Stuff my kids say

The girls have been full of one-liners lately.


Ainsley: "Mom, when are we going to go get a car shower?" (She meant a car wash.)

Ainsley: "We wanted to buy Cinderella, but they only had it on GPS and we don't have a GPS player anymore."


Anastasia: "Mom, carry me to bed." Me: "No, not tonight." Anastasia: "You're getting old."


Ainsley: "I thought it was a dry puddle." (After jumping in a huge puddle and soaking her feet.)


Me: "Anastasia, how old will be I on my birthday?" Anastasia: "30. Then you'll be as old as Aunt Ryann."

Anastasia: "Mom, this library book is SO old. It was made in 1-9-7-7."

Ainsley: "Lauren's dad fights bad guys." Me: "Oh, so he's a police officer?" Ainsley: "No, he uses a sword to fight bad guys."

Wordless Wednesday

Christmas in July

It became too tough to get all of the Maynard Clan together for Christmas, so last year we decided to make our summer reunion more than a reunion. We decided to make it Christmas!

The whole gang was there and what a time we had! We exchanged gifts, put up a tree and had a huge lunch complete with ham and all the fixins'.

In addition to all the traditional Christmas stuff, we rode horses. The girls LOVED it! I'm still sort of sore in my "saddle" but really enjoyed the trail ride.

We also got to hit the lake for some water fun.




It was such a wonderful weekend. I love it when we all get together and can relax and enjoy each others' company. We've already drawn names for the gift drawing and are planning Christmas in July 2011!!

Back to School

Anastasia has had a busy few days. She started back to school last Friday. Yes, I know it's July and yes, I know it's too early to start school, but there you have it. Her teacher is wonderful and we love the new school district. She's already won a coloring contest and is having a blast each day. I have a feeling it is going to be an amazing year. Although, there is a LOT more homework that comes with first grade.

Crib Notes

The summer of 2003 Jamie and I painstakingly selected the perfect crib. We looked at dozens of them online and in the stores, trying to find *the* crib. It was set up in the nursery long before there was a baby to actually sleep in it.

Now, seven years later, the crib has been recalled. And while I want Allie to be safe when she sleeps, I must say I am sad to see it go. A replacement crib just won't be the same. Jamie dismantled the old one over the weekend so we can send back the required parts to the manufacturer.


The remnants are sitting in the garage now, but I am hoping to give them new life. I think I'll talk to Pop about turning the wood from the crib into picture frames or little doll beds for the girls. I would like to see it live on in another way that would be meaningful to them. In the meantime poor Allie is sleeping in her Pack and Play. She keeps looking at it with confusion as if to say, "Where did my nice bed go?"

Who are those kids?

Nine years ago today Jamie and I were married in front of our family and friends. I look at the pictures now and wonder who those two kids are. They certainly are in love and certainly have no idea what they're getting into. They look like they're playing dress-up. I would like to tell them that it's going to be fun and frustrating, meaningful and hard. I also want to tell them that it's all worth it.

I'm not going to go on and get all sappy and sentimental, but suffice it to say it's been a wonderful nine years.

School Supplies

It may seem crazy to discuss "Back to School" in July, but Anastasia will be back in the classroom before the week is out. It certainly takes a lot of supplies to begin first grade, but I always do enjoy shopping for school stuff. Anastasia took great pride in selecting a few items off the teacher's "Wish List" as well. Tonight we're going to the school for a "Sneek Peek" and to meet her teacher. Since this is a new school I am anxious to see how they do things. I got her registered yesterday, despite a most unhelpful pediatrician's office who gave me plenty of static about turning over her shot records. I've tried not to let Anastasia see how stressed I am about getting her changed over to this new school. I want things to be smooth for her so she'll be comfortable and excited about the school year ahead.

Have a Ducky Day

We recently went to the Duck Pond to cast off our stale bread and popcorn. Ainsley was decidedly against it, saying she preferred the park. We told her we were doing the park AND the ducks. Allie had fun even though she didn't really feed the ducks. She likes to wave at them.

While her sisters made sure those ducks won't need to eat for weeks!

Portrait Perfection

We had a really wonderful weekend that included a trip to the portrait studio. I had been wanting some pictures of all three girls together. We didn't get very many shots, but the ones we did get were wonderful. The girls were very cooperative, but we lost Allie quickly. She isn't one for sitting still these days so we had to move fast!

A Bigfoot Sighting

This is a photograph of something quite rare. It's a picture of me! As you can tell, I'm always the one behind the lens, rather than in front of it. Anna snapped this picture at Mom and Dad's when we were there for the Fourth. I just thought it was funny to see me in my natural habitat, obsessively documenting our family's history.

Wise Beyond her Years

Anastasia starts first grade next week. Not only are we starting a new grade, but we're also starting at a new school. School supplies are being purchased and we get to meet her teacher on Tuesday.

This week I said, "Anastasia, I can't believe you'll be a first grader next week!"

She replied, "Mom, you knew this day would come."

I sure did. I just didn't think it would come so quickly.

Sisterly Love

This weekend I'm going to attempt to have the girls' picture taken at a portrait studio for the first time. They've each had their individual pictures taken, but I've yet to muster up the courage to try and shoot them all together. Here's one we took on a recent walk on the greenway. Allie is being squeezed to death because her sisters were arguing over who got to hold her. She will never lack a playmate. At least until she starts borrowing their clothes and wants to be driven around in their cars.

It's called responsibility

When I was a kid, I loved visiting my grandparents' house. It meant eating Froot Loops for breakfast, swimming in the neighbor's pool and more arts and crafts than you can shake a popsicle stick at.

Anastasia and Ainsley got to spend some time with their Nana and Granddad around the Fourth of July. When it came time to set up the large kiddie pool on the front porch, Granddad decided the porch needed to be cleaned first. Since the girls were going to be swimming in the pool it only seemed fair that they help pitch in on the cleaning efforts.

Ainsley was thrilled about their participation. "We have jobs!" she exclaimed. "I know," replied Anastasia. "It's called responsibility."

Around the World in 80 Days

A few months back, Gran and Pop brought some treasures with them when they came to visit. One of the things they arrived with was Jamie's old globe. It lights up so it has really fascinated the girls. Lately they have been using it as a night light. Before bed the other night, Allie was in their room and was spinning it around and around. Anna is concerned that they are going to learn world geography incorrectly as the globe is filled with archaic places like USSR and East Germany. So far they've been asking things like, "Mom, where's China?" "Is that one California?" It's been fun to help them start learning more about their world, even if it is a little on the antique side.

Summertime Scene

I love summer. Despite the heat, it's always been my favorite season. I think it's because I was born in the middle of one of the hottest summers on record. There are so many wonderful things that happen during the summer.


Take these hydrangeas for example. Pure summer beauty!

10 months old

We've finally hit double digits! Allie is ten months old today. It seems like she learns something new every day right now. She is now crawling very well. No more of that army crawling either. The real deal. Of course crawling means keeping her out of the cat's food dish and away from tiny Barbie shoes. One day I found a screw in her mouth. I'm still trying to figure out where that came from!

She can wave hello and good-bye. She can also say "bye-bye." I'm putting that down as her first word. She says it quite clearly now. She loves (and I mean LOVES) real food. We've pretty much stopped giving her baby food at all. She is into pears, carrots, bananas, pancakes, etc. She's very curious about what we're eating. The other night she tried to swipe my pizza! I bought her some yogurt at the store today and she is very much into that.

Allie is thriving at day care. She is quite a busy bee and loves playing (some might say less playing and more bullying) with the other babies. There is a set of twins about her age that seem to really capture her attention. She has her teachers wrapped around her fingers although they are frustrated by her lack of napping. They know that I want her to be awake in the evening so we can all spend time with her, so they try to get her to take a long afternoon nap. Despite their best efforts, most days she will have nothing to do with it. They still call her Allie Cat which I think is adorable. She's already made friends with the teacher in the one-year-old class so she'll be happy as a clam when she moves up to Ms. Sandra.

Allie is a live wire that is going to keep us on our toes. I am excited about the changes the coming months will bring, but oh I am so sad to see her infancy passing us by. She has become such an individual with SUCH a personality. Happy 10 months Allie!

Just because

Just because it's Friday....
Just because I love those chubby baby thighs.....
Just because she's patriotic.....
Just because......

Little reminders

The summer after Anastasia was born, I walked into our bathroom and was taken aback by a little article of baby clothing draped over the towel bar. A baby had been residing in our home for well over six months, but seeing that concrete reminder that a tiny person lived there now still shocked me. A tiny person Jamie and I were solely responsible for.

Now it's impossible to walk through our door and not know that children make it their home. Heck, before you even get out of your car you can spot a swing set, a sandbox and a playhouse. But sometimes little reminders pop up in unexpected places.

Last week Anastasia spent a few days with me at work. She was horrified to learn I had almost killed the lovely bamboo plant that sits on a bookshelf in my office. She decided to take matters into her own hands.

I love this Post-It she left for me. Not only did I not forget to water my plants on Wednesday, I also appreciate the reminder of the person she is becoming. A person who can read and write and leave her mom funny little reminders.

Lunch Break Lovliness

I got to visit with Allie and her pals on my lunch break today. It's nice to be able to be so close that I can pop in for a little while. It's my time to give her some one-on-one attention since our afternoons are often hectic and she sleeps for a big chunk of the evening.

She was tickled to see me and sat in my lap for a while in the glider just chewing on my necklace. Her fifth tooth has just broken through and the sixth one is trying SO hard to come out. I also got to feed her her bottle which she sucked down in minutes. One of the other babies crawled over and pulled to a stand on my knees. She propped her little chin there and watched while I fed Allie. It was so cute. We had such a wonderful visit together. It was a good calming moment in my crazy day. I'm going to try it more often. I also hope to be able to read to Ainsley's class a few times a week.

*The picture above is from her 10 month photo shoot. What a patriotic cutie!*

I'll take "What Ainsley Had for Dinner" for $500

Ainsley likes to play guessing games. Recently she went out to dinner with her grandparents and her aunt Anna and uncle Chris. "Hey, guess what I'm having for dinner tonight. Let me give you a hint," she said.

"Buh....Buh....It's starts with a buh sound." We have no idea Ainsley, why don't you tell us.

"Buh-sketti."

Classic Ainsley. I love it!

Time Out

Life with three children is not suprisingly busy, hectic and wonderful. We run from sun-up to sundown packing as much into every day as we can. That leaves precious little time for relaxation. Recently I had the opportunity to lie in a hammock with Allie and rest for close to two hours. We did nothing. No chores were accomplished. No e-mails were answered, no grocery lists were made. Facebook statuses were not updated. She fell asleep right away, clearly signaling her approval of our self-imposed time out. I dozed lightly while soaking in the warm afternoon and the breeze. Rarely do I afford myself the time to do nothing. I stretched out and allowed my mind to wander. It was liberating and restful. I've now decided every home should come equipped with a hammock and a shade tree. Everyone needs a place suspended from the rat race where you can just be.

Say what?

This year's Jonesborough Days parade, like last year and the year before that, was a patriotic event. I always love parades in little towns. Candidates running for every tiny office in the county are out kissing babies and shaking hands. High school bands sweat their way down the street and churches piles their congregants on the back of flatbed trailers so they can sing hymns along the way. It's one of the best slices of Americana you will ever see.

But this year's parade included some interesting sights. Sights one does not expect to see marching along to the "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Like this guy. He's from the local candy store and was dressed in a Sugar Daddy suit.


Then you have one of our founding fathers. Ben Franklin. Yes, of course, he belongs in a Fourth of July parade, but it wasn't his appearance that was so odd. It was his duty. His duty as pooper scooper. He was quite serious about hauling his bag of horse manure down the street.


And then there was Wonder Woman. Yup, the good 'ol American heroine.

I didn't even post the picture of Elvis. Or the scary mascot from the local university. It was quite a site to see! We should have parades more often!

Images from Independence Day Weekend

We spent the weekend in Tennessee's Oldest Town. Jamie and I left after work on Friday and drove up with Allie to join everyone else. The girls seemed less than enthused to see us. I think we just put a damper on their sugar-induced grandparent frenzy.

Saturday morning we all woke up and dragged our lawn chairs down to the street for the parade. It was filled with horses, politicians, candy and tractors. A LOT of tractors.


Which is fine, because nothing says America like a good tractor bearing our flag. It was a fun parade and we all really enjoyed it.

The rest of the weekend we just visited and enjoyed playing games. The girls even got to do sparklers! They weren't really sure about the whole "holding a stick full of volitle fire" thing, but by the night of the Fourth, they were into it.

It was a wonderful celebration of our nation. We're continuing it tonight with a cookout at our house. Why limit yourself to just the weekend?

Happy Birthday America!

I hope everyone had a great Fourth of July. We had a wonderful weekend of celebrating that we just wrapped up by watching the Knoxville fireworks on TV. Happy 234th Birthday America!!!

Enough Already!

No one ever believes me when I say Allie fusses sometimes. To those people I present Exhibit A:

Although, to be fair, I was provoking her by taking pictures of her. ; )

You Quack Me Up

Anastasia and Ainsley are spending some time with their Nana and Granddad leading up to the Fourth so Jamie and I found ourselves with just one kiddo last night. We went out to a restaurant the girls hate and enjoyed a really nice meal. The weather was spectacular and so pleasant compared to our heat wave last week so we decided to go to the greenway for a walk.

Allie had a wonderful time.

We even let her feed crackers to the ducks. And man were there a lot of ducks! She kept waving to them and giggling. It was such a lovely evening.

Moving Day

Yesterday was moving day! Not for us of course, but for Anna and Chris. After eight years we are so glad to have them back in Knoxville. Jamie took the day off from work so he and Anastasia could go over and help unload the truck. They had it all in the house by lunchtime. Among the boxes, Anastasia came across Anna's old Barbie trunk. She and Ainsley had a blast rummaging through it and playing with all the dolls. It was a serious blast from the past for Anna and I as we struggled to remember their names!


Their new house is beautiful and I wish I could be there today to help them get more settled in. Moving is such a pain but there is something very exciting about getting a clean slate and starting over somewhere new. We're just very glad their "somewhere new" is so close to us!