Last Night

If you have a daughter,

I know where you were last night!

...

I don't remember being so caught up in popular culture but I'm sure I was at some point. I remember my sister and her friends' excitement over New Kids on the Block. But, it is a whole new level of enticement now. Disney is the master at marketing. But there is no doubting my daughter had the bug. She was so caught up in the excitement!

...

{Carly in the middle. The smiles were this big all night!}

{I moved the furniture around so there could be more room for dancing. That was a good idea}

{There was lots of this. Kenny was surprised about how "touchy" they were. I reminded him that they were girls and if we had boys they would have been wrestling. He understood.}

...

{Carly's reaction to the end because after close calls in 1 and 2 Troy and Gabriella finally kiss! Isn't she precious.}

1st day

{First day of 2nd grade.}

.....

{Great morning.

Kenny made breakfast for the school girl -

biscuits, grits and bacon}

.....

{Catching up with friends.}

.....

{Meeting Dad at Mexico for lunch.}

teachers

It's back-to-school time and no one knows that more than teachers. I grew up in a family full of teachers and am now surrounded by more teachers as family and friends. Teachers have always had a special place in my life but now I see them in a whole new light as a part of my child's life. We have had 4 amazing teachers the past 4 years that now hold a special place in my heart for all they have done for my child. Not the least of which is making her feel loved. Because my mom is a teacher, back-to-school was a special time in our house. It held as many traditions as many holidays. I love the start of school - new clothes, new shoes, new school supplies, new teacher, new classroom -- the excitement of starting something new but with traditions so it is not so scary.

Thanks to all those teachers who give their all so all "their" kids are excited with the anticipation of a new start.

..........

{Some "teacher" good mail that I sent out this week.}

Carly's first day of 2nd grade is tomorrow. She is excited about her new teacher and a little apprehensive of making new friends. I went to parent's night on Friday and labeled all her supplies and wrote her a note for the first day. I met her new teacher Miss M(who Carly is going to love). As she talked about herself and the year to come, you could tell she was excited. She is young, full of fresh ideas and excitement for what she does. I know we are going to have a great year.

{Miss M's back-to-school basket. It turned out really cute. It is full of lime green and red treats! Carly helped me choose some fun things such as books, snacks (including red & green jelly beans), school supplies, personalized stickers (thanks to Doodlebugs), and a Sonic card (Carly said, "you gotta have Sonic " :) Carly is excited about taking it tomorrow.}

Tomorrow, after I get Carly settled & take lots of pictures, I will drop in at our church. We are having a back-to-school prayer time. I made my prayer list last week and have already been praying for the new school year. I made a list because I was trying not to forget anyone. A tall order considering all the teachers in my life. Hopefully by tomorrow I will have remembered everyone.

Happy Birthday, Nona!

......

We hope you had a great birthday.

We love you.....KO, KS, and CM

........

........

Happy Birthday Renee'

(aka Jessie's girl)

We had a great time last night -

thanks again for sharing your birthday fun with us!

more summer fun

summertime

Jump Back-to-School

Jump Back to School is the latest service project by the woman's civic group I am a member of.

JA throws a back-to-school party at a local park, giving out backpacks full of supplies and new tennis shoes to a list of kids and families provided by our Dept of Children Services. Here is the link to the article that was in the newspaper http://www.commercialappeal.com/mca/desoto/article/0,1426,MCA_451_5659720,00.html

Great job to the ladies who worked on this project

and helped pull off a great day!

For more information about JA of Desoto County, check out our website www.jadesoto.org

Side Trip

On my "in the near future" to-do list is to stay at The Alluvian in Greenwood (http://www.thealluvian.com/),

eat a fabulous dinner at the resturant, visit the spa, and possibly take a cooking class at the Viking school. That could not be accomplished today. But, Carly and I did make a side-trip to downtown Greenwood to check out the area. I wanted to wander around with my camera and take pictures of the old buildings and beautiful churches. That was not on Carly's list. A compromise was a visit to TurnRow bookstore (http://www.turnrowbooks.com/). This has also been on my to do list. I have seen it written about in magazines and articles about visiting authors/artist. Not only do I love bookstores especially independent bookstores, but also that nostalgia of the Mississippi Delta. As we say frequently, "the Delta is a great place to be from." TurnRow Books was everything I expected it to be. A fabulous old, but restored building, shelves and shelves of books including lots of local authors, local art and photography, and a feeling of "come-on-in-and-stay-awhile". It even has a screened veranda, although it was much too hot to sit in a rocker and enjoy it today. In every corner, there was a comfy sofa, antique wing chair, or bench. I quite possibly could have spent the rest of the day there - curled up in an oversized chair with a stack of photography books. And although, Carly did enjoy herself for awhile(suprisingly,they had a nice children's section), she did not intend to spend all day there. I can already invision the next time.

post note....while there I found something to add to my Christmas list (hint, hint)

Mississippi by Ken Murphy,

an awesome book of photography - just in case anyone was looking for that special gift :)

trouble

Check out what Kenny bought ME. Okay maybe it was for us, but I was sure I was going to be the most frequent if not the only user. But each afternoon this week, I have found Carly looking a lot like this.

Kenny said like mother, like daughter. I would have punched him in the arm, but I just smiled. He did buy the hammock which ROCKS and well, maybe, he is right :)

Good Mail

Who does not like to get mail? No, I do not mean credit card applications and overdue notices. I mean "good mail"! There is just something about old fashion snail mail. It just makes me smile to open the mailbox and see "good mail".

I have loved mail since I was a little girl.... birthday cards, pen pal letters, post cards, packages, and don't forget magazines. I can still remember being at summer camp, standing at mail-call and the counselor calling my name! Doesn't that make you smile. But sadly, there is just not enough good mail out there. I love email as much as the next person and there is nothing like a phone call to reach out and touch someone, but neither has the same effect as a personal letter, card, invitation, thank you note, announcement, or care package.

Not that long ago, I ran across a blogger friend of my sister's who has the same love of mail that I do. It is the first time I had heard the term "good mail" (click here to learn more). In her description of good mail, she says "Guarantees a "natural high," smile, and slight giddiness in both the sender and the receiver". Now what can beat that for 36 cents?

I told you all that, so that I could tell you about my recent good mail. Yesterday, Monday (yes it was, all day long), I came home from work to find the mailbox empty. That typically means we got a package and the mail is at the front door. And, that is just what it was, a package for Carly and I from my sister. Seeing a package has to make you smile in anticipation of the fun that is inside! Carly and I had recently placed an order from Doodlebugs and I was expecting the items we had ordered...new bag tags for Carly for the start of school, an address stamp for me, and mommy notes. But to our surprise there were LOTS and LOTS of fun goodies packed in that box.

There was a handwritten note from Kacey and goodies for Carly and I both.

For Carly: Small name stickers for labeling school supplies, pink cheetah bag tag, camo bag tag with orange name (she is still trying to decide which goes on the backpack and which on the lunch box), fun "C" napkins for lunch box, fuzzy stickers, and cool erasers for school.

For me: Address stamp (LOVE IT), mommy calling cards(PERFECT), flat notes & matching address labels (CUTE), a new magazine subscription(EXCITED), Splenda for Sonic teas (YUM), and

new "square" bag tags. Check these out. I love being the guinea pig for "potential" Doodlebug products. Mine went right on my camera bag because my old bag tag was looking a little worn.

Thanks Kacey, We Love it All!