HARRISON IS 16!!

I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BABY IS 16!  Okay, so technically, he's my nephew, but he is my baby.  Yes, I have three of my own but they haven't been around nearly as long as my Harry-Bear.  This really makes me feel old.  I remember eating lunch at the old Wright's Bakery in Northport (remember those chocolate drop cookies they had?) with daddy and Danny while DeJuana was getting things started, so to speak.  From the moment I saw that little booger, he had me wrapped.  Harrison, sorry if this is too sappy.  You only turn 16 once.  I'll probably do this a time or two more in your life: graduation, turning 21, etc.  You'll just have to deal.  I enjoyed taking a stroll down memory lane while going through old pics. 

So, take a gander at just a snip-it of the past 16 years with this very interesting fella.

Happy Birthday To...

the baby boy that would demand you pull the car over to let his imaginary dinosaur, "Sharptooth" catch up with you.

Happy Birthday To...

the toddler who loved going to "Baby Jesus" (Chuck E. Cheese's) when living in "Talla-paci."

Happy Birthday To...
my playmate that I gave chicken pox to when I was in the twelfth grade and we spent days playing games so we wouldn't spread it to newly born Hayden.

Happy Birthday To...

the sweet little guy that came to tons of my Bach To Rock shows but thought the Italian lyrics that I sang, "Boca, Boca, Bella" were "Poka, poka belly."

Happy Birthday To...

the weirdo that loved "pink hamburgers" (ketchup only) but would FREAK if you cut it in half.

Happy Birthday To...

the precious preschooler who wanted to be a flower delivery man when he grew up because they made people happy.

Happy Birthday To...

the teeballer who after hitting a triple said, "I was running so fast that I ran out of air in both my lungs!"

Happy Birthday To...

the poor child who wanted to move North to avoid kudzu because it was "the vine that ate the South."

Happy Birthday To...

the nerd that I had to pay a dollar to untuck his white t-shirt from his bathing suit.

Happy Birthday To...

the goofball who while others were playing the piano, singing, etc., in the Target talent show, he did the "worm."

Happy Birthday To...

the dancing machine that swore he wouldn't dance a lick at our reception but threw down from the moment the first song was played.  He wanted it to be a surprise.

Happy Birthday To...

the geek that wanted to pull a backpack on wheels to his first day of junior high.  Uncle Brett assured him he would be shoved in a locker.

Happy Birthday To...

the tightwad who saved enough money to purchase his own Daniel Moore print of Prothro's Catch and even got a deal because the seller thought he was a special needs child.

Happy Birthday To...

the preteen that wanted to move so badly that he posted a "for sale" sign in his yard while his parents were at work.

Happy Birthday To...

the grandson that hasn't missed ringing in the New Year with his grandmother even if it means a phone call to her saying he'll be there around midnight.

Happy Birthday To...

the dork that decided that while I was prego with Mac, we should call him Woodstock since we called Mag Snoopy.  However, he mispoke the word to Brett and caused quite a stir in the front of the sanctuary.

Happy Birthday To...
the turd who has almost as few manners on the phone as his dad.

Happy Birthday To...

the brain that tested genius at age seven and has already scored a 30 on his ACT yet can't walk from one room to the next without asking what he went there for.

Happy Birthday To...

the friend who skipped school during my labors and hung out all day in the delivery room with us, with the exception of the actual event.  The nurses were astonished at how comfortable he was with all the "labor" talk.

1 MORE DAY.....

2 DAYS.....

3 DAYS.....

4 DAYS.....

5 DAYS.....

6 DAYS.....

ONE WEEK.....

I guess you could call this your first clue.

DRAWING A BLANK FOR A TITLE

 This summer, I've cut back to three day work weeks.  So, I'm now off on Wednesdays and Fridays.  Yesterday, we had no where to be.  It was lovely.  My car was being repaired (couldn't drive to get anything) so Brett brought us Chongwah, we played in the kiddie pool, sprinkler, & relaxed.  It was lovely.  I cracked up, once again, at Brett having a fit about the little boys riding up as soon as Mag came out.  The mom of one, my neighbor, called last night because Connor wanted to play with Mag again.  I opened the garage door & bam.  There he was.  Sweet boy had been standing right outside waiting for her to come back out.  My car, btw, was $380!  I HATE spending money on car repairs!  Do you know how many diapers you can by with $380?!  Then, to top it off, Brett gets in it this morning & my front air is out!  I guess as long as the kids are cool with the rear air, I can sweat off a few pounds in the front.  Ugh.

Usually in the winter, we pull up our Vinca beds and they come back on there own every Spring.  We've been doing that for about 7 years now.   Those things are amazing.  However, this year, we thought they were gone for good.  I hoed both beds & we replanted about 20 or so Vincas.  This was two weeks ago.  Look at all those baby Vincas that decided to reappear.

This was yesterday.  Hundreds of those little boogers coming back.  I weeded that for nearly two hours yesterday.  While taking a break, I pulled Maggie in the wagon through the sprinkler.  I pulled Mac through once to see if by some chance he'd like it.  He didn't.  I asked, "Do you want out?"  He answered, "I have to!  It's in my story!"  SuperWhy anyone?  He's so flippin' funny.



Can't find a pic from last year but this is two years ago.  We had to trim them weekly to keep them from covering the entire sidewalk.



If you didn't read on fb, Brett had another "Brett" moment yesterday.  He's a pacer.  He has to pace when he walks.  So, he's pacing away downtown on Greensboro Ave while on the phone with a customer.  He's a lengthy talker.  He has to get every detail precise.  He says that way everyone will always know that when he says something, it's the absolute truth with no frills or embellishments.  Very good quality but drives me nuts at time.  That's why you often here me says, "Long story short.  Long story short."  Well, after 10-20 minutes, another customer, Big Daddy's Cafe, comes out and asked if he's headed home.  When Brett says, yes, Hanny says, "Good because you have a big hole in your pants."  Big hole??  I'll say.



Mary hopped up and helped herself to quite a few handfuls of Maggie's lo mein.  She was all over the place yesterday.  She climbed up and drummed with my candlesticks on the end table and broke one.  Mag was not happy about that and said she'd get a new one for daddy's Father's Day present.  I'm sure he'll be super excited about that.  This morning, the living room lights were flashing.  I found Mary on another table having a great time with the switch.  The cutest view though was three naked bootys in the baby pool yesterday.  :)



Double fistin' it.



Brett's bea-u-ti-ful homemade turtle cheesecake.  He made this to take to dinner at his boss' house.  Get a load of this.  Brett made an error at work.  Ordered the wrong steak for someone, yada...yada.  It happens.  Anyway, he was out a great some of money to the tune of $600.  Well, several were bought from him which was fantastic.  The remaining, his boss bought then had his district AND their families over for dinner!  We took Mag & Mac (didn't want to chase heathen all night so she went to Granna & Papa's), Brett grilled, the kids rode their bikes, etc.  So nice.  Everyone was so sweet and playful with the kids.  How cool is it to like your co-workers enough to hang out with them?  His boss rocks and is a nut so we get along great.  We had dinner with them Monday,  I joined them for lunch Tuesday & we're seeing them all again for one of their kids' pool party Saturday.  What a difference.  We still can't believe how blessed we are with his job.

I may not can make anything that requires an oven, etc but check this out.  So yummy!  It's corn, red peppers, spinach, red onion, red wine vinegar, & black pepper.  I could eat the entire bowl.  And, I made it myself.  Nope, can't lie.  Brett cooked the corn.

WINNER WINNER, CHICKEN DINNER - MAGGIE B IS NOW A SWIMMER

Okay, so I took a little liberty with the title.  ;)

MAY 2011 DANCE RECITAL

Since it is recital day, I thought I'd take a stroll through recitals past.

VBS 2011: A BLESSING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RUBBLE

This year's VBS was new to all of us.  We have no building but knew we needed to be in Alberta City.  So, Jaycee Fairgrounds it was.  I'll admit, I was concerned about several things.  The heat, the kids not being contained, & possibly some not-so-nice wanderers wandering up.  But, I believe that this was one of the best ones yet.  So many commented that we should have "backyard" style vbs every year.  A constant breeze blew, kids were so engrossed in the activities that they didn't seen to notice that there were no physical boundaries, & not a one not-so-nice wanderer. 

IT'S THE WEEKEND!

We haven't gotten to see much of our next door neighbors lately.  We came home the other night to find this sweet message.  Even drew Mac a "W."

I forgot that Brett said he got us hats too!  We took a couple of doughnuts to Mrs. Brenda last night for her b'day.  I made Brett wear a hat with me when we sang to her.  Haha.

Mag didn't mind wearing the hat.



We decided to join a pool this year.  Mag really needs to practice and I'm trying to make this the best summer yet.  Last year was difficult with a 3 1/2, 1 1/2, & a 6 month old.  It's in no way safe for me to take 2 non-swimmers & 1 really close to being a swimmer alone so we figured we could go on the weekends & after Brett gets home in the afternoons. 

SOME GOOD EATIN'

Lani, Leigh, Laurie, Johnna, & I had dinner at Jalapeno's last night.  Johnna refused to be in the pic.  Loser.

Leigh and I had been discussing why when going to cheerleading camp, we had to get up at the crack of dawn and head to the university.  Her daughter, Kayla, & Hayden are at cheerleading camp this week and it's at the BEACH!  What's the deal with that?!  In this pic, we reverted back to junior high.  I realize that we look like dorks and I need to majorly tone up my arms.  Geez.

My Brett Paul rocks my socks!  He is the bomb diggity.  He had a sales meeting in Calera today and detoured to find us a KK on the way home.  I didn't realize the extent of our withdrawal until he showed us the box.

It was a common occurrence for us to load up at night and go on a Krispy Kreme run.  That is 1 of the 3 biggest losses that has hit home with Maggie in regards to the tornado.  The others being our church, obviously and Chuck E. Cheese.

I don't think we have ever inhaled doughnuts so quickly.  She begged for another.  When I told her not until after supper, I found her scrapping the crumbs off the table. 

Mag gave Mac one and I guessed he's missed them more that we thought.  He is overlooking the crumbs on his hands.

And, of course, Mary had to have one.  At first, Brett gave her a bite of a plain.  She took it out of her mouth and threw it on the floor.  She wanted the chocolate sprinkle like her sister.