First Day of School

Laurel and Savannah were so excited to start school.  Especially Savannah because she is in Kindergarten now!  She has been waiting for two years now to go to the "big school" with Laurel. 

We love Laurel's teacher, Ms. Harris.  She has been teaching for 24 years and seems to still love teaching.  We got to go meet Ms. Harris on Laurel's actual birthday, August 8th.  When Ms. Harris found out that it was her birthday, she grabbed Laurel and hugged her and sang happy birthday to her!  I think she is going to have a great year.

Savannah's teacher is Ms. Conn.  We have heard great things about her.  Savannah said some of the funniest things that first day.  She put on her backpack and said, "I can't believe I have a real backpack now!"  Before she got out of the car, she said, "Now mommy, I want you to go home and get my baby and cry."  She got in the car at the end of the day with the biggest smile and said,  "that was the most exciting day ever!" "I did not even get a one (a warning)!" The next day she came running into the kitchen and said, "goodmorning! I was so sleepy when I woke up and then I remembered it was a school day and I told myself, get up you have to go to school!"   She asked if I was going to walk her to her classroom.  I told her I thought I would just drop her and Laurel off in carpool.  She raised her arms up, formed a fist and brought them down with a "YES!" 

I think she is going to be just fine!

A Really Fun Day

It all began with the play, Jack and the Beanstalk, at the children's theater....




 We met up with some of our best friends, Ava and Lily!


Jack and his fairy godmother.



The Giant!



The giant's wife

Landon was mesmerized for the whole hour.  His eyes never left the stage.  And since Landon sat there so long, he was on the go as soon as it was over.  He would not stay still for a picture.

So, once again the children's theater did not disappoint.  It is amazing how they can put on such an entertaining play with only four actors.  Oh yeah, the cow was amazing and there were two people under there.  Great costumes and a great spin on the original Jack and the Beanstalk.

After the play, we rushed home to meet up with two of my friends from my Parisian past!  Stacy, Barb and I try to get together every summer for a visit.  Stacy and I are here in Birmingham and Barb moved to Atlanta and is a school teacher.

Let me just tell you, this doesn't happen very often.  Landon doesn't warm up to most people this quickly.  He was making me laugh.  He just crawled up in her lap and started snuggling with her.  She is so good with mine and Stacy's children.  You can tell that she was born to be a teacher.

The children had so much fun playing.  You may think that is a girl on the far right,  WRONG, that is Mason.  He is the oldest of Stacy's children and is always such a good sport when he comes to play with all these girls.  He was the MC of their fashion show and then decided to give us a good laugh by coming out swinging a purse, in a silky dress and a tutu on his head.  It has been fun watching all of Stacy's children grow up.

Great Entertainment.
Great Friends.
Great Day.

Little Brides

Laurel was so excited when she saw my wedding dress in the back of my closet.   I scored major points with her and Savannah when I took it out and let them try it on!

Then they asked if I would put it on.  HA!  I told them that would not be a good look in my current condition.  I wonder if my waist will ever be that small again!:)

Serious Trouble

Yep, that's right!  I'm in serious trouble.

This little boy has his mommy wrapped around his little finger.  What will I do when I have two of these?  When I get on to him, he just grabs my cheeks and squeezes them together and says, "MOMMY, MOMMY!"  And then he gives me a big kiss.

The day he said, "I wuv you,"  it was all over.  I just melted into a big sappy pile of yeah, you pretty much can get away with anything.

But, No, No, No!  I have got to get control of myself and this little boy who thinks he rules the house around here with his charm.  Let me just be clear.  It's not only me he has wrapped.  He has us all wrapped!  He is the sweetest most loving, little brother.  Then in a split second he can grab a toy and knock Savannah or Laurel over the head.  He says the most precious, "I sorry!"  and when this is said, all tears are dried up.  He grabs Savannah's hair and drags her to where he wants to go.  Savannah says, "he just drags me around like a dog on a leash!" 

It makes me think about growing up with my two brothers.  If we wanted mom to bake cookies, we always sent one of our brothers in to ask for it because we knew she would.  There was always this special, unspoken bond between them.  Now, I totally get it!

Awww..... the beach!

Dear Mr. Beach~

It has been way too long, four years to be exact.  We vow to never let this happen again. 

This was Landon's first time to have his cute,  little feet in your grainy sand.  He did not know what to think about you.  He didn't really like the way his feet were feeling.

As we approached your ocean, he became even more troubled.  He gets the cutest, concerned look on his face.  When your vicious waves came rushing up to him and  ran over his feet,

he squealed like a girl and jumped in his daddy's arms!

But, not his sisters!  They rolled and splashed all in your salty water.  They let your waves slap them in the face and knock them down.  They giggled and were in their own little world.

The next day brought more joy for Landon.  He decided it was a lot of fun to be out with daddy and Laurel riding your waves.  If daddy was out with Laurel and Savannah, he would stand at your shore line with his arms reached out saying, "daddy, daddy!"

Savannah had the most fun playing in your beautiful, white sand.  We watched dolphins play in your ocean and fish flip up in the air.  One poor fish lost his life to a sea gull.

We buried each other in your sand!

We built sand castles and collected sea shells.

We had a blast and you are truly one of the most beautiful places on earth.  Until next summer Mr. beach, until next time.
Love,
The Claytons

A Gift

He is the father's day gift that just keeps on giving.

We celebrated Landon's 2nd birthday yesterday, along with father's day.  He was born two years ago on father's day weekend.

Last year Landon wanted nothing to do with his cake.

But, not this year.  He could not get enough. 

He enjoyed every last bit and morsel of his birthday cake! He giggled and made yummy noises and gave us all a good show. 
We don't know what we would do without this rambunctious, lovable, mischievous, full of life little boy!

And another thing I love about my sweet husband.  He always remembers that video camera.  We have years and years of video that my children sit and watch like movies.

Father's Day

Fathers.  Wow, what would we do without them.  I'm so thankful for the fathers in my life. 

  Especially my children's father.  Seth made it clear when we first met that having a family was the most important thing to him.  He is the best father and our children adore him and I adore him.  That man to the right of Seth is a great father also.  I actually know how Seth will look in his 70's!  We call him papa and he is the sweetest man.  He has always treated me just like a daughter.

And these are some of papa's sons.  They are all great fathers and have been great uncles to my children.  Do you know he has two more sons?  That's right, he has 5 sons!  Galen and Karsten couldn't be with us.  We missed them.

And this is my dad.  I love this man.  He has taught me so much throughout my life.  I think I get my wit and sense of humor from him.  He is a great dad!

Happy Father's Day!