A SHEEP DOG, NO MORE

When even Sydney says, "Sawah yook yike a sheep dog," you know it's time for a hair cut. Sarah has created a bald spot on top of her head from yanking the bows out of her hair which are intended to keep the hair out of her eyes. I decided it was best to just cut bangs (as much as I hated to!)

Trip to Gentry Farms with Dad

PAINTING PUMPKINS @ Sevier Park

Hicklen Farms Pumpkin Patch

The girls had a blast at the pumpkin patch last week. We're going again tomorrow with some friends. Sydney loved smelling all the flowers and I had a hard time pulling her away from them. Sydney enjoyed the walking through the maze of haybails. Sarah spent most her time playing with the resident cat. They went for wagon rides and picked out their pumpkins. Sydney insisted on taking her little pumpkin to bed with her for nap!

First Day Of School

My little Sarah started her first day of school today. For weeks, when we'd go to drop Sydney off at school, Sarah would walk into Syd's classroom, sit down and begin playing. She would then throw the biggest tantrum when we'd leave. They called yesterday saying there was an opening in the young toddler class beginning today. Of course, when I took her to her classroom she began crying and holding onto my leg. The teachers distracted her long enough for me to take Syd to her classroom. Unfortunately, Sarah was still crying as I walked passed her room on my way out. Of course, I called the school later this morning to find out that Sarah was doing just fine. Whew, I can now enjoy my first REAL day off in 2 1/2 years!

Leaving Comments

I just realized that I had my "comments" settings set to accept only comments from other blog users. I've changed the setting to accept ALL comments. (Noelle, thanks for bringing this to my attention.)

Saying New Words, Eating With Utensils, and Trying Hard To Be Like Big Sis

Sarah's vocabulary is beginning to flourish. She says things we had no idea she could say like: apple, banana, Rah-Rah (Sarah), See-Nee (Sydney), ONE (and holding up her pointer finger), and several other words she's been saying for a while. The funniest is when she has a dirty diaper she lets us know by saying "puppoo." She even says it with such a soft and sweet-sounding voice. Only Sarah could sound so elegant saying such a word!

Sarah is also beginning to notice that she's the only one who doesn't have a fork or spoon at meals. She insists on using a utensil. Much to my surprise, she actually uses a fork quite well for a 16-month-old! I had no idea!

She's now showing much interest in doing whatever Sydney does. Syd has always enjoyed putting a doll in her high-chair, locating a spoon and bowl, and feeding her doll. This lasts usually 5 minutes, tops. So, now, Sarah has started doing the same thing. When Syd puts her doll in the high-chair and begins feeding her, Sarah starts rummaging around the kitchen til she finds a bowl and spoon and proceeds to stand alongside Sydney and take turns feeding that poor, over-fed doll.

From time-to-time, Sydney will set up a doll or two on the couch or in a chair, then ask me to take a picture. I know she's just imitating what the rest of us do when we're posing the kids for pictures. Anyway, here's the latest photo shoot. Syd decided to be in the picture, too.

During a trip to the zoo the other day we met up with a number of our friends from the Green Hills MOMS Club. We spent most of the afternoon in the Bouncey Room (a pavilion where the floor is one big, thick rubber mat.) Now, I've noticed for a long time that when we get together with playgroup friends, Sydney can rumble and tumble with the toughest of little boys. She's even made a few of them cry. While in the Bouncey Room, Syd spent much of her time rough-housing with the boys and was more rowdey and aggressive than I've seen her. A couple of girls Sydney's age arrived (they were wearing their pricey, smocked dresses and hair all in well-placed curls while Sydney was wearing her "extra-change-of-clothes" from school, hair wet with sweat and her cheeks bright red and it was interesting to see that stark contrast that I've just not noticed before. Since the other girls were just kind of standing around, Sydney had no interest in playing with them. She said "hi" to them, but continued to run, jump and play with the wilder kids. But, what's more interesting, is that in the very same day, Sydney will be feeding a bottle to her dolls and rocking them to sleep. I hope she'll always have this perfect balance. Here's a picture of Sydney and one of her best buddies, Mack.

Check back next week after we visit the fire station, the pumpkin patch, and who knows what else.

Never a Dull Moment

Our summer has been full of various activities and adventures. We're sad the pool is now closed (Sydney asked to go to the pool just yesterday) but, we're looking forward to fun times this fall.

Adventure Science Museum has been a great place to go on those rainy days or when it's just TOO hot to play outside.










Last week, we visited Breeden's Apple Orchard in Mt. Juliet. Sydney just loved picking apples from the trees. I think she bit into every apple she picked before putting them in her basket. Sarah had a good time, too, once she recovered from her fall out of the wagon.

As always, a trip to Sevier Park promises to be a good way to run off some energy. Here we are with some friends, Jack Nelson and Kate Correnti.