Playtime at the Pittman's

Today we went to meet Audrey's teachers at Mom's Day Out!! She was ready to go, and getting her smile for her teacher's all ready!! Can you say, "CHEESE"!

"I'm ready and hoping for rain so I can use Madison's umbrella!!"

Madison and Audrey have really started playing together lately. Madison has always been very creative in how she plays, and Audrey is learning from the best. Just a minute ago, I heard Audrey say, with her bag in hand, and walking out of her bedroom, "Bye, honey. See ya later." I love it!! (Of course, I have no idea where she got the Bye Honey from, because she doesn't hear Grant say that!!). Very cute, though!!

The Open House at Mom's Day Out went well. I have been up at the church all last week and today helping the teachers clean out their classrooms, hoping to "butter them up" so that when Audrey acts up in class, she won't get thrown out of the school!!! HA! (Seriously, it's a possibility!!) Anyways, she walked right in and started playing, and then when the teacher had gathered us all, and started giving her speech, Audrey just about took her friend to the ground over "her Dora doll." Can you say Mortified!! Oh, well...at least they know what they are getting!!!

Things are going well with Madison at kindergarten. I think she likes it, but she says she doesn't, but that is typical of her. She always acts like she's had a good day!!! Her teacher says she is doing great!!!

Panties in a Wad!!!

Okay, I know you are wondering why I am posting a picture of Audrey with her fingers in her bootie - but what this really is, is her pulling her panties over to the side. Anytime that we are trying out our "big girl panties," she insists that one side is pulled up!! For all of you ladies out there, you know how uncomfortable that can be, and why she likes it like that I don't know. But if it isn't right, she comes up to me, and turns around, and asks me to fix it!!! And fixing it, means in a wad!!

"My name is Audrey, Audrey Claire...And when I sing you know I'm there...Cause I am loud and sing real good...Rap like me, you know you should!!"

Madison just hanging out, before she has to go back to school tomorrow!!!

First Day of Kindergarten!

Well...we have finally arrived at the BIG day!! Madison's 1st Day of Kindergarten!! Her teacher this year is Mrs. Ard. I think Madison is going to have lots of fun!!

I walked her into the school and she met her class in the gym for morning assembly. I think she's going to do GREAT!!

I'll give an update at the end of the day.....(to be continued)!

***** UPDATE *****

Of course I was on pins and needles all day, waiting for 3:51 pm for Madison to get out of school so that I could find out about her day. She crawled into the car from car-line, and I said with such excitement and anticipation, "Well, how was your day, Madison? What did you do?" She sighed, and said, "I don't want to talk about it...I'm too tired." What? You mean to tell me that I've been sitting home all day, biting my nails, eagerly awaiting this moment, and that's all you've got for me. I don't think so....

So, after much prying and coaxing, I finally found out that she colored some pictures, read a book about gingerbread men, met a new friend (whose name she couldn't remember), sat with her friend and our next-door neighbor Macie while in the car line, and seemed to have a pretty good day!!!!

Guess that will have to do!!

Amber

Happy 9th Anniversary!!

Today's our 9th anniversary!!

Grant, you are an amazing husband, wonderful father, and truly a blessing!!

I love you, Amber

Ella's Birthday Party and MS Braves game

Happy 5th Birthday, Ella!

Audrey, happy with her Cheetos!!

Madison enjoying the game!

Cacki, Walker, and Madison

Lauren and Ella's back!

Me, Christi and Abbey (dressed too much alike!)

We went to visit Abbey and the crew for Ella's 5th birthday. After her b/d party, we met Stacie, Walker and Lauren, and Mrs. Carolyn for a game!! Here are some pics!! Christi Walker also went along!!!

Amber

"Bitty" Frogs and Lizards

Audrey and Madison have always surprised me by how much they love "critters." I am not a critter person - I don't like them, and I certainly don't want to touch them. I was mowing the yard the other day when Grant was away, and I saw Audrey playing with her toy mower. In just a minute, she ran over to me, very distressed about this "bitty" lizard (as she said) that she had "caught" - "killed" (who's to say) - on her mower. It was a baby lizard, thus the "bitty" part, but now it was dead!!! Audrey wanted it to move so badly. She even proceded to put it on the ground and "kick" it trying to revive it!! If you could have seen the distress all over her face. Poor bitty lizard! She was concerned that it wasn't moving, and after explaining that I thought it was dead, she said, "Oh, man!!" - her newest and fondest phrase.

Well, I'm on to mowing the front yard, thinking the trauma of that event has passed, and what do I hear Madison yelling, "Look, mom, a bitty frog!!" Here are a few pics of the girls with the frog!! I must say that very few bitty creatures last for very long around our house!!

Since that time, the newest attraction has been digging tadpoles and "little fishies" out of the ditch!! Oh the joys of raising girls - (I did say GIRLS!)!!!

Love, Amber

Our beach trip

I just love the beach, and this year our beach trip had an extra element that has been missing in years past - the family photo was accomplished. I cannot tell you how many times the white shirts and khaki pants have made their trek to the beach with us, only to sadly be left on their hangers the whole trip. WELL, we did it this time!! We actually took some pictures and they turned out great (well... we had at least had a few we could use). A plus in my book. Hope you enjoy!! I won't tell you how much yelling and screaming we did behind the camera, but thankfully, we got a few poses worth sharing!!

Amber

From the Beginning...

Here is a brief recap of the last 9 years....

Grant and I were married on August 14, 1999. We married right after I finished my Masters in Accounting at Millsaps College. We moved to Starkville and were there for a year and a half while Grant was finishing his degree in engineering at Mississippi State. I worked at a local accounting firm. Once Grant graduated we moved to Natchez for Grant's work. I worked at Darby's gift shop, keeping her books, and sampling the best fudge ever made (that they make in their shop!!).

A job change for Grant took us to Houma, LA where we lived for two and a half years. Madison was born in Houma on December 10, 2002. A true cajun!! I was on bedrest with Madison the last half of my pregnancy, and so I began my job as a stay-at-home Mom before she was even born!! (I did teach myself to crochet and made Madison a blanket while on bed-rest!!......Audrey's blanket hasn't made it past the I've only bought the yarn stage! One day, fingers crossed!!)

Grant got a new job within the same company in New Orleans, LA, so we moved to Mandeville to be closer. We've lived in Mandeville almost 4 years. Audrey was born here on April 4, 2006. This past February, Grant took a new job with Chevron as a drill site manager. He is working offshore on a 14 day on/off schedule this next year training, and when he is finished with his training, will be working in Chevron's new office in Covington, as a drilling engineer.

I am volunteering with Mastokids.Org, an organization I've become involved with after Audrey's diagnosis with a rare skin condition - mastocytosis. I am enjoying the little work I do, and glad to be able to give back to a group who was so helpful to me right after Audrey was diagnosed, and even today!! I will be going to the AAP conference in Boston in October to be a part of the group representing Mastokids.


That's a brief recap...Now on to our lives!!!!