friends, fun, fall and a farm

Thanks to the wonderful planning and initiating mom of one of Anna-Claire's friends from her preschool (thanks Gina), Anna-Claire has gotten the chance to stay connected to her core group of preschool friends! This fall the group got the chance to enjoy a hayride, corn maze, hey maze, pony ride, pig race, petting farm and pumpkin hunt at a great little place called Cedar Hill Farm. The kids had a great time not only seeing each other but enjoying the funs of fall! I think the things they enjoyed most were the pig races where Frieda got the chance to flag the pigs to the finish line and the hill run no one will ever forget!

goodbye summer ... hello kindergarten

As summer comes to a close, the anticipation of kindergarten has begun to grow greater! A milestone is taking place a day in the life of three youngs! Anna-Claire is school bound and entering into kindergarten! Where has the time gone? ...with the wind no doubt!

Teachers have been met! Uniforms and saddle oxfords have been purchased! School supplies have been neatly labeled and packed! The Ni How Kai Lan lunchbox has been selected and filled (turkey sandwich w/ mayo only, doritos, grapes cut in halves and a rice crispy treat to be exact)! Shoes laces tied! The car cranks. Belly Butterflies begin to flutter. Hands are held. Deep breaths are taken. Car doors close. Baby steps approach the walk way! Her hand reaches for the door then it happens. She turns and smiles that reassuring smile that tells all is going to be ok! In that moment my heart sinks and a tear hits the concrete where I stand. Amazing memories of her as a baby rush through me as I watch my daughter walk through those school doors and enter her first day of kindergarten! The door closes, the bell rings and the first day of school has begun ....

Lord let the rain fall ....

If there is one thing I believe, it is the belief that regardless of our stage in life we have to face fun head on! And in that belief, I firmly trust that there is fun to be had by playing in the rain! Now I am not talking about the stupid drunk fun that leaves you sick as a dog the next day! I am talking about the carefree fun! The fun that is seen and experienced through the uninhibited freedom of a child. So many times we loose sight of the fun things in life. Whether it is because of fear, because of the busy lives we lead or because we are in the state of mind that we are "too old to do that" fun has slowly taken a back seat in this thing we call life!

Questions to ponder ... When is the last time you have driven down the road, rolled the windows down, blared the music and sang at the top of your lungs? How long has it been since you have played old childhood board games like Trouble, Sorry or Connect Four? When have you woken up early on a fresh spring day and let the dew on the grass tickle your toes? Have you let a ladybug glide across you hand or have you danced with the fireflies in the dark of night? When lately have you allowed that carefree fun take hold of you and carry you to a magical land you once knew so clearly as a child?

It is my hope that the next time you see an opportunity to have fun you don't just brush it off or pass it up but that you seize it! Take hold of it and run! Stick your tongue out and let the rain pour down!

we're off to see the Wizard

If there is one movie Anna-Claire loves it is the Wizard of Oz! At the age of three, she was hooked. The brilliant colors, the magic of film, the songs, the lions, tigers and bears "oh my" ...all of it captivated her little heart and mind! Her Gigi, the amazing grandmother she is, started an annual event of taking her to the Summer Movie Series at the Orpheum to see the Wizard of Oz on the Big Big Screen. This year marked our 2nd Annual trip and it was one that I hope Anna-Claire will remember for a very long time! This year's showing was extremely special because all the girlfriends that Anna-Claire has spent the past three years going to "school" with got the pleasure to join us in our annual Wizard of Oz movie night! For many it was their very first time to see the film and to be able to see it on the Orpheum's Big Screen was just icing on the cake! Anna-Claire was given her very first pair of Ruby Red Slippers! Do you remember your first pair of sparkly shoes? Well you can just imagine her excitement when she opened the box and the prettiest little red ruby sparkly shoes were just her size. And as if ruby red slippers weren't enough...Gigi found the cutest smocked Wizard of Oz dress! She was adorable! The Orpheum crew made the event especially fun and interactive for us all. There was a dress up contest, a carnival piano player playing songs before the movie began and Wizard of Oz fun facts. With Popcorn, Candy and Drinks in hand the lights went dim and the movie screen came to life! And before we knew it we were off to see the Wizard ...the Wonderful Wizard of Oz!

Parakeet Paradise

This summer the Memphis Zoo showcased a new annual summer event called Birds and Bees! We were amazed when we ventured to the Birds portion of the exhibit! We were greeted by hundreds upon hundreds of parakeets. It was incredible! Parakeets of every color imaginable surrounded us. Anna-Claire's most favorite part was getting to feed the parakeets!

Dog Days of Soccer

Even though summer has come and gone and a new year is upon us, I thought it would be good to post some major highlights from the summer. One of those major events I have titled as the Dog Days of Soccer. As you read in Bend it Like Beckham, Anna-Claire discovered a love for soccer. And Casey discovered that he in his own right soon would discover a love for soccer whether he wanted to or not! This past fall Anna-Claire joined a soccer team through the Nesbit Soccer League. She had an absolute blast! She got to to be on the same team as her sweet friend Parker man! She even scored a goal! Below are a few pictures of practice and games ....

You Don't Write... You Don't Post ...

Wow! Has it really been August since I have last posted? Now I should be ashamed! There have been so many wonderful things happening in the day and life of Three Youngs that my blog should be overflowing with posts. But here I sit and look at a blog that has been forgotten ... a blog that has been obviously neglected .... a blog that is in desprate need of some posts! Did you just feel that? There it was again! Did you feel it that time? That my friend is the wind of change! I say no more to the forgotten and neglected blog! I say no more to the need of posts! I say yes to the love of blogging! This blogger is back baby!