Watch out Kimmie Meissner...

Amelia had her very first ice-skating lesson today. I knew we hit the jackpot when she got off the ice and immediately said - with a big smile on her face - "Mom, that was really fun!"

She's signed up for eight weeks of lessons - every Tuesday afternoon for one hour. Prior to today, she's seen a rink twice... the first was a Carolina Hurricane's game. The second was a very special outing with her wonderful GG to see Disney-on-Ice. According to Gayle, Amelia's eyes were very wide as she watched the skaters twirl, jump, and glide across the ice.

It's not like she's been begging to learn how to skate. Quite the opposite... she's never even mentioned it. I came across the lessons by accident... on Sunday... signed her up on Monday, got her a helmet and some mittens... and voila!... Amelia was struttin' her stuff on the ice this afternoon.

There wasn't a parent at the rink smiling bigger than me. I was so proud of... how she put her skates on and immediately started dancing... how she easily made a new friend... how she couldn't wait to see the rink... how, without trepidation, she stepped on the ice for the first time... how she didn't give up fall after fall after fall... how she sweetly found a hand to hold when she needed a boost of confidence... how she smiled at me when she came off the ice.

My darling little bird is growing up...

Dad and Amelia Win! Heels victory, merely a sidenote.

I'm so proud of Amelia for enjoying the ENTIRE North Carolina / Georgia Tech football game. She cheered, she yelled, she colored, she she sang the alma mater! She even booed the Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech - nah, just kidding, she didn't boo anybody.

She did think the Tech "bumblebee" Buzz was very silly. When told that Georgia Tech's team were the Yellow Jackets, Amelia had a tough time figuring out why they were wearing white shirts instead of yellow jackets.

Julianna's guess on Saturday's activities was pretty close. We took the bus to campus and hit Tar Heel Town. Amelia was fascinated by the UNC band and watched them until they marched off to the game. After visiting Tar Heel town, we stopped off at Lenoir Dining Hall and grabbed some Chick-fil-A sandwiches. We then headed off to beautiful Kenan Stadium and enjoyed a thorough beating of the Yellow Jackets. Amelia did a great job at the game - helped by snacking on pretzels and leftover Halloween candy.

What a great Saturday!

Go Heels!

A quick pic of Amelia and Lee before they headed to the UNC Football game this afternoon.

Here's my guess of their game plan...

1.) Hit the ATM (Dad needs cash to treat his little sweetie)
2.) Head to the Park & Ride lot to catch the fan bus up to campus (Amelia LOVES riding the bus!)
3.) Check out Tar Heel Town (Amelia needs to get her jump on at the bouncy house... a Tar Heel tattoo is also a necessity! Look for Shelby.)
4.) Head to the stadium ("Dad, carry me!")
5.) Lee calls JKB to remember to record game (CHECK!)
6.) Kick-off... start watching game - GO HEELS! ("Dad, what are they doing?)
7.) 1st QTR - get snack
8.) 2nd QTR - open backpack, get out coloring book and markers... look for mascot Ramsey.
9.) Lee calls JKB to report on how he's surviving with a three-year-old at a 3-hour-plus football game (Great!)
10.) Half-time - get another snack, walk around, continue looking for Shelby (Dad, can we go on the field now?!)
11.) 3rd QTR - open backpack, get out Leapster... and a little Halloween candy treat (Dad, Dad, Dad... can I have a lollypop?! Please!)
11.) 4th QTR - another snack?!
12.) Game over... sing UNC Alma Mater to celebrate win (I'm thinking positively!), call JKB to say they're heading home
13.) Hop back on fan bus
15.) Arrive home... Amelia tells Mom and Noah stories about all the fun she had with Dad at the game. (Dad, can we go again?!)
16.) Lee takes everyone out to a yummy dinner!

Kicking off our Halloween Festivities

Check out Starbuck's newest spokes-kid... Amelia. She LOVES their "deeeeeeeee-li-cious" hot chocolate.

The other day our local Starbuck's had a pumpkin painting party for the kiddos. Lee suggested we go. I think he was really looking for an excuse to get another pumpkin-spiced-latte.

Normally, when Amelia paints, she puts 5-6 brush strokes on the page and is ready to move on. This time she was all about the paint. Her pumpkin (and sweater!) was covered.

Fun was had by all... thanks Starbuck's!

Oh, what a beautiful day!

It's the middle of October and 80 degrees here in Chapel Hill... some may call that "global warming" -- I call it delightful. Since it's going to barely make 60 tomorrow, we made sure to get out today and enjoy the beautiful weather

Our wonderful friends Sarah, Taylor, and Catherine met us at the park and fun was to be had by all. I failed in my attempt to get a good pic of Noah -- my fair skinned, light blond hair boy is hard to photograph. Amelia and Sarah stood still for me to take exactly one photo of each. The image of the day goes to Taylor... such a cutie!

So long t-shirts (today), hello sweaters (tomorrow)...

Happy Birthday Uncle Tom

Today is a special day... it's my wonderful Uncle Tom's birthday. All day I've been thinking of him and our many dear memories. I miss him so.

I keep coming back to one of my sweetest memories... the day he met Amelia. She wore her best dress for this important introduction and was on her best behavior. She took to him immediately... quietly slumbering while snuggled up on his shoulder. I loved that their bond had been formed... that she'd get to know the man who meant so much to me... who was not only my Uncle, but who had taken over as Grandfather, who gave me valued guidance, who helped to teach me to "think big", who expected the very best from me... who loved me like his own.

I don't need to see the photo to picture this moment perfectly in my mind. But, oh, how I love that photo. In honor of Tom, I'm posting it today, along with a few others from that first visit three years ago.

What I'd give for him to meet Noah...

Saturday Self-Portrait

Guess who?!

Guess who's going to be Spiderman for Halloween this year...
.

Snaggletooth

Noah's got a tooth! He was gnawing on my finger today - like he's loves to do - and I was suddenly surprised with pain. Ouch!

It's not one of his bottom two front teeth... as is usually the norm. It's not one of his top two front teeth... which would make some sense. It's his upper right tooth, next to the front teeth... his "snaggletooth" as we now fondly call it.

He's strange... but we love him!

Cheer she might, but play she WILL!

The other day, Amelia came running out of her room with her cheer leading pom-poms - or as she calls them "cheer-leads"...

"Dad! Dad! You be the basketball player and I'll cheer for you!"

It was at that exact moment I said, this girl needs to be introduced to the wonderful world of women's athletics! Cheer she might, but play she WILL.















So, the fire was hopefully lit at last weekend's UNC women's soccer game against Kentucky. Amelia met her good friends Sarah and Shelby at Fetzer Stadium to witness one of the country's most dominate college sports teams. Aside from the fact that it was beastly hot and everyone was a sweaty mess, fun was had by all.

When the game was over, Amelia couldn't understand why she couldn't get on the field to play soccer. "But, Mom... it's my turn now!"

Success!