She's a Senior!

Okay it's not fair....time is not supposed to be moving this fast. I mean it was just yesterday I was carrying her around on my hip and not she is taking Senior pictures. I just can't believe she is ready to graduate and head off to college.

So the kiddo wanted a few shots with her sax and with the number blocks for senior pics and she wants the rest outside with her favorite photographer :) Now I have a coupon that we take so we get a fantastic package for only $150 and if you have ever shopped for portrait packages for seniors...this is awesome. we would even get the cd with photos including the copyrights. the CD alone is $100 in most places. so I am plugging it for portrait innovations in Montgomery :) she gets 12 poses and 3 sheets with each pose plus other goodies. well it was great, we had an awesome photographer who like my child is a band geek so she was excited about taking pics with her horn. she took like a 100 pics and now we have to chose our favorite 12 poses. well here lies the problem. I gave birth to an extremely photogenic child, this has vexed us her whole life. we go in with intent of buying this simple little package but dog gone if she doesn't look so good we would spend a lot of money. So here we are again trying to narrow it down. I am proud to say that between the three of us (mom, me &bug) we got our favorite shots :) 

so today I am here to just boast and brag about a gorgeous, talented, brilliant child who happens to be mine 

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I was pleasantly surprised when I missed the free 10x13 sheets that allowed us to pick a few more :)

okay so here is your mission, should you choose to accept it :) look through and leave a comment about which number is your favorite. We have a wall canvas that we got but we have to choose one that is the absolute fave. so imagine a 16x20 canvas...which one would you love?

Mixed Emotions...

Today's post is with some serious mixed emotions. Let me start back to last weekend. Father's day weekend, usually one of my most favorite weekends of the year as I get to celebrate the best daddy that God allowed to walk the earth. I tend to spoil dad most all year long, if he ask for it, if he wants he, he usually gets it :) 

Note dad with his Christmas gift from years ago, he just had to have an Alaskan Malamute...lol

I could not even bring myself to enter the church house. The thought of every one there celebrating their dad, pictures, smiles, gifts, all lavished on their dad while my dad was not here for me to slather gift, hugs, and kisses on. I know that is extremely selfish and self centered of me. I did tell my sweet husband happy father's day but I must admit it was halfhearted.

Then my week became wide open hectic because my doodlebug was going to be in the Upward Bound Pageant at Troy University. There would be a daily call reminding me what time to check her out to do her hair. Would I bring the nail glue for her gorgeous nails that no one would see from the audience. Don't forget the new shoes and the new dress mom, I have practice walking in those heals. Could you bring something to eat Thursday when you come mom I would like chick Flick (dad's word for chic fil a) the text and calls were endless. I was never so glad to see a Thursday come! Well Tuesday I got some horrible news from my husband, my 78 year old mother in law had what they thought was a stroke. I praise God it seems to have only affected her speech which she will go through therapy to help.

pictured here just last Saturday in Luverne at chicken shack with her Granny and her Mammaw. You can see Doodlebug is very close with them both so the thought of anything happening to either of them is unthinkable. I did something else a little selfish and decided not to tell Savannah about her Granny until Thursday after the pageant. It will be a year next month that my dad walked through heaven's gates and we are all still grieving so, but for Savannah, it seems to be worse. I just couldn't tell her...

So Thursday finally gets her and we go to Troy around 2:00 to grab some chick flick for the kid and meet her at her dorm to begin the makeover. She will go from average tom boy her barely brushes her hair to full fledged glamour girl! We are talking hair, makeup, nails...the works!

Here we have finished and just waiting to go over to change into their first outfit

She was so excited and still she looked at me at one point and said mom, do you think pappaw would be proud of me. my sweet angel with her loving heart so thrilled and yet still her thoughts are never far from heaven. The day was long Thursday, I kept in touch with my husband checking in on Granny Smith still thinking I should not have kept that from bug, but it was too late now. So we have made it to the Theater in Trojan Center and the pageant that was supposed to start and 7:00 is running fairly late. After they begin they are still have technical difficulties and poor Miss Anderson had to go run the lights and music up stairs herself. (Side bar- if you ever get a chance to get your child in the Troy's Upward Bound Program jump into it. Miss Griffin, Miss Johnson, Miss Anderson, and Miss Williams are incredible  and they will take care of your baby!) the theme this year is LUAU. Hawaii. Island Man! so here is my bug all decked out in her Hawaii get up!

For causal ear they were supposed to bring a prop and Savannah says mom I don't want to bring a phone or something, We are supposed to show our personality through our prop. she wanted to bring that 20 lb tenor saxophone but mommy talked her out of that. So here she stands about to strut and snap open her fan. that's right ladies and gentlemen she has one of those old southern belle, retractable fans and off she begins strutting when all of a sudden SNAP! WHISH! APPLAUSE!  CHEERS! Yes she has snapped open her Scarlette O'Hara style fan and she is fanning her herself as she struts across the stage! her answer when I ask why she chose the fan....(her best southern drawl accent) Every southern lady needs her fan because we southern women do not sweat, nor perspire, we glisten...LOL You got to love that kid!

So I imagine the nerves are about to take over as she is getting into that ball gown for formal wear. and for those of you who see the pictures and think how pretty in pink she looks I say nay. It is not pink, not fuchsia  not magenta, she does not like pink ... technically Purple is her signature color! But yet here she stands in a dress that to us is in the "pink" family....no this color is called "begonia" ...LOL

 

They finished their strutting and it is time to give out some crowns! so it is down to two seniors! two seniors who did this same pageant for experience in 9th grade and stood there holding hands anticipating...

now stand as seniors holding hands anticipating...

and for 1st place runner up.....my baby!

I am pleased as punch and so happy for my baby!

Here are two gorgeous young ladies who I am so proud of and so pleased for them both!

So we finally made it through Thursday, we end up taking doodlebug home with us that night since we had news to share. she was so scared to find out and not at all ready to hear something was wrong with another grandparent. We prayed and went to bed late and she and I talked till we fell asleep. I let her sleep in late Friday morning as our plans were not yet over....

See my Nephew had made it to the Greenville All Stars and there is to be a game Friday night at 6:00 in Enterprise Alabama. well we had some prescriptions to pick up, and general errands to run so we left around lunch for Troy to run errands before driving to Enterprise.

We got there a little early to visit and we are greeted by a smurf...

Corbin had been eating a blue Italian Ice and had bright blue lips :)

Tanner got some good bites on the ball but just couldn't get it straightened out to get a run. They played hard but lost by one point to Crenshaw. They play again tonight so it looks like the bleachers and I will get to know each other a little better tonight :)

I think the girls and I just passed out after we got home from the game followed by a fulfilling meal at Ryan's. We had to have the Doodlebug back at the University before 7 Sunday night so I would say not only were the emotions mixed but the amount of exhaustion was mixed as well. I know my daddy would be so proud of all his grand babies this week and I am praying to be able to have some sense of sanity next month as we are nearing the one year anniversary. 

I love daddy and I miss you every day I like to picture you like above, just there are heaven's portal welcoming us home.

 

Sunday will now be nine months since my daddy left us here to meet the Father and there is not a day that goes by that I don't miss him with all my heart and long to sit and talk with him again. I know he is in a better place and Lord knows I would not wish him back on this earth in the shape he was in but I think of things not said, or hugs not taken, or moments missed. I guess you are never prepared to lose a loved one and I truly thank the Lord for the extra year he gave us with him. In all honesty it seemed as if God was taking daddy home the summer before but God heard our prayers and gave us one more precious year with my hero. I would ask everyone to take a moment and think of things that you want to say to your loved ones now, we are not promised tomorrow.

I love you daddy and I miss you something fierce. I have attached a song that we heard after daddy passed and I assure you it truly fits him. Even when daddy was no longer able to go and spend hours at the hospitals visiting like he used to he spent hours in prayer and in the bible. Thank you Lord for giving me so an incredible man to follow in his footsteps. Thank you daddy for leading us to the Lord and allowing your light to shine so that we may follow you there.

I hope you love the song as much as we do and that is touches someone.

 

 



Well it has been a little while since my last update and since we had a ball with the boys first summer visit so far I thought I would share and update too. I have added the boys flying a kite at the park above us. They thought you had to run to fly it and mom ( the kite flying expert) showed them how to stand still, and catch the wind under it. It was amazing how high they got them all by theirselves. They still had energy and they were hot so we took a dip with them. They are like fish!

Tanner showing his fishlike abilities under water

Corbin showing his mad skills at swimming

Our three fish our first summer visit

We have been blessed with some awesome neighbors who also have a love for gardening. Miss Jonell has a gorgeous half a dozen rose bouqet ready and waiting to be placed in a vase. Below is a sweet little knock out rose with one of natures creatures mom had to snap since I can't stand the eight legged creature...LOL I love catching little things like that on film I think it's kind of neat.

Okay I know you have heard of people seeing pink elephants but have you ever seen a pink cow? we mom and I did on our way to Birmingham. We knew no one would believe us so we had to go back and take pictures. Sweet "P's" at pike road between Troy and Montgomery had dyed their namesake to draw attention. My doodlebug has another nickname, mammaw has called her sweet pea since before birth and her birth month flower is a sweet pea so everytime she has passed it she has ask to stop. They have a little deli, baked goods, hand dipped ice cream as well as some home made canned goodies. If you get a chance to stop and see them it is well worth the visit.

My sweet doodlebug has been at Upward Bound again this year since May 30th. We sure miss her through the week but it is such a good program, I praise the Lord for it.

Mom's beautiful seedless blackberries. This is the second year we have had them but the first year they grew fruit. they are not only gorgeous to look at but sweet and delicious as well. We are growing more each year and we are quite proud of them.

Until we meet again online or in person, may you be blessed!

My beautifu talented Doodlebug made not on the national honor society this year but she found out today that she made the Business and finance academy at school. God has truly blessed us with an angel!

Thank you Lord for all your blessings on me!

Our first visit with the boys in months...

We finally got the boys for a few days, the first time we have had them here in months. We enjoyed ourselves so much. Mommy and daddy had their heads burred for the summer and they looked so cute and they were just as energetic as ever. They did hate that Savannah is still at Upward Bound so they didn't get to see her but I think they enjoyed it all the same.  

Mom decided to water her plants like she always does and they thought they could "help" :)  

Missing my Smartie Pants...

This is my Doodlebug's second year to be in Upward Bound for the summer. She goes to Troy University from Monday to Friday for five weeks and the sixth week they take a cultural trip somewhere.  This year she gets to take the trip too, they haven't told them where they are going.
It's kind of hard dropping her off on Sunday night to stay in a dorm without me for a week.

She takes classes all day walkng across that big campus and and they eat all their meals together. They plan things for each night as well. One night they take them swimming in the big olympic size pool, they do scavenger hunts, karoke nights, board game night....she loves it and I miss her like crazy. We had Nina Sophia with us the first weekend we checked in and she wanted to take her to let everyone ooh and ahh over her. Nina is a camera hound like Bug so she got in a few after we put her room together.

They are in the suites this year so they have their own bathroom that they share with their neighbors.

I am jealous of her walk in closet though. I told her we need to knock a wall out and build us one of them for the house...LOL I sure miss the stinker but I am proud for her to get this opportunity.