Start 'Em Young

Anyone who knows Lance, realizes that he is obsessed with sports and all things Vanderbilt.  So, it is no surprise that he is already working on making the kids lifelong fans.  On Sunday we went out to "Dore Jam" and got to introduce the kids to Coach Franklin.

Tyler was having a ball asking everyone "Who you with?" at which point he could show off that he could make the VU symbol with his hands and chant.  Katie was just disappointed that the line was too long for the popcorn and snocones!  They really do love going to all of the Vandy activities though, and Vanderbilt is doing a great job trying to get families and kids involved.

We also went to the Williamson County Fair on Saturday before the kids went to a classmate's birthday party, and they thought that was, in their words, "awesome!"  They rode a roller coaster for the first time and proclaimed that they wanted to ride a lot more of those.  They did a couple of other rides, enjoyed a music presentation for kids where they even went on stage with a pretend guitar and microphone, saw some animals, got to sit on a real police motorcycle, and met Spiderman!  They definitely didn't want to leave, but we got a ride back to our car from the county mayor in his "gator" and Tyler exclaimed that it was his "first ever ride in a jeep" so that made it better.

The birthday party was a lot of fun for them, too, since they got to see all of their classmates outside of school.  They are the oldest in their class and most of the children were on the early end of 3 (birthday boy just turned 3), and it was kind of strange to see how different they look just with a few months on the other kids - they are starting to look like big kids instead of toddlers now in comparison (sniff, sniff).  They are staying in that classroom because they have two years until school and the Pre-K room moves directly to Kindergarten, but Tyler sure is upset about that.  Everyday he tells me stories of what the kids in the Pre-K room did - he definitely has older kid envy, but also loves his classroom full of boys (only 5 girls)!  The birthday party made me feel kind of guilty that we aren't doing a party since I know they would love it, but Labor Day weekend and lots going on in these weeks before should be just fine for them as long as cake is involved.  I kind of fear that we may have to do a pizza party too.  For some reason Tyler has it in his head that he loves pizza parties (I think a little boy in his class got one when he successfully potty trained for a week) and has declared that if he stays dry for 7 days at night that is his reward.  He is working hard on it and if it works I would love to get them out of pull-ups at night time!

No big plans for this weekend, although it is our anniversary (11 years - hard to believe).  Next week we are off to the beach - so excited!  I have a feeling I am going to need this vacation to look back on since I have forgotten the stress of the work/football season/managing kids combo that is fast approaching.  Work gets busy for me in the Fall, we will try to go to the Vandy games but have sitter issues and still don't think the kids are old enough to go to most of the games (we are going to try one of the first ones that is early in the day, though), the kids really want to go back to Tumbling Tots and we are still considering soccer (not doing dance for Katie this Fall), and Lance goes to Titans games on Sundays (and has to work when he isn't there).   My sister and her husband are coming up late September for a Titans game (or Lions game if you are talking to them) and I am hoping that is one I can actually make it to if we can find someone to watch the kids.  The sitter service did work out great, but it is just way too expensive to be a regular thing so we have a couple of months to try to make friends with some teenagers/college kids that like to babysit :)!  We will even pay them the $12 an hour (ugh) that is the going rate, but would like to avoid the each time placement fee and time minimum that are a part of the sitter service!  I actually really enjoy Fall in Tennessee, but I just get a little worked up trying to coordinate, plan and schedule everything, and frustrated that if anyone has to get left out it is me (life of a mom, I guess).  Maybe it stresses me, too, because I occasionally (or depending on what is going on in our lives - often) mention a desire to move back to Florida and I know that football season and sports opportunities here are a big reason why that will never happen!

We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our newest niece!  As tends to happen, it is looking like she will be here about when we leave for Florida so we will miss her grand entrance, but will get to see her and her beautiful new nursery when we get back!  We can't wait - Tyler was standing behind a little girl in line at the Dore Jam bouncy house named Madeline and he told her that he was about to have a baby cousin named Madeline too!