10 years sure did go by fast!

This weekend was my 10 year reunion.  It was so great to see everyone!  I went to a very small school and only graduated with 40 so we actually had a great turnout for everything. 

 

 

Getting ready to go to BHS homecoming game

 Friday night, we went to Berry's Homecoming game.  It had been 8 or 9 years since I had been to a Berry Football game.  It was actually a lot of fun and I got to see so many people that I don't see often.  We took Anna Riley but left Ava Kate at home with Mom and Dad since she would get tired easy and not to mention be all over the place!!

This wasn't everyone...we never could get a picture when
everyone was sitting down at the same time.

Anna Riley had so much fun a the game.  There were several of the other kids there and they all played together.  We left around 9 and she wasn't ready to leave then!  Her and Cooper (my friend, Peyton's little boy) played a lot together.  They are only 4 months apart.  We looked down one time and they had given each other a kiss.  Well, all she talked about was "Coopa"...so cute! 

Best Friends since Kindergarten

Saturday we met at the Fayette park for a picnic lunch and to let the kids play.  A few of the people that had planned on coming that day had to change plans last minute so we had a smaller crowd but the kids had a great time!!

The little ones

Saturday night we had an "adults only" dinner at the top deck of Mellow Mushroom. 

The Saturday night crew minus two that had already left

  I am pretty sure we will try to get together in 5 years rather than 10 because it just seemed like too long!  I miss all them...thank goodness I at least can see what they are doing now on Facebook! ;)

ARs first Bama football game!!

On Saturday, We had 4 tickets to the Bama game so we ask my Dad to go and we decided since it wasn't a big game we would take AR to her first game.  I told her a couple of days before when we went to see Big Al and she was so excited and talked about it everyday...."when is the football game?" "When will I see the elephant again?"  (which she still ask me multiple times about seeing Big Al).  I knew she wouldn't last very long in the game for her age but our tickets were free so we weren't out in money and I wouldn't feel like I needed to entertain her to stay. 

We stayed outside all morning and played with the neighbors for a while so that she would take an early nap and surprisingly she did.  I am usually pretty good at tricking my kids to think it is nap time if I need it to be! Haha! :)  After she got up we headed to campus.  We didn't plan on a lot of tailgaiting because I knew she would get tired.   

Even though we really didn't plan on tailgaiting, we actually saw a few people we knew on our walk and stopped by their tailgate and saw some other friends also getting ready to walk to the stadium so we got to visit with them for a few minutes before game time. 

We got in the stadium in time for all the pregame stuff and AR just stared at the field the whole time! She caught on quick that when everyone cheers...you shake your shaker!  She loved that part!  She was even trying to sing the fight song!  

It was very hot at 4pm but luckily we were sitting under the skyboxes so we had a little bit of a shade. 

We kind of let anything fly that day so she had lots of "good" food and drinks.  A sweet lady gave her a Sunkist and a chocolate peanut cluster at the tailgate and then when she got in the game she wanted Nachos and she drank some of my Sprite.  It wasn't 20 mintues later and she got my Dad to get her some popcorn and was drinking some of his Coke!  And then she topped all of that with some skittles!!  When she was getting ready for bed she said "Mommy, my tummy hurts!  I think I need some Pepto!" haha! Well I guess so!

We ended up staying for all of the 1st and part of the 2nd.  We couldn't quite make it to half time.  She was wearing down so we just left.  All she talked about was Big Al so we stopped by one of the stores on the strip and let her get one a stuffed big Al and she picked up two and said one was for sissy.

When she got home she said that its name was not Big Al because it was a girl!  Its name was Allie! 

This was the picture from CHOM
taken by Shutterbug!
I thought it turned out so cute!
It is a picture of a picture so excuse the
quality!

Elephant Appreciation Day

Thursday was Elephant Appreciation Day at CHOM (Children's Hands On Museum). I had told Anna Riley earlier that day that after her nap, we would go see Big Al the elephant.  Well apparently she was so excited!  She woke up a little early from her nap and said "Mommy...I'm awake...ready to go see that elephant!"  Then went in Ava Kates room and said "Sissy...its time to go see Big Al!!"  Haha!  When she got there, while I was renewing our membership that had expired a month or so ago, she broke in front of anyone in line and went straight to see him!  She LOVED him!  My friend, Amanda and her baby, Tripp met us and we played for a while before heading back home.

 

Once in his lap...she was very serious...
his ear was in her way so she didn't want
to move!

Baby Tripp!



One last hug before we left

Football weekends

Football season is here!!! Oh how I love making some good tailgaiting food and enjoying the game (or the parts I can watch with 2 little kids!)

Last weekend, the game was at home.  It was supposed to be raining all day so we had decided to just hang out at home.  Riley worked that morning, so the girls and I went to Publix to get our ingredients for our yummy tailgating food.  Riley's Dad came to watch the game with us!

I made taco shells, fiesta dip and Pizza bites.  It was all very good!

I love having Pinterst around!!!



The girls in their uniforms.  They wouldn't cooperate
to take a picture together!

 

This was Saturday morning! :)  Such a happy baby!

This past weekend the game was in Arkansas.  Friday night, Riley and I went to eat with two other couples at Nick's in the Sticks.  We have started a "Supper Club" but rather than having dinner at each other's houses, we all pick a night and get sitters and go out to eat together.  It was so much fun!  We had not been to Nick's in probably 3 years or longer so it was fun to go back and the ticket is always CHEAP! ;)   Our sitter got last minute tickets to Arkansas, so Mom and Dad came and spent the night and kept the girls since Mom had to work on Saturday.  AR went back with my Dad on Saturday and spent the night with them.

We had 3 couples and their kids over to watch the game and we had so much food!  Each of us ended up bringing/making 3 things so we had quite the variety!  Have I mentioned how incredibly hard it is to lose weight during football season! :/

I made the caramel apple dip, homeade pizza rolls and rotel cups.  We also had a tomato basil dip, corndog bites, chicken nuggets, Bama cookies, cheeseburger dip, smoked wings, bacon swiss dip, hummus and an apple dessert!  YUM!!!!!  Good thing this was lunch and supper!

The game was a Shutout so it got a little boring toward the end...but so glad we were on the winning side of it! :)

All ready for church

Loving the one on one time!

Sunday, Ava Kate slept in until 9!!!  So we headed to Sunday School and then went to FIVE for brunch...more fattening food but oh so good!  We got to sit in their new Java section and I got a Mocha Latte...just what I needed! ;) 

Ava Kate enjoyed all the attention she got on Saturday and Sunday.  I think she could get used to that!

I think we are going to take Anna Riley to the game this Saturday!  It will be her first game!!  I am sure we won't last long but it is just Fl. Atlantic so it won't be so bad if we have to leave early. 

Injured

Anna Riley woke up Wednesday morning, 2 weeks ago complaining with her leg and mostly her knee.  I thought it probably was the way she slept on it and we went on about the day.  She went to school and came home and took a nap.  After nap, she did it again.  But as the first time, she didn't complain much after she would get up and going.  That weekend, we were in Fairhope for Labor Day weekend and the limping got worse.  Tuesday morning, I made an appointment with her Pediatrician. 

 

This is blurry but I thought it was
so cute!...Playing in the waiting room

She loved all the fish
in the waiting room.

 

She wanted us to get Xrays of her leg.  Anna Riley had her first ballet class that morning and so Dr. Roberts said to let her go but watch to make sure she wasn't in any pain.  After ballet, we headed to the Radiology clinic to have Xrays done.  AR did great with the Xrays!  (funny side note:  she kept telling me the screen on the machine looked just like the Ipad! haha)

Waiting for the Doctor

Xrays came back fine so Dr. Roberts thought it was probably a sprain. But, a week later...she was still limping and it had gotten worse.  Dr. Roberts ordered blood work to rule out any arthritis.  AR was such a big girl with that also!  The blood work came back normal so we moved on to the next step! 



She set up an appintment with Dr. Doyle at Children's hospital.  He is a pediatric orthapedic doctor and he was SO great with AR!  We went there on Thursday.  He did a little exam on AR...moving her legs all around and making her run and walk and then we had more Xrays...this time of her foot.  Still nothing showed up on the Xray but Dr. Doyle was pretty sure it was a hairline fracture in her foot.  He didn't want to expose her to any more radiation at the time.  He said before he got test happy (as many Doctors do) he wanted to see if wearing a boot for 2 weeks would help.

Worn out but still holding on to the
pencil she got at the Dr. Office!

Next Thursday we will go back and see if there is any improvement.  If not...more Xrays and tests.  In order to do an MRI on a small child, they have to be put under general anesthesia so we don't want to do that unless it is absolutely necessary. 

AR has been doing quite well with the boot.  She went to school the next day and they said she did great.  It took her a few days to get used to it but she doesn't really complain about wearing it.  During the 2 weeks, she also has to sit out of ballet and gymnastics at school.   Hopefully, all will be well in 2 weeks and no more boot!

Ballet

Anna Riley had her first ballet class last Tuesday.  She was so excited!   I couldn't go in with her but I watched her through the window.  She did well and really loves it!  Her two teachers are wonderful! 

 

Labor Day weekend

We spent Labor Day weekend in Fairhope with my parents and Riley's Dad.  I enjoyed getting to spend the weekend with them and the girls loved having all the extra attention!! 

We really relaxed all weekend.  The weather was so nice surprisngly!  It was supposed to rain but we never got any rain while down there! 

 

AR, Paw Paw and PopPop down by the bay one morning

ROLL TIDE!



 

Lounging around! ;)

Building Sandcastles

Before going out to eat...
She said "take my picture, please!"

Eating at Big Daddys.  The kids love it there...
Sand and a band!  Lots to keep them entertained!

AK learned to climb the stairs!  She climbed all the way to
the top and never stopped!

This picture makes me laugh! ;)

One more...RTR!!