Where else can you eat popcorn, peanuts, cotton candy, ice cream and 4 hotdogs in an hour and a half?

  

 We like to do our part to boost the economy.

While we had coupons to get into the game, little did I know that would be a mere drop in the bucket to what we'd spend at the "section stand." 

A couple of Wednesdays ago, we headed to the Lookouts for the business man's special.  We didn't see one single business man, but enough camp kids there to fill the entire infield.  I've never seen so many groups of kids in color coordinated camp shirts, and I've been on one or two or a  thousand field trips myself. 

A little intimidated to ask Looie to sign his hat

 and his cotton candy wrapper.

"Blooie" was a little more his size. Keatyn wasn't so sure.

Trace was much for interested in how much junk food we would allow him consume in one afternoon, than watching the ball game.  But it was a first, hopefully of many!

Camera Roll

It's good to have goals.  And one of my goals is to get more "tech" savvy in my older age.  I'm still the dork who carries my little point and shoot camera with me wherever I roam in hopes of capturing my children doing something adorable and memorable.  However, since caving to peer pressure and getting my iPhone (which I LOVE) I realize there is more than one way to skin a cat capture a moment.

Hence, my iPhone camera roll...

(See another goal is to figure out why all of these words appear in blue and are underlined.)

Do you see why I need help?  

Moments after watering my plants, look who decided she needed a little snack.  I mean it, this kid will eat ANYTHING!

Just look at that smurk, she is such a mess!  I told my mom, she may no longer be a red head, but if you're born one, you're always one!!  Fiery is just in her blood!  

I fear for my future.

We ran into the Tittsworth clan Sunday afternoon at Lowes, who just happened to be there building a Madagascar 3 Monkey Plane.  Of course, we joined in.  I'm so thankful Granddaddy was there to do the "heavy construction."  It would have been a sad, sad plane if I were his building mentor.

Both of them sick with some virus and running temps. :(  Mommy was very grateful for the Fresh Beat Band and a few moments of peace to cook dinner!

I just had to take this.  Yes, she feverish, yes, she whining for a cracker while I'm furiously trying to get food on the table, but I just wanted to point out that both the top and bottom (and I do realize they don't match, she's sick and slummin' it) are to small/short.  These are size 18 month and she's only 16 months.  Grow much???  Don't really think she needs that cracker...

Pitiful!  Somebody give that sick baby a Ritz.

So we are heading to Disney and the countdown has begun!!!!  I honestly think I'm more excited than Trace.  (I KNOW  I'm more excited than Jimmy) 

So I'm trying to "retrain my brain" about using my phone to take pictures instead of lugging both through Disney World.  As the lady pointed out to me at Verizon... "NOBODY carries a camera anymore honey."

Well this lady just might and I may even wear a fanny pack to put it in!

Just kidding Jimmy... I promise I won't.
(See why he's dreading Disney? :)

Apparently we need to get out more often

I've joined our Monday Morning Mom's group at church and it has been such a blessing.  I've gone to HUM my entire life but have never really felt involved there.  I do the typical nursery duty, and teach on Wednesday nights, but felt like I wasn't really invested.  This group has been great.  We are all in the same boat... wife, MOPS (mothers of preschoolers) and sinners. Doing our best to raise Christian kids!

 Taylor, the blonde at the end recently went through surgery and chemo treatment for colon cancer (yes, at 34, and a mother of 3 kids under 6)  To celebrate her final treatment, we planned a GNO.  We met at Olive Garden and then someone "Suried" this on their iPhone for our next adventure...

I've never done one, but don't know when I've laughed so hard.  I came surprisingly close to peeing on myself while searching for "plastic fruit."  Thongs, extra long pantyliners, boys light up shoes, green sparkly nail polish and diabetic socks were just a few items on the list.  ** The diabetic socks were only sold "online" which of course,  I wouldn't have know if it weren't for my partner, Alice, and her smart phone because my phone was made in 1987.  (I went the next weekend and bought myself an iPhone... which will only take me till 2087 to learn to use.)

The winners...

We weren't the winners, BUT we weren't the losers either.  I'd say that's not too shabby for my first scavenger hunt and having a partner that never shops at Target.  (I, on the other hand, could draw you a map of the entire store completely from memory, hidden bathrooms and all... except for that darn plastic fruit.)

The true competitors were a little miffed about the diabetic sock dilemma and nearly demanded a redo...

The deal was, the losers had to go put everyone's stuff back, but we all helped out, being the good Christian women we are and all!  We ended up standing in the parking lot talking until a Target employee came over and very politely asked if we could move because he was ready to go home and he couldn't leave until we had vacated the premises.  Just a bunch of MOPS shuttin' down Tar-jay!

A Birthday at the Lake

So for my thirty-seventh second birthday, I decided I wanted a day at the lake with some dear friends.    

I adore this family!!

Our group gets together every few months, but it rarely includes the hubbies and kiddos.  This was the perfect way to happily combine us all.

 We left the littlest ones at home (thank God for grands!!) and headed to my dad's marina. 

We looked like we were moving in...

 We started off tied to the dock at the side of the marina, but that day was a high of 90+ and we were in FULL sun.

 The boys did a little grillin'...

 The girls did a little eatin'...

 Jill joined us halfway through the day, in between Ethan's ball games.  We really missed having Ethan, Abby and Will there to play but it gave us the perfect excuse to do it again!

  The kids played in the water until Trace was nearly lethargic and waterlogged. In 5+ years, I've never seem him so exhausted.  I wouldn't let him walk the dock alone without a life jacket for fear he'd fall asleep standing up and fall in.

It didn't take long before our frail, ailing bodies turned on us.  We couldn't take the heat like in the good ole days.  Midway through the day, we called Papaw to come pull us back under the slip and we reveled in the shade like the old farts we are.

 We sat around talking, and relaxing.  It was a perfect day!

Hey ladies...

 I couldn't think of a better way to spend my birthday eve.  I love getting old with these gals :)

Remembering Mimmie...

Jimmy's grandmother, Mimmie, was called home Thursday, on her 94th birthday.  We said goodbye on Saturday morning in one of the most beautiful and personal graveside services I've ever attended.    

It was attended only by her immediate family and closest friends and it was just the way Mimmie would have wanted it.  There, the preacher told sweet stories, written by her 3 daughters, about her and the heritage she left behind.  Of how her unending love for the Lord saw her through raising 3 girls, 7 grandchildren, and 8 great grandchildren.  (Ironically, Jimmy's cousin Millie, found out the day Mimmie died that she will having a boy this fall, Mimmie's 9th great grandchild.)  In the service, they spoke of her many names... Etta Ruth, Mother, Mimmie, Mims, Ms. M.  She answered proudly to them all, knowing ones calling her by those names were the closest to her heart.  After hearing Ms. M for many years, her little granddaughter Kate asked her, "Mimmie, why does everyone call you 'Museum'?  Is it because you're so old?"

 She was the type of grandmother everyone deserved.  The kind of grandmother who's love for her family literally lit up her entire face.  She always managed to have enough love to go around.

Christmas 2011... with the latest blanket of all the great grands.

Mimmie's last trip to Chattanooga in January 2012.

From the first time I walked into her house in Christmas of 2001, she made me feel like I was apart of her amazing family.  Although Jimmy and I had only been dating 2 months, it was as if she knew I was there to stay and she welcomed me with open arms. Christmas at Mimmie's was like something out of a fairytale.  Everyone together in her big house, eating, laughing, and enjoying their rare time together.

The day after she died, I got a birthday card in the mail.  As I walked up my driveway sorting through the mail, my heart sank as I saw "Etta Ruth Mullendore" on the return label.  As always, there was a sweet card and a check inside.  I don't know how, but I'm pretty sure she had signed the check herself and her daughter Sheila had written the rest.  Maybe I'm crazy, I'll have to ask Sheila one day.  That card will be kept forever and that check will never be cashed.  It is precious to me, as was she.

 Mimmie was buried next to her sister, Polly (far right) who passed away 2 years ago. Their connecting headstones reads... Sisters in Life, Sisters in Christ

My 2 favorite pictures of Mimmie with our babies... PRICELESS!!!

She was the true matriarch of the family.  I loved watching Jimmy and his 2 male cousins, so sweetly and gently bending down to hug her.  They towered over her, and it was so obvious how much she adored them.  Not everyone is blessed with an exceptional, God loving grandmother.  I, was lucky enough to get 2 at birth, and another through marriage.  Believe me, I count those blessings everyday.

We love you Mimmie!   May 31,1918- May 31, 2012