Like A Good Neighbor...

As we turned onto our street after AWANA last night, I noticed a house on our street had their Christmas lights up and shining brightly. As I got closer, I realized that it was our house. Grey kept saying "awwwesome." Normally, my outdoor Christmas decorations consist of a lighted wreath and a slew of good intentions. Our roof is very slanted and sloped, not meant to be climbed on safely, just ask the Dish Network TV guy when he put our dish up there, (too bad that relationship didn't work out; he nearly broke his neck up there. We went to back to what we knew, basic cable.)
Anyway, it turns out that one of our neighbors/friends put the lights and inflatable penguin in our yard while we were at AWANA. Now I would prefer a nativity scene to a penguin, but I did the math, and it came out something like this: Free Materials + Free Labor = Not Picky. Now, she, my neighbor, is a self-proclaimed Christmas light/decorations junkie. There is no tree too high or roof too precarious for her. Basically, it's the Griswold's of the subdivision (her words, not mine). But you know what, those are the houses we love to look at the most. We always take the "long way around" when we come home to see all the neighborhood decor and the dueling cul-de-sacs. But this one we can enjoy from any of the windows on the front of the house. Oh, did I mention that their last name is "Rudolph". Yep. So I guess you could say they really have an obligation to mass decorate. And if some of it spills down the street and over into my yard, I'm going to say, thank you, and giggle with delight.

Tuesdays with Mama

I had been wanting to have a Tuesday's "girls day" with my best girl, Holland. But since school started, we have had Bible Study on Tuesdays (Beth Moore rocks even if she's just on DVD, although I'm still questioning that hair clip from week 7. Sheri knows what I'm saying). Anyway, we finished up 2 weeks ago. We did have a girl's day last Tuesday but it consisted of an hour and a half in the pediatrician's office with Holland running 102.6 temperature, enduring the strep test which is almost worse than the strep, and then holding her down for the antibiotic shot. Oh, we bonded all right, only not in the way I was hoping for. I don't think she'll look back and say, "remember when you held down my arms and the nurse held my legs, and you let the other nurse give me a painful shot while I screamed and screamed. Yeah, good times." So, I really needed to redeem myself.

So this Tuesday, we had our day. We went to the mall, saw Santa and put in a generic request for "some toys". Then we went and tried on flower girl dresses for her upcoming debut in my brother's wedding. Oh, how she loved those dresses! She asked me if we were going to buy all of them. I said no, that we could only buy one, because, well, at some point we will need money to buy groceries....ok, eat out. We did some shoe glancing. Then we went to Barnes and Noble and checked out the children's area. Then we hit Starbucks for some hot chocolate and a cupcake (for her). Finally, we stopped by the girly salon to finalize some things for her upcoming birthday party. We picked up lunch to take home and watch Strawberry Shortcake. The best part was when she recounted everything we did and told me how much fun it was and gave me a big hug, and THAT is why we have girls' day out.

Bringin' The Egg Back Home...(where it belongs)

Mississippi State 17
Ole Miss 14

Triplet-Sitting

My friend Sheri and I got to babysit our friend Jessica (and Frank)'s triplets. All 3 of them are the sweetest and happiest babies so it was a total joy to babysit them. In fact, when it was time for us to leave, I was going to smuggle one out with me, but it was impossible for me to pick just one, and I figured if I took all 3 then I would have to make more than one trip and Frank and Jessica would get suspicious. So all I left with was a great time, a bit of baby fever, and a whole new respect and admiration for Jessica and Frank! Matthew, Nathan, & Jordyn

Apparently Jordyn got the memo that the girls were going to wear pink and white.

Sheri and the babies

Me and the babies. Even if I could have actually stood up holding all 3, I never would have been able to scale the gate to take them home with me.

Cheerios and Puffs......like manna from heaven.

We'll Always Have New Orleans.....The Grand Finale

We had about a half of a day to explore New Orleans. We decided to check out the Audubon Aquarium. (We figured there wouldn't be any naked street performers in there.)

Mac hangin' with the Piranhas. Piranhas are creepy because they don't swim around. They just kind of hang in one spot very still just waiting for some unsuspecting piece of meat to drop in.

Mac and the kids got to pet the Stingrays. I'm not sure if Holland's hand actually touched water. We had to practically pull Grey out of the water, he was so into it.

Only in New Orleans do you find an exhibit of Drunken Fish (Pacu).

Petting the Baby Nurse Sharks

We had lunch at The Hard Rock Cafe. It was just like Houston's Hard Rock in that took 2 hours to get our food! Papa and Mac are on their 4th round of Iced Tea and still no food. Holland is so hungry, she's eating the lemons from the teas.

Mac gave this Silver-Painted Street Performer a dollar to take a picture. Then the Silver Guy tried to offer Holland a sucker. Thank goodness she ran and hid behind one of us. We taught her not take candy from strangers and they don't get any stranger than this guy!

Looking out over The Mississippi River...Holland, Me, and a monkey we picked up in the French Quarter.

We'll Always Have New Orleans.....Part 2

The Electric Slide,

Like riding a bike....you never forget.

We'll Always Have New Orleans.....Part 1

Well, he's married off. my oldest brother, Chris and his bride, Suzy got hitched this past Monday. She was beautiful, and he was most handsome. The Davis 4 arrived early Sunday afternoon, and we met up with Ran and Papa, my other brother, Hank and his fiancee (yes, there's another wedding in 30 days). We explored a little of New Orleans and then Monday we attended the wedding. It was aboard a Carnival cruise ship. We boarded the ship, explored a little, and then went to the wedding and reception. Then the newlyweds and some of the wedding party sailed off to sun, sand and a week of relaxation. And the rest of the wedding party (us) got off the boat and sailed back to work, school, and domestic duties. sigh. It was hard to disembark after seeing how much fun the cruise ship was. I had to physically restrain Grey from going down the pool's slide in his wedding clothes. And I know I saw Mac eyeing the mini golf course.

Mac, Chris (the groom), Holland, Me, Grey

Chris, Mom (aka Ran), Hank, Me

Pop, Banny, Chris, Hank, Me

SUZY and CHRIS NORWOOD

The Mustangs, Post Game Wrap-Up

Well, we finished the soccer season. I'd like to say we finished it strong and on top, but well, we didn't. But Grey had a lot of fun and definitely got better as the season progressed. He didn't miss a game or practice and I'm proud of him following through on that commitment. I'm tired of making the drive to the fields, but nonetheless, proud of the commitment thing.
Last week's game bestowed a new title on Mac. He was coach for that game. Our coach was called in to work at the last minute and asked Mac to fill in. He did a great job, the players, not so much. It was the first game where Grey didn't score any goals. I think he was so busy trying to be Mac's assistant coach that he couldn't focus on his job of actually playing the game. They got spanked (and elbowed a lot), plain and simple.
Today's game was once again with the Cardinals. (the Lifegroup shootout) We played hard with Grey scoring 2 goals, but alas, it was not enough to overcome the very talented Cardinals. We lost 4-2. Sigh....guess we'll be bringing breakfast tacos again..... Mac's coaching debut.

That's my boy!

It's Coming....

That's right, basketball season is coming. And I have said it a million times, basketball is Grey's favorite sport. ( I believe some of you were saying it with me just then.)
So, in preparation for the season we have put up the new adjustable goal. It goes from 8 to 10 feet. And let me just say, putting that thing together was no easy task. I noticed that when we mentioned that we going to put it together, friends who have similar basketball goals were suddenly busy that afternoon. I can clearly see why. I truly believe Mac and I should receive some sort of associates degree in engineering or some sort of marriage medal because:
A. We put it together correctly....or close enough that it won't fall and maim someone.
B. We put it together in complete harmony. I mean we are 2 business majors putting mechanical thingys together, and we got along famously. That has to count for something.
Now, I must go practice 'cause we have challenged the Canadiens around the corner to a "no mercy" game of "HORSE".

Thank you to my model, Holland for helping showcase the basketball goal.

A Surprise Party....For Me?

My friend, Liz threw me a surprise birthday party Friday night. Now, normally I don't like to be the center of attention. I like to think of myself as an intricate part of the peanut gallery. But I have to confess, I really enjoyed the spotlight....allright, I downright loved it. I had so much fun, and not only did my friends take the time and effort (it's not always easy finding childcare on a Friday night) to come but they brought me gifts, the really good kind, like gift cards to my favorite places and jewelry and candles. Plus, they only put 9 candles on the cake. I tell you what, I was so touched. I am blessed with such great friends and husband, too!

Halloween 2007

This Halloween, I decided to go as "Single Mother of 3". Below are my 3 children; Elvis, Rocky, and Red.

We began our Halloween at our church's Fall Festival. We wised up this year and got there early and Holland rode the train and horses before there was a huge line. Nobody wanted a scene like last year. However, Grey was not so fortunate with the bungee thingy. When he first got in line, it was still daylight. We left him in line with his friends and periodically checked on him. He finally made it to the front of the line and loved every bit of it, all 2 minutes of it.

Mac didn't just wear the Elvis costume, he became Elvis. Before we even got to the Festival, he was waving and pointing at people. I finally had to put the child lock on the truck windows because he kept yelling out Elvis phrases at pedestrians and any other unsuspecting bystanders in his path.

Here he is with our pastor, Bruce Frank.

We found a little Elvis in the BBQ line. I don't know the kid's real name, but he became "Little E" to us.

Here's Elvis almost carted off to jail. Fortunately, these Humble police officers are friends. They recognized that it was just Mac and no breathalizer test would be necessary.