First Stage Performance

Mary Varner had her first ballet "stage performance" as she called it Friday night. She was VERY excited for Jim to see her dance for the first time with her class (he is at work during her normal practice time). I did not know what to expect since she had told me over the summer that she was not going to get on stage and dance in front of people. Well, she stalled a little in the beginning, but soon started up and did the dance very well! We were VERY proud! (Tried to upload video but it was too long..will e-mail to grandparents and also try to post on facebook)

Excited and waiting for the dance to begin


Janey hanging out having a snack before the show


Her performance was held at the Fair, so after the dancing we ate some fair food, MV got her first cotton candy, and pony ride. The pony ride was just as big of a hit as the dance was. She talked about riding that pony the rest of the night. They also had a small petting zoo that we went in to feed some of the animals. Mary Varner loved it and Janey was very interested and smiled at them from a distance, but as you can see when the pig started bumping its head on her shoe she did NOT like it at all!

Vettes and Cousins

John, Rena, Ben, and Mollie came down for the Vettes at the Village show this past weekend. John and Jim entered both of their vettes this year in the show. We really had a fun weekend playing and hanging out together. Maybe this will become a little "tradition" for the Elder group!


Mary Varner holding Mollie when they first got here on Friday


John and Jim's Vettes at the show


Family shot


Ben and MV rolling down the big hill



Jim and his girls!


Janey "looking" for Mary Varner playing hide-n-seek


Janey "counting" while playing hide-n-seek


Mollie snoozing through it all


Janey checking on the "BA-BEE"


Rena jumping with Ben in the bouncy house at the pumpkin patch


Face Painting


Having FUN


MV picking out her pumpkin

Mama-Daughter Lunch Date

I took Mary Varner out to lunch today for a special Mother/Daughter date. I have been wanting to do this for awhile on Monday's after my Bible Study because Janey can stay at the church until 1:00. She always picks Johnny Rockets when she gets to pick a place to eat...she (and I) LOVE their milkshakes. We ate grilled cheese sandwiches and split a milkshake. As my girls get older, I want to make a point every now and then to take some time one on one with them and have a special day! We really had lots of fun!

John, Rena, Ben, and Mollie came down this past weekend for the corvette show and we really had a great time. I will post those pics tomorrow!

1st School Field Trip

Mary Varner had her 1st ever school field trip Wednesday. We went to the pumpkin patch at the Methodist Church (which is next door to the Baptist Church were she goes to preschool). They made fall necklaces, had a storyteller read to the children, played a few games, ate a snack, and before they left they could pick out a small pumpkin to take home. Janey and I enjoyed being there too, and the weather was perfect! Janey kept picking up little pumpkins and saying "Ba" (ball), and then trying to throw them. We still plan to go on a weekend as a family to pick out some pumpkins for the house and they have a petting zoo, bouncy house and face painting on Saturdays. The Methodist Church Youth does this every year to raise funds for there church trips!

Trying to find the pumpkin that the string fits around exactly

18 months

Janey was born on March 31st so some months like September(that do not have 31st) we count the 1st as her "month" milestone. We go for our 18 month checkup next week so I do not have her "stats", but last week when we went for the pink eye she weighed 22 pds. Some of her favorite things to do are, taking her shoes on and off, climbing and jumping off of anything(including the grocery cart..I barely caught her), coloring, pantry diving (see picture below), and pretty much anything her big sister is doing she wants to do too!! Her speech is getting much clearer and she will try to repeat anything you say. She does not like to sit still for very long which makes grocery shopping,and any car ride over 20 minutes very complicated! Needless to say I am very glad the weather has cooled down some so that we can get outside more to burn some of this energy off! She has a very carefree, enjoying life kind of spirit as long as you do not tell her "No" which she gets told more than I would like but we are working on that! We went to her yearly cardiologist appointment this week, and everything with her valve issue looked great. The Dr. told us that in cases like hers that they rarely see any complications throughout childhood! We just will go once a year to keep it monitored! She is our "Janey girl" and I can not believe that she is already 18 months old!!

This morning while I was brushing my teeth she decided to have a few cheese crackers in the office!!


Always having fun!!