hannah love

That's what our refrigerator looks like right now. The bottom four drawings were done on Sunday during Joe's sermon: me (with a book), Hannah (with a tree and bumblebees on the back), Daddy (at the pulpit, the altar is drawn on the back), and Raffie (Joseph's lovey...Joseph is on the back).

...And there's no denying the child "loves God and Jesus" - she writes it all the time.

In case you are wondering, that's a whale, a picture of her with Momma and Daddy, with her doll Maddalena. She drew a bunch of Christmas-themed pictures and cards. I especially loved the manger scenes.

Let it be known: Hannah is a prolific artist. She is creative and imaginative. She loves art supplies, and thanks to Aunt Katie at Christmas, has procured quite a collection of different media. The girl's got papers, crayons, pencils, paints, chalk, stickers, glitter, and on and on.

And she produces lots and lots of pieces. Lately it has been mostly drawings and notes (as she's learning to spell), but occasionally I receive a book (stapled pages together) or painting. She will proudly present each piece to us upon finishing. It is adorable. But it is also a little overwhelming. After all, I have to find a place to tuck away or display each piece. I can't say that I haven't thrown some away, indeed I have because of the sheer quantity. I really, really love the fact that she is a budding artist. She gets it from me, no doubt, and I'd rather not talk about art school tuition, but I love that she is creative and artsy.

For a long time, Hannah would finish a drawing and, somewhere wherever there is space, write "Hannah Love". Of course, she meant to write "Love, Hannah" but that's not how she did it. It would make me smile every time she came into whatever room I was in, put her drawing in my hand (oftentimes asking me to close my eyes first), and beam. Between her sweet smile looking up at me and "Hannah love", I was done. Be still my beating heart.

She would usually wait for a response. It could be just a thank you, hug, a compliment, or me immediately hanging the work right up on the refrigerator. Due to the number of times (a day!) this happens, I catch myself from over-praising her.

When the children were younger, I read that parents should be careful in giving praise and lavishing compliments on their children. That, while it's good to boost their self-confidence, we have to also be aware that we can give them an inflated sense of self and capabilities - and very interestingly - enable them to only perform or engage in an activity when praised. The study showed that children that are overly praised stop making an effort, or avoid altogether doing the activity.

All that to say, I try to mindful how I respond to Hannah's artwork presentations. I try to evaluate and make specifics comments like, "I love the way you drew those people" and "I like how you used so many colors."

Other times, I can't help myself and exclaim, "Hannah!! This is GREAT! I LOVE IT! You are such a little artist!!!" ;)

Even though she doesn't write "Hannah Love" anymore, I refer to all this artwork as Hannah Love. It is definitely a way she shows love...

She also defends her baby brother.

It just makes my mommy heart so happy.

During church a few weeks ago, she was acting up and I got on to her. This is what transpired.

halloween

The week of Halloween was busy as it always is. We kicked off the fun with the fall festival at church on Sunday, the 25th. Pocahontas and Captain America were very excited!

Their costumes were so much fun this year. Joseph was super pumped to be Captain America. Those little kid muscle costumes are hysterical. I had to buy the shield separately, but I mean, come on. How could I not?!

As for the little Indian girl... She really wanted to be Pocahontas and I could not find a single costume online that actually looked like Pocahontas - lots of Indian/Native American ones, but none exactly like Pocahontas. All the cute ones we saw were homemade. So what did I do? Make one myself? Of course not. But I did go to Hobby Lobby and pick up some material while over in Milledgeville while Joe was swimming one day. And then I got home and sent a message to a Facebook friend who embroiders. Turns out her mom can sew and she'd be glad to make little Hannah a Pocahontas costume. She was also very inexpensive. Score! Hannah and I were both thrilled how it turned out!

Hannah informed me that her hair did not look like Pochanotas', so I remedied that by ordering a black wig off Amazon. Throw in a turquoise necklace of mine and her turquoise Minnetonka booties (couldn't go barefoot!) and she was good to go.

Joseph's best friend, Weston, was also Captain America. They didn't know the other was. Can you believe it?!

Love those two. Captain cuteness is more like it...

Joe signed us up to take part in the trunk-or-treat again this year. We've volunteered our "trunk" four out of the last five years and we have always done something elaborate, me letting my creative mind have fun with themes (spooky candlelit ghost trunk, race day, under the sea...). This year there was too much going on, but we still needed to participate.

Enter the teepee from our playroom. Stick Pocahontas in there with her basket of corn (er, candy corn), and set some pumpkins outside.

It worked out just fine. And minimal clean up!

That Tuesday was "School Rocks with Mom" for the pre-K. I enjoyed every minute of being with my little guy, completely in his element at school. We made an adorable little owl, too.

If there wasn't enough going on, it was also Red Ribbon Week and each day had a theme. Thursday was jersey day as the kids "teamed up against drugs". We proudly supported Georgia Tech and Auburn. With all the Bulldog shirts, my kids definitely stood out!

That day was also Hannah's first performance in the Oratorical Club. Joe and I met her at a local nursing home and watched her recite her part of the grandparents program. Look at her in this outfit. I mean, really. Off to prep school...or Hogwarts.

Then we had class Halloween parties at school. Joseph's was Thursday afternoon, Hannah's was Friday. They both ate plenty of sugar.

Joseph also went on a field trip to trick-or-treat around the square downtown, as Hannah did last year. It is so cute watching all the kids in costume parade around the town square, filling up their treat bags. The businesses all take part and even dress up, too. The morning is grand fun for the little ones.

Joseph pulled off that little mum in my hand from a plant as he passed. He loves to pick me flowers - even those he is not supposed to!

fall fun

Now that October is more than half-way over (how can this be?), I'll follow up that last post with more fall fun.

The kids have spent countless hours in the backyard. Joe is training for the NYC marathon coming up real soon. We have attended high school football games both at Washington County and Brentwood (homecoming). I decorated for Halloween/fall, and the kids painted pumpkins.

A few miscellaneous photos...

I'm sure you can figure out who painted which.

In other news...

Joseph went on his first pre-K field trip and learned all about emergency vehicles. He did NOT like the loud sirens, but everything else was super cool.

Week before last, Joe and I attended Catalyst Atlanta, a Christian leadership conference, and it was AWESOME as always. This year's theme was "Awaken the Wonder" and was all about awakening God's people to live in awe of who HE is and what He is doing all around us. We heard amazing speakers such as Christine Caine, Brene Brown, Andy Stanley, Louie Giglio, Jeremy Cowart (very inspiring photographer), and Margaret Feinberg. The music was so, so good as always. David Crowder led worship Thursday night and let me just say...wow. The whole Catalyst experience. Wow.

KAOLIN FESTIVAL

Sandersville's main event, the Kaolin Festival, was the day after we returned home. The weather had been terrible, and it looked like the parade might be cancelled. But just before the start time, the rain stopped and the sun even came out for a while. Joe had a long training run scheduled that morning that he was working in around the rain, so I loaded the wagon and the kids into the car and set out for downtown.

It's a short parade, but we knew lots of people in it and Hannah and Joseph had fun.

GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR

Following the long, Columbus Day weekend, we had more fun planned. Joe and I took the kids out of school a little early that Tuesday and drove to Perry for the Georgia National Fair. We had a blast! After we bought arm bands and toured through the fair, we watched the 4:00 show at the circus. I did not know until the day before that there was a circus even there. It was a bonus, and well worth the 1-hr spent there. The kids especially loved the acrobats.

The lines weren't bad at all as we had hoped when planning to go on a school-day afternoon. We got to ride a bunch of the rides, both kids tall enough to do anything they wanted to do. Like last year, Hannah was the fearless one wanting to ride everything. That's her and Joe at about 7:00 in the picture above.

Joseph was thrilled to be the driver in the bumper car.

We rode a couple of roller coasters, to Hannah's delight. Not so much to Joseph's. He would want to ride, agree to get in and buckled up, and soon after taking off regret his decision. He would have this look of uncertainty, followed by a panicked what-is-going-on look, on his face. I think it was the herky-jerky motions more than anything.

Robinson's Racing Pigs were a must and we did that following a break for dinner: turkey leg and roasted corn for me and the kids, corndog for Joe, and fries for us all. It's entertaining watching those pigs run around the track and swim in the race.

Before we left, we took a ride on the huge ferris wheel. This was the most exciting part of the night for Joseph. He sat real close to me, but thoroughly enjoyed himself as we circled around and around, admiring all the pretty lights throughout the fairground. Joe had to hold onto Hannah as she apparently wasn't afraid of the terrifying heights and kept trying to lean over the side to see farther.

After hunting down some fried Oreos, we headed home. Exhausted but with exciting memories dancing in our heads.


NUMBER 9, FEELING FINE!

My honey and I celebrated our ninth anniversary on the 14th. That day in Savannah was one of the prettiest I can remember, and we had almost identical weather here in Sandersville this year. Perfect temperature, blue sky, a true fall day in Georgia. It was just a typical Wednesday with work, school, and supper and small groups at the church. That night once we got home and kids were bathed, we lit our anniversary candle and waltzed to Moon River, our first-dance song (prompted by Hannah). Joseph took pictures while we danced.

CHLOE'S BIRTHDAY

My college dog and sweet Yorkie, Chloe, turned 14 yesterday (10/21). The kids had a great time over the weekend building a fort "for her" in their little clubhouse. I'm not sure how much she enjoyed it, especially when Hannah sent her sliding down the slide, but she cooperated and was loved on a whole lot!

And that's a wrap! Before I go, I will include these selfies (I am not a seasoned selfie-person, but will take one occasionally.) I was taken aback and felt a little weird when my smart little laptop synced with my phone and organized these in my computer under the category "selfie". I mean, really?

Left: Joseph and I waiting on Daddy and Hannah after church.
Right: One Sunday later, in the driveway with Hannah behind the wheel!

...As of about a month ago, I have bangs. Quite a change and I'm still figuring them out...but I like them!

hannah is SIX!! {an american girl birthday}

I had to make sure there were wrapped presents, as promised, when Hannah got home from school on the 8th (the day before her birthday). A few were from us and I wrapped a few from Gran Gran and Poppy and Granddaddy that were shipped here. I found this paper on my last trip to TJ Maxx. Have you ever bought their wrapping supplies? The paper is awesome! Good quality…and it's cheap, which is always good. I love the colorful dots. Kinda screams Hannah if you ask me.

So, there they were, sitting pretty until the next day. The 9th was a Wednesday and the start of our Wednesday night church small group studies, meaning the afternoon/evening was busy. But, we packed just about everything we could into the day…

For the first time since the first day of school, the kids ate breakfast at home. Cinnamon rolls, her favorite!

{Side story, now that she is in kindergarten, she is going straight into the cafeteria and eating breakfast in the mornings before going to her classroom at 8:00. Since I have been walking Joseph to his classroom, I walk through the cafeteria on my way out, sit with Hannah for a few minutes, and then leave. Some days, especially at first, I was sitting with her while she ate and then walking with her to the classroom. I just couldn't bear to leave my Monkey when I'd walk in and see her eating at a table by herself. My heart would leap as I saw my little love sitting there so sweetly surrounded my no one. She insisted she liked eating alone. She's not much of a morning person and prefers to have that time by herself (or with me). Now, the teachers overseeing breakfast have all the kids eating at the same tables, so she isn't totally alone. Still, I can't help myself, and at least have to go kiss her. The day when I drop them both off at the curb is coming soon enough… But anyway, I wanted her birthday breakfast to be special.}

Joe and I picked up Zaxby's and came to the school to join her for lunch. We caught her in the hallway heading to the cafeteria, and after learning that we couldn't eat our lunch in there (outside food is allowed in lunch boxes, but apparently bringing food in at lunchtime is not. Or maybe it's fast food…? I don't know.), her teacher offered the classroom to us. We grabbed Joseph on the way and had a private little family lunch.

While we waiting on Hannah's class to return from lunch, we were entertained.

She likes this twirly Polo dress.

Soon it was time for cupcakes and Capri Suns. Mrs. May has a cute birthday routine and we got to see it all play out for the first time, as Hannah has the earliest birthday in the class. Hannah stood at the front of the room on the rug and called out 6 of her classmates ("candles") to join her.  They formed a circle around her acting as candles on a cake, the whole room sang Happy Birthday, and then Hannah blows the "candles" out, one by one the kids falling to the ground. They had a grand old time and it was so funny. They all loved it, especially Joseph!

We left and I had about an hour before heading back to the school at pickup. On the drive home, I asked the birthday girl if she was interested in opening presents…

That was a YES!!! We opened a few while waiting on Daddy and Skyped with Granddaddy.

Then she opened her Elsa dress from Joseph…

…and her American Girl "Truly Me" doll.

She was a bit overwhelmed. I filmed the whole thing thinking she'd flip out and she was so quiet. Just speechless. I guess she didn't really think she'd get one. It was really cute. Love at first sight. Since the doll looks like her, she choose the name Maddalena (her first middle name). Hannah also got the lavender girl-sized dress to match.

Uncle Will Will, Aunt Crystal and Stella FaceTimed her.

She heard from all of her grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents and friends. She received lots of cards and a few presents in the mail, too.

Perhaps the cutest part of the whole day was her excitement in getting the grocery-store cake she requested. A month prior when we were out for a walk, talking about her birthday, she told me she wanted a Harvey's cake. Specifically she wanted, "a yellow cake with chocolate icing, with a pink ribbon around it with a bow, and pink and blue kinda sunflowers". Well, there are no blue flowers, and they aren't exactly sunflowers, but the cake lady was off that week and I had to get another employee to tweak the one off the shelf for me. I guess it was just fine; Hannah was ecstatic when she saw it that afternoon! {During the same conversation when I was trying to get her to tell me what all she might like for her birthday, her answers were "American Girl doll, Lego stuff, and an Elsa dress."}

After church, we came home and had a little party.

The kids got a kick out of the unintentional trick candles we put on the cake. I didn't know we had trick candles, but a couple of them kept lighting back up. She and Joseph thought it was hilarious.

The next day, Thursday, Maddalena was ready to greet Hannah when she got home from school.

That night, Joe and I (and Meme on FaceTime) told her we were leaving after school the next day for a birthday surprise trip to Atlanta. We hit the road shortly after 3, dropping Chloe and Mollie off to board with Mrs. Ice, the lady that loves our dogs as much as we do.

We got to the restaurant, Benihana, and Hannah changed into her selected outfit. The custom-made Fancy Nancy Dress from her 4th birthday. It was a little short, but I didn't want to say no. She loves how it twirls…

Dinner was fun and yummy. Both kids love restaurants where they "cook on the table" and tend to eat really good, too. Hannah opened some presents from Meme, including her pearl necklace with 6 new pearls added, and outfits for her doll (an Elsa and an Anna costume!!). She also opened a doll carrier from Uncle Will Will and Aunt Crystal and a gift card from Aunt Sarah and Aunt Betsy. She was over-the-moon and we hadn't even gotten to the main purpose of our trip: the American Girl STORE.

Saturday morning started with breakfast at the hotel. The boys dropped the girls off at the store just after opening at 9:00. It was perfect. My mom had scheduled appointments for two of my old American Girl dolls to have their hair redone at the Salon. Samantha also got her ears pierced!

Hannah pretty much had the whole store to herself for a good 30-45 minutes. She didn't stop, moving around the store - going this way and that - taking it all in. The experience is overwhelming if you've never been (and maybe even if you have!), so having that time was very nice.

Let me add how impressed I was with the doll holders in the bathroom stalls…and with how good of a job the girls who work in the doll salon do. The girl that was working on Addy, was younger than my doll. My mom and I figured out that those dolls were almost 30 years old. (The company started in 1986. I think I got my first doll, Samantha, in '88.) They cleaned the dolls' skin and brushed and trimmed their hair. I'm telling you, they looked good as new!

Some of Hannah's fans arranged for her to have a personal shopper at 10:00. She came bearing gifts: a puppy from Uncle Ben and Aunt Katie, a mini AG Addy doll, and a gift card to spend.

They were all over the store deciding what to get and trying on girl-sized clothes in the dressing room. Daddy and Joseph came to join in on the chaos and, at 11:15, we celebrated with a birthday party at the Bistro (reservations highly recommended).

It was so much fun and the food was surprisingly great! They had seats for the dolls to sit in, party crowns, and favors. The cake was delicious and generously sized. After singing to her, the waitress brought us slices and had the rest boxed up and ready to take home.

We left with lots of bags (and some Christmas presents hiding in the mix) and drove back to Sandersville where Joe and I had a wedding and an engagement party to attend. It was a busy, busy day but a very exciting and truly memorable birthday for our 6-year-old.

Oh Monkey, how we love you so so much and had the best time celebrating your birthday American Girl-style. We thank God for you every day and pray His blessings on you throughout the year ahead. I think it'll be the best year yet!