So, I have to send a big happy birthday to all our siblings and siblings-in-laws who have birthdays this week.
Happy Birthday to Reeves and Mike (Robert's brothers-in-law) on the 18th!
Happy 18th Birthday to my brother David - today!
Happy Birthday to Robert's sis Bec on Friday!
We love you guys!
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Friday, November 9, 2007
LSU Game
So around the end of the season this year Robert and I decided the time had come to end our days of mooching off our friends' parents' tailgates and host our own. What ensued on the Saturday of the Bama/LSU game left us more exhausted than we have been in quite some time, but was a blast. Dad picked Rob and I up at 6:15 (yes, you read that correctly) to go down to T-town and stake out a place on the Quad to set up our tent and unload what turned out to be way too much food. (We'll plan better nex time.)
After a fun day of watching other football games, seeing our many friends who dropped by, hanging with my brother and his Bama Bound crowd (they're seniors in high school going to UA next year), and getting some gumbo from some taligating LSU fans (totally dad's idea), we settled in for a great game with a disappointing ending. Jake gave Robert an extra ticket, and I watched the game on the quad with my parents. Ryan and David both got in the game. Kyle, being the wisest child in the family, took advance of everyone else being away from the house and threw a party to watch the game in Birmingham with his friends and Kristi and Clay!
Since we only brought a little TV, we wisely set up next to a group with a huge flat screen. Next time I'm not only taking into account the size of the TV but also competency level of the guys trying to set it up because these guys had a ton of trouble getting their dish to work and pick up the game. But all turned out well, and we got to watch most of the game. Actually, Robert's mom and dad brought us an old sattelite dish they had (thanks!), so next year we shoudln't run into this trouble with all of our tailgating adventures.
This is my favorite picture. We were walking by an abandoned Bama tailgate and noticed some other Bama fans taking a pic of themselves "killing" LSU's mascot. I told mom to do it to, though I must be honest and say, being the animal lover that she is, she first posed cuddling the tiger and smiled big - until I told her it was an LSU tiger and she had to be aggressive!
Our good buddy, Sam, dropped by!
Like I said - WAY too much food. (Notice the leftover Halloween candy!)
David and Ryan and their buddies.
Ashley came by too...as did Ben (who Robert snuck in this pic)!
I totally snapped this right as dad was mid-yell after a big play!
Mom's friend, Teresa, also joined our tailgate.
After a fun day of watching other football games, seeing our many friends who dropped by, hanging with my brother and his Bama Bound crowd (they're seniors in high school going to UA next year), and getting some gumbo from some taligating LSU fans (totally dad's idea), we settled in for a great game with a disappointing ending. Jake gave Robert an extra ticket, and I watched the game on the quad with my parents. Ryan and David both got in the game. Kyle, being the wisest child in the family, took advance of everyone else being away from the house and threw a party to watch the game in Birmingham with his friends and Kristi and Clay!
Since we only brought a little TV, we wisely set up next to a group with a huge flat screen. Next time I'm not only taking into account the size of the TV but also competency level of the guys trying to set it up because these guys had a ton of trouble getting their dish to work and pick up the game. But all turned out well, and we got to watch most of the game. Actually, Robert's mom and dad brought us an old sattelite dish they had (thanks!), so next year we shoudln't run into this trouble with all of our tailgating adventures.
This is my favorite picture. We were walking by an abandoned Bama tailgate and noticed some other Bama fans taking a pic of themselves "killing" LSU's mascot. I told mom to do it to, though I must be honest and say, being the animal lover that she is, she first posed cuddling the tiger and smiled big - until I told her it was an LSU tiger and she had to be aggressive!
Our good buddy, Sam, dropped by!
Like I said - WAY too much food. (Notice the leftover Halloween candy!)
David and Ryan and their buddies.
Ashley came by too...as did Ben (who Robert snuck in this pic)!
I totally snapped this right as dad was mid-yell after a big play!
Mom's friend, Teresa, also joined our tailgate.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Trick or Treat
So I have been incredibly tardy in my blogging and am just now posting my Halloween post two days before Thanksgiving! :) Oh well! We had a big Halloween get together at our house with some friends from church and enjoyed playing catch phrase and waiting on the trick-or-treaters. I was dissappointed that we didn't have as many as we hoped. In fact, the first four were completely illegimate - a 27-year-old man dressed as a cowboy who just randomly walked up in the sunroom and took some candy (I honestly thought he was a friend of a party guest!) and three older teenagers. But then we got some little kiddos who were so cute. I was loading them up with candy because we had so much from all our guests and not very many trick-or-treaters, so their parents are probably still mad at me. I did go crazy decorating the house, and will certainly go crazier next year because I bought more decorations at 80% off after Halloween!
Here are some pics of the house:
Parker and Kristi
Lisa and Katie
Sara and Meg
David and Martin.
I even put orange, purple and green lights in our fake tree in the sunroom, but these pics don't quite capture the entire spooky spirit!
Here are some pics of the house:
Parker and Kristi
Lisa and Katie
Sara and Meg
David and Martin.
I even put orange, purple and green lights in our fake tree in the sunroom, but these pics don't quite capture the entire spooky spirit!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Wallking to Remember
My mom is participating in a Walk to Remember on Saturday to raise money for Alzheimer's reasearch. I'm so proud of her. I've pasted her email about the race below:
Being of poor mind and body, I recently “walked” the Race for a Cure and Crosspoint’s 5k. With very little preparation this 48 year old SURVIVED!
Now I’m on a roll. I have spontaneously and very last minute decided to walk for a cause that is very close to my heart. It is the Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s 13th annual Walking to Remember event at Riverchase Galleria, THIS Saturday, November 3rd.
I am the first member :0) on "Big Daddy’s Team" and if anyone would like to join me that would be great! It is a 3-mile, family-friendly indoor walk. Registration begins at 7:30 and the Walk will start at 8:30.
Of course, the purpose of the walk is to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. If you would LIKE to contribute (no pressure) please do so by going to www.alzca.org and clicking on the donate button at the top of the page. Enter “Big Daddy’s Team” in the “review your order” section.
Hope some of you can join me and at least a few will donate. :0). You are all special to me and have played a significant roll in our journey with this disease.
Thanks so much.
Being of poor mind and body, I recently “walked” the Race for a Cure and Crosspoint’s 5k. With very little preparation this 48 year old SURVIVED!
Now I’m on a roll. I have spontaneously and very last minute decided to walk for a cause that is very close to my heart. It is the Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s 13th annual Walking to Remember event at Riverchase Galleria, THIS Saturday, November 3rd.
I am the first member :0) on "Big Daddy’s Team" and if anyone would like to join me that would be great! It is a 3-mile, family-friendly indoor walk. Registration begins at 7:30 and the Walk will start at 8:30.
Of course, the purpose of the walk is to raise money for Alzheimer’s research. If you would LIKE to contribute (no pressure) please do so by going to www.alzca.org and clicking on the donate button at the top of the page. Enter “Big Daddy’s Team” in the “review your order” section.
Hope some of you can join me and at least a few will donate. :0). You are all special to me and have played a significant roll in our journey with this disease.
Thanks so much.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Highlights of Last Week
So, let's just say last week had some fun and crazy happenings. Since I don't have any pics to illustrate, I thought I'd do a list. Here goes.
1. Kyle turns 22
Yep, my little bro is already up into the boring birthdays! But despite the lackluster of "22," we actually had a blast going out to Outback to celebrate with the family on Oct. 25. Between scarfing down a delicious meal of steak and bloomin onion, we all listed to Kyle and David recount what is probably one of their funniest stories ever of trying to help this group of drunk people get their trucks unstuck from the land around our house. I just realized how redneck that sentence sounds. Oh well, drunk people always make for funny stories, and this oen was hilarious!
2. Julia's big date
So, there's this very Colorado-ish boy (think Subaru, extreme sports, manly man) who is totally into Julia and gives her one of the best first dates ever. A set-up (co-worker of a co-worker's husband. Try to figure that one out!) that actually has a lot of promise, this guy put up quite the show for Jules. Call her for all the details, but after a nice dinner and fun conversation, Mr. K (I won't give out his real name) decides he wants to teach Julia his favorite pastime - hockey! Yep, this guy is a hockey player... who coaches a women's team. (I didn't think women played hockey, but we are in Colorado now, aren't we? I guess anything is fair game.) Anyway, Julia survives their skating escapade with minimal falls but enough to be charing, learns to shoot the puck in the net until Mr. K's positive he wants her own his team, and end up with a ride on the Zamboni (that big machine that smooths the ice. I had no idea it had a name until she and Robert told me.) before night's end - all while basically getting this guy to fall head over heels for her. Yep, he even scored a second date. It's yet to be determined if he's good enough for Jules...but definitely sounds promising.
3. Jake is alive
I think most of you know Jake is teaching history and coaching football at a big high school in Savannah that's about as inner city, ghetto, and illiterate as they come. If you want all the details, get on his email update list. It's great. Needless to stay, Jake is totally the man for the job. The way he loves these very unlovable kids is amazing. I know he's gone through some loneliness and frustrations, but I can totally see how the Lord has prepared Jake to advance His Kingdom at Johnson High School. But this past Homecoming week was pretty scary. After a drive by shooting that killed a former student and wounded another guy, the Thursday night bond fire and pep rally turned into a slew of fights that resulted in a 5-hour lock down on Friday morning at school. Jake was stuck in his portable (trailer) with the same twenty 9th graders for five hours! I don't know how he did it. But somehow they survived (despite a student riping his grade book in two after Jake caught him cheating at Mafia), there were no more shootings, and Jake ended up going on to coach one of the best games of his high school, offensive play calling career. They lost in double OT, but in the past two games where the head coach has let Jake call the offensive plays, the team has scored more than they have all year prior to that combined! We're still holding out for a win this season - hopefully next weekend when Rob and I make the trip to see Jake. We're also holding out for Jake to survive the year.
4. Dan in Real Life
If you haven't seen this movie yet, Robert and I high recommend it. We saw it with Austin and Megan on Saturday evening. Very funny. Steve Carrell's best movie to date is not completely a comedy and definitely not The Office, but still had us laughing and feeling good at the end. (A movie trait I tend to value more than Robert.) Check it out if you're interested.
4. The honeymoon is over
The last of our wedding gift cards are now officially gone, so that can only mean one thing - the honeymoon is over! :) Yep, we're definitely settling into the ole marriage life now. I fully expect there will be no more receiving of wedding presents ever.
1. Kyle turns 22
Yep, my little bro is already up into the boring birthdays! But despite the lackluster of "22," we actually had a blast going out to Outback to celebrate with the family on Oct. 25. Between scarfing down a delicious meal of steak and bloomin onion, we all listed to Kyle and David recount what is probably one of their funniest stories ever of trying to help this group of drunk people get their trucks unstuck from the land around our house. I just realized how redneck that sentence sounds. Oh well, drunk people always make for funny stories, and this oen was hilarious!
2. Julia's big date
So, there's this very Colorado-ish boy (think Subaru, extreme sports, manly man) who is totally into Julia and gives her one of the best first dates ever. A set-up (co-worker of a co-worker's husband. Try to figure that one out!) that actually has a lot of promise, this guy put up quite the show for Jules. Call her for all the details, but after a nice dinner and fun conversation, Mr. K (I won't give out his real name) decides he wants to teach Julia his favorite pastime - hockey! Yep, this guy is a hockey player... who coaches a women's team. (I didn't think women played hockey, but we are in Colorado now, aren't we? I guess anything is fair game.) Anyway, Julia survives their skating escapade with minimal falls but enough to be charing, learns to shoot the puck in the net until Mr. K's positive he wants her own his team, and end up with a ride on the Zamboni (that big machine that smooths the ice. I had no idea it had a name until she and Robert told me.) before night's end - all while basically getting this guy to fall head over heels for her. Yep, he even scored a second date. It's yet to be determined if he's good enough for Jules...but definitely sounds promising.
3. Jake is alive
I think most of you know Jake is teaching history and coaching football at a big high school in Savannah that's about as inner city, ghetto, and illiterate as they come. If you want all the details, get on his email update list. It's great. Needless to stay, Jake is totally the man for the job. The way he loves these very unlovable kids is amazing. I know he's gone through some loneliness and frustrations, but I can totally see how the Lord has prepared Jake to advance His Kingdom at Johnson High School. But this past Homecoming week was pretty scary. After a drive by shooting that killed a former student and wounded another guy, the Thursday night bond fire and pep rally turned into a slew of fights that resulted in a 5-hour lock down on Friday morning at school. Jake was stuck in his portable (trailer) with the same twenty 9th graders for five hours! I don't know how he did it. But somehow they survived (despite a student riping his grade book in two after Jake caught him cheating at Mafia), there were no more shootings, and Jake ended up going on to coach one of the best games of his high school, offensive play calling career. They lost in double OT, but in the past two games where the head coach has let Jake call the offensive plays, the team has scored more than they have all year prior to that combined! We're still holding out for a win this season - hopefully next weekend when Rob and I make the trip to see Jake. We're also holding out for Jake to survive the year.
4. Dan in Real Life
If you haven't seen this movie yet, Robert and I high recommend it. We saw it with Austin and Megan on Saturday evening. Very funny. Steve Carrell's best movie to date is not completely a comedy and definitely not The Office, but still had us laughing and feeling good at the end. (A movie trait I tend to value more than Robert.) Check it out if you're interested.
4. The honeymoon is over
The last of our wedding gift cards are now officially gone, so that can only mean one thing - the honeymoon is over! :) Yep, we're definitely settling into the ole marriage life now. I fully expect there will be no more receiving of wedding presents ever.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Historically second-tier program
Robert found this question/answer post on SI.com the other day with a reference to Auburn as a "historically second-tier program." We just thought that was great.
Q: Minnesota (1-7) is considerably worse than recent previous seasons. Now that they've lost to a I-AA team, do you think they're regretting firing Glenn Mason, who did not do all that bad considering what he had to work with and around?-Frank, Columbus, Ohio
A: Ah, yes. It's appears "Ole Miss/Clemson Syndrome" has reared its ugly head once again. For those unaware of this often debilitating condition (once known as "Auburn/Clemson Syndrome, but renamed once Auburn decided it liked Tommy Tuberville after all), it's described on page 105 of a recently released college football book as "the phenomenon by which fans of historically second-tier programs delude themselves into thinking that one isolated period of greatness -- Clemson's 1981 national title season -- is more representative of their team's rightful place in the sport's hierarchy than its other hundred or so years of football." Ole Miss took over Auburn's naming rights in 2004 when the Rebels ran off their most successful coach in 30 years, David Cutcliffe. His replacement, Ed Orgeron, is one heck of a recruiter, but he's also gone 8-22 in his three seasons to date. I'm guessing many of the same Rebels fans that got sick of attending the Independence Bowl would gladly take a trip to Shreveport next year.
Q: Minnesota (1-7) is considerably worse than recent previous seasons. Now that they've lost to a I-AA team, do you think they're regretting firing Glenn Mason, who did not do all that bad considering what he had to work with and around?-Frank, Columbus, Ohio
A: Ah, yes. It's appears "Ole Miss/Clemson Syndrome" has reared its ugly head once again. For those unaware of this often debilitating condition (once known as "Auburn/Clemson Syndrome, but renamed once Auburn decided it liked Tommy Tuberville after all), it's described on page 105 of a recently released college football book as "the phenomenon by which fans of historically second-tier programs delude themselves into thinking that one isolated period of greatness -- Clemson's 1981 national title season -- is more representative of their team's rightful place in the sport's hierarchy than its other hundred or so years of football." Ole Miss took over Auburn's naming rights in 2004 when the Rebels ran off their most successful coach in 30 years, David Cutcliffe. His replacement, Ed Orgeron, is one heck of a recruiter, but he's also gone 8-22 in his three seasons to date. I'm guessing many of the same Rebels fans that got sick of attending the Independence Bowl would gladly take a trip to Shreveport next year.
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