School Bells Are Ringing

I really can't believe it's T.H.A.T. time again!!

But, believe it or not, all my precious monkeys are now back in school.

AG and AC have been hitting the books for 1 1/2 weeks while Baby A only started on Wednesday, the 15th.  AG moved to the elementary school for 3rd grade and AC is in 1st grade still at the primary school.  Even though you weren't too sure about being in school without your big sissy, AC, I think you're making it just fine on your own.  AG loves her new school and Baby A already has Miss L wrapped around her finger.  Mimi sure enjoyed that non-stop conversation every day I picked you up last week, Baby A.

Of course, with the start of school comes ballet and violin lessons.

Busy, busy, busy!!

The C girls just started back on Thursday, the 16th.  CJ, are you really in 4th grade? And little Cybie is in kindergarten!! I know you'll love your teacher, Miss H, because your big sissy sure did when she had her for kindergarten.

This new school year brings a new adventure for you, CJ ~ yes, you'll be trying your hand (ummm, maybe it's trying your feet!) at soccer until basketball starts.  Now you and little C can practice your leg work together when she's not in gymnastics or dance.

Another busy, busy family!!

Although ya'll are in school and there's just a little nip in the air while I'm enjoying my morning coffee on the deck, Mimi is still trying very hard to hold onto summer.  Besides, I have several, okay lots, of little projects still on my TO DO BEFORE FALL list.  And, I'm still dreaming of white sandy beaches and waves breaking on the shore while 'little girl' giggles soar through the air with the seagulls.  You're growing up way too fast and the seasons seem to speed by as quickly as ya'll change grades.  In my mind's eye I see my babies starting school with little M in kindergarten and big brother M in 4th grade as if it were only yesterday.

But, there's no time to dwell on that!!  After all, the start of school also means a new season beginning for MJC which means kiddos to pick up from school and chauffeur to many activites and weekend road trips north to watch soccer matches.  Yes, throw in a few Saturdays Between the Hedges and before we know it, we'll be watching Christmas performances for choir, violin and dance and waiting on ole Saint Nick!

But we'll try to take some days a little slower and . . .

celebrate life!!

Hope all of you precious little monkeys have a wonderful school year.  Please know that Mimi will be praying for you each and every day as you study, learn and grow.

XOXOXOXO ~ Mimi

It's Now Official . . . Summer's Over!!

Yep, the Fabulous Five Stairsteps are now all back in school.

The older A girls started way back on August 3rd ~ AG is now a 2nd grader while AC is in Kindergarten.  Hope this year goes really s.l.o.w.!

Little AM started 2 year old preschool today while Mommy hit the classroom again as a 4 year old preschool teacher.  Bet the memories of past years in the classroom came flooding back as your were cleaning up the first "upchuck" of the year ~ what a way to begin your first day!  "TA-DA, Adelynn!"

As the oldest, CJ started 3rd grade in her new school today. Can you just slow down a little?

Little CE has been in "school" most of the summer while Mommy was working.  But, as she told me earlier when I had asked what she learned that day, "Mimi, it's summer; we don't learn anything now, we just play."  Guess you can start learning again since you're in 4 year old preschool with Miss Dot!

Where did the summer go?

The temperatures are still here but the lazy, hazy days of doing nothing are now gone.  With school comes ballet classes, violin lessons, fall league travel softball, fall Flight basketball, soccer plus a host of other activities Mimi can't even remember now.  Busy, busy, busy are the lives of parents with young children. That's why Mimi's doing alot of praying for safe travel, peaceful nights, injury free activities; but, especially . . .

the prayer on the plaque that was my Mother's Day present from all of my babies, bigs and littles. I pray this not only for the littles but for the bigs, too.

Mimi hopes your new school year is the best one yet, girls ~ have fun and make lots of new friends.  Oh yes, you might want to do your homework and learn a little, too!

Love you all the muches!!

No Job More GRAND

than that of being “MIMI” to my Fabulous Five! As we celebrate Grandparents Day, I want to thank my wonderful children for making me the most blessed mother and grandmother ever! Your Pop used to say that florists invented “Grandparents Day” as a way to make more money . . . sounds like Pop, right, even though it was his President (GA's Jimmy Carter) who "made it legal"? But his philosophy was that EVERYDAY was Grandparents Day with all the visits, hugs, kisses, and sweet notes he and Gran received from their 4 grandbabies on a daily basis. Those 4 knew that there was nothing their Gran and Pop wouldn’t do for them without question. Thanks, Mama and Daddy, for showing me how to be that type of grandparent to my sweet girls! There’s just nothing like . . .

Grandparents’ Day lunches . . .

Precious letters . . .

Lunch time treats . . .

After-church snuggles . . .

Long Weeks spent together at the beach . . .

and a thousand other little things from spontaneous “Mimi, I just love you!”s . . . to phone calls to tell me about something special that had happened . . . to a little voice repeating “Mimi” 25 times in a row because she didn’t think she had my attention when, of course, I was hanging on every word; and then there’s the tickle ‘fights’ in the nest . . . the “Will you sing us just one more sweet lullaby, Mimi?” . . . after-Christmas-Eve-dinner remarks of “Mimi, you’re the bestest cooker, ever.” Oh, the sweet memories!! Could life get any better ?

Hummmmmm . . . . . . . nope, I think not; at least, not for this Mimi!! Hope you grandparents got as many big slobbery kisses from ALL your GRANDbabies this weekend as I did!

God's Gift of Angels

She rocks another baby... hums an age old lullabye

She hopes no one is watching

as with thanks, she starts to cry

Remembering the time

when the babies were her own

And her mother told her gently

too soon they would be grown

Lots of bedtime stories, skinned knees, and tears to dry

Teddy bears, toy trucks and dolls

and kites up in the sky

First days of school, first loves, the proms, the wedding days

Sand castles and snowball fights and teaching them to pray

Now, as she holds her grandchild

and gives thanks unto the Lord

She knows to be a Grandma

is motherhood's reward!

------ By Unknown Author