New Chapter

This year has brought one big change for me. I have reentered college. I am going back to get a degree in Elementary Educaution. So far, after a month in, I am realizing I am not as young as I used to be. The studying, remembering what I studied, just isn't coming as easily as it used to. Add in to that juggling a family and other activities.. It can be overwhelming some days.. a lot of days. But my goal is set and I am striving to make it.  Hopefully in another 2-3 years it will be accomplished. 

She is sorry...

Nova wasn't able to clinch the cheeks long enough... I will say at least it wasn't on any carpets!

Sonic the Hedgehog

Not the cartoon.. but a real one!!  Zoey, the animal lover that she is, was offered a free hedgehog.  After some sweet puppy eyes to her daddy, she was the proud owner of Sonic Fluffdaddy O'ville.  She loves him, and he loves... well... tolerates her.

Auburn, thank you for losing.

Yes, I just thanked the teaming that I was born to cheer for, for losing the National Championship. I could just be extremely sleep deprived (it is 3am and I have been awake for almost 22 hours), but I think there is more to my craziness than just lack of sleep. 

You see, I am a momma to three. My oldest just turned 9 and has finally gotten into football. Before this season he probably just thought he had a set of weirdo parents who clapped and yelled at the TV. But this year, this year he gets it. The bug that is college football has bitten him. He loves it and he especially loves all thing AUBURN. Now, because he has just figured out his love of the big orange and blue he was saved of the heartache that was our 2012 season. He didn't have to experience the loss, after loss, after loss, after.. I digress. He was fortunate enough to enjoy our "season of destiny". The LSU loss stung, but he was just getting into the season. It wasn't until the Texas A&M game that y'all hooked him (and woke the rest of college football up and made them take notice-- War Eagle!). After that it was win after win. He thought y'all were unstoppable. Then Geogia happened and I saw the first glimpses of his fantasy crumbling. But y'all pulled it out. Then again with Alabama. What an emotional roller coaster of a game! Again, I saw my son's competitive side over dominate his sense of good sportsmanship. Then the unthinkable happened. Ohio State lost and Auburn was heading for a national title after getting another SEC championship. My boy was on cloud 9. So for the next month he studied up on all things Auburn and quizzed me on all things Auburn football (which sadly I failed at.. I mean really, am I really supposed to know who they played in 1950 and if the QB was left handed or right handed?). For a full month, day in and day out, he talked about every game, every play.

Finally, the day arrived. Auburn vs Florida State. He was a ball of nerves, but it seemed we had the game locked up before the half. Then the unthinkable happened and we let the game slide through our fingers. No last minute "miracle", just the sting of a shoulda, coulda, woulda been loss. And boy did it sting. My boy was crushed. Crushed. Dreams of TP'ing our tree out front dashed. The reality of having to go to school the next day and face his friends replaced his dreams of walking in school a victor. Tears were shed, sobs were had... But then, a teachable moment. A chance to learn some humility. A chance to build a little character. It. Is. Just. A. Game. A game that I would have liked for us to win (I had dreams of TP'ing the tree out front, too), but why not learn and grow from a loss? So that's what we did. We hugged him while he cried, but told him also that it's part of life. You win and you lose. You fail sometimes, but you keep your head held high and try again. It's how you take a defeat that shows what kind of player you really are. And when you can take the good AND the bad is when you know you are a pretty great player. I want my son to be one of those players. Not just in a game, but in life. We'll get there, prayerfully, soon. 

So thank you for allowing a loss to be a lesson learned. I know it's not a crystal football, but I think it's value is worth so much more. 

War Eagle!

Happy 8th, Birthday!!

Zoey bug turned 8 today.  It seems with each year that passes that the time just goes a little quicker.  Has it really been 8 years since we were blessed with a sweet, chubby little 6 pound, 13 ounce girl?  Has it really been 8 years since Zoey added the glitz and glitter to our family? I know it's so cliche to say those things, but really the older I get it seems the quicker my kids grow up.  I wish they could stay little forever.  If that were the case I would have frozen them all in their 3s or 4s.  But alas, Zoey is healthy, growing, and thriving in life and I can't say that I am not thankful for it.  8 years ago we were blessed with a little girl who has kept us on our toes and made sure we danced along the way.  I love you, Zoey Taylor.  I am beyond thankful to call you mine.  Hugs and kisses and kisses and hugs.

Love,

Momma

Nathan's first Auburn game

Back in October we took Jon Kent and Nathan to an Auburn football game.  Zoey declined as she isn't a huge football fan, yet.  I say yet because I wasn't either at her age.  We are holding out hope that one day she will come over to the whoop and hollering side.  Until then, she was spoiled by her Poohba and Granny and PawPaw while the rest of us went to the plains and enjoyed watching Auburn play.  This was Jon Kent's 2nd game and Nathan's fist.  We had a good time of watching the traditional "Tiger Walk" before the game and then watching Auburn put a beating on East Carolina.  But the highlight was getting to go onto the field after the game and taking pictures and watching the boys play some football.  It was hard not to let my mind wonder to maybe a day in the not too distant future of one or both of the boys playing for Auburn in their college days.  I can day dream, right?  And who knows, they just might.

Happy 9th, Birthday!!

Nine years have come and gone. I could get all cheesy and say how I can't believe he is already 9 (which I can't). Or I could say how time flies and it needs to slow down (it does). However, I will just say how proud I am of my now 9 year old who is growing, learning, and becoming a wonderful young man. Love him!!