Camping-Round 1

The girls were here for most of the week, and Pop decided this was the perfect time to introduce them to camping.  I learned quite a few things this week.  First of all, I am not as young as I use to be, and second I wouldn't trade the memories we made for anything.  Mother Nature didn't exactly cooperate this week.  We actually came home the night of the first storm, but "roughed" it out the second storm!

We enjoyed lots of walks, rides, and fun times.  Maddie was thrilled with the top bunk, although as usual she ended up sleeping in between us.  Lillian got to experience her first vienna sausage with Pop. (She was not impressed.)  Papa visited everynight and the girls loved that.

Pop wisely parked us next to the playground on the opposite side of the river.  Lillian wasn't ready to be near the drop off to the river. Or maybe, Nana wasn't ready for her to be near it. The girls spent lots of time at the playground, and loved every second of it!

If Maddie can do it, Lillian thinks she can too! She mastered the big slide and swings in no time at all.

Love, love, love these sweet girls!

Just a swinging!  I also love how they love each other-most of the time!!

Camping is not all play!  Lots of work is involved!  The girls helped Pop gather wood for the fire!  There were marshmellows to roast, and it was pretty cold the first night!

Lillian loves to help! She kept the campground nice and clean! Maddie made a beautiful sand castle, also! 

We ended the first day watching a barge go by.  Both girls became experts at getting them to blow their horns!

Be patient with me!  I have lots more camping adventures to share.  New friends and lots more memories were made!

Champs

Have I mentioned how much I am enjoying Caleb living in Birmingham?  His  apartment is the perfect meeting place.  So far, he's been quite the trooper when I call and say that we are all coming for a visit!  Last weekend, we met there and Lindsey, Josh, Maddie and I went to the SEC Gymnastics meet.  Pop, Uncle C and Lillian stayed there and just hung out!  Fun was had by all!

Uncle C was the perfect host!  He had bought the girls crayons and coloring books, and even made cupcakes!  Maddie called them princess cupcakes!   Lillian stripped down and enjoyed hers on the floor!

And speaking of food, while at the meet we enjoyed a healthy feast of french fries, funnel cake, nachos, smoothies and soft drinks!  We also enjoyed a fantastic gymnastics meet!  Against almost impossible odds, Alabama came back at the very end of the meet to win the championship.  Lindsey was quite the trooper, too.  Baby Reed is doing great, but she has been feeling pretty out of sorts lately!

I am heading to pick them up tomorrow for the rest of the week.  We are going CAMPING!  I can't wait for the adventures I know we are going to have!!

Wedded Bliss

  I am a little late on this blog!  There is nothing more beautiful than a true Southern wedding.  It is still hard for me to believe that these sweeties are all grown, married and starting families! It seems like we should still be hanging out at the softball field, basketball games, or various cheerleading events! Lots of memories!!

I was able to help with a bridesmaid get-together the afternoon of the wedding.  Such sweet young ladies!

The hostesses and the beautiful bride!  Isn't this a gorgeous view?

How's this for a barn?

Lindsey and Maddie enjoyed getting down on the dance floor!  ( I would like to also add that Nana and Maddie also enjoyed a couple of dances together!)

Tractors, Cheese and Stuff

I found a few cute pictures of the girls on Reed's phone from their last visit.  We will be seeing them next weekend and then again for a few days during Spring Break, and we just can't wait!!  Maddie is busy with gymnastics and TBall, and Lillian is just plain busy!! 

We had a visit from a cute little mouse!!

Where's Lillian?

Just a swinging!

The last time we tried to get Lillian to ride on Pop's big tractor, it resulted in an all out meltdown!!  This time she was ok sitting on it, but Pop didn't crank it!  Maybe next time!

Beautiful Spring flowers!

God Bless Sugar

If you've got a friend with puppies, what more can you possibly want?  It turns out that I am lucky enough to have a friend that ALWAYS seems to have puppies! This time Sugar has a litter of beagle, lab/pitt pups that are precious!!  This is her last litter, so I am glad we got to love on these babies!

Maddie lovingly held every one of the pups (7)! Lillian picked out one and held on tight the entire time!

 
 
 

Sarah actually went inside because we were sure Lillian was going to throw a fit when she had to give her puppy back.  But just the opposite happened.  When we told her it was time to go, she stood up handed the puppy back and walked to the car! Whew!  Nana loves it when no tears are involved!  I am sure we'll be back!

Climbing Mountains

Maddie has enjoyed Pop's sand piles since she was tiny.  Lillian has not been impressed-until this trip!  We think there may be hope for her to be just a little adventurous after all!


This one is fearless and precious!!

 

I wish I could bottle her enthusiasm!!!

 

 

Little Bit doesn't care for things to be on her feet and especially her hands.  So Pop took her shoes and socks off and gently rubbed them with sand until she decided it might night be so bad after all! Pop's pretty awesome about things like that!

 



 

 

Maddie also assured her that she had nothing but fun times ahead!

 

In no time at all, she was a pro just like her sister!!

I think I could move mountains for that sweet smile!

 

Finding the perfect grains of sand to put in her cup was quite challenging!

 

 Have a great week!

Read Across America

In honor of Read Across America week, we had  readers visit with each classroom and read a story.  Phyllis and I solicited some special buddies for this occasion.

My buddy Jean recently retired after teaching almost 100 years.  However, this was the first time she had read to an elementary class.  She was awesome!!

Jenni is also a recent retiree.  She may have been a banker, but she reads a great story!

Suellen taught here for several years, before she migrated to the Middle School.  The kids treated her like she was a rock star!

One of my all time favorite people!!  Ann retired from our school last year!

Melanie was our art teacher for 2 years.  The kids were also thrilled to see her.

We had several more readers, and we appreciate everyone that took time from their busy days to help us out!

Busy Week

After working the Little Lambs Consignment Sale Thursday night, I headed to Birmingham to spend the night with Caleb.  I had to be at the Apple Store early the next morning to have them check out 3 school IPads that had stopped working.  I am going to give a little unauthorized plug for that place!!  Awesome, awesome service!!  All businesses should consider following their customer service guidelines!! After that great experience, I continued east to babysit Lillian for the night!!  Maddie went with her mom and dad, so I didn't get to see her as much!

I took very few pictures on this trip! We played outside for a little while before everyone else left!

In the first picture, Maddie is ready to head out for a little birthday fun!  The second picture shows just a brief glimpse of the beautiful dog Ariel.  We took that prize to them a year ago, and Lindsey and Josh have every right to bar us from their house over that one!!  They have told us they will accept no more Pickens County dogs. (It was also pj day at school for her!)

Josh is a big soccer fan, and he is teaching the girls early.  I didn't have my camera out in time to get any pictures of Maddie, but I did catch Lillian enjoying herself!

 

 

Look out 2032 Olympics!!  Here she comes!



I headed home early Saturday morning. I have another busy week planned, but the girls are coming next weekend, and we can't wait!!