Bridging to Brownies

Several from Sophie's Brownie troop with their troop leader, Miss Carol.

Sophie and I as put on her sash.

A few weeks ago, we had a little ceremony at the park where the girls in Sophie's Girl Scout Daisy troop bridged to Brownies.  We were going to use a larger bridge that cars drive across on one side and have them walk on the little pedestrian bridge (not a busy road or anything but just a bridge that goes into a local park).  Anyway, someone realized that there was a little bridge on the playground so we used that instead for the bridging ceremony.  We celebrated with pizzas afterwards.

Baby Love



Aunt Paula and Abbie meet Morgan


 Proud cousins with Morgan

Aunt Paula, Morgan, Sophie, Nana, and Abbie.

 Sophie and Abbie with Morgan (1st time in swing).

proud Mama and Daddy with Sophie, Paula, Abbie, Nana, Phil and Morgan in swing

Sophie and Uncle Matt met Morgan a couple of days later-finally a first cousin!

This past Wednesday evening, Morgan Cleburne Riley, was born to my sister, Martha, and her husband, Matt.  We were all so excited because it's the girls first time to have a first cousin and Matt and I's first time to be an aunt and uncle!  Morgan weighed 8 lbs 9 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long.  They live a little over an hour north of us so Abbie and I were able to visit them in the hospital the next day.  Abbie loves babies so she was in heaven being able to hold Morgan!  A friend of Martha's came to visit her while we were there and Abbie was able to hold her 4 month old baby as well.  We had a very good visit with them at the hospital.   Sophie was so sad that she wasn't able to go with us that day since she was in school but I promised that we would take her over the weekend.

On Saturday, we were all able to visit them at home.  Morgan is such a sweet baby.  Both of his parents were quite worn out but hopefully, they will get some rest with Nana there to help out this week.  Uncle Phil was able to ride down with us too.  Sophie was so happy that she could meet Morgan!

1st day of Second Grade

Sophie at our house before I drove her to school.

Sophie holding up a "2" for 2nd grade in the front of Clovercroft Elementary School.

Sophie with Ms. Strickland

Sophie at her table

 

Sophie's 1st day of school was on Matt's birthday, August 10, but he had to be out of town when school started.  A few days before school started we found out that Sophie was in Ms. Strickland's 2nd grade class. We immediately called her best friend from last year, Allie, and we found out that they were in the same class.  There are actually several girls and a couple of boys in her class who were also in her class last year which is great!  They had an Open House the night before school started and the first day was just a half day.  So far, Sophie is enjoying being in Ms. Strickland's class.

Williamson County Fair

Abbie and Sophie ready to go into the Lil' farmers area.

Abbie's ready to drive a tractor.

Matt and Abbie

Sophie, Matt, Uncle Phil, Abbie and Paula in the cornfield

Sophie, Abbie and Paula pose

Abbie and Sophie rode the swings!

About 2 weeks ago, Matt's parents, Mimi and Papa Tom, were able to come over for a visit before school started back.   One night while they were in town, we went to the Williamson County Fair.  The weather was very pleasant this year with temps around 80 or so instead of upper 90's like it usually is around here in August.  Paula's brother, Phil, had just returned to the U.S. after doing some mission work so he came and met us at the fair too.  We had a great time doing the Lil' Ones farming area, seeing lots of live animals, running into some friends from church, etc.  We always enjoy going to the fair and we had a wonderful visit with Mimi and Papa Tom.  We celebrated Matt and Mimi's birthdays while they were here.

Visiting the Treehouses at Cheekwood

This was supposed to be like Thoreau's cabin at Walden Pond-it was built up and had a swing underneath and a small loft inside.

The Jolly Roger-like the boat from Peter Pan

This was supposed to be a treehouse for a hobbit.  It had an area you could walk through underneath and a big slide kids could go down.

Definitely one of our favorites-the Rainbow Fish.  Sophie and I are making our fish faces.  I loved that book and the treehouse!

The girls inside the rainbow fish treehouse. 

This was a "notions" treehouse out over the water.

We went back to the Thoreau treehouse so the girls could swing.

 

Weird expressions I know but sometimes this is what our kids give us when we try to take their picture.

One of the things that we wanted to do this summer was visit Cheekwood so that we could see their treehouse exhibit.  We finally made it a couple of weeks ago.  Summer can be such a busy time of year!  There were 7 different treehouses and most of them went along with the theme from a book.  They were really cool to see and a lot of fun for the girls to check out.  On the night we were there, the Nashville Ballet was also there performing some of Aesop's Fables for their family night.  It was held inside and was somewhat packed but the girls enjoyed watching them perform. 

4th of July

Katie with her 3 babysitters in the bounce castle (Abbie, Kate and Sophie)

our girls at Nana and Paw-paw's house

Sam and Eli Hyberger, Will Lassiter, Sophie and Abbie, Jonathan Brown, Katie Byars, Christine,Will and Clay Kelley

 in front of play house at the Gray's house

 

 

fireworks at Crockett Park

 Overall, we had a great 4th of July this year.  That morning, we went over to my parents for breakfast.  Unfortunately, I had a bad cold that week so I didn't feel the greatest but we had an OK day.  That afternoon I mostly lost my voice.  Then, that night we went to a cookout at our friends, the Gray's.  Many from our Sunday school class came.  The kids had a great time playing and then we walked over to the park and watched fireworks.  The Grays' have such a wonderful play house that Carley and Jessie enjoy.  It was a very late night for us!  When we went to the Gray's, I couldn't really talk at all so I just whispered (which I hate having to do).  We enjoyed seeing everybody though!  It was the first time that we had ever stayed and walked over to see the fireworks at Crockett Park.  (Last year, we left and watched them from Ravenwood High School). 

Busch Gardens (our trip to Virginia cont.)



Sophie and Daddy before riding Verbolten

Sophie, Abbie and Mama

Abbie loved the swings and the bumper cars!

Sophie with Hansel, Gretel and the witch after their performance.

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A pretty cool shot that Matt got of the foal in mid-air.

Sophie and Paw-paw Tom

Uh-oh!  What has Sophie done?

 We had such a busy week while we were visiting family in Virginia.  Some of us headed to Busch Gardens Sunday evening while Mimi stayed back with the kids.  There is so much to do at Busch Gardens!  On Monday, all of us headed to Busch Gardens.  Matt and I had ridden the new roller coaster, Verbolten.  Although Sophie was tall enough, I really didn't think she'd want to ride it.  There's no upside down parts or anything but a lot of it was inside where it was totally dark and it is pretty fast.  Anyway, when Matt and I were going to ride it for a second time, Sophie somehow decided to ride it.  I tried to tell her about it because I wanted to be honest.  After, we got off the ride though she got kind of upset because I think it was pretty scary for her!  I felt bad for her because I didn't want her to do something that was too scary for her.

We had a great time at Busch Gardens!  The weather was a little strange and it started sprinkling at times.  We were able to see a couple of shows.  I think we probably could have spent another day at Busch Gardens but we didn't.  The girls also rode in go-carts while we were there and we did several other things.  I'll try to post more pictures soon.