Grass Picking 101... aka,
Abby's First Soccer Game!

The first half of the hour, all the kids in her division drill and practice on one field. A great coach gets them running and jumping over their ball and dropping to their bellies. Then the second half of the hour they break up into teams and play the game.
I was a bit worried here that we might have a grass picker on our hands... but she quickly got into the spirit of things!

The coach, explaining the "rules" of the game. Only three players from each team are on the field at one time... too cute.

The First Kick!

And we're off! Abby was a starter and got to kick the first ball of the season into play! And it was a kick!!! The boy on the left is like, "That's all she's got?!" It was hillarious! The funniest part was that Abby would just let the other kids go after the ball... it was their turn. So I had to go all "Soccer Mom" and explain to her to go after the ball... it belonged to her!

She got the idea and we were just blown away with how well she participated and ran back on forth on the field. It was amazing. She did great and we remain so blessed! Her team's mascot... "The Pirates"! For those of you who didn't know... I was a "Boaz Pirate" in high school!

Can I just hug the Lion?

The Lion in the goal cracked me up. Everyone's, well... "some" of the children are focused on the ball, but Abby just keeps eyeing the Lion.

My FIRST Georgia Game!
This past weekend we went to Athens for my first Georgia game. It was a lot of fun and made me very much want to be in college again. The campus reminded me so much of Chapel Hill at Carolina. The stadium is nestled in the trees like Kenan Stadium and they have an area that's just like Franklin Street (except larger, with more streets and far more stores and bars). The vibe on campus was just like Chapel Hill and all of the sudden I felt OLD. All these kids on campus look 16 to 20! Ughhhhhh.
So my first lesson was learning what to say at each kick off... "Gooooo, Dawwwwwwgssss, Sic em, woof, woof, woof, woof." To see THOUSANDS of grown ups do this, over and over and over, with such enthusiasm, was very cute!

Noone could get this guy to sit down! The game was a blowout. I felt so bad for Western Kentucky. I think the final score was 48 to 12. Great that Georgia gets to start the season on such a high note... but I just wanted to go hug all the other guys and give them a pep talk. To make matters worse, they were the "Hill Toppers" and their mascot looked like a red packman.

We had great seats, in the lower section, right on the 40 yard line. They had stadium cushions on them too! After walking away from several people looking to make a year's salary on their tickets, we found a student who had been given some tickets by his boss. He, of course, wanted to sit in the student section with his friends. Yeah for us!

This one if for my brother David!
OK David, here's the band. You, too, could become a red coat! Don't you think you'd make a good "DAWG"? Think about it! You already look great in red!

What's in your hand?
Friday night, as I went to help Abby brush her teeth, I noticed her two center bottom teeth didn't look right. One was hanging by a thread and the other one was "very" loose too. So upon touching the first one it came out. The second one took two attempts of "tugging" and was a bit more dramatic, but here they are... her first two lost baby teeth! Abby was worried the tooth fairey would wake her when she came to get the teeth. Then she decided she really wanted to keep the teeth. But in the morning she was thrilled to find two dollar bills and two little packs of sweet tarts... teeth, what teeth?

Abby is a SOCCER GIRL!
Abby has her first soccer game this weekend. We just continue to marvel at how God continues to bless her. She LOVES her uniform and her favorite part is her jersey. She wanted "00" as her number (no idea why...) but "88" was as close as we could get. She'll tell you how the game is going to go to; "Mommy and Daddy sit in chairs and watch me play with the other kids."

MEET "CRAZY HAIR"
Abby has three favorite babies that she wants to take everywhere. She strolls them, teaches them, feeds them, rocks them, AND DISCIPLINES them... the latter is a RIOT! Anyway, baby Emily has long been the favorite. Then I guess she felt Em needed a friend and so her larger baby, baby Jane, joined the club. Well... then she MUST have felt sorry for this precious baby her Grammy gave her... who... can't ever open her eyes, is stuck in an everlasting grimace, AND has a strand of hair that WILL NOT lay down... Oh, and she had not been named. So we bagan discussing names for this left out baby and I said, "Well she does have crazy hair" and Abby just about wet her pants laughing (love genuine, pure, and spontaneous laughing). So there you have it... she became "Crazy Hair" The funniest thing is she says it with all seriousness. In her nightly prayers, "Thank you Lowwrd, for baby Emily, baby Jane and Crazy Hair. If she is misbehaving at the table, "Sit down Crazy Hair, don't be naughty." Cracks us up!
p.s. Grammy... We adore Crazy Hair and our lives would be much emptier of humor had you not bought her for Abster!

Abby is in her third week of school and still loves it. On Monday, she got her first "needs improvement" on her daily chart. What was her crime...? Squirting juice on someone with her juice box at lunch! And the fun begins!

It's amazing what they are doing already. Abby has sight words to learn and is learning to write her letters and numbers. It seems like so much and so quickly to a mother. Abby has already learned she is not a fan of homework either. So we'll just take it one day at a time and continue to praise the Lord for His gracious blessings!

Dusty got his first hair cut and I think it's adorable. He is such a teddy bear!

First Day of HOMEWORK!

Abby had her first homework yesterday and she's not a fan after about 5 to 10 minutes! I see a "Homework Reward Chart" coming along real soon. She had to trace the letter "a" several times and her name. I am just blown away with how much control of her fine motor skills she is gaining. Today it's letters... tomorrow, algebra! Ughh

Random Thoughts...
- I got the best cd today, "Leeland". It's a christian cd and the lead singer, Leeland Mooring, is 17 years old. His voice is so smooth and the lyrics are passionate and the music just rocks. It came out yesterday and I want everyone to know about it so you can buy one and support them!
- Had my first pilates class yesterday and loved it. I am so much enjoying my time at the gym.
- Met with four dear friends this a.m. to discuss a women's bible study and we are moving forward with a study on contentment. Our prayer time was wonderful and I am very excited to see God meet with us each week. Thank you Lord, for these precious gifts in friendships you have given me.
- Girl at christian bookstore complimented my necklace today and I got to tell her about my NEW website... very fun!
- Dad is flying to London today. He's a pilot for United and with what's happened this morning, family is not thrilled with this route. Pray for him and my mom. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God." Isaiah: 41:10
- Things I love- laughter with friends, the purity and sweetness of female friendships, good music, Abby's smile as she gets off the bus, my precious dogs (such joy from animals)

LAST HOORAH at the lake...

We've rented the house out for seven months and so this past weekend was our last frolic at the lake.. :o( It's a blessing to have snow birds, but not going back until Spring is hard to comprehend.

Abby was a swimming ninny poo, Elizabeth was the ski bunny, Sam tried out platform diving (ha), and Don mastered docking the boat on "dry land" (ha)!

Baby Sam... killin us with the shades!

My friend Elizabeth, myself and Abby... Sam's onboard trying to start the boat... Don's tied up on the platform!

"But I'm not so hungry for the dinner. Abby want to stay in the water!"

Anyone seen Sam?

Georgia Jewels!

Yeah! I have jewelry

online at

georgiajewels.blogspot.com

I am so excited, after struggling with my attempt for a website! So hopefully this will help those of you who have been begging for pics online (hint... Virginia friends and MOM!). I also have jewelry in my third store. Gentleman's Outfitters, on St. Simons Island, has just become my third store... also very exciting! This is a BIG month for "GJ's"!!!!

Lastly, but not least, I have a show coming up on August 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Red Door Consignment in Tyrone. I'll be sending out invites, soon, to those of you on the mailing list. It will include a 10% discount coupon too! You can call 770-487-9100 for directions.

I also have a Christian Women's Conference I am going to be at for three days in September at Atlanta City Church on the 21st - 23rd. My mom is also flying down to teach her workshop for them on decluttering and organization!

I am working on my Fall collection now and will try and get pics up soon. It's hard to get my brain to switch to Fall mode... but I have FALL fever and am SO ready for cooler weather! Bring on the breeze and smell of chimney smoke... my FAVORITE time of year!