Let's Do This

Charleston's Main Attraction

Laurel Parade

Jack and Sarah running on "the green" of Mount Holyoke before the parade.
A little history for those unfamiliar with MHC's Laurel Parade:

In 1932 the laurel chain ceremony was integrated into the annual alumnae parade and since then has remained the parade's highlight. This moving ritual, which takes place during commencement weekend, marks the transition from MHC student to MHC alumna. During the parade, seniors--linked by two 275-yard laurel chains--process through the ranks of returning alumnae to Mary Lyon's grave. After weaving the chain around the grave site's fence, they sing "Bread and Roses," a poem-turned-song that was taken up by strikers demanding reasonable hours and pay at a textile mill in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1912. The seniors and all the alumnae parade participants dress in white, a tradition that began as a show of solidarity with the suffragettes who wore white when campaigning for women's right to vote.

Read more about the history of Laurel Parade and about this year's Parade.

One of two women in attendance from the class of 1934! Do that math... they are OLD. There were also 12 women from the class of 1939.
The 50th Reunion Class. A sign carried by the class of 1984.The class of 1999! Apparently I make this face at Jack when I'm excited to see him. Poor kid.

With Heather and Alec and Kira pushing Nate. Kira was my roommate first year and Heather lived next door to us! Still some of my closest friends in the world.
My favorite class of '99 sign. Trust me, that doesn't mean much at Mount Holyoke.
The graduating class!
Ellie and me before her first Alumna Association meeting.
Notice her dress (white, of course) says MHC '31.

If you don't cry while watching the Laurel Parade, check your pulse. It's amazing and I'm tearing up just looking at the photos.

Our Trip to Massachusetts!

After surviving our day of travel, including delays and changing planes in Atlanta on the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, we were rescued by my Aunt Sarah and cousin Erin at the airport! On the drive to their house in Massachusetts we stopped by a sweet dairy farm so Jack could check out the animals.

Chickens...

Baby cow...

Looking in the "cow house"...
Big ol' fat bunny...

Today

I have tons of photos and stories from this weekend at Mount Holyoke, but caught a few photos today that I just had to share immediately. They are so cute!

Wish Me Luck

I'm packing up the kids and flying to Massachusetts tomorrow for my ten year college reunion. Wish me luck. Lots and lots of luck.

I'll update when we get back. Assuming we survive the car ride to and from the airport and the plane rides and transfers.

Have a great weekend!

6 Month Well Baby

Ellie weighed in at 15 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 26 inches long. She is officially average sized at 50% percentile for height AND weight. We think she's gone through a length growth spurt lately because for a while her legs seemed quite short and stubby.

Here's a fun video so you can see her little legs in action!

Six Months Old!

I'm in shock. Six months old! Seriously? Rather than a cake, Ellie celebrated her first half year of life with her first taste of sweet potato! I think it might take a feeding or two for her to warm up to it, but she didn't hate it or gag so I'll take it!

Okay, so what can I tell you about our sweet girl? She is totally smitten with her older brother. She is content to just stare at him all day long but usually grabs at his face and hair. Luckily, most of the time Jack laughs and says, "Baby hold my hair!" (Yes, he calls her "baby" most of the time.)

When she's not gazing adoringly at Jack she loves to roll across the floor. We don't remember Jack being so into rolling. Honestly, if you leave Ellie on the floor and walk away she is bound to be found on the opposite side of the room when you return. She pushes up on her hands and pivots or rolls to get where and what she wants.

How old does she look in this picture?

We don't have many pictures with the "I'm Six Months Old Today" sign because she did this: Girl has a grip! She is kind of freakishly strong.

Just a sweet picture of her from the other day. Getting better at sitting up every day!

Ellie's 6 month well baby appointment is Tuesday so I will write then with her stats. I'm so curious to find out what she weighs and where she lies on the stupid growth charts.

She Eats!

Want another example of how big our girl is getting? She eats oatmeal! We gave Ellie her first "solid," and I use that term loosely, last night and it was a hit.

It was so different from the first time Jack ate food. Jack was 4.5 months and his first food was rice cereal and Ellie is one week shy of 6 months and we tried oatmeal. The first time we fed was a fairly miserable experience. He hated it, cried and we force fed him anyway. On the other hand, our little porker lived up to her reputation and chowed! After one taste, she literally leaned into the spoon. She ate the whole bowl! (2 tablespoons of milk mixed with one tablespoon oatmeal.)She looks a little unsure, though, huh?She had oatmeal tonight and she liked it again! What a big girl!

Off to Work He Goes

Jack dressed himself for "work" the other day. In my cardigan and sneakers.

Fixing his shoes...

I wonder what kind of work Jack thinks he's dressed for.

And, even with his big boy hair cut he still has crazy hair days.

Look Who's Sitting

Well, kind of. She's working on it!