Let the countdown begin ......

because my favorite little boy in the whole world

turns SEVEN in one week!

"Birthday week" has officially begun!

That's Stella Ross's WORLD!!!!!

Yesterday was the day Stella Ross (and myself) had been waiting on for a LONG time. Stella Ross is OBSESSED with Elmo, and has been for quite some time, so when I heard Sesame Street was coming to the Bi-Lo center I knew we HAD to be there. We had been telling her about seeing Elmo and she would start doing the monster when we would talk about all of his friends that would come with him. So cute! I had a special shirt made for her to wear and she was so proud of it. I will NEVER get over the look on her face when all of the Sesame Street friends came running out. She jumped up and started waving with both hands, screaming their names. She danced throughout the entire show, but by the end her little legs were tired and she took a rest on the steps (they're not dirty!!). What a fun, fun morning with my favorite little girl. This was such a special day.

Ready for Elmo

So many choices

Her best bud

"I'm ready to rock!"

Washing Dishes....

and proud of it !!!

Summer of Snakes - AGAIN!

Once again I am completely amazed, and disgusted, at the amount of snakes we find in our yard. Thankfully they are little and not poisonous, but I DO NOT CARE!! A snake is a snake to me. Every time we go outside, especially the front yard, we find one or two snakes in our flower beds. UGH!! So, we are going with the old wives tale of sprinkling moth balls in our yard. Hopefully they will offend the snakes as much as they do me! Wish us luck!!

A Perfect Morning!

Stella Ross knows it is a good day when she can watch Mickey Mouse Club House (complete with costume!)

note - Mickey Mouse shirt, Minnie Mouse shoes and Pluto collar!

and eat Nutella!

Happy Saturday!

We are ready......

for some FOOTBALL (GO COCKS!) .....

and being outside a whole lot more!!

Decorating the driveway!

Stella Ross and Rafe both LOVE to draw and drawing

on something other than paper is even more fun!

Stella Ross is ONE!

Rafe is SIX (for a few more weeks!!)

Breakfast Time!

I am so excited (and impressed!) that my mom saved ALL of my baby toys and clothes. It has been so much fun to pull out things that I remember playing with and LOVING! Stella Ross received my baby doll high chair last weekend and she absolutely loves it! It is so much fun to watch her talk to her babies while she feeds them. Thank you, Gram, for keeping your attic full of my toys for 35 years. It is worth knocking off the dust to watch the excitement on Stella Ross's face!

First Day of School!

Today was the first day of school for both Rafe and Stella Ross and I could not be more pleased with how well it went. Rafe went to bed last night VERY excited about starting school and that makes this Mommy one happy girl!! He jumped out of bed this morning and ran downstairs to his breakfast choice - cinnamon rolls, bacon, banana and yogurt drink. (he also found his back to school surprise and letter from Mommy and Daddy!)

Stella Ross was also excited about her back to school treat - an Elmo balloon, book and letter from Mommy and Daddy.

The enthusiasm continued outside for pictures of my 1st grader and preschooler!

I LOVE this picture! Stella Ross ADORES her big brother!

"We're on our way!"

walking in with his great friend, Carter

When we arrived in Rafe's classroom I was busy helping him get his book bag put into the correct cubby and Stella Ross just made herself right at home in another person's desk!!

"1st grade is GREAT"

After we left Rafe at school we made our way to Stella Ross's new school. (She is going to our church preschool one morning a week.) Stella Ross has EXTREME separation anxiety so I have been dreading this day for a long time. I was pleasantly surprised at how she responded, though. She immediately jumped down to find a toy to play with and was so content that I was able to slip out without her even noticing. Her teacher said she did well all morning, but of course she cried as soon as she saw me coming in to get her. I expected this - Rafe always did this at her age! It was so cute talking to her about her day. She would just light up when we talked about her teachers, the toys and playing with her cousin, Tucker.

Needless to say the first day of school is REALLY tiring for everyone involved. Stella Ross couldn't even make it home before falling asleep!

**Rafe had an EXCELLENT first day and we celebrated with his good buddies, Lane and Colt, over ice cream after school. He is already talking about how much fun they are going to have tomorrow!