First of all, the chicks are gone. We enjoyed their stinch for a while, their peeps and odd little personalities but we went on a trip and let them go. "Where my chickie go?" That was for Reed.


We went to the University of Alabama this weekend. Our plans were to get there Fri night in time for the UA vs Tenn game in girl's volleyball. With the terrible Ga traffis on a rainy friday night, we didn't make it. We did see a game though. I'll tell you how in a minute.

WE checked into the hotel. We spent Saturday with Uncle Richard and Aunt Millie both in there oldies and still in great lunch fixing shape. They have a lovely home in Bessemer. My cousin Susan was there as well as my second cousin, Brian. He is in the airforce and flies the cargo planes. He has been to so many countries, I could not even begin to spell them all. We had a great day.

The next am we got up and visited Northwood church. Nice group.

Bama played KY in volleyball at 1:30. G and R watched. I stayed with B at the competition. She had rehersal and we rushed over to watch the last 5 minutes. It was so exciting. I was glad R got to see one as we had been so dissappointed.

We got to watch all of the contestants perform. Blake did not place but she did a great job. She was well prepared. We were very proud of her. Experience like that can't be beat. It was such an eye opener for her.

We have learned that you have to audition to every music department that there is. Not just for a scholarship, but to just be a PART of the music program. That was news to me.

Yesterday, she applied to Shorter, Berry, Brenau, and Kenn State. Today, there will be more. All of those auditions have to be scheduled and attended. Keep us in your prayers.

MJ

We didn't get the chickies for homeschool. We didn't get them because of 4-H or to raise and show in a contest. We got them because we are silly girls that love cute baby things.

When we first held the chicks 10 days ago at the fair, they were hatchlings. When we picked them up on the last day of the air 10 days later, they are two hands full and have white feathers on the wings.

We marked them with sharpie. Mine is the smallest with blue named Pepper. Reed's is marked in pink and named Paris. Maryfaith's is the largest, trying to cluck, marked in purple and is named Pennelope. Blake's is marked in Red and is named Pandora or Pan for short.

Dakota Kathryn loves them the most. We're nuts.


Enjoy!

So much has happened but first... What is this mysterious red splurp on Dakota Kathryn's mouth?


Hummmmmmm...

A few weeks ago we had a week of maddness with Reed being selected by her peers to run for homecoming freshman court. Getting the dress, making the shrug... pant pant... We didn't have a lot of notice. This is the only pic I have at hand and it is before the game began at the reception with her two running mates. We are happy for her that she won.



We had a crazy Lord's day this last.

It all started Saturday. We had a paint day and the auditorium got painted and as well as the front hall. I did not go to paint but our family had building duty that night and gave it a good cleaning. I sat up late and got my postar sized adam and eve ready for class complete with brown felt velcro on clothes. (cootoes to Reed who made Eve for me.) I dropped into bed at 12:30am.

I got up early and was doing well. I do not want to be late when I am teaching especially. I blasted off to church (and got there at 2 after) ran down the hall and burst into my classroom panting with my shoes still unbuckled. (this always cracks up 4 year olds.) Debbie was waiting there with the kids. I sat down to teach and low and behold this pesky pesky fly buzzed all over the class. It was so distracting. I could not even teach. I had an idea. I turned off the light and opened the door. We never saw him leave but I hoped he had... sat down... he HADN't. This time I opened the door and lights off while he was in flight. He flew right out and over to Tracy's class. I shut the door fast.

Now we are out in the auditorium. All is quiet. Cecil gets up and says sorry for the delay, we will begin soon. The Lord's supper was not out!! Oh my! I leaned up and said Debbie... it was your turn. "Ooooohhhh great". I said "it happens to everybody. Debbie is usually right on time or late. (Usually 90 seconds behind me) She had been at the church with her Lord's supper partners, the Stathams, for the whole painting day and had gotten there early enough that morning to sit in the auditorium and chat... WITHE AUDRY (Statham)... and then sit with my class waiting for me. Iiiiironic.

Finally the Ls is out there and we begin. One song, then the prelude focus talk... Half way through the talk... the blood rushed OUT of my head and down to my feet. I FORGOT Susan! I had promised Susan I would pick her up for services because her horse had thrown a shoe. I FORGOT HER! I am scrambling in my brain... what do I do... perhaps joe will talk so long I'll have time to pick her up and get back... no... she is going to miss it! I told G and he went to get her. (Just before the sermon, they came in. I felt horrible. I told her later I owed her a lunch... and one Lord's supper!)

During the last of the supper while others behind me were being served, I kept hearing this dinging sound. It was like a pulse low and dull. I have a lot of trouble with my ears. So does Blake. She was complaining to me last week about dings and pings in her ears. Pulse... pulse.... pulse... I thought it was my heart beat and I was hearing it pulse in my ears. I turned my head this way and heard it in my left ear. I turned my head that way and heard it in my right ear. I was WORRIED. My mind was scrambling again. I turned to Blake and whispered... what is that noise? She said "You hear it too! Oh thank goodness!"

THAT threw me over the edge. Now I have the giggles. Never a good thing in church or during the Lord's supper.

In the mean time... lots of people are getting up going in and out. More than usual.

Mark gets up and goes to the podium... If you are wondering what all the commotion is... Bro. Nix collapsed in the back during the Lord's supper. (A visitor; the father of a brother there) and Mark offered a prayer for him. He has been battling cancer. It was really sad. The pulsing was the ambulance that had come to get him.

We were all a bit out of sorts but had a fine sermon and a good Lord's day anyway. It was just a weird day.



Anyway... It's just us again... We are red in honor of

Create your own family sticker graphic at pYzam.com

My birdies flew the nest on Thursday. Anna and Steven had their last natural meal with us Thursday night. Grant came in a little bit late so he was eating when they actually hit the door. He got up from the table... we hugged ... said our laments and miss yous... and they mosied towards the door. Grant sat down to finish his meal still waving. Take a gooooood look at this picture.


I gotta be me! Loves!

Back during spring break, we went to the aqu. Reed took this wonderful pic.


We went to the forest in Charleston with our friends the Huffs. Look at these shots form our first trip in 2001 and of our last in 2008...





We went to the beach and the kids had a great time in the ocean...


Look at this beautiful girl...


G and Me in the cabin...


The kids... how they have grown...


We went to Gat Tenn last week and met Ryan and his family. We think they are great! Had a wonderful time. I loved this pic! B and R get so lost in each other... Hello... Hello... They make each other happy.



Reed took a dive out of the alpine slide cart and burnt the skin off of her leg. It has been a real mess but has mended well. Here is a pic but the leg is not obvious as we had the faux skin bandages on it. All of the pearl white area is injury. About 8 inches total plus elbow and shoulder grazes too.. She was an amazing trooper. Didn't let it slow her down.


Reed is deep into volleyball. This is a tip point she made in the first game...

Her team is not winning but she is playing well. It seems the problem is partly, the other schools have a freshman team, JV and V. We don't have a fresh so we play 10th graders a lot.


Here is the painting I mentioned...

...you would be correct. From afar, it looked as if the sign said 2$. I got up close and it said 7. I said forget it. There was no line so I asked the guy for a photo op and he said yes.

I arranged the pics in such a way to look like the ride but the one of me hanging on for dear life was just one pic in the process of me hoisting myself up on it. There were no stirups and it was higher than a natural hop. Plus, the ground was soft so there was no real footing.

That's my story and I am sticking to it. J