Dog Days of Summer

Kids in da hood

Sword Fighting

Playing Princess

Gray had the most fun!

God Bless the Ice Cream Man

We had a neighborhood street party today after school. The kids and I walked up to meet Wills as he got off the bus and lo and behold, the ice cream truck comes barreling down the hill with his sweet melody ringing in our ears. I ran in to scrounge around the house for some money...it ain't cheap! After we ate our ice cream, we headed up to the neighbor's house for a neighborhood play-date. Lots of kiddos running around playing pirate and star wars and princess and tag. What a fun day and again, I am thankful for good neighbors and friends.

Girl Time

Two of our cousins just left town after a fun weekend of spending some time with us. Aunt May May brought Hannah and Caroline, who Kate adores, to Birmingham for a visit and it was so fun for us all. I sure wish we all lived in the same city, but am thankful Atlanta is not too far away. We love when our cousins come to visit! Soon we will have one more girl to add to the 12! (Megan due in January). We are starting to even out the boy/girl ratio. 7 boys, 6 girls now. So fun!

A perfect 10

The Bars

Back Walk over

The boys watching

It is hard to keep your head off the floor

On our way to gymnastics...this is all I could find to wear!

Can I do it? Can I possibly make it for 2 1/2 more weeks until Preschool starts?
How else can I possibly fill the days?
Play-dough; getting stale,
markers; drying out,
crayons; broken,
paper; scarce,
toys; bored,
bathing suits; worn out,
swimmy diapers; low,
making lunch everyday; monotonous,
cleaning up after b'fast, lunch, and dinner; strenuous
running errands with 3 in tow; impossible
Mommy;exhausted.
My one hour of the day spent alone is at the gym...oh. how I look forward to that hour. Here is a way we are passing an hour by on Thursdays: Kate is taking gymnastics! She is in a class with 4 other little girls and we are taking it in the basement of a woman who gives private lessons. This is Kate's first experience with gymnastics and mine as well. I admit it can be painful to watch because she is pretty clueless and the class is fast moving, as in they do more in 1 class than you will do in 10+ at one of those "gymnastics gyms". (so I hear!).
She is not loving it either. But, God Love her, she is trying and I am not letting her quit. She probably has a little more of me in her than she may want...not very flexible, not very graceful, built pretty solid.
I admit, I am the only mom watching from the sides who has her in a ballet outfit and is just happy to see her trying her best....because to be honest...it all looks pretty hard to me! Hmmm.....maybe when this is over I might get out the basketball and start my own little camp in our basement!

Raindrops

Trying to find things to do with the 3 kids still at home has been a challenge. I took the kids to the park today because it was overcast and I thought we might be able to stay outside longer than 15 minutes without melting...well, the sky let loose on us. It started out as a few big raindrops and gradually became an all out monsoon! We were under the covered eating area and my kids really wanted to play in the rain! Hmmmm.....no clothes in the car, no towels, but my kids really need to get some energy out. Normally I might say, "No we don't have a change of clothes", but today---GO FOR IT. And that they did. My kids were running and jumping in the rain. Standing under waterfalls of rain pouring down on their heads. They were not just wet, they were soaked! Owen was even trying to swim in the puddles. It was great fun to watch. Owen said that this was better than getting a new dinosaur! After an hour of playing in the rain, we ran to the car, stripped the kids of their clothes and drove home with 3 naked, but happy and tired kids.

Convicted

Lately, I have been very convicted that I need to stress to my children and to my family, the importance of focusing on the eternally and not on things of this world. It is so easy to compare myself, my "stuff", my kids, etc.. with others. I know that the Lord wants my focus to be completely on Him and to give him every area of my life. He does not want me to pick and choose what areas to give to Him...He wants it all! This past Sunday, hearing Pastor Chris continue his series on the end times, I am even more convicted of living a life for God. A life that might look different to others. A life of purpose. Live the life of a person who is not in the love with the things of this world. Someone who is passionately in love with her Savior and desires to be more like Him! In I John it says that "the world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever." (2:17).
This past Sunday, Pastor Chris spoke about the verse stated below in I Thess. 14-23. Our family decided to adopt it as THE CARRINGTON CREED. We wrote it out (the best I could in kid friendly terms) and posted it in our kitchen. Often when I think about the things my children are going to face in the course of their lives, I am overcome with fear. I want to shelter them from the things of this world. A world that is confused, distorted and evil. It makes me even more fired up to raise my kids in a Godly home. To pray for them and with them daily. To set my children up to find their strength and victory in Jesus. As a family, we will "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" 2 Cor. 4:18

And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. make sure nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire. test everything. Hold onto the good. Aviod every kind of evil. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thess. 5:14-23

O-R-E-O

Here is Gray eating his first Oreo. Now, an Oreo is messy when my 6 year old eats it, but there is nothing messier than a 1 year old gnawing on one. He actually has the entire oreo in his mouth and was not about to give it up. He was a like a little squirrel storing it up in his cheeks.
A bath soon followed, but it was so fun to watch.

Hoot Hoot Hoot!

Okay... enough about the kids. I found these adorable plates the other day at HomeGoods. Have you ever been there? It is great! HomeGoods and Hobby Lobby are my favorite. I could just spend hours walking around those stores...(no kids, of course). I went out the other night after the kids were in bed and just roamed aimlessly around and happened upon these owl plates.
I keep my dining room table set year round because it makes the room look "more full", as Matt would say. I like to change out placemats and decor each season but don't want to spend a lot of money. I know Fall is not really right around the corner, but I had to go ahead and make the change. All I need now are some gourds to put in the basket and I'm ready for Autumn.

6 placements--autumn green (my mother in law gave me these for my birthday).
6 basket chargers --from my wedding--gotta use what you already got!
6 Green plates--My everyday china
6 cute owl plates-- 2.99 each. Not bad
bowl--Pier One on clearance for $3.99

We all Scream......

Muffins and milk! B'fast of champs!

I am a Kindergartner!

Waiting for big brother!

Off the bus!

So glad we did the bus thing today!

Walking back home from the bus stop--pushing Gray Gray

We all Scream for Ice Cream! Yi-pee!

1st day of Kindergarten....
Wills up at 6:30, dressed, bed made and asking if it was time to go.
New shoes on (hope they fit-they did!). A muffin and milk for breakfast. He brushed his teeth. Back pack on. 1st Day pictures. Off to school with Daddy.
Me, alone in the driveway, waving goodbye. Don't get sad! Don't get sad! Hold it together! Walked slowly back into the house.....
Kate and Owen playing "dogs" and running around the house, Gray in his crib screaming for me to come get him, kitchen is a mess, muffins everywhere....
I wish I was going to Kindergarten with Wills today...I thought about him all day long! What is he doing now? Is he having fun? Making friends?
Off the bus at 3:15...HUGE smile---that says it all....it was all I needed to see. I know I am doing the right thing. Thank you God for a great 1st day.

Adios el verano!

Bye Bye Summer! I know it is still blazing hot outside, but today is officially the last day of summer vacation for Wills. He is starting Kindergarten tomorrow and he is so excited, but mommy is a little sad. It is not that I don't want him to go, (because I know he will love it), it is that I will miss having him around.
I need to give myself a reality check because it is not like I will be sitting at home with nothing to do. Kate and Owen do not start for another 3 weeks and little Gray will be home with me all year. I will still have the challenge of 3 at home, the dynamics will just be a little different without Wills around.
I pray that I will have Faith and trust in God that this year will be wonderful for Wills.
Wills' teacher asked that each parent write a letter to her telling her about their child and expectations for the year. Below is the letter Matt and I wrote about Wills. We know that our Heavenly Father is watching over our sweet little boy.

We are the proud parents of William Matthew Carrington, who goes by “Wills, with an s”, as he would say! He turns 6 on August 7, so he will be one of your older students.

Wills is the oldest of our 4 children. He has 2 younger brothers and 1 younger sister. He is your typical first born child. He makes friends very easily and is very excited about starting Kindergarten. He tends to be cautious and reluctant to try new things, but once he tries something, he usually realizes how much fun it is. We tend to have to push him to try new things, so that he won’t miss out on the fun. Wills enjoys playing with his brothers and sisters, loves Star Wars “stuff”, has played soccer and will play baseball this fall. He does great on teams because he loves being around other people. Wills can be sensitive at times and easily frustrated, but with positive encouragement and a gentle approach, I know he will succeed and have a wonderful Kindergarten year.

Last year, he did a K5 program at Meadowbrook Baptist church and we were very pleased with the program. We hope that starting him later for Kindergarten will be an advantage. We are very involved in our church and our family loves and serves the Lord above all things. We believe that the Lord has put you in Wills’ life and we are excited to begin this journey. We will pray for you and, of course, for Wills throughout the school year. We hope and pray that he will learn all that is to be expected, but most of all, that he will end the year with confidence, success, and feeling loved. A bonus this year would be if Wills would emerge as a leader in his classroom and treat others with love and respect. We would be very encouraged to see this kind of social development.

Thank you in advance, for all the hours you will invest into your class this year. Being a former teacher, I realize the enormous task set before you and we will support you in any way we can. Please let us know if there is anything else we can do for you, other than pray, throughout the year.

Sincerely,

Matt & Mallory Carrington

In a playroom far far away...

My Poor daughter!

Gray is in on the action too!

I can't resist posting these pictures because you can see a day in the life of the Carrington household/Galaxy. We are all about some Star Wars right now, and thanks to Wills recent birthday, we have more stuff than ever to play with. Kate was so pumped that she got to be Obi-won, Owen is Captain Rex, and Wills and Gray are Clone Troopers.

FUN FUN FUN (not in the sun)

Just returned from a wonderful day at McWane Center here in Birmingham. If you live in B'ham and haven't been in a while..I highly recommend it. I was very hesitant in going with all 4 kids. In fact, this was Gray's first visit. The last few times the kids have gone, Matt has taken them without me or Gray. But, I figure, Summer is almost over and we needed something "fun" to do. Well, to say the kids had fun is an understatement. They had a BLAST (and so did I). In packing up everything I needed to get out the door, I forgot my camera. I hate I did not get any pictures. I can honestly say it is one of the most fun days we have had this summer. Check out the McWane Center...it is worth every penny you will spend.
I should do a commercial!

Sweet moments!

I have officially weaned Gray! He now is a big boy, who drinks milk from a sippy cup and he is doing great. I am thankful that I was able to nurse him for a little over a year, but now, I must admit, a part of me is ready to be done.... but a part of me is still a little sad (does that make sense?). He has slowly been weaning himself for the last few weeks. I know I will miss the quiet, sweet moments of holding him in my arms and feeding him, but I know he is ready to be a big boy now, just like his brothers and his sister!

Today is the day!

Finally 6

6:45 in the morning, We have already opened presents.

Awesome!

5 hours later...mom has put it together

Light Saber Cake ---my own little invention...not too bad!

Happy Birthday to my sweet Wills. He turns "6" today and has been waiting for this day for a long time. I remember a few months back telling him his birthday was in 100+days. That is how long he has anticipated today. Wills is full of life. You have always been able to see the excitement all over his face and his whole body (he shakes all over when excited). He makes us so proud. We love you Wills and hope today exceeds your expectations....Lord knows they are pretty high!
We love you so much!

There were 4 in the bed....

When Gray wakes up from a nap, the kids like to go in and "get him up". This usually means they play with him and make him laugh until I come in to get him out of his crib. Well, here is what I found when I went upstairs to get him today!

CPK --do you know this acronym???

Cousins at Babyland!

Kate's Cabbage Patch Doll

Scary looking CPKids

The CPK's behind them cost $300! we just looked!

The CP ICU

copy and paste in your url. it is so funny! They do this every hour all day long~
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl2ddJZq_2c


While at the lake this past weekend, my sister, Mckenzie and I took our girls to BabyLand General Hospital in Cleveland, Ga. It is a short drive from the lake, so we headed out on a mountain drive one rainy afternoon.
Not much has changed at BabyLand from when I visited 25 or so years ago. I still remember the birthing area, which is hilarious. Watch the video...very funny!
It was free to tour the hospital (shocker), but the babies inside are far from free. Let's just say, this is a trip that will not be made every year. The girls had fun and Kate held her baby, whom she named, Katie Maggie, for the next 5 days.

You should "TRI" it!

In the trasition area before the race

Very nervous-about to swim

coming out of the water--thank you Lord!

On the bike

Finishing the bike part

fueling up for the run

Crossing the finish line

Matt and I after the race. I had pizza and a hot dog at 9:30 that morning (after the race)


I finished my triathlon! It was not easy and I must say, I was glad to cross that finish line. It was actually a really fun experience and I enjoyed the competitiveness of the race. My swim went fairly well. After 5 minutes in the lake, I made up my own little stroke I named it the freestyle side kick! It worked for me! The bike was wonderful. I enjoyed the beautiful mountain scenery and the feel of being on the bike. I may have enjoyed the scenery a little too much because my time was not great on the bike and nobody else was talking about how beautiful the bike ride was but me. I made up some time in the run. It took some time to finally feel my legs after hopping off the bike, but once I did it was a nice and easy sprint to the finish. The best part was that I had my biggest fan, Matt, to capture it in pictures and to encourage me along the way. I will do another one, for sure!
REALLY--you should "tri" it. It was fun!