Just Bloggin'

Sydney, "Big Buddy" (the Governor), Travis, Addyson, Kate

Aidan (the red head) and Syd flying through the air.
Super Girl!
Addyson and Daddy...she's our water-bug.
Jake Perdue and Aidan Kudlas with Sydney

I just got some pictures back from my friend, Stephanie Perdue, from her family's going-away party, and thought I'd post them. Steph and fam moved up past Memphis, Tennessee and we are all so sad that they left. It's a long drive and we probably won't see them much. Her mom lives 2 hours south of us, so we won't see her when they visit her and Steph's husband, Jim's, parents live in Atlanta, but his dad is the Governor, so we won't see them when they come to visit either. Sydney, Addyson and Travis had their first visit to the Governor's mansion for their going away party, which was fun. I had been once when I was little...a brownie troup visit or somthing I'm sure. I'm mentioning this b/c of the picture I'm posting and also b/c of a comment Sydney made. When we were coming home from the beach she wanted a map of her own (b/c she couldn't play w/ my mom's GPS computer), so we gave her a GA map with the Governor's picture on it. She immediately got so excited and said "There's Big Buddy!"...that's what his grandkids call him and what he told Sydney to call him, but then said "He has a dog named Ivy and I love Ivy"...then went on and on about Ivy. While I'm trying to tell her how cool it was for her to meet the governor and swim in his pool, etc. all she cared about was his dog. So cute! So, I've included some pics of Sydney "diving" (more like belly-flopping) into the pool.

On a side note, I'm so glad that Travis doesn't have to travel often. He was only gone one night this weekend for a tournment and I was so sad! Even though with his coaching schedule I don't see him much, at least he's always beside me at night. He works so hard so that I can stay home with our girls which is so great and I admire him so much for it. When he's done w/ his EDS degree, it will make things much easier financially, but he can sure pinch a penny, which is good considering he has a wife who doesn't budget very well.

Sydney and Addyson continue to make me laugh and melt everyday. Addyson is a Daddy's girl which is so cute. She also has a blanket that she LOVES and when she sees it she just laughs and laughs and hugs it and squeezes it and puts it in her mouth.

Sydney is always full of funny stuff that I wish I wrote down, so I didn't forget. She calls the wart on my leg a wart-hog! Even though I've told her numerous times it's not, and even though she's seen real wart-hogs at the zoo....I can't help but laugh. She also insists that she has a friend in her pre-school class named Ballerina. I found out that it's Marina, but she doesn't believe me. :) My dad went to Montana to fly-fish and she asked him if he had a nice time visiting Hanna Montana. one more....(I could go on forever, but Addyson's waking up from her nap.) Whenever we sit down for dinner she says to Travis..."So, Sweetheart, did you have a nice day?". Her teachers at church and at school tell me how mature she is for her age and they just love her....of course, I'm so proud.

Zoo Flashback

So, Travis and I are watching our much anticipated Season Opener of Survivor in China. Of course they show Panda bears, and Travis starts laughing. Hmmm..I didn't see anything funny, so he explains..... We have season passes to the Atlanta Zoo, which we have gone to several times this summer. One day, we were lucky enough to see the Panda's doing something other than stuffing their faces with "Bamboom" as Syd calls it. The baby panda was actually climbing a Bamboo tree and a crowd of people are oohhing and Aahhing and snapping pictures (me included) when Sydney yells out (her voice is loud anyway, so her yelling is like a foghorn)..."No, No baby panda! You're going to get in trouble if you climb too high!!" So, Travis and I just bust out laughing and about 3/4 of the people around did too except for the avid zoo "photographers" (who, if you go as much as we do, you'd be able to spot one immediately...they don't like little kids at the zoo at all let alone to let little kids in front of them to see the animals b/c they are taking "very serious" photos for their scrapbooks or blogs...I like to call them zoo snobs). As a side note...whenever I see one, I make sure I tell Sydney to just say excuse me and get right in front of them....which, by the way, doesn't get in the way of their picture taking since she only comes up a little past their knees. She, of course, is very obedient when it comes to looking at the animals and very loudly says excuse me while pushing her little self right up to where they don't want her to be. I'm so bad, I know. So, I'm posting some pictures of the baby panda, who, didn't get in trouble for climbing too high, much to Sydney's surprise, as his/her mother was too busy eating to notice, We are lucky to have a baby panda and two sets of gorilla twins at our zoo, which Sydney just thinks is fantastic. However, sometimes I think her favorite animals in the entire zoo are the darned pigeons that hover all over us while we eat our lunch there. Sydney does a good job of keeping them at bay, however, by running after them and yelling "come here birds!!" Three year olds are great!! :)

"Firsts"

We had a lot of "firsts" in the last two weeks. Sydney started preschool for the first time (and loves it), Sydney and Addyson went to the beach for the first time (and loved it), Sydney started soccer (and really likes it, but doesn't love it yet), Addyson said her first word "ball" and she can stand up without holding on to anything! Addyson also got her first black eye from falling while trying to climb onto a chair, but she's a tough gal! Travis had 19 wrestlers show up for an off-season practice, which is a first for him to have that many...GREAT sign for the upcoming season. Addyson's two top teeth are starting to break through as well, so by the end of the week she might have four teeth! So, we've been busy doing new things and having fun!

Here are some pictures of Sydney's first day of school (she goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00am - 1:00pm) and our trip to Panama City Beach, Florida.

The girls loved the sand at the beach the most. Sydney liked the ocean until a wave crashed on her and she got the "yucky" salt water in her mouth. So, we spent a lot of time at the pool as well, where she met some new friends, so it was really fun for her. She did like building sand castles and shoveling the sand. Unfortunately for me, she also liked throwing the sand. One evening Sydney, Poppy and I went out on the beach to chase crabs. Sydney and Poppy had the flashlights, while I had the bucket to catch them in. I was a little apprehensive, so I only caught five, but I tried (with all but the really big ones, and then I just acted like I was trying for Sydney's sake!) Sydney loved chasing them and loved the flashlight even more.

Addyson loves the water whether it's bath water, pool water, puddle water or ocean water. She also, come to find out, likes to eat sand. They do call the gulf beaches "sugar" sand, but that's a little much... ha ha.

We missed Travis, however, as he had to coach and go to class...he's currently getting his Ed. Specialist degree in Administration, so he was up in Tennessee at class all day the Saturday we went to the beach.

Sydney's schedule is very busy for a 3 year old, but since she asked me EVERY day...where are we going today? Where are we going the next day? Where are we going the NEXT day? ETC.... I have her in Ballet/Tap on Monday's from 1:00-1:45, School on Tuesdays and Thursdays, Soccer on Wednesdays from 10:00 - 10:45 (with her friend Alex Lindley) and gymnastics on Fridays from 10:45 - 11:25. On Thursdays after I drop Syd off at school, Addyson and I go to the park and I jog for about 2 1/2 - 3 miles and she loves riding in the stroller looking at all the people and all of the dogs!

I'm so excited that the Fall TV season is starting so I can watch my shows! I know it's pathetic, but that's where I get my kicks these days! Tonight I'm recording Grey's Anatomy, which I'm not sure if I'll watch this season or not....we'll see. Tomorrow night is the first night of Survivor, but next week is the exciting week. Hero's is on Monday along with two new shows Travis and I are going to tivo and try to watch! That's our "date" after getting the girls in bed!