Fall on the Farm

The MSU Agriculture Department hosts this yearly fundraiser at the Pullen Farm, right down the street from M.E.S. Every year we walk with all the students from my school to attend. (Well, to be truthful I don't attend anymore now that I teach Title I, but I went when I had a homeroom.) This year Emily and I decided that Eve and Zak would love to go. It was so much fun!! (And... Emily and I will do anything to squeeze in a cousin photo session or to find an excuse to make a photo book!) In fact, we took so many photos I thought it would be easiest to share them in a slide show. Check it out!! Emily and I agree that this is such a fun time with our kids. They are both so smart and loving... we are truly cherishing every moment... especially when we can get them both together!!

A Busy Day

Today was the final day of Fall Break for Jay and me. I must admit, teaching is the best job out there... it is so nice to get these breaks to be able to spend time at home with Eve. It is the next best thing to being able to stay home all the time!

Our busy day began this morning when Cousin Zak came over to play. (Jay and Tim went to play golf.) I was amazed at how the two-year-olds interacted. They talked to each other and semi-organized their play. Gone are the days where they just co-exist or steal each other's pappies... they really are good friends!

After lunch Eve and I went to the Public Library. Eve really loved this! She told everyone to "shh" when we walked in the building. When she saw the children's section she sat right down at the table and began looking at books. I read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom to her. Then she sat down at a computer and we played a "Blues Clues" game. She chose a few books off the board book shelf and when we checked them out the librarian gave her a sticker. It just doesn't get much better than that!Tonight we wento the Murray High football game. Eve sat with her good friend, "Boof." She cheered for the Tigers, ate popcorn and a sucker, and put on quite a show for all those sitting around us. She sang rousing verses of "Mary Had a Little Lamb," "Twinkle, Twinkle," "Baa Baa Black Sheep," "Jesus loves me," "Jesus Loves the Little Children," and the Alphabet Song. And, oh yeah, by the way, the tigers won!

Truly a busy and blessed day in our lives!!

Imagination at Work

Eve's imagination has really taken off in the past few weeks. It is fun to watch and listen as she plays and talks to her baby dolls, stuffed animals and imaginary friends. Tonight she came up to me with two plastic golf clubs. She was kind of banging them together and humming. I didn't pay much attention to her and even tried to shoo her away as the clubs came dangerously close to my face. Determined, Eve continued with the strange behavior until I said, "Eve, what are you doing?!?" She proudly answered, "I playin' the violin, Mommy!" How could I not have recognized it? Later, I asked her to show me how she played the violin with her golf clubs so I could get a photo. She gladly obliged, but very quickly threw one of the clubs down and exclaimed, "Wook! I twirlin'!" And just like that the former golf club turned violin had become a baton!

Homecoming Weekend

This weekend was MSU Homecoming. It was a busy time as Mamaw & PawPaw, Philip & Sarah and Micah, Kacey & Finley were all in town! Eve had a great time with all her family. Mamaw and PawPaw brought her prizes that were blue (per Eve's request for a "blue prize") including a flashlight (who's batteries ran down the first night) and a Mickey Mouse Memory game (at which Eve is very good as long as she is the only one who gets to find the matches). Sissy and Pip brought her a Princess sticker book that she loved, too. Yesterday was Pip's birthday so we had a yummy Cake Lady cake. On Saturday Sissy joined the Stark/Puricelli family for the MSU Homecoming Parade. As it turned out, Uncle Micah was more entertaining than the parade! He was full of antics, as usual!! Since I am pointing out his craziness, I should also point out Micah's victories. He was the winner of all golf this weekend. Thankfully, no silly bets were placed this time!! We had a wonderful weekend with everyone... if only it could have been longer. Days go by too fast when you are in the company of family that you just don't get to see often enough. Eve was sad to learn that everyone had gone home this morning when she woke up asking for Mamaw and Sissy. Then, when we had to say goodbye to Finley and Kacey she was disappointed again. I must admit, I shared her sentiments, but we will just have to look forward to our next visits and dwell on the new memories made this time! Love to all!!

Sound Asleep

As a part of Eve's bedtime routine either Jay and I will go in and check on her after she has settled into bed. (I know, Dad, the day will come when she asks us to come back "in one minute.") Tonight when I went in I couldn't see her face very well in the dark so I whispered, "Are you asleep?" To which she whispered back, "Yeah, Mommy. I asleep." I held back my giggle and said, "Okay. Well, sleep tight. I love you!" She hugged me and whispered, "Lub you, too!" Oh, if I could only stop time and bottle these moments!!

More Marching Band!

Murray State had the honor of hosting a Bands of America Regional marching band competition today. Jay, Eve and I (along with Uncle P) had the honor of attending using Racer Band passes courtesy of Mr. Fannin. :) We didn't get to see very many bands (after my Wal-Mart time, Eve's nap time and Jay & P's golf time) as it was an all-day affair and finals did not even begin until almost 8:00 p.m. (In fact, Racer Band is probably preparing to go on in exhibition as I type!) But, we did get to see the band from Collins Hill High School in Georgia. Collins Hill is near where my family and I used to live during my middle school and early high school years. I felt very nostalgic while watching the Screaming Eagles Band. The last time I saw them perform was at my final band competition as a Dacula Falcon at Rockfield High School in Georgia. That was a night in my life I will never forget! We won our class as a band and our guard was third overall! I guess marching band is one of those things that becomes a part of who you are... at least I know it will always be a part of me! I suppose I am proud to be a BAND NERD! :)

The Band from Georgia

A Good Family Shot - Thanks, P!

I bought Eve a miniture flag! She loves it! It is gold... for Murray State and Murray High!

Feeling Artsy

If you know me well, you know I love anything artsy or crafty... well, I have been at a loss as to what to hang over my couch in our new house. I remembered last week that I had a large canvas out in the garage and decided to do something with it. Some painter's tape, acrylic paint, sponge paint brushes and crackle medium later and you have my large art project for the week. It looks really nice in our family room. It adds color to an otherwise neutral room... I am pretty proud of it!

Festival of Champions

Each year, the MSU Racer Band hosts a high school marching band contest called Festival of Champions. Eve and I headed out to Roy Stewart Stadium to watch some bands perform yesterday morning. (Daddy was on the golf course.) We cheered on the Murray High Tiger band and waited for Angie and Baby Jaclyn to come. We sat with them to cheer on the Caldwell County band, too. Eve really loves watching the bands. While enjoying her sucker from the bank she mastered the art of holding the sucker in her mouth so that she could clap without having to hold on to the sucker. The best part of the day was that Eve was able to wear her very own Racer Band t-shirt that Mr. Fannin had specially made for her. When we walked up to the gate I told the band members there that I was escorting an honorary band member and we walked right inside! (By the way, this time when I asked Eve what she would like to play in the band she said, "The pilano!")

Our Koi Pond

At our new home we have a really nice backyard. Though overgrown with several months of neglect while the house was on the market and vancant, the landscaping has lots of potential. The highlight is the large stone koi pond outside the sunroom windows. About 20 little goldfish live in it along with countless tadpoles and froggies. There is a stone fountain in the middle and lots of natural vegitation in and around it. Eve loves it! One of her favorite things to do each day is go out and feed the fish. Jay or I will toss in some fish food while Eve throws in leaves, twigs and small rocks. Tonight we were getting ready to go to a school function when I took her out to get some pictures... she is growing WAY too fast for me!!




















P.S. Here is a quick shout out to KS (who I know is reading)... I miss you already!! Take care of yourself!

Our New Home!

We are finally settling into our new house! Everything is painted and we are getting things hung up on the walls. Of course, there are still boxes around and many more things to decorate, but it is truly beginning to feel like home. I am going to add a slide show to the blog that shows photos of everything. I will try to update it as we update the house. After a LONG WAIT (there is a whole long story to tell here) we have cable and Internet so we are reconnected to the world. SIGH! Maybe that is why we are feeling more at home!

Sesame Street Live!

Last Saturday we joined Tim, Em, Zak, Grammy, Grandad, Gre and Dad-O at the RSEC to see Sesame Street Live, Elmo's Green Thumb. It was a cute show and the kids enjoyed it. It was a good excuse for Emily and I to create another photo book!

Just checking in...

Whew! It has been an eventful couple of weeks for the Stark family. For those who don't know, we bought our first house and moved in last weekend. Eve loves the new house and thinks it is "Boo-ful." It isn't quite there yet in my eyes, but it gets a little better everyday. We are still in transition mode as we have some stuff still at the rental house and it needs a good cleaning, but the new house is starting to feel more like home. Eve told me yesterday, "I so happy here!" I think we all are!
The worst part of the whole moving experience has been that we are without DirecTV and Internet!! Our cable won't be hooked up until next Sunday and we are hoping for Internet any day. We have rented several movies, but it just isn't the same. TV time is our down time and we are missing it desparately!! (Thanks to Mom and Sarah, though, for the updates on our favorite shows.)
Tomorrow morning we are heading to the RSEC to see Sesame Street Live. I think Eve (and cousin Zak) will really enjoy it! As soon as we have access to the web at home (I am posting on the job right now) I will post pictures... I promise!!
Love to all!

The Olympic Games

We have been watching the Olympics every evening. Eve is most mesmorized by the diving. This is surprising to me because I thought she would enjoy gymnastics most. It must be the giant pool and the people jumping in the water that she likes. Tonight we were watching men's springboard diving together. When it went to a commercial break I said, "Eve, you know, we are watching the Olympics." She said, "Lympics?" I said, "Yeah, it is when people from all over the world have contests. Some people are running, some are jumping and swimming and diving..." Without missing a beat Eve said, "And falling!" I had to laugh... she is right!

It must be instinctual...

Recently Eve had her first Oreo cookie. (Well, I think it was her first. I've never given her one before, but that doesn't mean someone else hasn't.) She loved it!! She first licked the outside then carefully bit into the chocolatey cookie part, pulling off the top. After nibbling the top layer of the cookie she proceeded to lick all the white cream out of the middle. She finished by eating the bottom layer. That I know of, no one has ever taught her how to eat an Oreo... she just knew. Watching her savor the cookie brought back found memories of Sarah, Andrew and I enjoying cookies and milk every afternoon when we got home from school. How do you eat Oreos???

Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Johnson

Yesterday Andrew and Kayla tied the knot in Williamstown, KY. Eve was the sweetest little flower girl anyone has ever seen... of course! Rather than have her practice and have time to realize everyone would be watching her, I decided the element of surprise would be our best tactic. When it was her turn to walk down the aisle, I armed her with her basket which she immediately dropped, spilling all the petals. We ignored the fallen petals and I pointed her toward her PawPaw who had a supply of Dum-Dum suckers in his pocket. She couldn't see PawPaw so Daddy leaned out of his seat and flashed a sucker at her. I said, "Do you see Daddy? Walk to him!" She started down the aisle with the ring bearer trailing behind. Suddenly she stopped to chat with a lady she had never even met (she had red curly hair, though, and she favored a family friend - Erin). The lady said hello to Eve and told her to keep walking. By this point the ring bearer had passed her and was almost to the front of the church. Eve finally made it to Daddy and enjoyed her sucker during the ceremony. The rehearsal dinner, wedding and reception were beautiful! It is hard to believe my baby brother is a married man. Congratulations, Andrew and Kayla!! We love you!!!

5 Little Monkeys, 2 Bananas, & 1 Sucker

This summer we have been working on potty training with Eve. Though we have dropped back to only using diapers at bedtime, the process has been slow-going at best. Eve "pee-pees" in the potty every time we take her, but we have to remember to take her... she rarely tells us when she has to go herself. So, you can imagine our surprise the last two nights when she let us know she needed to go "poo-poo." After no success last night (and a mess in the training panties) I was determined tonight would be better. When Eve came to me and said, "My tummy hurts, Mommy," I told her that means she needs to go potty and strain. Jay talked to her about it a minute or two and then I asked, "Do you want to go sit on the potty and strain?" She nodded and said, "Mommy's potty." So, I took off after the cushy Dora potty seat and a stack of books to settle in for the long-haul. Eve sat on the potty, but only faked some strains while we sang a few rousing verses of "Baby Beluga." Then, as she began to read 5 Little Monkeys Bake a Birthday Cake, she stopped suddenly to strain... this time for real!! I never knew what a sense of pride I would feel when my girl pooped in the potty, but I tell you, I was almost brought to tears! Daddy came in to congratulate Eve and to take her order for any kind of sucker she wanted. Eve picked orange. While Daddy was gone to get the sucker we finished up the process and Eve got down to look in the potty. I said, "Eve, what is that?" She sucked in a breath and said, "Banana... 2 bananas!" Choking back my laughter I said, "No, that's poo-poo!" After she started to have her sucker I asked if there was anyone she wanted to call and tell about her good news. She chose to call Aunt Emily. The conversation went something like this...
Em: Hello.
Eve: Hi, Emily.
Em: Hi, Eve! What are you doing?
Eve: I habin' a suckor.
Em: What did you do to get your sucker?
Eve: I go pee-pee poo-poo... wike nanas!
What a girl! You gotta love her!! We certainly do... beyond words!!!

Singer in a Marching Band?

Last night we went to watch the Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corp rehearse at Stewart Stadium. Jay marched with the Scouts in 1999. Eve liked watching the color guard practice and said, "Wook! They're twirlin'!" when she saw the rifles. She liked the cymbal crashes and pointed out the tubas and trumpets. She cheered everytime they stopped playing and shouted, "Good job!" while clapping with her hands over her head. We told her that Daddy used to play the tuba (contra) and Mommy used to spin a flag. I asked her what she wanted to play and Eve said, "Hmmm... I fink I will sing!"
Note: I can't find another background I like so I am sticking with this one for now... despite all the negative comments... I said I would only listen if I agreed... :)

New Feature!

Notice under Eve's birthday countdown ticker that I have added a new feature to my blog! It is a virtual scrapbook. I just downloaded the software from a free website called www.smilebox.com and quickly created a scrapbook that I can attach to my blog site. After creating my photobook for our Florida vacation I have been looking for more ways to scrapbook digitally. This software is really neat and I can even print the pages!! Enjoy!

Church

Eve has become much more aware of the church services going on around her each Sunday and Wednesday. Sometimes she will give the play-by-play, "Wook, mommy! People praying!" "Wisten, Mommy! Daddy singing!" She loves the singing most. This morning she asked, "Mommy, what Mr. Todd doing?" Mr. Todd is our song leader who does an awesome job. Tonight we had a song service and after every song Eve would say, "We gonna sing some more songs, Mommy?" When I would tell her yes she would get excited. Today when the Lord's Supper was passed she asked, "Time to eat, Mommy?" She wanted some of the grape juice, but I told her it was only for grown-ups. So, I gave her the usual quarter and she announced, "Wook! Here it comes! Here comes the baksick!" and she dropped her quarter in happily. She loves Sunday school and I always get a good report on her behavior. Today the teacher even said she was a good helper! (Now, I am a teacher and I know what this really means... She was the brown-nosing, bossy daughter of two teachers who kept her know-it-all nose in everyone's business and "helped" her friends with their papers.) The best comment she has made in a while came after the sermon today. Last week, two people came forward to be baptized and Eve watched the event with great interest. So, this week, when someone came forward to only ask for prayers Eve expected more action. After Mr. John led a prayer, Mr. Todd began leading a song at which point Eve asked, "Is somebody gonna go swimming?"

I certainly appreciate the humor of seeing our church services from a two-year-old point of view, but my heart is warmed by the under-lying point. Even at the age of two Eve is noticing what is happening around her and is learning about something that Jay and I hope will one day be the center of her life... God. The icing on the cake is that in her own way she is beginning to take part in church and, to some extent, enjoy it!

In these pics Eve was practicing her ballet (like Ruby does) before church this evening. They are blurry because she was in constant motion and had trouble balancing in a pose long enough for my camera to capture it.

Our Topless Princess

I had some cute pictures of Eve I thought I would post... of course they have stories to go with them...

Eve has a new jewelry box filled to the brim with lovely plastic jewelry. She loves to put it on and take it off and organize it in the little drawers. It is just like Ruby's (off her favorite TV show, "Max and Ruby"). On this occasion she had just fancied up her elephant. She told me, "Take a picture, Mommy. Elphant is BOO-FUL!"

Recently Eve got a new toy box from Mrs. Alvey at school. She loves it!! More than fill it with toys, though, she likes to climb inside. She gets in and pretends to put on a magic show (also something she picked up from Ruby). It took me a while to figure out why she kept referring to Jaclyn as she would play. She was saying, "Ladies and Jack-a-len!"You may have noticed that Eve is topless in the photo above. This is a new endearing habit... she hates wearing shirts! My favorite time was when she came up to me in her Cinderella skirt with no shirt and told me, "Mommy, I look like a princess!" Here she is saying her lunch time prayer topless. We don't think God minds, but we are hoping she outgrows this phase quickly!!