Football Jamboree

Walker had his very first football jamboree on Saturday. Kevin had to ride up there with Troy, you know...so they could go over some defensive stuff. So Tiff and Cierra rode up with me and Avery. I'd be lying if I said I didn't have a "Tiffisode". :) She's always good for at least one any time I see her. LOL!!! So here we go down the interstate, talking and laughing. Then Cierra, out of the blue says, "momma, Ms. Suzanne said we can call her daddy Fat Daddy". I thought Tiff was going to roll her head up in the window to prevent herself from jumping out of it. You have to know Tiff to know that she was rocking back and forth and flopping around in her seat like a fish out of water. "ooohhhh, Cierra. You can't call him Fat Daddy! Surely that's not what she meant". "oohhhh Me. Ohhhh Cierra. You can't call him that". It went on and on and all I could do was laugh.
So anyway, on to the jamboree. These boys were absolutely precious in their uniforms, pads and helmets. I was about to cry because it was so sweet. Yes, I realize boys are usually not "precious", but these are! We only played 2 periods, and we got beat 6-0. One of our running backs, Darius, broke through for a long run but was tackled around the 10 yd line. And unfortunately, we couldn't score from there. But on Darius' run, Walker blocked his guy and literally drove him back for 20 yards. It was such a GREAT play. I was so proud for him. Then the other team had a long run, where Walker was held by TWO of their players, and it was not called. So that's when they scored their touchdown. Now, I'm not saying if Walker wasn't held that he would have tackled this guy. For all I know, he could have run by Walker like a blur.
But I must say with confidence that if we had a chance to play the whole game, we MIGHT would have come back and won. Or at least tied. We played our hearts out. I am very excited about the football season! Go Tigers!!!!!
FYI....it's Big Daddy, not Fat Daddy.... :)

Pictures to follow later....

A love like no other....

Me and the kids went to visit my Grandma Ruthie yesterday. Unfortunately, we woke her up from a nap. But trust me, she was wide awake before too long.
She and my Papa were married for over 50 years. Back "in the day" before he ever got old and sick, I wondered how she ever put up with him. He was your typical Yankee Polock....stubborn as a mule, not an ounce of tact (he was quick to tell me I was gaining weight) and just brash. But she loved him. And it was so evident once he got sick. She was his caregiver. She bathed him, fed him, medicated him, talked to him, brushed his hair, changed his bedding, etc.... In his final days, I have never seen someone look so pitiful. He was so frail. But Grandma kept saying he would be fine. We all knew better. I would go to sit with him at the hospital, and he just had this helpless look in his eyes. He didn't know who I was. And it was like he was just begging me to help him get home to the Lord. I would just sit there, hold his hand, wipe his little face off, and just cry. My mean ol' Papa was so tiny and pitiful. He wasn't yelling, he wasn't making grouchy faces, he wasn't complaining.....he was just there. On the days that Grandma was there when I was, she could walk in the room and he would turn to her. His face would just light up, what little bit it could. I never once heard him tell her he loved her in all my years, but it was so evident. And she loved him just as much. She would tell him over and over.
Anyway, while I was visiting with her yesterday, she made the comment that she told Papa (she talks to him) that it wouldn't be much longer before she got there. Of course, I had to tell her ever so nicely to shut her mouth and not talk that way. But I honestly believe someone can die from a broken heart. She is truly broken...she gets depressed all the time. I told her that it was so hard to see Papa the way he was in the last days, but she said "You know what Ginger, I fell in love with him all over again during that time. He was so good in bed". aahhhh.... I felt myself getting hot and faint, and I thought Lord help me if I faint right here in her floor because my kids are helpless, and Grandma will probably fall in the floor trying to help me. Then there would the both of us be in a heap on the floor. My kids wouldn't try to help....they would instantly go to the candy jar that they had been forbidden to touch. What she was saying was that he was such a good patient while he was bedridden, and just seeing him and tending to him that way made her feel that way about him all over again.
Sorry about that sidebar....anywho, I just thought that was precious. It made me think about me and Kevin. I hope that we feel the same way about each other after all those years together. My Grandma and Papa truly had a love like no other.

Pics from first day of school

These are obviously in no particular order.....

Walker....my "happy" child....

Me and Brody getting ready for the big day!

Me and Brody sitting in his class

Brody was up and ready so early that he had time to play DS.

Brody and his lovely artwork....and his name tag that looks to be close to choking him.

Brody cheesing

and again.....

All 3 of my babies getting ready for the day. Avery moved up at daycare herself. She'll be starting in 2 years.

First day of another school year

Well, my friends, another school year has started! Walker is now a 2nd grader, and Brody is in Kindergarten. The weekend before school started, we got word that a new teacher was being added in 2nd grade. And of course, Walker was one of the "randomly chosen" kids to be moved to that class. I think it will be fine. She's a nice lady and will hopefully keep Walker in line. I, of course, would be lying if I told you that Walker has not pulled a card. But lo and behold, day 2, he had to pull one. DAY 2 PEOPLE! It's not like he's brand new and trying to adjust to the rules. NOOOO....we have to stick our arm out and grab Tucker as he walks by. We can't seem to just stand in line and behave. That would be boring...
Brody has started Kindergarten this year, and I absolutely love his teacher. On the first day, we had a small meeting where she told us about a few things to expect and this and that. I remember when Walker started Kindergarten....his teacher told us to be sure to bathe our kids at night because they tend to stink after P.E. (ya think???) I thank God for what I think will be a wonderful year for Brody!

At a loss....

There's not too many times you will find me at a loss for words. But over the last week, that's where you could have found me. Our youth minister, Adam, lost his 2 year old twin niece and nephew to a tragic, accidental drowning. The pain and suffering this family is going through is beyond anything I could ever imagine, nor would I want to imagine. I just sit and think about the emptiness, the confusion, the hurt, the pain, the joy, the "everything" that these parents are feeling.
I don't even know what to say except PRAY. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING!
Hold your own babies tight! Cherish every moment with them. Hug them, kiss them, tell them you love them til you're blue in the face.