Life with my sister

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...

I decided late Friday night to run the Elvis 5K at Graceland. It is the 35th anniversary of his death this week. If you have ever lived in Memphis or if you are a diehard Elvis fan you know that it is big deal and all the crazies come out to weep and celebrate. I ran this race 5 years ago when I was still living there and loved it, so when my daddy called me last night and mentioned it was this morning and he was going, I knew I had to do it! Luckily we had no plans for today and my hunky hubs is used to my spur of the moment ideas. We left the house at 5:30 this morning and headed for Graceland. Poor Henry was not happy to wake up that early and head out, but he perked up pretty quick. I was there and registered by 7. We were able to walk up to the house and around the grave for a little while. We have seen it a gillion times, but it is always fun to see it again and watch people's reactions. People still cry...it shouldn't make me laugh, but it does. I ra...

1-Daniel thinks David can read his mind. I think this may be true. 2- Anna let Daniel pull her front tooth after 16 days of it hanging loose. 3-Samuel's voice has changed. I don't recognize him anymore. 4-I threw away a pair of Easter socks last night that I've had for two years. It seems by the holes in them that I wear them at other times other than Easter. 5- I took the boys to a local barber college to get haircuts. We were the only white people there. The students that were going to cut the boys hair had never used scissors before and couldn't understand why they should cut their hair wet. It was one of the funnest times we've had, they even told us to come back! We will! 6- If you were to get pregnant this week you could very well have your baby on 12/12/12. If you do will you please tell me?! 7- I finally got a bread starter from a friend. I really wanted a sourdough starter, but I got an Amish one and it is so good. It tastes like a cinnamon roll. I think on...

This photo is not the best quality. I took it with my phone. I had to capture the moment and it is what I had at arms reach. My boys love to race dump trucks every night before Henry goes to bed. Henry takes the little one and Daddy takes the big one. They race all through the house, scream and say "Boo Yaw" real loud over and over again. It is fun times. This particular night they found sombreros in the guest room that I have been meaning to return to a friend. They wore them while racing. Henry's kept falling onto his face but he didn't seem to mind. It was so funny to watch. I try my best to stay out of the way because they will run over mama without flinching. I have sore toes to prove it! It is simple times like these that I try my best to cherish and hide in my mama heart. I know the day will come when he does not want to play with his dump trucks or his daddy. For now he loves begging his daddy to race with him and says "DO GIN, DADDY!", while Randall...

"I mustache you a question?" "Will you be my Happy Birfday Time?" (How Henry says "Happy Valentine's Day...so cute!) His daddy said "yes" and got some love with his coffee. Cupid showed love to Henry with a Veggie Tales card, a big balloon, a red truck, Cars candy and a Mater teeth sucker. He was most smitten with the red truck. Red is Henry's best color. He loves it. His teacher said this was Henry's day because it would be ALL red, ALL day. So funny, but true. We gathered up our love soap for his teachers. Next, we gathered up our bucket of mustaches for his little friends. He had lots of mustache questions to ask and certainly scored many "birfday times" with his cute card and tasty, cute mustache cookies. (you must watch the video I posted last night in the previous post!) I got to his school for the party and the mustache was no longer on his shirt. He had peeled it off. Oh, Henry! He was still a cutie without his 'stac...

I left this by Randall's coffee pot this morning. He cracked up at the serving size - "U Decide 'Cause U Da Man!" I covered a $1 box of SweetTarts with it instead of chocolate because he is my sweet and my tart! I found this wrapper online and printed it off. A $1 love gift. Can't beat it! Now, I have to come up with something for tomorrow.... hmmm ?! Abby

9 years ago today I said "I do" to my Randall. I always loved this picture. It is in a little frame on my bedside table. It was taken in the brides room after the ceremony. I remember Mama and Mawmaw being afraid we might run off into a broom closet before the reception! We were so excited to finally be married, if you know what I mean! ha. I really like the Aqua Net can in the background the best. All good southern girls use Aqua Net for their 'dos. This is possibly the most priceless photo I have in my album. Because I share this blog with my favorite sister, I thought it was finally time to show this little snapshot of us. I was taking my photos before the ceremony and feared I forgot my deodorant so like any good sister, Jules applied for me. There are too many reasons why I love this girl, just sayin! Wasn't she beautiful in that dress. I loved my wedding. It was perfect. This was our first Christmas card photo. If you are familiar with our annual card, you kno...

10 years ago tonight I looked into Randall's blue eyes for the first time at the back door of my cousin Hollye's home in Memphis. A blind date set up by Julie and my mother-in-love (click here for Julie's refelction on the arrangement). For that date I am forever grateful. I did not want to go, thought my sister had lost her mind and was crushing on another boy. Boy, boy, boy...did I ever change my course when I looked into those blue eyes standing at Hollye's backdoor! (The night of our engagement) Well I lost my heart on the day we met But I gained a lot that I don't regret (one of our favorite engagement photos) Then I hung around til you said 'I do' Knew I wouldn't have nothin if I didn't have youWell, it changed my thinking when you changed your name Neither one of us will ever be the same And I swear I'm never gonna be untrue Cuz I wouldn't have nothing if I didn't have you (5 year anniversary in Cancun) If I didn't have you I...

Randall, 'Thew (Hollye's hubby) and Stephen This picture will make me laugh outloud until I am old and gray. Today it made me cry a little bit. Joy. Pure joy it is to have family to embrace in good times, bad times, and the awkard inbetween times. I know of so many families who fight with each other, compete with each other and disregard each other. I can't imagine what that must be like. Today I count it pure joy to know we may not live near one another, yet we are one in the bond of love....bonded with crazy glue and Jesus! Pray for Julie and her precious family as they move out of Star City this week. It is tough yet exciting at the same time. I find myself crying just thinking about the hope and fear they all six feel right now. What a reward they will reap in heaven for following Christ's leading. The grit and grace they are all showing through this is awe inspiring to this little sister and auntie. Counting it all joy takes on a whole new meaning for our little Ju...

Friday afternoon Henry and I headed about an hour outside of town to one of Randall's plots so he could ride the combine with his daddy. Henry did not pose for this picture. It just happened. He was watching his Daddy out in the field and looked back at me to tell me "Daddy work". When we got there Henry ran in the corn yelling "Daddy's corn" over and over. It was the cutest thing. His daddy made a pass up to the front of the field and picked up Henry soon after we arrived. Henry was eager and excited to get on Daddy's "tractor". We tried to correct him but when we said "combine" Henry said "crouton" (he loves croutons!). This is a research combine if you are wondering what in the world kind of combine this is. It is very specialized and records data as the corn is cut/shelled. I just love my boys. They live for each other. It is the sweetest thing. I don't know who was more excited...Randall or Henry. Randall loves be...