Time to Dry Off

You might think that this post would be about Atlanta - and the greater Southeast- finally drying out from its week-plus of rain, floods and overall misery.... Well, it's not.

While I am very thankful that the waters have mostly receded, the boys and I sadly said goodbye this past Friday to a sweet summer love - the POOL.

Bill and I have been so blessed to have two waterbugs for children. They have always loved the water - whether in pool or lake form. And they were quick to learn to swim unaided by flotation (or parents!)

This year has marked the turn in our afternoon swimming jaunts. The boys play and create their own water wonder world and Mommy relaxes poolside with a magazine! The boys are continually excited by the thrill of jumping, diving, racing and splashing. And afternoons swims have forever been the best nighttime sleep aid.

Well, the air is cooling and the waters are chilling, so it was time to enjoy one last 80+ sunny afternoon... in a Hotlanta pool that felt more similar to our Pelican Lake swims!

Until next spring, dear wet wonder, when we all meet again!

Had I had my "blogger brain" on I would have grabbed my camera for some goodbye pictures, but alas, I did not. So, we'll have to make due with a couple of pictures captured this past year of my waterbugs... of course you cannot see their faces because they are underwater as usual. I find that fitting.

Such is the life of fish.

Brady body surfing in the Atlantic Ocean:

Parker body surfing in Pelican Lake:

Congratulações Tia Alicia

Brady, Parker, Bill and I all want to extend a HUGE Congratulations to our wonderful, smart, loving, thoughtful, talented and ORGANIZED Aunt Alicia! Lici was promoted last week to Senior White House Producer for NBC News Washington!

Here is a snipit from the announcement:

Since moving to the White House in 2003—jumping into the deep end with President Bush’s five-nation trip to Africa--Alicia has become a master at juggling the many editorial, logistical and diplomatic balls on the White House beat. She has helped us make a seamless transition to a new administration all while taking a few months off to have her second child. She will be a superb leader to our White House production team.

In some weird cosmic way Parker must have channeled Alicia last week - the very day we received the announcement - by grabbing the NBC Peacock (given to us, of course, by Alicia), bringing him downstairs from his room, and snuggling him tight with Blue Blankie!

And although he calls him a turkey, not a peacock, we are hoping Parker is cute enough for Aunt Lici to forgive that transgression.

Go Lici! We love you, and we are proud of you!

Honoring Liz by Plagiarizing Jennifer

Today we are celebrating one of my best buddy's birthdays - Happy 35th Birthday to Liz!

Last night a few of us convened to enjoy good food, good spirits and good company. Jennifer had the camera, and she blogged first. So..... Ditto for me!

Happy Birthday to a fabulously funny, beautiful, smart and loving woman! You are da Bomb!

http://pryintothepryors.blogspot.com/

Set, Set, Hike! ... GOAL!!!

This weekend marked the first of many Saturday Sports Spectaculars in the Plummer family! With one boy playing soccer and one playing football, it will be a busy fall of tightening our cleats, grabbing our Gatorade and racing from field to field (which, btw, are conveniently NOT in close proximity to each other.)

We headed first to the soccer fields for Parker's inaugural "Real Soccer" game on Team Magic. He and his best buddy Danny (above at their first practice) both did great! Danny and a little neighbor friend of ours Emma, were go-getters who kept the pace moving and kept the balls scoring! Parker also put a couple of balls in the net, and that reinforcement brought smiles and high-fives all around.

Parker got a little sad partway through when he felt that his friends weren't "sharing" the ball. Yes, Love, it's a hard pill to swallow, but in 3 and 4 year-old soccer, it's every preschooler for himself! I feel pretty confident that as Parker gets the gist that if he wants to kick the ball he's going to have to steal the ball - even if it means kicking it away from a teammate - that he'll be in there for the score too!

After some much needed juice and teddy grahams, Parker and I headed off to the football field to join the other half of the Plummer clan. Bill and Brady had been able to come to the first 15 minutes of Parker's game, and we were able to make it to the football field by the end of the first quarter, so everyone got a good amount of support and cheers.

Flag football with 5 and 6 year-olds is also a pretty funny site. There are a handful of athletic kids who seem to dominate the game, and the rest basically stand around waiting to be lined back up for the next play. Brady seemed to enjoy himself as part of the Cardinals (though I think he was happiest when he was sitting and chatting with the kids on the sideline.) But he was out there and willing to participate, so we need to be satisfied with that much.

The feeling of Fall has certainly settled upon us, and our Saturday mornings are booked solid for the next few months with over-sized uniforms, grassy cleats, sweaty faces and lots of fun!

Birthday Weekend Recap

Brady sure is one lucky boy - he managed to stretch out his 6th birthday into a four-day extravaganza!

While Liz and I got sprinkled on during our morning walk Thursday, by the afternoon the skies had cleared and the sun was shining. As we did for number 5, we celebrated with many friends at our neighborhood pool.

This was a wonderful event, attended by a fun group of kids and parents (and grandparents!) from a cross-section of Brady's life: Neighborhood pals, Preschool buddies and Elementary school classmates. Everyone enjoyed pizza, cake and one final dip before the summer's end!

While sleeping Thursday night, the G'Rent Fairies came into town, and Brady awoke on his birthday Friday morning to find Grandma and Grandpa Mershon in our house! While the big boys took advantage of the day to explore a new golf course, Grandma had other ideas - she wanted to go to school!

Ms. Brackin (Brady's teacher) invited us to stop in at lunch and share a treat, and then we returned at the end of the day so Grandma could read "Happy Birthday, Moon" to the kids. Brady was proud to introduce little brother and Grandma to his class, and the kids loved the story Grandma chose!

Friday night was family dinner at our house, welcoming Nana and Grandy to the fun. Sorry! No pictures! ;-) But we have LOTS of Legos to prove it happened!

Saturday morning the boys had their big .5K race! While they were both about to embark on nasty three-day long colds, we pushed them anyway! They were smiles in the beginning, though they both seemed to lose steam as the event went on. Even so, this is a cool family event, and they are so proud to have earned a race t-shirt... just like Daddy!

Saturday afternoon the boys were all treated to a wonderful gift by Aunt Kathy and Uncle Steve- tickets to the GA Tech game!! While Grandma and I held down the fort, the boys took off for some cotton-candy eating and some football watching ... at least until Parker could no longer hold his head up!

Saturday night we all enjoyed an al fresco dinner at Ginny and Al's! It was another fantastic opportunity for out extended family to spend time together. And here is where my sentimentality comes out...

I am so thankful for the huge blessing of Grandparents that Brady and Parker enjoy. They believe, as I did growing up, that they are part of one large, multi-layered family. There is no sense of "Mom's" or "Dad's" - all family is simply Theirs. To have four wonderfully loving, generous and engaged people in their lives - and to have those people be one strong unit in my kids' universe - is a precious and rare gift.

Love abounds in my boys' lives, and I am so very grateful!

Trying not to BLINK

It's impossible NOT to blink in motherhood.




You bring home this tiny, helpless newborn, then - BLINK -

1. He's walking and playing, exerting independence, then - BLINK -

2. He's headed off to preschool and peeing in the potty, then - BLINK -

3. He's jumping from the side of the pool, free of floatation, making his own way within the water, then - BLINK -

4. He looks at the book and reads the words to me at night, then - BLINK -

5. He's tackling 100+ piece puzzles and 30-page Lego instructions...

I'm afraid to blink again.

I'm excited to blink again.

I know I will blink again. And when I do I will be amazed, proud and thrilled - just as I have been every other time.

Happy Birthday to my Wonderful, Loving, Funny, Smart and - BLINK - SIX year old boy!