Life with my sister

Meet our newest family member, Caden . We were there when he was born and I most excited about that. It was a first for me. I always arrive after the babies in "my" family are born. It was an experience, to say the least. We had our ears peeled to the doorway and heard him when he entered the world...it was so wild. All the guys literally ran to the end of the hall so they couldn't hear the noises and Kristen ( Caden's soon-to-be aunt, come May, when she marries Caden's uncle Brandon)and I only wished we had access to a glass so we could hear better. Caden is the son of Randall's cousin, Micah (and Caden is the new grandson of our faithful reader, Diana). Micah's wife, Tabby, was not due until Dec 15 th . They both came to Jonesboro to go to the doctor for a check-up on Wednesday. I ate lunch with she and Micah before her appointment. She was feeling fine, looked good and we were all looking forward to turkey the next day. I then went home and began p

We hosted our first Thanksgiving. Since we have a home that entertains well, we decided to bring Rand's Dad, step-mom, sister and her family to J'Town for turkey. I loved watching the Macy's T-Day parade from my very own TV. I have not done that since I was growing up at home. Anyway, hosting it was a lot of fun and a lot of work. I am very blessed that it all turned out so well. My smoked turkey was a bit dry, but we had so much other good stuff, that it didn't matter. I made my first gravy, ever! Giblet and brown gravy without any help...I must pat myself on the back, if that is okay. I have a few pictures of the day...enjoy! This was the first time I had an excuse to use my Meemaw's Gravy Boat (or as wee like to call it, "The Skutt family Gravy Boat"...makes it sound real fancy.)I also got to use my great-great grandmother's serving spoon. It was really cool to polish such special heirlooms. This is Rand's step-mom, Molly. I am blessed to hav

Happy Thanksgiving to you all! We are so thankful for our families and our friends (even our stalker friends STACY!!!!). Abby is cooking dinner for Rands family today. Her first Thanksgiving dinner, I'm so proud. And I am at my in-laws watching dinner be prepared. Just call me Mary and call Abby Martha. We know and we are proud of it! Happy Thanksgiving. Give thanks to our God! Julie

Stephen has been doing the childrens time during our Sunday morning worship since Jeremy left in August. He has done a good job and I think made some friends from the 3-5 age group. This past Sunday morning he began by asking the kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. One little boy said a professional hunter, one girl said a nurse, David wanted to be a soccer player, Daniel, after thinking about it while everyone else answered, wanted to be an ice-cream taster, and Anna wants to be a princess. Everyone laughed, it was funny and so typical of Anna. When she got back to her seat I told her there weren't any princess jobs (I tell her this a lot!) She looked at me and said "yes there are" I asked where and she said" you know where Mickey is? There." So, it looks as if my daughter will be working at Disneyworld . Oh, what a proud mom I am! Julie ps . Do Christmas and car repairs a

This is Rand's birthday cake that I had made at Hay's Grocery in J-Town. I have hidden it in the trunk of my car for his dinner party tonight....I am so excited about it. This is a pic of him on his tricycle and he has on his dad's ballcap...so cute! (it is cuter in person..the pic posted a bit blurry) And yes, I do realize I did not make the cake and I should feel bad about it, since I am the cake lady...but I don't feel an ounce of guilt, really. Actually, it was nice to not have all that icing mess to clean up. Worth every penny...and a picture cake ain't cheap! Abby

This is me with Silky O'Sullivan in the middle of Beale Street - April 2007. This cracks me up..of all the pictures I have, this is the 4th one in the 4th folder. How funny. Oh, the girl in the pic is the one Rand worked with that had an affair with his other co-worker...needless to say, we are not friends anymore. I am not friends with home wreckers! Why did I post this pic, you ask? Well...My friend Trish tagged us. Here is what we are suppose to do: We have to post a picture from our 4th folder, and it is to be the 4th picture in that folder. Then we are to tag 3 other bloggers. I am tagging Amanda, Lindsey and Stacee. Abby

Happy Birthday to my extra fine, hard working, steady, duck loving, determined, fun-loving, birthday boy! (And if he blows that duck call in the house one more time...He is going to be the dead duck!) Abby

I had intended on posting a picture of an Ole Miss sweatshirt a pair of Old Navy jeans(wide legged, really cute) a red cable knit Duckhead sweater a pair of brown Cole Haan shoes but for some reason, I'm blaming blogger, but it could be my slow internet, it won't post. Anyway, I was going to ask what those 4 things had in common. The answer is (actually 2 answers) they all came from my local resale shop and they all cost $4 or under! If the picture had posted you would have been much more impressed that I got all 4 items for $8. The most expensive item, get this, were the jeans. Not the shoes, they cost $2.00 and look brand new, the label on the inside of the shoe isn't worn at all. Truly amazing. Abby and I talk often about loving a sale, so I thought I would share an example

My dear friend, Lindsey came to visit us over the weekend. She helped me decorate my new house for Christmas. I loved it! Lindsey & Rand preparing to decorate the mantle in the den. Perfecting our tree...or attempting it anyway Our very unique tree crown/topper The proverbial tree picture Our first tree in J'boro...awe The mantle in our living room. Lindsey did a fabulous job on this! We were so glad she came to visit. It was such a nice time. We laughed a whole lot and that was most fun! Abby

Samuel killed his first deer today. He named it Molly.(I'm sorry to the real Molly and Molly Claire.) I'm not sure why he named it that. Stephen killed a deer on Saturday. I'm afraid that my freezer will be packed full of deer meat all winter. GROSS!!!!!! David and Daniel are still waiting for their first deer. I'm hoping(for their sakes) it comes soon. But I really don't want any more deer meat in the freezer. I will have to give it away. I am wondering how I got to this point in my life. I was raised a city girl. I loved the mall, 2 high schools in my hometown, 4 jr highs, a choice of grocery stores, movie theaters, bowling alleys, and skating rinks and there was not a gun, real or toy, to be found in my home. I am now in a town with one high school, 1 grocery store, no movie, bowling or skating and I can't keep count of the number of guns, real or toy, that can be found in my home. How did I get here? Oh yes, I remember! God sent me here. To serve Him, to lo

This is my friend Ron White, driving the tractor (Kenny, the videographer is the one on the hood). Ron and his wife were dear friends of our family when I was little. They lived across the street from us. They now live in Jonesboro. Ron was gracious enough to be "free talent" for our new St. Bernards hospice commercial . Yes, he played a dying farmer...I of course did not tell him this until after he arrived! He said he hoped it was not a foreshadowing of things to come. Since he is not a farmer, I think he is safe to go on about his business. It was a beautiful day to be outside shooting the video. Our paid actress from Memphis ended up being someone I knew from years past. It was old home week out on the range, that is for sure! I am so thankful for Ron and his willingness to help us out with the commercial. We could not have paid a better actor. Wow! Abby

Today for the kids handwriting assignment they were to finish this sentence I am so thankful..... These are their responses. DRB : I am so thankful that I live in a free county. (pretty sure he meant country) I am so thankful that I have a family. I am so thankful that I have shelter. I am so thankful for friends. I am so thankful for my books. DSB : I am so thankful for friends that play with me. I am thankful for the Bible, it is God's word. I am so thankful for my home it has a roof so rain won't come in. I am so thankful for my toys that I can play with. I am thankful for paint that I can draw with. What lovely, thoughtful children I have. I am so thankful for them. Julie

Uncle Joe, the Retiree He said he was tired the first day and now he is retired. He is truly loved and respected by a lot of people. My face is super round in this picture. Not so cool. My Sassy and me, together again. Mrs. Carolyn and I worked together at ECS. She catered Uncle Joe's party. We are 2 peas in a pod. Daddy and his wife, Connie They have been married for three years. They live in the Memfrica area also. Daddy & Aunt Babs Aunt Babs is our Dad's sister. Her husband is Uncle Joe, the retiree. Uncle Monkey's Girls Daddy with our cousin, Hollye and her daughter, Claire. They call him Uncle Monkey. I know, it is odd. I enjoyed seeing my "people" and being in my old stomping ground. My favorite quote of the short trip, "This is why I have people!" Quoted by me at Ross, to the Sales Clerk, as I sent my people back into the store to find a missing piece to something I had just bought. It was priceless and most enjoyable. I know Julie is so

This is Anna in her Busy B's hat! Isn't she a cutie!!

...The Christmas shopping, that is. Today I set my budget, got Randall's approval and hit the ground running. I have shaved about a fourth off what I spent last year. I think I can still make my loved ones smile with excitement, despite my recession. After all, it is not the amount of money you spend, it is the thought. I am a firm believer in the thought. I would rather someone give me a $5 thoughtful, meaningful, heart filled gift, than a $50 pity gift. Picking out gifts for people makes my heart smile...plus the thrill of a bargain. Those 2 things together almost give me the shakes, I get so excited. I love a gift and a sale about more than anything else. So, tell me...do you enjoy Christmas shopping or do you dread it? If you do enjoy it, what is your favorite part - sales, picking out things to make people smile, Christmas Spirit in the air, crowds, wrapping the gifts? Abby

Samuel is playing football. He has wanted to play football for the last two years and I haven't allowed it. Not because I'm scared of him getting hurt but because they play on Saturdays. 10-12 Saturdays in the fall. I just don't like giving up the possibilities that Saturdays hold. He has been asked to play on a team that has 2 tournaments this month. Its a new team and he is so excited. After his first practice he wore his shoulder pads and mouthpiece around the house the rest of the day. He is excited!!! He is practicing at quarterback and can hardly contain his emotion about that. I have taken it upon myself to help squelch the emotion a bit. There is no need to have to order a larger size helmet because he can't keep the size of his head in check! I'm excited for him too. I've always said my favorite sport was whatever my children were playing at the time, but football is really my favorite sport of all. I love it! And now I can love it because my son is pl

Princess Gracie Beth in her Busy B's Bowtique Beanie Our cousin Sarah, of Busy B's Bowtique has a fabulous new item in her online store. The beanie. She has beautiful handmade bows and now she has these trendy little beanies. Grown-ups can wear them too! These will make great Christmas gifts....start shopping today! Go to her site and tell her you heard about this from us and save 10% Abby

This past Friday night I headed to Cane Creek State Park with a cheerleader, a hunter and a soldier in my van. It was quite fun company. In the 11 years that I have been a mother my children have never been trick-or-treating. We have gone to many a harvest party or fall festival but never going from place to place to get candy from willing strangers. Every year at Cane Creek campers spend the whole month at the park and decorate for halloween. Then the park holds "Ghost Roast" and invites everyone to come and trick-or-treat the campsites, go on hayrides and play carnival games. It was great fun! The kids loved it. We helped my friend Gay pass out candy. She had a huge Rubbermaid bucket full of candy, and we gave it all away. They said 5000 people came to the park that one night. WOW! Gay dressed up as a witch with blinking teeth. The kids loved her. I dressed up as myself. But believe it or not, some people thought I was her. Me, dressed up as a witch? Come on people! I don&#