Things Remembered

Our Family Christmas Cards 2011

2012-01-26T15:28:00.010-06:00

One of these days I will write "the stories behind the Christmas card"....because there always is one. I love making these pictures and sending them. It is a little record of our family. How....I wish I had done one every year. Sometimes...when I mail out my cards I think....nobody wants this card and then someone will tell me how much they enjoyed the card and it is all worth the effort. I love getting Christmas cards..picture or no picture...but I really love seeing a picture of your family. I save all my Christmas cards and we look through them every year at Christmas. My daughter in law, Kim Lawson, of Kim Lawson Photography does my card for me every year. A great before Christmas present!!!! This year my son in law, Dave Long, edited the picture for me.

John & Joy's Family

BACK

Brady and Kim Lawson's Family

inside

back

David & Courtney Long's Family

Back

Tuesdays with MeMe

2012-01-25T11:17:00.003-06:00

It was a "Rip Stik" kind of day!

CATHY

2012-01-23T06:50:00.000-06:00

"If there ever comes a day when we

can't be together, keep me in your

heart, I'll stay there forever"

Winnie the Pooh

Hallmark moment

2012-01-22T06:40:00.000-06:00

Can't you just picture the wording that would go with this picture in one of those cute Hallmark cards!

Hard to Believe

2012-01-22T06:39:00.000-06:00

He's SEVEN!!!!

Happy Birthday

2012-01-20T06:19:00.000-06:00

To.... MeMe and Pops.....little BIG man. We love you

The Flag

2012-01-18T14:50:00.000-06:00

I put a picture of this flag on my FB page right after we got in our room in NOLA. It was flying from our balcony and we could see it from the window in our sitting room that was attached to our bedroom. We got a kick out of it when we realized we would be looking at it for 3 days. BUT...................................................................................................................

when we woke up Tuesday morning after the game this is what we saw!

The Game

2012-01-18T14:31:00.000-06:00

I don't think I put the name of the B&B we stayed at in New Orleans. Since we were so pleased with our stay I thought I would put their name on here. Park View Guest House. www.parkviewguesthouse.com.

John and I walked here for about two hours while we waited on our room to be ready. It is beautiful and has a lot of shade so you can enjoy it on a warm day. Which it turned out to be the whole time we were there. The last two times I was in NOLA for a bowl game we wore our long wool coats!

Tulane University was right across the street from our B&B and Loyola was right beside Tulane.

The church on Jackson Square. Not sure if those Bama fans are praying or looking at the ceiling

Riding the trolley to the big game. Standing up in front of us were the sweetest couple. He was an Auburn fan and she was an Alabama fan. He told us that he loved her dearly and that he supported Alabama when he could. He said he was going to the game with his AU shirt on and with his AU shaker and every time Alabama did something good that he was going to shake his shaker and that she did the same for him. They were really cute!

Trent Richardson's Uncle. He was a hoot. He came to the back of the trolley where we were sitting and talked to us and shook our hands.

The blimp and the dome. Words can not describe the mess it was to get into the dome. I am not sure what the problem was but we stood in line for 1 and 1/2 hours to get in. They only had two entrances open!

The coin toss. Let the game begin.

Wow.....I never dreamed in 1992 ( when we won a National Championship that we could not go to because of the accident that Curt had ) when I asked John to promise me I would be at the next National Championship....that I would be at two in the space of 3 football seasons. We almost sold our tickets. I am so glad we didn't.

John holds his emotions pretty steady.....but if you had been in those stands when the clock hit 00:00.....you would have seen him whoop, holler and swing me around. He was one happy man!

Can you hear the crickets chirping??? The LSU fans were all gone before we made a touchdown

And here is the Crimson Nation. Still there a hour and a half later

One happy couple. Thank you, honey. On the way home, John started talking about next year. I didn't realize where he was going....first he said that he thought that we would have a "good" team with "good" talent but that talent would need to be molded and trained so.....he did not think we would be going to the BCS Championship Game next year but.....just in case....he was telling me now that he was not going to Miami!

Celebrating after the game on Bourbon Street. John and I got home at 3:00.

They were replaying the game where we ate supper....at 2:00 AM. John went in a drug store and bought us some alka seltzer....just in case!

This seasoning was on the shelf just down from the alka seltzer. I couldn't resist a pic.

LET'S ROLL

2012-01-12T09:35:00.008-06:00

TIDE ROLLJohn and I headed down to New Orleans for the big game.

We did not decide to go to the game until Thursday. We had our tickets since 2 weeks before Christmas and were lucky enough to get them for face value. We decided the Tuesday before the game to try to sell them. I knew the only way I would sell them would be if I could get a really good price for them. I was uneasy about my decision to try to sell them. I was also uneasy about spending the money to go to the game after we had gone to the Rose Bowl BCS game in 2009 so.....I felt like if we got a big price for the tickets that I would know it was just meant for us to stay home. We put them up for sale the same day that The Tuscaloosa News came out with an article about how the price of the tickets were going to drop ( we only saw 2 tickets for sale in NOLA ). Well, we only had one call and they didn't call back. John called me Thursday morning and told me he had decided to forget selling the tickets .....he wanted to go! That was all I needed to hear. I got on the computer hunting a place to stay. I was a little worried about finding a room. Well, I did find rooms....for 399.00, 499.00 and 599.00 a night. Nope...not me...I refuse to pay that for a Hampton or Holiday Inn...plus they required that you stay 3 nights. We only wanted to do 2 nights. I am too old for 3 nights of NOLA!

I guess fate just wanted us to be there. I just kept clicking through Google and came upon a B&B that had a great room, would let us stay for 2 nights, the total was less than one night at the other places and we could ride the street car to the French Quarter. So....I started packing

Then guess what.....the next day John's phone started exploding with calls of people wanting to buy our tickets. One person offered to buy our room also. John told them that we had decided to go and they should have called earlier. (the ticket prices did not go down)

The B&B

the park beside the B&B

our first night on Bourbon Street

The Usual

2012-01-10T21:06:00.020-06:00

THE ZOO......again

Last Friday, Courtney's husband, Dave flew to Florida to meet up with his brother and some college friends to have a weekend of golf before the new baby gets here. Courtney had to work that day and we had been talking about doing some work in the nursery. It worked out great because John had company at the camp house for the weekend. So, I spent two days in Birmingham.

Friday, Lawson and I went to the Zoo. It never gets old for him. He knows the place by heart and tries to tell the people he sees at the Zoo where they need to go and what they need to see!You may remember from a blog post about two weeks ago, when I got to take all 4 grand kids to the Zoo, that a peacock followed us around. Well, I am assuming this is the same Peacock and he/she liked us again this trip. The peacock was sitting on this planter when we got there. Lawson noticed it immediately and remembered it from last time.

We stopped by the Zoo office to ask if Lawson's jacket might be in the lost and found. As we turned around to leave there was the peacock. The lady in the office said it was looking for M&M's!!!!

I believe this little turtle in the reptile house needs a nerve pill. It started jumping at Lawson when he touched the glass and pointed at it!

Lawson remembered to bring some quarters to get some bird food. He pointed to the little sign on the machine and told me he needed a 2 and a 5 and a c. So there you go.....remember to bring your 2 and your 5 and your c if you want some bird food!

Here he/she is again. Showing off

We were there around 4 o'clock. It was a great time because they were feeding all the animals so they were all out and active. Lawson was amazed at how they put the food all over the cages so they have to hunt the food and fight over it.

These little guys were eating their supper, also. Carrots, apples and strawberries. Last year we were at the Zoo and these little monkeys were eating an afternoon snack......popcorn. It had been scattered about the cage. So, today when some people had walked up to the cage, as we stood there, Lawson informed them that they ate popcorn. He also turned around and told the Mother that that was the reason the monkey's hands were yellow......from dipping it's hands in the popcorn bucket and the butter got on them! Yes, he really told them that! I just shrugged my shoulder and smiled.

supper time....here I come

The trainer said this elephant is 11 years old and that they had taught him some tricks. Here he is asking for food.

JB3 will love this pic. We got to see all 5 of the lion cubs...."The Royal Family"

Saturday we had to run some errands which included Lowe's. Lawson wanted to sit on this lawn mower. The first one he started to sit on had a wet seat so as he climbed over to the next mower Court warned him not to step on the mowing deck......meaning it might tear up the mower

but Law pointed to the warning and informed his Mom that he knew what it would do...it would cut off your face, cut you in half and then cut off your foot. I think he is taking it serious!

Central Church of Christ Youth Group

2012-01-09T11:34:00.001-06:00

The Youth Group from our church went on their yearly mission trip. We went to Montgomery and worked with the Montgomery Inner City Mission. What a blessing this trip and these kids were to me!
We left the Tuesday after Christmas and got checked in around 4 o'clock. We unpacked went out to eat, came back and had a devotional. Wednesday, we went down to the Inner City Mission and went out into the community, that we were working with, to remind the kids that signed up to be ready the next morning. What an eye opener. After spending about 2 hours talking with people in the community we loaded back up on the bus and headed back. The youth practiced their songs to sing with the kids on the bus. We got back to the cottage, freshened up, went and ate and then began intensive work on the "one day Bible School" We went to bed around 2 or 3.
Thursday we were up bright and early to get to the mission and go pick up the kids. They all seemed so glad to have somewhere to go. I hope we blessed their life as much as they blessed ours.
Let me say this about our Youth Group. These kids all come from good homes , with good parents and basically have great lives. They have no hidden agenda in doing these things except that they are GREAT kids. They know how to act and they know how to give...a great combination. I couldn't be prouder of them. In fact, over half of them are Seniors in college....they really have "graduated from the Youth Group" but they want to be part of the giving. How great is that.....think of what most college kids are doing on their break. So proud of our kids and....I love you and thank you so much for putting up with me!!! Saying a prayer before we left the church

We have arrived in the "Marshmallow"

The cottage we stayed in for the trip.

Having an organizational meeting in the lobby

Trey and a friend

Shae and Jacey with Keion. Keion stole everybody's heart!

The guys putting on a puppet show

all the kids

The boys did a skit for the kids.....The Parable of the Good Samaritan. Evan is Jesus and Connor is a smart man helping to tell the story

The thieves robbing the Jew. the thieves are Cole and Joey

Trey as the Priest

the other Trey as the Levite

Trevor as the Samaritan

Connor playing Lego's with the little guys

Trey letting a little guy beat him in basketball

Spencer playing with a buddy he made

Caroline helping out

Kayla, Shae and Jacey doing crafts with the girls

Discussing what to order for supper that night after everybody took a nap. We were all exhausted.

A very meaningful devotional that night. Each person lit their candle from the person next to them as they told what the day had meant to them, how they were touched by the children and what they would always remember.

Joey and Cole

Lots of emotional tears were batted back or rolled down cheeks that night

A very special prayer for the children whose hearts we hoped we touched that day

Santa's Sleigh

2012-01-08T07:10:00.000-06:00

AKA

"The MeMe Mobile"
MeMe and Pops had to load up all the "loot" from Christmas and deliver it to the homes it belonged to. It seems that this Christmas all the presents were "supersized"! But....hey, we love it!

We Already Miss You

2012-01-07T08:08:00.002-06:00

Josh had to head back to Arkansas this past Monday. Recruiting was calling his name. We cherish the little bits of time that football lets go of him and he is ours for a few days but.......I raised him to seek out his dream and go for it.....

That's It

2011-12-31T15:16:00.002-06:00

I have been on a marathon of December Christmas Posts today. I got most of them up. I still have a few to post. The family Christmas books and a post about the mission trip I took with the youth from church. But for now I have to pick up the house a little and go to celebrate the New Year with friends.
We will be watching Auburn play tonight as we wait to ring in the New Year.
It is great to be alive and healthy to be able to celebrate a new year.
I wish all my family, all my Berry and Fayette friends, all my church family and all my Minor High School friends a
HAPPY NEW YEAR
and
GOOD LUCK to the AUBURN TIGERS!

If you read these posts for December you might need to hit older posts 2 times to see them all!

Funny Christmas Story

2011-12-31T15:14:00.000-06:00

The Mystery of the Vanishing M&M's

We lost our sweet lab "Bama" back in April. Bama was an outside dog. We have never had an inside dog. Now, don't feel sorry for our dogs....they have always been well taken care of. Bama and Bailey shared a comfy , well padded, spot on the porch behind the fireplace. It was kept warm with a big heating pad. When we began to discuss that the end was coming for Bama I mentioned that I would like for Bailey to sleep inside with me when John was gone on his hunting trips. John agreed that it would be a good idea if we could train her to stay on her pillow. Well, Bailey is pretty smart and within 2 hours she understood that we wanted her to stay on the pillow and she was proud to do it.
As time passed we became used to Bailey being in the house and now let her in whenever she wants in as long as she stays on her pillow. She sleeps inside with us every night. She, also now, has a pet bed in our bedroom and in the living room. She is good company....but, my feelings are hurt because she had rather be with John watching football than watching a Hallmark movie with me!
The only time we allow Bailey to get off her pillow is to let us know that she needs out. She is so funny because she goes to John to be let out. She will touch his face and he wakes up and lets her out. She is probably scared of me and my snoring. Also, if one of the kids spend the night she is so protective. Lawson woke up one night having a nightmare and she was so concerned. She came to the bedside and had to get on the edge of the bed and touch him before she would lay back down. She really is a good and faithful companion.
Well, we get a little lax when any of the kids are at the house. They love Bailey and we allow her to follow them around. I mean what dog wouldn't love little people that slip you table food! Well, Emma, Abby and John Brady spent the night last week.............let me skip around a little bit here and talk about something else......I have two Christmas snowmen candy dishes. It has become a tradition for me to put M&M's in them for the kids. Plain M&M's in the kitchen and peanut M&M's on the coffee table in the living room......back to the story...... I noticed that the peanut M&M's candy dish, in my living room, was really low and the thought went through my mind that the kids were really hitting the M&M's and I might need to put them up before we had belly aches.
Well, later that night......I was sitting on the sofa in the living room and Bailey was following the kids around. Abby Claire and John Brady were playing the piano and Bailey had been standing beside them with her tail wagging her approval. I guess Bailey thought all eyes were on AB and JB3 and she, very quietly, started over to her bed.......as she passed the coffee table.....with her eyes still straight ahead.....she rolled her tongue out sideways and lapped up about 3 of those peanut M&M's as she passed by....she laid down on her bed and crunched away!
So there you go......the answer to the mystery of the vanishing M&M's!
Don't worry, we do not have a candy dish there anymore! I know that chocolate is dangerous for animals......but she didn't seem to have suffered from it!
We left the candy dish on the table long enough to catch her....lifting a few!

JB3 or maybe this is JB1

2011-12-31T15:11:00.000-06:00

Oh....the things they say......

Pops and JB3 went outside to the Nativity scene in our yard, the Tuesday night he spent the night, to pick up a wise man and a donkey that had blown over.
After straightening all the figures.....John Brady and John stood admiring the lit up manger.
John said, after a few moments of silent admiration, John Brady looked at him and asked where was the STAR"? Now, I don't have a star, yet. The stars on Ebay have been going for an outrageous price and I hope to buy one after Christmas for a more reasonable price.
John being John.........looked at John Brady and told him we didn't have one we were just using the street light! That would be my husband....he can always come up with an answer.
Well, I did not know about this conversation WHEN.........John comes in and tells me I need to buy a STAR!
So there you go.....if John Brady says we need it....which he informed his Pops that we did....then Pops says lets get one! WE WILL HAVE A STAR NEXT YEAR!

PressDough of Christmas Past

2011-12-31T14:40:00.000-06:00

Christmas 2010 has been over for a year but we had a little reminder in a chest in my bedroom......here is the story. I have mentioned before that my Granddaughters love the "As Seen on TV" commercials. they always find something they want for Christmas from these commercials. Well, last year about 10 days before Christmas.....Emma and Abby started telling me about this thing called PressDough that they saw on TV. You use cookie dough and the PressDough to make all kinds of different shaped cookies.

We always make cookies for Christmas (last year it was cupcakes) to leave out for Santa. In my mind I pictured how much fun this would be for everybody in the family. Gathered around making these cute cookie shapes, baking them and making more! We were going to use the rolls of cookie dough that you get from the grocery store.

Well, guess what.....it didn't come last year. It came about two days after Christmas. Luckily, Kim saved us by bringing already cooked cupcakes that the kids had a ball decorating. So, this year I was so tickled because I already had something really neat for them to use to make cookies. We were set! I just happened to decide to open up one of the three packages (yes, I bought 3 packages to make sure we had enough for 4 kids) and look at the instructions. I really didn't get past the spot that said to wash all the parts before we used them. I was so glad I opened it up so that I could get everything ready. It took a whole dishwasher load to wash all the parts. After they washed and dried I took them out and put them in a container to await their use.

Emma, Abby and John Brady spent the Tuesday night before Christmas at our house. It occurred to me that night that it might be a good thing for the kids to try out making these cookies so it wouldn't be so complicated with Lawson around. It had so many parts.....not kidding....I bet there were 60 parts. So, I went to The Pig and bought a roll of cookie dough and turned the kids loose on it.

OHHH MYYYY.....what can I say......DISASTER. Pops got in on it, trying to help. He noticed that it said every part had to have flour on it. So.....John and I are hand washing all the parts and digging out cookie dough so the kids can flour all the parts......still holding onto hope that this thing is going to be wonderful!

After much trouble we finally got 5....read that again.... 5 cookies pressed out...out of one roll of cookie dough. Well, the kids, of course, were all excited. After all, it really hadn't been trouble to them...just John and I and flour all over my kitchen along with smeared cookie dough...and it wasn't even the kids fault....nothing they did could have helped.

We put the five cookies in the oven to bake!

18 minutes later I look through the oven window.....the 5, really cute shaped cookies with shapes stamped on top, had turned into one big cookie with no imprints on it....it looked like a badly shaped flower.

Well, the kids first question was....can we still eat it? They ate it as I put the parts back into the dishwasher to wash. When I got them out of the dishwasher...I packed them up and put them back in the chest in my room. Needless to say...we did not make Santa cookies with PressDough Christmas Eve.

Next week PressDough will get a scathing review from the MeMe!

Well, at least it is another memory to file in our Lawson Family memory and laugh about in years to come!

A Shadow of Herself

2011-12-31T14:03:00.000-06:00

Christmas Eve night Courtney was upstairs and called for me. As I came walking to the bottom of the steps.......this is what I saw! I glanced over and saw my little pocket camera, grabbed it and made a picture. Just had to put it on here.....

Peek A Boo "Pocket"

2011-12-31T12:16:00.003-06:00

Courtney had another appointment on December 19th to try to see the baby on the 4D Ultrasound. Well, Miss Pocket was hiding again. She was facing her Mother's backbone this day. Courtney drank a Mountain Dew, as the technician suggested last time, and she was awake and moving but just not looking our way. We did get one tiny smushed view of the side of her face. Oh well, just 42 more days or 33 more days (my guess) and we can see her in person. This technician said the same thing as the technician the first time......this baby has a lot of hair. Well, Court said they told her they saw hair on Lawson....and he was a bouncing bald baby boy....but that wasn't 4D...so we will see. We aren't counting on it and Court doesn't have hair bows lined up! Lawson enjoyed the view from the waiting room at St. Vincent as we were waiting to be called back for the ultrasound. He asked his Daddy to show him where he lived when he was a baby. you can barely see the Legg Lofts Building from St Vincents. Dave took Lawson to see the building after the ultrasound and then they went and played with the soccer ball at the Railroad Park.

A Few Glimpses of our Christmas

2011-12-31T09:26:00.000-06:00

We spend all day Christmas Eve together. We snack on appetizers all day and have supper around 6 that night. We usually sing a few Christmas songs and have Grandchildren entertainment before we open gifts. I couldn't ask for a more perfect day. It is everything I dreamed of as a little girl. When I look at my family gathered around the table I usually have to fight back the tears. This year Emma offered the prayer before we ate and I doubt I will ever forget that moment.......it was one of those "stand still in time" moments! Lawson helped make this appetizer but he can't try it because he is allergic to shellfish

Meredith and Josh putting together the gingerbread houses

Lawson eating the decorations for the gingerbread houses!

Abby Claire and John Brady.......they are getting pretty experienced at this

Emma and Lawson decorating a house

Emma wanted to show Uncle Josh how good she had gotten on the pogo stick he got her for Christmas last year

Meredith's special gift.......all the way from Napa Valley

Gathered at the table

Christmas Trees and Santa

2011-12-30T16:24:00.000-06:00

and the Bass Pro Shop

What could be a better combination. The first weekend in December we usually take the truck to Birmingham so Courtney, Dave and Lawson can go to the tree farm and pick out a tree. We usually get our tree, also. I have always had a real tree. When I was growing up we always had one of those (really expensive .....now) aluminum trees with a color wheel shining on it. I swore that I would always have a real tree when I had my own home and so far have kept that up. Courtney suggested that we meet at the Bass Pro Shop after church so Lawson could see Santa before we went after the tree. Of course, that was right up John's alley. He needed....and I stress needed...to get some things from the Bass Pro. You know the You Tube video of "The People of Wal Mart". I think they need to do "The Men of Bass Pro". Back to Christmas.....we got there before Courtney and Dave and were able to get a line pass to see Santa. We were tickled. The year before we waited in line with Em, Ab and JB3 for almost 2 hours! The adults went and ate while we waited on our time for our Santa visit. Let me just say that if you find your self on an extended visit at Bass Pro that they have a wonderful chicken salad sandwich.Lawson played the games that are all over Bass Pro's Santa Land.....and most of them are games that catch Pop's interest!

I want a Mario Kart K Nex......(and Josh and Meredith have a bone-to-pick with Santa)

Life looks pretty good right now. I ate my lunch, I played nicely in Santa Land, I sat nicely and smiled in Santa's lap and Santa seems to think that I can have a Mario K Nex!

Checking out the Christmas Tree Farm

Lawson always gets to pick out a "Charlie Brown Christmas Tree" for his toy room

He was told to pick one out that was as tall as him.....hummmmm...just stretched a little

Pops getting the cut started

Lawson cutting down his tree

okay....let's go

Twas the "Night Before"

2011-12-29T18:35:00.013-06:00

Christmas Eve

Courtney and Dave went through Tuscaloosa on their way to Berry and picked up John Brady so the boys could have some "boy cousin" play time. We met them at Tuugies for lunch. The first thing Dave wants when he comes to Berry is a Tuugie Burger. Lawson was showing us how he could look like "Mario" with his french fries.The boys did a lot of playing. they ripped and ran outside, rode the golf cart with Pop, played on the playground at the Elementary School and built castles from blocks.
and as is typical of the times......sat side by side and played on the DS and iPhone

By looking at their expressions......I don't think either one of them are winning!

We took John Brady to his Nanny and PaPa's house when it turned dark. JB3, Emma and Abby were spending the night with them and they were going to see the lights at the Fayette Park. Lawson told me when he found out JB3 was leaving that he would just go stay at Nanny's with John Brady! Courtney, Lawson and I ran to Fayette to get a few groceries and one last gift I had to buy, ate at KFC and then took Lawson to see the lights at the Fayette Park

When we got home John started working on a recipe that had to marinate all night. Lawson is all about some cooking , right now, so he wanted to help. He really does good helping.

He wants to know what every ingredient is and how it smells!

It turned out great!

Goin' To The Zoo Zoo Zoo

2011-12-28T10:45:00.005-06:00

The Wednesday before Christmas the Grands and I made a trip to Birmingham to go to the Zoo. It drizzled rain all the way from Berry to Birmingham. We decided if it was still drizzling rain when we got to Birmingham that we would go to a movie. We met Dave at the Cracker Barrel on 280 and picked up Lawson. It was still lightly raining so we went in Cracker Barrel and ate....hoping to give it time to clear up! Pops, who constantly watches the weather, had informed us that there would be a break in the weather after lunch.
Boy, did those kids eat. They love Cracker Barrel and Lawson, who is a picky eater and also doesn't like to spend his time eating, did not want to be outdone by John Brady (his hero) and ate bite for bite alongside JB3.
After lunch we walked outside........no rain....hooray! We quickly headed to the Zoo. John and I have a membership so it was easy sailing through the gates. Lawson always spends 15 minutes right inside the gates. He loves the birds and the big goldfish. We made our first of many group shots.

Lawson says.......hey, MeMe, get a picture of me doing this. So I did. I just know his Mom is going to want a copy!

As we headed into the Zoo the next thing we saw was this peacock. It was unusual because we always see them strutting around and it was just sitting on the fence watching us! It actually started following us and would just show up.....always sitting on a fence. The kids even noticed it and it turned into a joke with them.

Headed to the monkey house. You can tell that it had been bad weather by the wet cement but.....it was great because we felt like we had the Zoo to ourselves. I do not like the Zoo when it is crowded and you have to make the kids stand right beside you all the time. You can see they were enjoying being able to have a little room to skip.

The kids got all excited because there was a new baby girl. They said ...Oh, she had a girl just like Aunt CC is having a girl!

We had several funny things happen in the Zoo house. Fun memories. The funniest.....Lawson and JB3 went one window ahead of us girls and Lawson had his face and body pressed right up against the glass (I know, I bet you are thinking of the germs. The exhibits need to be that germ proof glass because I always want to slather them in antibiotic germ killer when we leave). Well, the little monkeys in that exhibit had just been sitting there......not sure if they were bored or if something about Lawson set them off.....the monkey grabbed one of the swinging ropes and swung right into the window! It made a loud crashing noise, Lawson and JB3 screamed, me, Emma and Abby screamed and the monkey just turned around and walked off......and we all started laughing....you know the kind of I can't walk or talk laughing!

Lawson really was happy.....he is just going through a little picture taking phobia, right now! We will take any suggestions on how to get a smile without scarring him for life!

The monkeys are Abby's favorite. The Lions are JB3's favorite. We got to see one of the babies.

Awwww.....MeMe loves this pic!

The Zoo was decorated for the Zoolight Safari

We rode the Carousel

Got them all caged up in one spot...but you can't have them....they are MINE!

Awww again.........

Lawson volunteered for this picture. He sat down on the log and said....MeMe take my picture with my knee up like this.....so, of course, I took the picture immediately!

It just makes MeMe go...AWWWW. I love you

For some reason this picture reminds me of an album cover picture of a country band. So far....Abby is our only musician but the boys do like tractors!

A little story right here. We got in a short line to make Alabama/Auburn pictures. I got Em, Ab and JB3 and made a quick Alabama picture with Lawson standing beside me. Then we moved to the Auburn scene to make Lawson's pic. I did not realize that the "little man" had his feelings hurt because he wasn't in the Alabama pic with Em, Ab and JB3. He and his Dad are Auburn fans but he is just a little fella that adores his cousins and wanted in the pic with them. He started crying and wouldn't make his picture in the Auburn scene. We did not have time to redo the line to make more pics ......we finally got him over it!

The kids decided they wanted to ride on the very back of the train.

I have riden the train for years....I mean years and never given it a thought that the wall right beside the train belongs to the monkey house. Abby decided to get on the 2nd row of the train with her MeMe and I am so glad she did......because as she climbed in the row with me she glanced up and what did she see but the Gorilla! We often see the gorilla from the inside of the monkey house but you usually have to get up against the glass and look sideways or look down and you get tired of that quickly.

It was the most amazing view. We were mesmerized. The gorilla was on top of it's habitat and we were so close.

The kids started calling to the gorilla and it turned around and looked at them. It had a head of lettuce in each hand calmly eating as it watched us.

Abby was so thrilled.....really, we all were, but Abby loves monkeys.

We really were this close

This little stone house , on the train ride, reminds me of my childhood. It has always been there and I remember it from riding the train years ago. I wonder what this was at one time.

We stayed at the Zoo for 4 hours. It was a great day. We had to leave at 4 for them to get ready for the Zoolight Safari. We decided that we wanted to go back to see the lights. It was an easy decision for me since you get in free with your membership. We ran to Wendy's and got some chicken nuggets, for a snack, and waited for nightfall.

As soon as you walked in they had "SNOW" falling. Lawson was amazed.

The lights are gorgeous and so Christmasy!

We did not stay long since we had been there all day and had already rode the rides.

Petting the white baby deer

We left the Zoo and headed to 280 for Dave to pick up Lawson. The little man did not want to leave his cousins. He told me he wanted to "go to "Tutaluta" with John Brady and then in desperation he told me that "I couldn't take him home because he was "HUNGRY".....I knew he was desperate then!!!! Dave got Lawson and we headed down 459 to Tuscaloosa but we only made it to Bessemer before the older kids said they were starving. We stopped at Taco Bell and ate and then headed home.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE.....GREAT TO BE A MEME DAY!

The Lawson Family Christmas Get Together

2011-12-26T21:10:00.001-06:00

The Lawson Family met together in Priceville, again this year, at Linda and David Lawson's home. We are a big family even though we always have some who can't make it. I think we had 46 immediate family members and about 7 who couldn't be there. Of course, that is 47 if you count , yet to be born, baby "Pocket". It turned out to be a beautiful day and everyone spent a lot of time outside. Uncle David lit the outdoor fire pit so we could stay warm and everybody soaked up the sunshine. We had lots of wonderful food and enjoyed watching the youngest generation of Lawson's playing outside. Thank you, Linda and David ...for having us...We love you! Pops driving the MeMe Mobile to Priceville

Lawson getting car sick

Emma

Maggie

The baby bump

Clara Paige, Abby and Maggie

Pretty girl smiles and then one of their boy cousins join them!
Lawson, Gracie, Clara Paige, Abby and Maggie

Lawson helping Uncle David build a fire

David helping Lawson with his balloon

Aunt Charlotte brought bopping balloons for the kids

John Brady found the stream behind Linda and David's house

Linda, Bo, Jane, Bryan and Rena

JB3

Sweet Baby Mollie with her Daddy

a little game of football

Brady playing Santa

Brady helping Granny open her gifts

Mollie - the youngest great grandchild

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2011-12-25T11:59:00.000-06:00

The Lawson Family wishes you a

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Christmas Books

2011-12-24T08:33:00.000-06:00

How our Christmas Book Tradition Started

It was Christmas 1997. My oldest son, Brady, was engaged to his, now wife, Kim. I had a few Christmas books from when the kids were little and always put them on my coffee table during Christmas. Most of them are paper back "Little Golden Books". These books still look good on the outside......but if you look on the inside....you will see all kinds of coloring, writing/scribbling with pens, etc.

When Brady was little we could not keep anything in the house that you would use to write or color. The child had to learn to color in Kindergarten! He could find a pen, pencil or crayon wherever you hid it and after he decorated the first available wall he would start on the books. I cannot tell you how many times that I was in a friend's hallway or bedroom scrubbing their walls while the rest of the adults visited. Our friends soon learned to hide the crayons when we were coming! But hey.....he really was a good kid!

So.....all of my Christmas books are covered in "Brady Graffiti"

When I realized that 1997 was our last Christmas before Brady and Kim would be having Christmas in their own home.....I wanted to do something to remember it by. I happened to glance down at the coffee table and it hit me. I gave Brady this book. It is the newer version of the same one that was on my table.

We all cried....me, John, Brady, Kim, Courtney and Josh. This started our Christmas Book tradition. Each year I give each family a Christmas Book. I try to make the book be about something going on in their life. I will post the 2011 books after they get them. I remember one year, when Courtney was working in New York and Emma had been born, I gave Brady's family "Auntie Claus in New York". When Josh was still in high school and his class did the Shoebox Christmas Boxes, that were sent to kids overseas, I found a "Shoebox Christmas" book about the ministry. I love hunting books that have something to do with their life.

Of course, now they have, Emma, Abby and John Brady. I haven't noticed any scribbling in their books but I do believe that I have heard Kim talk about scrubbing a wall before!

This is the big Golden Book that is always on my coffee table during Christmas
an example of Brady's work that is throughout the book

Who would guess that sweet face could do so much damage to a book! 1979

Brady and Kim......1997?

Northport Elementary School

2011-12-22T08:31:00.010-06:00

2011 1st Grade Christmas Program

starring---on this blog---John Brady Lawson

Nothing makes Christmas feel more like Christmas than listening to 1st graders sing Christmas carols. I was so happy to be in the lunch room ( new gym coming to go with the new school ) at Northport Elementary listening to John Brady and his fellow 1st graders singing at the PTO meeting. I was very impressed. The teachers working with the children did a great job. They sang out loud and clear and they seemed happy. Evidence of a "Lawson" man singing out loud!
Got the hand motions down

The 1st graders wore their PJ's for the program. John Brady loved his Grinch PJ's and was really happy when his Mother found these house shoes the day of the program.

Our little man

We Love You....John Brady and are so proud of you!

Happy Birthday, Son!

2011-12-18T14:31:00.000-06:00

Happy Birthday, Brady!Happy birthday to my grown son...who is a Husband and Daddy!
Happy Birthday to my son who always had his sister's back......from the minute she was born!

and.....always had his little brother's back!

Christmas 1997

Brady, Kim, John, Courtney and Jamie. PawPaw Lawson's hospital room. Christmas 1997

We love you....Brady!

FOR EMMA......

2011-12-16T07:47:00.000-06:00

Because she loves horsesJohn sent me a text on my cell phone to tell me that we had a new baby in the pasture

I am sure this new baby will be the center of attention Christmas Eve

Happy Birthday, Jesus

2011-12-15T09:14:00.000-06:00

John and I went to Birmingham, Sunday, to watch Lawson sing with his choir at church. He sang his little heart out! This child loves music but.......he just couldn't quite get his moves going! The song, Happy Birthday, Jesus, was just a little too slow. He tried several times to get moving to the beat but finally gave up and instead inserted a couple of hand motions of his own.
I was very impressed with how good this little group sounded. Every one of them sang and could be heard above the music. MeMe and Pops were very proud! Every time I started to make a picture another adult head popped in front of my lens. That is Lawson between the heads.....in the red vest.

The children came out into the audience and sat with their parents after they sang. John and I along with Lawson's Grandmother and Grandfather Long were sitting together and Courtney and Dave were sitting right in front of us. Lawson chose to sit on the row with all of us. After several more songs...the men came forward with the offering plates. As the congregation sat down and got VERY quiet.....Lawson, the child who cannot whisper-leaned over the pew and said........Hey, Mama, they are about to pass out the money! Kids......they keep you laughing!

Back entrance

Happy Birthday.....Jamie Lawson!

2011-12-10T20:37:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday , to our niece, Jamie Lawson. Jamie was born 33 days after Courtney. The 3rd Lawson granddaughter and the last Lawson granddaughter. Oh yes, Michele, Courtney and Jamie sit right in the middle of 10 Lawson grandsons.
We are so proud of Jamie. She is going back to school, at Auburn University, to be a pharmacist. I hope I get invited to the graduation! Sweet PawPaw with Jamie and Courtney. Those granddaughters loved their PawPaw. I don't think I need to tell my friends which one is Jamie and which one is Courtney. We had not seen a blonde hair baby around here until Abby Claire was born!

MADE MY DAY!

2011-12-01T21:54:00.001-06:00

I went to the post office today.....what did I have? The usual...enough catalogs to make me think about the trees that were wasted on them. And then, a second glance at a white envelope. I caught a glimpse of the return address and thought to myself.....wow, Kim is on the ball getting out her Christmas cards. So, I stopped right there in the post office and started opening the envelope. As I was ripping open the envelope I saw another white envelope with the same return address....what did I think..uh oh...Kim sent us two cards.
Guess what it was. Both of our sweet grand daughters sent us a home made Christmas card. It made me so happy. It is pretty amazing how grandchildren can make your day great!
I love you Emma and Abby Claire!

A low key "day before Thanksgiving" morning

2011-11-28T07:48:00.000-06:00

He loves those boots!
playing with Uncle Josh

Lawson said "emmaabbyjohnbrady" (which is exactly how he says it) do this. He watches every move his older cousins make!

The Nativity

2011-11-27T08:32:00.004-06:00

The Lawson Long version

The blow mold nativity figures were in the grand kids playroom. John had the almost finished the manger stable in the front yard. Lawson wanted to know when we were putting baby Jesus in the manger. So....before Lawson left Berry I told him he could place the figures in the manger. Oh....he loved doing this. I wish you could have heard the conversation while he was placing them in the manger.okay...this looks right
Lawson informed me that this was a "walk-fly angel"

He said that this wise man needed to be where he could see over into the manger so he could "throw" his gift to the baby Jesus

He would have nothing but that.......the angel be in the front looking in

at this point Lawson informed me that "they said there was no room" but "it looks like there is plenty of room" so...... this wise man got to be by Mary and Joseph

he decided that he didn't like where this wise man was standing

So....all the wise men are inside now and the angel gets the side view

That is my lamb he is swinging around. As he was walking to the manger with it he informed me that "the shepherd watched over the sheep" after a pause and looking around for a shepherd (hopefully, one will show up on ebay)....he said "well, I guess they can look after a lamb , too."

So, there you go. The story of Baby Jesus by Lawson Long. Not too bad for a little guy!

A Sweet Roll Tide

2011-11-26T09:44:00.001-06:00

I asked John Brady to draw me a picture. It was "Tuesdays with MeMe" and I was helping the girls with their homework. John Brady loves to draw at his Mother's computer desk. So.....I asked him to draw me a picture. This is what he brought me.
This is a innocent 6 year old drawing. John Brady was born into an Alabama family. He lives in a home with 3 Alabama degrees on the wall. He comes to my house where there are 3 more Alabama degrees on the wall. He will likely be an Alabama fan all his life.
He knows this game is important but I doubt he really understands...why.
I love his rendering of the stadium, the people in the stadium, the players on the field, and the yard lines. Good Job, JB3. MeMe loves you........oh, and ROLL TIDE!

Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-25T09:36:00.006-06:00

A few glimpses of Thanksgiving

Building a Manger

2011-11-25T09:03:00.008-06:00

I try to add a new Christmas decoration every year and introduce it to my Grandchildren at Thanksgiving. Many times it is something small that I decorate with inside but sometimes it is something bigger that I use in the yard.

I have wanted a nativity scene for years. I drool over the nativity figures that they have at Hobby Lobby...but alas...a little out of my price range for a Christmas decoration but I still cling to the hope that I might get the beautiful nativity scene some day.

So....a few weeks ago I made a trip to Birmingham to buy my newest decoration. I was going to Garden Ridge to buy some reindeer for the front yard. Last year while shopping with some friends I saw these deer but had already bought a new decoration for that year. I had not forgot about those deer so away I went in the big "MeMe Mobile" to get my deer. While I was shopping around..after I had found my deer....I came upon a Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. It was plastic blowmold. This is not what I had pictured in my head but it dawned on me that it might be my only chance to have a nativity scene. So.........Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the Angel came home to Berry, Alabama. That was all the figures available. Reindeer are back on the list for next year....again! I have since then bought 2 wisemen and a lamb from Ebay and hope to get the rest of the scene by Christmas Day.

So, since Dave and Josh were at our house....Pops recruited them to build a manger. Poor John...he knew I had bought these figures but I failed to mention to him that I needed him to build a manger stable. He found some old wood and I googled an example for him to build. The manger is not finished.....we need a little more wood but John captured exactly what I wanted.

Melissa

2011-11-21T13:34:00.004-06:00

Here we are looking all "Sex and the City" during a 2006 Christmas visit to New York City. We were walking over the Brooklyn Bridge. Melissa Greene, Teresa Mobley, Joy Lawson, Courtney Lawson Long ( 4 months pregnant, when she was working in NYC) Daphne McCabe

CONGRATULATIONS MELISSA!

2011-11-21T08:41:00.021-06:00

I met Melissa Greene back in 1986. She had just graduated from Livingston, got married and took a job at Berry Elementary as the PE Coach. Brady was in the 6th grade, Courtney was in the 3rd grade and Josh was in the 1st grade. I volunteered at the school and Melissa was a personality that you couldn't miss. We became good friends through school and I helped her out at school as much as I could. Melissa stayed at Berry Elementary four years. My math may be off on that but it's close. So....she had Courtney and Josh for several years. Melissa took a job at Fayette Middle School so she could be closer to her family and be around for things that her boys were involved in.
After Melissa left Berry we saw each other in passing but the feeling of a life long friend never left. AND THEN....in 1995 our family visited at the newly established, about 2 months, Central Church of Christ and there was my friend smiling at me and I felt like I was home.
Let me tell you that we will never be far apart again. She is a friend and sister. We have shared so many things over the course of our 25 year friendship that will keep us together a lifetime. We have been together for the good and the bad and we have had a good share of both.
Melissa retired last week. I wanted to be there for her as she walked out the door for the last time. I did the only thing I seem to be good at. I documented those last minutes for her.
I love you , Melissa. Look out .....Here she comes! Blowing her whistle for the last time!

We laughed as she gathered up the very last things she had needed that day and put them in a plastic bag

Look out Wallace State and the WORLD.......here she comes!

November 12, 2001

2011-11-16T09:02:00.007-06:00

New York Marks 10th Anniversary of Flight 587 Crash
As I read this headline in The Tuscaloosa News.....I knew exactly where I was that morning. You know, the important, happy or sad things that happen and are forever immortalized by the....where were you when! Usually, these are things that affect every person in the U.S. For a few hours in time...this affected me.
I was downstairs exercising, to a video, so my network television was not on. My phone rang. I got up, picked up the remote control, aimed it at the TV and pressed stop as I picked up the phone. The memory of what happened next plays out in slow motion in my mind. I heard Sue Moon's voice as I glanced back at the TV. I heard Sue say "have you heard from Courtney" as the headline on the TV knocked the breath out of me! A plane had crashed in Queens. I hung up on Sue as I screamed.
Courtney was working in New York. She got the news that she was being moved to New York the morning of 9-11. She was working in Queens. Courtney flies to her job every Monday morning. It was Monday morning....she was flying to work!
I did what I have done for years since I have lived in Berry. I ran to Georgia Moore. Georgia has served as my first person to run to since we became neighbors...many years ago. I ran across our yards, barefooted, in my pajamas with uncombed hair and unbrushed teeth and as always she folded me into her arms. I couldn't breathe and could barely talk. After Georgia got me calmed down and found out what happened she started trying to find John. He was hunting and out of cell phone coverage.
Sue left work to come to the house. As she pulled up Georgia suggested that we go back to my house to wait on news.
We had tried calling Courtney and got her voice mail. I kept calling it again and again and leaving a message to please call me. I knew that she was in the air at the same time as this plane but did not know what plane she was on. After several years of her flying we had become lax with knowing details.
Before I put on clothes, brushed my hair and teeth .....I dropped to my knees and prayed and pleaded for my daughter!
Then the phone rang......a shaky voice said...MAMA, what has happened! I lost it. I cried and thanked God for the sound of my child's voice.
Yes, she had been somewhere in the air behind the crash. They diverted them to Washington but did not tell them why. She had just got to where she could use her phone and she was so scared that there had been another terror attack.
No, there wasn't a terror attack. The plane just crashed and my heart knows that somewhere...some Mother, who was on her knees......did not get a call that began with...MAMA.
Thank you, God, for the safety of John, Brady, Kim, Emma, Abby, John Brady, Courtney, Dave, Lawson and Josh and please forgive me for not saying it more often!

Where were you on......

2011-11-12T09:31:00.000-06:00

11-11

11:11

I was at Sweet Home Berry, Alabama!

They Love To Go.........

2011-11-11T08:37:00.000-06:00

TAILGATIN' on the Quad No, he is not guarding the port a potties...he is guarding JB3. Just one of the many jobs of a Daddy.

All 4 of my Grandchildren love to climb at the Library

Daddy couldn't resist either

JB3 putting his hand inside the imprint of Ozzie Newsome's hand at Denny Chimes

the stadium

Love me some Grandbabies and Nick too!

After I made this picture I could not figure out what was going wrong with my camera! I kept having a cloudy spot. Dave figured it out for me the next day. I bet you have already guessed what the problem was....but not me...no, I thought I had it on a wrong setting somehow. It was a greasy Dreamland fingerprint on the lens. Oh well, I got some good pics before and it was an easy fix!!!

I have never seen this many people trying to park before. At 1:00 PM before the LSU game all the parking lots were full and people were parking on the side of the exit roads.

It is hard to see with my Dreamland greasy finger camera lens but.....this is a picture of people parking on the side of McFarland Boulevard. I believe it might be a 1st but I guess that is what happens when you go to the Game of the Century!

Be prepared...Emma, Abby and JB3....MeMe plans on going to the Quad even when you have to push her! Thank you for taking me with you!

I Love..........

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-06:00

FALLI love to breathe the air with just a nip of coolness that makes it feel so crisp. I love the football games that come with fall. I love the food that we don't cook until you feel that first nip in the air. Fall just makes me feel happier.
For years people have commented on how pretty this tree, in our front yard, is every fall. I bought this tree from the Fayette County 4-H when Brady was in the 5th grade. It was a small
twig with roots and I have no idea of the name.

The trouble with beautiful fall colors.....they just don't last long. I guess that is the reason we know to enjoy them the minute they start showing!

One rain and a little wind........

and my beautiful tree is almost bare!

Berry vs Addison

2011-11-09T08:00:00.000-06:00

Berry played Addison at Addison in the first round of the AHSAA playoffs. Honestly.......I still can't figure out why we were not a home game. It was a 3-way tie. Lynn beat Berry -- Berry beat Marion County -- Marion County beat Lynn. Berry's only loss was in OT. Lynn had 2 losses. And we came in 3rd!?! Well, try to keep us down! We whopped Addison.
We beat them with our Quarterback getting his hand broke (have found out since then that it is not broke just bruised really badly). Our back up quarterback did a great job and our quarterback came back in with a cast on his hand up to his elbow....and we still whopped them.

Maybe somebody can explain this to me but I think it sounds like a little of that "home cooking". Well....it was obvious that Addison thought they had this game. They are a much bigger school than Berry.......and the Wildcats tamed them!

Great job, Wildcats! You have a lot to be proud of!

Happy Birthday, Courtney!

2011-11-07T23:25:00.001-06:00

We Love YouI thought you would get a good laugh at this picture of Lawson!

CHATEAU ELAN

2011-11-07T08:50:00.004-06:00

John and I were privileged to be invited to the wedding of the daughter of one of my best friends. The wedding was at Chateau Elan in Georgia. We left out about 1:00PM from Birmingham. Oh my, did we get caught in Atlanta "rush hour" traffic! It was terrible. We got to the hotel about 7:00 that night. We had planned on being there around 5:30. But, we made it, got checked in, changed clothes quickly, and headed to a little meet and greet. I went with my "didn't do right that morning-rush hour traffic-no time to fix it" bad hair. Well, it didn't really matter because the beautiful "bride to be" out shined everyone!the next afternoon we took a tour of the winery that is on the property

the new fangled way to make wine

the "still around" old fangled way to make wine

the front of the beautiful grounds around the winery

bad time of year for pretty vinyard pictures

looking at the hotel from the winery

2011-11-07T08:49:00.002-06:00

Before The Wedding Began

It was a beautiful day for a wedding with a beautiful bride. As we sat waiting for the wedding to begin....I thought back on how lucky I was to have my good friends that I could share such special moments and about our memories of times together!

Here Comes The Bride

2011-11-07T08:48:00.002-06:00

The Wedding

Leah Meredith Newtondoesn't the look that Robert is giving Leah just melt your heart!

Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Bass

Leah was an absolutely beautiful bride

my absolutely beautiful buddy....Meredith

The Unknown Groomsmen

2011-11-07T08:47:00.002-06:00

OR....The Keepers of the Aisle Runner

Meredith asked John and Rick if they would watch over the aisle runner before the wedding. Well, they took this job very seriously. They guided everyone to the sides of the aisle runner and watched over it and made sure the rose petals stayed in place. They spread the runner out when the bridal party got there and watched over it during the wedding and made sure it was straight as the bride and groom walked out

Good Job, Guys!
They said they were available for other weddings.....for a price!

I told them they looked like FBI standing there

Baby Girl Long

2011-11-07T08:46:00.003-06:00

Making pictures, after the wedding, of Courtney and Dave for the 24th "week".

That's my "#3" granddaughter in there. "#5" grandchild.

Oh, What A Night....

2011-11-07T08:45:00.001-06:00

The ReceptionThe "Newlywed's 1st Dance"

"Father-Daughter Dance"

The band was wonderful. I really think they were the best I have ever seen for a wedding. Pointing to Courtney's "baby bump". How sweet!

Thank you, dear friend, for letting us be a part of this wonderful weekend. I love you! That's me and Daphne...how I love my friends!

2011 Grandparent's Day

2011-11-04T08:46:00.000-05:00

I had Grandparent's Day for the last two Fridays. Abby's Grandparent's Day was first. I took my camera but in typical "Joy" fashion...it didn't have a card . So, I don't have a picture of my sweet Abby but I do have the sweet notes, she made for us, on my refrigerator!

This was my last Grandparent's Day with our Em Em......she will be in middle school next year!

The things a 4 year old says...and will do!

2011-11-03T10:08:00.000-05:00

Courtney and Dave have gone to Disney World for Halloween. I went to Birmingham to visit with Lawson since he won't be here for Trick or Treating. I was going to take him to the Zoo and give Courtney some time to pack. It was drizzling rain Friday afternoon so I asked Lawson what he wanted to do since we couldn't go to the Zoo........his reply

I want to go to Cracker Barrel and not eat......just play with the toys!

After playing at Cracker Barrel we decided to go to the Bass Pro Shop. If you know me or read my blog....you know that I can get lost....very easily. Well......Lawson and I headed out down Highway 459....guess I never paid any attention to John exiting to I-20. So.....as I was approaching...oh well, I think I won't tell you where I was....Lawson asked when we were going to be there. Sooooo....I had to tell him that I thought I had missed a turn and wasn't exactly sure how to get to the Bass Pro Shop. To which Lawson replied......

Oh No, I will never get to go back home again! My reply.....Here Lawson, play with my iPhone!

Lawson and I got a sandwich for supper at Bass Pro. A couple with a small baby came and sat beside us. Lawson kept watching the baby. He finally announced to me....very loudly

You know, MeMe........babies are born BAREFOOTED and I believe you have to keep them that way for a long time!

As we were leaving I asked Lawson if he need to go tee tee. His reply....NO. As we were halfway down the parking area.....I Need To Tee Tee. Okay, I will just let you tee tee beside the car....we aren't going back in. I always forget that he hasn't got past the getting naked to tee tee phase. So....with his shorts and underwear around his ankles and it seemed like every car that passed by had its headlights on bright spotlighting the little man.....he began to tee tee....when he suddenly...

Grabbed his bottom and informed me that he need to poo poo too! Ever tried telling a little one to hold it!

And finally....Courtney told me that Lawson got in trouble at school for pushing his friend. When Courtney talked to him about why he did it.....he replied that his friend had said he didn't want to be his friend anymore. Courtney explained to Lawson that Jesus said to turn the other cheek when somebody hurt you and that it was Jesus job to straighten out the person who was bad. Lawson thinks about this and says

Well, MeMe tells me sometime that she is going to "tear me up" .....so is God going to take care of her! OOPS...guess I can't say that anymore. disclaimer......MeMe has never tore anybody up!!!

Afternoon with Lawson

2011-11-03T10:07:00.001-05:00

Last Friday after being at Grandparents Day with Emma I headed to Birmingham to see Lawson. I hadn't seen him in 2 weeks. Dave, Courtney and Lawson were heading to Disney World on Saturday and to go Trick or Treating with Dave's brother's family at Celebrations. So....I thought it would be a good time to take Lawson to the Zoo and give Courtney some time to pack. It was drizzling rain so we had to adjust our plans. Lawson picked Cracker Barrel....he loves their toy section and who else but a MeMe will stand there for an hour and let you touch every toy.......and he also picked The Bass Pro Shop....his Pops genes are showing! Every Tuesday when I pick up my other 3 Grandchildren from school we always get a snack. We have a tradition of either McDonald's or stopping at the Chevron station. Lawson and I have the tradition of going to Cracker Barrel and getting him 10 of the flavored candy sticks. I usually get some for myself, also........I love the tangerine.....Lawson tries to get one of every flavor.....he got a clove this time???.....would like to be there when he eats it! More than once he has picked up these Nips and asked to get them. I gave in this time and let him get them. I really thought.....I will buy them and that will be the end of this! But...no...he liked them! I remember getting these as a little girl. They were so novel but I do remember that they didn't taste good. I can't remember what they were called when I was little....maybe they were Nips!

You could draw a map of the route Lawson takes, inside The Bass Pro Shop, every time we are there. You would think he had never been there before because of the excitement.....it never seems to get old.....again, his Pops gene showing (JB3 has that same Pops gene) !

Lawson and I ate at The Bass Pro Shop. I was very surprised at how good the chicken salad sandwich was.

It Was All Treats!

2011-11-01T21:16:00.001-05:00

John and I headed down to Tuscaloosa, Monday afternoon, to see the kids go Trick or Treating. After we all ate supper together we loaded up the very excited kids and caravaned to Huntington Place. Monkey Abby with Banana Lucky

A Monkey, a Cowgirl and a Raccoon

And........we are off......

Lucky was just proud she got to go

Brady found a fire pit to stand around. He never could stay away from fire!

John shook his hand

This guy was so still that you could not tell if he was real........

until finally he barely turned his head toward me. Can you tell that I jumped a little

There were some amazing decorated yards

This guy walking up the sidewalk to get candy was pretty scary to me!

The Lawson men standing back and looking it over. Donnie was walking with JB3 after he got scared!

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T14:28:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone has a safe and fun Halloween Night! Courtney and Brady....Halloween 1979. Brady had begged for one of these plastic Halloween costumes from Wal Mart. He felt so deprived because I always put together an outfit for him and he never got to buy a Wal Mart costume. So....with a newborn baby (Josh) by c-section and a 7 day stay in the hospital, for me, when that newborn was 10 days old.....Brady got his wish fulfilled and got a plastic costume from Wal Mart!

UWA

2011-10-31T09:17:00.000-05:00

The family headed down to Livingston, Alabama a couple of weeks ago to watch Southern Arkansas University play The University of West Alabama. We were happy for the opportunity to see Josh ,with only a 2 hour drive, and excited that Meredith's parents, Bart and Catherene Jones, were going to join us for a tailgating party. It was UWA's Homecoming. We arrived early in hopes of catching every little minute that we could have with Josh.

We watched as the SAU Rider buses pulled up to unload. It makes my heart pound to know that my son, that I see about 4 or 5 times a year, is on that bus.

Besides his coaching duties.....Josh is in charge of football operations for away games. That's him leading the way.

Meredith followed the team buses from Mississippi and Meredith's parents met us at UWA to tailgate. We were so happy to get to meet them and enjoy some time together before the ball game.

Josh was able to join us for about 30 minutes while the team got settled in. It took a meeting of great minds but......we finally got Meredith's tent up! I say we.....I was making pictures....everybody else was putting up the tent!

Meredith's Mom brought a birthday cookie for me and Josh. Josh's birthday was September 30th and mine is October 9th.

We accidentally started a family tradition, using the candle numbers, about 10 years ago. I accidentally forgot to bring the numbers for my birthday....HA!

Josh is reading the book that Emma, Abby and John Brady wrote and illustrated and Kim had printed for his birthday

Lawson pointing out the piece of birthday cookie that he wanted (the one with the most icing!)

Uncle Josh brought the kids some Southern Arkansas wristbands Coming onto the field

Lawson saw some kids rolling down the hill beside our stands and just had to try it out. John Brady is giving him advice!

We also enjoyed Melissa Greene coming to the game. Melissa graduated from West Alabama and since it was homecoming she came down and joined us for the game. We had a great time....even though SAU lost......hope we can all get together again!

Tuesdays With MeMe

2011-10-29T08:38:00.012-05:00

I believe that Tailgatin' on the Quad has caused an interest in throwing around the football! figuring out their routes

Abby trying to read her book for school but Cooper had other ideas!

Emma typing out her history report

Finally

2011-10-27T10:16:00.004-05:00

I finally have our Alabama-Penn State football trip posted. It is a lot of posts and a lot of pics. Be sure and hit older post to see all the posts.

Joe Pa...here we come!

2011-10-27T07:14:00.013-05:00

It seems I have kept putting off writing this post. Why? I am not sure but I think it was because of the emotions of 9-11. I just wasn't ready to revisit it.

Back in 2010, after John and I had been to the Alabama-Penn State game, Brady made the statement that he would like to go to the Alabama-Penn State game in Happy Valley in 2011. Well, that was all I needed to hear. I love to go to away games and going with Brady and Kim would make it even more special and fun. We started talking about it seriously after Christmas and it became a reality when, in March, we found a great price on a flight. Of course, there has to be some cliches.....which was that John's, long planned, hunting trip would end the day before the game and he would be in Colorado. Well, we worked that out. The next thing that just seemed to fall into place was finding the last two (non smoking) rooms available at the same hotel that the Alabama alumni would be staying at. Tickets were found pretty easily and Brady rented a car and we were set.

John left on his hunting trip (I have already put up a post with his hunting trip pics) Friday, September 2nd. Thursday September 8th, I left out from Berry and headed to spend the night with David and Linda Lawson (John's younger brother). David and Linda live in Priceville ( you might remember my post about celebrating the Lawson Christmas at their house) and the great prices we got for a direct flight to Baltimore was flying out of Huntsville (very close to Priceville). Since our flight was taking off so early I decided to spend the night before and I am so glad I did. We had the best afternoon and night. We talked and talked and Linda had a wonderful supper ready for us and I got to love on Maclain, Reid and Mollie ( my great nephews and niece). David was going to wake me up Friday morning because we were leaving early but in typical Lawson fashion we were both up before the alarm went off. Thank you, Linda and David, for such a great night! I left Linda and David's thinking I was totally prepared. I had my GPS and Mapquest instructions to the airport but in my typical blonde fashion........I took 3 wrong turns in the subdivision!!!!! When I finally made it out to the interstate I did get a little panicky because I was afraid I was going to be late. Being late is not fun at an airport but being late when you have never been to this airport and you are alone is really not fun! But, I gave my sweet brother in law a call and he got me calmed down and reassured me that I was on the right track. I got to the airport, parked, did not look at where I was parked, got in the airport, got through security and was actually not the last person on the plane. Brady and Kim were already on (they spent the night at a hotel next to the airport). The airline was playing the Alabama Fight Song as I boarded and the plane was 90% people going to the game. Guess we weren't the only ones who found that great deal!

We landed, got our luggage and caught a bus to the rental car area. We got in our car, put the Alabama flags on the windows and headed out.......we did not know until the we got the GPS on our phones working that we were going in the wrong direction. We went right and we should have gone left. The problem was......finding a place we could turn around. Finally, Brady just said he was getting off at the next exit. We did and started trying to figure out how to get back on the interstate going the right direction. Sometimes that is not easy to do. This proved to be the situation we were in. So.....I am in the back seat looking at the map, of the area we were in, and started giving Brady directions to get back to the interstate to an exit that was going the direction we needed to go. We got there but we needed to be in the opposite lane and there was not a crossover so we kept going straight until.......we realized we were headed straight into a line of stopped cars. Why.....you ask.....well it was an Army base. We were in the line to enter Fort Meade. Now......years ago I had gone to Gulf Shores with a friend, it was night, and we missed our turn and ended up in Pensacola. We knew how to get to Gulf Shores from there but we also missed that turn....I know...I own the fact that I get lost everywhere I go! Anyway, we ended up at the naval base entrance....we drove up, told the guard that we missed our turn and were heading to Gulf Shores and he just told us to u-turn in front of the guard shack and head back out....easy enough, but that was before 9-11. So, I leaned up and told Brady to just tell the guard that we needed in the other lane heading out and he would just let us u-turn. Have you figured out that didn't happen. We slowly head toward the guard shack with our Alabama flags flying high. Brady rolls down the window, tells the guard that we were just trying to get going in the right direction to get to Harrisburg, Pa. The very nice guard said " sure I can help you" as I envisioned us just doing that u-turn and leaving. But here is what really happened.......he stopped traffic, walked out in front of us, motioned us to a small drive through parking area. We assumed we were just driving through the parking area and heading out....which we started to do when we realized that we were being flagged down, told to pull over and stop by all the, very serious looking, men in all black combat uniforms. Very quickly, we realized that we might be there a while. Leave it to me....be prepared if you go with Joy Lawson...something will happen that we will talk about for a while. Anyway......they approached the car, told us to stay in the car, asked for Brady's license, asked if it was our car, looked at the rental papers, looked under the car and finally all smiled and said we could go! WHEW.....but then....They came back and asked if we had made any pictures....WE said NO....and I promise you that you will never see a picture of what happened!!!!

So, finally we are on the way to Harrisburg. Pennsylvania is a beautiful state....even when you are just seeing it from the interstate. We knew that there had been a lot of rain in PA. that week but we were not prepared for what we saw when we got to Harrisburg. Our exit to the hotel was blocked...flooded...so was the next exit....we finally got off on the third exit into downtown. Luckily our hotel was not flooded but the streets surrounding it were flooded and blocked off. We had to go around the city and back to get to our hotel but we made it! WHEW!

I have divided up our Penn State trip into several posts so keep reading and sorry for all the pictures but I have always told my life in pictures!

Cortez Airport

2011-10-27T07:13:00.003-05:00

John was in Colorado on a bow hunting trip. Friday morning he had to fly from Cortez, Colorado (the closest airport) to Denver and then, after a layover in Denver and a short layover in Chicago, he would fly into the airport in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.This is the Cortez Airport, waiting area and runway. Does this give you an idea of how small the plane was that he flew on to Denver!

John landed in Denver and then his adventure began. About the time we were driving onto an army base in Baltimore, he was finding out that his plane to Chicago was very delayed. 5 hours later...they started hunting him another way to get to Harrisburg. He ended up flying into Dulles Airport in Washington....had another delay and then finally flew into Harrisburg. He should have gotten to the Crowne Plaza in Harrisburg around 7 that night but instead he got to the hotel at 1 am the next morning.
Skip back to earlier that evening......Brady, Kim and I went out to eat. Most of the town of Harrisburg was closed down because of the flooding. We had the choice of eating at the hotel or at a really nice restaurant a 1/2 block away. We chose to go down the block. I turned the sound off of my phone as we went into the restaurant.
Picture this......after John figured out what time he would finally land.....he started calling me but I forgot to turn the sound back on my phone. He wasn't worried when he couldn't get me...he would just go to the desk. I had fallen asleep....I had been up really early that morning...I never saw the phone light up as poor John tried to get me to answer. The desk, and rightly so, would not give him my room number! He had to wake up Brady at 1:30 to find out my room number.
Finally, he is headed up the elevator to our room. But no...it is not going to be that easy....I had the safety lock on the door. John opened the door and it would not open. I had fallen asleep ( I was just going to take a nap and then try to call John) with the air and the TV on and I did not hear him.....so, at 1:45 in the morning, he had to yell for me to wake up! He didn't seem too proud to see me right then....luckily he was too tired to vocalize it!

Downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

2011-10-27T07:12:00.001-05:00

We stayed in Harrisburg. Happy Valley was booked solid by the time we decided to make this trip. I saw on the Alabama Alumni website that they were staying in Harrisburg. So..if it was good enough for them it should be good enough for us. The bus with the Alabama Alumni pulled up to the Crowne Plaza about 5 minutes behind us.....from then on....Crimson everywhere!

I went out exploring. This lady, a nurse at the hospital, a block away, was out walking and stopped me to talk. She asked if I was there for the game. She was very friendly and we had a nice talk. Everybody kept talking to me.......me thinks...they wanted to hear my southern drawl!

The River had flooded the day before we got to Harrisburg. Mapquest directions and an GPS doesn't do you any good when your exit is closed and all the streets going to your hotel are flooded. Luckily the water stopped one block from our hotel.

The bridge going over the river was closed. This is one block from where we were staying.

Everybody was walking over the bridge and watching the water

As I was looking back at the river bank....the river bank that is right beside the usually very busy city.....

...........this deer jumped into the water. I can't imagine where it came from. It had to come from the middle of the city. I am guessing the rising water had ran it out from somewhere. So sad, because everybody knew it couldn't swim against the fast running water. I had to quit watching.

The other side of the bridge is where their baseball team plays but it was all under water.

On my way back to the hotel I just couldn't resist taking a picture of this cute fire hydrant

We Won!

2011-10-27T07:11:00.002-05:00

GAME DAYWe got up early Saturday morning and headed to Happy Valley. Everywhere we went people were saying what would normally be a 90 minute trip might take 4 hours. We loaded up the rental car and took off. Well.....we did not run into any trouble associated with the flooding but we did see on Facebook where it had started raining in Happy Valley. We stopped and got some rain ponchos at Dollar General but they did not have any rain boots. That was another thing we kept hearing......that all the parking places were going to be a sea of mud. Everyone in Pennsylvania kept apologizing about the trouble the rains were causing....like there was anything they could do about it! When we got into the town, Kim and I started going from store to store hunting rubber boots......none to be found, and apparently there never were any, but we met a lot of people and had some fun conversations!
Brady had bought us a parking pass on line and we lucked up and got in a yellow parking lot about 2 blocks from the stadium. I made the rounds and talked to everyone that wanted to talk and they all seemed to want to talk...again....that southern drawl! This family had two daughters with them. I said something to her about the cute game day shirt she had on. The Mother started apologizing for the shirt....I was a little confused at first and then she said I hadn't read the back. Yep....it wasn't very nice but then it wasn't any different than anything you see anywhere. The Mother said she bought it for the girl and really didn't understand what the things on the back meant until the daughter explained them to her....oh you know.....it had some statement about marrying your cousin, that Bear wouldn't ever get 400 wins, and it went down hill from there. It's just part of it and you there is no need to have you B on your shoulder over it! We talked for a long time and they kept wanting us to eat with them...food...it brings people together!

Joe Pa's statue

ROLL TIDE

We thanked them

We are really here. Love it...love it.....love it

Their white out was impressive. A sea of white clothing and only white poms but once you got past the massive student section The Crimson Tide was very obvious.

The fly over on a very emotional weekend

Loved the shirt........but you do need those muscles too!

The game band that went to Penn State

Penn State's band entertaining the Alabama band members. Can you see the members doing push ups to the beat of the music?

The beautiful moon that greeted us in the parking lot after the game. We did not get rained on. We did not get one ounce of mud on our shoes. We did get very hot and blistered. But the best thing.....WE WON!

Flight 93 Memorial

2011-10-27T07:10:00.000-05:00

9-11-11

Brady and Kim headed back home, Sunday morning, to 3 kids, school and work. John and I stayed to go to the Flight 93 Memorial in Shanksville, PA.
We went through several long tunnels

It really is in the middle of no where

Secret Service on horseback

We were kept far away while President Obama was there

Sharp shooters climbing from the roof of the entrance building after the President was aboard a helicopter and leaving

3 helicopters leave so that you don't know which one the President is in

The rock in this field marks the spot where the plane stopped after it hit the ground

This building, you can barely see, is where the person was who saw what was happening and called for help. A Park Ranger said he thought that the plans called for something to be built there

Memorials

As I am typing this post I notice the somber feeling of that day coming back. This picture brought the tears. Everyone was politely and quietly walking in a line, a few feet away from the wall, looking at the names of the victims. This young blind woman started, at the beginning of the wall, feeling each name with her hands...as we watched

As her fingers worked their way over the name, TODD BEAMER, she stopped, made the statement.... "he started it" and burst into tears. sigh

On a normal day you can walk out, to the rock, in the field from this sidewalk but that day they were not letting anyone go out in the field

A sideways view of the wall

you can see the sidewalk out to the rock

At the top of this picture you can see the farmhouse that we saw, so often the day of 9-11, on TV.

walking back to the parking lots

That's our rental car John is heading to.......and yes, we were somber but right here he is shaking his head because he realized he left the lights on!

It's always an adventure with us......always has been and it looks like it isn't going to change!

I made pictures of the things surrounding the Memorial as we drove out of the valley. These windmills are very close to the Flight 93 Memorial. Since we do not have windmills in Alabama.....I get amazed watching them

A closer look, It really is something to see row after row of these giant windmills turning

We had to go up a mountain and back down to get to the Memorial.

Shanksville is a small, beautiful and clean little valley town snuggled up against mountains

2011-10-27T07:09:00.002-05:00

We Will Not Forget John wanted me to be in a picture at the Flight 93 Memorial. It is hard to pose for a picture at something this somber. Hopefully, this picture portrays the emotion of that day! We will not forget!
We left the Memorial and headed to Baltimore. It was a easy and beautiful drive. We had a room reserved next to BMI. There were many Alabama fans flying back with us that morning. We landed in Huntsville, actually found the car pretty easily, drove to John's hunting club to get his truck, luggage and hunting equipment, headed to Berry and collapsed when we got home. John had been gone almost two weeks!
It was a great trip and we look forward to going on another adventure with Brady and Kim!
PS...they have....the rest of the story....but I will let them blog about that!

Eight Is Enough

2011-10-26T10:46:00.004-05:00

October Book Club

Our book club met a week early this month to avoid all the little scary goblins next Monday night. We met at DePalma's with our host, Pam Brock. As usual....the food was wonderful. The book that Pam chose for October was "Olive Kitteridge". I really enjoyed this book. I guess you get tired of me saying how much I have enjoyed our books but I promise when I don't like a book I will tell you. There have been maybe 2 that I wasn't crazy about but that was before I started posting our selections.

I really thought I might not like this book. That it was going to be what I call a fluff book. Let me re say that.... I really love fluff books for certain times.....I call a fluff book a book that is just way too easy to read.....but a fluff book is hard for a book club because we need to have a good discussion about a book that makes you think! This turned out to not be a fluff book and really made you do some personal soul searching.This book features Olive Kitteridge who is just plain "unlikable" but you get to know her and wind up having some compassion for her. You also see some of yourself and you will recognize people you know in Olive. It makes you think and it is beautifully written and it is easy to read.

***

It Just Made Me Laugh

2011-10-13T12:43:00.001-05:00

At........Myself!

2011-10-11T22:17:00.000-05:00

John and I went to Valdosta, Georgia to see Josh and watch the Southern Arkansas Muleriders play football. We met Meredith when we got there and we were able to watch the first half of the Alabama vs Arkansas game with Josh. It always feels so good to put my arms around Josh's neck and just squeeze him tight! I miss that boy!This is the Fort Benning exit that we passed through on the way to Valdosta

hotel lobby

Riders leaving for game. They were giving Josh a hard time because I was making pictures of him leaving

Riders

Josh in the press box

He wasn't happy

Westminster Horse Show

2011-10-09T21:15:00.001-05:00

Emma was in her 2nd horse show last weekend. It was a beautiful afternoon with a crisp autumn like breeze blowing. They were a little behind when I first got there so I was able to visit with Emma and learn that she is riding a different horse now.....Leon. That's Emma

Abby and her friend watching as Emma rides in the show

John Brady watching Emma and eating his snow cone

Doesn't she look great!

Giving Leon a treat

Another beautiful weekend

2011-10-08T11:59:00.001-05:00

Lawson spent Thursday and Friday night with us last weekend. I was going to Emma's horse show (blog post coming about that) Saturday afternoon in Tuscaloosa so.....Courtney and I thought we would meet at the Watermark Outlet Mall. As I was pulling up to the parking lot I knew that something was wrong. There were maybe 5 cars besides me and Courtney. Courtney was going to shop the baby stores to get a few pink baby things. Luckily the Carter's store was still open and Court found a gown and a diaper bag. The only other store that was open was the Polo outlet. I am so sad.....I loved Christmas shopping there. The new outlet Mall close to the Bass Pro Shop is a long trip for me but......Big John really loves that Bass Pro Shop!

Courtney and I decided to go let Lawson walk around Tannehill since we couldn't shop. I love Tannehill but haven't been in ages. It was sooooo crowded but we still had a good time. I am guessing that it was Trade Days. We did not go in that direction but the camp ground was full, we had to wait in a long line to get in and all the picnic tables were full.Lawson thought he was such a big boy because he didn't take the steps!

Lawson saw these children playing by the stream and immediately made friends and started talking about skipping rocks

I love this time of year!

Mom bought him a snack at the Country Store

2011 Berry homecoming

2011-10-07T09:53:00.000-05:00

The Parade

Dan Deavours with his girls....Aubrey and Lainey...and Wally the Wildcat

The Principal and the Coach

The Class of 91 and "my cheerleaders"

Jill and Kate. Kate saw Lawson and was about to throw him some candy

Berry has some beautiful girls!

Peyton....our neighbor

Paige.....our neighbor

Mackenzie Brock.......our niece

Lawson Long....happily eating some of his bag full of candy that he got at the parade

wearing one of Uncle Brady or Uncle Josh's practice shirts

2011-10-07T09:52:00.000-05:00

Homecoming Game

I love going to Berry's homecoming game. A lot of people come home, to Berry, every year for homecoming and it is good to see them, hug their neck and remember fun times. John and I did not graduate from Berry but all 3 of our kids are Berry graduates so we have a lot of wonderful memories tied up in BHS.

Berry is a small school so we have a small band but I have always been impressed with their sound!
BHS Homecoming means cotton candy to the Law Man!

Lawson watching the game with Hudson Naramore.

Haven Magouirk, Olivia Clark, Lawson Long and Hudson Naramore

Our neighbor ,Paige Cupit, was in the Homecoming Court. She is being escorted by her Dad

Also our neighbor, and Paige's sister, Peyton Cupit. We have some good looking girls in our neighborhood! Peyton is being escorted by her Uncle....what's a Daddy to do when both his daughters need escorted....call on an Uncle!

Eight Is Enough

2011-10-06T08:52:00.000-05:00

September Book Club

"Loving Frank"

"Loving Frank was the book we read for September. We all know the name Frank Lloyd Wright but I had not heard of Mamah Cheney. Frank and Mamah were both married and had children and met when Mamah's husband, Edwin, commissioned Frank to design a house. Their affair became the stuff of headlines when they left their families to live and travel together. This historical novel is about Mamah as much or more than about Frank. Mamah was an educated woman who was held down by what was expected of a woman back then. The bizarre and tragic events that ended her life and many others that Frank Lloyd Wright loved changed him and, some say, his work forever.

I got this book about four years ago. I read the first chapter and just couldn't seem to get into it. This is what is great about a book club. It forces you to read books that you might pass over. This turned out to be a great book that I had a hard time putting down. The end of the book still haunts me!

Our September meeting was at "All Fired Up" We met in the party room, had a wonderful meal made by our hostess, Kim Bowling, discussed our book and painted. Wow, can we multi task! I decided to make a platter.....always need more platters.....that would be a Book Club memory. For somebody that does not have one ounce of artistic ability....I think it turned out pretty good.

Grandkids make a weekend GOOD

2011-10-04T07:52:00.000-05:00

Teaching them how to take care of us in 20 years!

Pops told the grand kids that this was the first lesson in learning how to take care of us when we are too old to do things. Brady and Kim spent the weekend in Birmingham celebrating their anniversary and we spent a great weekend in Berry with the kids. It was perfect weekend weather. We had decided to keep the pool open until this weekend, where they could swim, but it cooled off and the water was cold. So, we told the kids that they could begin learning how to winterize the pool. But, they had some other plans. Emma and John Brady jumped in in their clothes ( they asked first). See if you can imagine the scream they let out....it was cold but they just had to see for their selves. Abby resisted and resisted and then she couldn't stand it any longer and in she jumped. After changing clothes and eating lunch we all went out to the pool and closed it up for the winter.John Brady is not sure about this!

Pops explaining it to Emma

Pool cover ready to go

Abby and JB3 hanging on and Pops fastening as quick as he can!

Hold on Emma

After we got the pool covered it was time to ride the golf cart

Emma drove.....she's an expert driver. Abby drove........she is getting better. John Brady drove......his first time. Pops said he did great after he made the girls quit giving him orders. I guess they inherited the back seat driving from me!

Bailey loves to sit by the kids while they eat. They always have a bite for her.

John Brady found several of these spiders in the wooded areas right outside our back door. He was really interested in them and wanted to take a picture. I am not sure I have ever noticed a spider like this. JB3 loves all things outdoors. I think he takes after both his grandfathers.

My Baby Sister Is In There?

2011-10-02T13:34:00.004-05:00

This will melt your heart! Trying to hear baby sister's heartbeat.

"Pocket" are you in there?