Chattanooga

I took my Jurisprudence Exam in Chattanooga today. Yeah!!! It was my last test before I can get my License to be a therapist. We decided to make a special trip of it since it was in between the girls birthdays. I thought I would share some of the neat pictures that I captured today (although I had many more that turned out horribly). The girls loved it. We started out at the Imax theater and watched Sea Monsters. We actually got a short visit in with my aunt from Georgia, whom I loved getting to visit with. Sweet Pea was terrified throughout the whole movie and kept saying that she just wanted to go home. Pumpkin Pie decided that she wants to be an archaeologist now though! That aspiration changed as our day progressed though. We visited all of the wonderful animals at the Tennessee Aquarium, which I would highly recommend. I wasn't that impressed with the ocean part but the River Journey was wonderful. After that, we journey over to the Creative Museum, where the girls tried out EVERYTHING! I so want to build one of these closer to home! I especially loved the upper level, which is dedicated to differently abled and what it would be like in their shoes. I got a couple of ideas for therapy too. My sweet husband allowed me to sleep on the way there and back and was so courteous to escort me around (he's behind me telling me what to say, ha, ha). Over all, the girls enjoyed the day immensely and I am looking forward to being slightly more lazy tomorrow.
By the way, the one picture of the fish- he was just playing dead! (joking, but that is what I told the kids)

Birthday balloons

I meant to post a picture of the "ice cream sundae" that I made for Pumpkin Pie. We sent it, along with some birthday balloons to school on Friday. I thought that it turned out cute, given that I am not a very creative person. She liked it!

Sweet Pea

Sweet Pea has been such a little sweetie recently. She knows how to sucker me into just about anything. I thought I would share a couple of things that she has said/done recently that are just super sweet.
While at Dollywood yesterday, I commented to Sweet Pea about her cheeks being red. She replies back, "it's because I love you so much."
While getting ready for bed this week, Sweet Pea comes in and requests to snuggle for a minute. I allowed her to climb up on my lap and talk for a minute. She looks me in the eye and says, "I love you so much and will always love you forever."

Now for the not so sweet story: Matt and I were struggling with keeping Pumpkin Pie on task the other morning. I commented that I do most of the discipline so he ends up looking like the good guy all of the time. When Sweet Pea came in, she asked what I was upset about. I stated that daddy was not being supportive. Sweet Pea went to school and informed her teachers that "my daddy is not supportive of my mommy. He never does anything to help her and he does not love her." I don't know how she got to that point but...her teachers got a kick out of it since they have known us for years now. I asked Sweet Pea about this and she informed me that she is upset with her dad because he is not "supportive." I realized that I will have to be much more careful about how I explain things to her in the future.

Nacho

I have referred to my best friend's youngest child as Nacho (for nacho baby-not your baby) from the time that she found out that she was pregnant. He is now 4 years old and the nickname has stuck. He also, in turn has called me "Nacho", nacho bell grande, and several other Taco Bell names. I tell you this to tell you the following story.
Last week, while eating lunch, Nacho tells his mommy to call me. When she asked him why he wanted to call me, he responds, "Cause I want to tell her that I am eating her family." (he was eating nachos for lunch) He is such a cute little booger!

Happy Birthday Pumpkin Pie

Today is Pumpkin Pie's birthday! She received breakfast in bed this morning and woke up to her mommy and daddy singing to her. That had to be a horrible way to wake up! We have celebrated all weekend long. Friday night, her mamaw came to visit. Saturday, we went to her best friend's birthday party, to the circus, and had dinner with her best friend. Sunday, (after church) we went to Dollywood. We planned to take her several places today but she decided that she wanted to spend the day at home, playing. Right now, she is having a tea party with her sister. Surprisingly, she has not questioned where her birthday presents are. She does not receive her big present until her birthday party though.

I love Pumpkin Pie so much! She is a precious young lady and has grown so much over the past year. This year, she got glasses and had her first broken bone. She is very much into name brands and feeling like she is always dressed in the "nice" clothing. She exerts her independence in making so many choices for herself (even the ones that I don't like) and trying to make her own rules. She negotiates with me and her dad on many things and becomes very emotional when things don't always go her way. She has kept the same friends since Kindergarten and the same crushes. She continues to improve with her piano lessons and is a very smart child. She is a loving and affectionate big sister. I could go on and on about all of the wonderful things that my sweet little girl can do (and things that I don't like her doing). She can be an angel and can be mean all at the same time. It saddens me to see my sweet daughter growing into a young lady but I am so proud of the young lady that she is becoming. I love you Pumpkin Pie!

weekend

Friday night, we went shopping. I bought the girls some new winter clothes. They still need a few more things (tights, pants, shoes, etc.) but I got some cute things. Saturday, we had birthday pictures made and I bought Sweet Pea some new to her doll clothes and American Girl Bitty Twins that are practically new. She has not let those two dolls (plus the one she already had) out of her sight. Today, we visited with my family and celebrated the girls upcoming birthdays. The girls got some other clothes (that I had picked out for them) and some new Barbie furniture. I have some organizing and going through some old toys to do this week, in effort to make room for the stuff they currently have and for birthday and Christmas gifts coming up.
I do have a prayer request. I went to the eye doctor on Saturday, and will be going back again in a few days. It seems that my eyes are getting worse and the eye doctor has some theories but isn't quite certain of why they continue to worsen as fast as they are. It was quite comical that I was so upset but he referred to me as his Mt. Everest, in that my eyes are really quite horrible and a challenge to figure out because the slightest movement at the machine and the computer gets all confused, plus it is hard to find the right fit of contacts, etc...I won't continue to put you to sleep. The point of the matter is that my eyesight is progressively worsening at a fast pace and a couple of these theories could mean some serious surgery. While it is hopefully not the case, I am quite scared. I think about all of the times that I take for granted that I can see my children playing, that I can drive, I can watch television, I can take pictures, you get the point. I could lose all of that at any second. I could miss out on seeing all of those special moments that I look forward to in my children's lives. So now that you hear my fear, pray about it.
We have a busy couple of months coming up, yes I said months, as it seems I am booked every weekend through the end of November at this point. Hopefully, I will have some pictures and stories to show soon.

ahhh!

I have had a headache for three days straight now. I am struggling with going each day but...
Sweet Pea is doing wonderfully with her violin lessons and Pumpkin Pie got her cast off today (and is doing well with her piano lessons). We have had a busy week so far and it looks as if it will continue that way.
I am planning on doing some shopping Friday evening (if I can get rid of this stinking headache) because birthdays are coming up. We are giving Pumpkin Pie a hair dryer and hair straightener on her actual birthday. It seems a little weird but she is really getting into this whole fixing herself up kind of stuff. For her birthday (party), we are buying her a MP3 player. Sweet Pea is a whole other story...we are struggling with what to get her for her birthday because she has all of Pumpkin Pie's hand me downs and gets other stuff along the way that she wants. We are completely open to suggestions. We are also planning a few other things for the girls this weekend.
We have friends going on a mission trip this coming week so keep them in your prayers.
Sweet Pea has been a hoot lately. Last night, she got mad at her dad and stared at him with that evil look for a whole 60 seconds and did not speak or budge the whole time. Matt laughed at her the whole time and commented about her acting just like her mommy but I don't know that I agree. We bought "Trouble" to play with the girls and we have had a good time teasing the girls when we send them back home. Pumpkin Pie does not find it funny but Sweet Pea has started plotting on how to send others back home. Sweet Pea has also been doing the new Krystal's commercial dance and it is hilarious.
Our trip to Georgia went fairly well but I am glad to be back home. We will be heading back out in a couple of weeks for my Jurisprudence Exam in Chattanooga so keep me in your prayers that I will pass my exam and be able to get my license soon. Also pray that we have a safe trip and the girls have fun.