Dora! Dora! Dora!

It was an a'Dora"ble day for one little Lily Grace Xing Green. She finally had that birthday party that she'd been telling everybody about for a month. Nay, reminding every chance she could get. She was so excited, she told her mommy after church when she laid down for a nap "I so cited!" The day couldn't have been any better. The weather was great, we had friends and family over, and the neighbor cut his yard! Oh, but that's another story for another time. Just let me say that I've been trying to get this neighbor to do something for two years and Connie says something to him (gently, I'm sure) about Lily's birthday party and next thing I know there's heavy earth moving equipment running around like creatures from some H.G. Wells novel! I'm sorry. I digress. Connie says I do that alot. It's kind of like ... er, back to the story.

I think the little girl, our Lily Grace, is pretty smart. You see, she spent the past month taking advantage of every opportunity to tell potential party attendees when her birthday would be and what kind of party she would have. One night at church, while we were celebrating Family night with dinner, Lily took a bite of green beans, smiled, and announced that "Sept 24th Gilli's bir'day. I gon have Dora party." No one was talking about anything that could remotely have triggered thoughts of birthday parties, but Lily knew there were several potential party-goers in her midst, so she went out on a limb. And without another word, she went right back to her green beans. Just like that. We all laughed, but she had made her point - be there, Sept 24th.

Sept 24th and so they came. My cousin and I had spent the previous weekend assembling Lily's new "swing set" from Lowe's. Check out the pictures below. Instructions said it would take two men 16 hours to put it together. I remember my first swing, a worn out tire from a 1966 VW beetle with a long rope. It took two men ten minutes to assemble it! Er, back to the story.


We had one of those big bouncy things, as Lily calls it, delivered for the kids to play in while we adults reflected on how fast they grow up. The big bouncy thing had Dora, Diego, and "Oh maaaaaan" all over it. I can never remember the name of that squirrel looking character that says that, but Lily has picked up on it and knows quite properly how to use "Oh maaaaaan!" For weeks, she's been going around saying "Oh maaaaan!" at every opportunity. It's hilarious. Once she got into the bouncy thing, there was no getting her out.
Well, almost. What kid can resist hotdogs, cake, and ice cream, while being toasted with that time-honored, venerable favorite "Happy Birthday, to you, Happy Birthday, to you. Happy Birthday, Dear Lily. Happy Birthday to you."

All of Lily's friends from church came over for the party, along with most of her extended family. Thank you to everyone for coming and for celebrating Lily's birthday with us. I am sure she will remember for a long time your kindness to her on her special day. And a special note to Sara - we love you and we were very glad you came. Please come over and see Lily often. However, we noticed during the party that most of Lily's friends are nearly of dating age! Note to self - get that application for Lia Faith going faster! Lily needs a little sister.



Anyway, Lily's bestest best buddy in the world, Sarah Ann, came over from Russellville just for the party. Thank you Tom and Laura and Ashleigh for bringing Sarah Ann and Will over. It's hard to describe how much love we have for you and how much we appreciated you waking us up last March with pictures of Lily Grace from Jiangxi. Thank you will never be enough, so instead, we ask God, that He continue to bless your family! It is so funny to watch Sarah Ann watch Lily Grace now. I've said many times that Sarah sometimes views Lily with an expression of "There she goes again!" I really wonder what each must be thinking now. But Sarah Ann was a little more cautious than Lily about the Dora bouncy thing - and for good reason. Checkout the "strawberry" on Lily's forehead, earned from a face first plunge down Dora mountain just before "hotdog" time. But she's a tough little girl, only wimpering a little before announcing "I'm OK Daaeee!"


After dinner and cake, it was time for Lily to open the presents that her friends and family had brought her. It is so amazing to see how much this little girl is loved. She got presents from as far away as Chinatown in Chicago, Il. Thanks Amanda, we love you and we miss you! In an effort to encourage her to be thankful and humble, we asked her to hug each guest and thank them for the present. And so she did! If you didn't get a Lily hug Sunday afternoon, it's only because you weren't in the same zip code. She took that part very seriously.

If you're wondering where Austin is, he and his "teen" friends spent the afternoon in a pool tournament in his new Florida St room, complete with Seminoles colored pool table. Seems like a bad week to paint the basement cardinal and gold and paint a Florida St logo on the wall! Anyway, below are some party pictures. Please enjoy them and if you get a chance, say a prayer for Lily and especially for her "little sister," not yet revealed to us by God, but certainly waiting there in China and dreaming of days like "Dora! Dora! Dora!"




Love,
Jerry, Connie, Austin, and Lily Grace
Green, Party of Four

School Days, School Days ..

Good old golden rule days ... My father always said that to me. Of course he had his second verses about reading, writing, and arithmetic that we won't get into, lest some of our school agers think we disrespect their vocation! Both of the Green kids are back in school full swing now that Fall has gotten underway. It is Fall, isn't it if school is in session. But why is it still so hot? Maybe somebody better check the calendar to see if we're jumpstarting this school thing a little early.

Anyway, Austin has started the 8th grade and really likes all of his teachers. He really gets along nicely with his history teacher. Says he's a laid back teacher that just lectures and teaches, no set formula for study this, take that test, complete this assignment, answer these questions, ... Just learnin.' His class schedule couldn't have worked out any better for him. All the tough stuff in the morning and PE the last period of the day! His advanced literature teacher heads up the Jr Beta Club and may be planning another trip to New York next spring. Austin will have to choose between going to DisneyWorld with the band or New York with the Beta Club. My guess ... he visits New York again. He's not much on Disney parks.

Lily Grace also had her first day of 'school.' She's going to a preschool for 2 yr olds - her age prevented her from joining the 3 yr old class. We didn't know what she would think of going some place on her own, without Mama or Memaw, but she surprised us all by running off with the other kids laughing and having a ball. Connie did alright, but Memaw couldn't leave. Said maybe they should stay and make sure she doesn't cry. Make sure who doesn't cry, thought the director, her or you? Of course, the director said "why would she cry, look at her, she's having a blast." So, reluctantly Memaw agreed to leave her, but only for a few hours mind you ... we'll be back to get her soon! And you better take good care of her.


"Lily Grace hard at work."
"Lily and her teacher, Ms. Melanie"

So I got to pick Lily Grace up and showed up just in time. All the little kids were marching out from their classes, "book bags" and lunch boxes in tow. Looked like a bunch of little business place soldiers, leaving for the day after putting in a good day's work! Even Lily didn't stop at my feet as the procession passed me by, instead taking her seat with the car riders in the lobby and waiting her turn to be called down to go home. Checkout the pics below of Lily Grace on her first day of school.




Love,
Green, Party of Four ...
Jerry, Connie, Austin, and Lily Grace