Halloween 2008

Mine consisted of hanging with a couple of little lads who put the super in superhero, one friendly neighborhood Spiderman at the time.

Doesn't get much better than that. :-)

Halloweens gone by

This is the year I wore my grandmother's pumpkin outfit....


She tailored it down to fit me and it totally killed on the trick or treating circuit. My brother apparently went as an extremely happy Chinese boy with tape on his fingers. He liked to go against the Halloween grain.

This is the year I was....um...the year I went as...um....


Ok, here is the deal. This was not Halloween. I am sad to say this was just an ordinary, beautiful day in the neighborhood when I wore my mother's boots/work-out pants and rocked my grandaddy's hat. All while posing in positions that would make a jazz teacher cry. And not happy tears in case you were wondering.

Not Halloween. Yet still scary.

Ok, back to Hallow's Eve...

Many full moons passed after the famous pumpkin costume (and the infamous jazz dancing-gone-wrong photo shoot) and one day I found myself in college. Those were the years where fun was literally around every corner - and they will also go down in my history books as the years we brought Halloween back.

This is the year I went as a Subway worker...


BEST COSTUME EVER. And let it be known that the outfit seen here is authentic Subway attire. It was provided by a local sandwich artist (turned friend) who totally gave me the hook up. Some say that when the workers know you by name, you go there too much. But I say to them,

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for awhile and leave 6" subprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same." - Author unknown

Here's the gang that year. Bri, Lin, KK, and um, Jared

This is the year I went as a Surgeon (The 2005 Surgeon of the Year, to be exact)...

It was the year I decided to dress up as the thing I was the MOST sure I would never be in real life. (Not enough brains and too much fear of blood for all that surgery stuff).


Bri was a baseball player that year and her boyfriend (turned fiance, now turned husband) was an umpire.

Clever.com

Bri hit a line drive into his face that night and it was a total code red, and Dr. Jenna Tyson, MD (2005 Surgeon of the Year) had to perform reconstructive surgery STAT.

Thankfully that is all fabricated, otherwise I would have been on the gurney next to him, completely passed out. No kidding. It's happened.

Well, that concludes this year's Halloween retrospective!

Stay tuned for this year's costume: a 24 year-old personal candy assistant to two little trick-or-treating cuties :)

classic city highlights

i have been in athens all week loving life! here are just some of the reasons why...

walking into meg's house Sunday morning, knocking her down with a hug so intense it could break ribs, and walking around the corner to this....

(my bedroom suit lives at her house. dear bed, i miss you daily/nightly. love, me)

*******

photo sessions in the yard with the pups (impromptu dancing sometimes included)
(meg loves it)

*******

costume bowling (jenn and meg go as "megan & tyler seabolt") (our costume frugalness and creativity astound me still)

(wearing a coveted pair of meg's shoes for the occasion. if they turn up missing i have no idea why...)


(sporting the blingity bling. if it turns up missing don't look at me...)


(tyler as hott leroy, president of mullets unite. if he turns up missing, i ain't gotta clue...for real this time)

*******

taking the opportunity to try out some other options via fellow costume-teers

(never laughed harder than in this moment)

(reprising my roll as 'jill rabbit' in the 1995 production of 'wind in the willows')

*******

meg turns 27!

(celebrating at la cazuela where the the chips and laughter never cease)

(visual representation of joy made possible by comida mexicana)

(amigas foreverosa)

(cake brought to you by jenna's bakery)

(yyyyaaaaaaaaaayyyyyy. clap clap clap.)

*******

lunch with my very dear and beautiful friend, karen, and her sweet little mama self (pictured above: kare, jennababe, and baby girl)

*******

can't forget to acknowledge the puppies

(rigby and stanley. rigby asks that you excuse her panties. she just became a woman. not pictured: laila bean seabolt)

*******

visual representation of how i feel about the week as a whole

(crazy. fun. laughy. relaxing. unpredictable. unforgettable. ridiculous. comfortable. perfecto.)

loved it. loved it all.

The party continued into the night

After the Luncheon on Saturday, all of the girls headed to one of my favorite cities in America for Larisa's Bachelorette Party.

Athens, baby.

We met at a restaurant downtown called Depalmas to eat some yummy food, drink some wine, and celebrate the bride-to-be. I loved being able to hang out with all of Larisa's closest friends. They are all hilarious and sweet, and it was fun to get a preview of what the wedding is going to be like.

Fun, baby.

Here are all the girls at dinner!


Useless fact about the night: Our waiter looked just like Hugh Grant.

After dinner we went downtown to check out the scene. Since no bride should have to walk all around on her big night out, we had a shuttle come and pick us up and take us anywhere we wanted to go.

Party bus, baby.


The homegirl flashing the peace sign in this pic is Lucy. Lucy is Risa's Matron of Honor, and it has to be said that I just love her! I laughed the entire night at all of her antics and just loved being around her and her sweet self.

While Lucy and I seem to share a similar sense of humor and will both be a bridesmaid of honor (I, the Maid & she, the Matron), you can see here that she does not share the same vertical limitations that I do.


5'3", baby.

And I would just like to point out that I am on my tip toes in this picture.

Towards the end of our night, we ended up at this place called 8e's and it totally rocked our worlds.


Think (really good) 80's music, strobe light, and a bunch of dancing idiots (present company included).

Risa and her bridesmaid, Brandy, were so excited they got to hang out in a place that celebrates their love for Paula Abdul and Michael Jackson.


It was a great night of celebration for a very special girl!


I can't for a couple of weeks when we all gather again for the main event!

Wedding, baby.

Saturday recapulation

This weekend was so fun, as expected. The Debster and I packed up and headed to Atlanta to stay with my aunt, Deanna (mother of Larisa the Bride), on Friday night. When we reached our destination, our first stop was to pick up some food to take to the house - we needed fuel for a night full of wedding preparations. The wedding is less than two weeks away, and there is still a big list of things to do.

But don't worry, Mama and I stared the list in the face and told it to BRING IT. We were more than ready to do our part to bring that list to the ground.

DD gave me the assignment of writing name cards. Write a bunch of names with a pretty pen on some pretty cards? That is so my idea of fun, and I am not even joking.


Love names, love writing, love good pens. I started wondering if this was my wedding since my dreams seemed to be coming true right before my eyes.

We sat at the table, worked, laughed, and wedding-talked the night away. And let it be known that when you get my mama and her sister together in the same room, you might as well pull up chairs for Crazy and Ridiculous because they are coming too.

We welcome Crazy and Ridiculous because they always bring the fun.

Saturday morning we got up, got dressed, and made our way over to the Bridesmaid luncheon for Larisa the Bride. It was being held at this adorable place called Tea Leaves & Thyme. It is a tea room where they serve you hot tea and finger foods, and they provide all these old-timey hats for you to wear so you can really get in the spirit.

Bringing tea parties back to little girls of all ages - that is what I like to see.

It was SO fun! Watching everyone pick their hats was too funny. Here is the GORGEOUS bride. Seriously. This picture should be in a magazine.


And here I am with Mama after we picked our hats. Or should I say after I picked my first hat.


Unfortunately that hat was cutting off the blood circulation to my brain, so I had to choose another. The next one I picked was red and very cute, and I enjoyed that one for a little while as we sipped our tea and ate.


To quote Deb, "Mmmm that is where it's at right there! This is some good chicken salad and I should know because my middle name is ChickenSalad."

(Even though I have not spoken to Deb today, I know she would like me to now take a moment to let ya'll know that she didn't really say that. But I like to believe she was thinking it. She did give the CS her stamp of approval though, which should make the chickens very happy because Deb loves chicken salad like her third child).

Pretty soon, an angel descended from Heaven and dropped some more goodness onto our table.


After a some good chatting and laughing, Mama, DD, and I excused ourselves to the restroom. A few minutes later, we came back from the bathroom with a surprise. I just realized that last sentence could be very disturbing and while what happened next WAS disturbing it had nothing to do with the actual bathroom experience.

You see, on the way we stopped to look at some more of the hats, came upon a little something extra, and somehow I came back to the table looking like this...


Why you ask? I have no answers for you.

Pretty soon everyone had stopped laughing and had gotten over the initial shock (horror?) concerning the freak pictured above, and we went on with the shower.

We opened our bridesmaids gifts from Risa - she gave us these AWESOME monogrammed bags filled with lots of prizes...


...and then we went outside to pose for the customary pics.



A great time was had by all!

Up next: Saturday night recapulation


(My blog is going to be living in the past a lot this week - too much fun to capture in real time!)

Happy Monday!

Friday Five

It's Friday and there are some key items making me happy today...

1. I am getting packed up for a little road trip this weekend. The Debster and I are going up to the ATL today to visit my aunt and go to my cousin's Bridesmaid Luncheon tomorrow. Side note: Deb is not a bridesmaid, just a really awesome aunt. Side note2: I am maid of honor (awww!). Side note3: I like the word luncheon. It sounds like lunchin'.

2. After the Lunchin on Saturday I am going to Athens for Larisa's Bachelorette party! Oh Athens, how I have missed you. There are sure to be some good times had by all as we celebrate the lovely bride-to-be.

3. I am planning on staying in Athens for a couple days after the partay because I really need to hug my friend Megan and say ridiculous things and watch her roll her eyes. I miss that girl and her little dogs, too. And her husband. And many other dear friends who reside in the A-town. I am already prepping my heart for breaking when it is time to leave.

4. I told Brannnen and Will this really amazing story in the bathtub last night about a little boy who went trick-or-treating but there was no candy in all the land. Every time he would knock on a door (insert me knocking on the wall for effect) the person would come out and give him vegetables. Don't worry, it all ended well after an old man tipped him off as to where the candy was (in a house on top of huge hill - a hill bigger than the biggest giant). When I finished, Brannen looked me dead in the face and said very seriously, "THAT...was awesome." I love that child.

5. My dear and lovely friend, Faith, is having a giveaway over at her blog that I am really excited about it. You should most certainly go check it out and enter, even though I must tell you right now - I am planning to win. She is giving away a really adorable monogrammed (be still my heart) tote. I love them, and I love her even more!!

Ok I am off to finish packing and get on the road. Have a great weekend!

Sunday

My favorite thing to do on Wednesday is recap what I did on Sunday. It reminds me how on top of things I am these days, and how I love to get things done on a timely manner at all costs.

I might have mentioned that my people were pretty saddened on Saturday due to the loss of the game. It is not the end of the world of course, just a small stab in our already bleeding hearts. We are being reminded over and over that some seasons are just not your friend.

But, the show must go on, and in this family we like to find joy and happiness amongst any type of unfortunate circumstance. Which is why we were beyond thrilled to be invited over to Connie and Tom's on Sunday for food and fun.

Food and fun. They are like members of the family.

We gathered at their house with their family and with one of Connie's BFF's, Rick, who was visiting from Ohio with his wife. We were all on a mission to give Rick and Sandi a clear view of what life is like down here in the South.

For example, Redneck Golf. A family favorite.


Also, Skeet shooting. Jed Clampett gave us a smile as he headed out to shoot the mess out of some skeets.


Here are the boys in action. It was a little hard to tell what was going on in this picture, so I have included some helpful identifiers.


After all the Great Skeet Massacre, we loaded up for a Bucket Ride!


This was actually my inaugural Bucket Ride, but I am a sold-out Bucketeer now. It was so fun to ride all over the family property laughing and carrying on like a bunch of crazy people.

The weather was perfect, the sun was setting, and the views from the Bucket were so pretty. Or should I say, purty.

Did I mention Bucket Rides are fun for kids of all ages? Here is Baby Jasper with his mama, Kathy, and his Aunt Connie. After some initial reservations, he was living it bucket-style.


And even though BR's are generally loud, windy, and filled with many obnoxious people, they can also be very relaxing.


Actually the whole night was relaxing and packed out with fun.


I think the smiles on our faces tell it all!

Wouldn't be weekend without a recap!

After a long week with the little men, I was completely exhausted and not feeling that great. So in an act of obvious insanity, I had kind of decided that I was going to stay home and watch the Eagles on TV instead of my usual tailgate/game combo.

I am ashamed I even entertained such an idea.

Thankfully when Saturday morning rolled around, I came to grips with the fact that I had lost my last mind and was making a huge mistake. Appalachian State is one of our greatest foes, and it would have been a travesty not to support our guys against this team that really gets under our skin.

Deep under it. All the way to the Hypodermis (thank you Anatomy I).

Around here, we really do feel that it is great to hate App State, and we have our reasons. We have a long history with these boys - so much so that on Saturday we staged a Blue Out and packed the stadium in high hopes that we could show these (as Alan says) hillbillies from Boone a thing or two about coming to Our House.

Mama and Daddy were pumped and ready as they headed out in their Blue Out attire.


I missed most of the tailgate but once I got to the game, I knew I had made the right decision. It only took one look at a few Blue'd Out football players to know I was in the right place.


It's times like these where I ponder why I did not purchase a camera with a better zoom. Solid Blue uniforms = So HOTT.

In other news, our students are so awesome. They just keep coming back and packing the house week after week - even after some pretty heart-wrenching losses this season.


I will go ahead and spill the beans and let you know that this past Saturday's game was also one that makes an Eagle-lover's heart break into 1.2 million pieces.

36-37 App State. In the very last seconds of the game.

I'd go into it more, but I am busy gathering up all of my heart fragments.

Even still, it was a great game to watch, and there were some definite happy, smiley, jump up and down times. Complete with high fives all around.


There were even numerous Paulson Pepaw(TM) worthy moments. You can never have enough of those in my humble opinion. Rock on, Pepaw. Rock on.


But, per usual, the good times were laced with some very serious and worrisome moments where smiles could not be found. Only deep, pig-skin concentration.


Then true to form, we had some more joyous times. That's how we roll this season - every game is up and down nonstop until the very last second when we inevitably lose. Here is the beautiful Conster modeling how we look for 50% of the game.


And here is Connie holding hands with her lovely daughter, Anna. This is one option for coping with all the stressful moments experienced during the other 50% of the game.


It those moments all you can do is hold hands and pray for a football miracle. Or at least pray that the higher ups will call a play during crunch time that would give our guys a chance to win. Neither of which usually occur, by the way. Sadness.

So, in the end, we did not pull out with a victory. But all was not lost for me because after the game I got to see 3 of my very favorite college pals.


Bill and Ashley (left) are two of the coolest people I know. We go way back to the days of College Ministry, mission trips, and being young and in love. Well I wasn't in love, but they were (with each other, that is) - and now the have been an old married couple for 3 years. And NOW they have a sweet little baby boy on the way! I am so excited for them. They are so amazing, and I definitely want to be them when I grow up.

Then there is crazy Banks (right). It would take a whole post to adequately describe him, but it was so good to see his wild self and hear him tell funny stories of his latest acts of Banksness. He is one of a kind and I love him!

It was so great to see them all and catch up for a few minutes after a very saddening game.

They were kind of like a rainbow at the end of a tumultuous football storm. :-)

*************

Coming up tomorrow:

How a bunch of football-lovin country folk regroup after a hard loss in efforts to keep the fun alive...

Go upside the head

Well, I am running out the door to go cheer on the Eagles, but I most certainly wanted to post AT's radio commercial for this week's game.

Daddy has been doing these gameday commercials on the radio for as long as I can remember, and each year there are certain ones that are my favorites - ones that make me bust out laughing as opposed to just laughing at a moderate volume.

Which unfortunately for anyone's ears around me is still rather loud, but that is neither here nor there.

Maybe it's because we are playing Appalachian State (BOO) or maybe it's because I missed not hearing a commercial last week while our team was on break, but I have found a current fave for the 2008 season.

Ain't it great to hate App State!? Go Eagles!

Our week in pictures

Playing outside (it is our fave)

Hanging out with our little peeps (it sends us over the edge with glee)

"Arts and Crafts" (it gets our creative juices aflowin')

Practicing our letters (it helps our brains grow)

The FAIR! (it rocks our world)

Eating and drinking (it makes us merry).

Being absolutely adorable at all times (it makes our Jenn Jenn so glad she got to hang with us this whole week)

The End :-)

Four eyes

When I went off to graduate school, I noticed that I was starting to get headaches pretty often. They weren't terrible by any means - more like annoying. Pretty soon, because I am very smart and should have been a doctor, I realized the link between the headaches and times when I had been doing homework, reading a lot for class, or spending a great amount of time in front of the computer screen (not that I ever do that).

So on one of my trips home, I made an appointment for the eye doctor - knowing I was probably in need of some glasses. I was very happy to think that this would likely end my headache problems, but I was most excited because I really wanted some specs (glasses-wearer lingo) for reasons having nothing to do with the solving of medical mysteries.

In a nut shell, I think glasses are cute and make people look smart.

So as the story goes, the eye doctor agreed with me and got me set up with some really cute glasses to wear. The were mostly for when I was reading, to negate my eyes from getting tired and thereby leading to the headaches.

I was very happy, and even though pretty soon after that I only did minimal amounts of homework and pretty much gave up reading for class, I still looked the part of Star Student. Plus, I did not give up massive amounts of computer time - so the glasses helped significantly. And they were cute.

Mission Accomplished.

Well, fast forward 2 years later to several months ago when I started having a really hard time locating the glasses. Initially, I wasn't too worried because in my brain I had a faint remembrance of placing them somewhere and thinking to myself, Ok I am going to put these here so they don't get lost.

Good Intentions. Why do they hate me?

I didn't think too much of it though, and I figured there would come a day I would come across them (in a purse pocket or in a drawer) and think, OH YEAH, that's where I put those things.

Lately though, I have really been starting to wonder if I had actually just lost them. I have kept my eyes peeled and done some searching to no avail. It would not have been too much of a stretch for me to have just misplaced them forever, and this made me sad for several reasons.

I really like the glasses. The headaches still visit me. They were expensive and I didn't want to get another pair.

Well yesterday, much to my delight, I came home to find my glasses sitting on the counter! The Debster had found them when she was cleaning.

"Yay, Mama! Where were they?" I exclaimed.

"On top of the refrigerator," she said.

"Interesting," I replied.

So today, in honor of finding my glasses, I wore them to babysit. I figured the boys wouldn't even notice because they had seen them before and really, if it's not a sword or a gun or dirt - they're not interested.

But a little earlier, Will was sitting at the table and caught sight of them.

"Why you got dose on?" he inquired.

"Are you talking about these?" I asked him, pointing to the glasses.

He nodded his head yes (seeing as his mouth was too full of the cookies we were having for breakfast).

"Oh, these are just my glasses. I'm wearing them because they help my eyes read stuff," I explained.

Shocked he replied, "You don't know how to read?"

Obviously they are not making me look quite as smart as I would like.

And with the question of why I put them on the frigidaire still lingering, I am reminded more and more that while glasses make you look smart (save Will's opinion) they do little to actually make you smart.

At least they are still cute.

Tuesday joys

Top 3 things making me happy on this Tuesday morn...

1. The fact that I get to spend the week keeping up with these two little hams while they are on their Fall break.


So far after one day, we have read some good books, played outside, watched some movies, gone to Petco (with plans to return although not to the mice row - ack!), eaten lunch with their mama, and utilized the swingset to our utmost abilities.

We are keeping the fun alive today with a line up that includes all of the above, but we are subbing in The Raptor Center for Petco. We have graduated from domesticated animals at the pet store and are venturing off with Mama and some of our buddies to our local University's wildlife center.

Adventure is our middle name.

*********************************************

2. The over 2 hour conversation I had on the phone with my gorgeous BFF Lin last night.


Because I am trying to get the Worst Friend Award this year, I have allowed way too much time to pass between our last conversation. I hate when I do that, but as it is with the best of friends - we picked up right where we left off and discussed all manner of topics:

job updates
her Kindergarten teacher joys and woes
life desires and how we have no idea what we are doing
family
how college was the best ever
Fall TV
our plan to pack up and move somewhere crazy before we can't
my high school girls' Bible study
good movies we have seen
grad school
ferris wheels
upcoming weddings and showers
how she face-planted in TJ Maxx the other day
plans for a much needed reunion
much more

I just felt so much better about life in general when I got off the phone with her. :-)

**********************************************

3. Recently, I came across a post on Young Christian Women Online entitled Belonging that spoke deeply to my single heart. I can't even remember how I got to it (you know how it goes - one click leads to another click which leads to another click which leads to a tear and a God-ordained moment of inspiration).

I emailed the writer of the post, Renee Pratt, because I just loved it so - and I wanted her to know that I was touched deeply to the direct center core of my being.

Except I didn't say all that because I try to dial down the freak as much as possible.

Anyways, the email I sent wasn't anything special - just a quick little thank you and a few words about how God used it to remind me of some things. Well, I opened my email yesterday and found the most beautifully written response from her.

****

Hi Jenna,

I'm so glad that my post found a place into your heart. My hopes for that to happen...to share myself, my heart and my journey with others, to encourage them and find kinship with them...is why I write.

Whatever you face...whereever you go...whether or not we ever meet upon pages again...remember that friends aren't always people you know...and God has a beautiful beginning for every end.

Oh that we could show the world...in all that we delight in, do, discover, realize, hope for, reach for, attempt...that we love Jesus and...that we belong to Him.

With love for you, dear sister!

Renee

****

I just appreciated every word and read the email several times as I basked in it's loveliness. Every nail hit right on the head.

You can read the original post I am referring to here - and while it is about singleness, I think people with any relationship status could sub in practically anything they might be dealing with. We're all facing something, and I for one can always stand to be reminded that my contentment is in Him.

What's making you happy today???

(2nd Annual) Fall Festival Extravaganza!

Well, there were glimmers of sunlight here and there throughout the party on Saturday, but they came sparingly - only in between a pretty much constant drizzle and some really exciting downpours.

But Team FFE(2) persevered and fun was had by all. Number-wise, there were (understandably), not as many kids this time, but the babes that were there basically had the time of their young lives.

They were like, rain? What rain? We hadn't notice. Give us more cake.

That we could do:


Mmmmm Cure-wious George is tasty!


Speaking of tasty, I wanted to eat Will when I saw this picture. The face! Can't handle it.


Here is one of our beloved partygoers - Princess Haydie. She is a doll. All day long.


I have a special love for her because I can always count on her to come running up to give me a hug when I pick Will up from preschool. Will's like, oh it's just that Jenna girl again - she is so old news. Hayden's like, I love you/I want to go with you. It's presh.

Back at the par-tay. There were gifts...


There was hay.


There were tents for people over 6 who did not want to stand out in the pouring rain.


There was Will - The Hugmaster - working the door.


There was food and liquid refreshment.


There was a pretty mama who put the whole thing on for her little guys!


There was cookie decorating!


Dear Lord, thank you for fwosting and coo-kies. And MMM's to decowate. And thank you for bwinging dem all togedder in fwont of me right now. It is a gweat moment in my life. Love, Wi-yul

There was Will taking handfuls of MMM's and putting them in a cup to enjoy as he worked the party scene. I like a man with a sugar plan.


There was my man Big B with sweetness all over his face. Hey, Brannen. You have a little something right here. And, um, right there. And um, you know what, just carry on, dude.


AAAHHHHHHHH! Oh wait, false alarm. Just a pinata. Um, there was a pinata.


There was also Brannen's flashing of his current signature pose.


Wassup, ladies? Come on over to my house anytime, and we can watch Power Rangers and I'll show you all my site words, know what I'm sayin?

There were cheeks and 3 foot long eyelashes. And curls. Oh the curls.


There were times I just didn't think Brannen was having much fun...


There were lots of sweet gifts from lots of sweet friends.




And in the end, there was definitely lots of fun, definitely lots of rain, but most certainly lots of shine.


The End. :-)

We won't melt

I am sitting in my brother's room at my parent's house (also known as my personal office since he doesn't live here and I do). I'm typing away as I watch Paula Deen make some Chocolate Dippy Donuts (they are making it hard to concentrate). The rain that has been coming down since the early morning hours is still falling outside, and it's making quite a lovely sound outside my window.

In my usual world, that would be considered a really great way to spend a Saturday. But today, it's troubling me.

The reason being: today marks the 2nd Annual Fall Festival Extravaganza. What is the FFE, you ask? Well it's a little thing Ashley, mama of my boys, came up with to celebrate the births of her two young lads.

With Will's birthday being in September and Brannen's being in November, Ash had the brilliant idea last year to combine their bday celebrations in October with a Fall Festival type par-tay - complete with booths, apple bobbing, face painting, cotton candy, hayride. You get the picture. It's a mini-carnival and last year it was a HUGE hit amongst the 2-6 year old population in our town.








Last year Will had turned two, Brannen was turning 5, and all their little friends gathered on the sunniest, most mildly temperate day of the year. It was really perfect, and it was so much fun - so of course tradtion was formed. Around August/September my conversations with Ashley started including some mention of the FFE(2).

So now the day is upon us and the boys could not be more excited! A few weeks ago Brannen was already in party mode when he told me, "Jenn Jenn, thanks for being invited to my party."

No prob, bud.

I am about to head over to help get things set up on this not-so-sunny, not-so-mildly temperate day. Ash and I have been on the phone a bit this morning discussing the issue and saying things like, "SURELY it will stop raining." Have you met our friend Surely? She is not always so cooperative, but here's to hoping she pulls through for us today!

But even if not, I have a feeling a little rain is no match for 2 birthday boys partying with 75 of their closest friends. If nothing else, the 2 cakes shall sustain us.

Ok, off to get this party started!

It was a good visit

Yesterday I went to visit my very sweet and hilarious grandmother. Allow me to formally introduce you to Gram "The Gramster" Tyson...


She is cute, huh? Cute and crazy just like I like 'em. Oh sorry Gram, didn't mean to call you crazy. I said it with love. Like, hey girl you sooow craaaaazy!

No? Hmm, ok. Moving on.

She and I had a nice little time of catching up and chatting. She (re)told me some stories about my daddy when he was a little boy. I always let her tell these stories over and over because I heart the Days of Olde.

She continued to take a look back at history as she told me about how she used to LOVE to go over to her grandmother's house when she was young (subliminal message?). She explained that one of the main reasons was because her grandma always had ham, biscuits, and baked potatoes ready and waiting for all the grandkids to eat. She made it all JUST FOR THEM to have and enjoy.

Her face was just precious as she reminisced. I could practically see the biscuits in her eyes.


We also talked about her favorite subject: her church. Homegirl loves it like a rock. She presented me with several reasons why..


Reasons included the fact that she loves her preacher and that her choir director is "great, just GREAT." (We think she's crushin on him). She also mentioned, interestingly enough, how the children are so well behaved when they leave for Children's Church on Sunday mornings.

Civilized children are obviously a pillar of a good church, folks.

Then the conversation took an unexpected turn when we started talking about my cousins and how I hadn't been in touch with them in a while. She suggested I write them a big long letter telling them everything that was going on with me.

Honestly I thought this was great idea. Unfortunately, I jokingly mentioned that it might not be that much of a letter since I really wouldn't have a lot to write about these days. You know, with this whole 'no job/figuring-out-my-life' situation I have going at the moment.

But no fear - Gram quickly came to the rescue and offered up some suggestions for the letter.

"Oh darlin, it doesn't have to be anything special. Just write and tell them all that's going on in your life. Just tell them all about the bowel movement you had yesterday!"

:::::::::::::::sccrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeechhhh:::::::::::::::

And there you have the 87 year-old solution to coming up with something interesting to talk about, should the need arise.

After I successfully recovered from the comment, we proceeded to laugh about it for the next 10 minutes.


It was a good visit, indeed.

Shoulda coulda woulda

I have not pulled my camera out of my purse in I don't know how many days.

That's unnatural.

I could have pulled it out when Mama and I went to see Nights in Rodanthe on Friday night, but I was too busy saying the word Rodanthe. I love saying that word for reasons I cannot explain. Rodanthe.

I could have pulled it out the next morning after my parents left to go out of town to visit with my sweet brother, but how interesting is a picture of a girl wearing no make up who is in her pajamas until noon? While fun for the girl, not very interesting and certainly not very pretty.

I could have pulled it out when I went on a date with God to see the movie Fireproof on Saturday afternoon. But I was in such a rush after I made the quick decision that I wanted to see it RIGHT THEN, even though there were no movie partners available. I really should have taken a picture of myself totally loving it, but our theater frowns upon flash photography during a movie. Especially when the flash photographer is taking pictures of herself smiling and lip singing her current favorite song ("Love is Not a Fight" by Warren Barfield) as the movie plays.

I could have pulled it out when I went over to Marsha's later that day and shelled a bunch of the peanuts she gathered up from the two HUGE piles a peanut truck had spilled on her dirt road. Only in south Georgia, my friends. I really should have taken a picture of us making peanut brittle with the nuts because YUM.

I could have pulled it out when I heard that the Eagles won (!), but I think my smile was too big for the camera the capture. I have big teeth and they were all over the place due to the joy.

I could have pulled it out when several of Marlee's friends came over later that night, and I repeatedly tried to get them to call a bunch of their people to come over so we could play Mafia. But then I got too busy dominating in the friendly game of Spoons we played instead. Where has that game been all my life??

I could have pulled it out on Sunday at church as I listened to the testimony of the most amazing missionary family who has been living in Romania for the past 3 years. But I was too busy blinking back tears as they played a slideshow of all the work they are doing and all the people they are serving. Inspirational montages are my weakness. It made me want to move to Romania.

(Speaking of cameras, I wish I had one to capture my mama's face as she just read that last sentence) :-)

I could have pulled it out at lunch on Sunday as I sat in the kitchen eating Subway and talking to The Debster about their weekend, but I was really hungry. I pity the camera that tries to come in between me and my 6" turkey on wheat.

I could have pulled it out as I spent the rest of the day doing absolutely nothing as I waited patiently to watch my Sunday night line-up: Extreme Home Makeover, Desperate Housewives, Army Wives. Tears, laughs, tears. Sunday night TV seriously plays with my emotions.

I could have pulled it out on Monday as I straightened my room, read some blogs, called and talked to my very nice bank people, and seriously considered cleaning out my car (one day contemplation is going to turn to action - I can feel it). But before I knew it the time had slipped away, and I was once again in my pajamas wearing no make up, and I just wasn't interested in bringing that kind of scariness to the blog. It is not Halloween quite yet.

But today is a new day!

And I vow to attach my camera to my hand/eye and capture all of the borderline interesting activities of my daily life. I do have a few things on the agenda - a possible lunch date with a couple of friends, a visit with my crazy grandmother, a car clean out (???). So, there is definitely some fun to be had today, and it is my personal goal to pull the camera out of the purse and document this, the 7th day of October in the year two thousand and eight, in all it's simple glory.

Hope ya'll have a great Tuesday!

One at a time

Well it's been a while since I've woken up on a Saturday with nothing to do.

Thankfully, I am well versed in days full of nothingness, so I am not phased. Although, I will miss hanging with my people in the parking lot, eating fa-mmus, and having a good ole time as we wait for the Eagles to take the field (so they can then keep us in a state of anxiety for the following 3 hours).

I do love it so.

As for today, our men in blue are taking the field, but they will be doing so in Chattanooga. I don't think the game is going to be on TV this time, but I am hoping to catch it on the radio and really hoping that the radio man will be informing me of how good the Eagles are playing.

We need it radio man, we need it. Please be nice to our ears.

Speaking of radio, a certain someone has a little something to share about today's game, as well as a little bit of info about how our small town southern team has fought their way through some uncertain times in the land.

Keep fighting Eagles, and take it away Daddy...

The end of the week catch up

The last part of this week kind of scooted (did I just say scooted?) by without too much really going down.

I did have some major excitement on Wednesday though when I got to see this pretty girl.


This is Meredith. She's awesome. To know her is to love her, and I know her, so (you see where this is going), I love her. Meredith and I met when she moved into my house once upon a time when the world was right. The time I am referring to is when I lived in this glorious fun homestead on a street called Merrywood.


Just as a side note: I'm not sure there has ever been a more appropriately named street. Times there, they were merry.


Anyways, our last year of school my best friends...


...and I moved into the Merrywood House together. But, we just thought 4 people wasn't quite merry enough - so we added a couple extra girls to the mix. One of these girls was the very adorable Meredith. She was a freshman at that time and, bless her heart, lived in a very small room in our house.

Actually it wasn't even a room. It was a teeny tiny office space that could fit a single bed and Mer and maybe like one shirt. She made it her own though, and we all enjoyed having this funny girl as our unofficial little sister.

Well, now this "little girl" as we called her is a SENIOR in college.

How? How does this occur at such a rapid rate?

Who knows, but I am here to tell you, Mer is one of the sweestest, most Godly women I know. She's just got it, if you know what I mean, and I can't wait to see what she does for the Lord.

Anyways, all of that to say: We went to lunch on Wednesday.

I know it could have been summed up in one sentence, but really - where is the fun in that?

We text (texted?) back and forth on Tuesday, and I asked her where she wanted to go eat. Guess where Meredy, girl of my heart, suggested?


Obviously I was a great role model and taught her everything she needed to know back when we lived together. I have always been all about shaping young minds.

Speaking of young minds, Wednesday brought some more young people into my life as I gathered with some high school girls for a little Bible study. I have started helping my friend Marsha teach a group of 14-17 year-olds.


Hanging out and getting to know the girls has been so entertaining. They are so sweet and so hilarious, and I am excited about what we having going with them.

Here are some of them a couple of weeks ago after our lesson. We made s'mores because they serve as great fuel for learning about God.



Anyways, that is pretty much all that has been shakin. Thursday was pretty low key, as is today. This weekend involves no football games for me (tears). The Eagles are on the road which I am kind of glad about because my heart needs a break.

Happy weekend!!