Hello Again!!

I guess it is time for an update!! It has been almost a year since we posted. We have had a good year!! Emaline turned nine, graduated from the elementary and moved up to the intermediate school, and danced in her last dance recital. She continues to progress in piano and sing in the choir. She has also moved up to the tween group at church, Step-Up!! She is on the science team at school! They practice each week and will compete in two big competitions next semester! Emaline's kitten, Midnight, is all grown up. Sadly, we lost Linus to kidney disease just a couple of months ago. It is still hard to get used to his absence after 14 years!! We have traveled a bit this year. We have been to Gatlinburg, Key West, Boca Raton, and Washington D. C. I have transferred back to Shelby County schools and have been teaching at our local high school this year, so I am less than a mile from Emaline's school each day. We are happy and quite busy. The holiday season has snuck up on us!! Harry the elf and his little friend Snowflake showed up a few days ago. I am sure that we are in for some fun times this season!! Happy Thanksgiving and Merry Christmas!!

Busy December

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The Elf is not the only active being in the house!! Emaline has kept us running!! She played in the piano recital, sang in the choir concert, and danced in the Christmas Showcase. All of this in the past couple of weeks!! We are so proud of her!! She played "Ave Maria" like a pro, sang her first solo, and danced short notice. We think Harry's little friend, Ginger, is really cute!! We are really enjoying the season!! Today was our first day of Christmas break!! Whewwww!! We are ready to play for a few days!!

Elfcapades 2011

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Our friend Harry showed up the day after Thanksgiving!! He has given us a lot of laughs!! He brought along Snowflake, his pet reindeer, and a new little gingerbread girl showed up yesterday!! We are not quite sure where she came from, but she is cute!! We call her Ginger!! More pics to come with ginger included!!

Busy Fall

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Emaline is certainly keeping us busy!! Since school started, we have been dancing, singing, piano playing, and simply running all over the place!! Becky's younger sister got married earlier this month!! It was so awesome to see our children playing together!! Emaline and her dance class danced at the fall festival at MVES this past weekend. She has also been singing with the children's choir at church and getting ready for the Christmas piano recital. Our time is a little more limited this school year because I have started teaching in another county, and our schedules are not quite the same. We are having fun though!! Happy fall!!. . .and ROLL TIDE!!

1st Day of 3rd Grade

Emaline started third grade today!! She is so excited that she has been up since about 3:00 this morning!! I hope she doesn't fall asleep at her desk!! Everything starts so quickly!! Piano starts today and both dance and choir start next week. I sure will miss her during the day!! My sweet girl is growing up so quickly!! We plan to have another great school year!!

Montgomery Tourists

Today Emaline, her friend Rachel and I played tourists in Montgomery. Sadly, Emaline had never seen our state capital. We visited the Capitol building, the First White House of the Confederacy, Old Alabama Town, and a few other places along the way. Emaline's favorite thing was a resident cat we met at Old Alabama Town. Rachel really liked a beautiful pot-belly stove we saw in the Senate chamber. We all really liked the old dresses we saw. My favorite thing was the First White House. The furniture was incredibly beautiful. We had a great time!!

Kitties and Barbies

Of course Emaline has been playing with the kitties!! They cuddle and play together a little every day!! Emaline has been playing with her Barbies quite a bit lately. She has tons of clothes and accessories for her dolls. She surprised me today when showing me her favorite Barbie dress. It is a long gold and black evening gown. I can't describe the feeling of seeing her doll in that dress! I told her that it is a very special custom couture gown designed by Vicki Bacon!! Vicki made tons of clothes for my Barbies many years ago! They are beautiful and extremely well made!! They still look new thirty years after their design and fabrication!! It means so much to see Emaline enjoying them as much as I did!! Thanks Vicki!!

Driving and Playing Fetch

Uncle Lavelle is very brave!! He has been allowing Emaline to chauffeur him around the field behind Grandaddy's house!! I guess learning early is good, right!!


Midnight has become quite an interesting little fella!! His new favorite game is fetch!! He started bringing a little toy puff ball to me while we were at Daddy's. Now it has grown into full games of fetch!! We throw a little puff ball, and he will dart after it and bring it back. It is the funniest when he play-growls and tries to keep you from taking it. We have never had a cat who fetches before. The more puff balls he has, the better. He will horde them and meow at you!! We have always felt blessed to have such a great kitty like Linus!! Now we have two!! When Midnight is not crazy and playful, he is quite a loving little guy!! Emaline picked a great one!!:)

Snuggle Buddies

Summer Fun

We are having a great time at Grandaddy's house!! We have enjoyed swimming, swinging, driving the golf cart, and celebrating Grandaddy's birthday!! The garden is great, and we are also enjoying the fresh vegetables!! Summer is awesome!!

Sweet Kitty

Midnight has two speeds!! He is either crazy kitty or sweet cuddly baby!! As a crazy kitty he provides hours of entertainment!! As a sweet cuddly baby he gives us lots of joy!! He loves to snuggle up and sleep as close as possible!! Also notice that he tries to play Angry Birds!! He is a great kitty!!:)

Canine Visitor

We have had a little cuddly visitor the past few days!! Her name is Teacup!! She is a cute little miniature Dachshund.  It has been like a familiar cartoon in our house. Midnight has played the tiny playful crazy little fella, Teacup has played the relentless chaser, and Linus has played the domineering king of the jungle. Teacup is completely fascinated with Midnight, and doesn't understand why he will not play with her. She gets so upset and whines when Midnight runs away. Linus lords over everyone and everything and growls his orders when necessary. James has started calling him Mufasa, because he is definitely a king who rules by fear!! We have had a very interesting and entertaining few days!! Emaline has even played the role of ring leader. We will miss Teacup!! She is a sweet and loving little dog!! I am sure, however, that she will be glad to get back home to single-pet status!!

Cuddly Critters

Just some cute pictures to share!!:)

Last Day of 2nd Grade

Yesterday, 5/26, was the last day of 2nd grade!! Emaline has had a GREAT year!! We will certainly miss Mr. Byrne!! Em has also been having a lot of fun with Midnight!!

Michelle's Wedding

After the dance recital, we jumped in the truck and raced to Harvest for my cousin Michelle's wedding!! It was one of the most joyous weddings I have ever seen. Michelle and Russ were so happy that they literally danced down the aisle!! I don't think there was a dry eye in the crowd. They are such a beautiful and sweet new family!! We wish them all of the happiness in the world!!!

Dance Recital 2011

Check out these little divas!! Emaline had her dance recital yesterday!! The girls did a great job!! Emaline dances with some of the sweetest little girls!! I think they had a great time!! They danced great too!! We are proud of each and every one of them!! You go girls!!!