The next Michael Jordan

Cooper LOVES basketball! I am so glad we signed him up for it - he's had a blast. He's probably one of the smallest on the team, but man he's got heart! Every time he had to sit out for a period, he would frown. LOL It's so fun to watch him play sports at this age. I love it!

Going for a rebound!

Go Cooper Go!!!!

Running through the tunnel! I think this is awesome - the announcer calls out their names and the kids run by hitting everyone's hands. So fun!


The Little Eagles - Upward Basketball 2010.

Fancy Nancy Party at THA

Today Olivia and I went to THA's "Fancy Nancy" Tea Party. Olivia had the BEST time ever! She got to dress up all fancy and do all sort of "girlie" stuff - right up her alley! I let Olivia pick out her own outfit and she actually did pretty good! She wouldn't do anything with her hair (I guess she gets that from me), but she did get giddy when I told her I would do her make up. She was beyond thrilled to wear makeup. I think it made her life. :)

Oh yeah - you didn't know black boots go with fancy dresses? Where's your fashion sense?

It's not a party if there's no face painting. Not only did she get a princess, but she got a pink star on the other cheek.

O's outfit....and don't judge me for letting Cooper wear Christmas PJ's in Feb! LOL


She made this bow herself - how pretty is she?

This party was a great idea! All the girls had a blast - I hope it's something Mrs. Crouch continues each year. It was a wonderful opportunity for me and Olivia Grace to spend some much needed Mommy/Daughter time. Olivia thinks she's so grown - and I even forget sometimes (ok, I forget a lot) that she's only 6...almost 7 years old - my daughter is not like most kids her age - she's so stubborn, so independant, and so dang SMART, and has one of the strongest personalities I've ever seen. After doing her make up today, I told her that I wished I was as pretty as she was and she asked me if I wished I was her big sister. I told her "No, I'm glad I'm your mommy!" Oh yeah, she's the best.

I Heart Nicholas Sparks

I fell in love with Nicholas Sparks when I read his very first novel, "The Notebook." If you've never read it - you need too. It's an amazing story of how love triumphs all and soul mates. I guess I love this story because it reminds me so much of 3 couples in my life - my Papa and Granny Hill, my Grandma Alma and my Grandfather, and my parents.

My Papa and Granny Hill were married for over 60 years. SIXTY YEARS.....I can't even imagine. I remember watching them together, rolling my eyes when they called each other "Ma and Pa", but always knowing they *adored* each other. Sometimes when I like to tease Al, I'll call him "Pa" - he thinks I'm nuts, but it's almost a term of endearment for me now. There's a black and white photo of them together right after they married that I love and wish I had a copy of - Granny Hill is so young and beautiful and Papa Hill looks like he came straight from a GQ photo shoot. Every time I see that pic, my mind always goes back to "The Notebook." Even the picture oozes love.

My Grandma Alma lost her one and only true love when she was in her mid 30's. She never remarried and never considered dating another man. They grew up together and were childhood sweethearts. I asked her once why she never remarried and she told "I always knew I would marry Red (his nickname) and I've never wanted to be married to anyone else" - I thought it was crazy at the time, but now......now I totally get it. Her heart was completely devoted to him - even in death. I'm so happy that she's finally reunited with him.

My parents are so funny - they aren't overly affectionate but they absolutely adore each other. They met when they were in high school and married within months of meeting. How crazy is that? And still together after 38 years. They have set a wonderful example for me - marriage isn't always easy, but love always finds an answer. Thanks for being great....I think I probably have the best parents EVER. (Although I still can't believe they started this journey after a few months!)

So what exactly does all this have to do with Nicholas Sparks? Well, just read "The Notebook" and you'll completely understand. He's got tons of books out there - I just finished reading his latest, "The Last Song" (which was good) but his first novel is and always will be - his best work.

?????

Is it Spring yet????

Snow Feb 2010

We got SNOW - and for us, it was a ton! I think my area of town got about 4 to 5 inches.....which hasn't happened since I was in college 10 years ago! The kids LOVE it....me, well I'm fine without it. :) It started snowing around 4ish Friday afternoon and by evening, we had it all over the yard. Saturday morning we got up and went outside to play in it. Cooper tried to eat it the whole time. :)

Olivia went face first in the snow! She loved it!

Even Molly warmed up to the snow and was having a good ole time!

Front view of our house....and the darn snow knocked down one of my shutters!


Cooper - he looks like he should be freezing!

OGG swinging....she's such a snow bunny.



Cooper thought that since it snowed that Santa Claus was coming again. I think he was pretty disappointed when I told him that wasn't the case! :) In our part of SC, we don't get snow very often....and when we do, it's not usually a lot like this. Not sure what to think of the weather - guess Globing Warming may be more than a myth after all. Ha ha!

Valentine Dance

The kids had their annual Valentine's dance at school today. Olivia dressed up (of course!) but Cooper wouldn't wear anything fancier than a pair of jeans. He's pure boy right? Olivia said they had a great time - although since Logan isn't at THA anymore, she couldn't really find anyone to slow dance with her. I told her that was a good thing - she needed to remember that boys were icky - but she thinks differently. :) She did manage to let it slip out that Linkin danced with her a few minutes before he ran off saying "I just can't do it anymore!" How stinking funny is that?

I don't go all out for Valentine's day - never really have. Al and I get the kids a little something but not really anything for ourselves. Al does a wonderful job reminding me he loves me *daily* so I don't see a point in celebrating it on a certain date. Of course, the girl in me still gets giddy when I get flowers - I won't lie. :)

I hope you all have a wonderful Valentine's! We're supposed to get snow tomorrow night - a whopping 2 inches. I hope it doesn't close everything down but it probably will.

More Retro

I absolutely LOVE having a scanner now.....in case you couldn't tell. :)

Me and Martin back in the day......

So...yeah....O may have inherited her fake smile from me......

I love this photo....I miss my Grandma Alma so much. I would love for her and my Granny Hill and Papa Hill to have met my kids.

As my brother says "this is Martin and his back-up singers" - ha ha!

This is me...O's age....but WHO DOES THIS LOOK LIKE??

Yay Coop!

Cooper scored his first goal in a basketball game this morning!!!! He was so proud of himself. And so is Mommy and Daddy!!! Good job little man!

Good Tired

It's only the 5th of February and I'm BEAT. Work is hectic, but getting easier every day. And the kids are constantly into something - we have a basketball game at 8am!!!!! then another at 2pm, chores that just don't ever seem to get caught up, groceries that never stay stocked up for any length of time - so it seems like I'm always going, going, going.

But it's a good tired. I'm thankful for the job I have in times where jobs don't come easy. I'm thankful for two healthy kids to keep me busy when I have friends who can't have kids of their own. I'm thankful for that little house on Willis Drive when others don't have homes to do chores in. I'm thankful for all my blessings - and thankful they make me tired. :)

I got a call from my mom today that a friend from high school passed away last night. His death definitely hit close to home - not only was it someone I knew and had grown up with in school, someone my own age, but someone who had a family too. I can't imagine what his wife and daughter (who is Coop's age) must be going through. What a tragedy.

It's time to end this blog and go hug my kids and husband.

Taking over my phone

I came home from work Friday to find Olivia on the phone. YES...you read that right. My six, "almost seven as she would say" old daughter was on the phone. With who? One of her little friends from class!

Are you kidding me? She was on the phone with her friend for a good half hour. And that was from when *I* got home - I have no idea how long she was on before I got there. She ran around the house, describing everything in our house, what we were all doing, etc. It was actually quite amusing.

Amusing the first day. Every day - and I mean EVERY day since - that same little friend has called O to "talk". And what makes it even more "unamusing" (if that's even a word) is that when someone other than O answers the phone, her little friend will hang up and then call back IMMEDIATELY. Ok folks....if your kid can't work a phone, DON'T LET THEM MESS WITH IT!!! Argh!!!

Al and I are not prepared for this - I mean, I knew the "girl" stuff was coming when she would be interested in talking to her girlfriends, etc, but man - I did.not.realize.it.started.so.soon. Seriously!!!!