around the house

Before we left town ...

 

our house by Eden Brooks

working on L's nap mat with the sewing machine my Mama Sally gave me when I was little

... the manual is dated 1955!

my sewing assistant

practicing for school

tea party

why, yes, I did make dinner! Taco Tuesday!

sweet girl

love seeing both of these in my card bowl

think she likes the new Friday-afternoon sitter!

 

 

- ajb

chubby feet

we left town

Well, since LSU cancelled classes for today and tomorrow (and it will likely be more once the hurricane hits), we decided to head north late last night. We're safely at CC and Granddaddy's just working, playing, and waiting to see what the storm does. Here's E's hurricane evacuation checklist she made last night ...

 

 

It's eerily strange since exactly four years ago this weekend, we came up to Jackson from Baton Rouge for Eden Brooks's infant baptism and stayed for the week because of hurricane Gustav. This weekend, the rest of the fam is scheduled to arrive for John Winters's baptism. So strange.

earlier ... orientation week

When Graham returned from Canada, we all got souveneirs. Mine was a drink we had when we were in London over 5 years ago. He has a good memory ...

 

 

Thankfully CC was able to stay with us for orientation week which started the day after Graham returned from his big trip. It seems PDO always opens the same day as LSU classes start but we always have to be on campus the week before for meetings. CC's annual orientation week babysitting was great this year as well ...

On our first full day of meetings, the girls and CC had a swim party ...

possibly one of my favorite photos from this summer

 

There was also a lot of play time during the week, including walking the dog and the annual playday at the mall. I got to tag along this year as well, and all the girls rode the carousel together. The Queen rode Jewel-ly (pronounced Julie) and waved to all her subjects as we went around ...

As you can see, the Queen was not too happy about having to pose for more pictures.

 

But she was definitely happy about her new book with lunch. Funny how she still likes to sit in a high chair -- must be a combination of comfort and being like her sis.

On Thursday morning, before she went back home, CC and I spent a few hours at the Denham Springs Old Town antique street searching for a new entry table and shelves. We found this wonderful antique entry table after searching about 10 stores ...

 

While it still needs accessories and art, we've already filled it full of art supplies and paper :). Such a fun morning shopping with my momma.

 

The end of our orientation week was full of playtime, art, catching up with the cousins, and apparently putting on shoes ...

 

everybody on Momma

a photo from Oklahoma

Isn't John Winters just the cutest thing ever?

the first time Lydia attempted drawing

I put the marker in her right hand and she switched to her left

[she's done this twice now]

 

my doodle on the left. E's copy on the right.

our family by Eden Brooks

Lydia is fascinated with trying to put shoes on.

Shoes of all sorts keep her occupied for a LONG time.

a little help, notice how compliant she is for her sis ...

the result of lots of turns being dressed by her big sis

and being told to lie down

Success!

This year's orientation week was much smoother than in previous years. Both girls had a blast with their CC, and we were so thankful to have her with us for the week. Momma, we could not have done it without you!! 143!

- ashley

earlier ... While Graham's away ...

... the mice will play ... or something like that.

For the first few days of Graham's adventure to Canada, the girls and I were on our own. Well, really we had a freezer full of food that Graham had prepared before he left and an invitation to have dinner at a friend's house for night #2. But, I was the only adult in the house for almost three days with the girls. My goal was no yelling at eachother [from me or the girls], to eat all our meals and snacks, and to have a good time. We managed pretty well.

Since Graham left before sunrise, this was the scene on our first morning ...

 

Somehow, E convinced me we needed to get begniets for breakfast to deal with missing her daddy. She had just gotten a new book in the mail the day before and couldn't bear to put it down even to walk to the car. I think she'd fit right in on a college campus ...

 

Oh, how yummy.

 

Somehow, little bit learned how to wipe up extra powdered sugar with her beignet, and she decided she does not like sitting in a high chair when there is a perfectly good chair just like her sister's available.

 

Powdered sugar in the hair is a requirement for a good breakfast, as well as books spread across the kitchen floor ...

Later in the day, the girls' new lunchboxes arrived -- yippee! L's on the left, E's on the right ...

 

And, while out for our afternoon errand, Miss E convinced me we just needed to eat dinner at Chick-fil-A. Apparently, I was an easy target on Day 1.

 

While we were enjoying all our normal spots, Graham was headed out on this ...

 

By bedtime, I had successfully pulled down the attic staircase, retrieved the full-sized bed rail from the attic, and prepared for a nighttime guest in my room. It was good planning and much safer than pillows on the side of the bed ... Eden Brooks slept in the bed with me each night while we were home alone.

earlier ... day 2 alone

Day 2 of being on our own was packed!

 

 

Somewhere in the mix of the day, I used my favorite huggie [a wedding favor given to me by a friend] for a home-made iced coffee ... we played around inside ...

 

... had dress up that turned purple and gold [I didn't want to tell her daddy] ... made a trip to Target and almost bought some "queen" shoes ...

... played outside on her new obsession ...

 

... had snack and checked for fever ...

 

 

... outside again ...

 

 

E showed me how to draw a stethescope using the new pizza magnet {she's amazing!} ...

 ... partied with our friends at dinnertime ...

 

... and made an adjustment to all her pacis in an effort to keep them from rolling all over the house!

A busy day, but we made it.