Fructose Intolerant

Not Ready For Prime Time

2012-02-14T13:56:00.001-08:00

Well, Solon and I won't be heading to Hollywood anytime soon. Between my camera angle and his botched lines:) Happy Valentine's Day everyone!

What! Treats?

2012-02-14T13:54:00.000-08:00

Solon had a great Valentines Day. He got a letter from Nana that had big money in it! So he got to add it to his piggy bank. And then our doorbell just rang, and it was Stella from up the street. She hand delivered a card to Muffin along with a sucker.

Takin a Snooze

2012-02-14T13:50:00.000-08:00

Solon had a big day today with Nana! They did school and then went to the YMCA, library and McDonalds playground. I know...he still has a pacifier. I just can't take it away from him.

I Promise

2012-02-13T11:17:00.000-08:00

For all those asking! I will post a picture of me..or my roundness...very soon. I go for my 34 week check up tomorrow, so we are getting close to arrival time!

Cold

2012-02-13T10:58:00.001-08:00

We had temps around 7 degrees Saturday night, so Solon had to break out his big puffy jacket for a walk around the block with the dogs.

New Fave

2012-02-13T10:57:00.000-08:00

While going through my dad's things, Solon spotted this corvette. It was my dad's remote control car, and it has to have been the first one ever made because man is it a dinosaur. It takes 4 D batteries to go at what I am sure is a snail's pace. But Solon loves it. He has slept with it every night and takes it on all our errands. He knows it is "Pops" and has been talking about him a good bit. He thinks it is cool that my dad loved racecars just like him.

Weekend detail

2012-02-13T10:51:00.000-08:00

I apologize for the lack of exciting photos this week, but Jay and I were doing very unexciting things all Saturday and Sunday. We were cleaning ninjas. Jay found some old Mardi Gras bandannas and tied one on each of us. I guess to make doing things like fixing the dishwasher more fun?

We have cleaned out our entire attic at the old house. I have gone through all the boxes of my mom and dad's stuff and cleaned, polished, edited and organized it all. We fixed a clogged up dishwasher. We cleaned the carpet in Cookies' room. Hung some pictures. And kept a HUGE fire going to keep us warm.

We did take a break each day to take Muffin swimming at the Y. He is working hard to become a better swimmer before summer time:)

Really?

2012-02-13T10:46:00.000-08:00

He likes Tums. He sees me eating them all the time, and I tell him they are my medicine. So now when he sees the bottle he tells me his tummy is full of food and hurts..and he needs medicine. I don't get it because they taste like chalk to me.

Being Cute Before Bedtime

2012-02-13T10:43:00.002-08:00

Under Scrutiny

2012-02-13T10:43:00.000-08:00

Solon begged for this little toy turtle at Michael's last week. You have to leave it sitting in water up to 3 days for it to grow to its full size, so every morning he comes down to check its progress.

On The Island

2012-02-13T10:41:00.000-08:00

Solon kept me company the other night while I cleaned up the kitchen.

Can I Chalk It Up To Hormones?

2012-02-08T07:43:00.000-08:00

I woke up this morning feeling a little sad. I am on the final leg of my pregnancy, and I am in the midst of getting everything ready for Cookie's arrival. And I just miss my mom. Such a big thing to be happening for me and Jay, and she isnt' here to share it all with.

I dropped Solon off at camp this morning, and a song on the radio just got me crying. And it wasn't even a sad song. I stopped by to see Jay for a few seconds and while talking to him..my phone rang. It was Sally. I called her back when I got back on the road, and she was calling because she wanted to know if I had bought Cookie's coming-home outfit. I told her I hadn't, and she said she wanted to do it. She said Momma had bought Ansley's.

I haven't talked to Sally much in the past couple of weeks because we are all so busy, but her psychic abilities didn't fail her:) It was just what I needed to get back into the excitement of everything. Momma isn't here in person to share in all the details with us, but I have my fabulous sisters filling in for her.

This is a photo of Momma after she had Janie. Yeah. She looks radiant as she did with me and Sally. I don't know what magic potion she was drinking, and we used to comment on it with her. She was just happy.

Super Bowl Party-ish

2012-02-06T12:55:00.000-08:00

We actually had company Sunday night for the game which was fun! Josef, Laura, Jackson, Jamison and Canon made the trip down from Marietta and Ann came over too. Lots of fun with lots of boys causing mischief. No lie. It got so wild that Jamison actually pooped on our bed...or actually Jay's pillow. All the boys has fun playing and all the adults enjoyed the game, drinks and snacks. I am not going to lie. I was pretty jealous of the bourbon and beer flowing. My water and Tums just weren't as festive:)

Coming To Get You

2012-02-06T12:50:00.000-08:00

Hit That Ball

2012-02-06T12:47:00.000-08:00

Make Up Time

2012-02-06T12:42:00.000-08:00

Solon was happy to see us when we got home Sunday, so we immediately took off for the park for some tennis and bike riding. Solon looks so good out on the court! He actually hit 4 or 5 balls over the net.

Leftovers

2012-02-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

Here is Taco getting to enjoy the remnants of our dinner Saturday night. Lamb shank. She was one happy puppy.

No Pics But It Was Fun

2012-02-06T12:36:00.000-08:00

Jay and I haven't had much time to take a little vacation without Solon, so this Saturday night we just got a hotel room up in Buckhead and stayed for one night. We had an early dinner at Bistro Nicco which was wonderful and over the top. Then we walked back to the hotel and enjoyed wine (Jay) and hot chocolate (me) in the bar, and then headed to a movie, The Descendants. We slept in to 8! and then had breakfast at The Flying Biscuit and then headed home. It has been so long that Jay and I have had a long, uninterrupted conversation, and it was just so much fun!!!

LONG Wait

2012-02-06T12:31:00.000-08:00

Solon's friend, Stella, turned 4 this weekend, and he got a hand delivered invite about a week prior. So every morning this past week, he would ask if it was time for the party. He was over the moon when it was time to head up to their house, and he had such a big time. There was an actual princess who came and painted faces, performed magic tricks and made balloon figures. We stayed for 2 1/2 hours, so he was exhausted by the time we went home.

Off To See Lizards and Lions

2012-02-06T12:25:00.000-08:00

The weather here is like spring, so this Friday Solon and I headed to the zoo. It seems like we weren't the only ones up for visiting it, so there were loads of kids running around. We finally landed the cool seat on the train...the one that faces backwards. And then he played on the playground for too long:) I was beat and having a hard time standing any longer.

Wanna Be a Rock Star

2012-02-06T12:21:00.000-08:00

Solon loves Bruno Mars right now, and a close second is Adam Levine and his "Move Like Jagger" duet. So I had a treat for Muffin Friday morning. As part of Today show's pre-Super Bowl line up was Gym Class Heroes/Adam Levinie performing the song at Roc Center. You couldn't have pried him away from the show. He was moving his lips and bobbing up and down.

Got Something On Your Face

2012-02-06T12:18:00.000-08:00

Solon was making one of his delicious concoctions the other night and decided to taste it...like a dog. He didn't realize he had green food coloring all over his face, so it was hard to keep a straight face while he talked to me. And note to self. Food coloring is hard to scrub off if it has been sitting there for awhile. Solon had remnants of a green nose the entire next day.

Hard To Capture

2012-02-06T12:16:00.000-08:00

Solon has a game he plays every evening. Jay honks his horn right when he pulls up from work, and Solon scrambles to go find a hiding place. Jay walks in the door and I tell him that Muffin was here but then he disappeared. So he has to go searching. The search isn't that difficult because A. Muffin can't quit laughing. and B. because he has like three hiding places he loves.

Here he is in one of his best spots. The dryer.

Paul Bunyan

2012-01-31T14:59:00.000-08:00

Jay went wilderness man this weekend and spent a couple of hours splitting wood.

Like Nadal

2012-01-31T14:17:00.000-08:00

Our house didn't get much sleep last week, and it wasn't because any of us were sick. Blame it on the Australian Open. The matches came on at 3 a.m., and Jay just couldn't resist. So all three of us would be in bed watching tennis until the sun came up. I watched with my eyes closed most of the time, but it was cute hearing Jay explain it all to Solon and who all the players were. Solon would periodically ask about a player "Is he good?" or "Is he bad?" He was trying to rate them like you would a Star Wars character. The dark side vs the good side.

So sure enough Solon wanted to play tennis himself. We took him out last Sunday, and he said was going to be "Leyton Nadal." That is a combination of Leyton Hewitt and Raphael Nadal for those of you who are tennis dummies:)

Practice Makes Perfect

2012-01-31T14:11:00.000-08:00

Solon and I try and work his big boy Buzz Lightyear puzzle about once a week. He only needs help when his attention starts to wander.

Just The Tip of the Iceberg

2012-01-31T14:08:00.000-08:00

My mission the past few weekends has been to empty out the attic over at the old house of ALL the stuff we don't use or need. The clothes were easy to let go of, but this Sunday I had to go through 6-7 boxes full of books. Over the years, I have edited them down to my favorites, but I just realized it was ridiculous to hold onto so many of them now. So goodbye to my Dean Koontz collection and hundreds of other favorites. I kept only some children's books I want to share with Solon and Cookie one day, as well as a handful of books that made me fall in love with reading when I was younger.

A Mouthful

2012-01-31T14:02:00.000-08:00

We have been cooking pancakes every Sunday for the past few months, and this past weekend Solon wanted to break out our cafeteria style trays.

No More Pretty In Pink

2012-01-31T14:00:00.000-08:00

Well, this bed has made the rounds! It was one of the sister beds my mom and her sister, Penny, used to have growing up. I had one of them all throughout college and recently hauled it down to Janie for her to use in the future. She had the other one, and we did a switcheroo...since mine was in a little worse shape. Hers was pink and had made it down from St. Louis several years ago where my aunt & cousins had used it and painted it pink.

Well Jay and Ann worked this weekend painting it a more masculine color for Solon's room. He is now successfully sleeping in his room all night. And we have him trained so well:) He won't even get out of bed in the morning until one of us comes and gets him. He just has to yell "Need Something!" or one of our names.

We have a LONG way to go to get Solon's room looking okay, so I will hold off on any pics of it for now.

Big Happy From Michigan

2012-01-31T13:54:00.000-08:00

Amanda texted me earlier last week and said that she had put a package in the mail to Solon. She said it was supposed to be part of his Christmas present, but it had been delayed due to weather. It took just a corner of red for me to realize what was inside of the box, and I was so excited I began to cry. Matt and Amanda (and with a little helping hand from Caelan!) had replicated our red boards. My parents had gotten us four girls each one for Christmas so long ago I can't remember. We used them for everything. To mark our spots in the house for our Santa toys. To color. To eat. I even used to set mine up as a hurdle in the den when I was pretending to be a horse...and would run around and leap over it.

Anyway, as soon as I got Solon's unwrapped he sat on the couch to read, and I ran upstairs and pulled mine out of the closet:) Wonderful present yall!

Not All Soft

2012-01-24T09:37:00.001-08:00

This was one of my mom's decanters, and I have been wanting to use it for something. But I can't drink! So this past Sunday Ann showed up with a bottle of whiskey. She and Jay were going to get down for the football games, and it gave me the perfect chance to use it.

First Purchase

2012-01-24T09:35:00.000-08:00

Jay and I bought Cookie a Little Giraffe pink blanket this Saturday. I bought Solon a blue one before he was born, and it at the top of his blanket-food-chain. What is the blanket-food-chain? He has about 5-6 blankets that he sleeps with in some fashion every night, and they are all ranked. The rankings change except for the top one. His Little Giraffe is always #1.

1. Little Giraffe Blue (or Black as he says) blanket
2. Light blue with textured dots (or soft one as he says)
3. Blue/orange/green plaid blanket
4. Polka-dot comforter
5. Blue one with moon and stars
6. Light blue with his name monogrammed on it

Tight Fit

2012-01-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

I am cleaning all of Solon's old things, and he spotted his Boppy and tried to curl up on it. I think he is getting a little nervous about not being the 'baby' anymore because he seems to be regressing:) Last night, he wanted me to hold his sippy cup full of milk like a bottle and feed it to him. I can sympathize. I remember vividly lying in the play pen with Sally and asking my mom to give me a bottle too. But mine was filled with Coke.

Grab The Windex

2012-01-24T09:24:00.000-08:00

Aww my little worker-man. That is what Solon calls himself when he helps me clean or do any chores. The reason behind this endeavor? He spotted a big "Mater" at Wal-Mart when he was out with Nana, and he wanted it so bad. It is pretty pricey, so I told him he needs to earn money so he can buy it himself. I brought out a little piggy-bank and have it set up in the kitchen, and now he is continually asking me what work he can do around the house. And each time he puts a dime in his bank..he asks me if it is enough to buy his "Mater." So sweet.

Art Away

2012-01-24T09:20:00.000-08:00

So Solon and I had to go buy some more paint paper at Micheals last week, and he immediately wanted to get to work when we got back to the house. His first piece was the big brown blob. I walked by and asked him what he was drawing expecting to hear something like 'a spider,' but instead I was told it was my big tummy. Way to make me feel pretty Muffin. Couldn't you have at least picked a color besides brown?

Making Water Features

2012-01-18T09:56:00.000-08:00

Janie got the boys a big box set of African animals. Solon loves to play with them, but there is one problem. We have no water for the crocodiles. So Monday night, he and I sat down and colored up a pond, mud puddle and then some grass (with glitter).

Off To See The Fishies

2012-01-18T09:48:00.000-08:00

What did we do on MLK day? We hit the aquarium, and there was almost no one there. It was great to actually enjoy and see everything without fighting a sea of people. Solon was a little afraid to pet the stingrays, but he thought it was cool enough to watch Jay do it. We sat at the big tank and watched the whale sharks for the longest time. And then wrapped it up with the kid slides and tunnels.

Sally and I were talking on the phone the other day and bemoaning the fact that Solon, Luke and Poppy will never know we were part of their lives because we are the ones who take all the pictures. So we made a resolution to be in more. Which is quite easy for Sally because she looks so fresh and so clean:) But I am in that stage of pregnancy where you just feel like a big ball of ugly! I can't get my hair highlighted, so it is two toned. And then I look like I am squashed into every bit of clothing I own. And to top it off. Yeah. I have a big fever blister. But I am posting this pic of me to prove to Solon that I am around:)

Best Buds

2012-01-18T09:42:00.000-08:00

Solon absolutely adores Jay. He gets excited on Friday when I tell him the weekend is about to begin because he knows what that means. Time with his Papo. The love to run, kick balls, wrestle, play chase and in general be rough. Here they are at Chastain Park. Jay started this game off by running and hiding behind a tree. Solon was a little wary at first of approaching it, but he soon figured out that it was fun. Running in circles and trying to surprise the other person.

Another Adventure

2012-01-18T09:37:00.000-08:00

Sunday the sun finally came out. Yeah. So we packed up and headed to Chastain Park to walk/bike the 2 1/2 mile track around the golf course. Solon did pretty well with all the steep hills, but towards the end was wanting to enjoy the swings and such. So it wasn't the fastest trip around.

Speaking Of

2012-01-18T09:33:00.000-08:00

Making the most of being pregnant. Solon is on the last leg of his days as the only kid in the house, so Jay and I are making sure to take him out and enjoy as many fun things as possible. So last Friday, Solon and I had a date to the Children's Museum. I had to park a far way from the museum, so we had to hike in some super chilly weather. (He kept asking me if we were on a big adventure.) It was well worth the pain because we spent three hours playing with all sorts of cool things. My favorite was the "moon sand." It had the craziest consistency, and it was perfect for building all sorts of big things. Solon loved the giant train set, bulldozer and "ice cream" truck. Afterward, he and I hit the food court at the CNN center, and he got to pick what was for lunch. Pizza. Perfect. I had heartburn the rest of the day and night:)

It was a great day with my Muffin Man.

Say Sweet Tooth

2012-01-18T09:27:00.000-08:00

Yep. I am big as a house, but Solon and I made a blackberry cobbler the other night. And it was divine! Solon placed all the blackberries in nice little rows, so maybe that was the secret. Anyway, I figured I have about 10 weeks left of being pregnant, and I should enjoy all the sweets I can.

Spaceship House

2012-01-11T09:50:00.000-08:00

Okay..this is for the people who know exactly what I am talking about when I say "Spaceship House." You find it on the left while driving down the stretch of road to the old beach house. The spaceship sits on top of a tiny cinder block house, and it looks like it is used as a den. It has survived all the hurricanes the island has been hit by. And Sally, Janie & Amanda...I know when we were young we have all done group/separate walks down to it late at night and found that it was gone. Off on a space mission?

Anyway, I was reading Vanity Fair and came across this little article. Since the print is illegible on the scan, I will type it out. Pensacaola Beach has its very own national treasure:)

"BACK TO THE FUTURO"

Designed by Finnish architect Matti Suuronen, the 500 square foot Futuro House was introduced in 1968. These ovoids wee intended for quick placement (some were simply transported by helicopter) as ski cabins or vacation saucers. A circular fireplace sat in the center of the living lounge. A small bathroom, bedroom, and kitchenette completed the futuristic floor plan. About a hundred were made; only 18 are known to survive in the U.S. today. This one, owned by Mark Haddawy, designer and co-owner of Resurrection, the resale-fashion showroom, was purchased in 2009 at auction for $50,000. Haddawy has placed his restored fiberglass Futuro House precariously on a Hollywood hillside just above his own, John Lautner-designed masterpiece of a home, the 1956 Harpel House.

Big Move For A Big Boy

2012-01-08T13:45:00.000-08:00

We went out Saturday to pick out some new bedding for Solon's new room. We settled on the rocket/spaceship theme. Solon was pretty pumped up by the idea of sleeping in his big bed for the first time. So we settled him in, and then Jay and I headed downstairs. About 30 minutes later, we hear his little feet padding down the upstairs hallway. Sure enough, there he was at the top of the stairs holding all three of his favorite blankets. He looked thoughtful, and asked for some milk. Jay brought him up some, and Solon was sitting in his bed. He had put EVERYTHING in it with him. All his toys. His shoes.

Then he looked at Jay..and said "Okay. I think it is time for me to go to my crib." He is good about telling us when he is ready for something, so we figured we have a few weeks for him to get used to the idea of leaving his old room behind.

Just Found

2012-01-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

I just found these pics on another camera. They were from Nana Christmas! Solon had a blast opening up presents, and Ann knew Jay and I too well. She must have gotten tired of us using all this sad and broken equipment in our house:) Me. My one big mixing bowl that has a crack down the entire side. Jay. A bamboo stick for a fire poker. So I got new red mixing bowls, and Jay a fire place set!

Lots of fun! and we had a fun dinner of chicken lasagna and wine:)

Deja Vu

2012-01-08T13:34:00.000-08:00

Does this look familiar? Jay went and pulled out the stroller and baby carrier from the attic, and he cleaned it all up and put air in the tires. Solon tried to squeeze his big bottom into it, but it just wasn't working. He then kept saying he was going to push Poppy and his baby sister in it. So, I think he is starting to realize that we are going to be adding another person to the group soon.

Happy Late Birthday!

2012-01-08T13:31:00.000-08:00

Solon wasn't quite sure why he was getting a present, but it didn't dent his enthusiasm! A bday present from Matt, Amanda and Caelan! Amanda has become quite the seamstress it appears because this blanket is all her creation:) Solon loves it, and likes to "get comfortable" with it on the couch. Also in the package! Cookie's (or Steakfinger Jr) first toy. Jay's eyes light up when he sees the color pink. No lie. I think Muffin and I are going to be scraping for crumbs of attention when she arrives:)

Musty Archiving

2012-01-08T13:21:00.000-08:00

Well, I am done. I have successfully gone through a huge box of old newspapers from 1964 that my mom has stored in one place or another for the past 40 plus years. There was a point during mine, Sally and Janie's week of going through Momma's stuff that we looked at each other and couldn't decide to hang onto it or pitch it. We were just overwhelmed with the amount of pictures and things around us, that taking on a bag of crumbly paper didn't sound like fun. BUT. My mom had her reasons to hang onto it. And we all knew why. She loved her dad so incredibly much, and these newspapers were all about him. My granddad passed away when my mom was 23, so we never met him. But she told us many stories about him. Namely, how smart he was and well respected in his profession. Back in the day, he was the youngest person every elected to district attorney in Mississippi, and had a successful career as both a prosecutor and defender.

These newspapers followed one of his big cases. He was co-counsel for the defense in the Byron DeLa Beckwith trial. It was a very volatile period for MS civil rights, and this case was a hot bed of emotions.

So, I have all the articles now stored in a neat little binder. It was something my mom always wanted to do I am sure, so I am happy that I carved out some time to get it done. It would be interesting to hear what my Granddad had to say about the subject, but at least I/my sisters/family can now sit down and read about it.

Here's To 2012

2012-01-05T07:36:00.000-08:00

We got a picture of all the boys before we all left town.

We all talked about it at length over the break, but 2012 is going to be a good year. Sally, Janie, Jay, Jason and I have been through some really tough emotional, physical and financial times the past two years, and we all agree it can only get better from here. So cheers to the new year!

NYE

2012-01-05T07:31:00.000-08:00

We scored both a babysitter and dinner reservations at Global Grill for New Years Eve! We all headed out and enjoyed some fab food and then found a balcony overlooking downtown to see the fireworks and Pelican drop.

Three Cuties

2012-01-05T07:29:00.003-08:00

Liam, Luke and Solon enjoying some food.

Grad Party

2012-01-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

We threw Janie a graduation party Friday night for us and a few of her friends. The loose theme was to come dress as who you would be if you didn't go to college and be who you are today. I was Huck Finn. Sally was Annie Oakley. Janie was Cleopatra. Jay was Andre Agassi. Jason was Superman. Sarah was a debutante/Miss America.

My camera got sidelined for most of the evening, but we had great food and a big fire pit on the back where we all hung out.

New Orleans Crew

2012-01-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

Stephen, Cat, Liam and Phin arrived Friday night, and we immediately put Stephen to work over the stove. And the boys and girl all played.

So So Warm

2012-01-05T07:22:00.000-08:00

The weather was so awesome that we hit the beach one afternoon. The boys chased the seagulls, and then we built sandcastles. But the best part was the Fun Dip. Solon and Luke got to enjoy their treat without abandon.

Let The Game Begin

2012-01-05T07:18:00.000-08:00

Sally, Jason, Janie and Jay set up the card table for a poker showdown. The MSU basketball game was on in the background and there was plenty of beer, spinach dip and other appetizers. Being pregnant makes you such a nerd. I can't stay up past 9, so I was their server for a while before I passed out in a chair reading. Sally and Jay battled it out at the end, with Jay winning around 1 a.m. It looked like so much fun, and I can't wait to enter the social world that exists after the sun sets once Cookie(baby) arrives!

Downtime for ALL

2012-01-05T07:14:00.000-08:00

By the end of the day, we all needed a little break from the kids. So we would set them up on Sally/Jason's bed with a movie and popcorn.

Two Little Hams

2012-01-05T07:13:00.000-08:00

I cannot remember what they thought was so funny, but Solon and Luke were laughing it up over some chicken nuggets, french fries and 'the dippin.'

To Infinity

2012-01-05T07:11:00.000-08:00

Solon AKA Buzz was really sweet with Poppy. Here he is stealing a kiss from her while she played.

Lots of Candles

2012-01-05T07:09:00.000-08:00

Solon joined Luke in his Hanukkah celebration.

Some Fresh Air

2012-01-05T07:07:00.000-08:00

We spent most of Christmas day in our PJs, so we decided to venture out and see some decorations that night. It actually was cold, so Poppy was bundled up for the trip. And then Luke sacked out in the car. And Solon barely made the trip back to the car. It was a long day, so I guess they were a little exhausted.

Carrying the Torch

2012-01-05T07:04:00.000-08:00

Ever since I can remember, we have always worked puzzles together over the holidays. A thousand times over, I can picture my mom sitting at the dining room table at the beach house, her glasses perched on the end of her nose and a lamp nearby...working away. We would laugh and make silly chit chat while saying "got another one" each time a piece fit. When I hit my teenage years, I used to have my Walkman stuck to my head during our puzzle time which now that I look back must have been just so obnoxious.

This year, we set up a table in the den so we wouldn't miss any of the action on TV. It made me miss Momma so much because I knew where she would be sitting if she had been with us. And I know she would have gotten a kick out of Solon joining the tribe:)

Ho Ho Ho

2012-01-05T06:56:00.000-08:00

It was impossible to capture the den and all the craziness on camera Christmas morning. Solon got a big cement mixer, basketball goal, guitar, dinosaur and Cars slippers from Santa...plus plenty of candy. We figured we would let the boys eat whatever they wanted, so all day Solon had a ring of chocolate smeared around his mouth.

We sat around and opened presents, played with toys and the adults (minus me) enjoyed some bourbon and egg nog. The only thing missing was a fire, but it was just too hot outside to really get one going!

Getting Ready for Santa

2012-01-05T06:49:00.000-08:00

It was so fun to see Solon and Luke get the whole fun of Christmas. We went to the mall to get pictures taken with Santa, and then came home to make cookies for him. And of course who could resist getting whip cream sprayed into their mouths while making hot chocolate. Then the night was capped off with the boys all playing Wii and us girls hanging out.

Not To Be Missed

2012-01-05T06:42:00.001-08:00

Little Poppy sometimes get lost in the mix of everyone because she is so sweet and quiet. But here she is enjoying Janie read to her.

Little Spark MAN

2012-01-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

Ever since Luke started walking he has always struck a very strong resemblance to my dad and Uncle Bill. The shape of his head, long arms and long & lean frame. It was hard to ignore when they were both sitting together waiting for breakfast.

Sparkman Christmas

2012-01-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

Well, Sparkman Christmas is now small enough to fit at one table. But we definitely made the most of all of us being together. Sally had decorated the house so pretty, and there was the annual pot of chicken spaghetti to be inhaled. We waited until morning to open presents, and the boys really got into it. Solon looked like a crazy man every time a new gift was pulled out from under the tree, and he had to help everyone unwrap.

Vanna and Bill got the boys these cute remote control cars that were a big hit with all of us.

Pensacola Arrival

2012-01-05T06:26:00.000-08:00

We got to Pensacola around 5 pm on Friday the 23rd, and we hung out and ate/drank and waited for Bill & Vanna to arrive.

Puzzled

2012-01-05T06:23:00.000-08:00

Nanna bought all these little puzzles for us to play with during our stay, and a few of them stumped the majority of us. Except Jason. He had his laser focus turned on and set out to solve I believe all of them.

Nanna Christmas Photos

2012-01-05T06:19:00.000-08:00

I promised photos from our trip to Greenwood. We hung out. Janie walked. We opened presents and enjoyed great food. And Nanna entertained the boys.

And We Are Back!

2012-01-05T06:15:00.000-08:00

We had a great vacation and are now back at home getting into our routine! Tons of picks to follow.

Early Wishes

2011-12-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas kicks off tonight with Nana, Jay, Solon and myself. We have dinner planned here at the house with a big fire hopefully! The temps are just a little too warm right now. We are going to hang out, listen to music and open a few presents!

Tomorrow Jay, Solon and I head out for Pensacola. Tomorrow night will be Sparkman Christmas with Bill (my dad's brother) and Vanna. Sally is cooking chicken spaghetti for dinner, so we will all get to enjoy it this time around. If you don't remember, last year we were all sidelined with a serious stomach virus, so all our delicious food was not eaten.

Then it is on to the countdown to Santa's arrival:)

So early Merry Christmas to everyone!!!!

Tinsel The Snake

2011-12-20T17:18:00.000-08:00

Check this out! My best friend from high school has made People magazine's web site! Her daughter spotted a snake in their Christmas tree, and the story spread. Pretty funny!

http://www.peoplepets.com/people/pets/article/0,,20555250,00.html

Submission

2011-12-20T07:33:00.000-08:00

One of my good friends saw this article in the NYTimes and emailed it to me. It is titled ""The Lives They Lived: Share Your Photos," and it invites you to contribute a photograph that illustrates a story from the life of someone close to you who passed away this year.

So far Sally and I have sent these two in for Momma. I chose the top pic. It was Momma's first visit to Atlanta to see Solon, and this was right when she got to the house. One of her favorite things to do was feed the boys, and she immediately settled into the couch with Solon and a bottle in hand.

Sally picked the second one because she wanted the Sanderosa to be part of Momma's story. This was her holding mine and Sally's hand, and I am sure it is my dad out in the water taking the photo with his old Canon.

I just got off the phone with my Aunt Mary, and we were talking about missing Momma. We were both hit with a bit of the blues this morning. The holidays are here and it is hard to go through it without Momma here with us. But this was a wonderful thing to do and cheer me up. It always helps to share photos and stories of someone you miss. So thanks Hott:)

OLDIE

2011-12-19T11:41:00.001-08:00

Just came across this photo...look how small Muffin was!

Leave It

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000-08:00

Jay spent Sunday morning raking all the leaves in the front yard into a big pile. So we went on a walk later that evening, and Solon couldn't resist diving into them. Jay soon joined, and I sat back and watched. I have officially reached the point of pregnancy where rolling around is not part of my vocabulary.

Fort

2011-12-19T10:55:00.000-08:00

Saturday night, we hung out by the fire, and Solon and Jay built forts. This has not become Muffin's new obsession, so I spend the better part of my day putting cushions back on the couch, folding blankets and moving chairs.

Big Boy BBall

2011-12-19T10:51:00.000-08:00

Friday night we all went to a free scrimmage game for the Atlanta Hawks. Solon thought the music was a little loud, but loved the mascot, Harry The Hawk. Harry was a little hard to catch, so I didn't get a pic.

My Little Helper

2011-12-19T10:48:00.000-08:00

Solon has been helping me wrap presents the last week, and the other day he rounded up some scraps and asked that I wrap him up too. So I taped him into a little package..counted to 3..and then he popped out.

Holiday Carol

2011-12-13T15:07:00.000-08:00

Here is Solon singing his rendition of Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. He kind of yells it vs. singing it...so I guess that is why he plugs up his ears. My favorite part. "Then one FROGGY Christmas Eve."

No Visuals!

2011-12-13T06:18:00.000-08:00

We had a GREAT time in Greenwood this past weekend for Nanna Christmas. Unfortunately, my camera that was filled with pictures was accidentally put in Sally's car, so I will have to wait a couple of weeks before I can share them.

We all arrived Friday afternoon/evening. (Pensacola. St. Louis and Atlanta crew.) We spent time sitting around the fire and enjoyed some delicious red/beans & rice for dinner.

Saturday started early! The entire Varner crew couldn't make it due to a bad stomach bug, but a lot of the Dales showed up (Danny, Charlotte, Daniel, Jimmy, James and Derrith). Lots of wine, snacks and catching up. After the Dales left, we had a great lunch on Eli and then it was time for a ceremony. After many MANY years, Janie was set to graduate from college on that Saturday. Instead of walking, she wanted to spend her day with family. So we surprised her with her on "walk." Margo brought a cap/gown, and they got Janie dressed. And then she walked down the long hall while we all hummed the graduation theme song. We gave a couple of toasts and some tears were shed:) And then The Hughes/Nanna surprised her with a gift. She had to solve a word puzzle first..but once she strung it together. "Heir-Line Tick-et 2 Saint Loo-ie"..she was so excited. A plane ticket up to visit St. Louis and all the Hughes.

Now it was nap time for most of everyone. Solon and Luke shared a bed for the first time which was super sweet. Nanna caught a few hours along with Julie and Nathan. The rest of us sat around the den enjoying martinis and sparkling grape juice (me).

After everyone was up, we played Dirty Santa..and then later spent some time remembering Momma. It was such a fun day, and it was hard not to feel her absence every second. She loved Christmas so much, and as Jay said it was up to us to carry on that joy in her memory.

It was a wonderful weekend, and I now feel like it is Christmas!

Sunday Afternoon

2011-12-05T13:46:00.000-08:00

We squeezed in a trip to Peidmont Park Sunday afternoon. Jay and Solon rode bikes while I followed along with my camera. Solon has me a bit nervous. He shows zero fear when riding down hills. Big smile of his face and out of control. So a helmet is on the agenda ASAP. We stopped off at the park for a few minutes and then Solon got excited about the tree stump because he knows how much Luke loves them. We also saw lots of squirrels and geese, and a guy who was doing big wheelies off a hill.

Hamming it Up

2011-12-05T13:42:00.000-08:00

It never happens, but I finally got Solon to actually look at the camera while I snapped away. He was jumping on the bed, being silly, and pulling his britches up too high to suit Jay.

Go Team

2011-12-05T13:38:00.001-08:00

Ann and I were rooting for LSU Tigers, and Jay was for the GA Bulldogs. So once Solon made his way downstairs we got him chanting for the girls' side. Sorry for how dark video is!

Movie Night

2011-12-05T13:37:00.000-08:00

We ever so rarely let Solon sit down for a movie, but this past Saturday afternoon the SEC championship was on. So we set him up with Lady and The Tramp II...complete with personal effects. I got these stuffed Lady & Tramp on a Nanna trip to Disneyworld back in the 80s, and Solon loves them.

Got The Tree

2011-11-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

Slowly we are getting all the decorations unpacked, but our tree is up and decked out. It makes the den feel so super cozy!

Many A Night

2011-11-29T10:15:00.000-08:00

Jay, Solon and I drove to a few spots in Greenwood before getting on the road to Tupelo. One being 107 Kimbrough. This is the house my mom grew up in when she moved from Indianola to Greenwood. I haven't driven past it in over 20 years, so it was neat seeing it again.

We Tried

2011-11-29T10:06:00.000-08:00

It is pretty difficult getting the three little ones to sit still long enough for a photo. One will cry, one will pull their shirt over their head and the other will stare at his feet:) But here Nanna is with three of her great-grands as she calls them.

After the photo, the Pensacola crew got on the road for Tupelo, and we stayed with Nanna another night. She told us all sorts of interesting stories about her life in Indianola/Greenwood. Another interesting fact was on Thanksgiving day, she realized that her older sister, Margaret/"Toots", would have been 100 years old if she had still been alive.

Time For Turkey

2011-11-29T09:57:00.000-08:00

Well the boys and Ansley were down for naps during our Thanksgiving lunch, so we could all actually talk to one another:) We didn't have a tripod, so we had Jay and Jason swap taking a few group photos.

Play Time In Greenwood

2011-11-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

We all arrived to Greenwood Wednesday evening, and Nanna had delicious sandwiches ready for dinner. We sat around the den and enjoyed wine and sparkling grape juice and woke up early to watch the Macy's day parade. The boys had fun riding their new bicycles in the garage and playing with the flashlights Nanna got them.

Pop!

2011-11-29T09:45:00.000-08:00

Solon helping me pack for our trip to MS.

That Time of Year Again

2011-11-21T16:42:00.000-08:00

and this time I have a helper! Solon helped me cook the first batch of dressing today. So if it stinks then all the blame falls to him:) We are taking off for Greenwood, MS this Wednesday and going to spend Thanksgiving day with Nanna. She is pretty excited to have company.

Here We Go Loopty Loo

2011-11-21T16:35:00.000-08:00

Solon on his new bike. It rained a lot this past weekend, but we finally got out late Sunday afternoon. There is a little paved track at one of the parks, so Jay and Solon spent about an hour going round and round while I followed with the camera.

Please Don't Say It

2011-11-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

A phrase that just makes me cringe..."Kids say the darnedest things." So I am steering clear of that sentiment:) But Solon picked this up somewhere...and started using it on me when I am getting on his nerves...Or as he says "You are getting on my nervous."

Tons Of Pics

2011-11-19T05:30:00.000-08:00

I went a little overboard with photos, but I wanted to catch all of Solon's expressions. We all went to dinner at Oz's for pizza, and then headed home for a DQ ice cream cake and presents. Solon loved every little thing he opened:) And the final opening. His very first bike. Or to be exact a Tony Hawk bike! He was shaking he was so excited when he caught the first glimpse of the box. And this morning...he is riding it round and round. I doubt our baseboards are going to survive.

Happy Birthday To My Muffin Man

2011-11-18T10:35:00.000-08:00

It has been three years! We have a little party planned tonight, so I promise pictures soon:)

Say Cheese!

2011-11-16T09:21:00.000-08:00

Solon turns 3! Well, almost:) We had an early birthday party this weekend at Chuck E. Cheese. We thought it would be fun to do a party with friends, and then another small party with us on his real birthday this Friday. Who came? Well, Josef brought two of his boys, Jackson and Jamison, and his dad, Gary. And Jason and Annie were so sweet and made the drive all the way from Macon with their boys, Preston and Evan. And of course there was me, Jay and Ann. The little boys had fun spending their tokens on all the rides/games. Solon and I took a turn in the wind tunnel and caught tickets. And Solon got the star treatment from Chuck E. Cheese. We finished it off with pizza, cake and a couple of presents. Fun day!

Here She Is

2011-11-09T12:44:00.000-08:00

Making her debut on the blog! Jay and I just got back from our 20 week appointment where they look at all the bits and pieces of the baby. Basically making sure all the anatomy is there and there are no signs of any abnormalities. And being so old...because there are all sorts of flags raised when you hit 35....we got a great report. Actually our Dr. said quite enthusiastically, "She is perfect." So we are very happy! And I know there are a few people who are relieved to have it confirmed one more time that it's a girl:)

(Sonogram pics are hard for me to read, but this is a little snapshot of her profile. Read from left to right..you have her forehead, nose, lips and then her abdomen shoved up on her chin.)

What's Your Name

2011-11-08T15:15:00.000-08:00

Sally will have to explain her 'real' name...Booga-G

On Repeat

2011-11-07T14:57:00.000-08:00

Top Of The Pops

2011-11-07T14:13:00.000-08:00

There is one song Solon sings all the time...anywhere and everywhere. In a box. With a fox.

Quiet But Nice

2011-11-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

There wasn't a whole lot to document this past weekend. We took Solon swimming and to play some basketball on Saturday. Sunday I went to go walk a foreclosure property with a contractor (side project), and Jay took Solon to the park to play some football. Sunday night, Muffin and Jay fried up some sausage for Jambalaya. And we colored a lot and built big fires. Solon likes to tell us how strong (" I got big muscles.") he is when he carries a log.