Dressing the Wee Ones

I rep for Kelly's Kids, an adorable children's clothing line out of Natchez, Mississippi.  I get the trunk of sample clothes for a weekend twice a year - once for the fall line and once for the spring line.  Well, lookie what I came home to last night - yippee!!! 

This weekend will be spent having trunk shows around town.  I use my commission to buy the kiddos nicer occasion clothes.  The good thing is that, as a rep, I get 40% off the merchandise.  I think the most I have ever paid out of pocket was $40 by the time the season was done. How's that for a deal?  And since they grow so fast, I personally love this because it kills me to buy nice clothes that they can't wear for more than one season.   Luckily, Thing 2 can wear Thing 1's hand-me-downs. 

If you are looking for a fun on-the-side job, check out Kelly's Kids at www.kellyskids.com and sign up as a rep (only if you don't live near me - haha).  You can also sign up to be a catalog host or an E-host, where your friends and family order through me and you earn free clothes.  If you are interested, give me a holler.

The season runs through October.  You can shop through me until October 19th at www.kellyskids.com using Rep ID 201005.

Happy Shopping!

xoxo,
TSS

Movin' On Up!

Yesterday was my baby's first day in the older toddler class at our Montessori school.  Augh - it about killed me!  I was not prepared for how emotional I would be. 

The school is a U shape building.  As you walk in, the administration office in directly in front of you.  The "baby hall" is on the left with the infant class at the back and the younger toddler class (1-2 year olds) up front. You then have the baby playroom and entrance to the baby playground.  The "big kid hall" is on the right with the older toddler class (2 1/2 - 3 year olds) at the back and the preschool class (4-5 year olds) up front. The "big kid" playroom is in the middle followed by the entrance to the "big kid" playground. 

As we walked down the hall to the older toddler classroom, S got a little jittery and started whimpering for "Miss Dee" -his old teacher.  Big brother held his hand and said, "Don't worry, I'll be right next door."  It warmed my heart but as I looked at them, walking hand in hand down the hall, they looked like giants. These are my babies - the are not supposed to grow up so fast! S is starting to look more like a little boy and less of a toddler.  He is even walking more confident (less of the adorable hobble and hop/run).

I know they need to grow up and I can't wait to see the men that they grow into and what they do with their lives.  But this time is so precious and it is criminal how fast it goes by.  I understand now when my Dad would mumble under his breath, "my, my, my - how time flies." 

My sadness went away though when I picked the boys up.  S did his usual, "MOMMY!!!" and ran into my arms.  He told me all about his new swing and tricycle.  He had a great day and I know the new classroom will challenge and excite him.  H was a proud big brother too listening in on the day's activities.  I am so proud of them both.

xoxo,
TSS



Spencer's 1st Day in the Older Toddler Class

 

PS - I clearly need to figure out how to rotate pictures in Blogger.  This saved correctly on my computer but rotated back as I posted.  Any feedback????







 



Rain, Rain, GO AWAY!!!

My office is closed on Friday so I take that time to clean house, do laundry and grocery shop for the weekend.  Around 2pm it dawned on me that, for a first time in a LONG time, there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and the humidity didn’t slap you in the face before the door could hit you on the toosh.  My husband works from home so I went up to his office and asked if he could play hookie for the rest of the day.  Delighted when he said yes, I said “forget the cleaning”, ran and picked the boys up from school and we hit the pool for the remainder of the day.  Thing 1 is becoming quite the water baby.  Swimming lessons have paid off and he is having a ball as you can see here:

            

Meanwhile, Thing 2 is still thinking about getting in the water though he refuses to put on his new puddle jumper.  All in good time.  Needless to say, we had a ball and ended up ordering dinner from the cabana and eating pool side.  It was wonderful!  Friday is usually our pizza and game night, but we all agreed game night could wait for Saturday.

Saturday started out having me believe we’d have another fun pool day.  The plan was to knock out some chores while the wee ones enjoyed playtime outside.  Then, we’d hit the pool after Thing 2 woke up from his nap.  The hubs was doing yard work and finally cut down this overhanging limb from our Dogwood.  I think the kiddos were more excited about it than I was and they were eager to help clean the mess.

               

Once again taking advantage of the pretty day, I opted for an outdoor picnic for the boy’s lunch.  It was nothing fancy – just PB&J with applesauce; but it was so fun to take it outside.  As you can see:

                                                                                                                                           

Unfortunately, during Thing 2’s naptime, the thunderheads rolled in and decided not to move.  Usually by the end of July, the south is subject to water rations due to drought.   It is almost August and our yard is so lush and green you would think the Easter Bunny was about to visit.  We are used to “summer showers” – quick 5 o’clock downpours that move out as quickly as they moved in.  However, this summer, these “summer showers” have moved in and hovered……..and tested my patience.  So, we made the best of the day by having a Hungry, Hungry Hippo tournament.  This classic game never gets old.

Sunday followed in Saturday’s footsteps.  It was dreary on the way to Church and beautiful on the way home.  As Thing 2 woke from his nap, the sky was purple and it thundered all the way through dinner.  I’m starting to feel sorry for our poor Lifeguards.  I think our pool has been closed more this summer than open!  But we ended the weekend on a high note.  The hubs was happy Phil Mickleson won the British Open and delighted that I honored his fly fishing pastime with a trout dinner.  Yummy Yummy.

So that is how we survived the weekend.  I am not good when things don’t go as I had planned so I guess God is trying to teach me patience with this weather.  While I wanted to be out by the pool, it really was fun being inside laughing with my boys (all 3 of them) and enjoying some good ol’ fashioned family fun.  Now it is Monday and back to work……..oh, and yes, the sun is shining.  Grrrrr!

xoxo,

TSS

Blessed Be the Ties That Bind

I am a lucky girl.  I don’t just love my mother-in-law, I adore her.  I have learned through the years that you marry more than just a person – you really marry their family.  And I could not have married into a sweeter family.  Both my in-laws have been such a positive force of love and support in my life, which of course means the lives of Thing 1 and Thing 2.

Since I started dating the hubs 12 years ago, I have heard stories of my MIL’s family reunion.  Well, I finally had the pleasure of attending the famed Dorsey Family Reunion this past weekend.  Held at the Golf Club of Cuscowilla in Eatonton, Georgia, we arrived on Friday in time to enjoy swimming and catch up with the family.

Dinner was an old fashioned BBQ of pulled pork, barbeque chicken, slaw and Brunswick stew (YUM!)  We enjoyed a special cake to celebrate the 125^th wedding anniversary of JB “Jake” Dorsey and Nina Claire Tabor Dorsey.  Jake and Nina Claire had 10 children and every summer, they come together to celebrate, to remember and to grow in love.  This special tradition has been going on every summer for more than 100 years.

After dinner, we were scheduled to enjoy videos of family gatherings past and listen to stories.  However, Thing 1 and Thing 2 were ready for bed so we simply gathered briefly in the conference room to look at old pictures.  The kiddos squealed with delight at pictures of a young Grammie, Daddy and Uncle Jeffie.  We showed them pictures of Mema and Papa (the hubs grandparents who I am so thankful I had the opportunity to meet) and then it was off to bed where we all enjoyed a well earned snooze.

Day 2 started early with the kiddos rising at 6AM.  By 10:00 AM it was time to hit the pool to let them run off some energy.  Unfortunately, we arrived to find out the pool had been closed for the day due to an “accident”.  Not to miss a beat, Grammie took H to play with cousins and we took S back to the villa for an early lunch and nap.  While Thing 2 was napping, I was delighted to learn that an old friend was in town for a girl’s weekend just down the road at the Ritz Carlton Lodge at Reynolds Plantation; so I scooted over to catch up.  (It should go without saying that if you have the means to have a girls weekend at the Ritz Lodge at Reynolds Plantation you should do so – immediately).

Upon my return to Cuscowilla, S awoke from his nap and we headed to the pool pavilion for the annual Dorsey family croquet tournament and corn hole tournament.  Then it was time to shower for dinner and the family talent show.  We then danced the night away to beach music.  H had a ball running around with cousins while S charmed all the ladies on the dance floor.  I am going to have my hands full with this one!  The highlight of the evening was when one of the cousins who serves in the US Navy did a fly by in his C-130 during an practice run up the East Coast.

Sunday concluded with a church service and business meeting to plan the 2014 Dorsey Family Reunion.  The hubs and I decided on the drive home that this would definitely become a family tradition for us as well.  125 years of celebrating the love of two people and the family they created is a sweet tradition that I am honored to be part of.  It warms my heart to know the boys have this strong network of love to surround and nurture them.  As the hubs and I approach our 9^th wedding anniversary, I am humbled at the reminder of how important family is.

 “Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. 
Your people will be my people and your God my God.” - Ruth 1:16 

Enjoy some photos here:
Http://thesouthernsideboard.shutterfly.com

What's In A Name?

Why did I name my blog The Southern Sideboard?  Well, I’ll tell you.  My maternal grandmother and namesake, the original FLB, had a beautiful sideboard commissioned when she lived in London.  My grandfather was serving in WWII and she missed him so much that she left her country club, bridge & golf playing life in Louisville, Kentucky, to join him.  She drove ambulances for the Red Cross into battle torn areas.  One day, I hope to research this and write more about it; but for now, we will focus on her fabulous sideboard.  Y’all it was gorgeous!  I have admired it, and the beautiful tea and coffee service that accompanied it, since my earliest memories.  I could not wait to have my own stately, southern home in which they would serve a fourth generation.  Sadly, they were both sold shortly after my father’s sudden death in 2011;  but I have a lovely replacement in which I will make my own memories.

So what is it about a southern sideboard?  Where does it get its power and pull at the heartstrings of those it has served?  Are we selfish, materialistic twits with nothing better to do than pine away for old furniture?  As a grown woman, I have to admit it amuses me to find myself upholding certain protocols that I once rolled my eyes at (more than once).   I find that southern girls are trained at the heels of their mothers and grandmothers that the hope of decorum, grace and manners are not a thing of the past.   We take pride in the history that lies in every stain in the mahogany, blotch on the silver, chip in the china from a tacky neighbor who didn’t know better but Grandmother had to invite her over anyway due to all the cars that would be out front for bridge (bless her heart) , and the fact that we knew what a shrimp fork was before we could talk.  We know the southern trinity for any southern soiree – stuffed eggs, cheese straws and HOMEMADE tomato aspic.   And so it just seemed the perfect name for my silly ol' blog.  I smile knowing that as I serve my family, all dishes will be thoughtfully and lovingly prepared for them and served from my new sideboard. 

So get a tall glass of sweet tea (or a toddy) and gather round the table.  Make yourself a plate of whatever is on the sideboard.  I hope you will enjoy how I entertain my family and friends through the seasons – southern style.  Pinkies up!

xoxo,
TSS

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  I must admit that I feel more than a bit ridiculous as I type this; however, Facebook has become a little uncomfortable for me.  I joined Facebook years ago as a way for family and friends across the miles to keep up with Thing 1 (Harrison) and Thing 2 (Spencer).  Through work and civic activities, Facebook has turned more into a networking medium and less the place where I want to post the daily racket that is my family.  A sweet friend recently turned me on to an adorable blog by a fellow Georgia Peach (drop by Dixie Delights) and I thought, “Perfect!  I’ll start a blog”.  Hopefully, this will also allow me to catalog the funny, daily activities of Thing 1 and Thing 2 that we can look back and enjoy through the years.

xoxo,

TSS