I wonder.....

if she is the future

Imelda Marcos

or

go-go dancer?

Lord, I really hope neither!

You have to see it....

to believe it!

One day at the pool Mary Austin looked at me and said

"Mommy, let me dive to you".

Imagine my surprise when she actually did! I just thought she was going to jump to me.

Nope and then we got in trouble with the lifeguard for her diving in the 5ft section.

Oops!

Happy Birthday Video

Be sure to watch all the way through so you can "see" what Jane Harris is thinking!

As you can see, unlike Mary Austin, she does not like to be the center of attention in a big group.

Last of the 3 year old parties

Being 3 still means lot of pictures much to Jane's dismay.

I get this look alot. I am looking forward to the tween and teen years.

Tripp may have to be comitted during that time!

The best thing about school is having your "tit-ta" just down the hall

Everyone waiting patiently for a cupcake

YUM!
Jane chose the cupcake combo - yellow cake and chocolate frosting.

Her favorite!

Conversation with a 3 year old

As you all know Jane Harris is now potty trained. This is great but it means that we now clean out her potty instead of her diaper. No, she will not sit on the big potty as she is scared of falling in it - even with a child size seat. This was a conversation we had after she had pooped.

Mommy: "Jane Harris come here so I can wipe you."

Jane Harris: "okay mommy"

I wipe her.

Mommy: "okay you are now all sparkly clean"

Jane Harris "Thank you, your Majesty"

Mommy: "your welcome"

And that is why it is not always good to be Queen.

Mermaids don't care about the rain

So, unfortunately Fay did not get my letter to her and her outer bands started to hit us this morning just in time for our mermaid swim party. The good news is that she was not packing any heat - no thunder and lightening means you can still swim.

Jane Harris did not care and Mae said "Mommy, Mermaids don't care about the rain".

And you know what? She was right! We had a blast!

And Jane did not have to worry about getting sunburned at her birthday party!

Singing Happy Birthday to Jane Harris

Blowing out the candles
We had to get really close!

Good thing we are over the flu!

Mollie and her preppy precious cover-up
Fancy Nancy! Mermaid weather

Yummy cake
Fun table centerpieces
Jane Harris doing her mermaid pose!

Swimming in the rain

Mae and Anna Maria
Party Favors
Main centerpiece.

Yes, I did all the centerpieces and decor. My friend La La Fabulous did the mermaid. I am not an artist just a cut, paste, paint and glitterer! I have to admit that I LOOOOOVE glitter! I mean I really really looooover glitter. This is one reason why La La Fabulous and I are such good friends. Plus, we have a bond when it comes to throwing a theme party!

Where has the time gone?

Jane Harris

4 months old

Jane Harris

1st Birthday

Jane Harris

2nd Birthday

Jane Harris

3rd Birthday

Darling Jane,

Today you turned 3. I cannot believe that you have now transitioned from a baby to a preschooler! The times seems to have flown by almost as if I put you to bed as a baby and you woke up as a big girl. You have such a sweet spirit that contrasts with your ability to be a spitfire at the drop of a hat. Daddy and I love you so much along with "tit-ta" and everyone else.

You are the miracle we were told would not happen.

Love always,

Mommy

Peter Bradley Adams

Tripp and I had the pleasure of seeing Peter Bradley Adams play last night.

What can I say?? He is AMAZING. Some type of musical genius in my mind. He is obviously talented and instead of lip-syncing touched up lyrics he sings and plays not only guitar but also piano. He is also smart - attending Sewanee when Tripp did.

I highly recommend popping over to his website and listening. You can buy his newest album on Amazon and iTunes. I only wish we could go see him play in Paris.

Review from Amazon:
"I found Peter Bradley Adams like I find just about anyone nowadays, on myspace. And what a find! I really love Claire Small, and since it appears that she really loves Peter, I figured I'd take a chance. Wow! This album is SO nice. The opening song, The Longer I Run, is typical of the whole album, perfect folk/rock that is absolutely timeless. What is it about Nashville lately? Neither Claire nor Peter are still there but it is turning out some brilliant singer/songwriters, and it's not what you'd expect. 'Leavetaking' is a gorgeous beautiful gem. "

Claire Small is back up singing with Peter Bradley Adams at the moment. She also has an amazing voice. Her album Ledger can also be found on Amazon.

You go Girl!!

So proud of these girls not because they rocked the Olympics but because of their grace and poise. So much for such young girls. They embodied the Olympic spirit and I am so proud of them. In fact, I could not be prouder even if they were my own daughter. And let's face it, I bawled like a baby when Shawn won her gold and sobbed when they showed her sweet parents crying. Go Team USA!!!!
The best story ever - a Chinese born coach and his American star coming back to his homeland.

Such an amazing guy - if only he was here in Alabama to coach Mae!

Friends first, teammates second and competitors last!
Will she stick it?
I think so!

Ta-Da!

In my wildest dreams, Shawn and Nastia would come to coach Mae not in gymnastics but how to be a good sport and fabulous girl!

Dear Tropical Storm/Hurricane Fay

Dear Fay,

I know you want to "make it big" here in the USA. You want some press and the only way to do is to "go big" since Michael Phelps and Shawn Johnson have stolen your thunder (no pun intended). However, I have already postponed my princess's mermaid swim party once due to Influenza and I do not intend to do so again. Plus, we need us a "mermaid swim party".

So, you can take your clouds and rain right on up the East Coast. We do not need them here in Alabama on Saturday morning.

Don't make me be a bitch because I know you think that since I am a Southern girl I am all sweet and everything. I can get NASTY with a capital "N".

So be a dear and move on east to Georgia and the likes. They will appreciate you and even if you lost some power they will still appreciate you and say things about you like "bless your heart".

Thanks!

Love and Kisses

Julie

Weekend of Numbers

ONE: sick princess

THREE: year old birthday party postponed and rescheduled for next weekend

TWO: Finger sticks at the MD

THREE: Sticks/tubes down the throat, up the nose and in the bladder at the MD

30,000: WBC count

102.3: Highest fever has reached

50,000: M&M's used as bribes to take medicine

3: hours of sleep on Friday night

5: nightmares/hallucinations about snakes on Friday night

100: Dollars spent on Tamiflu for both princesses

55: dollars in co-pays

2: visits to the MD office

10: Disney movies watched

ONE: Diagnosis of the flu for Jane

No longer my baby girl...

Jane is now officially a "big girl" as evident by her "big girl" panties.

While I am a little sad about her growing up, I will now just have to pull up my own big girl panties and deal with it!

Rainy Day Fun

Jane and the Frog Prince

This week we had a rare event. It rained without thundering and lightening so I let the princesses go out and play with umbrellas. Now, if you are family, friend or have followed this blog for a while you know that Jane Harris is an animal lover of the first degree.

She was so excited to catch her frog prince. She was so cute and gentle with it and not scared the tiniest bit. All girl in a smocked dress and pigtails and all tomboy getting wet and dirty and picking up amphibians.

As you can see, I may have been a little freaked out during one part of this adventure. You can also tell where Mae and Jane get their southern drawls from. Not pretty. You might just want to turn the volume down a little bit.

Okay, maybe more than just a little bit!

Why does my car smell like old milk and feet?

Monday morning I got in the car giddy with excitement because school was starting back. Mary Austin is in 4K and has to be there by 8:30 am so I was going to be free for quite a while. I open the door and it hit us like a ton of bricks.

WHAT IS THAT SMELL???!??!!

Noses were held all the way to school. There was some dramatic gagging and lots of giggles and "phew-weeing". There was even some "Jane, what did you do in your pants?" But I knew it was not Jane, because she is now in BIG GIRL PANTIES!! (that is another post).

The smell could only be described as really really really bad old milk and really really sweaty, stinky feet. So bad that I spritzed the princesses and their clothes with spray sunscreen before walking into school least the smell has seeped into their clothes.

Today, after searching in vain through the hoards of other crap I found the source.

A BOTTLE.

A bottle filled with a SOLID BLACK MASS that was starting to liquefy.

Let me remind you that Jane Harris is turning 3 on the 22nd.

She quite taking a bottle at like 13 months.

Have you done that math yet?

That bottle was TWENTY THREE months old. Perhaps even older - 23 months is the minimum. In fact, if my feeble mind remembers correctly she was only taking a bottle at night and occasionally in the am at the very end of her weaning from the bottle.

ACK, ACK and double ACK.

It is now encased in Tupperware and double bagged and is somewhere in a landfill.

While I know that was not the most environmentally sound way to dispose of it, I am sure that the garbage men appreciate it.

So that is my story. And imagine my delight when I stumbled upon this contest on Whiskey in my Sippy Cup out there in blogland. I REALLY need that Febreeze because even after a good dose of Lysol you can still smell the old milk and feet only now it has a "linen fresh" aftertaste.

Snaps to our American men

Snaps Snaps Snaps!

To the men who were told they could not.

To the men that were talked about like they were crappy gymnasts.

I know that you are all too nice to say it so I will say it for you -

"BRONZE BABY, BRONZE!! No way to medal eh? Well look at us now!! Do you feel stupid because you should! Yeah, I bet you want to interview us - we'll just have to see about that you crappy sports reporter!"

And one last time...

Please Homewood Parks and Rec, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE pretty PLEASE..

Hire these guys and these guys as lifeguards and swim coaches.

It would make my summers so much more interesting!

I know I would certainly appreciate it!

Sincerely,

Julie

Photos courtesy of:

FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images)

REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

Random Mommy and Me trip photos

Cousins first, friends forever.

Lego-Man and the girls!
View from Navy Pier
Putting on a show in Oak Park!

We miss you!!!

American Girl

On Tuesday we drove into Oak Park and took the train into Chicago.

Our main goal - American Girl Place

Mae received Julie last year for her birthday.

I really thought she was too young for an AMG but she has taken such good care of her.

Waiting to go in.

The Cafe is decorated in black and white with fuschia accents. It was really too cute!

Magenta gerber daisies were everywhere.

Julie would you like some tea?

Elizabeth and Coconut - the AMG dog.

Waiting patiently like a little lady for our next course

Mary Austin and Julie posing beside Julie's room.

Leigh Anne, Liz and Coconut

Me, Mae and Liz waiting for lunch to start.
We had a 2:30 reservation and Mae was suffering from low blood sugar hence she was not the most cooperative girl.