Gilbert's Fall Party

We went to the Gilbert's Fall Party/Devo last night. We had a great time with the fellowship and the singing and devo. They had chili and hot dogs. The children dressed up and a couple of the adults. Mary was Laura Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie and Christopher was a green power ranger. They ran and played and played for several hours. Lauren was a pink pig. I told her she should have told me and me, her and Magan or someone else could have all dressed as pigs and we could have been the 3 Little Pigs. Brad came as a whoopie cushion he was so funny. We also went on a hayride, which the children really loved.

Thank you to the Gilbert's for this wonderful time of fellowship.

May all have a great week.

Trike-A-Thon

Well today Christopher's school had their annual trik-a-thon to benefit St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. They had a goal as a class of $1000 to be raised and Mrs. Linda said our class made their goal. Yeah. They children had a ball riding around the gym on their bikes, trikes and big wheels. They got to ride around for about 30 minutes. This was also a good way for them to get out a little energy. Maybe they weren't too reved up for class afterward since Christopher's class went at 9AM this morning. Christopher seemed to love it and have lots of fun.

This is also a picture of the candy scarecrow his class made in school a few days ago.

Pumpkin Patch and carving pumpkin

We yesterday we Christopher's school went to the Hayden Pumpkin Patch. He had a ball. He ran around chasing a friend from his class named Luke. Then we went on the hayride and picked out his pumpkin. When we got back to the front of the pumpkin patch we played on the inflatables for a while and then ate lunch. After lunch he rode a pony and then the little train. Then we left and went to visit Rebecca. She was doing ok. She still has a long road ahead.

Last night Barry and the kiddos carved the pumpkin. Christopher decided he wanted it to have square eyes and Mary wanted it to have a triangle nose and then they both wanted it to have a smile. They had a blast carving it.

Hope all have a great week.

Family Fun Day

Well yesterday we had our family fun day down at Tannehill. We got there late since Barry had to work until 12PM. We got there around 2PM. There were alot of people there from our church. We let the kids play at the playgrounds most of the day. Barry stayed there with Christopher, while Mary, Hailey and myself went for the long walk over to trade days. Hailey wanted to find her mommy, so we went looking. We caught up to them. We were at this booth where Lori was getting a hat and the man next door had stuffed animals for sale. Hailey went over there and he gave her a tiny beanie baby. He saw Mary and told her to come pick her out one of the small ones. So she picked out a purple beanie baby bear. Hailey decided to trade for a tiny bear. Then she put it down and got a big dog with a bell. He said it was ok. Then we left and she went back and put the dog back and got a big pig. So finally the girls ended up with Mary a purple bear and Hailey a pink pig. They loved them. Then we walked some more and then Mary, Hailey and I went back to the paviliion and the playground. When everyone started leaving around 6PM or so, Lori was getting ready to go to the Tannehill Opry to sing. Kim was going with her and Chee-vee and they asked me to tag along. So I sent the kiddos home with Barry and we went to the Opry. Lori did great. I enjoyed being with them very much. Then we went to Cracker Barrell and then home.

Thank you Chee-vee, Lori and Kim for inviting me to go with you. I have a great time. Love you guys.

Update on Rebecca

Yesterday, Rebecca had her surgery. She went in at 7AM. They said it would be about a 5-6 hour surgery. At 11:38 or so they came out and talked with the family. They said they could not get everything they went in to do, because some of it was lower than they expected and something about maybe affecting her breathing. They want to do treatments and hopefully shrink the knot on the left side of her neck. Then they will have to go back in in a few months or so to try to remove the cancer from that side. She has a long road ahead of her, but she has many many friends and family here for her and her children. Please keep her in you prayers. She needs as many as she can get. So please keep them coming. Thank you Jennifer and Lauren for the hugs last night. I was trying to keep from crying. It was very hard and they still came and are still coming at times today.

Also to Crystal and Erin thank you so much for the cards for Mary. You guys really made her day on Sunday. She was so excited and happy. Now she is over Saturday and hasn't mentioned anything about it again.

Mary Elizabeth's birthday party

I am a little heartbroken. My baby had a bad party for the most part. We ivited several children from church and a few from family and outside friends. Her party was scheduled for 2 PM today. At 2PM the only people here were us and Grandmama. Yes you read right no one else. About 2:10 PM my friends Tammy and her daughter Lamana drove up andthen soon after Pop drove up. And yes that was all that showed up. No one from my family at all and none of the other children showed at all. You could see the disappointment all over her face. Everytime the front door would open she would come running to see who it was and her face would sot of drop everytime it was one of us. We waited til about 3 and then cut the cake. Lamana, Christopher and Mary Elizabeth all played together all afternoon until about 7:15 when Lamana had to go home. When we put her to bed tonight she sadly asked "why did no one come?" Barry just told her that sometimes people can't make it. And she asked about a few people and we only had an answer for 3. The rest we have no idea. It broke my heart and as I type I am trying not to cry for her. I hope that her actual birthday is not this disappointing for her. We have never had this happen before. I hope it never does again and are really considering not having a party next year and just doing something special as a family. Barry and I don't want her to feel like she did today again, but I know she will over something in the future. I feel like I have let her down and it hurts. I have asked myself if I had invited more children maybe someone else would have shown up, but you cannot go back and change things. When it is your child that says things like that to you with that look, it hurts you. I am glad I have this as a way to get it out before she sees my disappointment. So maybe we can all forget about it and have a much better day tomorrow. If you see her please make her feel better and wish her a happy birthday or give her a card. She loves to get cards. That will make her feel better I'm sure. Just don't mention her party at all. Her birthday is Tuesday and I think we are going to do something special before we come to church for the meeting.

Hope all had a much better day than I. As for the day it was good other than the party. Have a great rest of the weekend.

Dora Fire Department

Yesterday the Dora fire department came to Christopher's school. They went to each of the 7 classes and went over fire safety with them. Then the classes came outside one class at a time to see the fire truck. Since they had a fire the night before, they didn't allow the children inside the fire truck like the have in past years. They took pictures with the firemen and the classes in front of the truck. I got several pics of Christopher's class. Of course I had to take lots of pics for his scrapbook. They seemed to like seeing the firemen and truck.

Last night we went over to see Randal and Belinda's new home. It is cute. I wouldn't mind having it myself, but it would have to have been built on our property, since we don't want a subdivision. I am excited for them to have their own place now and soon Caylee Grace.

After that I asked Belinda if she wanted to go out with the girls to eat since Randal left for work and she would be home all alone. She said yes. So we took Barry and the children back home and took off. We met Lauren and Magan at Wal-Mart, but there wasn't room for all four of us and Lindsay to ride together so we took 2 cars. We met Lauren, Magan and Lindsay and Erin and Crystal at Bento's in Fultondale. It was great. The food was wonderful and the fellowship was great. We seemed to have a great time. Then Belinda and I went to Wal-Mart. I neede to get something ti finish decorating Mary's birthday cake and Belinda needed to get a few things for her new home. Then I took her back to her house. She only lives about 3 1/2 to 4 miles from my house. I am excited to have her close, hopefully we can become closer friends.

Welcome to Corner Belinda, I know you are zoned Hayden. But you might as well say you live in Corner.

Then I went home and decorated Mary's cake. I was up til after midnight working on it. But I think it looks pretty good. Mary liked it when she saw it this morning. I will post more about the party this afternoon or tomorrow. See you all at church in the morning.