Simon Says...

"Let's play Simon Says. I'll be Simon. You be says."
--Ava

Helping Daddy

Overheard Conversation

In the van after picking Ava up at Pam's on Cate's first day of school:

Cate: "Ava, do you want me to tell you about my day?"

Ava: "YYYESSS!"

Cate: "Where do you want me to start?"

Ava: "Lunch."

Kindergarten

I know everyone says this, but I cannot believe Cate is old enough to go to kindergarten. It really does seem like just last week we were dropping her off at the LeBonheur daycare in her car seat carrier. I know all the mamas cry, and there were a few tears at our house that morning too.

All summer Cate begged to go back to her preschool, which was a wonderful experience. All summer she said she did NOT want to go to Carver school. And the instant she leaped into the van Thursday afternoon, I knew our prayers were heard. She screamed, "I LOVE IT!!! Mama, I love my new school."

Now a few days before school started, Nana and Mama Sue and a few more family members had told Cate they wanted to know all about her first day of school. The night before school started, we were laying in Cate's bed saying prayers and talking about the upcoming morning and Cate announced that as soon as she got home from school, we had to write everything about her day down so she wouldn't forget anything important for Nana and Mama Sue.

So, the next thing she said when I picked her up that first afternoon was, "Okay, well first of all, we put up our backpacks..." I interrupted and told her we'd have to wait until we got out of the carpool line so I could start writing- I didn't realize she was so serious about it, but she was. She most definitely was.

And here is the story of Cate Babb's first day of Kindergarten, August 4, 2011, in her own words:

"Okay, well first of all, we put up our backpacks and I put up my lunch box. Second, we went and sat down in our seats. And then we colored a paper plate. And we walked down the hallway and used the bathroom. Wait. We colored a picture of a raccoon before that. Mine was pink and blue. After we got done in the bathroom, we walked back down the hallway into our room and had rug time.

That means story time on the rug. That means Ms. Turner reads a book. And she did. She read "The Kissing Hand". And then she gave us a little piece of white paper and we traced our hand on it and when we were done doing that, we put a heart sticker on it. And we colored it and we brought it home, so I can show you.



After that we played in areas. I played in all of them- books, puzzles, blocks, and homing center (I'm still not sure what that last one is). Then we read "The Gingerbread Man" and had gingerbread cookies. Alright, after that, we went to look for the gingerbread man, but we couldn't find him. At the end of the day, we heard the principal say on the walkie-talkie (intercom maybe?) that the gingerbread man had hopped on a van and said, "Run, run as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man."

Then we ate lunch and then we had snack and guess what! We had a cookie and one chocolate kiss. Then, we ummm, we had a computer show, played on computers, went back to our classrooms, got our backpacks, examined all our work things, and went home."

She took a big breath and finished, " We did a lot today. Oh, and no homework."

When I asked who she played with, she replied, "Katie Grace, Lexi, Lily, and NO BOYS."

"Oh, and look what I found in my lunchbox."

Would You Like Some Fruit Loops for Breakfast?

"I don't want something that's in the pantry or in the freezer. I want something that's on the grill."

--Breakfast, and life in general, with Ava

Summer and San Destin 2011

I was working the weekend of the Koon's Care run this year. Joe did the 5K and Cate and Ava did the fun run (well, Ava did some of it).



We never get a picture of the four girls looking at the camera, so just thought I'd throw this one in. Cate and Ava loved getting to see Ta-Ta at Alyson's wedding.
We tagged along for Joe's conference in San Destin this year. The girls liked the sand and got the ocean a little to jump waves, but the pools were by far their favorite. Nana came with us and we all had fun swimming, shopping, and sleeping in. We tried for the classic family beach picture, but it was just not meant to be- not one decent shot of the whole family dressed up. Oh well, maybe next year.

Making "Monkey Lips" as Ava calls them, at the beach.


Building a sandcastle with Daddy.
The car trip was not bad at all this year. So excited to go in our mini-van.








Nana and her girls





A swing and a chocolate covered Krispy Treat WITH sprinkles. It couldn't get much better for Ava.







We went bike riding one afternoon. Cate rode with Joe and Ava with me. Ava absolutely loved it and we practically tied Cate to her seat to keep her from jumping off. She was not a happy camper for the first few miles. By the time we took the bikes back, she wanted to ride "for 2 more hours".
Waiting on shrimp and Cate's favorite- chicken strips.

One of their favorite places on any trip- the elevator.

Amicolola Falls

I have had a fascination with the Appalachian Trail since college. Em and I started a folder, Joe and I did a few miles on our honeymoon in New York. So, as we were leaving Babyland General Hospital and were looking for a short hike and Joe found Amicolola Falls on the map, we decided to go for it. It is an 8 mile trek from the visitor's center to Springer Mountain, the beginning or end of the AT, depending on where you start. We didn't hike anywhere near 8 miles, but 3 falls and 2 fits later, the Babb family made it to the top of the falls and down. It's going to be awhile before we tackle much more at a time.



Entrance




Ava spent much of the hike here...



The Falls, so pretty.
And then we got to the stairs.






And more stairs.



Cate loved the hike and the stairs.








Ava spent most of the rest of the hike here.
The happiest Ava was on this leg of our journey. The girl loves a good swing.