The South

Where tea is sweet and accents are sweeter; summer starts in April; front porches are wide and words are long; macaroni and cheese is a vegetable; pecan pie is a staple; Y’all is the only proper pronoun; chicken is fried and biscuits come with gravy; everything is darling and someone is always getting their heart blessed. -unknown

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Friday, August 29, 2008

Happy______Day!

Guess what today is?

Yes, you could say it is Friday. You could also say that is the beginning of a long weekend. You would also be correct in saying that it is payday.

But those answers would all be wrong in the eyes of Brooks.

Today is PIZZA DAY at school! And in his life, nothing gets better than today.

Just the fact that this cafeteria style pizza has made Brooks the happiest boy in the world, is enough to make my day!

So I hope you will join me in celebrating today, August 29, 2008, as Pizza Day.

Happy Pizza Day everyone!

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Out of the Mouthes of Babes...

Reese: "Mommy, I smell....
(he takes a big sniff in)

.....I smell hiccups."

Me: "You smell hiccups?"

Reese: "Yes Ma'am."

Me: "What do they smell like?"

Reese: "Nofing."

Sunday, August 24, 2008

I AM AUBURN.

I was sent this in an email, and I just couldn't pass up posting it. I have to admit I teared up when I read this. It is lengthy, but worth it!!! War Eagle!

**Warning, if you are not an Auburn fan, read at your own risk. :) **


I AM AUBURN.


I am Auburn.

I am the 30-year old couple coming back to campus for the first time with both little ones in tow. One wears her first blue and orange cheerleader outfit; the other wears #34 even though he is too young to understand why.

I am the 50-year old man who hoped no one saw tears in his eyes when the eagle circled the field. I was too choked even to say 'War Eagle'. For a moment, I felt foolish and then I didn't care. God, I love this place.

I am the 60 year old woman meeting her freshman granddaughter who is now the 3rd generation of AU students in our family. Despite my age, I'd strap it on Saturday and hit someone if it weren't for my gender and this blasted arthritis.

I am Auburn and I have always believed I was different. You can see it when you look up into the stands. My orange is not the same as Tennessee's and my blue is not that of Florida …But the differences go much deeper than my colors. Read my creed. What other school has one? I genuinely believe in these things. To be a real Auburn man or woman speaks of character, not of geography. All are welcome to walk though my gates, not just the wealthy or the elite.

Georgia and Alabama may have their nations, but we have always been family. Make no mistake, we loathe defeat, but even in defeat, we would rather be an Auburn Tiger than anything else. We are family and you are the sons of Heisman, the sons of Jordan and Dye. You come from a long line of brothers whose names include Burkett, Sidle, Owens, Sullivan, Beasley, Jackson and Rocker. It is a great heritage.

So this Saturday, when the warm ups are over and the prayers and amen spoken, when you hear my thunder growing in the stands above you, when you stand in the tunnel and the smoke begins to form, listen for my voice when you run onto my field. Behind the frenzy of the shakers and deafening roar, I will tell you something in a whisper you may miss. I will be telling you that you are my sons and I am proud of you for the way you wear the burnt orange and navy blue. I am telling you that you are my sons and I love you.

Auburn is so much more than a city or a school or a team or a degree. It is something that, once you have experienced it, will live inside of you forever and become a part of what makes up who you are....

It is driving into town on a game day. You may have come from hundreds of miles away and as you get closer and closer to the city limits, you feel it rising inside of you. Other cars on the highway proudly display their Orange and Blue flags or magnets or car tags, and you honk and wave at them, because, for that one day, you are all on the same team.

It is the smell in the air and the ritualistic act of tailgating...catching up with old friends, making new ones, and invitations from perfect strangers to try their ribs or watch their satellite TV showing all of the day's important match-ups...of course, all being secondary to the one that will occur in the great cathedral of Jordan-Hare later that day.

It is the Tiger Walk...where you might just see 300 pound men overcome with emotion and weeping with pride, because you have come there to cheer them on. As they walk by, you might exchange a glance with one or two of them and you can see it in their eyes...it is going to be their day.

It is the students...dressed in their best, because going to an Auburn game is like going to church for Auburn people....you show the same respect as you would if you were in God's house. Those students remind you of the days when you were walking in their shoes and Auburn was your home...but then you realize, in many ways, it is still and always will be HOME.

It is that lump that rises in your throat when the band plays the alma mater as the eagle is soaring over your head during pre-game.

It is walking around on a "foreign" and sometimes hostile campus. You are easily identified ( Auburn people always are) and the enemy jeers and shouts things at you to mask their feelings of intimidation. But just then, you happen upon a friend you have never met before. You know they are your friend by the colors they wear or the shaker in their hand. You exchange a "War Eagle" and a confident grin, because he/she knows what you know.

It is when your heart leaps with every touchdown, field goal, sack, and interception...because those are our boys. And win or lose, they will always have our un-dying support. After all, it is those boys that you are really there for, and not a coach or a logo or a trustee or a president.

It is the complete and utter exhilaration of walking away victorious over a worthy opponent...that feeling of pride and accomplishment as if it were your own feet that had crossed the goal line scoring the last points yourself...that feeling of wanting to scream "War Eagle" at the top of your lungs and hug complete strangers...and then there is the ultimate high of defeating your most hated foes from across the state. No words can describe what this feels like, but you know because you have experienced it.

It is the sheer agony of defeat as the last minutes tick off the clock and you realize that all hope of a victory is gone. You feel like crying and maybe you do...then you hear the faint sounds of a cheer that grows louder and louder...."ITS GREAT TO BE AN AUBURN TIGER."

It is knowing that year after year, no matter how things change in our hectic lives, you can always come back to "the Loveliest Village on the Plains"...the place where you came from...your home. It will probably look a little different and there will be new names on the backs of the jerseys, but deep down, no matter what, it is still the same. You still love it as much as you always have, because Auburn is as much a part of you as your arms and your legs and the orange and blue blood that runs through your veins. And, finally, it is the feeling you have right now as you read these lines....the anticipation inside of you, because you know its almost time....Its about to start all over again...but then it really never goes away, does it?

[Robert L. Gillette, DVM, MSEDirector; Richard G. & Dorothy A. Metcalf, Veterinary Sports Medicine Program, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University]

Thursday, August 21, 2008

If you sprinkle when you.....

If you can finish that rhyme then you know what this post is about. (And surprisingly, it involves both children.)

I started "full-fledged" potty training Reese yesterday. Since I had to work from home yesterday and today, I thought this would be a good time to start. Sure, we have done some work on this up until now, but I have gotten serious about it now. So, following my pediatrician's advise, I started right in with the big kid underwear. After two successful trips to the potty, and then two times of finding Reese with wet underwear, I decided to do the "bare-bottom" approach and let him just go with nothing. He again went to the potty. I am getting excited! Then I hear, "Mommy, I tee-teed on the floor!" Reese comes and gets me and shows me where he did it. This happened two more times.

** If he can say, "mommy, I tee-teed on the floor, and come get me, couldn't he just go do it in the potty? Apparently children don't work that way.

So, do I put the big kid underwear on him, which he will wet and just walk in wet underwear, or do I go bare bottom and let him tee-tee on the floor? Is there are "good" way to go about this? How did we potty train Brooks? Have I already lost that many brain cells?

Speaking of Brooks, he is still loving school. He loves music class and center time. I have to pries out of him each day what he did, but I finally learned that if I ask him specific questions, that will bring about the answers I am looking for. Example: What did you glue today?
But back to the pottying situation. Brooks has had a problem with going to the bathroom too often at school. It apparently started this week. At first we thought it could be a UTI or bladder infection. So, we go get his tee-tee tested and that is not it. Then, I think it is just him testing his freedom at school, and he really can hold it. So, I told Mrs. K to just make him hold it for a little while and see what happens. After a crying session, and wetting of the clothes, I can strike the "freedom at school idea" off my list.
After looking on the internet, I think he has "Extraordinary Daytime Urinary Frequency Syndrome." After you and I have stopped laughing at this term, I have found that yes, it is a real term, and yes it is a real condition. Let see the symptoms:
1. Your child suddenly starts urinating every 10 to 30 minutes and as often as 30 to 40 times a day. Check!
2. Your child passes small amounts of urine each time. Check!
3. Your child does not drink excessive amounts of fluids. Check!
4. Your child has been toilet trained. Check!
5. The urinary frequency is not a problem during sleep. Check!
6. The urinary frequency may begin within 1 or 2 days of a stressful event or change in the child's routine. I think Kindergarten counts-Check!
So after reading up on this, I am positive that is what he has. It should go away in a few weeks. The problem I now have is that everything you read on it says to reassure your child and try to help him with the stressful situation. I have questioned and questioned him about things at school.
"Do you like your school, do you like your friends, do you like your book bag, are you scared about something, are you nervous, etc."
Apparently Brooks is just excited. How am I supposed to help him with excitement? If it was a discipline problem, then I would know what approach to use. I guess I could point out the negatives to him.
"You are going to be in school for 12 more years after this one. You are going to hate homework. You will have to study Spanish at some point. You will be put in 10th grade English instead of advanced English because you just missed making the cut." Wait that was me, never mind.
I am kidding. I would never try to bring down his excitement. Hopefully Mrs. K can live through the 50 bathroom trips for a few more weeks.

I will probably be dreaming about pottys tonight.

Friday, August 15, 2008

Wonderful Trip

We took Reese to the eye doctor in Birmingham on Wednesday. This was just a follow up to a previous appointment.

Side note: Reese was sooooooo goooooood! I wanted to just brag on him to everyone there. He is generally not in good spirits at any doctor’s visit, but he could not have been any better.

The doctor got to witness Reese’s head turning when he looks at things far away. All of this was due to the fact that they had a Disney movie playing on the TV across the room. The doctor said that normally when a child does this, their eyes are shaking, and the child will turn his head, like Reese does, to make the eyes stop shaking. (This would have to be corrected with surgery.) He did not see any shaking in Reese’s eyes. He said he couldn’t give us any better explanation other than “he is just doing this.” He will re-check him at a later date, but as of now all is well. This is such good news!

And the entire trip put our lives into perspective. The doctor’s office is located in the ambulatory part of Children’s Hospital. You have to go through the main lobby of the hospital to get to where we needed to be. They were having a magic show for the children when we got there. There were children in wheelchairs, some hooked up to IVs, some with bandages, and even some that looked perfectly healthy, knowing there was something going on inside of them. Any of you who know me know that I am a very emotional person. Just typing these words out made me think of the little angelic faces I saw. I CANNOT IMAGINE WHAT THESE CHILDREN AND PARENTS ARE GOING THROUGH! Despite all of the sickness and injuries, I saw one other thing that must be pointed out….SMILES. The children were laughing and having a wonderful time. It was such a lesson to me in what is important.
So go hug your children, your spouse, and/or any other person that is important to you. Say a prayer with them tonight and thank God for their health. Or do as I just did, go dance with your children to the last song in Monsters Inc.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

A poem that will touch your heart...

I found this poem the other day, that perfectly put into words what I was feeling about Brooks starting school. I was going to copy and paste it here, but the website that it is on requests that you not post it on your blog. I guess I'll do what they ask. I felt the need to share it with all of you.

A Prayer for Your Young Child

Monday, August 11, 2008

First Day of School

As so many others of you were going through the same experiences today, I found myself driving to a school that was strangely familiar and completely foreign to me, all at the same time. Today was Brooks' first day of Kingergarten. I had told him ahead of time that he may see other children crying. I also told him that he may see his mommy cry, and that I wasn't sad because he was going to school, but that it made me feel old. ( I didn't want to do anything that would make him not want to go to school.) He so sweetly said, "Mommy, you don't look old." Honestly, I did a lot better than I thought I would. The only time that I almost broke down, was when we got inside and Brooks said, "Bye Mom. I'll see you later." I wasn't ready to go yet, but we left.
He had a wonderful day. He told me of all the things he got to do and see, and I think it is going to be a wonderful year.


First Day of School Picture.

Walking in to school.

He was walking soooo fast.

With his teacher.

Have a great year baby!

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Birthday Party

We had a great time yesterday with family and friends to celebrate Reese's 2nd birthday. We had a farm theme and it turned out to be cute. He got lots of wonderful presents from his friends. His reactions to all of the presents were priceless! If you asked him if he had a good time, he would say, "I got lots and lots of presents!"


Chicken Cake
Chocolate Fountain- YUM!!

Reese was happy with all the food.
Blowing out the candles.

Opening "pwesants"

Friday, August 8, 2008

Directions

Apparently, I have never been taught the proper way to eat chicken nuggets. Only recently, did Reese teach me the correct way. I felt compelled to share with all of you, so that you will not be in the dark as I was.

1. Forget the chicken nuggets and dip your whole hand in the ranch.


2. Next, rub what ever doesn't make it into your mouth all over your face and chest. Don't forget the chest.

3. By this point you will realize that the "hand dipping" is not working, so then just use your tongue to get the ranch out.

4. Let your mother know that the tongue seems to be working the best. Then ask her if you can have some more.

5. Lastly, be careful not to use this procedure to often, as it will cause a rash around your mouth.


Thank you for your time and attention.

Saturday, August 2, 2008

Happy Birthday Reese!

Reese and his "gear."

Today is Reese's 2nd birthday! We are not celebrating today because Brent is out of town. We will celebrate next week. So today has been pretty low key. I can't believe it has been two years. My little "spit-fire" is growing and growing. I can't wait to see what adventures this two year old will lead us on.

Oh the Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself

Any direction you choose.

You're on your own. And you know what you know.

And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.


Oh the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!

There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.

And the magical things you can do with that ball,

will make you the winning-est winner of all.

Fame! You'll be famous as famous can be,

with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.


Except then they don't.

Because, sometimes, the won't.


And will you succeed?

Yes! You will, indeed!

(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)


Kid, You'll move mountains!


So.. be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray

or Moredacai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,

you're off to great places!

Today is your day!

Your mountain is waiting.

So...get on your way!


excerpts from "Oh the Places You'll Go"! -Dr. Seuss



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Friday, August 1, 2008

Conversation

Me: Brooks, Why isn't Austin on all the Backyardigans episodes? All of the other people are on each show.

Brooks: Mom, He just isn't.

Me: Well, Leo, Quincy, June, and Annie are on every episode of Little Einsteins. What if Annie wasn't in one of the shows? Wouldn't that be weird.

Brooks: She got to fly Rocket one time and go rescue all of her friends.

Me: But she was still in the show. Brooks, I am just wondering why Austin isn't in each show. Every time I see this, he is not on here.

Brooks: Maybe he isn't home. Maybe he went to the store. Or maybe he went to visit his grandmother. That would be nice wouldn't it?

Me: I guess it would. I still wish he was in each show, don't you?

Brooks: ...........silence............

(He has now tuned me out and is enthralled in what Uniqua and Tasha are doing. Looking back, I probably would have tuned me out too.)