Game On!!

Hunker Down, Hairy Dawgs!!

Tear up those Tigers!!

Only in the South . . .

do we lay on white sandy beaches during the heat of summer and dream of  . . .

~ FOOTBALL ~

Friday Night Lights and SEC Football!

Yes, once it's in your blood, it's always in your blood!

My baby boy starting his dream in the backyard at an early age. . .

Here in 1992 as QB of our high school football team and, of course, there was little league and "junior high" along with broken arms and skinned knees.

 Then, it was on to bigger things . . .

Starting QB for the Eagles!!

 And now . . .

My boy is back on the football field under the Friday night lights; but this time he's on the sidelines.  Yep, he's traded his cleats for a whistle and sun visor ~ he's a COACH! A Quarterback Coach, no less. And it's only his part-time job; he still has his insurance shingle hung out on his office but from what I hear, he's talking alot of football on the phone during hours!

He loves his quarterback!!

It's a brand new school so there is only a freshman team and they also coach the middle school team. So technically it's really Monday Night Lights and Thursday Night Lights for us . . . but it's FOOTBALL and we LOVE it!! (And a little side note so I don't forget . . . the team colors are the same as his junior high team and they were the only team to go undefeated for both years of junior high ~ maybe it's an omen!)

And look how cute the wives of these wonderful coaches look all in their green shirts that match their husbands and their white shorts!  Oh yes!! They're even watching the game!!!!! You've taught them well men!

This mama is not sure which is easier . . . being the mother of the quarterback or the mother of the quarterback coach.  It's still a little nerve racking sitting in the stands watching and trying to hear if anyone says anything bad about my baby. But so far, so good.  All I really know is that it's great being back in the stands on cool nights under bright lights watching my boy!!

Good Luck to the Cougars!!

And . . .

back home we'll be sitting in the stands under the Friday Night Lights watching this young man begin his junior year of football ~ well, I guess his junior year of high school but let's put first things first (LOL!)

Again wearing his daddy's number and looking quite good in it if your Auntie does say so!  You are a remarkable young man and we wish you the very best.  Hope that hand doesn't give you any trouble throwing or receiving!! You make us so proud on and off the field!!  Love you, Pate Pate!!

Then . . .

there's the youngest of the bunch in his #11 jersey!  Starting his future on the field and who knows . . .

one day he might just end up with his whistle and sun visor!

Good Luck, K!!

And, if you're from the south, along with those Friday Night Lights comes SEC Saturdays!!

And . . .

This good looking guy is starting his 4th year tooting his horn for the DAWGS!  My goodness!! Where has the time gone?  We can't wait to watch you between the hedges again ~ seems like only yesterday we watched your very first performance Between the Hedges!  If you scan the stadium, Aunt Sissy will be the crazy woman waving her arms and yelling for you.

It's been a while . . .

But I've been having so much fun!!

First, we vacationed with this family on the beautiful Isle of Palms.

We toured historic Charleston via a carriage ride and, of course, played in the Atlantic, ate wonderful seafood, and really enjoyed ourselves in the Wild Dunes Resort! Girls, do you remember any of Mimi's history lessons?

The only thing missing was the other part of the family!

But then we did travel to Mickey's playhouse in Orlando with this family to the 4th grade AAU National Basketball Tournament.

We visited Sea World and Discovery Cove as well as eat more delicious seafood.  There just wasn't time this year to visit Mickey and Minnie but we really enjoyed ourselves before watching . . .

this wonderful group of little girls place 6th in the nation out of a very big, strong group of competitors.

Mimi was so proud of you and your team, CJ, for always fighting hard and playing strong against those big girls!  We will sure miss this exciting town next year when the 5th grade Nationals are played somewhere else.  Orlando was a blast for the past 2 years!

Next year maybe we can get back on our true "family" vacation schedule but Mimi and Granddaddy really enjoyed ourselves with each family this year.  As always when there's little girls involved, there's lots of giggles, silly games and a just a little tad of mischief!!

Now it's almost time for Mimi's favorite thing of summer . . .

Cousins Camp!!

Got lots of planning to do in a short amount of time . . .

A Very Scary Sunday

On Sunday, April 21, I was calmly driving home by myself from a weekend visit with the C girls when I got a text.  Well, Mimi can barely drive much less try to read a text and drive especially on the interstate.  So I just called and couldn't believe what I was hearing . . .

While on the playground during church, a boy's head collided with Ailee's nose.  It began to swell immediately but bled very little.  After church, while eating with friends, Ailee began to fall asleep, lose color, and start vomiting.

Luckily they were eating with the doctor friends who told them to take her immediately to Children's Hospital which they did.  Once there, nurses immediately started an IV before sending them by ambulance to Scottish Rite in Atlanta.

How helpless does a Grandmother feel when she's 3 hours away!

At Scottish Rite they were told by a "doctor" that Ailee didn't have a concussion and probably had a stomach virus which was the reason for the vomiting.  This person who was supposed to be a trained, licensed doctor wouldn't do a CT scan because he didn't think there was reason enough.  So they left and started home.  By this time I was about 10 minutes away from home and planned to pick up Granddaddy and head south.  But Mande said there was no use since they were on their way home.  They only made it back to Children's because she started throwing up more and started to lose color again.  They were sent back to Scottish Rite and we flew south to pick up the other A girls.

After a phone call from Children's to Scottish Rite, they saw a different doctor who did confirm Ailee had a concussion and wanted to do a CT scan to make sure there was no bleeding or swelling on the brain and also to check for any fragments of bone that could have been shattered into the brain.  They also gave her something for the vomiting so they could do the scan.

The Lord was so good and all reports came back fine ~ no bleeding, no swelling and no shattered fragments . . . just a broken nose and concussion.  They finally got home around midnight and our baby slept most all the next day.  But when she was awake, she was our sweet Ailee Bug, full of smiles and funny stories!

We are so thankful for all the prayers that went up that day and for the many wonderful friends we know we can rely on in scary times.  We also praise God for His wonderful blessings on Ailee and for the doctors He blesses with skills to heal.

Mimi loves that new hole in your mouth and I love you to the Heavens and back!!

Spring's Here!

Yep, spring has truly arrived on the Acre . . . a brand new season where all is new and beautiful . . . and, oh yes, so very yellow!!

Don't you just love these little mountain iris!?!

But I love it, pollen and all!  You all know Mimi has been in the yard every day (yes, I'm the alien looking lady in the white mask) planting, weeding, adding new pine straw and a whole lot of  "resting" while I daydream of just what it is I want this big ole city acre to look like.   All the while enjoying every second of God's beautiful creation as it awakens from its winter rest.

But speaking of winter . . .

Mimi has ALOT of blogging to catch up on if I'm going to preserve all our holiday memories and special happenings ~ so many things you girls have done and achieved this winter while Mimi was hybernating . . . but with spring comes a whole new group of adventures . . . end of school testings, spring sports, ballet company tryouts and the list goes on and on.

So I guess I'll just start with the most recent and work my way backwards.  hopefully it won't be winter again before I get caught up!

For the oldest, our little athlete, spring has brought a new sports adventure . . . well, it really isn't a new sport for you but rather a new endeavor.  As a 4th grader, CJ is playing golf on the middle school golf team. And playing quite well if this Mimi can be allowed to brag!!

In her very first match, she birdied the first hole and shot 27 for the 4-hole match to finish 2nd individually behind an 8th grader and, along with her 3rd grade team mate won their first middle school golf match!  Then yesterday, you shot 22 to win low medalist beating out two 7th graders.  Pretty good playing for a girl who hadn't picked up a golf club since last year!  Way to go!  And you're doing this while playing AAU basketball tournaments on the weekends like this past weekend where your team had a clean sweep to win the tournament.

and . . .



Every spring, the 2nd oldest, our prima ballerina, has tryouts to move up in the Company.  That's always a stressful time made especially so this year since it happened on the day you were leaving for the beach before spring break, making it a whole week before you could find out the results.

But, you MADE it!  I think the move up is to Timothy III but Mimi isn't completely sure.  Anyway, you're still the youngest in your group and, of course, Mimi thinks you're the best.  All that hard work and dedication is paying off.  Now comes 2 additional days at the studio.  Ummmm, wonder where violin classes will move to now? Speaking of which, your Amazing Grace was perfection when you played in big church and brought tears to several eyes!!

All this extracurricular fun and still both of you make all A's.  Mimi is amazed and extremely proud of both of you!!  I'm also amazed at how your parents juggle all ya'll do much less adding in what your siblings are doing.

And speaking of siblings, there'll be an update on their latest accomplishments next.

But for now, Mimi has to go wash all that yellow off of me!

Good Night and all my love to two of Mimi's brightest and most talented Stars!!

Ummmmm . . . How Can It Be?

that today my first born is as old as I still think I am?

Time does have a way of flying by!

Happy 39th Birthday

to the sweetest little boy bunny I know!!

A Celebration . . .

Red tulips and a "Hippie Chick" candle ~ what better way to celebrate

65 years!!

What better day to celebrate my 65 years on this earth than on Good Friday!

Mimi hopes all her little Bunnies are having a wonderful time at the beach and that all 5 of you can find a Golden Egg!