Papa's Birthday

This Friday night we took Papa and Nana to all-of-our favorite Mexican food place in Starke, Fl...no shocker we went to Laredos.

And when we returned we celebrated Papa's 68th Birthday!!! While he was waiting for me to get everything together, Colson convinced him to read some random book laying on the stairs. Two things to note...1) it doesn't take ANYTHING other than a smile and an ask from any of the Flock for Papa to reply with a heart-felt, huge-smile YES. 2) There are always books laying all over the house...I think I collect them ALL day long while walking from room to room! (what a blessing that they all love books)

Come on over Papa we're ready to celebrate YOU!

And here's Braxton rushing in to belt out the song he'd been practicing all day!
What a blessing to have Papa and Nana so close!

Make a wish Papa! Ashlyn Grace helped blow out the candles too!
Three generations of Flemings laughing and creating happy memories! While Braxton is trying to GRAB his piece of the cake (not yet cut)!

Who needs to sit at the table and eat...that would be too formal. Everyone enjoyed Aunt Sara's Blueberry Delight (which was the best one I've made yet)! YUMMY!!!

Happy 68th Birthday Papa and we look forward to sharing many, many more!

Bridal Shower for a Princess

Not our little Princess...but a dear Princess: Corie Barnes is joining her life with Emery Patton in October (three days before my birthday) and I was so pleased to be able to throw her first Bridal Shower with my 'Partner in Crime'- Lynn Domenech! What fun I had with Lynn...so here are the hostesses with the glowing Bride-To-Be! (boy I'm looking a little TIRED)

The theme of the shower was Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend and we went with the Bride's colors. Lynn did a great job with the finishing touches on the tables. THANK YOU Bee Bee and Mom for loaning out your china and crystal...it wouldn't have been as "be-dazzeling" without your generosity!

Next we have two the proud Mothers. (Corie's mom Donna on the left and Emery's Mom Pam on the right)

Here was the presentation for the luncheon buffet. What a cute pig...see his BLING too! LOL

Corie did a fabulous job of making her way around the room to chat with everyone. The two empty chairs belong to Lynn and I..we were up refilling something in the kitchen I'm sure! Or getting a towel for a mimosa spill (it's not a good party until someone spills a drink -right??!)

After a super yummy lunch we gathered in the Family Room to shower Corie with everything she might need to get off on the right foot. She had so many wonderful women there to shower her with love and best wishes.

It was funny to hear her stories about how they selected this or that item for their registry...but of all the gifts received this cutting board was BY FAR the one that Emery insisted on researching. Hopefully it is, in fact, the BEST cutting board out there (as the sales agent told Emery)!

What a beautiful Bride-To-Be and her bow bouquet! Only 1 broken bow I think.

After gifts, we concluded with cheesecake bites (with more bling...a diamond ring inserted in the center). These were as good as they look! The Turtle Cheesecake were my personal favorite.

What a fun party to host and what a great co-hostess to work beside. I loved having a house full of wonderful women and being able to bless Corie and Emery as they prepare to spend a life-time together.

The G-R-E-A-T Green Visitor

As if this day hasn't been full enough: first day of school for the two Big Kids and fun at the Mall Playground right after drop off...check this out. Aunt Yvonne and the Little Boys were in the playroom while I was getting lunch ready in the kitchen. All the sudden I hear great laughter and sounds from the playroom. I go in to find a H-U-G-E green grasshopper on our window. Actually there were 3-4 of them hopping around this "courtyard" right outside the playroom. From the window, to the half wall, back to the window...to the near by window of the craft room. ONE in-particular stayed around long enough for me to grab the camera and capture these PRECIOUS moments.
Mommy comes back with the camera and says, "Where did he go?" (the grasshopper) Coly looks out the window (with his Sister's play curling iron in his mouth) and Braxton signs- WHERE???

Then he spots the grasshopper..."THERE"

Do you see that long stick-like figure on the upper left corner of the window??? Well Braxton had this great idea of how to "get the grasshopper". He grabbed his near by weapon of choice and approached the window with "bang bang, bang bang!" Such giggles and cheers filled the room.

Now comes Braxton's perplexed look and more signing (as if the grasshopper has moved after being shot...see him still in the same place). "Where go?" he says. (with a high pitched voice, filled with excitement)

Thankfully, the little colony hopped away before lunch was served or I think we might have had to have a picnic in the playroom that day! These ARE the moments to treasure!

Playtime at the Mall Park

After we survived drop off at the first day of school for the two Big Kids (i.e. Evan and Ashlyn Grace), we picked up Aunt Yvonne (to get her some new glasses) and headed to the Mall. The Little Boys were so patient at Pearle Vision while Aunt Yvonne selected two new pair of glasses (BOBO) that they were rewarded with some playtime at the Mall park. Let me just clarify that I only take them to this playground during the summer time because EVERY TIME I have taken any of the Fleming Flock during the winter time they end up with some germie-illness within 24-48 hours post-mall-visit. Colson was SO excited and this was probably Braxton's first time to just play with Coly here. Since Evan is too tall for the Gator Measure we never come with all four. But Coly and Braxton were under the height requirement:

They quickly took their shoes off and ran in for some fun.

I caught them both behind the big tree and grabbed this picture. Notice Colson LOVES to stick his tongue out when he knows he's having his picture taken (or make any random silly face). :) Gotta love his little personality.

Colson was adventuresome and all over the place. I was pleased to see that he was considerate of the smaller children on the playground. I used to be one of the Moms wondering why these "Big Kids" were at the playground and such a protective Mama Lion of her Baby Cub toddling around. But now I arrive to the playground with the "Big Kid" in tow. Hum....funny how times change.

But I'm still the protective Mama Lion. Braxton was playing King of the Boat (otherwise known as this is MY boat and you cannot come in) and a Bigger Kid joined him in the boat. I quickly took position within arms reach of the Bigger Kid so that I would intercede should HE decide that he wanted to be King of the Boat and dethrone my Baby Braxton. Not surprisingly, Braxton held his own, communicated with words (this Bigger Kid didn't really listen though) and gestures and kept his rank in the boat until he was ready to leave. I just love to see their little personalities when we're outside of the group of our familiar people. Notice Colson at the front of the boat...he would come check on Braxton in the boat off-and-on while running mock-twelve all over the playground. What a protective Big Brother.

It was a great time at the Mall Playground and an awesome opportunity for Mommy to just enjoy the youngest two Fledglings!

The First Day of School

One way to avoid tears on the first day of school is to get there late! Not terribly late...more like the 'left-in-plenty-of-time-but-caught-EVERY-red-light-and-some-of-them-even-TWICE-so-that-makes-you-late' kind of late.

Of course I had to grab the traditional pictures at home...(but now we have 2 panel doors instead of 6 panel doors...so it's a little different reference):
Look how much Evan has grown (and matured) Noticed the hair is a little more chill-lax and the top button of his shirt it not buttoned. Those big-boy teeth age him by 5 years at least!!! Where did the Little Boy go???

Ashlyn Grace has grown with leaps and bounds and she's loving her long hair!

Super cute Fleming Flock as we're headed out to load up!

Here is the new 3rd grade class with 2 new boys (Jacob and Alex) and one new girl (Keegan)! It's alphebetical so Evan is in the front row!

Now it's time to deliver Ashlyn Grace. She too goes to the front of the class...table 1...and we're pleasantly surprised to see SIX girls in the Beehive....and she turns around while thinking...

Ok Daddy...you're there right...see my new desk and my new seat...

Yep Petie...got it...I'm coming at cha...

Daddy getting his good-bye kiss...

Bye Bye Evan and Ashlyn Grace. Mommy will pick up Gracie at 1:00 and back at 3:00 to get Evan (for this first week). Off and on through-out the day Braxton would say, "Evie?" and Mommy would reply, "Where is Evan?" and Braxton would sign and say "kool".

We missed you two today.

Cornerstone's Meet the Teachers 2010-2011

Today marked the end of summer and the beginning of the new school year. It's SO hard to believe that Evan is starting the 3rd grade and Ashlyn Grace Kindergarten (lovingly known as the K-5 Beehive)! This school year seems to be taking on a new meaning...has a different feel. This time last year: Braxton was 11 months old, we lived in the Chocolate House, John was in the throws of Turnover, and certain aspects of my life were in a bit of a boggle. Currently, we're settling into our new home (what a blessing it is), our First Born Evan is going into THIRD Grade and has REALLY matured with leaps and bounds this summer, the only Baby in the house is a Toddler who is ready for some potty training, and Turnover seems to be the most do-able in the history of Trimark (PRAISE God)! Just as we were loading the car to head out we pulled Daddy away from painting the yellow cabinet doors for the Beehive long enough for a picture!

Then he returned the favor and let me slip in the picture (since I'm always the one behind the lens). Evan picked out his own outfit and seems pretty chill. Ashlyn Grace, however, already has a bit of angst about her. But she is super cute in her Beehive colors (which Mommy crafted the night before - after she informed me that she didn't want to wear the surprise outfit I had presented to her)...guess the surprise was on me. "Mommy, that outfit is too babyish, I just don't wanna wear it. Can I wear a dress?" She had a smile from ear to ear when she saw Mommy's second option this AM when she came down for breakfast!

It really wasn't meet the Teachers for Evan. Mrs. Chenault, the Head Teacher, was his Assistant Teacher for Kindergarten AND First Grade. (He loves her)

AND Mrs. Lowe was the Assistant Teacher last year in 2nd Grade. So both Third Grade teachers are a familiar face to Evan and such blessings to our family. I just know this year is going to be a G-R-E-A-T year for Evan.

While Evan is unpacking his supplies and getting his desk organized, his sister is peaking into her classroom through the adjoining doorway... (that's her Rest Pillow in hand...which they only use for the first month of school for about 15 minutes a day).

Now it's finally Ashlyn Grace's turn to check out her new classroom and teachers. First we had an opportunity to pose with Mrs. Cook- our new Grammar Principle! Evan was SO worried that she was the Grammar Principle and no longer his Music Teacher...he asked at least 2 times..."Is she still going to be the music teacher???" (Breathe Ashlyn Grace, breathe...it's going to be OK and your new Music Teacher/Principle is so awesome)

It's Ashlyn Grace's turn to get her supplies organized and become familiar with the Hive. Mrs. Waters was so helpful and patient as Gracie followed directions carefully. You can see the pure nervousness on Gracie's face.

Time to meet the Queen Bee- Mrs. Thompson. They had on matching necklaces. Well, Mrs. Thompson's was a smidge larger...but Ashlyn Grace thought it was pretty cool that they both had on bee bling necklaces. (what girl doesn't love bling)

Now for a picture with the Assistant Teacher - Mrs. Waters. (Her daughter Chloe is in Evan's class)

Then Mrs. Powell walked through the room and I asked her to grab a picture for us and I simultaneously tickled Sweetie Petie for this super cute smile! She's sweet inside and out!

Mission complete. We've checked out their new classrooms, met the teachers, unloaded and organized supplies, and seen some new faces. Ashlyn Grace is the ONLY returning girl to move up from K-4. There were 4 total girls in K-4 and now there will be 5 total girls in the Beehive. She will make new friends quickly I am sure!

Now I hope to get everyone to bed on time and have a smooth First Morning of School tomorrow! Oh the alarm...how I have NOT missed you!