped in your pants"

-"Hanitizer" (hand sanitizer)

Clara loves

-telling people that they've pooped their pants (kids are so weird)
-grabbing my phone and taking candid shots of me (because everyone needs a photo of themselves airing up a bike tire in the 90 degree heat)
-cuddles
-swimming underwater

Clara Hates

-that she's not allowed to jump off the diving board

Lily's went to meet her Kindergarten teacher

Lily and Ms. Satterfield

Our neighbors had a birthday party complete with waterslide,

pizza lunch

and balloons on the trampoline.

Lily's first day of school

Before Lily started school full time we went camping.

Clara walked in the cabin and said "where's the rest of it"

Our cabin had 2 sets of bunk beds, a mini fridge/ microwave and air conditioning.

The campground had a playground and swimming pool.

When daddy accidentally buys the extra large 

marshmallows that overflow the graham crackers

We though Clara and Lily would LOVE to sleep on the top bunks....

we were wrong. They opted for sharing the full sized bottom bunk and Mommy got the top. 

Our cabin was right next to the Little Pidgeon River

There was a rafting company right next to the campgrounds. 

The girls kept yelling "DON'T FALL OUT OF YOUR BOATS" to the rafters. 

The girls got to meet their sweet new cousin. They love holding her. 

Other pictures from this month:

Clara and her friend "Cosmic Brownies"

catching some air

Daddy trying to sneak some ice cream

Lily gives in

silly girls

Birthday party for a classmate

watching TV and cuddling with a broom

classmate playdate

Football season begins.