First day of School!

Sam and Mrs. Walsh (she is sooooo sweet!)

I'm not sure who was more excited...me or the boys.

Sam proudly started 4K at Kilbourne Park. He LOVES his new teacher and his new classroom. Fulton will being going a couple of days a week. He too appeared very excited. He really likes his teacher as well. I was concerned about the drop-off drama but there was none. His class was on the playground to make the transition from Mommy to teacher easier. In fact, he ran right in and got on the slide and I couldn't get a pic of him with his teacher. I figured I better leave well-enough alone.
But all is well and the school year is now under way...
More to come on the school adventures.

Don't mess with Texas...

... Or even better yet... don't mess with Claudia by leaving her for an entire week to go out of town! Seriously, Shannon could not have picked a worse week to travel. Please leave me the week before preschool starts with the world's two most bored children! I truly enjoy ripping my hair out and entertaining two wild animals 24/7 who have done everything an almost 2 and almost 5 year-old could possibly do over the summer. I have NEVER sweat so much in my life. And I have a new appreciation for single parents.

Actually, they were really well-behaved give or take an episode or 50. All I had to do was threaten Sam with "Sam, Daddy's going to give the Cowboys a bad report and they're not going to send home a prize for you." It was pretty simple. And when asked where his Daddy was, Sam confidently replied..."Oh, he's spending the night with the cowboys."

Shannon returned safely from Texas to a frazzled wife on the verge of auctioning Sam and Fulton on EBay at a starting bid of $.99 with no reserve! We were all very excited to see his handsome face walking through the airport. He returned with souvenir cowboy hats for the boys. And we celebrated with dinner.

Okay, so I tried to get a pic of Fu in his hat but he kept pulling it off. So all you get is an annoyed looking toddler.

But Sam was sportin' it loud and proud!

Forget Texas! Don't mess with Sam!

As Shannon unpacks, Dixie says...Don't leave me here ever again with that mad-woman you married! I'm goin' with you next time!

Hope for Beau

I just recently learned about this little boy from my friend. She is a relative of this precious little guy. I do hope you will visit his website and keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers. What a CUTIE and May God Bless Him!!!!

www.beaustanley.com

Splash Park at Saluda Shoals

If you haven't been already...I highly recommend the Saluda Shoals Splash Park! Sam and Fulton had so much fun. Even though it was super hot, they found all the relief they needed in the sprinklers. I sat back and relaxed and jumped in from time to time.

Coming to tell Mommy about all their fun
As Fulton says..."Pee-Boo, Mommy"

Happy 33rd Birthday, Shan!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE GREATEST HUSBAND AND DADDY!!!!

We celebrated Shannon's birthday at the Japanese Restaurant and then at our house for cake and ice cream. We had great time. Sam and Fulton LOVE the "man that cooks at the table". If only I could hire him nightly to come cook us dinner...we'd be set. They sit still AND they eat all their food!!!!

We had the Ultimate Dora Birthday at Shannon's request. In a conversation w/ Shannon, Sam asked him what kind of birthday he wanted. Shannon jokingly replied, "I want a Dora birthday!" Don't forget that children will hold you to your word. So Sam and Fulton went on the Dora birthday hunt w/ me. We got hats, blowers, plates, napkins, a table cloth and cake topper. When Shannon came home from work he thought it was hilarious b/c he didn't think Sam would really take him seriously. His face was priceless when he came into the dining room. Sam and Fulton thought it was great that Daddy had a Dora party. They even fought over the cake topper!

Every grown man's dream...A Dora Party at age 33
Careful what you wish for

Muzzy with the boys

Half of the Clan came to Dinner to celebrate with us. Shannon's Parents we unable to come :-( Like Father...
Like Son!!!
Happy Birthday to Daddy!!!

Boppa and Fu enjoy some cake and Ice cream

Bunco Cookout

We enjoyed a fun filled day and night at the Powells' house for our Bunco family cookout. We watched the kids play and ate great food. Even though everyone couldn't come due to the heat and previous obligations, we had a great turnout and so much fun. When it got dark, we carried the party inside. Now that cable offers Karaoke we gladly stepped up to the Fisher-Price mike and sang our hearts out! The kids were worn out and filthy!!!! But it only inspired us to do it more frequently!

The kids enjoyed the pools
Sam and Fu dining with Newton and Liddy
Baby Izzie and her mommy, Allison
Ellen w/ Will and Cooper and Jen w/ Jack

A few of the Bunco Husbands... Shannon, Steven, Lindsay, and John

The kids playing in the back yard

Chaos moves indoors

I'm not really sure what Lindsay is doing

Sam and Fulton do a little Karaoke diddy

Hawkins in sportin' the ear phones...he can't take the noise any longer

There are no words to describe the mayhem!!!The girls get in a song or two

A new CUPCAKE is born!!!! Lemon Drop...they are divine!!!! Lemon Cake w/a delicious lemon butter-cream frosting
I made 33 and brought home 4!!! YUM!!!!!!!!!

Funny You Tube song

Here's a really funny you tube song that I'm sure so many of us can relate to.
Watch it Now!
Have a good day!

Dinner for Mason and Baby #3

We were joined by: L to R ---Mrs. Waites (Mason's Mom), Eron, Ansley, Allison, Shannon, Alicia, Mason, Ellen, Me, Meredith, Anna, and Christie

My friend, Ellen and I threw a Dinner/Shower for Mason at the Villa Tronco. It is one of Mason's favorite spots. Mason and Jimmy are expecting baby boy #3 sometime this month. And because every baby deserves some fresh goodies, we wanted him to be welcomed with a well-stocked nursery. We can't wait to meet the new little Harrington!!! The food was fabulous and we enjoyed looking at Mason's fun stuff!

Tennis Anyone?

Coach Elliot getting them warmed up with some sprints
Charlie, Sam, and Mason taking instructions from Coach Elliot Sam, Mason, and Mac at the water cooler

Sam had a fabulous fun-filled 2 weeks of tennis camp! The first week he and his two buddies Mason and Mac joined him. They spent most of their time warming up to Coach Elliot and the rest of the time at the WATER COOLER! The next week his friend Charlie joined the group. They did little drills trying to hit oversized balls using their hands and then he showed them how to use their rackets. All three of the boys did very well, hitting a few balls quite nicely.

The best part is that Sam LOVED it and said he wants to "play tennis everyday"! Now that's a breakthrough folks!!!! If you don't believe me...read my earlier post about Soccer!!!!

Our Date Night

Rachel, Brooks, April, and me

Shannon, David and Chris


Sam and Fulton went to stay with NaNa and Papa at the lake and Shannon and I had a date night. We went to Congaree Grill with April and Chris and then met Brooks and David out. We all went to see Bandkamp. The band, as usual was so entertaining! We enjoyed our night with our friends and even bumping into some old buddies! You just never know who you'll see...

Me with Good ol' Becca!

Becca and I were good friends in high school by way of Mason and our high school sorority, LPT. We always had so much fun at our LPT band parties. I can't believe so many years have passed. I am beginning to feel very ancient!

Any who...It was a long, fun, and well-deserved night out!

Blowfish Night

Sam sat in the middle of the car and Fully truly tailgated
Sam and Fu playing with their balloons
Batter-Up!
Shannon's Company, Trumbull Services, hosted the families at The Blowfish baseball game. We had a great tailgate spread with bar-b-que, brownies, and lots of cold drinks! Sam and Fu enjoyed eating in the back of the car and their goodie bags. They played in the parking lot prior to the game and got so sweaty! It was a beautiful night but you'll never believe this...it was hot as blue blazes!

You know...one those occasions where you leave the house thinkin' you look pretty cute but within minutes, the humidity and heat turns your hair-do into something resembling a wet cat (if your hair is like mine) and your make up looking like the bride of Frankenstein. There was no relief AT ALL! The wind didn't move. And even more attractive than my hair and face....were my clothes, sopping wet and stuck to me. As if anyone even needs to see any more of my CURVES!!! Poor Shannon looked the same only without the hair and make-up. Why did he wear JEANS???? But Sam and Fulton didn't have a care in the world and thought everything was grand! Sometimes I wish I could be more like them.

All in all, it truly was fun. It was very nice to meet more of Shannon's collegues. They provided a very nice time for all of us.