Off to Granny's House

Since Jason would be working late today, we decided to take the short drive to see Granny's new house at Sunrise Beach. I loaded up the car with all the favorite toys, all the bikes, all the kids, and one Granna. Poppy boy drove in from the river and met us and GG made us a terrifically signature lunch. HOWEVER, we had not been at her house more than 15 minutes when the little terrorist found a nice little ceramic blue bird (one of a pair) and decided it would be fun to smash it into a million pieces. You can't believe all the glass that is in that woman's house, and all at TC eye level. She actually replaced a pair of ceramic candle holders to their original coffee table after I had moved them. Looking back at the pictures I realize that I only have one shot of GG and none of the new house. Maybe that's because every time I would turn my back on the little destroyer he was reaching for something else to, well, destroy. Please refer to the last picture in the series for more on that subject.

So as I mentioned, the car was LOADED with all sorts of fun stuff to play with...chalk, trains, balls, babies...and what do you think was one of the favs of the day? Oh, no! Whatever you may have guessed is wrong!

This was what they chose to do-dig holes in the dirt and sit in them. To there credit, so as not to confuse these children with dull minded tots, they were looking for buried treasure according to a treasure map Emma found in the boxes of toys. But in the end they were bickering over, well, holes in the dirt. TC put on no pretense of pretend, he went straight for dirt in the mouth, dirt in the shorts, and dirt being thrown. He's my smart one. Let me mention that at one point, while the adults were finishing their lunch, Tennison smashed a little ceramic egg that was outside on the porch. (For those keeping count, that would be casualty #2)

Against the wishes of the more heat-intolerant ones (okay, it was only Granna who put up a fight), we ventured, on bikes, to the peaceful porch in the middle of the neighborhood. It's a good thing that GG is the only one there right now because after my kids got there it was peaceful no more.

Don't be fooled by this cherubic grin, TC is up to something. He had just gotten finished spilling his water all over the table. And, unknown to me at the time, was about to reak more havoc on the little yellow house.

The moment this sweet little picture was snapped of Emma resting after a hard day of play, TC picked up the mate to the previously mentioned smashed blue bird and preceded to, you guessed it (3 strikes, we're outta here!)...at this point I throw my camara in the air along with my hands, cast a wilting glance at Granna and Poppy, as if to say "Who's watching this kid anyway?" and announce, "That's it, we're going home!" Granna convinces me that he just needs a nap. After about 5 minutes into this nap/wrestling match (as there is no crib) Granna demurely opens the door and informs me that the car is packed and everyone is ready to go. I am so sorry GG, I promise to never come back.

Kenedy is finally here!

Kenedy Sue Gattis was born on September 24th to very proud parents Dan & Shana. I took the two little ones with me to visit them in the hospital. Of course proud papa wanted us to hold his newest little girl and Emma was all too willing. But as I was sitting with them, Tennison started screaming and reaching for me, so I switched places with Granna (thinking that he was jealous I was holding another wee one) As soon as I got him he did it again, reaching for Granna this time. I realized that he too wanted to hold the baby! As soon as he sat in Granna's lap he looked down at that beautiful little baby and started cooing! Yes, like a grown person, cooing and patting her little tummy oh so gently. For being such a beast most of the time he was a beauty today.

Gimme the sweet stuff!

Momma loves to bake and the kiddies love the fringe benefits. The only draw back is that it always happens in the mornings when Tateman is at school. I make it up to him by letting him have the sweetness for snack and after dinner. He doesn't seem to mind missing out on the little details as long and he reaps the harvest!


No one had to teach Tennison what to do with the beaters, but to watch Emma de-batter the beaters is a beautiful thing. It makes me proud.

But what really makes me smile is that Emma is my sharer. She already knows what has taken others a lifetime to learn...there IS enough to go around.

Chief TC

While going through Tatum's outgrown clothes we happened upon this Halloween costume from years past, of course handmade by GiGi herself. Emma plunked the headdress on TC to my amazement he loved it...wore it for probably 30 minutes while he was playing. I think we have decided what the little man is going to be this year for Halloween!

Emma's BFF

Who knew that whenever the new coach and his family moved in a block away that they would be a perfect fit for us. Chuck and Jason have the same work ethic and drive. Melanie and I are very similar and connected right away. Tyler and Tucker play great with my kids. The biggest surprise was the friendship that would be forged between the youngest, Tucker and my Emma. Tucker is a bit rough around the edges and doesn't warm up to just anybody, but from the start he decided that Emma was going to be his friend. He shows his vulnerability by asking her to sit next to him and when they greet, it is with a big hug. Upon parting they yell their goodbyes until each is out of earshot. When Tucker's temper flares, he is quick to apologize and she is quick to forgive. When he is around her you see genuine smiles, even for the camera (which I'm told is rare). We love the Griffens and are so glad they are our neighbors!

Little Miss Conversation

Emma pulled 2 chairs from the playhouse to the far end of the yard and invited (er, demanded) Tatum to come and sit. Then she began the conversation with "Today, I went to Toget (Target)..." , all the while crossing and uncrossing her little legs. Tatum listened politely for a few minutes and then he was off in his own land of make believe. He is a good sport most of the time and doesn't mind Emma taking control of the situation. After all, that is his personality and he's quite comfortable with another giving the orders.

A Good Sabbath Day

We started our Sunday morning by actually having time to take a few pictures of these beautiful children. We are usually 15 minutes late and yelling and throwing children into their seats. But this morning we had our act together. Everyone was in a good mood and looking oh so sweet! Then Daddy comes home from mowing with sussies for all of us...icecream sandwiches!

The big ones enjoyed their's leisurely while discussing important topics such as what color the other's icecream was and how when they kissed Daddy's cheek, they left chocolate lip marks

The little one scarfed his as fast as he could and then couldn't figure out what all the black stuff was all over his fingers

Then we took a little bikeride to our friends house, Tyler and Tucker and played until dinner and bath time

Overall, I would have to say that this day was a major blessing!

Movie night

So the tradition goes...on certain Saturdays, each child picks one movie to rent. After pizza and a bath, Daddy makes a palette in the living room. Of course with a movie, there must be popcorn and when it's over the kids get to have a "sleep over" in their sleeping bags. Tonight the movie was Stuart Little, which Tatum has rented at least 4 times. Tomorrow we will finish the marathon with Charlotte's Web which is an Emma favorite. Please notice the shirt on Mr. TC that has conspicuously roled up due to the overly round tummy. One last note, Emma is the sharer of the popcorn and is more than willing to let TC cram his pudgy fingers into her bowl. She really likes her little brother and will tell you so...along with alot of other information, even when you don't ask. But that is another story. Back to this one, we would like to thank Jason for instating this tradition of movie night.

Crystal Beach

This beach house that we stayed in is most assuredly gone, torn down by Hurricane Ike. Amazing that 3 months ago we were standing on the exact beach that is now piled with the debri of what used to be people's lives.

Hurricane Ike

The short - but eventful - life of Ike
In its brief lifespan of only 13 days, Hurricane Ike wreaked great deal of havoc. Affecting several countries including Cuba, Haiti, and the United States, Ike is blamed for approximately 114 deaths (74 in Haiti alone), and damages that are still being tallied, with estimates topping $10 billion. Many shoreline communities of Galveston, Texas were wiped from the map by the winds, storm
Image of Hurricane Ike on September 10, 2008, taken by the crew of the International Space Station, flying 220 miles above Earth. Ike barreled into the densely populated Texas coast near Houston early September 13, 2008, bringing with it a wall of water and ferocious winds and rain that flooded large areas along the Gulf of Mexico and paralyzed the fourth-largest U.S. city

A house sits among debris, piled up by storm surges after Hurricane Ike made landfall September 14, 2008 in Crystal Beach, Texas.

The surge before the storm swamps Galveston Island, Texas, and a fire destroys homes along the beach as Hurricane Ike approaches Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.

A single home is left standing among debris from Hurricane Ike September 14, 2008 in Gilchrist, Texas. Floodwaters from Hurricane Ike were reportedly as high as eight feet in some areas causing widespread damage across the coast of Texas.

A cemetery flooded by storm surge from Hurricane Ike is shown, Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, in Galveston, Texas.

U.S. Air Force Pararescueman Staff Sgt. Lopaka Mounts, assigned to the 331st Air Expeditionary Group, receives a hug from a resident during search and rescue operations after Hurricane Ike in Galveston, Texas September 13, 2008

First of many

Thanks to the Dynamic Duo (aka Mom and Granna) the first of many haircuts was accomplished. With locks snipped Tennison looks somehow older, bigger, wiser. I have to admit, I was dragging my heels on this, I wasn't ready for the baby to be gone. But with the new 'do, he looks so handsome, so much like a little boy and not a baby. You know, that's okay. I guess I WAS ready to move on to the toddler stage. And my denying it wasn't preventing it. At least Granna can't style his hair in ponytails anymore and claim him as the youngest poet laureate. That makes Jason happy. And Tennison...well he's just happy.

Yard Boy

That big, noisy, mean mower is somehow less scary on top of Daddy's shoulders