Time for the Fair

Last Thursday was my birthday.  Of course I had to work that day - boo.  But I was able to meet Michael for lunch so that was a nice break in my day.  That evening, I did something different.  It wasn't for my birthday, but it was on my birthday.  The ladies group in the neighborhood had a Sip-n-Paint evening - doing an art class in the neighborhood.  I have been wanting to do one of these for a while now so I went.  We all did the same picture and the instructor took us step by step.  

We were doing a large willow tree beside a pathway.  Here is mine half-way finished.

And the finished product.  

I would like to do it again, with a different picture (one I can choose) and maybe even take Rachel with me at some point.  She'd enjoy that.  

Saturday morning we went to the North Georgia State Fair again.  We didn't go last year and Rachel really wanted to go back.  We were there at 10:00 on Saturday - when they had the first hour free to get in and free rides.  You can't beat that!  Unfortunately everyone else had the same idea and we had to wait in a lot of lines - lessening the amount of rides we made it through in the first hour... Also, we didn't realize that Rachel would be too tall to ride the little kiddie rides now... Very disappointing for her.  So we had to split up and find a few things she could do.  We didn't plan that very well and she only got to ride four things - two of which were a bigger roller coaster and the ferris wheel.  She did enjoy what she did though.  Jackson really liked his rides.  Next year we will plan better.

While we were waiting in line to get in, they were blowing up a hot air balloon right beside us... Michael and the kids when over and watched right there at it.  Pretty neat!

Jackson rode this with his eyes closed most of the time.

 This robot roams the fair each year.  He's pretty funny - talks to you and the people around.  Rachel actually went up and shook his hand and took a picture with him this year.  A big improvement from two years ago.  Jackson wasn't going close this time though.

And last night we finally went out to eat for my birthday.  We got a few pictures of me and the kids ahead of time. 

Guess who took this picture?  Rachel was dying to try it so Michael showed her how and she did pretty good!

Snaggletooth!

This was Rachel about two weeks ago.  Her top two teeth have been somewhat loose for many months now.  Finally this one got really loose and made it's way out. 

 

 

Then less than a week later, she hit her other top tooth on something and all of a sudden it was really loose too!  So, later that night, it came out... Both top teeth in one week. 

She was pretty excited about it all.  She's lost 6 teeth now. 

 

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth...

 

 

On yellow day at school a couple of weeks ago, Jackson picked his Hawaiian shirt to wear...he thought he looked cute and wanted us to take a picture of him before school. 

 

 

Whatever Rachel does these days, so will Jackson.  As I've told them, "Monkey see, Monkey Do."  She wanted to lay upside down, so of course he will too!

 

 

Birthday Dinner

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated Barbara and Dawson's birthdays. 

They have the same birthday, one year apart.  How special is that? 

Dawson turned 70 this year and we all took them out for a nice dinner at Pappadeaux. 

Birthday Queen...

 

Birthday King...

King Wannabe!

Another wannabe!

 

Cousins playing together...Rachel and Jackson just love to be with Chloe! 

 

She's Now a First Grader

Today was the first day of school.  Rachel started first grade and Jackson started his new three-year old class.  Rachel was a little nervous but overall very excited.  Of course she's been ready to go back to school since mid-June.  

Last Thursday we went to Rachel's Meet & Greet to find out what class she would be in.

Her new teacher, Mrs. Mullins.

And here are the morning pictures - we were ready early today...let's see how long that lasts!  

Rachel just loves her new lunchbox because it has her initials on it.  

Can you tell what her favorite colors are???

We asked Jackson to smile with Rachel and this is what we got:

She thought it was pretty funny though.

They were looking at the pretty pink clouds we had overhead this morning.

First bus ride of the new year...

Rachel said she had a very good day.  Her favorite part was a funny story the teacher read to them today.  Jackson also did very well - he enjoyed playing with his friends and did good in his new class.  He'll be in this class for this whole school year.  They are both growing so fast!!