Fall is the best time of the year to go to the cabin out on BB’s family’s tree farm.
Double Trouble, or as they call them in their 2K class, Bonnie and Clyde!
We love going out to the cabin! It’s so beautiful and peaceful!
We had a great time with the Bensons last weekend!
McCanless with the camera…
Mary Clare cheers for the “Cox-es,” which is exactly what McCanless did as a toddler! I guess remembering if we are cheering for the Foxes or Cocks can get tricky!
This is Cole.
I thought it was high time for a post on babypennington.com devoted entirely to him. Cole has been my cat for over eleven years now. That means he was mine before Mel, marriage, and motherhood. He is a big old lump of loud purring, annoying head bumping, snuggling fur, and I love him dearly. He was born a country cat in Ashland, moved to the big city of Columbia and became an indoor cat where I failed at all attempts to toilet train him. Now he is an indoor/outdoor babysitting creek cat who thinks Emmie, the wiener dog, is an idiot. He is fabulous.
Last Thursday night, we headed over to the Coker Soccer Field for their annual Taste of Coker. Lots of kids, lots of food, a huge open space for running with music and cheerleaders to boot. It always makes for a great time! This year we decided to use this opportunity to do a little campaigning, too! Go Mel!
McCanless wouldn’t wear her “Mel for Mayor” shirt! Does it really begin this young? She ran around with her friends and avoided us most of the night. I thought we were pretty cool parents? Well, you know, except for the matching family shirts and all. The “Go Mel” painted on my face probably didn’t help either.
We do love the fall…
and we love that we can still have fun at the beach…
in the fall!!
…and do we ever have fun at the beach!!
McCanless’ teacher told me today that she has the neatest handwriting in 5K! She received a sticker and her work was displayed in front of the classroom. When I asked McCanless about it, she said, “Yeah, I know.” No big deal to her, but her mamma is thrilled and so proud. Mel told me that he also had the best handwriting in 5K, way back when. I wonder if that is because his teacher just happened to be his mother!!? (I’m sure, if you have ever seen Mel’s handwriting, you know that I’m joking. His writing in immaculate!!) Like father, like daughter in more ways than one!
McCanless has had a couple of busy, dancing weekends! Last weekend, she had Petite Company try-outs on Friday and a workshop on Saturday. This weekend, she had the company photo shoot and production weekend, which meant two days of dancing. She couldn’t have been more thrilled. My big girl is quite the dancer these days!
This is Kate from the Senior Company and McCanless’ new idol. Funny thing is, I remember Kate when she was born! Her mother was the music teacher at my high school, and now Kate is back in Hartsville for her senior year in high school and is McCanless’ “big sis!” She is such a great dancer. McCanless and I both love watching Kate.
Petite Company girls
A few nights ago, I took a moment to walk around the house to assess the damage. The girls were playing in the tub and I had a few moments to straighten things up a bit.
Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt you didn’t know where to begin, so you didn’t?
I decided to take those few moments, not to quickly pick up the house, but rather photograph it. I just know one day, one day, I’ll miss seeing evidence of this chaos called my life, and I’ll miss it. Right?
Taco Night with Mary Clare
Kindergarten Art Work by Mary Clare
Labels, labels, labels. Let me explain. One of McCanless’ homework assignments was to label our house. She was to start with her bedroom and slowly work her way around the house. I assumed she would use words like wall, door, bed, etc., but you know McCanless. On day one, she wanted to label every single item we owned. We went through hundreds of notecards and tape until I realized that mailing labels work wonderfully. I can print off exactly 100 at a time and let her have at it! Mel only protested when he realized that the toilet had too many labels. (She insists on labeling not only items but each part of that item as well…toilet, top, bottom, side, etc.) So now our house dons hundreds of mailing labels.
Phonetically spelled signs on doors by McCanless that are so fun to decipher!
"You haf too do this. Mile Siris and Hannah Montana on my dor."
Before entering, you must press a photo of either Hannah Montana or Miley Cyrus to be able to enter McCanless’ room.
Groceries waiting to be put away. It was one of those days. I barely made it inside with the girls, groceries, all of the stuff that accumulates in the car throughout the day, before it began to rain. I threw the groceries on the counter and put away the fridge items and left the rest. Apparently. I guess I never got back around to finishing. I had to take a photo because if you’ll notice, almost every item is upside down! Typical.
I walked back around to the bathroom because it grew quiet. Never a good sign. I noticed wet, soapy footprints on the floor. Apparently, the girls were concerned and came looking for me. So much for straightening up, I’d much rather rinse soapy heads and read bed time stories! Those refried beans can be scraped off of the table when they go to sleep!
So yes, Mary Clare likes to dress up in my clothes these days, along with any and every princess costume we have. Here she just so happens to have on one of my camisoles when she decided to perform for the camera. Go figure. (They never perform on demand or when they are in an adorable outfit with matching bow now do they?) Oh and never mind McCanless’ Elvis impersonations. I don’t even have a good explanation for that one. Again, go figure.
We all packed our bags and headed out the door together this morning. Even McCanless was bright eyed and bushy tailed! (Probably because it was a 9 AM, an hour later than when she and I have to be at Thomas Hart.) After today, Daddy will get the morning task of delivering Mary Clare to 2K. This is probably the last day she’ll be coordinated and on time.
“How old are you Mary Clare?” She held up her hand of “Five” but said two.
Below is McCanless on her first day of 2K..
Reese was there when we arrived in the parking lot. We were the first ones!
Mary Clare grabbed his hand and marched him right up to the door like she knew exactly what was going on. I know this is going to be a great year! We love Ms. Jordan, their 2K teacher!
McCanless also attended FBWP in 2K and 3K. She felt it was her duty to show Mary Clare and Reese the ropes. She even pointed out to Reese the principal’s office. Which is quiet funny considering she visited Ms. Jane there once herself in 3K.
Poor Reese. He just didn’t want his Mommy to leave at first.
Mary Clare didn’t hesitate. She began playing immediately and never once looked my way. McCanless and I snuck out just in case. Although, I’m really just telling myself that. When I arrived at 12 to pick her up, her teachers told me that she had the best time and never once shed a tear or looked for me. Oh, well. I guess that’s a good thing, right? I,however, shed a few once we left the parking lot. My sweet baby girl is in school.
So, this is how I left my baby girl. On top of blocks explaining to Ms. Jordan that she was “on stage.” All the world’s your stage, sweet Mary Clare. Mommy is so very proud of you.