Annual ADPi Tailgate

It's been a week and a half since we headed to Knoxville for my annual tailgate with my ADPi girls.  This year we chose the Georgia/ UT game.  We didn't win the game, but hanging out with this group of ladies and their husbands was so much fun!

We took lots of pictures and did a lot of catching up with one another.

We took this cheesy picture of all of the girls "completing the diamond" around Witten.  Even though he's a Cowboy now, he's still our favorite Volunteer.

Go Vols!

Southern Belle Farm

On Saturday we took the girls to the best pumpkin patch we've ever been to (not that I've really been to that many).  It was an hour away, but well worth the drive.

When we first got there, they were starting the pig races.  Elizabeth got the best seat in the house.

The first thing she asked to do was the cow train.  Miss independent got in there all by herself.  But her daddy and I kept pace right beside her as the tractor drove around the farm.

I tried to capture some cute pumpking pictures of my girls.  But they weren't really digging it.

You can see by Elizabeth's eyes that she was way more interested in getting to the next attraction. 

Caroline's little legs just kicked with excitement the whole time.  She was her usual sweet, low-maintanence self.  As long as she could watch her sister, she was one happy little girl.

Elizabeth loved steering this bike while her daddy peddled.  Apparantly it was quite the workout.  She also loved going down a tunnel slide they had built in the ground.  I didn't get a picture of this because I was so nervous for her.  There were five year olds who started crying halfway down because it was so dark and scary.  But Elizabeth loved it, and stood in line twice to go down it.

I asked someone on the hay ride to take our picture.  Both girls refused to look at the camera.  Elizabeth was too interested in what was going on around her and Caroline was too interested in her hands (her favorite things right now)!

Elizabeth took a little break in this rocker so I snapped her picture.

This is the pumpkin that Elizabeth actually picked out of the pumpkin patch.  She was very proud of it.

E loved this game.  I don't remember playing it when I was young, and I'm pretty sure you're suppose to have two players.  But she was great at throwing it and even catching it when it came back around.  I'm thinking we may need one in our back yard!

She also had a blast bouncing on this horsey thing.  We spent almost three hours there, and could've spent 2 more easily.  I'm loving this fun age where Elizabeth is old enough to really get into the festivities!

Happy Anniversary to my Husband

 Four years ago today Bert and I said "I do."  Our wedding day was everything I dreamed of, but everyone knows it's the marriage that really matters.  Our first four years have been full of major moves, big decisions, exciting changes, and two beautiful children.  We have experienced life's most precious blessings along with the stress of every day life.  At the end of the day, I'm so grateful for the man I fell in love with and the life we are building together.  I love you Bert Kelly!

We have stuck with the traditional anniversary gifts each year.  The first year was paper so we bought Tennessee/Georgia football tickets and enjoyed the game.  I was 5 months pregnant with Elizabeth on our first anniversary!

The traditional gift for the 2nd anniversary is cotton.  Bert's gift to me were two beach towels.  At first I was confused.  He knew I wanted new monogrammed bath towels for our master bath.  But these weren't bath towels nor were they monogrammed.  But when I unfolded the towels, a boarding pass fell out.  He surprised me with a cruise to Mexico!  And I gave the poor guy a shirt!!

Neither one of us can remember what we actually did on our 3rd anniversary.  But since I was pregnant again, I'm sure we just relaxed around the house.  Maybe we went out to dinner.  The 3rd anniversary tradition is to buy leather.  I bought The Love Dare and promised to complete it for Bert (I think I got about half way through- oops!)  Bert had my leather bible engraved with my married name on it.   

And the tradition for the 4th anniversary is fruit or flowers.  Bert bought me this beautiful bouquet of red and white roses.  I guess I'll buy him some fruit to complete the tradition!  And he's taking me "out on the town" Saturday night!  We also watch our wedding video every year on our anniversary, so I'm looking forward to that tonight!!

Bert, I am so proud to be Mrs. Bert Kelly III.  I'm excited to see what the next 50 plus years has in store for us!

Child Day

My freshmen Psychology class spends about three weeks studying early childhood development.  At the end of that unit, we invite children under the age of 5 into our classroom for the day.  The purpose of our Child Day is for my students to observe the behaviors and cognitive development stages they've been studying. As a teacher, it's great to watch my students see the real world application of what they're learning in the classroom.

One of my classroom moms took pictures and sent them to me.  Of course, I brought my girls too which was really fun and exhausting! 

 Elizabeth had so much fun that she didn't want to leave at the end of the day.  I had actually planned on taking them back to daycare before nap time, but I just couldn't drag her away.

So she stayed and played all day.  Then we left after 6th period so I could take them home.  We all three took a three hour nap!

 

 Caroline was loved on so much.  My girls, and even some of the boys, were naturals with her.  I think they actually saw more of the developmental stages in her.  They got really excited when they saw her doing the grasping reflex that we had learned about.  They also were able to identify that she was in the Freud's Oral Stage because she was sucking on her pacifier and her fingers.

 Elizabeth learned how to play Simon Says.  Of course, nobody was "out" when they did something Simon didn't say.  But my students were able to see some of their gross motor skills in action!

Pictures from my Phone

From one random post to the next.  It was definitely time to clean out my pictures on my phone.  So here's what we've been up to since August as recorded by my phone.

Elizabeth came to my classroom to help me finish setting up the weekend before school started.  

Elizabeth loves to grocery shop.  I don't usually let her out of the cart, but Bert was with us so I had an extra set of hands.

This is how Melissa shared her exciting news with us!!  Her and Chris are having a baby!  These are the beautiful names they've chosen.  And they're both family names- my favorite!

Caroline was talking up a storm one morning, so I took a picture. 

 I took this picture when we left Nashville after surprising my dad for his 60th birthday.  Elizabeth was exhausted from playing so much and had a fever (which is why she was naked).  We barely pulled out of the drive-way before she passed out and slept all the way back to Atlanta.

This was the day that our new couch FINALLY made it to our house.  Elizabeth was the first one to try it out.

My AP Psych students made brains out of candy.  Each piece represents a different part of the brain.  The toothpicks identify the different lobes.  After I took this picture, that particular group ate every last piece of the brain they made- gross!

Our first college football game as a family of four.  The girls did awesome and made it through the entire game.

The reason I don't mind waking up at 6:00 am every morning!

Elizabeth loves to play on the playground every Sunday after church.  The weather has been beautiful for spending the extra time outside.

Caroline's favorite spot.

Caroline also loves playing in her jumperoo.  She is amazed by all the gadgets. 

Random

Here are some random pictures from my camera this week.  They basically sum up our days after school... random!  We even had a picnic in our front yard for dinner this week.  The weather was so nice, some of the kids were outside playing, and Elizabeth said "pleeeeeeez" in her sweetest voice while asking to stay outside.  So I just brought dinner out to her.  We sat on a blanket, and basically fed my kids and a few others too!  But I digress...

This is Caroline eating carrots.  She LOVES carrots.  Peas, not so much.

Peas and carrots are the only two we've tried so far.  She still ends up wearing more than she eats, but she's a good sport!

My sweet girl was laying on the couch next to me while I was folding clothes.  One minute she was cooing and lauging, the next, she was fast asleep.  I just love this age!

We do attempt tummy time every day.  Even though Caroline despises it.  She either fusses or falls asleep. 

But once she's back on her back, it's all smiles.

Elizabeth is loving all the goodies from our Boo Bag.  I give her a new "surprise" every night from it.  She really liked the straws.

Then she spilled her milk all over her and wanted me to hold her.  Being the great mom that I am, I just kept snapping pictures instead. 

I couldn't resist, since this is the look she gives me at least 900 times a day!  Tears and everything.  She's very in to the dramatics.  She must get that from her Aunt Hannah:)