Good Citizen

Mary Varner has been learning how to be a good citizen, and all about the Constitution in school this week.  Last night as I was going through her papers from the week, I came to this picture.  I asked MV to explain the picture to me.  She said, "That is a picture of how I can be a good citizen."  I said, " Oh, great! Tell me how you can be a good citizen."  MV replied, " I am pointing the shot gun at the ground closer to the person's feet, and not in the air towards his head.  I am being a responsible citizen."  I started to chuckle, and told her that her daddy was going to be so proud of her for knowing her gun safety!!  I bet none of the other children came up with this for their picture of how to be a good citizen!!  Jim thought it was GREAT!!

First Test

Mary Varner had her first "real" math test last week.  Kindergarten does not give grades so to speak on their work( satisfactory/unsatisfactory), but she did do a review paper the night before to study for her test.  Mary Varner really thought it was big kid stuff to have a "real" test, and as you can see she did very good on the Math test.

    The back of the test had a few more of the same counter boxes/ write number in blank problems.  This is the first paper that has come home with an actual grade on it.  Everything else usually has a smiley face on it.

Heart Checkup

Janey had her yearly heart checkup last Friday.  We did not need an echo cardiogram this year, and the E.K.G was really fast!  Dr. Davenport gave us a good report that her valve defect is not leaking, and that it is still functioning as a normal valve.  We will go back on a yearly basis until she gets older, and then we will go every other year.  We praise God that He has kept our little girl's heart healthy!

Waiting to see the doctor

Janey was really looking forward to drawing on Dr. Davenport's chalkboard wall

We stayed a few minutes after the appointment just so she could finish her picture

Two Wheels

Mary Varner learned how to ride her bike with no training wheels over the weekend.  Jim decided to take her training wheels off, and lower her seat so she could reach the ground with her feet.  This gave her the ability to practice her balance, and gain confidence about riding on two wheels.  She practiced on Saturday for a little bit in the driveway, and by Sunday evening she was starting to pedal a few times without having to put her feet down.  While I was cooking supper, Jim came in to tell me that she was wanting to try riding down the street.  I grabbed my camera, and went outside to watch.  I was amazed at how far she could ride(see video)!  We are so proud of her, and she is extremely excited about learning how to ride her bike without trianing wheels!!

Having Fun

These are a variety of pictures from the past couple of weeks! 



I taught Mary Varner how to braid hair....she uses her styling head for practice



We had some left over balloons from Jim and MV's birthdays that the girls have enjoyed playing with in various ways.  Janey was pretending to have two babies in her belly in this picture! 

The girls built a church out of their blocks and then enjoyed playing in the block box together!

Mary Varner making some jewelery from her kit that Janey gave her for her birthday

Janey "cooking" for me one day in the playhouse



Wednesdays is story time at out library for the 3 and 4 year olds.  Janey and I go every week, and her best friend Cora meets up with us there.  The children's park is next door to the library, so we often pack a picnic and play at the park after story time is over.



Janey and Cora singing a song together



Birthday Presents

Mary Varner's actual birthday was on a school day.  She got to take cupcakes to school, wear a birthday crown all day, and her class sang "Happy Birthday" to her.  When she got home that afternoon, she opened her gift from her good friend Madison, and her gifts from Grandaddy and Nana.  Opening those gifts held her off long enough to wait on Jim to get home from work to open the rest.

Her pick for breakfast...honey bun (breakfast of champions)

Ready to go to school in her sparkly six shirt and class cupcakes.

 American Girl doll carrier  from Grandaddy and Nana...she packed it up with all her doll's clothes and accessories

A jewelery making kit from Janey

Matching outfits for MV and her AG doll from Jim and I





Very excited about her new pink digital camera/video camera from Papa Doc and K'K'

A new fancy princess ball nightgown from Jim and I

I think she is excited about her Rapunzel dress and hair from B'B'

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your hair"

The whole family had to take turns wearing the Rapunzel wig.  Mary Varner and her friend next door (who also has this dress up outfit) has decided that this is what she is going to wear for Halloween this year.

The girls and I got a big kick out of Jim wearing the wig.



The Rapunzel wig was just about as long as Janey ....we said that she looked like the "it" off of  The Adams Family



Labor Day Weekend - Birthday Celebrations

Mary Varner's cookie cake

Ready to dig in

Aunt Jenny giving the birthday girl a pedicure

Blue with black polka dots was the color combo choice



 

The girls being silly as we wait at Joe's Crab Trap

Mother and Daughter

Hanging out having fun

The entire restaurant sang, "Happy Birthday", to Mary Varner. She was a little bit embarrassed, but talked about how neat it was the rest of the evening.



Eating up some snow crab legs..YUMMY



Instead of a birthday party this year, Mary Varner wanted to go ride the bumper boats, go carts, and bumper cars at The Track in Destin with Allie and Hayden.  After we finished our snow crab dinner, we all headed over for a super fun time!!  Janey was not tall enough to ride the bumper cars and bumper boats, so I took her to ride the carousel and swings while the rest of the group rode their rides. 

Jim and Mary Varner "attacking" Hayden with water in the bumper boats

Janey on the carousel

Janey having a blast riding fast in the swings

 The bumper cars



Buckled up and ready to ride the fast Go-Carts.  Mary Varner has been asking for the last year every time we pass the place with go-carts if we could please go ride.  She loved every minute, and has told everyone that she had the best birthday ever!!



Jim took this picture of me and Janey from his phone ( she was tall enough to ride the go-carts). MV wanted to race us, but they took off much faster than we did.  Janey and I were the very last to come back in. Our car was slow, and she did not like to go full speed. 



Ready to ride!  She was disappointed when she could not reach the steering wheel, and her side did not have the pedals to push with her feet.



Labor Day Weekend- Beach Fun

 We joined Uncle Brad, Aunt Jenny, Hayden, and Allie for the Labor Day weekend at a condo in Destin. 

The morning scene as they wait on breakfast to get ready

We had some good waves because of Hurricane Isaac in the gulf.  Everyone really enjoyed riding their boogie boards.

Mary Varner catching a wave

Brad and Jim having fun

Here comes Allie

Janey talking to Daddy about getting in the waves

The girls are out to find some shells

Janey loved finding shells

Allie and Mary Varner were inspired to become true surfers after they watched the movie "Soul Surfer" one afternoon.

Goggles are necessary to keep the salt water out of Janey's eyes

Sweetness

Anytime this group is together at the beach, a big hole digging is always a must!

Mary Varner working hard

Mary Varner and Allie having so much fun!

Sweet girls

Janey playing in the water

Brad and Jennifer

If you are wandering where Hayden was, he stayed in the ocean riding waves the entire time.  He and Jennifer did go parasailing one morning.  This is a picture of them in the air as they passed us on the beach.  Hayden was a little worried about going at first, but ended up absolutely loving it.