The Kings: Finally football.

Everyone keeps saying we've reached the most wonderful time of year...fall football season. I'm totally with them, save the 95 degree heat that South Alabama can't seem to shake. The best thing about this football season starting is that it has trumped our local election, which now is but a distant memory, thank goodness. Our incumbent won, by the way, otherwise our sweet town would be soon be a distant memory too! Whew, we dodged a bullet. Let's start praying now that the "special" candidate who caused so much drama decides to save the effort in four years.

First Bulldog game of the season...only cares about seeing the cheer-readers.

I'm thrilled with this time of year as well due to the fact that the munchkin can go back to school. Trust me...three months of non-stop three-year-old togetherness and you'd be thrilled too. Love the girl, but in the same way that spouses shouldn't work together, mommies and babies need space too. And since she has discovered a new hatred for sleeping, we have no naps and another tiny body in our bed at night. Tired is not enough of a word to describe me these days...I often think that if I'm ever taken in for questioning, I would totally break within a few minutes if they tried sleep deprivation.

We also started Sylvie in Creative Movement at Andalusia Ballet and a tumbling class at ADTC (Parrish's old stomping grounds). She loves it and is really showing some promise in tumbling...her tiny size and awesome, jealousy-inducing calf muscles are the main contributors in this area. Here's praying for no broken bones.

She's in the same class at Mother's Day Out, save the fact that this year all the kiddos are potty-trained, so I think they'll have more fun and more time in the day without frequent diaper duty. Little Friends starts this week...we're back in the pre-3 class with a new teacher. Not thrilled about this as we'd rather her be in the three-year-old class, but whatever. I'm trying desperately not to be a Tiger Mom, or let our in-house Tiger Dad prevail. He mentioned a reading teacher the other day. Poor munchkin.

First day at MDO, August 2012.

I've been spending free time getting ready for a yard sale and Sylvie's third birthday. I can't wait to offload a bunch of junk on unsuspecting buyers. Parrish says he's going shopping at the sale to get back all of his stuff. Ha, like I'd be stupid enough to touch his belongings...no lie, he was able to produce a receipt for a suitcase he bought in Japan EIGHT years ago. It got him a new free suitcase, so now he feels totally justified for keeping so many piles of you know what in our home. I'm currently feeling so weighed down and overwhelmed by material things that I'm either going to move to a smaller house or a monastery. Oooo, the quiet of a monastery sounds awesome. Probably lose some weight too. And get to shave my head. The possibilities are endless.

Handcrafted third birthday invitation.

Second haircut with Connie...she wanted to dye it "bown" like mommy. Uh, not yet.
Cutting it often seems to be thickening it, though.

Photo from the backseat. Dangerous driving, I know, but hard to say no to a
persistent pint-sized photographer.

We spent a few days at the lake this week with my folks and cousin Bailey. Bailey enjoyed her first trip sans mommy and daddy and did really well. We were there for backup in case of some homesickness, but you'd have thought she didn't have parents at all. Of course, life is always more fun at JJ & Ferg's...there's playing, ice cream, a train, playing, swings, story time, wagon rides, endless toys, a park, lots of snacks, playing, wine and naps (those last two apply to me, I promise). I observed something that I think we have many years to look forward to...Bailey whispers instructions to Sylvie and Sylvie immediately does said instruction. Oh so similar to my childhood letting my sinister big sister lead the way (remind me to tell you about having to pee in a potted plant and getting a block stuck on my head, all the while listening to an evil little snicker). The best few lines from Boss Bailey, "Sylvie, when is your mommy going to leave?" and deciding that she wanted to drive the train instead of ride, "Sylvie has to poop." Sylvie was quick to say, "No I don't!" She also encouraged Ferg to employ the "claw" on Sylvie, not her. Bless her heart. Or my sister's heart. But you know what they say about karma!

Park poser.

Orange and blue toes for Auburn.

Collateral damage from spending time with a toddler...sorry Ferg. For real, Sylvie ripped the towel rack out of the wall. No idea how this happened since she is NOT a reckless child at all and only weighs a minute.

Park poser #2.

Waiting patiently before destroying the tower they made JJ build. They look like the city workers in town...several men standing around scratching their heads at a task.