Quick Update

This will be quick because it is after midnight. I wanted to post this before I forgot AGAIN. The beans I cooked the other night turned out great. Mom came over for dinner and said they were very delicious. I cooked them on high heat all day. Today, I decided to get adventurous and make chili in a crock pot with dried beans for the first time. (Usually I make it on the stove top using canned beans.) Everything smelled great. When dinner time arrived, I tasted the chili to make sure it was seasoned right. It was, but there was something majorly wrong: the beans weren't done. I cooked the chili for six hours on LOW!!! This being my third attempt, you would think that I would learn to cook dried beans on high. Oh well, at least dinner is ready for tomorrow night.

Newest Addiction

I am loving Facebook!! My friend Beth is the first person I know that started using Facebook. When she moved to Florida, it was an easy way to keep in touch. If you are not familiar with it, it is an online program, similar to MySpace, but, to me, a lot more fun. You create a page, download a profile picture if you want (so people will know who they are contacting), then you either invite people or grant access to people you know to your page. I can't describe it accurately, but it is fun to use. My friends and I have been kidnapping each other and sending them to different locations, sending each other virtual gifts, joining different causes (like for breast cancer or autism), and joining different groups (like Women voters for Palin, Chick-fil-a fans, etc.). At first, I wasn't that interested in doing anything with my page. Little by little my friends from church, MOPS, and school have gotten me more and more involved. My favorite feature is chatting (it is like instant messenger IM). I have been able to talk to my sister-in-law Michelle and my friend Stacy on line using Facebook without having to tie up the phone line. Check it out. If you decide to create a page, let me know. I'll be looking for you.

Mike's Softball Team

I just realized that I have not posted about Mike's team and how they did in the tournament. They played at 7:30 and did really well. They were up the whole game. During the sixth inning, the other team got a few runs and passed the Tigers. The umpire called the game at the end of the sixth inning, even though they were suppose to play seven. So, they ended up losing the game and didn't make it to the last game. I am still really proud of the guys. They played hard and did great, especially there at the end. Go Tigers!!!

One More Time and Field Trips (part 2)

Well, I am attempting to cook dried beans again. This time I put them on high heat instead of low. I hope they cook all the way through and taste good. They certainly smell good. The smell has permeated the whole house. I think I know one of the reasons why the last batch didn't do so well. I have two crock pots. The one in which I cooked the last batch of beans has been messing up. A few months ago, I cooked a pot roast in it while my in-laws were here. It wasn't cooked all the way through even though it had been in the crock pot for about 8-9 hours. This has happened on a few occasions but not all the time. Sometimes it works fine. Thank goodness I have two crock pots and the other works great (even though I have had it longer). I'll let you know how they turn out.

Hannah had her first field trip of the year. All of the Second Grade classes went to a local farm called Cedar Hill Farms. There, they rode ponies, saw the chicken put on a show, watched pig races, walked through a corn maze, petted animals in the petting zoo, played on the playground and ate a good lunch. I didn't get to go on this trip with her because I had Andrew and Mike had to work. It's probably a good thing because it was really muddy and dirty there. It rained all day yesterday and was really foggy and a bit chilly for most of the morning. Gracie's mom, Alicia, went and said a lot of the kids were muddy after going through the corn maze. Since I went on Will's field trip and wasn't able to go on Hannah's, I told her that either Mike or I one would go with her on her next trip out. I can't wait!!

Happy Birthday!

Two very special people have birthdays today. The first is Lisa, my roommate before I married. She is a sweetheart and is still very special to me. Happy Birthday Sweetie!! I love you!!

Joan's mom, Mom Mamie, would have also celebrated her birthday today. She passed from this world to the next a few years ago. She was a very special person who is still greatly missed. Mom Mamie would have been 88 today. Instead of celebrating her with us, she is celebrating with everyone in Heaven. Happy Birthday Mom Mamie!!

School Pictures, Report Cards and Field Trips

Below are the kids' school pictures. Mike and I plan to have our family portraits done soon so we didn't purchase any of these. But, since they were good, I scanned them into the computer and thought I would share them with you.

Hannah's toothless grin

Will

Today the kids got their report cards for their first nine weeks. Hannah made all A's and the Principal's list. Will received all S's (S is for Satisfactory, the highest score you could make). I am VERY proud of my kids. They were (and are) awesome!!!


Will had his first field trip today. The kindergartners all went to the Zoo and I was a chaperon. Will, his friend Bryant and I walked all over the zoo looking at the animals. The boys were great and we had a fun time. We got to see some orangutans playing on the rope vines, seals splashing around in their pool, polar bears wrestling in the water, a Zoo Keeper feeding the African Penguins, hippos napping in the sun and a Komodo dragon walking around his pen. The giraffe exhibit had two babies born this month. The most recent, a girl, was born on October 10th. She was absolutely beautiful!!! We also rode on the carousel and the boys played on the playground. Boy, was I tired when it was time to go home. Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures. I realized I left my camera at home when I reached for it to take a picture of the Zoo Boo decorations at the entrance to the Zoo.


A cute story about Andrew: at meal times, we have the kids say the prayer. Lately, Andrew has tried to "say" it with them. His take is mostly going "AAAAAHHHH" then a loud "AMEN" and "TAA DAA" when he is finished. It is really cute.

Beth Moore is coming to Memphis!!!

I am sooo excited!! Looking around at different blogs today, I noticed Jean Stockdale had said Beth was coming to town in October 2009. So, I went to the Living Proof website (www.lproof.org) to see what I can find. She will be speaking at the FedEx Forum on October 9 and 10th, 2009!!!! YEAH!!! Tickets are $60/person. Since we live just across the state line, I will have to pay to park (if I can find any). Maybe the church will have a caravan. One can only hope!!!

Haircuts

Today, all five of us went and got our hair cut. Mike and Andrew really needed one. Their hair was getting long and shaggy. I told Mike people were going to start calling Andrew "Andrea" instead because his hair was getting so long. The last time I got mine cut was in June, I think. I had the hairdresser cut two inches off mine and it is right at my shoulders now. Hannah got hers trimmed along with Will. Mike says his ears can finally breathe.

That's all for now. I am going outside to join my family in a game of catch (or chase the kids). God blessed us with a BEAUTIFUL day!!!

Happy Birthday Aunt Carol

Today is my Aunt Carol's birthday. I hope you had a great one!! Happy Birthday!

Yeah Tigers!!!

Mike's softball team, the Central Church Tigers, won their game last night. It was a tournament game and they played the number one team in the league. The final score was 17-14 with Mike's team keeping the lead during the entire game. This accomplishment was made even better knowing that the other team was the champs for the last three years running AND Mike's team only had nine people. They play their next game next Monday at 7:30. If they win, they play the championship game at 8:30. GO TIGERS!!!

The boys are home!!! I picked up Nathan and Will about 1:40 from Joan. The house has been quiet not having Will around. Hannah said this morning that she missed Will and wanted someone to play Hide-n-seek with. This is astonishing because she has frequently said she wished it was just her and Andrew in our family and not Will. It's nice to know that she does love him after all. Andrew has asked about Will every time I turn around. He does this especially when it's time to go to bed because Will was not in his bed. Now maybe Andrew will be a little quieter now that he is home. I doubt it!

Change of Plans

There was a little change in our plans today. Instead of Hannah, Will and Nathan going to Dad and Joan's for a few days, only the boys went. Hannah was saying at lunch that her stomach hurt. As Joan was leaving the restaurant where we met, Hannah started crying and said she wanted to stay with her mommy. So, instead of just one child for Fall Break, Mike and I have two. A little while after we got home, Andrew laid down for a nap; Mike was working on a project for the office; and Hannah was watching t.v. The house was really quiet then and has continued to be that way without Will. For a while I couldn't figure out why. Will doesn't make THAT much noise, but then I realized why: the kids are usually fighting about something or playing together and get really loud. Boy, do I miss him!!

Aunt Jean and School News

We got word yesterday evening that Aunt Jean passed away that morning. She was a dear sweet lady who will be greatly missed by everyone. We do know that we will see her again, as she is in the arms of Jesus walking on Heaven's streets of gold.

On a lighter note, the kids are on Fall Break until Tuesday. Dad and Joan are getting the kids (Hannah, Will and Nathan) tomorrow and keeping them until Tuesday afternoon. Gracie is spending Monday with her mom and Tuesday with her dad. So, it will be just me, Mike and Andrew for a few days. I won't know what to do with myself. I will get to sleep in (or as late as Andrew will let me) and Andrew will hopefully get his naps out (I have to wake him up every day to pick the kids up from school).

Due to Fall Break, the kids do not have soccer games this weekend. Hannah's practice was rained out on Tuesday and Mike cancelled his practice on Thursday due to the upcoming break. We hit the fields again starting Tuesday evening. YEAH!

I am so proud of Hannah and Will. During the last nine weeks, they both got Green Lights at school for behaving in class. Green lights are great!!! Will did get a yellow light during the third week of school for squirting juice on another child at lunch but he has been good ever since. During P.E. yesterday, Will even got a toe tag for following directions. He was soo excited.

Hannah went to Gracie's house last night to spend the night. About 1 a.m. this morning Mike and I got a phone call. Hannah wanted to come home. Alisha said she went to check on the girls around 1 a.m. and both were wide awake. She said Hannah had the "I want to go home" look on her face and then asked if she could go home. So, while still in my pajamas, I got in the car and drove to Alisha's. Luckily, she and Gracie live just around the corner. Hannah slept until close to 9 this morning. I was up at 7:30 with Andrew. A nap is looking really good right now.

Boys and their Bikes

My dad and Joan came down for a visit Sunday and rode their Honda Gold Wing. Joan has had a BBBAAADDD stomach virus so we haven't seen her or Dad in a few weeks. Since she felt better last week, they thought they would ride down to see everyone. Nathan got to ride on the motorcycle with Papaw to the restaurant for lunch. Will got to ride from the restaurant to the house. I don't think I've ever seen him sit sooo still and grin so much as he did on the back of Dad's bike. After lunch, we sat outside in the backyard and enjoyed the beautiful day and the company. Will, Nathan and Papaw

Dad and Joan

Melanie, Will and Andrew
At first, Andrew was excited but quickly decided it wasn't for him.

Another shot of Will, Nathan and Papaw just after they pulled up

Will and Nathan

Right after Dad and Joan left, I took Hannah to a birthday party for a former classmate. (Amery's mom moved and went to the school to change her address. When she did, she found out that they were in another school district so Amery had to change schools about four weeks into the school year.) The party was at Chuck E. Cheese's and everyone had a great time.

Mike's car, our Saturn, had to have the brakes repaired today. The car was leaking brake fluid on Saturday and Sunday it was getting really hard to stop the car. They replaced the master cylinder, the rotors and I'm not sure what all else. They were able to save something but I don't remember what. It was suppose to take about 1 1/2 hours and ended up taking five. While at the shop, the mechanics also fixed the leaky valve in the engine. Now, we can save money since we don't have to put a quart of oil in it every few days.

Mike went on in to work because he had a softball game at 7:30. Oh, as a side note, MIKE'S TEAM, THE TIGERS, WON THEIR GAME!!! YEAH!!! They play a double header tomorrow at 6:30 and 7:30 if it isn't rained out.

While Mike was playing ball, Mom came over, along with Melanie and Nathan, for dinner and we celebrated her birthday. Hannah's friend Gracie also stayed and celebrated with us. We had poppyseed chicken casserole, green beans, corn, and garlic bread. It's a good thing I made a triple batch of poppyseed chicken. There was one batch left for Mike to eat when he got home. Everyone ate great without having to be told.

Happy Birthday Mom!!

Today is my wonderful mom's birthday!!! Happy birthday to a very special lady!! We love you Mama!!! She is 49 years young (at least that is what she tells the grandkids).

Aunt Jean and Soccer News

My Aunt Jean is very sick and the doctors don't expect her to live much longer. She had cancer previously and beat it, but it came back. I don't know if it is the same kind of cancer, but this time her body is too weak to fight it. Her breathing is shallow and weak. She is holding on until her last child comes (the rest are already with her in Dallas). If you feel lead, please say a prayer for Aunt Jean and her family. Jean is (was?) one of my grandmother's sisters (my grandmother passed away about 25 years ago). She is a very sweet woman.

Today at the kids' soccer games, Will scored his first goal!! His teammate Cheryl helped him by kicking the ball to him so he could score. Will's team played really great today. They are usually all over the field or fighting for control of the ball instead of working together. Today, they were assisting each other and played a great game. Go Tigers!!! Hannah's team did pretty good, too. They also have started playing better and more as a team. I left just after half-time to change Andrew and didn't get to see the rest of the game. Even though Hannah didn't score any goals, she did a great job by getting out there and playing hard. Way to go Hannah!!