A Miracle Has Been Performed

The day that Mom and Dad went back to Illinois, for some strange reason that no one yet fully understands, Katie came to an understanding that has changed her life (and ours).

Since she was able to sit on a swing, we've been showing her how to pump her legs so she could swing by herself. It's never been successful. She's always had us push her, no matter what. If we didn't push her, she just sat there motionless, swearing that she couldn't make it go.

Well, on this particular day, Katie decided that she could pump her legs and swing by herself! And, lo and behold, it worked!!! And, we're not kidding, it has been a life changing event. The minute we get home from school (which usually isn't until about 5:15) she runs out the back door yelling "swing! swing!" and she likes for us to come watch her, but she will swing all by herself, and she goes high. Which she will show you (and explain fully) in the video...

Granmma & Grampa Come to Visit

Well, a few weeks ago my Mom and Dad came all the way down here to visit, and this is the first minute I've had to post anything! We all had a great time! Here are some of the pictures from that weekend.

Katie and Gramma playing Webkinz:

Camden and Grampa smiling for the camera:

Gramma and Grampa with both girls:

Camden with Gramma and Grampa at Baylor, looking over the Tennessee River:

Gramma helping me make tea-stained paper so my 4th graders can write Colonial Pen Pal Letters:
Camden taking her new Froggy from Gramma and Grampa all around the house with her. She LOVES Froggy! She will take him everywhere, sit him down in the middle of the floor, and plop herself down with a book to read.
Gramma and Katie on the Tennessee Aquarium River Gorge Explorer - a huge $3M catamaran that was made just to go up and down the TN River Gorge. The ride was really cool (all of us but Camden thought so) and when we got back to the dock at Ross' Landing, it did a 360 right there in one spot in the river, just because it can, the capt. said!
We even went to the Chattanooga Choo Choo (our favorite local hotel...and a great place to get Moon Pies)
So, thank you, Gramma and Grampa for coming all this way to see us! This week is Fall Break (hallelujah!) so maybe I can get more than one post up here before school's back in session...

Happy Feet

This was from a few weeks ago, but since it's been a long time since I had time to post anything, I thought everyone would like to see Camden's Happy Feet from that particular day. She would not put on any pants, but couldn't stand to not have on these fancy shoes. The girl has a thing for shoes already, as you can tell at the end of the video clip when she finally finds another pair of shoes to pick up.

Our life this week

Gonna Get my Drink On...

In the beginning of the week it rained for 2 days straight and we got 6 inches of rain. Here is a view of Signal Mountain from out our front door. You don't have to wonder why they're called the Smokies! It was weird, I think it was a constant but medium strength rain until we were driving on 27 to or from work, and then it was a sudden downpour with walls of water everywhere.
Getting our Drink on...
Tonight on the way home we listened to Toby Keith's Gonna Get my Drink On. It was the last song on the radio when we got home so Katie continued singing it for quite some time afterwards. Here's a shot of the girls, while Camden's getting her drink on...
Katie was studying for her spelling test tonight. She's so much more creative than me...I would have just written the words on the board (maybe even in different colors to spice things up a bit) but Katie decided to draw a person (I think it ended up being me, she said) thinking all the words, so she drew speech bubbles with her spelling words inside. So I just had to share!
And finally, this could possibly be the last picture taken of Katie with her front top tooth in her mouth. She was up wiggling it til about 9:00 tonight and had it halfway turned around in her mouth. Last time I went in to check on her she was about asleep, so I'm hoping she finally drifted off...

The Cheesiest

Well after 2 weeks of school, this is about all we're good for on a Friday at 5:30. Eating Cheetos and vegging out on the couch watching Disney Channel. We are all exhausted...

Tonight when Katie went to bed I laid down with her and we just snuggled for a few minutes. I thought, I could just go to sleep right now. After a little bit I got up with the intention of finishing the grading of those spelling tests I've been meaning to get to. Well she was really upset and started crying (not fake tears either!) She begged me to lie down with her again, for just half the night...half of half of the night....half of half of half of the night, pleeeeeeease, Mommy? I wavered for a minute - we don't usually let her sleep with us or the other way around unless we're at a hotel or something. But my first baby wanted me to lie down with and her and snuggle, and those spelling tests could wait. I got back in bed with my arms around her until I heard her breathing change. And then I stayed a little longer.

And we're back!! Did you miss us?

I know it's been a LONG time since I posted anything. The beginning of the school year is always crazy, but this year it's seemed about 100 times crazier than normal...changing schools, districts, states, grade levels, Katie going to school all day (she's exhausted) and Wiss going to daycare...there aren't enough hours in the day. My friend Brittney always said "sleep is overrated". I love sleep, but I know what she means. Sometimes that's the only thing you can give up in order to get stuff done! We are feeling the effects of not being close to family, who have always been nearby to help with the girls. We are missing you!!!

Anyway, here's a little of what we've been up to. I'm sure I'll have more school stuff to post, but don't hold your breath waiting for it. Click here to see Korisa's site where she shows pics of my room at school which she helped me with GREATLY this weekend. It wouldn't have gotten done without her!!!

The Burdens were up to visit last weekend when Korisa helped me in my classroom. Here's a group shot of the kids. Notice what Camden is up to...
We went to the Lookouts game and this is how Camden spent her time there...just hanging out on the bleacher floor!
Here's Katie on one of the big baseballs outside the stadium.
This is Katie's Summer Reading Project. She read the book Fancy Nancy at the Museum and designed a T-shirt for Nancy to wear. Notice how sparkly it is!
This is earlier in August, the girls were dancing to music on Daddy's new iPod.

And this is them in the bathtub. I can't remember what Katie was saying to her, but Camden thought it was really funny!

Enjoy! I can't say for sure when I'll get a chance to post again, so please bear with us!
:)