MORE BACKYARD FUN

When we got back from vacation, "Kate" used some of her birthday money to buy a small trampoline because she LOVES to jump. The best part is that it was a surprise, because she had no idea she had bought this with her birthday money. She would live on that trampoline if we'd let her. One of us is on it everyday with her. I have learned just how out of shape I am jumping on it with her. Just a few bounces and I am about to pass out! I think God is trying to say, "Sister, GET IN SHAPE!!" Of course, summer would not be complete without your own backyard pool, so Kate and I went to Wal-Mart and got her the plastic, "fancy" kind. She will stand at the door waiting to get out there.

We are having such a wonderful summer. Very laid back and relaxed. I have only painted the hallway in our house so far. Scott even let me pay someone to come paint Kate's room (the horrible mural is gone!), the den and our stairway to the bonus room!! I only have two rooms to go!

POOL PARTY WITH THE POWELLS

One of our best couple friends, the Powells, just had the finest pool added to their backyard and they invited us and the sweet Willoughbys over for a fun time! Kate and Trey had a super time deciding who would use which ring in the pool. Perry and Ally were terrific lifeguards so the grownups got to just sit back and watch and let them corral the little ones. Kate could not have wished for a better "big sister" than Perry!! I first laid eyes on Perry when she was only 3 months old on the Fourth of July. She is one special little girl. She has called me "Aunt Miss Tammy" since she was 3 and then practiced calling me Mrs. Jasper when she was in K5 hoping that somehow she might be in my second grade class someday. Well, as luck would have it she was this year and she is quite a jewel. And, of course, so is my sweet Ally Willoughby - also in my class this year. They are 2 of my best girls ever and I thank God for allowing me the privilege of being their teacher this year.

BEACH TRIP 2008

Well, we had another fun year at the beach with Kate. Last year she wasn't walking and we could stick her somewhere and she was pretty much there (which made picture taking a breeze). Now this year, on the otherhand, she hit the ground running (literally), and we couldn't hold her still for a minute. The three of us headed down on a Thursday morning and Scott's brother, Brian, joined us for the fun on Sunday. I think he had the best time of all of us! Kate wasn't the least bit afraid of the water. She would run into to the waves like she had been doing it forever. It was high tide most of our time there, but it didn't stop her from wanting to just jump in. We, like crazies, waited until our last afternoon there to try and take some pretty beach pictures of Kate. She was having no part of that being sweet and still stuff - she had some water to get into! The morning that we left, we dressed her up again and were about to walk out the door and it began to rain for the first time during our trip. I was livid, but lesson learned!! I am so thankful that we were able to take this trip as a family and that even though Kate won't remember 2008 in a year from now, Scott and I will have those memories and all of the fun times to laugh about when we go back next year.

KATE'S GOT A NEW SPRINKLER!

Kate loves the water so I decided to get her a sprinkler to play with in the yard. I didn't really read the instructions just hooked it up and Scott and I started to film and take pictures. Scott started saying that surely the thing would spray more water than it was, so as I was trying to adjust it, all of a sudden the thing started spinning round and round!! Well, Kate thought that was even better. Not long after the water began to run down the little hill in our yard, a mud puddle formed and Kate forgot all about the sprinkler in favor of playing in the puddle! I hope this doesn't mean she won't be a girly girl!!

WHERE IS "PUP DOG"?

It is on days like this that I am extra glad to live in the South! Scott, Kate and I spent the afternoon riding around looking at some beautiful homes that were open for the Spring Parade of Homes. Scott and I are always on the hunt for new ideas for when we build the next house. Kate rode along watching her Blue's Clues DVD, happy as a lark.

The attached picture is of Kate playing in the backyard one day last week. Please tune out the dead plant at her feet. The people who owned our house before were big fans of all things that sprout up and look good only for a short time and then they die off and there's nothing green in their place all winter. Being the lovers of all low maintenance plants that never die or lose their leaves, Scott has been killing every living thing beside our fence in order to spruce up and plant new. One of Kate's favorite things these days is to stand at the fence and call to her favorite neighbor "Pup Dog". The dog's name is actually Sami, I think, but Kate prefers Pup Dog. I think Scott actually feels sorry for her and may actually let her have one of her own in this lifetime!

RUN FRIEND RUN

A group of good friends recently ran in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. Our team set out to do the race and raise a little money for the cause. We ended up raising over $6500 dollars and finished only behind one of the race's sponsors!!! Right before the race began, Katie Magers was set to walk in the fun run/walk with the little ones. I didn't want her to go it alone, so I volunteered to walk with the kiddos too. My walking buddies were Ayden Kilpatrick and Will Barber. Ayden and I had the most marvelous conversation all the way around the park. Will spoke up only to tell me that he would not be walking around 3 times, just 1!!! He was a trooper and made it the whole one lap. We all ran/walked in honor of Avery Edmonson and various friends and family who have fought breast cancer. I hope that we will make this an annual event.

SPRING BREAK 08

Kate and I had a terrific Spring Break. This year it was extra long because it ran through the Easter break. It was warm and we played in the back yard all week. Kate got a doll house for the backyard for her birthday so she was in hog heaven!! We also took a little trip to the park with our friends the Lampkins, Mayos, and Myricks. We had a picnic lunch and everyone's child except guess who's sat so nicely on their picnic blanket and ate so that they could play on the playground. I spent my time chasing Kate and begging her to sit down. Boy, she is really at that age!! I don't know how I can corral a room full all day and can't get my own to do a single thing - the "terrible 2s" really are TERRIBLE!!!