Mystery Solved

I was wondering what happened to all the tomatoes...

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Weekend in Review

As much as I hate to see summer go, I love these fall-ish days. Leaves are starting to fall already...
It was a friend-filled weekend. We celebrated our neighbor Tami's 50th birthday. Here she is trying to find the pinata ...


Parker wore his new bobby hat to the party (and the grocery store, and Home Depot ...). Jerod bought it for him at Performace Studios downtown. Here he is at the party, practicing the Hula Hoop for some partygoers ...

Then we sat around the fire pit in our backyard with our other neighbors, Tim and Erin, and their kids. There's just something about a fire ...

Here's Erin with a glass of wine ... we stayed up waaayyy too late.

We headed to the trail Sunday afternoon, and Parker found a snakeskin ...

Jerod skated, Parker biked, and Sawyer and I walked ...

Then it was the usual routine - showers, dinner, bedtime ... getting ready for the week.

Hope you had a great weekend!

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Chickens in the City

My friend Stasia has become a little bit famous around here as the chicken debate has escalated in Nashville. She keeps chickens in the backyard of her Westmeade home, and she - along with other urban chicken keepers - recently found out that the flocks are banned in Metro. Stasia doesn't have any pesky roosters, she keeps the coop clean - and her 5-year-old daughter gets to gather the eggs, eat the eggs and learn all kinds of great lessons about the cycle of life.

Yesterday, Sky Arnold with FOX 17 News showed up at Stasia's house out of the blue to get some chicken footage. I happened to be there and got some shots of the impromptu interview. She's also been featured in a Tennessean story.

Last night the Metro Planning Commission approved a bill that would allow folks like Stasia to keep chickens, with just a few, um, rules of the roost. Now it heads to a second vote at Metro Council.

A few quiet chickens shouldn't ruffle any feathers. Go chickens!

Here's a pic of Stasia on camera:

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First Day of Kindergarten

I can't believe it's here already - the end of summer, the beginning of a new era. Parker told Jerod last night that he didn't want to go to kindergarten because it means he is growing up, and that he and his Dad can't be buddies anymore, and now he has to buy his own house and he won't get to live with us anymore. (!!!?!!)

So funny and sad, too. I don't know where he came up with those ideas, but Jerod put his fears to rest and said he can live with us as long as he wants to (a promise he may regret someday ... haha).

But we had a great morning - on time and everything. The whole family went to make sure he was settled, and I think all will be fine.

Does this look like a boy who's nervous?

Me and Parker ...
Walking up to school with Daddy ...
Peeking into the library...
Posing with the school mascot ...
Parker with his new teacher ...
A goodbye kiss from Dad (Sawyer in stroller) ...
Making letters out of Play-Doh ...

I'll get a full report in about an hour. More to come!

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Never Forget Your Summertimes, My Dears

Parker and I are reading Stuart Little at bedtime, and tonight I came across a passage that sums up how I'm feeling these days.

"Summertime is important. It's like a shaft of sunlight," replied Stuart, quietly.
"Or a note in music," said Elizabeth Acheson.
"Or the way the back of a baby's neck smells if its mother keeps it tidy," said Marilyn Roberts.
Stuart sighed.
"Never forget your summertimes, my dears," he said.

Parker starts kindergarten in two weeks. I'm holding on to the summertime.

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Beachside

We spent all last week on beach time, listening to the waves and basking in a schedule-less existence.

Stay tuned for more photos ...

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Our First Tee Ball Season

Tee ball, that rite of passage, has been a fun new adventure for us this summer. Parker really enjoyed the (very hot) practices, and he learned some things. He also spent some time drawing pictures in the dirt with his bat, wandering around in the outfield and - once during the final "game" - chasing the runner around the bases with the ball. They all received medals last week after the last practice. Lots of fun and no pressure. Like sports at this age should be.

Parker is the one in the red hat below, and in the black and yellow hat in the other pics.
Sawyer hung out with us on the sidelines, although he made a beeline for the infield a couple times ...

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