MESS

I'm not sure which was the bigger mess- the kitchen or the one on Ava. I've got a couple of "projects" strewn here and there and there are always dishes. For some reason, they rarely make it to the cabinet. Ava has had strep this week so when she asked for Fruit Loops for lunch I was fine with that. And when she put them in her apple juice and fished them out with her fingers, I was fine with that too. Hence, the sink bath she got before nap. And then I realized how she filled the sink up completely and there may not be too may more wash-offs there, which called for a picture:

Better Late Than Never

The celebration was late and the post is even later, but we had a great time and I want to remember it. Joe and I celebrated our wedding anniversary the second weekend in September by spending a night in Atlanta. We ate a very good restaurant that was recommended by some friends that used to live there. It is called Nava. Joe's favorite was his alligator taco and I liked the tomato grits and banana enchilada (pictured). Our primary reason for going was to see the Avett Brothers in concert and they did not disappoint us. A buddy of Joe's told him he thought we'd be going to a small smoky bar to hear them. They're about all we listen to right now and Cate even has a couple she requests.





And if you're interested, a few of our favorites:

Tin Man (this is the concert we went to)

Laundry Room

The Lowering

Murder in the City

Please Pardon Yourself

Bad Hair Day I Suppose

Apparently Ava met one of Cate's friends at school today. As I was cooking supper tonight, I caught part of a conversation the girls were having.

Cate: "Ava, don't be scared of her. Sally* is my friend. She is NOT a witch. She just didn't brush her hair very good this morning."

*Name changed to protect the innocent and not-so-well groomed.

First Day of Preschool

Cate had been counting down the days until preschool started again. She talked for 15 minutes straight when I picked her up that afternoon. "I had a GREAT day...." Then we had to call Joe and Nana so she could repeat the story of her day to both of them. Ava is loving school as well and has liked being back with her buddies again. She's been walking around counting to 20 the past few days. They must really be getting down to business.

Ready to go.

Giving "Lub-ee" bye kisses for the day.

Flopsy and Mopsy?

Cate loves reading The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Joe has been wanting to plant a garden. I'm not sure who had more fun, but when I returned home from a jog (at near dark and I hate I did not snap some pics with better lighting), this is what I found:


Planting onions with Daddy. --Not a soul in this house really eats onions. We are also the proud farmers of a small garden with broccoli and lettuce plants/seeds. Well, it should be interesting at least.




Proud of the planting she had helped with and her "work" boots.



Watering was the best part.

First Soccer Practice

Several months ago Cate asked if she could play soccer. I did not think to ask her why she wanted to play. A few days after I had actually signed her up and paid for it she tells me, "I want to play soccer like Olivia." Olivia the Pig on Nick, Jr. that is. When Joe mentioned practicing in the yard sometime she told me, "Mama, I don't need to practice. I know how to play. I watch Olivia."

Well, tonight was our first practice and I did not take our camera, but if I had, there would be pictures of Cate making sure the hair that was falling out of her pony tail was "smoothed". There would be pictures of Ava trying to get in the middle of the team huddle and Cate taking her by the shoulders, turning her out from the group, and giving her a little shove back towards the sidelines. There would be pictures of Ava lying down in the middle of the field and rolling around, much to Cate's disgust again. There would be pictures of Cate standing back, watching the rest of the team run to the goal as one of the girls kicked, kicked, and scored. She was just a little tentative. Ava was torn up that she was not allowed to get out there and play with the big girls. She will probably not be attending too many games. Not to say it was all bad. There would also be pictures of Cate doing drills with her coach, scoring in the scrimmage, and giving high-fives. There would be a picture of the sweat matted wisps of hair on a tired, pink cheeked but smiling face as Cate buckled into her seat.

"I get to go to practice again next week!"

Daddy's Girl

As I was tucking Cate in and explaining to her that Daddy had gone to Starkville to watch the Bulldogs play and would be in to check on her late tonight she said,
"Mama, the only boy I love and like is my Daddy."

We Did It!

Dad and I ran the Tupelo 14.2 Mile run Sunday morning. The weather was incredible. A dear friend and her husband got up at the crack of dawn- literally and came to cheer me on. Now I'm glad she suckered me into signing up. I just hate she found herself on the injured list.