This is the face of a little girl

that wants to be just like this little girl…

Can you tell?

Sweet Sundays…

Nothing like a Sunday afternoon nap after church, especially with this view.

If I lay on my left side on my bed, this is my view.  Through the doorway, through the hall, through the playroom and into my sleeping babies’ room.

A closer peek…

…much needed after McCanless’ late night, last night.   After our own church service, I drove to another local church right down town, which is attended by many, many of our friends, by the way.  (If you recall, McCanless spent the night with her bestest pals Eliza and Jennie last night.)  I was to meet them in their church parking lot for the kid exchange.  I drove up and McCanless had on winter boots, the Sunday dress I packed and tangled, sweaty hair.  Okay, it could be worse, I thought.  At least she had on a dress, and she was probably just hot and sweaty from playing outside…at church…and the boots, oh well.    When McCanless saw that I was there to pick her up, she  immediately began to cry, to put it nicely.  She was an utter, blubbering mess.  I literally had to drag her to our car.  She did not want to leave Jennie and Eliza.  Her pals’ mom began to tell me that they had wonderful time and were all in bed by 10:30 (Yikes), except McCanless (Double Yikes) She just wouldn’t go to sleep.  I even left the t.v. on all night  for her.”  (Okay, so now I see the problem.)  Mom then tells me the “funniest story.”  “All of the girls stood up in front of church during a baptism, ran circles around the church squeeling and then just ran right out of church.”  (Tripple Yikes)  So it should probably be no surprise that not only is this one of the biggest churches in town, many of our THA families attend, AND it just so happens that Ms. Susie, her brand new 5K teacher is a member of the choir.  Needless to say, naps are mandatory today.  

Miss South Carolina visits THA…on the web!!

Go here to see a clip of Miss SC’s visit to THA last week.  McCanless is still talking about her!  At about 1:44 you can see my little McCanless on the very front row with a big pink flower in her hair.

Just a journal post…

No photos, just a quick update as I wait on Mel, as usual.  Tonight we are going to an annual “Pre-Football Kick-off Party…while we are all still undefeated,”  as the invitation reads.  It’s always fun to see how many of “Mel’s” Stadium pants and skirts show up at the party.  I’m sporting my garnet USC skirt, which just makes me so excited and so ready for USC football season!!

We had a great Saturday today.  Much needed after our usual week of dance, church, homework, life.  Mel took the girls to the Midnight Rooster for waffles this morning and then headed over to Byerly Park for “Bark at the Park,” a 5K fundraising race benefiting the Darlington County Humane Society….great cause.   Mel was to present the awards, and from what I’ve heard, McCanless and Mary Clare upstaged him and stole the show. I have yet to get the true story from Mel, however.  After lunch the girls and I hit the pool, with everyone else in town.  About 4 hours later, sun-kissed and waterlogged, we loaded up with the Fort girls and headed home. (It seems we never leave the pool without a pal or two with us.)  We played around outside for a while, I threw all four girls in the tub and it was time for pizza!!  Mel is now on his way back to the Fort house to deliver McCanless, Eliza and Jennie for a sleepover over there.  He’ll drop off Mary Clare at BB and PaPa’s house and we’ll have a few hours alone for the first time in probably 6 months.  Life is busy.  Life is crazy.  Life is great.  

It’s that time of year again…

Thomas Hart Academy Sally Foster Wrapping Paper Time!!

It’s August and just as stores are beginning to flood the isles with Halloween costumes and decorations, it’s now time to think Christmas! (Let’s just forget about November all together, shall we?)   If you want to purchase Sally Foster wrapping paper (and help out THA) just log onto www.SallyFoster.com, buy away and plug in McCanless’ seller ID.  McCanless will certainly appreciate it when she receives her special plastic participation toy!  More importantly, I’ll appreciate you helping out our school!!  Thanks so much!!

McCanless’ Seller ID:  280988

A few McCanlessisms for today…

Kelly Sloan, Miss South Carolina and Miss Hartsville visited THA today and read to all of our classes.  McCanless was most excited to explain to me what she was wearing!  She was super impressed with her sparkly crown, short black hair and beautiful clothes.   “MOM, she even had on Jimmy Choos!”  Floored, I asked her how she knew and why she cared that our state beauty had on designer shoes!?  She said, “Well, I asked her.”  

Tonight at the dinner table, she was very inquisitive about Daddy’s race.  Mel was working late, so I explained as best as I could all of her questions regarding the upcoming Mayor’s Election.  Over every other bite or so, she would stop and ask when Daddy would be in charge of Hartsville, or if that meant she could do whatever she wanted in Hartsville, or if we had to move to the White House.  (Hmmm, not yet.  Apparently, she has higher expectations for this race than any of us.)  She continued to quiz me and finally asked me where Daddy was running?  

“Daddy is running in this race.  How long will it take to get there?”   “Does he have to run around Hartsville like in the Turkey Trot?”   

Tiny Dancer

Week in Review…

After the last few school-free, summer nights (like those at Hartsville Idol above)

…we had a hugely successful “Screen on the Green” fundraiser for the American Heart Association…

…where over 400 people gathered on the lawn of Burry Park to watch Kung Fu Panda…

…and Mel…

…we also had an impromptu photo shoot that I wasn’t thrilled about at first…

….a few behind-the-scenes photos….

…because it was just hours after my first work day back at school…but I did lighten up a bit, see?  (I was laughing at the girls rolling around on the ground.)

…and speaking of first days of school…

McCanless is still not a morning person….

5-year-old Kindergarten started out rocky….

…until she found her pal, Eliza, and met Ms. Susie’s pet, Fluffy.

…and speaking of firsts.  Mary Clare had her very first day of dance class, on McCanless’ very first day of kindergarten…

…to which I was just a wee bit late in the pick-up line because of Mary Clare’s dance class.

Reese, turned two!!!

…and Mary Clare learned all about mascara.

Tonight, we are all tuckered out from our first official full week back at school…

…well, that and Mel’s blue jeans, barbecue and bluegrass party officially announcing his run for Mayor last night.

…great food, great band, great friends.  Former SC Governor, David Beasley introduced Mel.  Mel did what Mel does best, spoke and entertained a crowd…

Mary Clare was more impressed with the biscuits, however.

Today, we all went to the City Hall to watch Daddy officially file for the Mayor’s race.  We even had photos taken by the Hartsville Messenger.   McCanless thinks Daddy is famous because he has been in the newspaper and on TV13 news.  I told her that Daddy doesn’t hold a candle to her.  She and Mary Clare have way more followers than he does!

…so Mel is out alone tonight, emceeing “Rock the Block” at Burry Park while the girl’s team settles in.  We do have a busy weekend ahead…we missed the Red Fox game tonight, but there’s always Hartsville Idol and the Antioch Rodeo tomorrow night!  We are also hitting the road for a very special birthday party in Augusta on Sunday!  Mary Clare’s best heart buddy, Emerson is two tomorrow!!

“Hartsville Idol”

Last week, we all went to Hartsville Idol. (Yes, Hartsville’s very own version of American Idol complete with judging and weekly eliminations!)  It has been great fun to gather every Saturday night with so many other families in Burry Park and listen to great (and some not so great) local singers.  Last week Mel took the stage during “Idol” to announce a fundraiser for the American Heart Association, “Screen on the Green.”

Screen on the Green, has been something he has wanted to do for over a year now, and it finally came to fruition this week. I was quite impressed, so I’ll toot his horn…  The whole idea was Mel’s; he found sponsors, and rented the huge screen. He arranged to give out free popcorn and drinks to everyone.   He  also created the posters and fliers, and spoke at the event.  It was a huge success!

Mel and McCanless handing out Screen on the Green flyers.

Back to school, dance, church, political races…the usual.

So much going on.  So little time to share!  I will get around to it, once I get back into our routine!  Whew, summer has been hard to break this year!