Reese, as of late and according to my iphone

Just the cutest sideways chocolaty smile you'll ever see.

Reese asked me to take the step stool out of the bathroom because she can reach.  See?

The infamous 'All About Me' poster.   My favorite:  she wants to be a snack shack worker when she grows up.  It makes sense.  All the treats you could ever want are right at your finger tips.

The Kissing Hand.  Some school days she needs one, others she doesn't.  However, her bear needs one all the time, whether it likes it or not because that's permanent marker there on that paw.

If I took a picture of each and every fruit that this has happened to the last few months, I'm sure I'd have at least 20.  Obviously Reese lacks the patience to wait around for these things to ripen.  The problem is that she never tells me. After learning that it isn't ripe she puts it right back in the dish, hiding it's bitten side.  But actually I think since this last pic she's started to catch on -- that it's worth the wait. 

A trip to the zoo.  A trip that is so much better when you request to take your brother out of school to join you.  Have I mentioned how much she adores Ty?

Happy Birthday, Sis!

Jaden's 12th birthday celebrations were raked over two days.  Both days turned out to be quite eventful.  She first had a day on the town with her two best friends, Reese and Reagan, who are sisters.  Just after Jaden finished up her last day of her Lollipop Learners summer camp, we hopped in the car for lunch and a gourmet cupcake downtown.  Along the way they couldn't help but mimic these window models, making fun all the while.  Finally, we just had to go into a shop and try on some things.  These girls crack me up.

That evening Jaden was surprised with golfing with her dad and Reagan.  But actually, she didn't golf.  The point was to satisfy her wildest dream by allowing her to drive the golf cart.  She has an obsession with golf carts.  She's been asking for one as her only Christmas present these past 3 years.  And since that hasn't happened she's now considering saving up for one on her own.  She sure enjoyed cruising around with her bestie, sipping on coke while watching her dad use his mad skills on the golf course.  Nothing says birthday like that.  She was told to take lots of pics along the way since I wasn't there. 

 Friday, her actual birthday, began with presents in bed.  

Nothing like a jar of Goober (peanut butter and jelly made easy in a jar) to derive a reaction like that.  She was sincere in her joy there.

Oreos from Ty.

It was both the last day of summer and Jaden's birthday, so we decided to head for Schlitterbahn. It's serious fun there.  Apparently, so much fun was had by these three that every last one of them zonked on the way home.

We can't quite grasp the fact that this girl is 12.  Twelve means thirteen is just around the corner and being the parents of a teenager is simply unfathomable.  Let's not go there.  Let's slow this train down.  Let's enjoy 12 things we adore about a 12 year old Jaden.

12. Sis is twelve going on 20.  She is mature and responsible.

11. She is confident.  I have been interested in watching how Jaden adapts to new crowds of her peers.  I don't get to witness it at her school (although I'd love to) but because I take her to her sports and get to sit around I've observed that she really is outgoing.  This being a year that she participated on two different volleyball teams (one club and one at school), as well as two different soccer teams (started with one team and moved up to another).  She's the girl wanting to make up a team cheer with a lot of spirit.  She roots her teammates on at every opportunity.

10. Jaden is self-disciplined.  I'm really jotting that down to remind myself, so I'll stand out of her way.   I mean who signs themselves up for math tutorials the 2nd week of school?  

9. She's a singer.  The day we don't hear Jaden belting songs or warm up scales we'll be sure she's lost her voice . . .  from doing just that.  Otherwise, the only reason she stops singing is to eat or because we've shushed her so we can form a thought or do some homework around here, etc.  : )  That girl can't stop singing and, by the way, she has only one volume.  Loud. 

8. She's got a soft spot for animals, just like her dad.  Her heart falls out.  She put $100 towards saving the limb of her hedgehog this summer without batting an eye.

7. I'm so glad she's not drama at school.  (She might be at home but I'm afraid I might be cause for some of that.  Jaden and I are very similar.  We clash sometimes.  I digress.)  I'm hearing all sorts of "drama girl" stories from her that take place at school.  Some of these girls sure do make much ado about nothing.  I'm glad she makes nothing of it and tries to see the bigger picture.

6. She's STILL in competition with her little brother. We can't figure out why.  She bugs him like a plague.  But I know if push came to shove she'd bend over backwards for him.  Unless that included cleaning his toilet for him.

5. Still dislikes piano but is really good at it.

4. Can so often be found cuddled up next to her dad on the couch, tucked right into his side.  You know, the spot where you can't get any closer to the guy.  

3. Creator of Dead Club.  (more on that later)

2. Thrilled to have earned her way out of Primary to join Young Women.  (Where I made sure to follow her.  Do you know that manual was written the year I was born??  Come on now.)

1. Quite the entrepreneur with her Lollipop summer camp.  I think she earned somewhere around $600 this year while making 8 little girls very happy.

7th, 3rd and Pre-K (next week)

The kids started back at school this week.  It was time.  It seemed a week overdue this year.  I've never said that before.  I love taking my kids back and having them home but more than that I love that my kids get to see more of each other.  I hope this wasn't the last summer that I'll get to witness them spending hours upon hours building a village where polly pockets and legos coexist.  Or two hours spent in Jaden's bedroom preparing a magic show.  I'm afraid that just as the youngest is catching on the oldest will want no part of it.  Someone stop this train!

Ty was first out the door.  No butterflies or nervousness.  He's as cool as a cucumber, that kid.  Reese and Ty are pretty close.  Ty adores Reese, like hold-her-hand-while-she-sleeps adores her.  He is extra sweet and patient with her.  She started missing him after day two of this business and decided she's ready to go back to school too.  

Ty told me after meet the teacher night that a certain girl, who had a crush on him last year, would again be in his class.  He was minimally annoyed by it and the subject changed so we didn't talk about her again.  When I picked him on the first day of school he walked right up to me, handed me a wadded up paper and said, "read it."  I unwrinkled the small ball of paper to find it was a note to the nurses clinic.  A note for said little girl.  The reason for the visit?  Skin rash.  Oh, and scribbled at the bottom of the note . . .  her phone number.  I looked at Ty.  He rolled his eyes and hopped in the car.   And each day since, when I've picked him up, a story about her is the first thing he wants to share with me.  Hmm . . . might the feelings be mutual?  : )  No need to keep my ears to the ground on this one.  This boy can't help but spill the beans to me.  I love it. 

Jaden was also ready to jump back into the swing of things, especially after having earned some extra cash this summer.  She loved getting herself some name brand clothes and shoes that we hadn't planned on buying for her.  That matters in Junior High.  I get it.  

Sis has had a particularly exhausting first week of school.  Aside from the usual transitions she's had volleyball tryouts at 6:00 am these last 3 days.  She's home by 4:45.  Yesterday about mid-day, Reese and I dropped a coke to her.  She was thrilled.  I don't typically drop off carbonation to my kids.  But we wanted Jaden to know that we are rooting for her and that if she'd just make it through the day we'd learn if she made the team that night.  Yet we didn't find out that night if she made the team.  Instead I sat at the parents meeting where they told us that they'd decided to extend the tryouts by one more day because they had over 60 girls competing for 24 spots.  But beyond that, I learned that if she made the team they'll continue with early morning practices for the season.  Lovely.  Jaden is not a morning person.  I think she could be if she didn't lay in her bed singing at the top of her lungs for hours upon end after finally hitting the hay around 10pm.  Anyway, lots of good things to come this year for her whether or not she makes the team.  

Update:  Jaden made the team.

Reese and I are getting some quality time together again.  She is ready to conquer the world in that outfit.  But she'll start here, at the grocery store, mulling over the best choice of capri-sun.  Oh, I love that girl.  She'll start back to her Mother's day out program next week.  She is really looking forward to it.  All of her friends started school (or moved) and now with Ty and Sis gone she's getting antsy for her school to start already.  Then I'll be picking out capri-suns on my own.  She's such good company on outings.  Sure there are outings that are better left done on my own but I can't think of very many.  Below is hers and my grocery list.  I love this little mini-me.

 Ty's back-to-school goals.  My favorite is in the sports category: 'smash or pancake someone.'  That obviously applies to tackle football that he started at the end of July.  So far Ty's been the one smashed and pancaked.  But I'm sure he's going to dole it out before the end of the season, especially when he's written it down as a goal, right?

Jaden's back-to-school goals.  Love the 'get in less fights with mom and ty!' I'd better make that a goal of mine too then.  : )  I also like the 'make one really good friend.'  All you need is one. 

Update:  Reese started pre-school today September, 6th.  She and I packed up her backpack and lunch last night.  Reese had plenty of opinions on which containers, lunch boxes and lunch items would be used.  She even went as far as taking over my job when it comes to writing on napkins.  She drew a picture and wrote "I love Reese."  She loves herself, that's good.  We then went to set out her clothes.  She made piles of outfits and informed me that this certain outfit was for the last day of school.  Umm . . . we don't have so many clothes that we can hold them aside until the end of the year, sister.  She agreed and instead wore it today.  And lastly, in all of the excitement and anticipation for the day she jumped on my bed while I was getting ready and fell off, hurting her neck and elbow.  I had to leave caution with her teachers when dropping her on the first day.  She seemed fine.  And she was as giddy as a school girl today as she comfortably walked right into her classroom and waved goodbye.  I'll see you at 2:00 for a trip to Cherry Berry, Reese.  

Wahoo, I captured all three dimples in that pic!  See the one on her chin (her right)?  And one on either cheek.  Crunchable!

Her friend Samantha who was in her class last year.  They were both thrilled to see each other.

Ty IS the guy!

This is Ty with his sweet classmate Johnathon.  Ty earned the unofficial position of "Johnathon's special helper" for the year.  Now, I don't know the specific reasons for Jonathon's needing a special helper, nor does Ty, nor does it matter.  But Jonathon did, in fact, need some TLC; someone to help him stay focused on certain tasks as well as steer him in the right direction most days.  

Apparently, Ty was just the guy for the job.  His teachers counted on him throughout the year and so did Jonathon.  I have to believe that Ty's time spent with Matthew (my down syndrome half brother) has trained him well.  Just one example of Ty's regard for Jonathon occurred earlier this year, when Ty truly felt that he was between a rock and hard place.  He made the decision to miss his pinewood derby in order to make his 2nd grade music/dance night because he had been intentionally partnered with Jonathon.  Trying to decide what to do brought Ty to tears.  Ty was just sure that Jonathon would not participate with anyone else as his partner.  And so, even with Ty's complete disgust with singing and worse -- dancing, he forewent his first pinewood derby to turn a dosey doe with Jonathon.  What a stud.  I am so proud of my boy.  

Here he is at the 2nd grade awards ceremony accepting his citizenship award.  We told Ty that this is the best award he could receive.  Better than being the fastest runner in his grade, better than an academic scholarship to Harvard, or a full-ride football scholarship to UT, better than valedictorian or most likely to succeed.  What matters most is how you treat people.  Cue the song: In the end, only kindness matters . . .  but we won't shake a stick at any scholarships to any school that you might earn.  Way to go Ty.  We just think you are pretty awesome and a good example to us all.  (Yay for Keiko Yesland too!  She's to Ty's right and she received the award for all of the girls in the class.  They could get married.  That'd be just fine.)

Ty, strategically placed next to Jonathon for the awards ceremony. 

Oh and here's what Ty unloaded from his backpack the last day of school.  Just a couple of things.

Quick trip to DC

Kyle and I went on an impromptu four day trip to DC in the middle of June.  I don't think we could ever get enough of that place.  From Georgetown, to Capitol Hill, to Mount Vernon, we equally enjoy soaking up all of the history that is not in short supply.  And a trip to our Nation's Capitol is most certainly in our kids' future.  We wish we could take Jaden now, but we'll wait until all three kids will benefit from the same trip.  However, we couldn't help but daydream about our eventual trip while there recently; curious about what sites might peak our kids' interests more than others as we expose them to as much as we can cram in. 

A big thanks to mom for saving the day by flying in to tend the kids.  It was a win win for us, of course, because we got away while our kids got my mom's undivided attention.  I think we'll just have to come up with more excuses to fly her in so we can have her all to ourselves.  It's so hard to share her with soo many siblings, spouses and grandkids when we all get together.  Thanks mom!

We loved the new MLK memorial.  Kyle took over playing photographer as you can see in the pics below.  I didn't know he had such an artistic eye.  Maybe I've just never given him the chance as it's rare that you get that camera off of my neck and out of my clutches.  It was a great memorial with multiple profound quotes of MLK's.  I loved it.  

The last day of our trip was spent in Georgetown, eating fine meals and hitting up the National Cathedral.  It's a favorite of mine and Kyle hadn't been so we spent a good while there, even napping under tree shade during DC's record breaking heat.  Heat that we scoffed at because we are from the deep south and we paid no mind to it.  Mostly, we enjoyed the luxury of lying directly on top of the soft grass without a care in the world for fire ants.  Such a simple pleasure in life that I really do miss for me and my kids.

 

A piece of the moon sits in this stain glass setting.  It's the small dot within the largest circle of the three circles.  It was brought back by the crew of Apollo 11.  I believe one of the crew members attended the National Cathedral private school.

 Sitting in what is always the President's spot (not nessecarily chair) for any event he (and surely someday, she) attends in the Cathedral.  

 A very scenic run from the Washington Monument, to the Capitol, to the Lincoln Memorial.