Tailgating Time!

Well, football season is finally here. I think it is most definitely my husband's favorite time of the year (mine remains the Christmas season)and I really do enjoy it too. We are so happy to have friends that make the trip in for every home game and it has been a great tradition in mine & Kris's relationship from the very beginning. This year looks to be the most fun yet with all the little ones running around and me not being the size of the jumbotron like I was last year when I was 9 months pregnant with Brantley. And I believe that we have the prettiest tailgate area on campus. Our "tent" has expanded to two and we are using a 6' table this year, things are growing and good! Brantley certainly enjoyed her first tailgating experience (despite the hot, humid weather)and looked so precious doing it.





She was also very helpful in the drink serving department...



And certainly enjoyed the social aspect...


This was a night game so after tailgating was over, GrandPattie & GrandDaddy took Brantley home for a bath & bedtime. I see all of the other babies in the stands and think we need to try to keep her out one evening, but I think we will try an afternoon game first...

Three Birds with One Stone...

Or cake in this case...


We celebrated the births of GrandPattie, Kris, and Briggs today and had a GREAT time! The birthday gifts x 3 made it look a little bit like Christmas and that ended up being pretty intriguing to Brantley. It didn't take her long to start "helping" everyone open their gifts. All events involving presents with the Brantleys are handled round robin style with everyone taking their turn until they are out of gifts. Kris held Brantley part of the time and Uncle Briggs the other part, she was loving it as you can see...







And as always, there was a Signature Briggs Brantley wrapping job...

Which was really creative when he was 8...Now you just know it's from Briggs if it's wrapped in a garbage bag. I'm afraid this practice will disappear when the boy takes a wife.

And of course, no Sunday lunch is complete without plenty of playing with Nana...




Brantley decided that all in all birthdays are pretty cool.

Labor Day Weekend 2010

We didn't really have any big Labor Day related weekend plans this year. But the weather outside was LOVELY! On Saturday we went for our usual lunch & car ride and then came back and spread a blanket in the shade for a little while...

First Day of "School"

Today was Brantley's first day of Play School! And since she didn't really know what was happening in the weeks before I was excited enough for both us. For those you who don't know, I LOVED school as a young child. I "taught" Briggs for years before he ever actually had to enter a real classroom (and look at him now. Yep, I think it was that early childhood education that got him where he is today). I can remember Mom taking me, to what I guess was a teacher/school wholesale store off of 28th Avenue, to get REAL grade books and lesson plan books. OH, HOW EXCITED I WAS! That was my summer fun. I actually asked for homework when I was in the second grade...or just made up my own.
So even though Brantley is only attending Play School, I was pumped to be shopping for my daughter's "school supply" list up & down the aisles of Target. I even made her(i.e. bought & had monogrammed) a separate bag to take to with her on her school days. She attends on Friday mornings from 9 until 11:30 but is welcome to come on Mondays or Wednesdays as well. I am so happy for her to get to interact with the other children and spend constructive time away from me. And I'm not too sad about having 2 solid hours to commit to whatever I want, whether it be cleaning, running errands, doctor appointments, preparing for the weekend, like I said, whatever.
Here are a few pictures from Brantley's first morning before school





She got a good report on her first day and the teacher noted that she LOVES the train table! We are about to bust to know when we can "observe" her in class! Very soon I hope, the director had asked that the parents give them a couple of weeks to get into a good routine then we are more than welcome to come see them doing their playing. I cannot wait...