Free wheelin'!

Nina finally got it!! She no longer needs her training wheels :) We still need to work on the start and stop bit but I think with a little more help from her awesome big sister, she'll get it :)

May the force be with you...

I made Hannah's halloween costume today!! From scratch! Just using my imagination and Hannah's input. She obviously (hopefully?!) wants to be Princess Leia. We've got the wig to make the buns and just need to make a blaster and we're all set. Nina wants to be R2D2 - we're still searching for a white round garbage can with a round-bubble swing top lid... hmmm

Who would have thought...

We hear a voice at the top of the stairs... "M-o-o-o-m?? D-a-a-a-a-a-d??" We make a quick wager - what do you think she's going to ask for? The usual, I can't sleep. I need a drink. I heard a strange noise. But NO. Not our children. We get this instead: "There's something on my arm and I don't know what it is?" Well, are you bleeding? Is it chocolate? Were you playing with markers? "no" Hmmm... Let's have a closer look. "Nina Mary! What have you been doing?" "Well I was sucking on my arm really hard..."

Oh dear. You have a hickey darling. Go back to bed and stop sucking on your arm >sigh< What do you do?!?!

First Game of the Season

First Game of the season for the U10 ICS Girls' Team:
THE PURPLE PUMAS

Are you ready girls?! 'Cos here it comes!

Playing goalie mid game
(not Hannah's favorite position because you can't really run around!)

Taking control of the situation!

Out in front AGAIN!

Mark has been coaching these girls since 1st grade and this year, all of his hard work and dedication is starting to show. The girls actually played as a team and went on the offensive with the ball! No one stood around gazing at the grass or crying because someone stole the ball away from them?! We played a team who had already been in the U10 league last year and we blew them away! It was a incredibly exciting match and we're all looking forward to this Saturday's game :)

And they're all gone!

No more front teeth!!

Gap Girl

Well, I guess it had to happen eventually... Nina has lost her front tooth and the other one is wiggly too.

They always look so much more grown-up when they lose their little top teeth and those big huge grown-up teeth push their way in!

Roller Girl...

Hannah has been working so hard on learning to roller blade and she's finally getting it!!! Woohoo!!! Go Hannah!!

August Star Student

Nina was given the Star Student Award by her teacher, Mrs. Evelyn, for listening and following directions and getting a green sticker everyday in August.

At it again...

Resident seamstress, Nina, has done it again. This time, sewing herself a pair of suede boots with a blue and white polka dot patch. The boots are completed with a cardboard inner sole for fit and durability and an elasticated opening to keep it held up :)

Camping in the shadow of Hurricane Gustav

This child LOVES the beach!!!!!!!!!!

(and those are all tiny braids that she braided all by herself!)

Concentrating very carefully on Daddy's kite-flying lessons... There was no wind this day, but Gustav took care of that the next day with 20mph winds!

Marshmallow eating maniacs!

The perfect roasted puffed confectionery treat :)

It's only our 2nd s'more Mom, honest!?

Waking up after a "pleasant" night in a tent... in 100F weather...

Hannah is SMILING upon waking!!!! Maybe she should sleep in a tent every night?

Ahh, the smooth soft white sand.

Can't get enough of it!

And here we are in evacuation traffic... It took 10 hrs to make it back to Atlanta (it's normally a 5 hr drive).

We had a lovely time. Although mom wasn't too sure she really embraced this whole camping thing appropriately. It was hot and there were lots of bugs... But, the beach was gorgeous. We saw loads of fish and sea creatures. We played in the sand and flew kites. Had s'mores and went bike riding (Nina's bony little bottom got sore though so mom graciously rode back to camp with her!). And played games and cooked out. All in all it was an adventurous and fun family weekend :)