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!!

Ouch!!

Janey ran into the corner of the table the other day! At the time I did not think that it was much to it, but yesterday she woke up with a little bit of a black eye! With her fearlessness, I am pretty sure that this will not be the last!

Budding Artist??

Mary Varner is really into drawing these days. She has always loved to draw but now she is getting very detailed in her drawings. She loves for Jim to draw (which Jim can do very well) and then she tries to copy what he has drawn (usually cars or people). Here is one of the products from a few weeks ago. I thought Jim had helped her out some with it but he said that he never touched her hand!! She got this talent from him for sure because I have a hard time drawing a stick figure!!


Drawing with Daddy


Jim drew the car on the bottom and MV drew the two on the top without any help!!

Princess Birthday Party

Mary Varner turned 4 years old on Saturday, September 4. She wanted a princess party at the park which was fine with me because I would not have to "entertain" the children. It turned out to be great!! She did invite boys and girls even though it was a princess party( the only part that was "princessish" was the cake and the plates and napkins). The boys did not seem to mind I guess because the fact that it was cake overshadowed the fact that it was on a princess plate. Anyway, we invited all her church buddies along with their siblings and had a great turnout!! She was so excited the whole time her little face had a constant grin on it. After the party, we all came home and took naps (including me which I never do during the day!)

Waking up on her birthday morning to see her new princess tent from Daddy and Mama




At the park picnic area right before everyone started to show up


The princess castle cake a college girl that works at the grocery store bakery custom made (I was VERY impressed)






Having a blast playing in the spray park area


Janey with Nana


Pizza for everyone


Opening gifts


Gathering candy from the pinata



That evening we went out to eat with B'B', Grandaddy, and Nana. Mary Varner was very excited because they sang "Happpy Birthday" to her and brought her a dessert. She kept saying, " This is my first ever birthday in a restaurant"! On our way home after eating, she said "Mama, this has been a long but FUN day" and we all agreed!!

Four Years

Four years ago, we were given the gift of this precious little girl! Happy Birthday Mary Varner! You bring us so much joy and we love you very much!!

Daddy's Birthday

This past Saturday was Jim's birthday! Mary Varner and Jim decided that blue cupcakes were necessary for the celebration. I could not find blue icing, but the bakery in the grocery had these small green and blue ones already made up so that is what we (MV and myself)picked out. We grilled hamburgers and hotdogs that evening and then sang "Happy Birthday". The cupcakes were enjoyed by everyone! Also, Mary Varner request every time we go to a birthday to wear these black and white dresses, she says that they are birthday dresses.

summer days

These are a few of my favorites:

Janey building a tower at Ben and Mollie's house



Mary Varner with Papa Doc





Mary Varner and Janey playing with B'B' (just love MV's makeup)


This just melts my heart to see


Janey playing at the park


Nana and Janey reading a book


This is the face Mary Varner gives when she is "putting on her game face"