and baby makes five!

Basketball season

2012-01-31T11:34:00.000-06:00

Basketball season has been fun. Tiring but fun...

I love in this pic...how the Christian school we're playing is making fun of our school by saying "We love cattle"..since where our current school is used to be a pasture. Just because they're a Christian school doesn't mean they have the best sportsmanship.

Look who is right up under the cheerleaders

Tired Hailey?

Ok I have to explain this one. Our student section is the best ever. Opponets hate playing us because our student section is the 6th man. Seriously. They're so loud that the coaches can't communicate with their teams. Awesome.

This....is the roller coaster

CHS 1-30-12 from Gretchen on Vimeo.

rollercoaster from Gretchen on Vimeo.

I have no idea why they're all looking at Tatum...but I thought it was cute

The purple hairbows are for Mikal Ann. It was her fav color.

Sweet girls

This is our JV crew. They cheer at all 9th grade games & JV games and some varsity games.

The whole crew

Tribute to Mikal Ann.

Yes..only in the south are girls wearing turtlenecks one day and not the next.

T is the spotter in the center

I had to add that one for Tatum's face.

I bet the cheer sponsor will be glad to be rid of Anna. ha!

Here the girls are participating the Relay For Life kickoff

CHS Cheer from Gretchen on Vimeo.

This was the girls' tryout dance. Sorry for the shaking. You can FF to around 30 seconds in.

CHS varsity from Gretchen on Vimeo.

So....there you have it. I've been sitting in a gym for 4-6 hrs almost every night and this Friday night is our last game. Kinda bittersweet.

Then...onto softball and I can't WAIT.

Hello 2012, Hello New Orleans, Hello National Championship!

2012-01-31T10:00:00.000-06:00

So...I kinda just buzzed by the fact that my dear sweet husband and I celebrated ~~not killing each other~~ being married for 10 years on Dec 31. I we made the decision after it was announced that Alabama was heading to the big easy to compete in the BCS National Championship game that we should totally celebrate 10 years by heading to NOLA. and we did. and it was the FUNNEST (made up word, I'm sure) trip EVAH!

We got to NOLA Saturday night and didn't waste any time by hitting the ferry to hit the streets...Bourbon Street is where we were headed.

I posted this on FB and my friends automatically thought I was jail. Geez..they know me well.
{Total hair credit to Tatum who did the hair before I left. My girl was REALLY sad to see us go :( }

This was Billy's first visit to Bourbon Street...

I may or may not have puked the next morning. You're welcome for that nugget of info.

The next morning we headed out bright and early (not really) just in time for lunch. ha!

We headed out to Little Dizzy's. My dad led us here, because he knows THE places to eat. Not the fancy smanchy places..but the dives that have the best food. Billy was super happy because he loves gumbo, I do not.

He and my parents ate:

and they were in HEAVEN.

I ate

and was in HEAVEN. Don't judge. or laugh. Billy loves the fact his wife orders of the kiddie menu. ha!

We ALL ate

Bread pudding that was super yummy!

Here were some of the ceiling tiles in Little Dizzy's

Next we hit the streets walking... We shopped in the French Quarter.

We went to the ALABAMA pep rally

Next up was a muffeletta from

Our goal was to fill Billy up...which is a hard thing to do.

Then we walked walked and walked

hit the bars

then...the unthinkable. We walked right into the buses where the Alabama boys AND COACHES were getting on the bus.

I'm pretty sure he saw me going all papparazzi on him and was thinking in his head

Me too Nick...Me too.

Cute couple huh?

We were so giddy from seeing the football team and Nick that we started taking pics together

Which out of the blue..this jumped in between dad & Mark.

I have no idea where it even came from!!!!

{PS..don't you love the naked woman beads my dad has? I caught those and let me just tell you, for the love those beads HURT when I caught them coming from the balcony. Anyway, I talked him into switching with me because it was just weird wearing naked lady beads. Like it's not weird with my dad wearing them. whatever}

We finished the night off with this

When I die and go to Heaven...Heaven will be Cafe Du Monde'. Their beignets and coffee...there are just no words to describe them. Just know..we stopped there every day we were there.

EVERY DAY PEOPLE.

The cathedral at night

A steamboat..and the gateway to our hotel. The ferry!

Waiting on the ferry

Madelyn & I had to take this. When I was packing and Billy saw everything I was bringing he actually said "Dont you think that's too much houndstooth?"

AS IF THERE WERE SUCH A THING AS TOO MUCH HOUNDSTOOTH.

My feet would be the pasty skelatal looking feet missing houndstooth on 2 toes. Hers would be the toes that resemble vienna sausages.

The next morning..GAME DAY..we got up bright and early again to hit Willie Mae's at lunch. Hey, we had no kids..lunch was early for us!

We waiting in line...with other Alabama fans. At least we weren't being called "TIGER BAIT" by all the LSU fans..which got old after 256541367436413125750 times.

You should know I don't eat meat on bones.

(Don't judge me by my quirky food habits)

but holy mother of all things good, this was the best fried chicken I've ever eaten. Ever.

Cousins Mark & Amber from CA

Next up..cemeteries

We visited the grave of Marie Laveau.

Where we left her a offering..

Left our 3 x's

Went in circles 3 times

(this is her daughter's tomb)

and asked for our wish

The offering may have been 4 quarters. The wish may have been to DOMINATE LSU.

(by this point..i was TIRED of being called tiger bait. Maybe even annoyed)

(Look at the sea of purple & gold behind us)

Not that I believe in Vodoo or anything...but......

We all know what happened that night at the Superdome...right?

National Champs Baby!!! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

After the game we hit Bourbon street. again. and..I may have been a tad obnoxious. Just a tad. {who is Tiger bait now???? How's the ~~honey badger~~ syrup squirrel working out for you? I know. I was bad.

This is about how my night on Bourbon street was. A blur.

I have no idea where that pom came from in my boot. Mine was at the hotel. :)

The end of the night. Somehow I ended up with a pom in each boot.

After 3 hours of sleep..we were up bright and early the next morning to pack up & head home.

One last ferry ride

Warning...eating 20 beignets and all of the other food will make you puffy with a double chin. Learn from my mistakes and DONT DO IT. I will take those beignets for you. I'm a good friend like that.

Before we left we said good-bye to Cafe' Du Monde did hit Little Dizzys again where I watched my husband eat more food at one sitting than I ever in my life saw him eat. It was a all you can eat buffett and I will say we got our $$'s worth. It may have even put him in a coma.

He is going to kill me.

He did say he didn't rest good on the way home (pictured above).

So happy anniversary my love..the past 10 years have been a fairytale.

Happy National Championship my Bama boys.. ROLL TIDE ROLL!
{Congrats to our state for bringing home the national championship 3 years in a row. Bama, Auburn, Bama. That may be the one and only time I claim Auburn.}

Santa & Christmas wrap up

2011-12-30T16:09:00.000-06:00

Have you ever gotten SO behind that you just feel overwhelmed when thinking of catching up? That's how I'm feeling about this blog. Which is why it's taken almost a month for me to hit "new post". Let's see if I can catch up.

December and Christmas went by in one big fat blur.

I think I say that every year.

We went to see Santa and it's official. Hudson is the only kid known to man who never cried while going to see Santa. I never got the ugly cry pictures of him & Santa like I did with his sisters.
2008
2009
2010

How cute is he?

I know what you're thinking...

Besides OMG adorable.

What's up with the purple theme?

(Santa, I want a airplane and a tractor)

Well..their outfits are actually blue. The purple chair however, I cannot answer for...

Even weirder than the purple chair..is the clown behind Tatum. WTH? Is this Christmas or Mardi Gras people?

and isn't it just down right creepy??? Weird hand and all. I'm surprised Tatum slept that night.

Hud had his Christmas program at preschool

Where he was thinking of Mardi Gras by raising his shirt..no?

He participated big with his awesome clapping

and I think he was being Rudolph the red nosed reindeer here.

He is obviously the best Rudolph there. Or they weren't suppose to be doing anything. I suspect he's the best Rudolph..don't you?

My baby boy is a natural I tell ya!

We had lots of cute Christmas outfits

Is it bad that I totally don't remember how he hurt his face?

I'm pretty sure it was because of her

Anna had a fun time at her school Christmas party

We had a great time celebrating Jade's 3rd birthday (apparently her mama loves her since she threw her a birthday party).

All babies love Tatum

I'm pretty sure it's because she plays with them.

Jade had a PJ party and I may or may not have monogrammed Hud's jammies 5 minutes before we walked out of the door

(he's trying to steal her balloons)

Hudson, Anna & Jade did, however, pull up a chair to the table while nobody was looking and helped themselves to an entire plate of frosted cookies.

NICE

Anna with the birthday girl

and Hudson ~~choking~~ hugging the birthday girl

We can't forget about Talan

Which brings us to Christmas Eve. And to cookie making.

Anna helped daddy this year and she L-O-V-E-D it. {thank goodness somebody around here besides billy likes to cook. or bake. or whatever in the kitchen}

Why yes, that is and entire TWO CUPS of butter going into the cookies. Paula Deen would've been very proud. My pants and waistline are NOT.

Me, Hudson & Tatum did what we do best.

Stay behind the camera

eat a crap load of cookies

and stayed in our jammies all day. total win for us!

Then we had our family over and had tons of food. Then we did our normal pictures in front of the Christmas tree.

(see? BLUE...not purple!)

Where I managed to get a picture with each of my kids! (I lost one of my pearl earrings DANG IT)

Don't worry, Tatum didn't spontaneously grow..she has on giant heels. That she can't walk in. Which is why she couldn't escape having her picture made with me.

Anna sans hair bow. Le sigh. It was good while it lasted....8 years!

and my baby boy

eating his 15th cookie for the night with some crazy knee socks.

Somehow..we managed to get all 3 to do this

Nutcase.

My parents. I should have went without the flash on my pics too.

My sister's fam

(I hear ya Mike! ROLL TIDE)

Which brings us to Christmas morning. I somehow missed getting a pic with the kids with all the bazillion presents before they take 1.5 seconds to rip into ALL of them.

Here is Tatum getting the greatest gift of all. Texting. She didn't realize how much she loved it, until it was gone.

Anna getting her autographed Jennie Finch book. Which by the way, if you have a child, especially a daughter, playing ANY kind of sport, you really need to read this book. (Lots of commas. Don't judge) I have enjoyed it and really enjoyed reading it to and with Anna.

Hudson got his tractor & airplane he asked Santa for...

Anna got her Nintendo 3DS

Tatum got the sparkly UGGs she was wanting

Anna got more ~~ugly~~ American Girl clothes

Hudson got a lot of "boy toys" that aren't pink

Tatum got bunches of clothes

Hudson got a evil Dr. Porkchop. Mainly because that's what he called me one night and we thought it was the funniest thing EVER.

For some reason Anna is laying under the tree in PJ's that are too small from her and are from 3 years ago.

Hudson has a new obsession with race cars aka CARS lately

The boys playing with Hud's new airplane

and Anna's AG doll bunk beds.

Arent those the cutest thing you've ever seen? ESPECIALLY the bedding. Mrs. Claus did a wonderful job on that bedding don't you think? I'm pretty sure she said some ugly words over tiny doll pillows!

I mean look...it's reversible. Brilliant that Mrs. Claus is!

Is that American Girl wheelchair not just HYSTERICAL? I know..she LOVES it.

Our Christmas Card

Front

Back

and our Christmas tree and mantle

Believe it or not..I was sad to take down the tree and for Christmas to be over. Maybe it's the realization of there's not many more Christmases left where my kids will be little and have that MAGIC in their eyes when they come running downstairs. Hudson was SO much fun this year...really they all three were. I love seeing the look of surprise and happiness.

So that was most of December minus 5000 basketball games Tatum cheered at, Madelyn's 40th birthday, and New Year's Eve! {Don't worry, that's all coming}

Happy FOUR ZERO Madelyn!

2011-12-28T16:36:00.000-06:00

Yep...my sister's life is half over according to Tatum's bff. She's FORTY!!!

Hostess with the mostest here had a GREAT time planning and decorating for this party!

Even pulled out the sequins for it. (Like it takes a party for Anna to break out sequins)

Madelyn and her oldest friends posse

Happy Birthday sister...thanks for being a good sport. I hope you liked your gift we got you.

Hello...I'm Miss Christmas

2011-12-15T15:54:00.000-06:00

This is a new Christmas dress. and I love it.

It gets a 10 in the twirl-o-meter.

I spent like an hour last night twirling in it.

Aren't I just cute?

I know. I love to pose.

The weirder the better

Let me introduce you to my brother, Mr. Hudson Cranky Pants

He is not like me...a MORNING person.

He doesn't want you to talk to him (like that's possible for me), touch him (that too) or sit next to him in the mornings. He's really not a lot fun in the morings. But it is kinda fun touching him just to watch him freak out and squeal, scream and yell "SHUT UP" to me. Because he gets in trouble with mom every time he does that. and he keeps doing it like clockwork!

This is him telling my mommy "I wanna hold you".

(apparently mama needs to clean her camera/lens)

This is him after mama says "No, I need to get dressed".

Fun times. Fun times.

This is my big sister Tatum texter.

She's a big help in the mornings

I hope you're having a great day and enjoyed seeing how our mornings go around here. I have spent the entire day at school doing this

and I cannot for the life of me understand why my teachers get SO MAD at me.

Merry Christmas!

Love,

Anna :)

Ugly sweater day

2011-12-12T15:58:00.000-06:00

So here are mine & Tatum's ugly sweaters. I totally got Billy to take a picture of our ugly sweaters.

I know. What WAS I thinking?

Not about the horrendous sweater that made me want to claw my body off (I have absolutely no idea what was said during church. I was too busy concentrating on wanting to get to the car to shed the body itcher.) Letting Billy take our picture. I should have totally gotten Anna to take it.

I am pretty sure this is the worst picture of me taken. EVER. I look all kinds of old with squinty eyes and crows feet with no lips. You should feel totally loved that I'm sharing this horrendous picture with the whole internets.

It's totally Billy's fault. I'm pretty sure I aged 125 years while he was snapping away and capturing 27 blurry shots and one clear one that is HORRIBLE of me. I'm cracking up that the grill behind us is in focus every.single.time. Now it's all making sense...he did say he was hungry. Is it bad I wanted to put a sign around my neck that said "This is a ugly sweater"? Oh...and I really wanted to ask the guy in the Auburn shirt if that was in fact his ugly sweater.

Roll Tide.

Brought to you by...Miss Christmas herself

2011-12-08T14:36:00.000-06:00

This.....was how she went to school this morning.

and girl thought she looked good! We are now at a point to where we wear sneakers all the time because she has to prove that she is the fastest runner in the 3rd grade. At least these socks didn't have bells on them.

and this....was the paper she wrote last night:

If you can't read that...I'll type it out for you.

If I were Santa's newest reindeer my name would be Lightning. I would have lightning on my butt and I would ligh up pink and purple polka dots. What ever the kids wish for I will give it to them. I will give presents to John Rylee, Breanna, Cameron, Karlie, Sunny, Hailey, Clay, Grace, Olivia, cannon, Alyssa, Sloan, Hunter, Tommy, Travis, Hanna, Mitchell, Taylor, Gracie, Riley Cofer, William, Cole, and all of the teachers. I would give all of the teachers shoes (they are pink). I would give the kids board games, toys, Apples (Ipod and stuff) and candy. I would give all the bad kids switches so they can give it to their parents and then will take it and give them a big fat spanking. I would be different because I would have wings on my back to help me fly. My bestest friend would be Rudolph, Donner and blitzen. I would have high heels on my feet. I would lead the sleigh. The sleigh color would be pink sparkly. The reindeer would be violet. Merry Christmas!!!

and here are her reindeer feet

High heels and all (check out the ligntening bolts on the shoes).

Violet reindeer

and lightening on the butt (or wing?).

Anna took these as we were driving to school.

I do think Santa is in need of a change and I think a pink sparkly sleigh is just the change he needs. Oh and reindeer that wear high heels. That would be all kinds of awesome, no?

30 days of Thankful

2011-12-05T15:17:00.001-06:00

Yes..this was the 30 days of November. Seeing as I am the mother that can't remember to send the check for lunch money to school you should not be shocked that it's December 5th and I'm posting about Nov. You should be shocked that I kept up with a pink sticky note all of November and wrote down what I was thankful for. My husband thinks I’m insane that I’m carrying around a pink note that says I’m thankful for my bed. Just another day of wedded bliss for us.

Now, y'all know I'm thankful for a God that loves me, my husband and 3 beautiful, smart, healthy kids. Let's just get that out of the way. So, without further blabbing my list.

1) My friend Revelle. Everyone needs a friend like Revelle. She's Godly, loyal and she doesn't tell you want you want to hear..she tells you the TRUTH {in a nice way so I don't have to call other friends and say "do you know what Rev just said to me?". No..she's gentle, loving but honest.}. She holds me accountable and she loves me even when I do dumb things. I am constantly blessed by her and lucky to have lunch ~~therapy~~ ~~sessions~~ with her. PS...my contribution to her..entertainment value with the crazy things that go on in my life and heads up on kids clothing sales. You're welcome Rev.

2) Tatum's orthodontist. Thank you for making her teeth straight and it not costing me as much as a car.

3) My niece Saydee. I love watching her cheer, play softball, and sleep on my mother's couch on the afternoons. PS..she's brilliant. I love that about her too.

4) My dad and the Duchess Bakery. Nov 4th is the day my dad and I trekked to Deshler, Alabama for Round 1 of the football playoffs. We got to stop at the yummy Duchess Bakery AND he drove the entire way home while I slept. I love you Dad.

5) The fact that the buses and my & I made it home safe. {RIP Mikal Ann}

6) Having a full day with my monogram machine.

7) Saydee's basketball team (she's a cheerleader) won their game. It was a good game!

8) The cheer sponsors that sponsor Tatum's cheer squad. I know, without a doubt, that each of those women love and care my daughter. I'm thankful they discipline her and hold her accountable. I'm so blessed to have these women be apart of my daughter's life.

9) My boss and co-workers that sacrificed and worked short-handed so I could attend Mikal Ann's funeral with Tatum. I'm also very thankful that I work with people that are like friends and we have a lot fun. I've worked in a environment where it was not that way and it was miserable.

10) Deanna Harding. I hope you had a happy 40th birthday up there in Heaven. I'm thankful you gave us Will.

11) My portable heater...because Billy & I would've frozen otherwise at Anna's game.

12) The fact that Anna can play with any softball team. She's so easy going. I love that about her.

13) My sewing machine. I love that I can make my children's clothing.

14) My iPhone. I may love it a tad too much.

15) Box fans. They come in handy when the AC unit has been out at your place of employment. For two weeks!

16) My snakeskin pumps. I wear them almost everyday in the winter.

17) A weeknight with NOTHING to do. Woot!

18) My sweet 3 year old baby boy and my mother-in-law. They share a birthday! I'm thankful for my in-laws that feed my baby boy breakfast every morning and take him to preschool for me.

19) My bed. Me, Hudson & Anna spent the entire day & night there. It is even more perfect with clean sheets.

20) Potato Soup.

21) My sister. Even though she rubs it in when she's not at work (today), she makes up for it by spoiling my children. Especially with Christmas decorations.

22) Opportunity. I'm so fortunate to live in a county where opportunity is at every corner and it's up to me what I'm going to do with it.

23) Vacation time. The fact that I get 5 weeks of it.

24) My family. My wonderful family that came to eat and enjoy each other's company on Thanksgiving. I love being with them and most of the time we're having a good time.

25) Thanksgiving leftovers. Especially Madelyn's mac & cheese and pumpkin/creamcheese pie.

26) ROLL TIDE - Beating Auburn in the Iron Bowl. BOO YA!

27) My friends. Whether it's my friends I get to have lunch with or my friend that lives in AZ that we text/email almost everyday. I really love you guys and appreciate each of you.

28) My mother. I can call her at 4:15 and say "Oh yeah..Tatum has cheer practice today and gets out at 4:30. Can you go get her?" and she does. She does anything for me and never ever complains. She loves my kids..really loves them. I'm so thankful for her. I'm also thankful for her stain getting out abilities. The woman can get any stain out of anything. She's awesome like that.

29) My daughter and her squad cheering for the first time since M.A.'s accident. Go Jackets!

30) Google. How did we live without Google?

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-12-05T11:05:00.000-06:00

We had a full crowd again this year. I love this holiday. I love any holiday where all you have to do is get together and eat. Family+tons of food=bliss

How awesome is this picture?

Luckily the anger didn't last long. I may have bribed her with cake.

I may have to frame that sucker for my mother-in-law. It's not everyday you have all 4 children looking, smiling, clean and not in camo in a picture.

The kid picture. My cousin from CA is the biggest kid you've ever met.

Good-bye pumpkin pie. Surprisingly enough, I am not one bit ashamed to claim that I ate almost the entire pie. I may have shed a tear as I ate the last crumb. I love you pumpkin cream cheese pie. I'll see you next year.

Because we're gluttons

2011-11-21T17:14:00.001-06:00

So I already posted that Anna's fall ball season was over, right?

Well...apparently there were things like withdrawal symptoms ~~coming from Billy~~ and Anna kinda missed it to. SO...she agreed to pick up with another team for their world series... Yes.. we are gluttons for punishment. As in sitting in the freezing cold for a 3 day tournament punishment.

This team was her age group and she LOVED it. Her response "It's so not complicated like 10U is...there wasn't ANY signs". Oh...bless your heart Anna...the signs will be back when you're pitching, stealing and bunting again. :) but she enjoyed it. After all..she was playing ball again.

and obviously I did too.

When Billy said "since you'll be home first...get everything ready so we can leave when I get home".

Apparently "getting everything ready" doesn't mean making a red glitter headband, making a zebra print hairbow on a ponytail holder, and putting her hair in hotsticks. Who knew?

I posted the iphone pic on FB and said some mom's get beauty pageants and dance recitals (sniff..I already miss it) and I get softball games. I don't think it came out how I meant it. I meant it as some mom's get to make their little girls up for dance recitals and beauty pageants. I get to make mine up for softball games. I have absolutely no compliants on what this beautiful little girl chooses to do, she should know no matter what it is..there will be giant bows and curls as long as she'll let me!
Anyway..these are blurry and crappy because I wasn't ready and they are through the fence. But I wanted to capture this because Anna is #20. They are doing their little pregame chant on the pitchers mound and if you didn't know, you'd think she's been with this team all along. She just joined right in.

and little Anna rocked it on the pitchers mound as usual, only she wasn't pitching since it was coach pitch.

This one sucks too..but it's the only one I got of her batting. (they had ALL night games..give me a break)

The coaches are all super happy here because we're coming off a butt stomping..only it was our rear that was handed to us. But Anna's face totally cracks me up.

My baby viper..for the weekend anyway. After seeing Saydee's 12U Viper team..Anna's team looked like babies.

and just so you can see how that sparkly headband sparkles under those lights

Perfect! (yes..I know that pic sucks too..it's all grainy and the white balance is off..but she's still cute & sparkly. Wild hair & all)

I did crack up that Anna said on Friday night after I curled her hair that people would think she was a mini Jennie Finch...yes ma'am..we'll take that role model. :)

Happy Birthday sweet Hudson

2011-11-21T09:52:00.001-06:00

So...if I thought your 2nd birthday sucked well, I never thought your 3rd birthday would be worse. It was. I'm sorry.

Your actual birthday way on a Friday. I did send cupcakes (HOMEMADE..from a Betty Crocker box. That's as close to homemade that you're going to get from me) to your preschool. Nina & Pops came over and gave you your birthday gift and we stuck a candle in a leftover cupcake and sang happy birthday.

How pathetic is that? At least last year with the ugly cake he had clothes on.

Do I mention that I ran out of eggs while making cupcakes? Apparently eggs make cake kind of stay together and not get all crumbly. Who knew? But hey...he still ate them. Like 3 of them.

We were planning on having a typical family gathering Saturday night. Well....early Saturday morning I wake up not feeling so well. Feeling so bad that Billy had to take all 3 children to get hair cuts. Alone. Which is scary. Anyway..that started the great pukathon of 2011. I started 1st. Fortunately though, after one time I felt better. Puny, weak and sleepy but my stomach didn't hurt. Next was Hudson....then Anna. Theirs was a all day/night marathon Saturday & Sunday. Needless to say, no family gathering that weekend.

We were lame enough to put a candle in a cake at Thanksgiving and have everyone sing "Happy Birthday" then. I could have sworn I took pictures but they aren't on my camera? weird?

Oh and I did make you a birthday shirt.

Happy Birthday sweet boy. I hope you don't think that your celebration of your birthdays are a reflection of how much we love you. Because we really do love you.

I completely almost missed Fall

2011-11-08T12:56:00.000-06:00

Between football games and softball games..I almost completely missed it.

We had our annual weinie roast in the woods behind our house

My dad and his nephew from CA

Anna's bff and parents joined us

A.D.D. moment ahead.

Which by the way I totally relate to Jenny Lawson : I don’t actually have “severe, crippling ADD”, but I do have mild ADD and access to the internet, and that’s pretty much the same thing. People with severe, crippling ADD might disagree, but luckily they’re too easily distracted to write hate mail. <-that's ME!

Anyway..back to my A.D.D. moment. Have I ever told you that Anna is writing a book? If I haven't she is... I posted this on fb a few weeks ago that said "My sweet little nerd child that takes books and reads every where we go. The binder underneath is the book she's writing..and we're just going to Hobby Lobby"

All that to say.."the book" was dragged to the woods. :)

along with some fake glasses so she can look like "a writer". lol Typical 3rd grader? Oh..and the clothes that Gracie has on are Anna's..apparently they went to Anna's room after she got here so she could have on Halloween clothes at the campsite. She is my child huh? I can't blame her I may have a small love affair with Halloween clothes too!

Mark, pictured above got Tatum a banjo. She was THRILLED (not that she knows how to play a banjo..but she wanted one).

I will tell you the last thing you want to hear when you're in the woods is a song on a banjo...especially deliverence.

I love these girls...they aren't afraid to have a good time.

They are so much fun (most of the time)

I love my little family

I love my mom & dad

A couple of boys from the down the street came to join us and Hudson enjoyed having boys to throw the football with.

Here is Billy's mom reading Anna's "book".

We had a great time grilling hot dogs, roasting marshmallows, and just being together. While we missed Gatlinburg for the first time in the last 10 years, we sure did have a great time being together.

Good-bye football season. Good-bye Mikal Ann.

2011-11-07T16:01:00.000-06:00

I've really enjoyed watching Tatum and her cheer squad cheer during football season. Our season came to a end Friday night when we lost during round 1 of the state playoffs.

Here are some photos from various football games:

Sept 29th game

Hudson is such a little trooper to hang in there during these games. They are over so late!

October 3rd JV game where the little girls that participated in the cheer clinic got to cheer with the cheerleaders.

Anna thought she was da bomb!

although she still insists she wasn't want to be a cheerleader when she gets to jr. high.

after all..according to her she's a real athlete and wants to play real sports like softball, basketball, volleyball and run track. I have no idea (Billy) where she came up with the face that cheerleaders aren't athletes, I, and Tatum beg to differ.

October 7th game (that was located in a town in the middle of no where. Seriously, two hours to NO WHERE).

I left my camera in my car Oct 21st! I KNOW!

Oct 27th
Pep Rally

This past Friday night we went to the State Playoffs, round 1. The game was 2 hrs away. The afternoon started off good..my dad & I drove together, the cheerleaders and football players went on a chartered bus. My dad and I stopped at the Dutch Oven bakery on the way. A bakery owned my Mennonites. and my lord those bavarian creme turn overs may have met me in my dreams a few times since I met them.

Anyway..we lost the game. Wasn't surprised. The only touchdown was a pass caught by Nick Webb, a senior and a field goal by the fabulous (seriously...I witnessed him kicking a 52 yd field goal this season. Alabama needs him. Especially after Saturday!) Troy Elliott.

Most cheerleaders had the option to ride home with their parents but they chose to ride the chartered bus home together and watch a movie. They arrived back at the school around 12:30am.

The next morning I get a call from Kaeli's mom that one of our cheerleaders, 17 year old junior, Mikal Ann, little sister of Nick, had a car accident and passed away. After getting back to school on the bus she got in her car and drove a friend home. After dropping him off, she hit a tree. Nobody knows why or how or what happened and we probably never will.

Instantly I am thrown back into July 15, 2000. I can not stop thinking about Nick. It's his last football game as a senior. He's the star, making the only touchdown of the game. The same night, his baby sister of 11 months passes away. I know that one thing I struggled with after Haley passed away was that I didn't know life without her. I was 3 when she was born and I remember my grandmother holding me up to the glass so I could see her but I don't remember much else before she was born. Nick on the other hand was 11 months old. He has no memories, I'm sure, of life without Mikal Ann. My heart goes out to him as I was in his shoes. He's the middle child, but now he'll be the youngest child of the family. A shift in the family dynamic that nobody, but me will understand the struggle of. I know that he and his family are thinking and remembering that last day, that last game, that last conversation in their minds..and they will a million times. Wondering what they could've done, what they should've said, what could have changed the outcome. They will go to sleep only because their bodies' are so physically and mentally exhausted that they can't keep going and they will wake up with that moment of normalcy then the pange of reality hits.

I'm so sorry Webb family. I'm so sorry you're going through this. I, have been standing in our shoes, still don't know what to say or do to make your hurt less. I'm so sorry cheerleaders and cheer sponsors..I'm so sorry that you have to face her spot will be empty and her smiling face is missing. I love you girls like you're mine and I wish I could take the hurt and pain away. Teachers & principals at Tatum's school..may the Lord guide you to be able to say the right things and help our hurting kids.

Mikal Ann...I will miss your smiling face and taking pictures of you for Tatum to post on fb. (She said she hated that I was always taking pics of Tatum and I caught her making the craziest faces). I'm so glad to have those crazy face pictures right now.

Mikal Ann is the red head to the left (You may remember these pictures from My Life is a Field)

She's on the front right in this one by the megaphone

on the front right here from Meet the Jackets

In front of Tatum

Tatum & Mikal Ann at camp on beach party day

Please keep our students, teachers and Mikal Ann's family in your prayers as her funeral is Wednesday.

Good-bye Tatum's freshman football season. Good-bye Mikal Ann. You will certainly be missed.

Halloween

2011-10-31T15:15:00.005-05:00

Who knew the entire population of little boys was going to be Buzz Lightyear? So much so I couldn't find a costume from here to TN for Hudson. Luckily my cousins in CA were on the hunt and one of them works at Disneyland and you guessed it..they found one! Thank you Amber & Alexis..you made ~~Hudson's~~ Buzz's Halloween!

The day it came in the mail Hudson tried it on and was all over being Buzz Lightyear! Here he is, apparently taking after Anna and continuing the tradition of weird poses.

these pics are taken with my iphone

Buzz Lightyear..Star Command. Come in Star Command.

So we're happy with our Buzz costume. Dare I even say...excited?

All was going well on Halloween morning...that is until someone ~~Anna~~ pushes Buzz out of the car because ~~she~~ they were cold.

Which will result in Buzz doing the ugly cry. With a forehead that is getting bigger by the minute..no?

Luckily... we recovered by trick or treat time. I'm sure all the candy from school may have helped a little.

and luckily he forgave Anna. Well...he had to since she was Jessie.

My mom & Madelyn dressed up as witches

or did they?

Saydee was black angel

and Tatum didn't dress up at all.

I wanted her to be something cutesy and Toy Storyish with the 2 younger ones. Like Bullseye (TELL ME THAT WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN CUTE!). Or Bo Peep? Mrs Potato Head..no? She wanted to be a angel (BOR-ING). She claimed she was all kinds of scarred from being a tree last year and I'm thinking if she's scarred from that her future therapy bills may be worse than what I was anticipating. Anyway, my mom was all nice grandma and got her the stuff to dress up like a angel. When I told her that she needed to wear tights or something on her legs because she was going to freeze. WWIII ensued (I'm still to this day not sure why?)and she went and pouted in her room like a 14 year old would do.

So, it was fun dressing up and taking you trick or treating 13 years Tatum. I'm sad it's over. Maybe next year?

Maybe not. Who knows. Life in a teenager's world. Such a roller coaster.

About 5.3 seconds into trick-or-treating I did receive a phone call that she had decided she wanted to come with us...but for me it was too late to go back. Oh the life of living with a teen..and it's just getting ramped up.

I did enjoy watching Buzz & Jessie trick-or-treat with their friends.

and pretend to go to infinity and beyond!

Is it sad I'm already thinking up ideas for next year?

Fall softball...done.

2011-10-31T12:44:00.000-05:00

and I am glad!

I am tired. It was more than what I bargained for going an hour away from home 2 nights during the week, 3rd grade and the past 3 weekends at a ball tournament. My house is a wreck (I may be wearing bathing suit bottoms today due to the lack of clean laundry. I wish I was kidding), I'm so unorganzied, no sewing for fall..I didn't even finish Anna's super cute Halloween outfit I started. Would it be weird to wear a creepy outfit after Halloween? No? Good.

I am so proud of the princess. She really did a great job.

Anna met lots of new friends..and got to hang with her BFF at a couple of tournaments

These were at the Viper Tournament Oct 22

These were taken through the fence..which is why you see the weird fuzziness

Good job on that strike out pitcher!

Oct 23

These were the only ones I got at the tournament on Oct 15th. I was too busy chasing Hudson around and trying to keep up with Tatum & Kaeli.

Oct 29th tournament

Hey look..it's me. Holding a very sleepy Hudson.

She played a total of 5 tournaments. Which doesn't sound like a whole lot..but it was..especially the last 3 in a row. Especially when we're at football games Friday nights (til 10:00pm) and we're at a softball field at 8am til 9pm. It. was. rough. and I'm tired. My monogram and sewing machines got together and sent me love note telling me how they miss me and they feel neglected. My house does too..the amount of dust, laundry and the digustingness of my bathrooms are proof.

I'm very proud of you miss princess....nobody even knew that you were 8 years old playing on and again 10U teams. I knew and you handled yourself so well. You make my heart so proud.

Now..off to do laundry.

Homecoming

2011-10-30T23:08:00.000-05:00

My cricut and I became BFF's during homecoming.

Me & Kristi (Tatum's bff's mom) had a great, yet exhausting, time of decorating the freshman hallway for homecoming.

I cut out "FRESHMAN" on my cricut and put holes in it and hung it from the purple garland. Why purple? The Freshman color was purple. I used a projector to trace out "CHS" and "2015" and my sister used tissue paper to pull through holes that she punched in it.

Kristi did the big bows on both sides of "Freshman" and the balloons.

(that is Anna running around behind the sitting cheerleaders that should be up and decorating)

Another cheerleader did the footballs and megaphones for all the freshman cheerleaders and football players. Kristi & I did the balloons, crepe paper, and lanterns. Another cheerleader did the purple table cloth that is hanging behind the girls in the window that says "Class of 2015".

I made the banner that says "Homecoming" on one side

and GO JACKETS on the other

Me & Kaeli made this poster

Monday was "Beach Bum" theme. I didn't get a picture because I woke up with a migraine. Nice. I'm pretty sure it was induced from listening to my cricut the entire day.

Tuesday was "Decades Day".

I had that hair teased up so good that it would've given Snooki's bump a run for her money but she flattened it down saying her "hair was too big"..boy is that a change from when I was in school. (Kids of the 90's unite over their AQUANET! The bigger the better was our motto..no?).

Wednesday was color day..as I said before Freshman were purple and the quarterback club did a skittles theme at the entrance of the school that had the rainbow so I went to the freshman hall and added enough "skittles" for all the freshman to sign their name. 160 purple circles. cut. by. hand = love for my freshman daughter.

Thursday was Toga day. Which means we got some white fabric and draped it across her. :)

That night (Thurs) I participated (with other cheer parents) in making a balloon arch for the first time...I learned from a tutorial from youtube.

We traced the CHS and the 2011 using that same overhead projector.

Poor Hud...he came along for this one.

Friday was BLACK & GOLD day

The pep rally

How fun is this of some of the boys? I took this for Kristi, her nephew is Tyler in the middle looking to the left. He's a senior this year. We sure will miss him next year.

and finally the GAME! Whoop!

Those awesome balloon arches again!

The balloon arch with the princess included. I know it's blurry..but it's only one I could get them both in cooperatively.

and the boys

I'm pretty sure they won that game from all of my encouraging decorations. :) Go JACKETS!

My life is a field.

2011-09-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

these days it seems we are living, sleeping, eating at some kind of field.

On Fridays and Mondays we are at a football field.

Crazy arms and unpointed toes. Other than that good toe touch Tatum.

and I didn't mean to catch this one..but I did. The guy checking her out is her boyfriend. But this is high school and by the time I get around to posting it..it should be WAS her boyfriend.

This picture would've been a whole lot cuter had it been in front of their own scoreboard

The national anthem and raising of the flag

Don't you just love football season?

I love watching my little girl cheer on the boys!

and I love watching her have a great time

I love watching the Pep Rallys!

I love reliving my youth. The fun part of it anyway. The girl, catty drama I've been witnessing too, I do not miss.

On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays we've been at a softball field. Little sister joined a travel softball team. Which is when I will officially write down as the day I officially lost my mind. Since it's about a hour away from our house. mmhmm crazy. I'm so proud of little sister. She turned 8 in May of this year and she is the pitcher for a 10U softball team. She's pitching against the big girls (and when I say big..I mean big. As in some of them have hit puberty.) and she's holding her own. She is doing very well and I'm sorry to my coworkers who have to hear me talk endlessly about my little pitching wonder.

I have found glitter ribbon and have been making headbands so we can be as awesome as Jennie Finch because we think she is the most awesome evah!

I was a little worried how she'd do with a new team..knowing nobody. But she's doing just fine.

I will say..the rides home on Saturdays. She waits til we're about 20 minutes from the house and gives it up.

The bad news that her BFF is on a different team

The good news is that after the game..they met in the middle to "hug it out". That is when I took this pic. I missed the hug.

Poor Hudson. He's drug from football fields to softball fields. His diet consists of crap from a concession stand. He has no routines or bedtimes. He takes his naps on the weekends under a tent at a softball field. His life is drastically different from his sisters'. But at least when he's tired and he's hit his 2nd wind he's usually in a pretty good mood. WILD. but not throwing fits. so that's a plus.

These are a 2nd wind at a football game

I think here he's imitating the faces I was making after attempting a cheeseburger from a ball park in Decatur.

but I can't be sure though.

Here we are watching sister pitch

So that pretty much sums up our lives at the moment. All of that plus full times jobs, school, homework and tests (Lord the the 3rd grade may just do me in). Now you understand why my house is a wreck and the grass in my yard is up to your knees. Because on my "off days" Sundays and Wednesdays I'm pretty worthless.

Worthless=sewing.

1st Day of School 2011

2011-09-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

The morning of 1st first day of school (August 11th) started off great. With no power. At 4:45am my Imgoingtohighschoolfortheveryfirsttime daughter crawls in my bed. Aww..sweet...snuggle. Except for it's Tatum and Tatum doesn't snuggle. Ever. So she's talking. At 4:45am. Mom.... I don't know how to get home from school. I don't know what bus I ride. I don't even know where to go to GET ON THE BUS. I don't know where to go when I walk through the front doors. I dont know where my homeroom is. I don't even know where my locker is.

I tell her she has to stop talking at 4:45am. My brain can not even process what she's saying at 4:45am.

Then it starts again. OMG HOW AM I GOING TO FIX MY HAIR WITH NO POWER.

Billy meanwhile is getting ready for work. When I break the bad news that he's going to have to break out the generator. He's all "The sun is about to come out. You will have daylight to get ready." Obviously it takes zero power to run a brush through his hair and call it fixed. Meanwhile TEARS are coming from my daughter who doesn't cry over the bleak reality that she may not have power to fix her hair. I convince Mr. It takes no power to get myself ready that we NEED the generator and tears subsided.

She looked just beautiful for her first day of school

I'm pretty sure she is the only high schooler on earth that begged and had her mama walk into school with her on her first day of high school. With all that drama coming from her, I didn't even have time to get emotional that my first child is off to high school. I think I must have been in shock from all the nervousness coming from Tatum.

and miss princess pie started the third grade

I can't believe she's in the 3rd grade

and Hudson had to get in on the action too

Obviously that head of hair had nothing that required power go through it. I'm not even sure he had anything at all go through it. That's boy hair for ya..you can fix it and 5 seconds later it looks like he rolled out of the bed.

The good news is..the all had a great 1st day of school. The bad news is I had two nervous breakdowns when Anna got on the wrong bus and when Tatum hadn't shown up at my mom's 4:30. AND I couldn't get in touch with her because she had broken her phone (mmhmm..had it 6 months!) and I was teaching her a lesson by not ordering another right away. I ordered one that afternoon. :)

Meet the Jackets!

2011-09-04T20:01:00.000-05:00

Before school started Tatum &; Saydee cheered at the Community Pep Rally..aka Meet the Jackets (even though Saydee is a bulldog. It's a long story).

Tatum's group went last and I love this I caught of her and her friends.

Saydee's group was one of the first to go

She did so good!

She is cracking me up in this picture..the look on her face is hysterical.

Tatum got a good laugh when we yelled for her when they called out her name

You might remember this bunch...

it was weird seeing them in something other than a swimsuit.

Next up 1st Day of SCHOOL!!!!

Samantha Ferguson does it again

2011-08-23T13:11:00.000-05:00

Well..we've established for me to be in any pictures AND for them to be in focus I have to hire someone to do it. That person, Mrs. Samantha Ferguson, just HAPPENED to be at my beach. I know!!! Totally meant to be. The universe lined up for that one split second where everything worked out. Samantha was going to my beach. The entire family would be there AT THE EXACT SAME TIME. This...doesn't happen to me!

We set it up weeks..maybe even a over a month before. Which means if something happens, it will.

Like this:

What/Who the crap is this? That would be my husband. That would be my husband's black eye. Due to a 8 yr old girl's fastpitch that went all wrong. According to my husband aka "the catcher", the pitch was coming in low. Expect the ball went and pulled a fast one over on him, hit the front corner of home plate and popped up and hit him in the eye. He suffered a mild concussion. I'm not kidding.

One week out from picture date, it looked like this:

I may have started to panic. A little.

Actually...go google Modern Family Portrait Episode. If you haven't seen it, WATCH IT! This is my most favorite episode EVER. Gretchen = Claire.

ANY-WAY. (and Billy says I'm A.D.D. Whatever).

Pictures..right. The stars lined up and Samantha Ferguson will be at the same beach as us and all family is available. Then Billy gets a black eye. I am on the receiving end of a not so great haircut. When I say "not so great" I mean the only good thing about it was I had hair left. I may have cried over it. Twice. I wake up morning of with my tear duct messed up and my eye is swollen. Anna decides she wants to go and get a fever and a sore throat (who does this at the BEACH?).

Now the planets have lined back up correctly.

Samantha worked her magic. and I'm in a picture. and it's not blurry.

I hear the collective AAAWWWW.

You can barely see Billy's black eye. You can see Anna's fever though.

I usually totally fight the khaki and white trend that everyone does. However when Shrimp & Grits came out (I bought these just for beach pics at the beginning of Summer..this was the only time it was on their bodies) with those smocked outfits they were a must have. That is the biggest size Anna's dress comes in and that is the biggest size Hudson's jon jon comes in. If I'm going to put them in the cutest beach outfits known to man, now was the time. My smocking love affair is coming to a end now that Anna has outgrown the dresses and Hudson the jon jons. :(

You can tell Anna wasn't herself

Should I even mention the last time my parents were photographed by a professional photographer was December 1999. At my grandmother's nursing home. Who knew that would be a) the last photograph we would have with Haley and b) the most recent up until August 2011 photograph my parents would have made.

You can see black eye and fever here. Hudson makes up for it though..

Swoon

Aint going to lie. I thought the heat had gotten to Samantha when she said now RUN.

But it's beautiful..don't ya think? I do...

Thank you Samantha Ferguson for your beautiful work.

and sorry for changing clothes (all of us..adults included. I blame the heat) in the parking lot (not in the car mind you) and bringing the cooler of cold beverages. I'm pretty sure you will completely understand during that shoot with Amanda Trawick you have coming up. :)

The pictures above belong to Samantha Ferguson and His Hands Photographs. I have not purchased the CD yet as these ARE JUST THE PREVIEWS! I know..can you believe it? I can't wait to see the rest.

My big fat beach post

2011-08-22T21:48:00.001-05:00

If you are sick of seeing beach pictures and updates, go ahead and close the browser. Tatum stayed at the beach with my parents all of July. Anna stayed for 3 weeks. This was Anna's first time to stay with the grandparents and her aunt at the beach. Just a warning. When your daughter stays with her aunt and grandparents you will get texts like this:

Saying "She couldn't choose". McDonald's and 2 ice creams = Heaven for Anna.

Ah..to be 8 again. and have a metabolism. Must be nice.

We got to take in a whole lot of these

These were taken with my iphone.

and a few of these

I'm convinced Laguna Beach HAS to be the luckiest beach on Earth. Everyday storms would pop up all around and somehow we managed to dodge them.

We got in some of these:

Hudson & my dad during their afternoon nap. Whenever it was naptime, Hudson would pack up his toys and say he was ready for his blankie. We would come back to the house, shower off, eat lunch and drink a cup of milk and he would be down for the count. My dad would sacrifice and just so happen take his afternoon nap at the same time. This defines what it's like to have Hudson sleep with you..he gets right up under you as far as he can.

When he would wake up he would get his basket (or one weekend a toy story lunch box) of toys, his bathing suit and stand by the door ready to go back to the beach.

We mastered potty training this summer

Luckily these ladies thought he was cute..and funny. My goal is to teach him that in a few years this will be creepy. and a felony. I know. I set those goals HIGH!

The boys went deep sea fishing

and caught some of these:

and the rest of the kids liked posing with the fish too

Anna was there for decoration. I don't blame you darling. Fish are kinda nasty.

I got some weird poses from the princess.

and some cute ones

and some posed ones of Hud too

and some natural ones

Look at Hudson chasing the birds

The one above is my favorite.

We did a LOT of running and playing

(Lots of Hud ahead. They're all too cute not to add)

Now you know why those naps were so important. and necessary. I'm talking about the naps for US!

Billy built his annual great sand castle

or sand CAR

and Saydee bug was there too..but like Tatum..there are not a whole lot of pics I have. Especially since my hard drive with all 44,897 pictures on it crashed. :(

and I took some beach pics with clothes ON!

These are my favorite

are these babies not the sweetest...

most angelic...

beings you have ever in your life seen?

Ya wanna know my Anna's secret to those natural laughs?

Fart noises.

Somehow Anna figured out a way to make above noises with a piece of sea grass? oat? whatever that is. Here they are concentrating HARD on making the noise. But they do look sweet don't they? Look being the key word there.

See..here is a beforeseaoatthingmakingfartnoise smile

Totally worth people on the beach thinking I was letting them rip. Dont you think?

I caught Anna in a couple of her favorite dresses

and her favorite hairstyle. I'm afraid hairbows are a thing of the past. I know. It's tragic.

Tatum's BFF came down and spent the last week at the beach with her

I can't believe these two just started high school.

How did I get that natural smile you may ask? I barked at her. Mmmhmm..barked like a dog. What I wouldn't do to get a natural smile.

What will I do to get a picture of myself at the beach? Hire Samantha Ferguson. That's coming up next. It needs it's very own post!

July 4th!

2011-07-09T16:18:00.000-05:00

2001

2011

I love July 4th. I love our country. I love summer and all the things it brings.

The beach!

2011-07-08T21:31:00.000-05:00

We finally headed down to the beach July 4th weekend

Gosh we've missed the beach. We have been since Labor day last year!

Baby Boy seems to like same a little more than he did spring break 2010.

Anna was back to building sand castles..with her red solo cup. Because we're classy like that and their mama forgot to bring sand toys. Don't judge. I remembered sunscreen.

As you can tell..my dad has been at the beach for a while

In preparation of July 4th..I made a shirt ~~or 3~~ for Hudson.

Next up..July 4th!

Summer lovin!

2011-07-08T14:22:00.000-05:00

We are having a blast this summer.

It is flying by way too fast. Back in June Anna went to softball camp in UAB. She is the only person I know that would wear a full softball uniform, completed with socks, in a bazillion degree heat because she wants to.

Photos courtesy of Angela Washington

Which did the job

It even took Saydee down a notch as well

Luckily for my children, my sister is a teacher and is off all summer. They are even more lucky that she's a certified lifeguard and teaches swim lessons.

I'm not quite sure if Madelyn is flat out crazy, a glutton for punishment or the best aunt on earth. She lugged 3 extra children (one day 4 extra. She let Anna bring a friend!) around the entire month of June! To the pool, mall, library, lunch. She really is the best! Thank you for giving my children a wonderful summer {while I work}.

We have also been back to the lake. Where I showed my kids that mama still has it

(that's me. On our "vintage" kneeboard {according to Kaeli} showing those kids how to do it. look at how awesome I am{for five minutes anyway})

Daddy showed them how to do it too..

Tatum did good too..but I caught this one and it's TOO FUNNY

Anna got up on her knees too..she was SO proud of herself

and Hud did his water loving jumping thing

Father's day was....ok. I spent the entire day holding a garbage can while Hudson vomited. all day. and all night.

So Billy ended up taking his girls out to dinner. He originally had on tshirt and shorts. Anna requested that he change into something more appropriate. Like a tuxedo. :) He goes for jeans & a button up and Anna gave her approval.

This picture defines Anna

So we've been in the water all summer

Hudson & Kaeli

Which is why I bought Anna too many swimsuits..because she's had one on everyday!

LAKE!! Again!

2011-06-11T11:53:00.000-05:00

We went to the lake after Anna's dance recital and spent the night. We spent the entire day on Sunday on the water. Only in a weeks time, it's been so hot (and I love it) that it's warmed the water right up to mine and Hudson's preferred temp. After I initally got him in the water and he was ok with it. After watching the girls jump in off the boat over and over he decided he wanted to try it.

He's hooked on the lake! That's my boy!

I love the look he's giving Madelyn & Tatum here.

He then decided to jump off the side of the boat

After watching his sisters and cousin jump off the top platform on the back of the boat..

He decided he wanted to do the same..only he could take that step off so I ~~threw him off~~ helped him out a little

Amazingly enough..he wanted to do it again

We also rode the jet ski (Tatums pink and purple jet ski that my dad bought for her 9 years ago)

Hudson loved every minute of that too...yelling "Go faster daddy..FASTER!"

Anna did not yell go faster...she was yelling SLOW DOWN. She has too much of my mother in her..ha!

Hello summer...I love you and have missed you tremendously. Thank you for coming back into my life. The lake is so much fun (except for having to drag Hudson kicking and screaming out of the water).

We will back very soon to see you lake, especially if this little boy has anything to do with it. He comes home everyday and wants to put swim trunks on to "go to the lake and jump off the boat". Yep..we have us a little water bug. Thank GOD!

Dance recital 2011

2011-06-11T10:12:00.000-05:00

Anna had her dance recital last Saturday. Her costume was so fitting and perfect for her. PINK, SPARKLY, SHINY.

As you see little girl loves performing. She loves the lights, being on stage, the praise of applause. Loves it. ALL of it. She is having the time of her life! Congratulations on your 6th year of dance. You make us so proud!

Look at how much fun she is having...

Anna is on the front 2nd from the left.

Anna is on front. 3rd from the right.

My niece Saydee rocked like 5 dances..I lost count

Two of the girls you see in the dances with Saydee...their mothers are no longer with us. One died when she was 2 weeks old from a blood clot and I'm sure how the other mom died.

During the dance recital I sneaked into Saydee's dressing room to get Anna ready. (They have better lighting. Shhh don't tell.) Anyway, these 2 girls broke my heart. They didn't have anyone putting their make up on or fixing their hair for them.

Nor did they have their mamas there waiting for them when they came off the stage to hug them and tell them how wonderful they did. It really broke my heart for these girls. I almost lost it when the owner of the studio came down and specifically found these 2 girls to have her picture made with them. On the DVD after the performances there is a slideshow of pictures with all of the little girls and their mothers. So the owner came to get a picture with them so they could be in the slide show. {tears} My sister did too..she taught both of these girls.

Back to Saydee before the tears begin again..I'm so proud of her. She does so much...travel softball, Jr. High Cheerleader and competitive dance team. and straight A's. This year she completed her 10th year of dance. Congratulations Saydee...we are so proud of you.

I swear my mom is happy to be there....I think she is experimenting with a new smile. One that doesn't make her look like she has slits for eyes. I will let her know that this smile isnt working for her. ha!

Proof that I really do exist.

I love these kids so much. (To my kids..quit breaking every damn thing..ok?)

They all make me so proud with their accomplishments. I wish time would just slow down a little. I feel like my time with them is slipping through my fingers faster than sand does. I take such joy and pride in watching them do all their sports and extra curricular activities that I have no idea what I'll do when they're grown up and gone. I was a basket case crying when Shondra was announcing the seniors. I didn't know any of them..but I was crying for the mamas that spent the last 15 years driving them to dance, putting ribbons in their hair for practice and enjoying every minute of 15 recitals and it was over. It was all over for them. What are these mamas going to do now? {see..tears came anyway} Keep on dancing girls.. I love watching every minute of it.

Oh I almost forgot...

Congrats to the cutest mouse ever (I think she's a mouse..wouldn't you say that's a mouse costume?) Miss Raye on your 2nd year of dance.

You did such a great job! I know your mama and daddy and grandmas and grandfather are SO SO proud of you.

and thank you grandma Anita for telling me you read my blog..it's good knowing someone does. ha!

Cheer camp

2011-06-11T08:50:00.000-05:00

Tatum went to cheer camp last week. It was everything I was hoping it would be and more. I think she enjoyed it too. I was THRILLED when I found out they were going to Alabama..I'm giddy that she had her picture made with Big Al even if it is against the ugliest background in history.

Here they are Tuesday night competing in the home pom routine. Who knew Tatum was the tallest on the squad?

Our girls competing their home pom routine

Here they are competing their extreme dance

I am so proud of our girls..they worked extremely hard. Congratulations on a job well done!

Sidenote:
Another mom and I went down and spent the night Thursday night to get the girls out of their room at 7:00am the next morning. This was the view from my hotel window.

Our hotel's room had a tarp over it. The columns were damaged and the sign was gone. The devastation in Tuscaloosa is absolutely heartbreaking.

Memorial Day

2011-06-02T08:35:00.000-05:00

Saturday we headed up to the lake. Tatum went up the day before with KK. It was just the 4 of us. We hung out with some friends Saturday, didn't take 1 picture.. I KNOW!!

Sunday we took off and headed clear across the lake to hang out with our friends Joe & Hollie.

Hudson picked right back up from last year wanting to drive

The water was a little (a lot) too cold for me & Hudson.

We had a great time playing with Taylor, Skyler, Hollie & Joe.

So much that it wore us OUT! Can you believe Anna is SLEEPING?

Hudson passed out too! It was a very peaceful boat ride back!

I mean fell asleep with hand in the cheez-its!

When we got back to the house we were sitting on the front porch and I realized the light was perfect for pictures. I ~~forced~~ got the kids to stand the in front yard..I swear I did not pose them.

What are they both looking at?

The next morning we got up bright and early to pack up and go home. We really wanted to get back on the boat..but I had to get home to pack Tatum up for cheer camp! On Memorial day!

Then we whisked Tatum off to cheer camp til Friday.

Billy & I are off this week..so we've been doing a whole lot of nothing. Which is nice.

Hello summer, I'm so glad you are back. I've missed you.

May!

2011-06-01T22:59:00.000-05:00

Done! Just like that...

May is always a busy month in our house. Anna's birthday, my father-in-law's birthday, my niece Saydee's birthday, decoration, mother's day, softball, awards day, end of the year parties, softball parties. END OF SCHOOL! WOOT! This very well may be the longest blog post in history. But I need to remember so I will blog it.

Decoration at the cemetery where my little sister and Billy's little sister is always on Mother's Day. WHY? Why would my mother want to spend her mother's day at the cemetery? It really drives me crazy.
This is my sister's grave

Decoration is a regional thing from what I understand. When I was young, I can remember decoration where my grandfather was buried, my granny would cook a big meal and we took it to the cemetery where they had a big pavillion and it would be a inpromtu family reunion. It's not like anymore, people don't bring meals, at least not at this cemetery. I did see people with tents & lawn chairs that hung out there all day long to see everybody. Everything in the south is a social event. :)

My granny used to tell me that decoration started after the civil war. Widows would choose a Sunday in May and would go to the cemeteries and clean the graves off and bring flowers.

It does make the cemetery look pretty. (I just wish it wasn't on Mother's Day. BOO!)

This bench that they're standing on..Billy and I both can sit here and visit our little sisters. They are close to each other.

There is a pond there..that has ducks. He was enthralled

Shortly after decoration, mother's day and the birthdays x 3...
Little miss thing finished up her softball season

I love these girls..is the both of our teams

Anna and her bff Gracie

It's funny how she can be a dirty ball player one night and a prissy, pink, ruffly girl the next day.

We watched Tatum cheer her first Varsity football game at the spring Jamboree

Well...we watched Tatum cheer.. Hudson watched the football players

and ran under the bleachers

Next up ... Awards Day!

Anna got a medal for having straight A's all year!

I am fully aware that Anna's teacher is in the background saying "Thank you Lord, it's over".

and I embarrassed Anna to death by asking the love of her life to have a picture made with her. He broke up with her because she wears hairbows. She broke up with him because he's a Auburn fan. It's a rocky relationship.

The next day was Tatum's awards day. Her last one at this school. It was really sad leaving the school she's called "home" for the last 9 years. There were a lot of tears..from the students, teachers and parents.

Here she is getting her award for Science Olympiad

Tate & KK her best friend

There wasn't too much time for tears...off to the high school they go to perform their routines that they're taking to camp

I will finish up May in the next post.. I'm very proud of our cheerleaders!

Happy Birthday baby girl!

2011-05-11T14:45:00.000-05:00

Anna Haley. I can't believe you are 8 years old today. It seems just like yesterday when you came into our lives.

It's funny now to look back and see you and your very prompt chunky 9lb 9oz self. You were born on your due date. Very typical for you my little girl. I remember the day your daddy & I found that you were a girl. I, was ecstatic, your dad wasn't. He wanted a little boy so bad he couldn't stand it. I love little girls. I love smocked bishop dresses, giant hairbows, and mary jane shoes. Painting finger nails and curling hair. I know girls. I love little girls. Your dad..didn't.

He wanted a little buddy to hunt, fish, ride 4 wheelers with. To play ball with and to "boy things" with.

It's funny how God gives us what we NEED isn't it?

Because your daddy got that little buddy in you. He realized very quickly that you were what he always wanted and it didn't matter if you were a boy or a girl. Oh if he only knew back on that ultrasound day what he knows now. Because what he knows now is that there is nobody more special to him (and me) on this earth than his Anna. We all know that we take a backseat to you in his eyes..and that's ok. He treats you like a queen. Do you realize he cooks us all breakfast because of you and it's your favorite meal?

I sure hope you remember "game days". On days where you have softball games..your daddy gets totally pumped the night before. He plans his entire day around it..getting to work at 5am so he can leave early to go get you. He gets you dressed in your ball uniform and takes you to eat somewhere. Not McD's or fast food. I'm talking Cracker Barrel or Logan's Roadhouse. The rest of eat grilled cheese (my specialty..Anna even put that in her "cookbook") or ball park food but not you my dear. Then the two of you go to the ball field to warm up (like an hour before the game) and do y'alls little routine. I hope you remember how much you are the light of your daddy's eyes. He is so proud of you and he tells me all the time just how special you are. I hope you know.

I love being your mom. I love that you let me dress up you in all kind of prissy, frilly, ruffled, smocked stuff and never bat an eyelash. I love that you are you. You wear all kinds of craziness and you don't care what other people think. Just yesterday you told me how a 3rd grader told you that you always dress like a clown. While that put a knife right through my heart to hear that someone would be so mean, your response of "that's ok..clowns are cute. Wasn't that such a nice thing for her to say?" totally mended my heart as you are so pure and you still believe in the best of people. I love looking at the world through your sweet innocent eyes. I wish with all of my might that I could keep you this way.

I love watching you do all the things you do. No matter what it is..you always do your best and you give 110%. I'm so proud that you were accepted into the gifted program at school. I'm so proud of your straight A's report card after report card. I'm so proud of every pitch you throw, whether it's a strike or a ball because I know with you biting that tongue and that grunt as you push off the mound that you are giving every single pitch your all. I know that every time you swing that bat you are swinging it with all your might and you are running as fast as you can (when you're not watching to see where the ball went {ahem}). I know every time that music comes on in dance class you are shaking it till your sides hurt. Every gymnastics class you are flipping with all your might!

I love how at dance pictures you told the owner of the studio that she didn't have to pose you. You had your own poses.

I can't say I'm totally shocked that you have your own poses. It's not like you have very much practice at posing.

Out of our 3...you have been to the ER the most (so far..but I think Hudson will bypass you soon)

The very next day we're back to babies and microphones

I love how you smile when running bases. Every time. Well..unless your tongue is hanging out. :)

I'm sorry your birthday parties haven't been the best. Your birthday falls in a very busy time of year. Right in the middle of mother's day

(your were born on Mother's day. This pic was on mother's day) , decoration, ball season.

( taken right after playing a ball game)

So your parties are always thrown together. This year you were suppose to have your party at the Alabama Softball game on Sunday May 1st. But the April 27th canceled that for us. So..I returned to my normal self of throwing something together very last minute. UAB was nice enough to let us come celebrate your birthday very last minute.

The girls even got to get their picture made with Coach Marla!

So little girl..I hope you had a very great birthday..I know you were very excited this morning to show off this outfit.

Thank you for coming into my life. You are like a breath of fresh air. You are the kind of person that can pump up a crowd just by being you. Not good for your teachers, but wonderful for ball coaches. You are so special my little girl and I love that you are mine. Please stay the way you are right now.

Love,
Mom

My heart just hurts

2011-05-08T13:59:00.000-05:00

Since April 27, 2011 there hasn't been a day where I haven't cried. Since the tornados came through my state I am glued to all coverage. All of the stories, all of the familes, all of the homes lost I can't help but get the lump in my throat and tear up.

We were lucky. The tornados seemed to go in a circle around us. and I can't figure out why. Why were we spared? How do tornados pick and choose their path of destruction? Why wasn't it us? Why did it choose THESE PEOPLE?

Like Carrie Grier Lowe? 26 years old, mom to a 7 week old baby boy. She was one of 7 people in a house and she was the only one that passed away. Why her?

Why Pam and Junior Jett? Pam is the daughter of my mother's-in-law best friend Freda Owens.

Why did 3 members of the Ferguson family die, but the 4th 10 yr old Bryce didn't? Why will he have to grown up with out his parents and little sister?

Why did five members of the Hallmark family pass away but the other 4 that were huddled with them survive? Two children from that family have lost their parent and, grandparents but Julia, who was a twin, survived. Julia's twin, Jayden, did not. The twins were 17 months old.

Dustin Kreider lost his wife, son and daughter. I can not imagine coming home to a empty, quiet house.

Why did Ashley Harrison lose her life but the other 3 friends, including Alabama football player Colin Tinker, live?

Randy Robbins wrote about living through the tornado. The pictures are amazing and it is just unbelievable he lived through the tornado going through it apartment to tell the tale.

I am having such a hard time with all of my whys and I'm just on the outside looking in. I'm just driving through the destruction and devastation everyday. I can not imagine what the ones who are actually living this nightmare are dealing with all of this.

Is that not just overwhelming? Sometimes I look at my living room or playroom and get overwhelmed not knowing where to begin to clean up the mess. Where do you begin cleaning up this mess?

In the picture below...look on the door that is open. Is that hanging on the door belong to a kid? Was that a child's room? Are they ok?

This house, half of it was sucked off it's foundation. But these kitchen cabinets must have been installed well because for some reason they stayed.

The house below..most of the house is gone but the china cabinet looks like it's still in place.

Remains of a store

If you look closely at the houses below. You will see the spray paint on the houses where they have searched the houses looking for bodies.

Jamie also posted some great pictures. As did The Birmingham News. Here is a interactive map where you can see the devastation before and after by sliding the blue cursor back & forth.

Please pray for our state and the families that lost everything including their loved ones in this terrible storm.

I'm sorry son

2011-05-05T22:04:00.000-05:00

I know everything we own is pink. You haven't noticed or really care but I know it's coming and I'm sorry.

Pink scooters, pink bikes, pink helmets, pink balls. I know. It's excessive. I'm sorry. I can't help myself. I love having little girls and thought I would always be a mom to girls. I never dreamed of having a little boy.

You are so cute riding the pink princess scooter that Anna got for her 3rd (or 4th..eek!) birthday. You are so fast on it. It is so funny when you ring the little bell on it.

Maybe for your birthday we can buy you a manly scooter. :)

We are all so smitten with you little boy.

Maybe I should be apologizing to your future wife.

We are all guilty of toting you around and spoiling you rotten

She will have her hands full..no doubt

(I know..I just heard the collective gasp. Is that not the absolute CUTEST thing you've ever seen?)

We love you little brother. I hope you don't get a complex playing with all the pink.

Where have we been..the BALLPARK!

2011-04-17T18:20:00.000-05:00

Watching baby girl do her thang on the pitchers mound

So during the game above..she kept pitching as soon as she got the ball back. The ump yells "Dont pitch when I have my hand up". She says "I can't see your hand". So I made an exception and let her take her face mask off.

She thought she was so cool

Which means we get a better view of THE TONGUE

Bring it little sister

Bring the tongue

and when she's not rocking it on the pitchers mound, she's rocking 1st base

and third base too. But lets be clear..she's not playing third base. She's chasing kids down from first to third.

and she's been swinging the bat

and running the bases

and being sassy

and a full out "HUH" here after getting a triple

and she's loving every single minute of it.

and so are we!

We are having SO MUCH FUN watching you. You give it your ALL. Only 5 games left. It's flying by!

Its all a blur

2011-04-09T22:27:00.001-05:00

It's so cliché isn't it? When you hear people say "They grow up so fast" or "Watch it..they'll grow up on you". I've had people tell me this for years..13.5 to be exact. About how fast it goes by..and it does. It's one of those things that you just can't explain. Like the love for your child and what it's really like after you bring home a newborn. You can tell people but until they live it, words are just words and they really mean nothing.

These last few months are a blur.

Tatum & I found out in January that starting this year, there would be no JV (junior varsity) cheer squad this year. Which is what she would have been trying out for. They decided to combine squads and have one large Varsity squad. I panicked. I think Tatum is a good cheerleader but the thought of her going up against seniors scared me to death. We (She) hit the pavement running. She started doing 1.5 hrs of cheer/tumble classes 2 nights a week (Mon & Tues) and private lessons on Wed. January 31 softball practice begun. So she would go to softball 3:30-6:00 daily and then to cheer 6:30-8:00 on Mon & Tues. Her goal was to get her back handspring for tryouts.

She handled it all remarkably well. She kept her grades to where they have always been and very rarely did she complain. We did have to invest in some Icy Hot.

I was a mess. I was counting down the months, then weeks, then days to tryouts. My stomach was in knots. She (and I) spent so many Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday nights and two Saturdays doing this:

Notice she's in her softball pants :)

Untitled from Gretchen on Vimeo.

Then on Wed, Feb 23 during her private lesson she wigged out when going into her back handspring. This video was right after she did it. There are 2 people spotting her because she was scared.

Untitled from Gretchen on Vimeo.

Right after she just walked off the mat. Walked right past me, barefooted, headed to the car (It's Feb and it's COLD). I snatch up our things and run out behind her to find her crying. If anyone knows Tatum..she will NOT cry in front of people. She was wailing that it was broken. Two hours later at the after hours clinic they confirmed, it was broken.

I went into a panic.

Tatum was fine. and enjoyed the attention for about 3 days. Then she ripped that splint off as it was really more annoying than she initially realized.

I remember at that point thinking to myself: Lord, please just let March 10th get here. I'm so tired of worrying. I just want it to be done and over.

March 10th came. I couldn't sleep the night before, I'm pretty sure she slept like a baby. I do remember opening my eyes that morning and feeling my stomach just knot up. It was here. The day she had been working for, for so long. At this point, I was fine either way if she didn't make it or if she did. I knew in my heart that she gave it her all. She worked as hard as I've ever seen her work for anything in her life. I was proud before she ever went out, regardless of what the outcome was going to be.

I checked her out of school that day and we had lunch, got her hair cut and put up in a ponytail (that was a brilliant move on my part. that hair didn't move during tryouts. It doesn't matter that I buy the same stuff as the salon uses. It seems to work better when they do it.) ran to Walmart to get shoe polish for her shoes and went home and got ready. She had to be there at 3:15. As I was driving my little girl to the high school we listened to Katy Perry's "Firework". If you know Tatum..she's definitely a firework. But I really emphasized the parts of the song "There's a spark in you. You've just got ignite the light and let it shine." and "To show 'em what you're worth". I was pulling in to the high school as the kids were walking to THEIR OWN cars and leaving. HOLY COW. These kids have CARS..that THEY drive. Harsh reality #1. Then I drive around to the gym, where I watch my little girl with her ponytail hop out and bounce through the crowd. The crowd that had FACIAL HAIR (harsh reality 2) and CARS OF THEIR OWN.

I was instantly taken back to when I dropped her off at school when she was in kindergarten. You see, her elementary school is a k-8 (9th grade when she started kindergarten). So when I dropped her off at the curb as a kindergartener, I would look in the rearview mirror and see her blend in with big kids. 8th & 9th grade BIG kids. and I would cry. Daily. I would pray that she would find her way to her little classroom and that my blond headed little girl with her hair in pig tails would be ok.

and here I was..doing it again. This time it's HIGH SCHOOL.

As I pulled away all of the emotions that seemed to have been bottled up since January seemed to come out of my tear ducts and I couldn't stop it. How did elementary school just go by in a blur like that? I swear it just seems like it was a year so ago when I was watching her cheer like this:

When I got to my mama's and cried on her shoulder and got control of myself I sent my little girl a text (yes, she got a phone during all of this madness) that said:

"Good luck Tatum. I love you! Show them what you're worth! Point your toes and SMILE."

and I get back

"I will mom"..then "I'm next".

Ensue knots in stomach.

The next message I receive is

If you can't read it, this is the bottom of her shoe that says:

" I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Phil 4:13

Wow. Here I am sitting outside of the school a hot mess of worry and there is my little girl, who all of the sudden isn't so little anymore, reminding me Who is in control of all things.

I've already given away the end of my story in my last blog post..she made it. I'm so proud of her (and would have been either way).

So now my little girl will be cheering for varsity football & basketball games as well as JV football and basketball games too. Complete with Friday night lights and Band music playing and I. CANT. WAIT.

Today, I watched her last softball game. The county tournament was today and again..all those years of softball are a now blur. and now it's over. For good. She won't be trying out for HS softball..she just can't keep up doing two sports and so she's chosen cheerleading. I'm pretty sure it was just yesterday I was at the state tournament watching this:

Fast forward 8 blurry years

It was so sad as we walked off the field and she says to me "This will be the last game I ever play at this park". {tears}

So when people tell you "It goes by so fast" Believe them. It does. I just can't believe how fast it's went by and now her ballpark days are over. (I know that Ellen is reading this and rolling her eyes at me as she dropped her baby off at Auburn this past fall. Not to attend a football game but TO ATTEND COLLEGE. Brett should still be in the 5th grade and playing soccer. Seriously how did this happen?) I hope she remembers all those times when she hit home runs or made double plays and her biggest cheerleader was in the stands screamin' and clapping like a fool. I hope she remember how proud I was of her for keeping that chin up during games when they were behind. I home she remembers how much fun it was..because it was. It was so much fun.

Now..if I could just remember what all has happened during the blur between the March 10th and today I would be doing good. :) It all seems very blurry.

This is the Stuff

2011-03-17T20:04:00.002-05:00

This is the stuff

That drives me crazy

This is the stuff

(that's 101.8 if you can't see it. All 5 off us has seen a dr within the last 4 weeks. Tatum twice in one day!)

That's getting to me lately

(That's Tatum's finger. That she broke doing a back handspring. Two weeks til cheer tryouts. Two days before her first softball game. She was out of commission for 2 weeks. I may have possibly freaked out. She handled it fine. )

In the middle of my little mess

(this is one morning before leaving for school/work. He just wanted some breakfast. Or cookies.)

I forget how big I'm blessed.

This is the Stuff

That's gets under my skin

But I've got to trust

You know exactly what You're doing

Might not be what I would choose

But this is the stuff You use

(dont ask. One wouldn't have thought she'd have been happy since she THOUGHT SHE LOOKED GOOD looking like her bag lady self. But no..)

So break me of my impatience

Conquer my frustrations

I've got a new appreciation

(Tatum waiting on the results to see if she made varsity cheerleader)

It's not the end of the world

(the finger break. I really thought it was)

(SHE MADE IT!!!! SHE MADE VARSITY CHEERLEADER!!)

In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed.

In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed. (my new go to phrase)

(not a great pic but they aren't fighting. Actually they both have smiles.)

Excuse me

2011-02-19T22:10:00.000-06:00

While I eat you up

You sure do keep things interesting my little man.

BFFS!

2011-02-08T08:10:00.004-06:00

These 2 sweet girls have been BFFs since kindergarten. It has been so fun watching them grow together.

Gracie's mom recently took Anna with them to the circus, Her mom even had them matching shirts made. How precious are they?

Anna was so excited she could barely contain herself.

When I asked Anna what she thought about the circus..her reply, "even the BOYS sparkled mama". Because we all know..it's all about the sparkle and shine!

Thank you Carissa and Gracie for taking Anna to the circus. She had a FABULOUS time!!!

My majestic weekend.

2011-02-07T23:04:00.001-06:00

Blogland. It is a fun place to be in. I love reading blogs. ~~Stealing~~ Getting ideas for crafting, clothes, decorating..I can't get enough of it.

However, there are a couple of blogs that make me want to jump off a cliff. In a good sort of way I guess.

I'll introduce you to Cherie and Darby. Go ahead. Click on their links then die. I know. Aren't they both the most adorable things you ever seen?

I get giddy when I have the alert in my reader that they've updated. I click anxiously to see what wonderful things I'm about to see. I like to think if I were a SAHM I'd be as cool as they are. The truth is, if I were a SAHM (stay at home mom), I'd be fat(ter?) and covered in thread from neglecting my children by sewing all day. So they really are better off being in school than being home with me. I'm doing my children a favor by working (trust me on this one).

They cook. Stuff from scratch. WITH their children. I don't cook to nourish our bodies..much less for fun. And for the love, never with my kids (have you SEEN the mess the make?).

So anyway, my point. Their lives..look..so magical looking. So colorful. and fun. Mine..I feel like my life is a blurry whirlwind of hot mess most of the time. They look so put together, stylish and THIN. I feel frumpy while my spanx is attempting to hold it in and I'm pretty sure the jacket I have on right now I bought during the Bush administration. The first one.

So I decided to show you just how magical my life is..on a Saturday.

I wake up after a 12 hr slumber trying to sleep off a migraine. I felt like I'd been drugged. Luckily..this little man was waiting on me to play trains.

Then my husband whipped up a good southern breakfast of scrambled eggs and grits. When I was pouring our drinks, I couldn't help but hear the fridge make a noise. A noise I'd heard before..around a year (or two?) ago. The noise of a fridge freezing up (AGAIN GRRR). As we ate, it got louder and louder. Billy & I knew we had no choice but to clean out fridge (GROAN) and thaw it out as it was freezing up around the fan and the fan was hitting the ice making the loud sound.

As we are cleaning out said fridge, questioning when the last time it was the thing had been cleaned out, I had left the dishwasher open to throw toxic dishes in. Big mistake. As I turn around I catch Hudson peeing on the dishwasher door. Nice. Ironically, it too is a GE Profile appliance so I took that as that was his feelings toward GE Profile. Me too Hudson.

Next up I clinched the Mother of the Year award my making Anna fold laundry.

She was thilled.

Meanwhile, Hudson unfolded all of the laundry. and had lost his pants apparently.

I sat down to catch up on paperwork to notice that Hudson had already helped me out. Sweet boy. He's a helper like that.

Next up.. a friendly game of UNO. I use the word friendly very loosely there as Anna is playing. (ps never play a game with Anna. you will lose no matter what). Watch her face

and guess who won

but lets not forget the fight that broke out during the game because Hudson touched the cards. Anna: DONT TOUCH THE CARDS. Hudson: SMACK

Go ahead tender headed girl..make me mad. I will go for the jugular..or your hair. Bring the tongue. Bring it.

While dad sits and calmly shuffles the uno cards.

:cry: and crawl to my mama

in your PACE Anna

Im so cute

So that's the jist of my magical life. Add puddles of pee all over the house (not by my dog..that would be my son) and smeared poop on the floor (son strikes again), lots of thread (from sewing) and love, hugs and kisses and that was my weekend.

oh and some cookies

and laughs

and sweet sweet smiles

and I wouldn't trade it for the world.

I don't know..I could possibly trade it for a new fridge. Especially if that meant I never had to clean out the fridge again {shudder}

the Bl-ice-zzard of 2011

2011-01-28T20:37:00.002-06:00

So..the great blizzard hit Alabama. We got a whole 2 inches and ICE that shut down the complete state for one day!

Which is all fun and games (and a broken back)

until you can't get up or down your driveway. For FIVE straight days!

Five ya'll. FIVE.

When we weren't fighting over a can of spaghettio's (not me & Billy..Tatum & Anna) or taking a crap under a table without a pull up (Hudson..he's the only one in pull ups if you haven't guessed), we were having fun outside.

(I'm totally cracking up at the lack of faces to go with all the boots on that sled. Anna was scared. to. death. Who could blame her..those sleds tried to kill me last year. and she remembered it)

Luckily no ambulances were called..but I'm pretty sure DHR could have been.

Tell me Tatum doesn't look like from Sue Heck from The Middle here. Tell. me.

Anna had a great time sledding as well

I'm pretty sure you could tell she was having the time of her life by the look on her face. Doesn't she scream "I'm having the time of my life"? I understand baby girl.. seeing as that sleds are evil. It's the lack of breaks that's the problem.

All that playing wore us slap out

I'm pretty sure he would have DIED had he known she was that close to him. But it's sweet isn't it? Sweet babies.

It wasn't long til we were karate chopping each other and saying "In your PACE" aka "In your FACE".

and climbing the walls from cabin fever

and in our spare time we practiced our cheesy smile

I can't tell you how ready I am for summer. I wasn't meant to live somewhere where it SNOWS. My driveway, my car and my sanity feel the same way.

Happy New Year!

2011-01-27T22:50:00.000-06:00

I hope you're having a shiny new year

Anna has apparently dubbed this outfit the "I need to wear this to start the year off RIGHT" outfit

as it's the same outfit she wore back to school last year.

and Hudson started the year off right with a "football game" outfit. ROLL TIDE

I'm cracking up at the way they're standing. As if I'm forcing them to stand there, arms down by their sides or something. (I totally am).

I am in mourning over this Castles & Crowns smocked outfit

Billy "accidentally" threw it away in a "I trashing everything in sight" rage. (Sort of. He was getting ready to go to the dump and was grabbing everything in sight that needed to go. His preschool had sent this outfit home in a walmart bag because sir-piss-a-lot peed on it. Billy thought it was a smelly diaper that had to be cut off from oxygen to save the world, and nostrils, via walmart bag and disposed of it.)

I know. I'm totally not over it either. RIP smocked frogs. R.I.P.

Hudson is totally crushed over it too. It was this favorite outfit. (not really) Totally crushed. (not really. but I am)

This gorgeous creature finished up cheering for her Jr. High School basketball team.

and is now setting her sights onto HIGH SCHOOL. Did you read that correctly? HIGH SCHOOL. This can not be happening...

I feel the same way about Tatum going to high school as I do about the Castles & Crowns outfit going into the trash. Crushed with a side of nausea.

Since I can't reorder/rebuy the shirt I ordered one from Shrimp & Grits. Which could also make me nauseated (the food, not the clothing.)

Touching Icky Fish and Playing with Trains!

2011-01-27T22:30:00.001-06:00

Hola friends! Happy New Year! I'm back and in a much better mood unlike my last post so we'll pick up right where I left off. The week after Christmas Billy & I were both off and spent a complete week doing nothing. A lot of absolute nothing. And it was the best vacation EVAH. I slept, played, slept and slept more. I can honestly say I felt RESTED.

We did do a annual trip to the McWane center to see TRAINS (because we didn't get enough of them for Christmas ha!)

We did get to "sock skate"

and play in the snow (oh if we only knew what was coming we would have had to play in the fake snow..)

and love on the snowman.

and Anna has never touched the hammerhead shark (and who could blame her) and she was building up her courage to finally do it.

and she did it!

and then quickly yanked that hand out. (who could blame her {shutter})

We spent the rest of the week doing nothing, more of nothing and more nothing. We rang in the new year and HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to the love of my life at home with the bebes and Dick Clark. Here's to 2010!

Our Christmas Card

2010-12-27T09:34:00.001-06:00

This year I did a non traditional tri fold card..very different for me.

and the back

Christmas Eve

2010-12-26T16:39:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve started with crazy hair from this gorgeous beast!

I'll spare you mine!

and we (Anna) decorated a gingerbread house

isn't it funny that a brush never hit that hair but a hair bow did?

and Hudson loved it too..he could barely contain himself

fell asleep with hand in lunch (it's pizza. dont judge) and all. Unfortunately he didn't sleep long. So we got all gussied up for our family to come over.

You know you're created a habit whenever you get him dressed and "ooh and ahh" over him and he goes to the hallway and says "take my picture". HA! He didn't have this outfit on for long before he messed it up. So I changed him to match the plaid family

We ate a great dinner

(nice dinner there Anna)
and enjoyed our families being together

Then we got ready for Santa..leaving him our alarm code so the police won't be called (what has this world come to?)

and milk and cookies too

and off to bed we went anticipating for the man to come!

SANTA!!!

2010-12-26T15:25:00.001-06:00

We went to see Santa a little late this year..Dec 22nd. Of course, it couldnt be a event with a my family without something Griswoldy from happening.

I couldn't believe Hudson didn't cry. He just hopped up there and said "HEY" like it was nothing.

It wasn't until we were done seeing Santa and had walked off did I notice this:

Me: Tatum..what the heck are you doing?
Tatum: There was a bat flying toward my head.
Me {thinking a baseball bat.}: No..there was no BAT flying toward your head.
Tatum: Yes..there is. There is a BAT in the mall.
Me: {still not putting 2+2 together}
Tatum: SEE THERE IT IS..flying around.

Sure enough, there was a bat FLYING around in the mall.

I secretly think it was my love for Halloween letting me know that all of the Christmas psychoness will be over soon. :)

Previous pictures of My Kids and Santa

and just like that

2010-12-26T12:26:00.002-06:00

December flew by and Christmas is over!

I swear time is going at warp speed. This month..I made a effort to take the kids picture almost everyday. They were mostly taken in the mornings. Mornings around here..well..you can see for yourself what they are like.

12-1

there are lots of fun times around here..you can see the fun on Hudson's face

12-3 more fun times..sometimes we go from super mad..to happy. Nilla wafers may help with that transition.

12-4

12-7

12-8 Hudson is feeling super fly in his deer shirt that day.

12-9
The earth was clearly off it's axis that day. Hudson didn't want a picture. Tatum wanted in. I may have purposely listened to Christmas music. (and let's not forget to mention Auburn is in the National Championship. off it's axis)

12-10 Hudson's 2nd time in jeans.

12-11The girls are reading the letters they received from SANTA!

12-13

Hudson: Let me sit my milk down RIGHT HERE and smile. (red hairbow..where are you?)

12-14

This next picture is just for Jamie.

She loves those natural shots.

12-15

12-16

and because it's the rare occasion Tatum joins us.. 2 pics for this day

Hudson has his Christmas program at preschool that night.

as you can tell he was super excited about it

12-17

12-20

12-21

12-22 Yes..I'm fully aware that Hudson is holding a hair brush..but he's smiling so.

12-23and on this day it was a tennis ball and baby lotion..but hey..he's smiling.

So there are our days leading up to Christmas. Add in some cheerleading, 9 weeks tests x 2, Christmas parties, gymnastics, dance classes, pitching lessons, girl scouts, nervous breakdowns and we're full force into the Holidays!

Christmas day 2010

2010-12-25T14:05:00.000-06:00

Maybe I shouldn't update since I'm in a bad mood (for really no reason..or maybe I'm just not in the mood to write?) and Christmas isn't my favorite holiday.. but I'm going to anyway. yay.

and lookie here..my 13 year old getting her ipod touch. That was dropped and broken within 48 hrs AND she's locked out of it (i'm at the library right now trying to restore it). (see..chipper mood!)

Anna got a new friend to come live with her

Look Tatum got new Toms for Christmas. I wonder if these will have a hole in the toe by summer like the last ones. I can tell you..they are already filthy (SEE..GOOD MOOD?)

and Anna's new AG doll got a matching brownie uniform that I wonder if Anna will ever get to wear since they changed the brownie meetings from Thursday to Monday. (She has gymnastics on Mondays. Nice). (I know..great mood).

and Tatum got another pair of RED Toms..yes 2 pr. Santa must have thought she had been good all year (Ahem..)

and this sweet guy got overloaded with THOMAS stuff!

how do you like that random foot above? lol

and woo hoo. We had a white Christmas. This is as close as we got to it.

So..there was our Christmas..I'm glad it's over. (I know great mood and all)

Homecoming 2010

2010-12-06T23:35:00.001-06:00

Homecoming was special this year. Not because my Tatum was nominated for Homecoming court, because her class did something very special. The entire class agreed to nominate and vote for Savannah, a special needs girl, for Homecoming queen. I'm not going to lie..there was not a dry eye in the place when they announced Savannah was queen.

Tatum was first princess. I was so proud of her and her class. I felt so proud as I watched Tatum help Savannah hold her flowers.

I was so proud that the girls, and Tatum, could put aside their catiness, their meaness, their need to be #1 at all times and vote for Savannah.

I felt so proud of my little girl. I felt so proud for Savannah and her parents. Her parents were just BEAMING. I went to sleep that night (November 30th) thinking..maybe I have done something right with this parenting gig. And THAT..is a great feeling.

Then I opened my email the next morning and received a email from Tatum's social studies teacher that if she would just focus on her grades/work as much as she focused on her social life that she would do very well in school.

And the world was right again.

Thanksgiving

2010-12-06T23:09:00.000-06:00

Can you believe it came & went..almost 2 weeks ago? I can't believe how time is flying by!

I *love* Thanksgiving! Believe it or not..Hudson was super excited about it too.

We really need to work on this "natural smile" he's got going on (totally inherited from Billy).

Well..my dad has a pretty "natural smile" too..maybe it's inherited through the male gene.

He did like helping me set the tables. (yeah..real natural there Hud). We had a big turn out this year..eighteen people!!! I LOVED it. Mainly because I didn't have to worry about the food because that was taken care of by my wonderful husband.

Here is my sweet family that I'm so thankful for.

and my wonderful parents and sister that I am so thankful for. I couldn't survive without them.

and my wonderful mother-in-law that helps me so much (how does my father-in-law evade the camera?)

This sweet ~~bossy~~ girl made us all get in a circle and tell everyone what we were thankful for.

I'm thankful that I got the picture of Anna & Hudson together.

I would've been more thankful had my flash fired and not ruined the picture..but here were my other tries

That's when I decided to go with individual pictures. Mug shot style.

AHH..now there's a natural style.

I hope you had a great Thanksgiving!

Hudson's 2nd birthday.

2010-11-22T14:25:00.000-06:00

I wish I could tell you it was as fabulous as his first birthday. But I can't. So I won't. See, there's the thing. Time (see weekly schedule above) is going at warp speed and I can't get a second to slow down to even think. And sometimes, thinking about things like a birthday party and Christmas (well.. Christmas in general is enough) cards just really push me over the overwhelmed edge.

So Hudson's birthday this year..can't touch last year's celebration.I'm pretty sure he enjoyed his presents just the same.

and so did Anna

and we just stopped in the kitchen to open them. Because we're classy like that.

Note to self..open presents last so he will have interest in the cake.

On 2nd thought..maybe we should do that so he won't realize just how ugly it is. (I needed you Kara!) Actually Anna put the icing on it all by herself (I swear I'm not blaming it's ugliness on her!). I was preaching to the kids about taking initiative to do things that needed to be done without someone having to tell you to do it. Next thing I know, Anna is slapping icing on the cake (and may have taken a lick or two in between but we won't tell the family that will we?).

Note to self..don't try to take a pic with the birthday boy while he's eating cake

He hasn't left Thomas and Percy's side since he received them.

I thought this was the funniest picture of the whole night. Anna is sulking because grandma wouldn't let her spend the night with her. Hudson is showing off his prized possession. And Pancho is playing with cardboard. Yep..sums up the night!

So I don't think Hudson was too disappointed. He was still basking in the Thomas glow the next morning.

(please don't look at the dust under my china cabinet and dining room table. I'm pretty sure the burglars put it there when they broke in my house) (PS..love Hudson's bowl cut or hate it? I love it. Billy hates it.)

So happy birthday my sweet boy.

I love you more than life. I love your sweetness and your ability to mock all things I say (sometimes that's a good thing, sometimes it's not).

I know when I started this blog I couldn't imagine being a mom to a boy.

and now I can't imagine life without you. You bring happiness in our lives in the smallest ways. In ways you don't even know. Like footed pajamas and hearing your little feet hit the floor when you're running.

and when you throw open those little arms and say "FAMILY HUG" when we're all in the same room..it just makes my heart melt.

So you may not have had the grandest celebration to celebrate your 2nd birthday..but I can promise you that you are the most loved 2 yr old little boy in the world. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUDSON!