Ready for Some Football!

This evening's weather was PERFECT for football! We travelled to Warrenton to play Briarwood Academy in the first game of the season.

I think cheerleaders are supposed to look happier than this, but Ali Grace was freezing outside!

She warmed up after a hot piece of pizza at half time. We were so glad Nanny came with us to the game!

Knucklehead here played on the playground with "a boy from Briarwood" the entire game. She must have run 50 miles while we were there..

And when she wasn't on the playground, she was in the concession stand line.

SPARTANS SCORE! Cheerleaders are doing push ups! They did a LOT of pushups tonight since EBA won 28-6.

Labor Day Laziness

The kiddos got up early Saturday morning and donned their Georgia wear! We were really excited about the beginning of the college football season. Luckily, after Georgia's horrid loss, we had good food the rest of the weekend to console us. And please Gator fans- spare me. I would rather lose cheering for the Dawgs than win cheering for the reptiles. That, my friends, is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. 

We enjoyed being able to sleep late and have a couple of big breakfasts across the road at Nanny and Poppy's!

We also enjoyed the last weekend of the grilling season by eating pork ribs and barbecued chicken. All Georgians know that grilling season lasts late into October for those of us so blessed to live in a place like this.

We had a really relaxing weekend, and although it's always sad to see Summer come to an end, I have to say I am VERY excited about the weather cooling off soon, some crock pot recipes, and of course football season (given it improves markedly from here on out!) Junior pro football season starts tomorrow and Ali Grace is so excited about the first game, she can't sleep! I hear her pom poms shaking upstairs! 

Also a shout out to Gran and Papa who are at Emory in Atlanta. Gran had a heart valve replacement and since it may have been a pig valve,  they're keeping her there until she stops oinking. Love you guys and we hope you'll stop over here on your way home from Atlanta!

Blessed!

Tonight the girls and I went along with Poppy to family night at the Burke County Cattleman's meeting. Pete had an area Ag Teacher's meeting and met us there after dinner. I always love this meeting because the kids have such a wonderful time playing with the other children from all over the county. Some go to public school, some go to EBA with my girls, and some to the local Mennonite school. I LOVE watching them all play together. What if we adults could all be like children? What if we could meet each other, make no judgments, form no prejudices, and just enjoy each other's company? Addie told me right after dinner, "I'm going to find someone to play with!"  I couldn't help but think of the verse from Matthew that reminds us that we must become like little children if we are to ever enter the kingdom of heaven.

We also had the pleasure of meeting our new Burke County 4-H Agent, Heather Savelle! I've watched Heather grow up, as I taught Agriculture for several years and I knew her father, who was also an agriculture teacher. We are SO excited to have her in Burke County! After seeing this raucus bunch of kids, she may be having second thoughts about coming here!  Ali Grace cannot wait to start her 4-H project on honeybees. We had a great evening and I feel so blessed to be planted in this place. I know I've said it many times, almost to the point of being boastful, but I just love it here. My little slice of heaven.

Terrific Tomlinsons!

We had a great day today! The girls always love to see the Tomlinsons pull into the driveway. Addie Belle literally SCREECHED when she saw Cohen come in the mudroom door!  The kids had a blast playing on the hay bales and tinkering around together today. Brian, Alicia, Pete and I all took the opportunity to catch up and solve the problems of the world while the kids played. 

Tomorrow afternoon I have a tea with the ladies of the DAR. Don't laugh. My Mama steamed cleaned my floors to guilt me into going with her! I'm only kidding. I'm actually looking forward to it. Addie Belle is going to her friend Mary Joyce's birthday party at the country club and then I have a mountain of laundry to fold. After five weeks, I think we're getting back into the school rhythm. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!!

Writing it Down so I Don't Forget

 We'd promised Ali Grace we'd go eat crab legs for her birthday but we just hadn't gotten around to it until tonight. Ali Grace can eat a grown man under the table when it comes to crab legs! She cracks 'em like a pro!

Check out this photo of Addie Belle. If you know Coleman Lake, you'll recognize this door as the entrance to the BAR!  The conversation preceding this photo went like this:
Addie: Mama I want to go to the bar.
Me: Addie you are not old enough to go into a bar.
Addie (pouting): Well how old do you have to be?
Me: Twenty one.
Addie (pouting more): Well that stinks. I am at least going to peek inside.

I may have my hands full with her!

We are so excited about seeing the Tomlinsons this weekend! They are arriving in the morning hopefully in time for Pineland Bakery donuts! Have a great weekend everyone!

Back to Normal (Whatever THAT is!)

Thankfully, Pete checked out fine at University Hospital and he's heading back to work tomorrow. The girls have enjoyed being able to sleep a little later the past couple days but I love a routine and so it'll be good to get back in the groove. The girls hung in there like troopers with Pete in the hospital since Gran and Papa came to help out. They've had a great week at school. Today the girls had a very reasonable amount of homework and it was sooooo nice to be able to sit down and eat dinner and then watch a movie together.

We are anticipating a hurricane sweeping just north of us over the next few days and it reminded me of my Effingham days when I taught Connections. Whenever a hurricane would come close to us, we'd have a "hurricane party" during our planning. We'd order pizza, and I'd print out placemats with the hurricane projected path. Remember those days Kiley Purvis Hodges? Those were the good ol' days! Good times!

Ali Grace has to do a cell model project for her science class so we're looking forward to heading to Joanne's or Michael's this weekend to get our craft on! She is really excited about it and wants something unique and not just the normal clay model. Any ideas??

Check out Addie Belle in her new "Addie" shirt! She LOVES it! Thanks Aunt Bonnie!!
 

Unfortunately, as most everyone knows, Pete has been in the hospital. The girls miss him SO much and since they can't go visit because they aren't 12, they have been quite upset today off and on. Gran and Papa came up today to help out until Pete can come home and that seemed to take their minds off of things. Poppy grilled ribs and Nanny made potato salad. I will admit I felt a twinge of guilt eating pork ribs while Pete was laid up in the cardiac unit at University Hospital. I got over it quickly though.

I came outside this afternoon and Addie was standing on the picnic table like a goat...

She said she was standing on the table so that she could see down the driveway and would know when Gran and Papa arrived!

Keep calm and carry on....

Until ants start biting!

We sure appreciate all the calls and well wishes from our friends. We are all fine and I really can't think of anything we need right now. Pete is doing well and should be home Tuesday Lord willing.