Cade and His Thanksgiving Deer

Ethan Got Glasses

Halloween 2009

Bethsaida Hayride 2009

8 years later

September 11, 2001...let us not forget.

Happy 17th Birthday to Tyler

Today is Tyler's 17th birthday...he's my oldest. Yep, he's the one who taught me who how to be a mom. He taught me how to wipe a sticky face with no napkins, how to calm a colicky baby, how to stick my hand in the toilet and retrieve lost items, how to worry all night when the fever wouldn't break, how to hold a child when stitches were stitched, how to make sure the Tooth Fairy arrived in a timely fashion, how to sing all the Barney songs and most importantly how to love unconditionally. Through it all, I think he did a pretty good job raising this mom, and I think he's turning into a fine young man. I'm very proud to be his mom. I love you TyBug!

Here are some random things about Tyler you may or may not know.

1. His full name is Tyler Darren, named after his dad, Jackie Darren.

2. Tyler is also known as TyBug and Big T.

3. He likes Dodge trucks.

4. He has given his life to Christ and was baptized a couple of years ago.

5. Tyler at one time wanted to be a chef.

6. He's always liked school buses. Yep, he can tell you the make and model of any bus you meet.

7. He loves to sing! He sings with our church group and does a great job.

8. He loves to play the card game, Pig.

Sunday's Scene

First Day of School 2009

Cade, 14, Freshman
Courtney, 9, 4th grade
Tyler, 16, Senior

Happy 14th Birthday to Cade

Happy 14th Birthday to my son Cade. Handsome, sweet, kind, fun are just a few words to describe him. He is growing up too fast for me. It seems it was just yesterday we were celebrating his 1st birthday! Now he's on his way to high school! He's a great kid and I'm proud to be his mom. Love ya Cader Tater! Yep, he's gonna get me for that.

Here are some random things about Cade. . .

1. Cade's full name is James Cade, named after his grandpa, James Devoid (best known as J.D.) and his uncle James David (best known as Uncle Dave). Cade's brother Tyler who was almost 3 when Cade was born chose his little brother's name. He had to choose between James Cade or Dylan James.

2. Cade has some nicknames...Cader Tater, Cade-e-did and Jim Cade.

3. Cade wouldn't want me to tell this about him, but he's such a loving kid. He always hugs his family and tells them he loves them.

4. Cade loves baseball. He wants to play professionally. He got hurt in the 3rd game of the year and had to be out the rest of the season, and he was really down about it. But he's healed and ready for next year!

5. Cade could live on mashed potatoes and mac and cheese, honest.

6. Cade loves to play guitar. He has taught himself by using the Internet and has learned many songs, but only the first few lines! We give him a hard time about trying to learn the whole song before moving on to another one. He even learned "Jessie's Girl" just for me.

7. He loves to eat at Red Lobster.

8. Cade's hero is his dad.

9. He has given his life to Christ and was baptized a couple of years ago.

10. If the baseball gig doesn't work out he may be a meteorologist.

Friday Night's Finish

Scenes from Sunday

Wordless Wet Wednesday

Tuesday's Take

I was on my way home from work and Courtney's baseball practice when my brother called and said to stop by the lake for a picnic. Free food, good company and a photo opportunity...maybe not in that order, but sure I'll stop by! So here's a few of my photos from this evening's outing.

Tuesday's Take

Congrats to Cade

Congratulations to Cade, my 13-year-old who graduated from 8th grade on May 28. It doesn't seem possible I will soon have two kids in high school. Time goes by too fast and sometimes I just want to slow things down. It seems like it was just yesterday a shy little boy of 5 was making his way down the long hall to Ms. Lucy Garrett's kindergarten class. Now he's on his way to his freshman year with more independence, more studying, more challenges, more decisions, and less of needing his mom. I know this is the way it's meant to be, the natural course of life. But just for a moment, I'd like to go back and take one memory I have from each year of his life and relive it, if just for a moment. Take me back to the the first time I held him and looked into his blue eyes and knew he was safe in my arms. Take me back to the day he took his first step. Take me back to the day he held his baby sister for the first time and said, "she looks just like me Mom." Take me back to the day he pulled his first tooth and the moment he learned to swim. And the first home run. I know he's on his way to bigger and better things, but just for a moment I want to remember the little blond headed boy toddling at my side, reaching for my hand, then letting go and turning into such a fine young man.
“I hope your dreams take you... to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.”

Thursday's Take

Wordless Wednesday

Thursday's Take

Wordless Wednesday

Welcome Jo, Olivia, Matt & Marky!

Saturday, April 25th was a big day for the Flowers Family. My brother Jeff married Joanna and we all traveled to Gatlinburg for the wedding. It was a beautiful sunny day and the wedding went off without a hitch! Yes, uniting six kids and including them all in the wedding went off without a hitch. Jeff has three kids, Ethan, 10, Paige, 7 and Peyton, 4. Jo has three kids, Olivia, 13, Matthew, 11 and Mark, 7. (Here's the story of a lovely lady....) Ethan was best man, Paige was a flower girl, Peyton was a ring bearer along with Marky. Matt walked his mom down the aisle and Olivia was maid of honor. They did a wonderful job! I was so proud of them. Now we have four new people in our family and they fit right in! (And that's how we became...)

Thursday's Thoughts

Here are Thursday's Thoughts...brought to you by none other than Winnie the Pooh...hope you enjoy them!

"If the person you are talking to doesn't appear to be listening, be patient. It may simply be that he has a small piece of fluff in his ear."

"A little consideration, a little thought for others, makes all the difference."

"When late morning rolls around and you're feeling a bit out of sorts, don't worry; you're probably just a little eleven o'clockish."

"You can't always sit in your corner of the forest and wait for people to come to you... you have to go to them sometimes."

"Rivers know this: there is no hurry. We shall get there some day."

"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."

"You can't help respecting anybody who can spell TUESDAY, even if he doesn't spell it right; but spelling isn't everything. There are days when spelling Tuesday simply doesn't count."

"It's always useful to know where a friend-and-relation is, whether you want him or whether you don't."

"People who don't think probably don't have brains; rather, they have grey fluff that's blown into their heads by mistake."

And my favorite...

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together. There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart...I'll always be with you."

Cookie, Oreo and Fudge

Here are three new calf owners, Paige, Ethan and Courtney. Pa Jerry recently purchased them each a bottle calf which they named Cookie, Oreo and Fudge. They've had a great time learning how to bottle feed and watching their calf grow. They took on this job understanding that the calf would be fed, gain weight and then be sold in a few months, and they would make money. A certain amount of their proceeds goes back to Pa Jerry for the feed and then they keep the rest. So we'll see how that goes when it's time to sell.

Happy 9th Birthday to Courtney

My baby will be 9 tomorrow, April 8. Where did the time go? I can't believe how fast she's growing up. It seems like yesterday she was toddling around trying to keep up with her big brothers and doing a pretty good job! Now they try to keep up with her! And it's impossible! I want to wish her a very happy birthday! I'm proud to be her mom! I love you sis!

Here are 10 random things about Courtney...

1. Courtney was born on Saturday, April 8, 2000, our millennium baby. She came into the world about an hour after I arrived at the hospital. I was dialated to 9 when we got to the hospital and her dad is lucky he didn't have to deliver her in the car, or should I say I was lucky?

2. Courtney's full name is Courtney Jacqueline after her dad, Jackie, who was to be named Jacqueline if he was a girl. She has several nicknames, Court, CJ, Cooter Bug and Sis.

3. Courtney is a sports fanatic. She loves to play basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, football...you name it, she'll play it.

4. Courtney is a blast to go to an amusement park with. She'll ride the carousel with you or the upside down roller coaster.

5. Courtney likes Taco Bell. A #4 please. 1 soft, 1 crunchy.

6. Courtney's best friend is her cousin, Ethan. They spend more time together than with their own siblings.

7. Courtney does her own hair. I can not touch it unless it's picture day or a holiday.

8. Courtney is a good driver. She drives the golf cart at Granny Jewell's, the tractor for Pa Jerry, and she's driven me home from church several times in the Envoy. Yes, all by herself!

9. Courtney is definitely a country girl. She loves to feed the cows with Pa Jerry. So what if there's a little cow poop on her shoes. She says "that's just the way it is Mom."

10. A few faves: pizza, watermelon, cantaloupe, strawberries, corn nuggets, Club Penguin, getting email. Email her at court7993@yahoo.com She'd love to hear from you!

Surprise!

We celebrated my Granny Padgett's 82nd birthday on Feb. 28 with a surprise party at my cousin's house. Granny thought she was attending her daughter's birthday party! Yep, she was surprised. There was well over 35 people there and she had a great time visiting with family and friends. She has 8 children, including my mom, who is the oldest, 15 grandchildren and approximately 31 great grandchildren. I'm guessing there! She always has a hug waiting and a smile that's a mile wide. She loves the Lord, her children, grandchildren, reading the Enquirer and watching Nancy Grace. She's a blessing to all of us and I love her so much!

"Better let him out, Momma's looking for him..."

Congratulations State Farm Team!

Courtney played basketball for the State Farm team of the Overton County Junior Pro Basketball League, and they won their 2nd-3rd grade tournament! Way to go girls! Courtney had so much fun with these new friends and learned a lot too.

The Letter S

10 Things I Love That Begin With The Letter *S*

I'm behind. Keyton assigned the letter S to me weeks ago and I've been working on it a little at a time. But I'm finishing it up now and will move on to another letter soon!

1. Smiles...as you can see from these pictures, there are all kinds of smiles and when you catch them on your favorite people, they're even more special. A smile can change someone's day and it improves your face value. You can't go wrong with a smile!

2. Sunshine...as does smiles, can change your day! I love the warmth of the sun, not too hot, but when it's just right!

3. Sunsets...I love a beautiful sunset. Of course I've never experienced an ugly one, have you?

4. Scrapbooking...I love to scrapbook. I'm in the process of fixing up my scrapping room; it's slow but will be great when finished! I haven't created that many pages, but I could open my own scrapbook store with all the products I have! Anyone else out there who wants to try and get a crop night going? That would be fun!

5. Spaghetti...yes, my favorite food group. Pasta, pasta, pasta and more pasta. Give me more! I cook spaghetti only once a week or so now or when it's just me around. Jack will not eat it, I burnt him out I guess like he did me on tacos!

6. Serendipity...I've just always liked this word! I liked the movie too! It means good fortune; luck; an aptitude for making desirable discoveries by accident.

7. Silliness...I love to act silly with my kids. I think I annoy them at times though!

8. Sleep...I always want more!

9. Saturdays...Yay for the weekend! I get to sleep in, well, sometimes!

10. Snow...I love when it first falls and our drive through the woods is covered and no one has driven on it yet. When it hangs on the trees, and everything is still and quiet. After moving here in 1981 from Michigan, I didn't think I'd ever want to see snow again, but I miss it. Still miss the "big" ones.

Steel Magnolias

February 21, 2009...The Fearsome Threesome is at it again. This time we traveled to Glasgow, Kentucky in the snow to watch a stage production of "Steel Magnolias" at the Plaza Theater (http://www.plaza.org/), first time visit for us all. Remember that 1989 movie that starred Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Sally Fields, etc, etc? Yep, it was funny like the movie...and sad of course when Shelby dies. The whole production takes place in Truvy's Beauty Salon. The woman portraying Truvy (movie-Dolly Parton) did a great job. She sounded just like Dolly! They all did an impressive job and we had a great time. Afterwards we ate at Colton's Steak House & Grill, first time for all of us there too. Check out the photo of Brookie and the "Tanglers" she ordered. You should've seen her eyes when her order came; she had no idea there would be so many Tanglers! Chris and I helped her out of course like only good friends would do! Our girls night out was great fun despite the cold and I'm looking forward to our next adventure!

"I find it amusing. Men are supposed to be made out of steel or something. I just sat there. I just held Shelby's hand. There was no noise, no tremble, just peace. Oh god. I realize as a woman how lucky I am. I was there when that wonderful creature drifted into my life and I was there when she drifted out. It was the most precious moment of my life." M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias

He's still got it!

February 14, 2009....What a night! Enjoyed my birthday present so much! My friend Rhonda and I traveled to Nashville to see Rick Springfield in concert at the Wildhorse Saloon. First we had supper at the Hard Rock where we watched someone propose to a woman. We're not sure if the person proposing was a man or woman, but needless to say they looked very happy! The opening act for Rick Springfield was Sick of Sarah. And by the time they left the stage, everyone was sick of Sick of Sarah! I hate to be mean, but they were really bad. When they announced they were singing their last song, the crowd went nuts! We were ready for Rick! He finally came on stage around 9:30 or so. He looked great and put on a great concert. Just as good as the one I saw back in '85. I can't believe he is 59! He did not stop for air. I only took 250 or so pictures! So I watched most of the concert through the lens of my camera! Hey, I also fit in very well with the crowd...the average age attending was 40-50 year old women! I'll end this with one of my favorite Rick songs..."Stand up, you got something to say, don't sit there and pout it, put your feet on the seat, stand up and shout it..."

The Letter M

Someone started these lists on the other blog I write on: http://k8moms.blogspot.com/ . It's teachers and parents of Pickett County K-8 where my kids attend school. I received the letter M a while back and thought I'd post it on my personal blog too. Try it on your blog; it's challenging but fun! I'm getting my letters assigned by Keyton, the son of one of the teachers.

10 Things I Love That Begin With The Letter *M*

1. The picture says it all....Mickey Mouse....don't we all love this mouse? You can't help but smile when you hang out with the mouse!

2. Mom...she's the best friend that will always be there no matter what. I love my MOM!

3. Mother-in-law...yikes...did I say that? Yes, I did. I have a wonderful Mother-in-law. Her name is Jewell Pritchett and she's as good as GOLD.

4. Milk...it does a body good! I love Milk! I drink skim milk. I buy 2 gallons about every 3 days. Yes, there are other people in my house who love it too! ( :

5. Macaroni...I love pasta! Jack says I could live on it. Yep, I could.

6. Malls...I love to go to a Mall! I don't have to be looking for anything in particular. I love to look and look. I can go home empty-handed and that's ok. I love to people watch too. Where else can you see so many hair colors and new fashion all at one place!?

7. Memories...I love the memories I have of family and friends. There are so many wonderful times etched in my heart!

8. M & M's...one of my favorite candies! I love plain or peanut! Just give me some now! Thanks Ethan for the peanut ones earlier today! I got into his Valentine bag from school!

9. Magazines...I love to read magazines as much as I do books! I have subscriptions to several. And I just ordered more through the school. I got 3 requests in the mail. So what do we have coming this time? Redbook, National Geographic and Sports Illustrated...guess which ones belong to who?!

10. Movies...I love to watch movies when I have time...at the theater or on Lifetime or the Hallmark Channel.

Happy 10th Birthday to Ethan

My nephew Ethan will be 10 years old on February 15. He is a wonderful kid and I'm proud to be his aunt. He's such a cutie pie too especially with those dimples! Here are 10 random things about Ethan...

1. Ethan can jump rope. He's not just an ordinary jump roper. He can really get with it!

2. When Ethan was born, the doctor called CODE BLUE to his room. Ethan was fine, the doctor just wanted more nurses to help him and they weren't coming the normal way. For those of us standing at the door, we weren't breathing. Yes, we gave the doc a "good talking to."

3. Ethan loves books, especially ones about the states. One of his favorite places is Books-A-Million, just like his Aunt Cyndi.

4. Ethan Paul is named after his father, Jeffrey Paul, and his grandpa, Jerry Paul.

5. Ethan could live on Ramen noodles. Not kidding.

6. Ethan does not drink soda. Never has. He hates it. He only drinks milk, water and Gatorade and some juices.

7. Ethan can really carry a tune! He loves to sing and you'll hear him humming when he's just hanging around the house.

8. Ethan will not eat pepperoni on his pizza. He pulls them off and puts them in Aunt Cyndi's plate who is ever so happy to eat them.

9. Ethan is protective of his little brother Peyton who is 3 years old. If Peyton is crying after him, he will stay with him and not let him cry. And of course, Peyton thinks Ethan hung the moon.

10. Ethan also has a little sister, Paige who is 7 years old. She doesn't think Ethan hung the moon.