A Year in the Life

If you have not read The Hunger Games , by Suzanne Collins, please don't wait another day to read it!  You will remember the name Katniss Everdeen for a long time.  You feel her fear, anger, love, and confusion as it was your own.  You find yourself hating the Capitol and all it stands for.  At first, you want Katniss to run off with Gale.  He's rugged, clever, and somewhat of a rebel.  You want him to confess his love for Katniss and take care of her for the rest of her life.  But then the reaping comes, and you know that is not to be... Elizabeth had just finished a very long series of books, and I encouraged her to read The Hunger Games series.  She kinda balked at first, but as soon as she started reading she was hooked.  Most boys/men don't like the way the third book ends, but we both decided that we do.  Some of Elizabeth's friends have read the books:  Scarlett, Julianne, Samantha, Mary Kate &...

There are things only a father can teach his children.  Hopson is wonderful at teaching our children so many things.  (including how to be messy , even though I'm not crazy about this one.)  I can not teach my boys to be the men they need to grow up to be.  I can try but it will never be enough.  They have research that shows children who have a father who is active in their lives are less likely to engage in high risk behaviors. Hopson can fix anything;  build anything; is an avid hunter; loves to argue (he's a CPA, but likes to play at being an attorney); he's one of the best critical thinkers I've ever met; he's caring but not gushy about it (I love it when he brings me flowers; it makes my day!); loving but not weak; and he is great at teaching our children all the skills he possesses. We don't having any boys playing baseball this year; the first time in a long time.  We have traded in our baseball bats for lacrosse sticks.  H...

A friend asked the nicknames of the other three children, so here you go. Hopson: Hop, Hoppy, Hopper Harrison: Harry, Harro, Harry Cotton, Harry Cotton pants, Harry Potter (this has to be said with a British accent), and the newest from Henry, Tool Elizabeth: Pitty Pat, Snoop, Sis, Sisso, Lizard, and some of her friends call her Lizzy Maggie (the lab): Mags, Maggie doodle Bella (the chihuahua): Beebers, Bea, Dumb dog, Stupid (Harry & Hop call her the last two) She's not dumb. :/ Big Hopson: Honey Daddy (Hoppy named him this when he learned how to talk) So there you go, the fam's nicknames. Celebrating Life & special family names, ~ashley

The worm on the 4 wheeler Everyone in our family has a nickname.  Nicknames are special.  You normally don't give someone a nickname you don't care about.  Henry probably has the strangest nickname of everyone in our family.  We don't call him baby, even though he is the baby of our family; we call him Worm.  Starting from the time he was born he wiggled constantly, so he was our little wiggle worm.  After 9 1/2 years it has been shortened to worm.  I know that's weird, and I didn't intend on it sticking, but it's just part of who he is.  Even some of Hop & Harry's friends call him worm.  It's too funny. Helping to make home made play dough Henry has never met a stranger; he's kind to a fault; he loves to build things, and take them apart; he likes to hunt, play with friends, and drive the four wheeler; he can be a little lazy, but is willing to lend a hand if you ask him; he likes to help cook; he's content and...

My children's rooms are a wreck!  If their rooms where mine fields, I'd be dead.  Ugh, nothing frustrates me more than messy rooms and a messy house.  Especially if I spend the better part of two days cleaning out your room.  Hello Type A personality...I mean my monogram is ANL...need I say more?  We do expect our children to clean their own rooms among other things.  Now, one thing you need to know is that there is a difference in their version of clean, and my version of clean.  Huge difference between the two. My version of clean is:  the beds are completely made (pillows and all); all clothes that are clean are put in their proper drawer or hung up; dirty clothes put in the dirty clothes basket; all toys, books, money, etc put where they belong; all things in bathrooms put away:  toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, razor (if applicable), hairdryer; spit cleaned off the sink & mirror; used...

I want a bumper sticker that says 'I survived Sadie Hawkins '.  Just kidding, I didn't have to survive anything, I had way too much fun.  The kids are great to be around!  Both groups are so special!!!  I only had to worry about staying awake, which I did until Hoppy arrived home at 3:15am.  Wow, that time looks worse written down.  I will say I was WIRED after Hop came home & didn't fall asleep until 4.  Needless to say...I'm a little on the loopy side.  I don't know if I will remember my name by the end of the Superbowl tonight, we'll have to see.  Just remember the magic number is 32. :)- For this dance, I took pictures of Hoppy & big Hopson took pictures of Harry...I took 60 pictures...big Hopson took 4.  Um yeah, I wanted more than just 4, but 4 is what I have, and I'll be thankful for those.  I just need to clone myself when picture time arrives.  Here are some of the pictures I took of Hop, his date Ryan, an...

Dream Team [dreem teem] noun 1.  A group of lay people with the same vision of bringing glory to Christ by loving God and loving people at Church of the Highlands.  The good thing about being on the Dream Team is that it's not just adults who serve.  Y'all already know how I feel about teenagers.  (especially the ones I serve with on Sundays.) Every year our church hosts a Dream Team party to celebrate those who serve.  We have:  greeters, info desk, kid's check-in, Highlands Kids, Highland's Preschool, Highland's Haven, small group leaders, Dream Center, Dream Team serve, prayer force, Switch, Worship Team, Worship Guide, ushers, SideKicks, and many others I know I'm leaving out. (sorry y'all!)  The adult leaders had a Cajun dinner party, but for the SideKicks, we had a MAC DADDY party!  Where do I start?  The first thing I need to do is say a HUGE thank you to our children's pastor, Mrs. Beth who gave...

I hope you got a good laugh from my posting Physics is Fun  from a few weeks ago.  I know I had fun posting it.  I was looking at the pictures again the other day and Harry was wondering what in the world I as laughing at, so he came in the kitchen to find out.  He started reading them and was laughing so hard he had his head down on the desk.  I like little moments like that. I think Fridays will now be known as 'Farcical Fridays'.  It was going to be funny Fridays, but that was too plain.  Farcical just sounds funny.  Farcical is a synonym for funny.  (I had to look it up.)  It's pronounced ( fahr -si-k uh-l).   See you get to laugh and learn something all at the same time.  So here is the Farcical Friday:  Installment One... I have another email that I've put below of things you can do when you're bored.  Some are funnier than others, and there are some that t...

Look at all the people!!! Yes, it's the day we all know and love, Groundhog Day, and for some odd reason, I LOVE IT!  The day when we depend on a rodent to let us know if we'll have an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter.  If I was a groundhog, I'd put my vote in for an early spring.  But, because it's been so warm these last few weeks I wouldn't be surprised if winter hangs on with all its got.  Boo cold weather, it makes me sad, and no one likes a sad mommy. ;)  BTW, Phil did see his shadow, so six more weeks of winter. I think Punxsutawney Phil is the national groundhog.  He lives in Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney, PA.  There is an actual Punxsutawney Groundhog Club.  Love it!!!  I wonder if they have honorary memberships?  I think I would like one.  It may be a men's club though, because every time I see pictures there are only guys in it.  They all look so happy, and you know what, ...

Everyday I fight.  No, it's nothing serious or life-threatening.  I fight my own vanity.  Part of me wishes the big hair from the 80's would just come back in style.  I can totally do big hair, and I don't really have to try too hard. Here is the real me.  I'm a riot of curls....  What's so sad is that it takes minimal effort for me to get my hair to do this.  A little mousse, about 5-7 minutes with my blow dryer, and some hair spray.  How you see my hair on my profile picture to the right is how I want my hair to look everyday, but today it's raining and humid.  Since it's just going to curl up anyway as soon as I step outside no matter how much I straighten and spray it I just went with the real me.  It's Au natural.  Lovely isn't it? Hopson likes my hair like this.  Crazy man, he wants me to look wild and untamed I guess.  He also like me with no make-up on, (I have very little on ...

Saturday is the...Sadie Hawkins dance, in my khaki pants, there's nothing better...oh oh oh...girls ask the guys, it's always a surprise, there's nothing better, do you like my sweater.  Sorry that song is hilarious, but around here the boys are  very excited about the dance.  Both Hop & Harry have been asked, and I have to admit for boys, they are being a little high maintainced about it. New Bow Tie & Khaki Pants They have never worried about what they are going to wear before, but for some reason, this year it really matters.  Um, ok so off we go to the mall.  My guys would rather go to the dentist than to go shopping, not to mention they have lacrosse practice 4 days a week, and yesterday was a practice day.  So the fact of the matter was we only had 30 minutes tops to find what we needed.  It's called speed shopping, and I actually do it quite well.  Is this what gi...

Harry jumps at the chance to drive anywhere .  Tonight, we did a milk run and while at the grocery store Harry saw a sign for boiled peanuts.  Of course he asked for some, because in his mind, the worst thing you could say is no, and you just might say yes.  Well, tonight I said yes.  Rewind a little over 15 years ago...When I was pregnant with Harry, Hopson & I went to the LSU/AU game, and I ate a lot of boiled peanuts.  For you AU fans, that was the game where The Barn burned down.  We could see the flames from the stadium.  Anyway, I was so swollen from eating so many peanuts I felt like a water balloon, and I'm pretty sure I looked like one too. Back to today...Harry was so excited to get his peanuts.  I told him that if he liked them that much we could make some homemade ones in the crock pot.  He just smiled.  After the grocery run we stopped to fill up the car & while we waited we broke open the peanuts...

The heart of a woman starts forming from the time she is born.  With every word spoken, every action taken she is formed.  She knows when she is loved and cherished; or dispassionately tolerated and placed to the side.  She will develop the heart of a warrior or one made of stone.  She will live with passion or survive with apathy.  Yes, a true woman's heart is cultivated, and not something to be taken lightly.   I hope Elizabeth knows where she stands.  I hope she knows how Hopson & I feel about her.  That, like her brothers, we cherish the day she was born.  We hold her in high esteem, not because she's our daughter, but because she is one of God's most beautiful creations.  Her truest beauty shines from within:  her caring spirit and servant's heart.  What a thing of beauty to behold.  A true treasure, more precious than diamonds.  I can't think of anything more impor...

I was able to spend most of my day today in a Kid's Leadership Summit at my church.  OK, wow...I was blown away.  First off, I serve a great God! Second, I have a wonderful Senior Pastor who made a room full of people who really love kids realize that we do have a special calling to love on kids & let them know that God loves them too. Third, LOOOOVVVVEEEE our Children's pastor.  PB, you're the greatest & I love your vision & can't wait to follow you as we live it out! Fourth, I serve alongside some of the most amazing, humble, committed, loving, crazy, spirit filled, on-fire for Jesus people I've ever met.  (adults and teenagers)  Love you guys!!! Mrs. Charmayne & Mrs Candi Ms. Natalie These pictures are from this past fall during our 'At the Movies' series.  These are just a fraction of the people I serve with, but they do represent some of the great people I get to do life and serve the ...

We're a weird family.  We love to quote movie lines.  Tommy Boy is a classic slap stick movie with some great lines to quote.  We found this on youtube a few years ago & it made us howl with laughter. ( here the version from the actual movie)  My kids heard the audio in the den just now from the scene above and came running to see it.  Yes, we are weird! Because it's Friday & Friday's rock I wanted to pass on this laugh to you!!!  (ok I lied, I had to put one more ...it's a scene montage.  How could I only put one scene from one of the greatest movies ever?  It is PG-13 though so you may want to watch it when little bitties are not in the room.) I also wanted to post this for you.  If you don't laugh, you need to go to the doctor because your funny bone is broken or you may be dead!  The groom reminds me of a few friends from high school who would have done this.  Too funny. One more thing... in the picture...

A quick ps... This blog is one month old today.  :)  11 more months of Celebrating Life!!!

balancing the stick I couldn't talk him into a reenactment of last night Hop had me laughing so hard last night!  We're sitting in the den.  Elizabeth is doing homework, I'm reading & Hop is twirling his girlfriend...I mean his lacrosse stick on the couch while the Auburn basketball game is on tv.  I think at this point Henry had gone to bed & Harry was upstairs watching the game on the big TV.  Hop loves his lacrosse stick and will spin that thing around and practice cradeling nonstop.  Last year we had to tell him to put his girlfriend down and join the family for dinner or conversations, or what ever we were doing. dancers from Fiddler on the Roof Well, I look over & he's balancing that thing over his head.  He acutally had good posture and balance, I was impressed.  (I know Betty Moss, his manners teacher would have been as well!)  He was sitting and balancing, but then he decided he wanted...

I love to shop, but I hate to try on clothes.  I think I would like it better if I was tall and willowly, maybe like a runway model, but as Hop's friend's like to remind me, I'm short.  I'm not complaining, just stating the facts.  5'2 is not excatly scraping the ceiling, unless you're standing around a group of kindergarteners.  It's all good though, God wanted me this height, so I'll be happy with it & wear really tall shoes.  :)  Some years ago I discovered Ebay.  I have made some great finds.  Pants, dresses, shoes, you name it, I might have found it there.  Weird Al Yankovic did a parody song called Ebay .  I've acutally looked up some of the stuff he mentions in his song.  Found some, but for some reason the kleenex used by Dr. Dre was not on there. So, on my birthday, I decided I wanted a new purse.  I found a super cute one that would match at least 50% of everything in my clos...

 The last day of braces! Harry informed me today that he was tired of being in the blog spotlight.  I'm sorry Harry, but you're in the spotlight..again.  I know it's tough, but I have 366 days to do this thing, so yeah, today is about you. It's been a big month for Harry.  He passed his driver's permit test earlier this month, and today he had his braces taken off.  No more brace face or metal mouth.  He's so excited he can eat sticky or hard candy and not worry about breaking another bracket.  Yes, he broke 3...the next one he was going to pay for.  Needless to say, he was a little more careful from then on out.  Whew, for the fam we have two braces down...and two to go.  I joked with the office staff that I was going to keep making payments so I could get ahead with Elizabeth and Henry.  They laughed and said they had other families who did it, so they may have another f...