Trippin'...I Mean Tippin'...Cows That Is...

Who's bright idea was this anyway? The things you do for your kids...yes, we REALLY went "Cow Tippin'!  After the kids did a little research on You Tube, they informed the Dads of what we needed and a few pointers to keep in mind.

Did I mention that the Dads found their courage in the bottom of a bottle?

* Make sure that there are NO BULLS in the area you enter

* Take flashlights

* Be sure to wear boots because you will step in piles of .....

* Try to be very quiet

* After successfully Tippin' the cow, while laughing your rear off and dodging cow manure, get to a SAFE environment ASAP

Well as you guessed, we didn't exactly follow the rules!

On the count of three, Eric, Ryan and Judson were going to charge towards the chosen white cow and tip it right over! Well, on three, Eric and Judson froze and Ryan charged right towards that cow. The cow was standing with his rear towards Ryan. As soon as Ryan got remotely close to the cows rear, he raised his hind leg and gave him a swift kick in the chest. Ryan flew in the air and landed flat on his back in the pasture. No, this is not a joke. He really did get a karate chop from that big white cow. The picture below is him explaining it to the Moms.

Here is Ryan's chest right after. We really think that he broke a couple of ribs!

We never could get a picture of him a few days later when the bruising appeared. He wasn't real proud of it and didn't want Katie to worry about him. I can only imagine what he looked like!

The Three Amigos...at it again!

This is what Duncan did while we were in the middle of the pasture. Of course, Katie was sitting in the car with him so he wasn't alone. He is the best baby and has gone more places that any baby I have ever known!

This is Oney on the way home from Rosemark that night. Exhausted!

Ryan's new bumper sticker that I put on his truck.

Life as Usual

The clock just keeps ticking faster and faster. Golf, volleyball, and football...you will find us at one of those activities lately. Oh, and basketball...even though it is not quite basketball season. Our new Coach, Sharia, aka Coach "Summit", is so energized and interested in our program that she is already gearing up for the season! This picture is me  riding on a golf cart. I am learning to sit still and be a spectator. It is hard for me to just do "nothing" for hours on a golf cart but I am learning to relax and enjoy it...my Sister would be proud!

The week after Labor Day was the longest "short week" ever! Less days to prepare for tests, PTO room parent meetings, golf lessons, golf matches, volleyball practice, volleyball games, class reunion meetings, etc. Friday night we crashed at home and did nothing. Saturday morning the girls had a basketball camp in Memphis. This is the girls at lunch after the camp.

The girls had a nice surprise when they got home that day...Britt was home from MTSU!!! Ginny cooked us a huge meal and we loved visiting with her and hearing all about her new college life. We are happy she likes it so much but we were glad she came home to see us...that is why you came home-right Britt? We didn't take any pictures...we just visited and hung out at our house.

Joseph also came in town for the night and he and Oney played until Oney could barely walk. He actually went to bed in tears Saturday night...he was exhausted. They played outside all day long. Joseph tried out the kids newest pasttime...skiing and sledding on the grass behind the Polaris. Yes, you read that right. No snow needed. They burned an entire tank of gas! They had the time of their lives. I am not sure what the neighbors thought when they drove by the house. But, the boys had fun. Look at how dirty Joseph was...

Sunday morning we went to church. We started our new Sunday School book, In The Grip of Grace by Max Lucado. I think it is really going to be good. I am looking forwaard to it.

Tennessee vs Florida...Is This The Year???

NOPE...this was NOT our year...once again...but we are finally headed in the right direction! I think we can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel for our college football program at UT! We have not had a football gathering (UT wise) in quite sometime (years actually). We decided late in the week to have just a few friends over last minute. Those are usually the best parties and this one turned out to be one of those parties! It was just laid back, not a lot of preparation, not much food, just a few friends watching football, playing a game of backyard football and riding the ATVs. What more could you ask for, really?

Oh and we had a few "FIRSTS" that Saturday...

Duncan Blue's "First" piece of pizza...He LOVED it!

His "First" Funnel Cake...He LOVED it!

Mr. Eric's "First" (NOT) funnel cake...notice his black shirt...he likes it, he likes it!

Well, it was also our "FIRST" and probably "LAST" time we did the following activity...

WE WENT...

COW TIPPING!!!

It deserves its own post...

September 11, 2011

Ten Years Later...

We recognized the 10 year anniversary of the attacks on our world trade centers in New York today. There were tons of shows on t.v. recounting the days surrounding the attacks. We watched several of them with the kids. We want them to know how our world changed that day and remember the lives that were lost. We had some good "family discussions" and we all shed tears. You are not human if you didn't cry at some point on the anniversary. We flipped through our photo album from last September when we went to New York with Sittie. We were at Ground Zero on 9-11-10. All we could really see was a construction site with lots of barriers all around. Look how beautiful the site is now.

We said a special prayer at church that day. It was a day we will NEVER FORGET.

Labor Day Weekend

After Friday with the broken finger saga, Labor Day was pretty uneventful (which is nice sometimes)! We went out on the Lake Saturday, watched the Tennessee game at Jay & Kathryn's that night, went out briefly on Sunday until it rained, and lounged around under a blanket Sunday night at our house with just our family while it poured down rain for HOURS! It was a nice end to an another awesome summer at the lake. Thank the Lord for another safe, fun summer with family and friends! This weekend wrapped up our 10th year in our Lake house. WOW! Time flies...I was pregnant with Oney when we built our house.

ALLY the Dancing D.J.

Abby with her cool shades on and ice on her finger!

Oney making his rounds on every one's boat! 

We ended our Summer hanging out at Panther Cove. We don't go there quite as much as we used to now that the kids are getting older. Here is a picture from the sights that day.

Here is Duncan Blue with his "harem"...wherever he goes, he always has a huge following!

Sorry, D.B., I couldn't resist that cute little bottom shot! I miss those days..OK, not really!

Some misc pics from the weekend. I didn't take pictures this weekend. I was sort of "over it". Abby was handy with the camera...thanks Abby!

Me wearing my "Hot Girls Pearls"....check out their website...Keep Cool...Look Hot! 

If you know anyone that has hot flashes or is just hot in general, these are the PERFECT gift! My kids saw them on the Today Show this Summer and insisted that I order some. I LOVE THEM! You put them in the freezer and they keep you cool. My only mistake??? I should have ordered two pair so that I would always have a cold pair!

Me and Duncan Blue really bonded in the water this weekend. I finally figured out something to get his mind off of his "Momma" for a bit. We played with that empty can for a long time! I know-probably not the best influence on him-but I was able to give Katie a break! I love that boy!

Another Broken Bone...Really???

Well, what a way to kickoff our Labor Day weekend...in an urgent care clinic at Pickwick! When I picked the kids up at school last Friday afternoon after volleyball practice, Abby got in the car with an ice pack on her hand and a look on her face! She dove for a ball and landed on her hand then another player stepped on it. I am not real medically inclined, but as soon as I looked at it I didn't have a great feeling. She started crying and then I really didn't have a good feeling - she is one tough cookie so I knew she was hurt! It was 4:45pm on Friday afternoon of a Holiday weekend. What to do??? Oh Dr. Zach how I miss you!!!

 Judson went to Pickwick with the guys on Thursday night so he was already there. I got on the phone and started making plans. There is a "Fast Pace Clinic" at Pickwick that we have been to before. I called them and they were wonderful. They didn't have an xray machine in Pickwick but they have one in Savannah. They waited on me to get there...only in a small town! They did the xray and said there was something on it-but they wanted a radiologist to read it the next morning to be sure. So we loaded up and headed to Pickwick. We finally got to Pickwick around 10:00pm!!! LONG DAY! Abby went to bed with a throbbing finger to say the least. She ,like Ally, was crying because she couldn't play volleyball!

My Saturday morning wake up call was from the clinic...we had a broken/cracked finger on our hands! They weren't sure exactly what it was but knew we needed to see an orthopaedic doctor to follow up. They called her in some pain meds and then we proceeded with our weekend - ice packs, splint and gauze, and pain meds in tow! She was such a TROOPER-she is SO TOUGH!

We followed up on Tuesday at Campbell's Clinic. It was confirmed. Not only did she chip a piece of her bone off, she tore ligaments in the finger, too. It would be 6 weeks before she would be 100%! Really...could this be happening....again??? My girls do not have "simple" breaks...they do it right! I just assumed when we went to the Dr it would be a quick, simple recovery...ugh!!! He wanted her out of the splint so that she would not loose mobility in her finger. Instead he used her middle finger as a splint and taped the two fingers together. That would allow her to bend them when she could. He told her no volleyball for this week and MAYBE she could play "at it" next week if we splinted/taped her up real good! We go back in 3 weeks for a checkup.

So what do you think Abby comes home and does??? She learns to serve the volleyball with her LEFT hand! Oh, and her first school project of the year is due on Wednesday. Guess who has to do all of the writing and constructing??? MOM! Between Ally's broken arm last year and Abby's broken finger this year, I am getting really good at 7th grade work!

Lunch Date with My O Man

Last Friday I went and had lunch with Oney at school. We had a great time together. Being the third child, I don't do things like that enough with him! We (he) setup a special table for us and carried me a chair over. He is so much like his Daddy in that respect...he is ALWAYS looking out for me! Thank you Oney for being such as gentleman. We had Subway, his favorite, for lunch. This cute group of girls sat with us, too!

Oney with Meredith, Lexie and Addey Grace. Sweet kids! Thanks Oney for inviting me to have lunch with you! I will definitely come again soon.