Life with my sister

The White County Fair in Searcy on Moster Truck night is a tradition for we 3 Lee's. It's a 1hour 20 min drive for us. Randall's plane from Iowa landed in Jonesboro around 5:00 and we ran home for him to change his clothes....he picked his best redneck shirt for the occasion to ensure he fit in real good. That's my man! LOL .  We rolled in right as it started, after stopping off at the Bulldog in Bald Knob for supper, of course.  This guy was more into the rides than the monster trucks this year. He was so fun to watch. Everything was exciting to him. I love living life through him sometimes. Oh, to be a child.  Dude would not ride this last year and this year he took the front seat with a smile. So cute!  He smiled the entire ride and put his hands in the air and everything. We got such a joy out of watching him.  When Henry walked up the steps to that slide and went down by himself I shed a tear. Crazy, I know. This boy is blooming right before my eyes in so m...

Several months ago Randall saw a $99 NASCAR experience deal online at the old Memphis International Speedway. He had me purchase it for any Saturday in September. Today was finally the day. Henry was so excited and he was convinced that he was going to be his daddy's 1 man pit crew. He was hoping he might get to change a tire. Oh, to be a 5 year old boy. Just precious.  The speedway used to have several large races but now it simply houses the Rusty Wallace Racing Experience for guys and gals looking for speed. Driving up to it sort of reminded me of present day Dogpatch USA. That's not a good thing. We found where we needed to be and felt better about the situation, thankfully.  Others were already on the track driving. We stopped and observed them for a while. We were sizing up the cars hoping Randall wouldn't get a "root beer" car (what Henry calls beer bc he has no idea what it is. He is really quite sheltered and I'm really quite ok with that). Henry want...

12 years ago we celebrated my 25th birthday at the lake as newlyweds with our new newlywed friends, Mandy and Charlie. She made me a monkey bread birthday cake full of candles.  She also made me a birhday breakfast feast and I knew I'd be friends with her forever. We had fun that weekend thinking we were on top of the world and big stuff with all four of us finally using our degrees in good jobs. We were so young and carefree. Such simple days.  We rode the jet ski on my birthday and laughed all day. If only I could get those arms back that I thought were fat back then. If only. I've held my baby with those arms since then and done a lot of reaching and digging to get where I am today, so I'll accept what they look like now, I reckon.  By my 26th we were celebrating in our newly built home and had added another couple to our group. Mandy and Charlie had also just purchased their first home. We were growing up a lot that year and super excited about it. I had the best home...

Tomorrow is my birthday and I've been reflecting on all my other 36 Birthdays.  I grew up in a house where birthdays were celebrated big. Not big in today's standards, but big in the children of the 80's / early 90's standards. It was all about me from sun up to sun down. I woke up to singing by all 3 in my nuclear family. They all sang it different but they always blended.   Opening presents before school at the kitchen table, maybe my dad would come eat with me for school lunch some years, if not, mama put a note in my strawberry shortcake or rainbow brite lunchbox (with thermos) and the evening meant presents from grandparents and aunts that came by mail. I got to pick my supper and on the monumental years I could invite a friend to go out with us.  I remember getting a 10 speed for my 10th bday and riding it out of the Walmart in the Quarry shopcenter ( when it was THE Walmart.) The patentals had put it on lay away so I got to release it from hostage and ride it ...

The new school year is in full swing and the Fab Five are having a fantastic start.  Henry Patton started Kindergarten this year at Valley View. He is enjoying it so far. He has lots of old and new friends with him. His teacher is a great fit for him too. We are so proud of how brave he is becoming.  (Julie, we really need a school picture of our best girl! This is the most recent one I had of her up close from July) Anna Kathryn started the 6th grade at Beavers Academy. She is so bright and sweet. We are loving watching her bloom into the beautiful woman God has created her to be.  Samuel Charles started his senior year at Watson Chapel as a full time student. He is playing football and baseball. Watching him develop into a Godly young man who puts his convictions first is very inspiring. This year is going to be full of cheers and tears watching it all unfold for our first born love.  David Robert and Daniel Stephen started 9th grade at Beavers Academy and Watson C...

Henry learned how to ride a bike this summer while he stayed the night with just Papa. Nana was on a trip and we had gone to the Tim McGraw concert for the night. We were so excited to get back to Papa's house to see it! Henry lost his first tooth and learned to swim without any floaties this summer too. He is so big.  We had another fun trip to the Caribe in Orange Beach. It's our place. We try to go somewhere different but when it's time to book something we just can't break away from it. Henry loves it too much. I love the carefree days we have together without many distractions. With our work, there is never total distraction unless we get on a cruise ship or go to a remote island somewhere. And that isn't happening any time soon!    I love taking this boy on adventures. He is my favorite.  We had fun at the "Blue Angels Museum" as we refer to it. We visited it before we checked into our condo. We always try to do an outing before check in because we n...