Fair Time!

Around the first of September, I start to listen for the tacky commercials that desperately need to be redone. I start to find old jeans and socks and stash them away. I wait for the first touch of cool weather, and I know it is soon. It means the fair is not far off!

I absolutely LOVE the fair. I love everything about it: the smells, the rides, the exhibits, the long walk to the car, the carnies, everything. Now that we have girls that kind of get the whole fair scene, I love it even more. 

Our fair is in town this week, and I casually mentioned to Lee Monday night that hey, if we want to try to go this year, that maybe Tuesday night won't be so bad and we could go for a few hours. I am sure he knew that WEEKS ago I had already planned that Tuesday night, we were headed to the fair whether he liked it or not. By 5:00 pm that afternoon, girls were up, dressed, and waiting at the door, and we hit the road just as Lee pulled in the driveway.

We have to eat at the fair. If you know me, you know I don't eat fried food, rarely let my girls eat fried food, and there always at least one veggie and fruit on their plate. I don't like buffets, or "festival" food, but I love the fair. It is something about the batter and watching people with the most awesome mullets you have ever seen make you crave a corn dog. So, after our corn dog, funnel cake, and candy apple, we hit the rides and games. (just so you know, I did sneak an orange into the girls' meal that night.)

Now that we have had our fair night and got our fill of grease and games, it is officially fall. 

  

Dreamfield Farms

Sophie had her first field trip on Wednesday. I must say, the little girl is a fan of field trips. First, because siblings were not allowed on this particular trip, her Gran and Poppa came up to keep Harper while I chaperoned. Having them around was enough fun, but then to go with all her friends to a farm, she was in Heaven!

It was so cute to see her with her little preschool buddies. Sophie is a popular little girl! All the little kids were screaming hi to her, and she waved like she was the queen. They got to go on a hayride, make butter, see animals, pump water, go in hay mazes, and pick out a pumpkin to take home. The thoughtful little girl she is had to make a stop by the gift shop to get Harper a prize since she missed all the fun. I am sure we will head to the farm at least one more time before Halloween as a family, but Sophie's first visit there with Frazer was just adorable!

And, in case you think Harper missed all the fun, she had a little field trip of her own. I heard she created an audience at Cracker Barrel because she was acting so cute and eating so much food, and was two minutes away from owning a parakeet because she amazed my parents at her love for the birds at the pet store.

woot woot

Since Harper's birthday and traveling, things have been pleasantly quiet around here. It is nice to have a few days of routine. After a summer of pure travel EVERY weekend except one (seriously...) and then getting into a little routine with Sophie's school and ballet, we had a week of just normal. We even had nothing to do on Friday! I let Sophie and Harper dictate our every move. It was really fun. They chose our toys, Sophie wanted some art to do (if this kid isn't an artist or art teacher, I will be shocked. She loves her projects.), Sophie decided lunch of chicken nuggets, broccoli, and mac n cheese, and it was such a fun day. Anyway, it has just been nice for a week of normal.

Because of a normal week, I have had plenty of napping time to monogram and play online. I read about this site called woot. Actually, I think a neighbor of mine told me about it a few months ago, but she is just a little annoying, so I kind of didn't listen when she was telling me, so I feel a little bad now because it really is cool.... but just a little bad. ANYWAY, it is a site(or multiple sites depending on what you like) where they offer one item a day for an extremely low price and they sell only that item for the 24 hrs or until it sells out, whatever comes first. It is so cool! For instance, today's item was a light timer. I don't know how many times I leave lamps on in our playroom or in the girls' rooms until they fall asleep and then have to trek across the house late when I remember they are on. The light timer would solve that problem! However, they sold out before I got to it. Oh well, there will be a new item tomorrow. They have a kids' woot, which is really fun to watch, especially for Christmas. So, if you have a little time, google woot and see what you find!

Happy Birthday Harper!

I cannot believe it has been one quick year since Harper was born. It seems like a blink ago we were laughing at my ever growing belly and just KNOWING Harper was going to be early, only to have her hold on inside until the last minute to come into the world. We should have known then that she was going to be a little girl with her own mind!

To say Harper and Sophie are different is an understatement. Harper is a studier... she knows her surroundings, she looks at objects like she is memorizing them for a test, and makes you work for a giggle or a smile. But, once you get your first smile, they come freely and often from her little gap teeth. She is very easy going and such a tough little girl, but if her feelings get hurt the world knows. She is such a fun personality to spend my days with.

Her first birthday party was typical Harper. She and her cousin William, who is one week younger, shared a fall bash that included art projects, a pumpkin hunt, hay rides, and of course, cake. Harper ate every bite of her cake and never cracked a smile. Her little determination to finish whatever she sets her mind on will be fun to watch as she learns new things in the coming year. Happy Birthday, sweet Harper!

my little speedsters.

Nothing beats the laughter that comes when these two girls are getting along. Most of the time, they play well, with Harper laughing and mimicking whatever Sophie does. But, until we let Sophie drive Harper around, we never knew how much the two of them are really enjoying each other.

The Art of Appreciation

This week has been a long, for lack of a better word, crappy, week. Labor Day was nice, but I have had a nasty cough that finally had given me enough trouble. So, after wrestling 30 3-year olds at the first installment of Cherub Choir Wednesday night, I joined the masses at our local Pri-med for a glimmer of hope from the doctor that I would soon be better. I must admit, after dealing with Cherub Choir, where half of the children did not want to be there, half were comparing items found on the bottom of the chair, and the other half just being 3, the chance to sit in a waiting room by myself was a little nice. After X-rays and tests, I was told this was a classic case of bronchitis in my chest and that only time and rest would heal it. Awesome, because everyone has plenty of time and plenty of rest these days just to let things heal. Of course, I was given a prescription for a ridiculous syrup, steroid and antibiotic "just in case" and sent home. Because of the coughing, I now have a cracked rib. It is really pleasant.

Friday Sophie had her first official public freak out session. I am appreciative she waited until she was three to give me this precious moment, but I could have waited longer. It occurred, no doubt, at our bi-weekly swim lesson which we return to again in the morning... fingers crossed. It was a valid freak out, with a little fear of the deep part of the pool, but it was still a long walk to the car.

Saturday I had my first meeting being on the Alumni Board at Huntingdon College, my alma mater. It was fun being able to see some faces I haven't seen in a while, and will be fun to help for the next three years on the board. It was not fun, however, to hide my hacking cough or cracked rib for three hours. But, I did, and called Lee to meet me with the girls to attend the Huntingdon football game. And this is where I think the appreciation part of the story comes in.

As I waited for the girls to arrive with the stroller, I got a chance to talk on the phone to a few people without any interruptions, sat in the car for a minute without being asked why we weren't moving and where were the cows and what kind of tree is that and can I look at this silly face and can we get ice cream and, and well you get the idea. Anyway, I forgot how nice it was to sometimes just be alone. Then, Lee pulls up.

He had THE LOOK. The look I think I have 90% of the time. The "I must wear my sunglasses even though it isn't sunny but to cover my crazed eyes from the morning". I imagine that if Lee had long hair like mine it would have been up in a pitiful ponytail, even though he would have attempted to fix it and just gave up. I smiled and asked how their morning was and he just handed the bag of stuff that accompanies our girls at every moment and just said, "Oh, my. I feel like I have been frustrated since 8. What is their deal?" I think he attempted baths, a trip to the grocery store, and that is it. But, in girly-world, that is a marathon of events. He had them in adorable outfits, and forgot one set of bloomers. No big deal, right? The funny thing was his reaction of this minute detail is exactly what would have been my reaction had I done the same thing. He immediately looked defeated in his efforts and switched bloomers around so the one without would be less noticeable. I had to had a smile here. I hate he had a frustrating morning, but I am 1) thankful he probably realizes now why some nights I am so tired and so on edge I can't think straight, and 2) thankful it isn't just me who gets this way. But, when we returned home from the day, Lee did say that once the girls were asleep, I should go get a pedicure. Is that because of my terrible pain that he felt sorry for, or is it because he realized his morning was a typical 9 hour episode for me? Either way, I'll take the pedicure.

Don't get me wrong. I think our girls are great. For the most part, I am tired from playing games and keeping up with the fun-ness that comes with toddlers. We don't have many days or weeks that are filled with timeouts or trying moments. It is just keeping up that wears you down. I am living on the motto : I will sleep later.

P.S. I did not go get the pedicure. I opted for a trip to Hobby Lobby and Target by myself, a mecca for me to not rush out of either store b/c we either knocked something down or they were out of toilet paper.

Random Thoughts

- Sophie and I were at Target the other day and she saw an old interview of Gene Stallings and Jay Barker. I don't recall seeing any football on, but she immediately said, "Oh, look, mommy! There is Alabama! I love Alabama!" There is hope for me yet.

- Speaking of football, I am so ready for tailgate food. I don't remember the last time Lee and I actually went to a game early enough to completely tailgate, but it had to be before we were married. However, we have not given up tailgate food. It is the only time of year that snacks and dips qualify as a complete meal as long as you throw celery in the mix. You also have to have new pajamas for the season. It is completely acceptable to change into pajamas at 3 pm and start your snack supper, but only if the temperature is below 65 degrees. We have a while, but there might be a clause that you can turn your AC down enough to justify 5 pm. I am checking on that one.

- Sophie doesn't tell us much about school. Her favorite answer to any question is I don't know. However, if you play school with her, you get the play by play of her day. For instance, today I know some kid named Nathan was line leader and was the holder of the "share bag" (their version of show and tell), and apparently the power went to his head. He hid in the puppet theatre from the teacher and got put in the thinking chair. In Sophie's version Nathan was a panda dressed in an Ariel costume. She also had goldfish but couldn't share with the boy that has a peanut allergy.... During our playtime, I was the peanut stricken child. It was a pretty interesting role play.