The Southern Kellings: The sand, the surf, the sun, and Sam (and Zoey)

What a crazy week so far! I have been covering for Nick while he has been in Vegas for a conference. I have also had my own classes, tons of grading, meetings, a playdate to attend, AND I am hosting a playdate at my house on Friday. Those who know me well know that being exceptionally neat is not one of my strong points and since we have still not fully organized from the move, this was more of an inspiration than an expectation of achieving organization by late September. I really want to be better and buying things for a house we own has helped. But I did not realize Nick would be gone this week when I planned it. I am so glad my parents have been available or I would be totally insane. I still have so much to do. And Zoey has not been exceptionally cooperative about napping or agreeing to not be held. But I will get there or at least close enough. Maybe I will post house pictures soon before chaos reigns again. We did start putting up pictures recently, although we have a long way to go.

Zoey is doing well. She has been sleeping a bit better. Sam picked out her outfit today from her hair band to her bib. Go Jackets!

She has realized that her doorway is a portal and not a boundary. I left her on her floor while I was sweeping the hall and she ventured out. I knew it was coming. Time to finish steam cleaning everything. The baby is really mobile now. And she puts everything in her mouth, including dirty thumbs (if the floor is not clean).

Sam is also doing well. She loves having Nana and Papa so close. I think she would move over there if we would let her. She loves to go over. Although it sometimes means no nap or rest, which makes her rough in the evening. But she is in that transitional period between needing a nap and not. She likes school this year, which is such a blessing. She has been really getting into their theme days. First, it was colors and now it is shapes and they can bring an item for show and tell and dress for the theme.

This was what she wore for circle day and she got a balloon for one of the kids birthday. She had a blast bopping it up in the air.

Here she is on picture day, wearing an outfit she and Grammy picked out. She wanted Daddy to see what she looked like. She really misses him.

Her art has been so cool to see.

Here is the world.

And her self-portrait. I love it!

Here is a funny story from my mom. Sam pretends a lot, such a vivid imagination. I did too as a kid and I had an imaginary horse. I think it was blue. Sam often plays at being the mom. Sometimes Zoey is her baby and I am the big sister. Sometimes she is mom to a doll and Zoey and I are neighbors. But she always says her husband is John/Jon. He is usually at work. But the other day at my moms, she was saying "Hush, Calm down, take a deep breath." My mom asked what was wrong and she said, "Huh (exasperated sigh), It's John. He is upset and I am trying to calm him down." Too funny. A lot of kids have imaginary friend, but she has an imaginary husband. I will laugh so hard if she dates a John.

And since Sam had never been to a beach, we finally made the trek. It was on a day we had a playdate in the afternoon and we did not want to be out in the sun too long anyway. So we drove 1.5 hours, stayed about 2, and drove back 1.5 hours. But Sam had a blast. Zoey did not really care for it, especially when the waves hit her while she was sitting at the surf. She and I spent most of the time under the umbrella while Sam collected shells, jumped waves, and made sand towers.

Here are the copious amount of pictures.

Sam is actually in front of Nick, but disappeared right as the bird walked up. I still think it is a cool picture.