Pink 'n Purple

Ria is all about pink and purple these days so when she noticed we were wearing her fave colours, we had to get a picture together:)

Love my little girl ... trying to soak up all this time with her as the baby in our family! And that's baby3 at 22w3d ... growing FAST and furious and kicking up a storm! The kids have both felt baby3 move and they absolutely love it:)
~V

Summer Chillin' (A few snapshots from August)

Soaking up one on one time with my baby girl (she's only the baby for a few more months)

 All dressed up (11th)

Sunday lunch with friends

I know Ria is going to be the best big sis ever ... she is so ready for our baby to be here!

Love watching Javan read to Ria

catching up on the latest celebrity gossip while we wait to pay for groceries

taking care of her baby

Our friend Luke (from Trinidad) recently moved back to to this area to start his residency at Erlanger. His schedule is busy but we've been able to meet up a couple of times. He brought his son Khaleb to meet the kids last week and they had a fun time playing while we chatted.

This is the site I see first thing in the morning and last thing at night before I go to bed ...

He doesn't get much free time these days. Between teaching all day, classes 3 nights a week, coaching and games about 3 nights a week too, his schedule is insane. Most days he leaves at 7:30am and doesnt come home until about 9pm. Needless to say my days are long and tiring too. And the kids are not too happy cos they don't see him much. I have to keep reminding myself that its only a season and this too shall pass.

And just like that September is here ...
~V

Ria's First Day of Pre-K4

She picked out her outfit for the day ....

 and was eager to get to learning.

 We threw in a little fun too!

This school year Ria is going to be home with me. Jermaine and I went back and forth on this decision and it wasnt an easy one, especially for me. I didn't want to feel like I was short changing Ria by not sending her back to school when she absolutely loved it. But, when I was talking to a friend of mine and telling her what I was struggling with she said 'she's got so many years of school ahead. Her time with you is more important and she is still so little' and it clicked. I never had the choice with Javan. I worked full time and so he went to school full time.

For most of last year I worked with Ria and we did 'school time' for a couple of hours most days and when we didnt feel like it, we just did our own fun things. So I got to thinking more and talked it over with Jermaine and we decided to keep her at home this school year and I would work with her. I am so thankful for all the resources available online and I have the Montessori curriculum I used last year. I've put together what I want to accomplish with her in the next few months and I have a plan for each week. I am actually excited and very determined to meet my goals with her. I know it won't be easy so I don't plan to be rigid with all this given the fact that I am pregnant (and babysitting other kids) and I know some days I might not feel like it, but I WANT to succeed for Ria's benefit:)

We actually started doing a few lessons about a week before the 22nd. From Sept 3rd we will be full swing into our work. My goal is 2 - 2.5hrs four days a week. She's been doing great with math and her writing is impressive. We will also do lots of reading, crafts and I have different units of study that we will cover. I just need to pace myself because so far she wants to keep going and even when I tell her we're going to take a break and start back tomorrow, she won't hear it. So I let her do some work while Javan and I are getting his homework done.

I hope I can make this next year as fun as possible for my girl and in the process help her enjoy learning new things. Of cos after the baby is born, things will be different and maybe more challenging, so if there is an opening at her old school we might send for the next term, but for now she's home with mama and I couldn't be happier!
~V

Fun at the Museum

The kids have been wanting to go to the Creative Discovery Museum for a while now and I just never got around to taking them. Summer has been pretty busy and in between babysitting the days just got away from us. So last Saturday Javan invited Nathan and off we went. It was a fun filled day for all three!

 Javan is really into the Magic Tree House books so he loved the exhibit

~V

Wedding Fun: Girls Weekend in Atlanta

One of my very best friends from college is getting married this October. We cannot wait to celebrate Suzanne and her beau Andy. It's been a long time coming and I am so happy for her. Su decided not to have any bridal showers. She wanted to have her girls spend time with her. Last weekend all her bridesmaids gathered in Atlanta for some quality time before the wedding. It was a full weekend of activities and getting to know the girls and meeting some of her other friends and reuniting with some old college friends too. She has a great group of girlfriends and I know her wedding is going to be so much fun.

I was supposed to take the shuttle to Atlanta, but J decided that he wanted to drive me instead. I could have driven but given the fact that my hands have been going numb, he didnt want me to. He's just being a little over protective:) But I love that he went out of his way and cancelled all his Friday meetings and practice and got out of work early so I could have some time away. The kids, especially Ria, were not happy that I stayed. J said she cried the whole way home.

We went out a lot! Friday night dinner and meeting all the girls (some pictured below) for the first time. With the exception of her sister and another girl, everyone flew or drove in for the weekend (DC, San Francisco and London and of cos me). We ate at Fritti - a wood fired pizza place. It was really yummy. We had late night dessert at a fusion South African restaurant at Phipps called Yebo.

 Saturday morning we had a bridal luncheon for her at the Swan House, which is a beautiful home on the grounds of where her wedding will be. It was a very intimate and touching luncheon and we loved celebrating her. She was very insistent about not receiving any gifts so each of us wrote her a card and at the luncheon just shared how special she is to us. Needless to say the tears were flowing:)

 20w 3d pregnant ... I was so glad this dress fit! Its probably the last time I can wear it until next summer!

 pretty bride to be

 Jeannie (Suzanne's sister) welcomed everyone to the luncheon.

Bridesmaids ...

 Dana - old Lee U. friend who works for the govt. in DC.

 Madiha and Sunnia (both friends from Emory)

 It was great to catch up with Nissy, another friend from Lee. I think the last time I saw her was when we graduated.

 All the ladies at the luncheon

 After the luncheon, we got changed and then headed out to ...

 we each worked with glass on pottery.

 My (almost) finished piece. I will find out in October what it will look like. All those green and blue pieces are glass the I cut and glued onto the plate and it will melt into when fired.

After our pottery fun, it was back to Su's place for a little rest before we got ready for the night out.

We ate at Cellar 56 and hung out at Czar Bar and in the open area outside Cellar 56. Dana and I called it a night at 1am .... gosh my days of being out that late are looooooong over!!! If I wasn't pregnant, I would have hung in there. The rest of the girls were up til 5am. So Sunday activities got pushed til much later. We didnt eat brunch until almost 1:30pm!

 The Flying Biscuit ... it was delish and well worth the wait.

 We wrapped up the late afternoon with some bridesmaid gifts from Suzanne and we got to see her dress.

I am so glad I got to share this special time with Suzanne. She was one of my bridesmaids and I am glad I get return the favour for her. Just about 5wks til the big day .... it's going to be a very fun weekend celebrating this sweet couple.
~V