SEE WHAT $120 WILL GET YOU AT THE STATE FAIR...

four corndogs, two drinks (you share, its cheaper that way), french fries with malt vinegar, two candy apples, three goldfish, a cotton rose

 A chance to see a monkey ride a dog...

 Looks of boredom... 

 Sisterly bonding...

 a six year old ringing one of three hundred goldfish bolws

 The smile after she had to be informed she had actually rang the bowl and now we get to take one home

The big sister learning that she does not want to spend her $5 on a chance of winning something, so if she cries maybe someone will just give her one, and yes some sweet child who had like 10 fish actually gave her two, and she got to keep her $5. Smart Kid! 

 The big sister taking one for the team and riding what she considers the "baby rides"

And a chance to tug on poor Bessie....

And just an update: only one fish is still with us. The other two were flushed to fishy heaven. Vivian wanted to have a flush funeral instead of a burial, so we said a few kind words and she yanked the handle down.

Blogging Slackers!

Ok so we have been blogging slackers, so I will try to fast forward and catch everyone up...

First Day of School

They look terrified!
And can you believe their obsessively controlling momma lets them ride the bus now!

She tried to ride with them the first day...not allowed apparently. Just kidding! The bus driver did however have to ask her to get off the bus after she climbed aboard to check things out. This I am not kidding about. Well long story short the kids love the bus and school, and momma has finally come to grips with the fact that a five minute bus ride from their school to the house sure beats sitting in car pool for an hour everyday. at.

She turned 8!

We realize P Cilla had a birthday in June. We also realized that her birthday fell the same weekend we moved so please do not judge that we had her party a month later and are just now posting the pictures. It was a bowling party. The best part...instead of getting presents from her friends she asked that they bring donations of dog food for her to take to the Boston Terrier Rescue Society. We have not taken the food yet either, but we will. What a big girl thing for her to do. She is growing and changing so much. She is becoming a mature little girl instead of a child. It is bittersweet. Her love for animals has made her really want to become a vet when she grows up. However, she also says she wants to be an artist. Dear God, please let her be a successful vet instead of a starving artist like her mother, literally starving. Ha ha! My suggestion is that she becomes a vet and then sells her artwork in her office. We shall see, I mean after all she is only eight. Well her are some photos from the birthday party...

None of the parents or grandparents bowled, although Kiki is supposed to be an excellent bowler.

Baby Jack is the bowler of the year!

The birthday girl (aka P-Cilla)

Papa Ron and his blondies.

Vivian(aka V- Tizzle)

The homemade cake!

Yes we (Grammy included) Stayed up until midnight the night before making a birthday cake shaped like a dong bone. Have you ever seen a purple dog bone? I also became very creative as I became more sleep deprived, and made goodie bags that looked like doggie bags. They were brown paper bags with decorations on the outside and tied together with ribbon. Inside were cookies so each child received a doggie bag with treats in them. it was great. We had a dog-gone-good-time. Har Har.

Livin' in the Woods

Grammy and Papa Ron came up to The Ham recently and Papa Ron found a turtle. He brought it up to the back deck so the girls could see it.

The girls were super excited and we were even able to have a family photo opt with the turtle. 

Well anyone who knows Jamie is fully aware that she is like one step away from being a card carrying member of PITA. So there was no question that we had to free the little turtle. Cilla Rose and Papa Ron were nominated for that tasks and she eagerly followed him down the steps to the side of the house. You would think this would be a fairly simple task...nothing is ever simple with us. I looked up and Cilla Roses' eyes were as big as basketballs. I then hear thump thump thu dump!!! I have never seen a turtle move so fast. Well maybe the better word is roll. That poor little turtle rolled 20 yards down the cliff out back of the house. Ok I am from Florida, anything more than 10 feet is a cliff to me. So of course Cilla Rose announces to everyone that the turtle has now been set free, or rolled free. Her mother very quickly looked at Dad and I like who is climbing down that "cliff" to check on the turtle. I love my dad, he very sharply informed PITA lady that the turtle had landed on his feet. I am pretty sure he did land feet side up even though I lost site of the little guy, I mean my Daddy said he did so it had to be true ; ) 

Nonna Stole the Show

So...recently Jamie took the girls to our friends daughters birthday party. A skating party. I was out of town and considering neither girl has ever skated before, Jamie has the rod, and Vivi is one of the clumsiest  children you have ever laid eyes on, Peggy decided she would go and help the girls skate.

Well I did not witness these events and only have pictures and word of mouth to verify, but apparently Nonna stole the show. I have three words...Limbo On Skates.

The girls had a blast and looks like The Nonna did as well. I hate I missed it.

Beach Time

Whats not to love about the beach. Me (Rachel) having grown up on the coast finds that there is no happier place on earth. We recently took an economical trip to Panama City.

Vivian- The Hesitant Child!

Papa Ron- The Grown Up Child!

Papa Ron is gonna croak we he sees that we posted a picture of him in a pink little girls mask. We went to Panama City for my godson's birthday party and had a blast. Grammy and Papa Ron came too. We took the girls to the beach and also were able to spend some time with the Judson Girls while we were there it was a great weekend, best part the some of the Judson girls played on the beach with the girls sunday before we left, and we all helped the girls build a sand castle. They had a blast. Thank you friends. 

Cilla Rose-The Adventurous Child!

The birthday party was a blast too. They had a blow up water slide and a bounce house. The girls had a blast, and it was a great weekend. Getting to spend time with family and friends at the beach all in one weekend...who could ask for more?

Poppell Picked a Pair of Pickled Peppers!

We made pepper sauce. Jamie loves it and could eat it on everything, probably even cake. We went to the farmers market on Finley Avenue in Birmingham. It was not quite as big as we thought but we found some great deals. A whole grocery sack of green and red peppers for two bucks. So we roasted some in the dehydrator, for red pepper flakes, really simple. We just washed them and let them go for 12 hours in there. However the pepper sauce turned out so pretty thought we would share. All it is is peppers, garlic, and vinegar in a jar. It makes a great yum yum for greens (collard or turnip). We just let it soak for a month or so and then enjoy. We hope this batch with the garlic cloves will make for a different taste than normal. All you do is wash the garlic and peppers and pour vinegar in a jar that seals well. Some people say to boil the vinegar but we do not think that really matters. It makes a great gift too!