My New Addiction

I skipped church today to play with my new toy!!!!!  O.K;, O.K., I know I shouldn't but, I DID do my own devotional time , first!! I read my devotional and said my prayers, then------scrambled as fast as I could  to my craft room! FINALLY, FINALLY I decided it was time to play with my new Cricut (pronounced CRICKET!) machine the kids got me for Christmas. It's soooooooooooooo awesome! It took awhile, as everyone knows, I'm electronically challenged, but I didn't ask for help, I did it on my own. I even read the instructions! HAHA! Oh, is this going to be FUN!!!!! I love it! I can't wait to start making cards and pages for my scrapbooks!!! It works like a computer keyboard, so that part is easy. Lining up the paper and getting the right size paper,etc. took a little practice. AND, I'm still learning! I plan to stay in my Craft Room all day---a perfect rainy, dark December 31st and play with my new toy! This is ONE addiction I won't give up for my New Year's Resolution! In fact, my New Year's Resolution is to do MORE scrapbooks than I did in 2006! SO, look out kids!!!! (I sure am glad LILY loves looking at my scrapbooks. She just might inherit them ALL!) HAHAHAHA!..........HAPPY NEW * CRICUT *---(I mean YEAR!)

Patrick's 23rd birthday!

Today is my baby boy's 23rd birthday! I woke up early this morning and was thinking about that early morning that I woke up 23 years ago. I remember driving up that hill to Baptist Medical Center Montclair and seeing all the Christmas trees, lit during that early morning drive to the hospital. I remember my nurse, how sweet she was and how she would brag to everyone, "This girl hasn't made one SOUND. One peep!" The reason???? I didn't feel a thing!!! That spinal worked wonders for me!!! I remember telling her, "I think the baby MIGHT be coming"! She took a look and squealed--"THE BABY IS CROWNING!" She rang up Dr. Parnell and he was eating LUNCH! She ALMOST delivered Patrick herself! HAHA! Lewis Patrick Fry weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds and 8 ounces! What a little doll he was !  And as he grew, so did that blonde , beautiful head of hair! It would turn WHITE in the summer! The only Blonde Child we  would have. NOW he shaves that beautiful thick head of hair and we ALL fuss at him---why would he shave such beautiful hair off????! I almost bought him shampoo to put in his goodie birthday bag and remembered---he doesn't NEED shampoo! I hope he'll GROW HIS HAIR back in 2007!!!!!!!!!!!......We are so thankful  that he is doing so well after his wreck  and he is only taking Advils now, no more pain medicines! HURRAH!.......He loved his gifts--especially his little scrapbook I made for him--he always appreciates everything I do for him like that. He's always so thankful and appreciative. That's why  I love to do things for him!! As he drove off, both Terry and I stood there and just watched. Watched until he turned the corner. Watched until we didn't see the car anymore. Neither of us wanted to move and we didn't for the longest time.  I think both of us had our hearts in our throats and yet, you finally have to let go. It's STILL hard for me to let "the baby boy" grow up.  And, now, everytime I think about him driving, I get nervous. I've got to let that fear go. I couldn't wait to see him  today and he wasn't here long at all  and a part of me was sad. I remember parties from years past and having Mimi and Daddy over to help celebrate. Seems like yesterday! Where have the last 23 years gone????? I just love him so much and amd so thankful that he is alive and well but I find it hard to let my youngest son grow up and away.  There are times I wish I could turn back the hands of time, but I know God has such a great future for Pat that I must trust him with Patrick's future and his life. I must put him BACK into the Hands that have held him all these years. But it's hard! (God, PLEASE continue to take care of my baby boy as he drives!).........HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PATRICK! I Love you  sooooo sooooooo much!

P.S. in case you couldn't tell ---PAT GOT SOME NEW WHEELS!!!!!!

P.P.S. Pat's cake is half and half! He loves yellow cake and WHITE icing. But, everyone else likes yellow cake and CHOCOLATE icing so I made it half and half! HAHAHAHAHAHA

Watching JAY JAY!

Last night Kemp spent the night with us! Terry picked him up and when they walked in and I tried to take him he grabbed his BIG T around the neck and emphatically told me, "NO, GranJAN!" He is a BIG T boy, that's for sure! He only wanted to sit in Big T's lap and watch "Jay Jay the Jet Plane" and "Thomas the Train"! Over and over again, we watched episodes! We know know all about Big Jake; Scruffy the Skywriter; buck toothed Steamroller girl (forgot her name) and of course, JAY JAY. Also we watched Thomas and CRANKY and all his friends. Soon, I was nodding asleep and so was Terry but Kemp was still flying his make believe plane!!!! He was sooooooo sweet last night and we so enjoyed him. I didn't even put him in his baby bed. I WANTED to snuggle with him, but guess what? Yep, you guessed it. He wanted to lie in BIG T's arms!!!! After Terry left for work, today,  I FINALLY got some hugs and kisses!

P.S. for everyone who's asked---Pat went to the doctor yesterday. His fracture hadn't changed much and when he does go back to work, he can only work for 4 hours for a couple of weeks. After that, he can stand only 20 minutes, then sit. The doctor said that 10 weeks should make a big difference! He goes back in 3 weeks. In the meantime, Stefanie has been sooooo sweet to cart him around and keep him entertained. TOMORROW is Pat's 23rd birthday! My baby boy is 23! I'm just so thankful that he is o.k. and I can't wait to give him a big, huge birthday hug and kiss!

TREE DOWN, Decorations packed up!

 

I hate taking down the Christmas decorations! For one thing, it's sure not fun to UN-decorate the tree and then you have this PILE of pretty ornaments that you have to carefully wrap back up again so that NEXT year it won't be one big mess!  All I have left out are the pretty Christmas cards we got ! (TONS AND TONS of pictures cards this year!--, Now don't tell anyone, but Kemp's and Lily's were the prettiest kids pix we got, BY FAR!! hee hee) ANYWAY, We took the tree down the day after Christmas and I just put all the ornaments in a huge box and carried them----WHERE? UPSTAIRS ! Where they sat  until today. I had a MESS up here. I finished putting up all the other stuff downstairs and I just couldn't bring myself to do that yesterday. What I REALLY wanted to do today was play with my new CRICUT machine all the kids went in together and gave me for CHRISTMAS! It's the MOST AWESOME die cut machine EVER! You don't have to use a computer, either! I am DYING to use it! BUT, I wanted a time when I didn't have anything else pressing on me---like PUTTING UP THE CHRISTMAS STUFF! HAHA!......SO, anyway, here's a few pictures of the tree and my pretty decorations BEFORE they went to hibernate, for the next 362 days---

P.S. I'm going to add my new Cricut (prounounced CRICKET) machine website above! CHECK IT OUT!

 

Sharing a precious e-mail!

I received the following e-mail this morning, Dec.26th. As everyone knows,Dec.26th is a day of CLUTTER and taking running out  chasing the garbage man (like Terry did this morning)with TONS of oversized and overstuffed garbage bags with leftover Christmas!!! The tree looks sadly bare; the dishes are still in the dishwasher and sink; there are pieces of leftover paper and forgotten toys under the couch and everyone is in a slightly grumpy mood. All the joy and anticipation , OVER! I was feeling all those things when I stumbled upstairs , spilling (over brewed! shh! don't tell TErry) , coffe all over my ratty robe  and with a headache b/c I slept too long. This was the e-mail, below, that greeted me. It was so sweet I got teary-eyed. Rebekah (TATUM) Taylor is one of my "girls"--She and ,(is it Michael or Charles?)are the same age, grew up together in SUnday School at East Lake United Methodist Church and her parents are some of Terry and my best friends. We don't see each other that much anymore but when we do, it's like we were just together 5 minutes prior! Those kinds of friends who stay with you forever, in heart and soul! Rebekah, (and her sister, Jeannie), are like that,to all of us, too. BEAUTIFUL and SWEET! (yes, it's true!they are both!). Rebekah and Charles were even "girlfriend and boyfriend" when they were in high school for a season!(and now, Rebekah is married to an attorney who was in Charles' Law Classes,too! How funny is that?!). In other words, this family is DEAR to us! Rebekah and Mort are proud parents of a precious little boy, Hugh! She sent me  beautiful pictures of Hugh last night by the stained glass windows at MY (always will be "MY" church---ELUM, even though I go to RUMC now HAHA)church. So precious (Rebekah, I have some of Katie and Patrick standing by the very same windows)! I just had to add Hugh and her e-mail this morning to my JOURNAL page b/c her e-mail was so sweet. And  is so typical of the Tatums (even tho Rebekah's last name is TAYLOR now, I still call her Rebekah Tatum! HAHA), she is still the same sweet little girl she always was. Even more so today, if possible! THANK YOU REBEKAH for making my day. Your e-mail not only warmed my heart, but it even made this bitter coffee taste sweet! I LOVE YOU! mama fry.......

 

Mama Fry,

I just read your journal entry!  I'm getting all teary eyed in bed!  (that's were I do my best "surfing").  You are such blessed writer.  How I know you miss your Daddy.  He was so special to all of us.  There's just something about Daddies!!!   I don't know what I'd do without mine.  He understands me so well.  

Reading your entry reminded me of what a wonderful family you have.  Thank you for sharing with all of us!  It just warms my heart!!!  (Extra hugs to Patrick this year too!  SO glad he is home!!!)  Gee, just send hugs to everyone!

Love,

RLTT

 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

What a great Christmas Day! I realized that today I have had 55 wonderful Christmases! WOW! How cool is that! I remember all those Christmases past---from the times when I was a child  to the times when our own children were small and were all at home! All  of my Chrismtases have their own wonderful memories and joys!!!! One memory from childhood is that Daddy would always run in that morning and tell me, "Merry Christmas, ANGEL!" Oh how I wish tonight I could hear him say it one more time! One year, when I was around 11, was one of my most vivid memories.It was Christmas Eve and Daddy had put on the stereo console the  Fred Waring Christmas Album (that and Mitch Miller!). We sat on the couch and for well over an hour didn't speak a word, but I sat in the crook of his arm and laid my head on his shoulder and we listened to that entire album while the magic of Christmas weaved in and around the room and connected our spirits---from the darkness of the room to the shadows the candles made on the wall to the smell of our Christmas tree, it is a memory I will hold in my heart forever. It was a magical moment in time. Nothing profound,just simply being.  Being QUIET on Christmas Eve and LISTENING and waiting.I wonder why that time was so special to me? Maybe because it was just us. When I was with Daddy, I was the center of his world. No one else invaded my space! I had his whole attention! Not only that, I always felt so secure in his arms. Like nothing could ever hurt me and that I could do and be anything in the world I wanted to when I was in his arms. He always listened to me and respected my opinions and made me feel like I was the smartest and prettiest girl in the world when I was with him.He challenged me to be the best person I could be. He encouraged me and laughed with me and called me his angel (and, his sweetheart).I think this year I've missed him more than any other since he's been gone. Why, I don't know.But I miss him. SO much tonight.  I cherish and relish those moments and the Christmas Eve night just reminds me of that. Each year, I pull that memory out and hold it close and tonight, even more so. As I'm writing, I'm looking at a picture of Daddy and Mimi that I made with my camera probably that very year---my 11th year. They are smiling in front ofthe Christmas tree.Daddy is almost chubby looking---I love it that he looks so robust and healthy and my mom looks so pretty! How old are they? I guess Daddy must be 50 and my mom, 48? Younger than I am now! Mimi has on a pretty dress and pearls--she looks like a young Jackie Kennedy so stylish and pretty!On the tree behind them are the tacky "icicles" I probably draped on the tree in clumps and I see the old ornaments on the tree, some of which I put on my tree now.Nostalgia is overwhelming me tonight and it feels, well , it feels good. Bittersweet. I hope my own children maybe are making memories like that, too. Not of me just running around the kitchen cooking (like I usually do!) but maybe they saw me on the floor with Kemp playing with the train or with Lily singing with Barney the Christmas Song. That's what memories are made of! I hope I made some for Kemp and Lily today like my Daddy and Mother did for me! I hope so!....And what about all those years of getting toys and believing with all my heart in dear old Santa?! I loved Santa Claus! And, the year he brought me CHATTY CATHY?! Well, he became my hero that year! That doll made me the happiest little girl in East Lake my 9th Christmas Day!!!!! And, Santa has faithfully and continually come each and every year of my life! This year was no exception!Of course, for all of us, it was a special gift to have our Patrick HERE this year, after the scare a week ago when he had his terrible wreck. No greater gift could I have received than to have him here with us today---smiling that beautiful smile and giving me my special "Patrick hugs"!!!!So, any other gifts after that were BONUS ones! And I got lots of those, too!..... Christmas 2006  started off quietly enough--- unlike Christmases 20 years ago when 10 feet would hit the staircase and 5 voices screaming, MERRY CHRISTMAS sounded throughout the Fry House! This year we only have our ONE baby girl at home.She came downstairs around 9 and we hugged and said, "MERRY CHRISTMAS!". It still seems weird not having any other kids around now on Christmas morning!! Katie and I  exchanged stockings and enjoyed eating some SISTER SCHUBURT sausage and biscuits!!! Terry went to church and  while he was gone,we reveled in the excitement of Christmas morning, just the 2 of us! It's that ANTICIPATION thing---will everyone like their gifts? What will the day bring? Even the cats and dog seemed to know Christmas was in the air! Last night, well, actually, it was early Christmas morning, Katie and I laid out all the stockings and I made a few pictures of the stockings filled to the brim as well as the toys Santa left here for Lily and Kemp and caught her half asleep on the sofa!!! But, back to later on this morning! Jon was here bright and early and then came Stefanie and Pat. Soon after, Natalie/Brad and Kemp and Michael/Kadie and Lily came next. Natalie made a delicious breakfast casserole and we ate that and laughed at the little ones as they went nuts over their gifts! After eating we opened gifts. It was, as usual, a madhouse! Paper and bags everywhere as well as new dolls/toys and gifts. Lily got her new Disney T.V. from Aunt Cutie and Kemp got his V-SMILE so he can be a big boy like Uncle Pat and Jon J on and play video games---only ones for little tykes! I can't wait to see him work it! He loved his THOMAS THE TRAIN that we gave him and Lily loved her Talking Stove and Arial, the singing mermaid! Pat Pat and Stefanie gave the little ones some books and dolls,e tc. and I enjoyed getting some super gifts, too! Money from Terry; a soft and cuddly warm up  suit from KEMP and a warm gown I'm wearing right now from Katie! Of course, I loved my SHUTTERFLY scrapbook that is filled (90 pages!) of pictures of my incredible trip> It turned out simply awesome. Terry loved his Shutterfly scrapbook I made him, too, of his Emmaus Walk! ......after gift giving and cleaning up "the kids" played a (LONG!) game of Monopoly. Pat ended up the winner!!!!!!! Kemp took a 3 hour nap and Lily took NO NAP AT ALL! Of course, the minute they got in the car to go home she was zonked out!!! We had another wonderful Christmas Day to add the memories of Christmas Past.! And already, I am thinking ahead to NEXT year to Christmas FUTURE!!!!! Oh  how I love my CHRISTMASES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!

P.S. Of course, we ended Christmas by searching for the CHRISTMAS PICKLE!!! Guess who the winner was? ONCE AGAIN, PATRICK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He won a gift card! He got to hide it for the next round and it took them about 20 minutes to find it!!! MICHAEL won that time! I think Patrick will be our official "HIDER" of the pickle from now on! GO PATRICK! He won MONOPOLY AND the PICKLE PRIZE!

(more!) CHRISTMAS EVE

Since Brad had to be at Church of the Advent most of the day/night and Natalie had to sing at the Christmas Eve Service at RUMC, we offered to keep Kemp here while she was busy practicing and during the service. We had fun letting Kemp watch the Christmas Eve T.V. Specials. What I didn't see was him sneak into my bedroom and find part of his train set for tomorrow! HAHA! I had to sneak it away from him amid screams and get his mind off of "MY train set!" ........His mommy just left with a tired Kemp who is ready for bed and for Santa to come! Here's some pictures of Aunt Cutie reading him "The Night Before Christmas" and also some pix of him watching "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" with Big T!

Mimi gets a present from Santa!

We went to see Mimi today! This year, it was just Terry, Katie , Jon and me. (Kadie/Michael/Lily and Brad/Nat/Kemp went yesterday because Kadie's family were having their Christmas together today).We had a nice visit! I took her stocking that Santa filled as well as a Letter Santa sent here for Mimi! Here's what the letter said!

Santa heard you were such a GOOD LITTLE GIRL that I wanted to bring you your very own baby doll !!!! Maybe Doris can bring her baby dolls down for a visit!!!! When you’re not playing with your sweet baby doll, just let her rest on your bed where everyone can see her, too!

 HO HO HO ! Merry Christmas!!!!!!!

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!
LOVE!
SANTA CLAUS

 

Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, today is the day all kids all over the world have been waiting for! The day when they check their list , not TWICE, but a gazillion times, in their letters to SANTA! HO HO HO! Santa is coming tonight!............We had the annual Fry Christmas Party last night! It was EXCEPTIONALLY great last night b/c we had Patrick there, snapping pictures and laughing and enjoying himself and in much less pain than last week! Of course, he is moving slowly and having to wear his brace all the time, but he's getting used to it. He gave Stefanie her Christmas prezzie early---a new camera--so, they were both making , GET THIS, more pictures than I usually do! HAHA! Pat/Stefanie and Katie were snapping so much it looked like the paparazzi were here!  I don't know if I like that---When I make pictures, I'm NOT IN THEM, I saw some of me that looked pretty hideous ! ( I need to look at them before they put them on MySpace!HAHA).Everytime I turned around I saw flashing! HAHAHA! The pictures I'm putting here I made, I'm not about to load any of those of me on there! HAHAHAHA........First, we ate dinner. Terry ordered a beef tenderloin and we made sandwiches with them. Kadie made a huge  (DELICIOUS) salad to go along with it and we had chips and dips, etc. Terry also had bought some shrimp this past week when he went to Mobile so we also had them. He had boiled them in this strong "crab boil" stuff and the house smelled like a fishery! I had every door and window open yesterday afternoon ! HAHA! Apparently, the kids loved them, they are all gone!  After eating, we went into the den and started the DIRTY SANTA. Some were VERY dirty! HAHAHAHAHA! Everyone took a number from a bowl from 1-12 . Stefanie was #1 so she went first! Then you could either grab a gift from someone OR choose one on the floor that was wrapped. As usual, Dirty Santa, was  hilarious. (I went ahead and gave the little ones a couple of gifts I had for them on Christmas so they would have something to play with).  I think one of the funniest gifts was from Charles and Michael. Bad boys! I thought MY gift, the singing dog, was the cutest. Everyone WANTED the gift from Katie---a Barney coffee set or the one from Stefanie---a WalMart gift card (KADIE stole that from me)!  JON got Charles' Dirty Santa gift! That was the funniest thing EVER! Jon's ears might STILL be red this morning!...... Then, everyone opened their gift from whomever had their name. They got some great stuff! I think MINE and TERRY'S and Natalie's gifts were some of the best! Terry got a Palm Pilot from the kids and I got this die cut machine, called a CRICUT,  for scrapbooking! (the kids went in together and gave Terry and myself our gifts). Kadie had Natalie's name and got her this original painting of an angel for Natalie that is just beautiful! I can't remember what all everyone else got, but I think everyone was very happy with their prezzies!!! After that, we watched a little T.V., then played around with the little ones. They were so cute---Lily in her smocked Christmas dress and Kemp with his new little hair cut! They were so good and sweet---as usual! Charles had a great time teasing Kemp! HAHAHAHA! He would grab one of his toys and Kemp would WIG OUT! Charles would go look thro the toy box and randomly pick up something and Kemp would scream, "That's MINE!" It was sooooo funny!  Check out the pix to see Kemp freaking out at Charles! HAHAHA>.......After eating some red velvet cake and drinking some coffee and just hanging out, sadly, the FRY CHRISTMAS PARTY was coming to a close. One by one, my sweet kids/in-laws/significant others and grandbabies---left. Then, Terry and I looked at each other---grabbed the REMOTE and said "PEACE ON EARTH!" HAHAHAHA! Seriously, this is what makes our life worth living---having our beautiful family together and enjoying life and each other and , most of all, understanding the REAL meaning of CHRISTmas, which came in the form of----a baby. Praise God! Speaking of PRAISING GOD, I must go and get ready to do just that today, on this glorious Christmas Eve and give thanks to God for letting me able to do just that with Patrick this year.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT!!!

December 23rd

Getting ready for the family to come over tonight! I just made a Red Velvet Cake (see pix!) and now I'm cleaning the house! (WHY, I don't know! It will just get messy in a few hours! HAHA). I'm excited to have all 5 kids and their significant others/Kemp and Lily tonight! Terry decided NOT to cook out but , instead, order a Beef Tenderloin. YUM--!......We're going to swap gifts and play DIRTY SANTA! Watch out, kids! We've got some good dirty Santa gifts! HAHAHAHAHA

Santa bowling!

Well, it's 3 days till Christmas! Last night Katie went bowling with Jon's fraternity brothers and their dates . Jon was so sad he didn't get to go, b/c he had to work one last day in Auburn. (I couldn't believe Katie even went without him! HAHA!) Here's some shots from their bowling night! CUTE! HO HO HO!

MORE Pat Pat

Patrick is sound asleep downstairs! I'm waiting for Terry to get here and we'll have dinner. It was fun hanging out with Patrick today! I think he feels much better! His back, tho, is covered in a big red peeling rash. He thinks it was from the air bag that came out during the wreck! It looks awful, I know it burns and itches!!! I hope he's not allergic to the medicine! .......I looked at him sleeping so peacefully and a lump came in my throat again---I am just so overwhelmed with thankfulness to GOD for letting Patrick cheat the jaws of death like he did. What a Christmas Miracle he is!

Pat Pat

 I think Patrick is slowly getting better. I am hoping each day he feels more like himself. Natalie said he ate dinner last night and I talked to him this morning and he is sore but moving some. I hope to bring him over here tomorrow to watch our new T.V. that is going in at this very moment! Here's some pix I made last week of Kemp and PAT PAT.! I hope it won't be too long until he can throw Kemp up in the air like that again!!!!!!!!!!!

Natalie's SOLO (& Pat is going home!)

Here's some pictures I made right before I left to go to the hospital to see about Patrick! Natalie sang a solo, even upset about her baby brother! Konie told me "it was incredible! Beautiful!" I hated to miss it but I did get to hear her practice---here are the pictures of it and some of the others from the Praise Team as well. The two lead women singers are: NATALIE & NATALIE!!!! Yep, 2 Natalies!........PATRICK IS COMING HOME TODAY! I'm fixing to go help him get settled at Nat's. He wants to go to his own bed. I don't blame him. In a few days he will come here........more later

Our Christmas Miracle

 

  HE'S going to be O.K., but I wanted everyone to know that Patrick had a terrible wreck on Saturday night on the ramp on Hwy 280. He is going to be o.k., PRAISE GOD, but he is in the hospital (Brookwood MC), and will hopefully will be discharged tomorrow. He is one LUCKY young man. He was going off of Hwy 459 to Hwy280 and lost control ,(let me guess, SPEEDING probably?) , swerved and tried to compensate for the swerve and his truck flipped not once, not twice but 3 times! (yes, it is totaled).  He called Brad and he refused going to the hospital  in an ambulance but around 5:00 A.M. the pain got so bad that he got his girlfriend to take him to the hospital. Pat called us and the rest is history. We got the call every parent never wants to get but thank GOD he is alive and will recover. He IS in a lot of pain b/c he has a compressed fracture in his lower back--the orthopedic doctor told Terry if had been any higher he could've been paralyzed.  And, a couple of cuts on his head. So, you could say, we got Christmas EARLY this year having the good news that he will fully recover.  I spent the night with him last night and he has had so much company today it looks like a party in his room. I hope he has had time to rest! He will be in a back brace for 10 weeks and of course, his truck is totaled so he won't be driving for awhile!  I think he is coming here to recuperate, (he lives in Natalie and Brad's downstairs apt), for a few days- (probably thro Christmas) -unless he decides he'd rather sleep in his own bed! We'll decide that tomorrow!...... All his brothers and sisters were hanging around him on Sunday watching his every breath.  Yes, there were some tears between us and lots of hugs and love. While it was a scary time, it was awesome to see all the kids come together with Terry and I and support their little brother. (You might say we're all beside ourselves our sweet Pat is  going to be o.k.!! haha! The tears turned to joy and smiles as we got back good reports from all the tests.   Yesterday was tough, however, when he had to  leave to go and have the Cat Scans and MRI to make sure nothing else was wrong, but we are just overjoyed that all tests came back fine. Well, not really "fine"--he still has a serious back injury, but compared to what COULD have happened---well, we are just so very thankful that nothing else happened to our sweet Pat that we are just beside ourselves with thankfulness. Please, however, keep him in your prayers b/c  this is PAT! Pat loves to be outside hunting and fishing and always on the go. He even loves working at Mark's Outdoors and won't be working for at least 3 weeks. He'll be antsy to say the least!!!!! So, pray for patience for him! HAHA!...... Again, just wanted you all to know and it's easier to send an email to let you all know b/c my phone has been ringing off the hook and I haven't been able to call everyone yet! Again, we say thanks for the love and prayers and we are so very , VERY thankful that our precious: Son/Brother/uncle is on the road to recovery!...Yes, Patrick is truly our CHRISTMAS MIRACLE!!!!!!!!!!!

 

P.S. Just to show you he's o.k., here's a couple of pix I made last night at the hospital!

The MOOSE is up!

Finally, 10 days before Christmas, we get our moose set up! It was a great day to do it, tho, because it was about 75 degrees outside--WARM! (See-- Katie has on FLIP FLOPS!). We got Jon to help us---actually, I think he did all the work!!! I'm just glad the big ole moose moves like he's supposed to after being stuck in a box all year! Poor Moose!....The first group of pictures (after the one of Jon RIDING the moose) are from Jon/Katie's friends Christmas party the other night! Cute pix....OH! Guess what??? WE GOT OUR BEAUTIFUL COUCHES! HURRAH!!!!  THEY ARE GORGEOUS! And the most comfortable things I've ever sat, excuse me, LAID on! I think they are more comfortable than our BED!! I love love love them! I'll post some Pix of them later on.............KEMP is much better today. Hurrah!

more of Kemp's allergic reaction!

Brad and Pat came over tonight to eat with us and hang out with us while Natalie had the Little Lambs Christmas Party@ their house. Kemp was itching and miserable so we put him in the tub. You can really see how bad his allergic reaction is to penicillin in these shots! I reminded PATRICK that if he ever took a dose again, he'd look like that, too!!!!!......poor little Kemp, his FEET are so swollen that he can't even walk. He kept holding his arms up to his daddy and saying, "HOLD YOU, DADDY!" All he wanted to do today was watch "Jay Jay the Jet plane"! I finally got him to eat some cheese and some pudding. That's it. He just looks so bad and I'll be so glad when he gets BETTER! I am keeping him tomorrow, too, while Nat works. I am praying he's feeling better tomorrow, bless his little heart!

Kemp's allergic to PENICILLIN!

Poor little angel boy! Our little Kemp has had a terrible reaction to penicillin! Just like his Uncle Patrick and Aunt Katie, Kemp is allergic to it! Natalie called me concerned yesterday and said he had lots of whelps on him. I met her at WalMart and the first thing I said was, "looks just like Patrick did so many years ago!" She even got the pharmacist to look at him while we were at WalMart and he thought it looked like a penicillin reaction, too. Well, this morning she called early, in a panic, saying he looked HORRIBLE and she and Brad were taking him in to the doctor, early. Sure enough, the doctor said he is VERY VERY allergic to it and to watch him carefully the next few days. He is here now,  asleep.I was planning on keeping him anyway b/c Nat is having the LITTLE LAMBS PLAYSCHOOL CHRISTMAS PARTY at her house tonight. I just found PATRICK'S pictures that I made of him (he was about 8 months old) and, yes, looks JUST LIKE Kemp does! I('m going to put a pix of him on here, too, so Nat can see Patrick looked JUST LIKE THAT!). I know how she feels, too! It's horrible to see your little boy covered in those HORRIBLE looking sores!!! Even Kemp's little hands are swollen--he has places EVERYWHERE. Like a horrible case of chicken pox, but I think--_WORSE! Every place on his body has a place on it. Looks like he was burned with cigarettes! I hope he gets better SOON. (Guess he won't be getting his pix made with Santa this week!!!)..........Kemp, I hope you feel and LOOK better when you wake up! I LOVE YOU!

"I'm a PRINCESS, DranDran!"

We are still laughing about the story Kadie told about Lily Monday! She informed her mommy that "I AM A PRINCESS". She thought that was cute until she found out that PRINCESS LILY has a mind of her own. Especially regarding ROYAL CLOTHING! All Lily wants to wear these days are DRESSES. And CERTAIN ONES! Lily got in her mind to wear a summer dress that she loved. Not just for a day, but she did NOT want to take a royal bath OR go to bed without wearing her Princess Dress!!! Michael got so frustrated with her and , Lily, in turn got so mad at her daddy because he said she could not wear the dress to bed!!! Kadie had to sit her tiny princess down and say: 1. Princesses have to take baths 2. Princesses CAN wear pants 3. Princesses have to be sweet to their daddies!!!!......I have laughed for 2 days thinking about her throwing a ROYAL fit about that dress!!!!!! Our Princess Lily is such a funny little girl!!!! Who knows what she'll be wearing on Christmas Day! Since she was about 18 months old, Lily has been able to recognize ALL the Disney Princesses. SO, I don't know if I take CREDIT for her Princess behavior or take the BLAME for it! HAHAHAHAHA

I LOVE SANTA CLAUS!

Even though I still can't HEAR (my ear is still stopped up b/c of an ear infection!), I can decorate! I haven't pulled out everything this year, but I did decorate some!  I love putting out the kid's old Santa pictures each year on the mantel! And, my favorite decorations are the big Santa's I bought while living in Riverchase at Christmas Village about 15 years ago. A lady from North Carolina made each one by hand--each face is so unique and different and she used antique clothes and toys to put in Santa's pack.She took months to make each one. I have 2. One sits and the other stands. (They were very expensive even 15 years ago but I'm so glad I bought them. Sometimes I leave them out year round. Konie Bryant and Debra Rogers alos have some of these incredible Santa's). The lady  who makes them doesn't come to Christmas Village anymore or I would have bought some more! I think she had  health problems so I doubt she makes them now, which makes them even more special. Her husband carved the boots out of wood and he also made some of the toys that Santa holds. Each one has a tiny Bible , too! I let the tall one in red, hold my childhood stocking that my mom made me. These Santa's are truly my favorites because Santa to me has always been magical and REAL to this "little girl" who believed in him so long !!  What am I talking about?! I STILL believe in him! HO HO HO 

Walt Disney World!

As you can see, it looks like Nat/Brad and Kemp had so much fun in Walt Disney World! I can tell when Kemp started getting sick, tho, he was SLEEPING in several pictures! Natalie said it was SOOOOO hot while they were there!!!She said she wished she had worn shorts!

I can't wait to take Kemp AND Lily when they get a little older. Lily will freak out seeing CINDERELLA and ARIEL! She loves those Disney Princesses!

It's beginning to look like Christmas!

It's FINALLY beginning to look a lot like Christmas around here! I'm better, still coughing and my ear still is stopped up (might have to go back and have a re-check on that!) BUT feel better enough to do some more decorating! Brad got the tree in yesterday afternoon and then, last night--Terry, Katie and KEMP helped decorate! Kemp is feeling 100% better---back to his little playful self and we were all so glad! He was our entertainment last night (Nat/Brad had their Christmas Sunday School party to go to)! He made us laugh the whole night! Terry is mesmerized by him. Always! He danced; played; sang and has this thing about OWLS---we think because there is one in his Halloween book, he is scared of it! So, he would get the book and say, "NO! Don't read it!" and would shut his eyes and shake that head! (Natalie said he did that in Walt Disney World in the Haunted Mansion and the Pirates of Carribbean, too! Hides his head and squeezes shut his eyes! HAHA). We laugh at the cute way he shakes that head! His hair (which is gorgeous, like brown silk!), shakes everytime he shakes that head while he suqeezes those big eyes shut! He was so adorable last night and we so enjoyed him! And, he was so SQUEEZEABLE in those velour pajamas he had on! .....Speaking of their Walt Disney World trip, I will add those pictures next week! They borrowed Katie's camera so we just got them back and downloaded them.Some really cute ones. Just too bad he was sick and not feeling good while there!

Brad brought Kemp over around lunchtime yesterday because he was having a "melt down" at school. He saw his mommy and was crying and because he didn't feel well, he just fell apart. I told Natalie to get Brad to just bring him here since I was feeling much better. He walked in and was just fine!!! I could tell he didn't feel that well (he has an ear infection and bad cough---just like his GranJan!) but he played for about and hour and then took a LONG winter's nap. I called Nat and told her to just let him stay the night! He had to have his medicine, tho, so Terry dropped by Nat's and picked it up after work. He was sooooooo sweet and we enjoyed having him so much!!!  Here are a few shots from last night AND from today. When Brad came to pick him up, Terry was gone to WalMart with Kemp. On the way home, Kemp fell asleep so Terry got out of putting the tree up since he had to hold a sleeping Kemp! HAHAHAHAHA! At least the tree is up. Now I've got to decid whether to even decorate the thing! HA!

Helpful Crew!

I have been sick for several days! I went to the doctor and my my chart it said: Acute Bronchitis and Otitis Media. (The O.M. is ear infection for those who don't have medical knowledge! HAHA!) JUST LIKE LAST YEAR, I have an ear infection, of all things! It started stopping up and I knew that's what it was! YIKES! BUT, after 3 days of high powered meds I am starting to feel human again! HURRAH! The coughing has been the worst. I don't know HOW Terry can sleep with me continually coughing. After I got the cough medicine (you take it at night)---it knocks me out! Maybe I cough---I don't know! HAHA!........One reason I feel so much better is because Michael, Kadie, Lily and Brad came and helped us move our furniture back into the room! It looks fantastic! I couldn't be happier with my floor and new paint job!! I feel like I live in a CASTLE!!! It reminds me of stone floors in the old castles we saw in Europe!!! Right now, especially, since it doesn't have much furniture in there. I love it, really!!!!!!!! Kadie swept/cleaned and climbed up on the table and CLEANED MY Chandelier!!! It looks great! I love that chandelier---we brought it from our house in Riverchase. It is so pretty but was so dust filled it looked, well, BROWN! Now it is back to shining brightly again. Everything looks so pretty and I'm soooooooo excited!!!  Not only that, but Kadie also brought our dinner that night! THAT Made me feel even better! Poor Nat couldn't come, she and Kemp are still sick , too.......I think our couches are coming Dec.16th and our new big wall T.V. is coming a week from Monday! I can't wait! Christmas for me is coming a little early this year and I couldn't be happier! A HUGE thanks to the kids for helping move the furniture back!!!

P.S. I have some more pictures of Lily in her cute little outfit she has on.  Becky sent a huge box of ADORABLE clothes to Kemp and Lily for Christmas!  (my friend, Becky, in Florida)! More on that tomorrow!

P.P.S. Jacob Bishop is going home from the hospital today , FINALLY! Hurrah!

The true spirit of giving

I'm so proud of Katie and Jon! They decided that instead of giving each other Christmas gifts this year, that they would give Laura's grandkids their SANTA toys this year!!! The other Fry kids also have contributed to the huge room full of Santa toys for all 4 of Laura's little grandkids. Laura's grandkids range in age from 12 years down to 5 years. 2 girls and 2 boys. We (yes, I got to be in on it too!) had a blast going to Toys R Us and buying the items on their "wish list". Laura said not to get it all but there were only a few things for each child, so Katie pretty much got everything they asked for (Terry also gave her some money to help get it all). She started by looking for specials in the paper and sure enough, we got some great deals. Pat met us in Toys R Us and gave us some money as well (which touched me b/c I know he doesn't really have much to spare these days! HAHA). Natalie bought BABY ALIVE clothes and diapers for the BABY ALIVE doll!  I think Michael/Charles are also going to contribute--maybe towards a gift card for groceries since we finished  with the toys. I bought Laura a throw away camera and made her promise to take pictures of their faces on Christmas morning! I'm so proud that the kids love giving to those less fortunate than themselves. I remember vividly that Christmas Eve that Charles and Terry and Michael were frantically wrapping gifts for a boy Charles had been tutoring  (as well as his brother and sister). I remember being afraid for them to go that late on Christmas Eve into the projects but I got a sermon from my own son that night--he said, "Mom, God is not going to let anything happen to me tonight". Terry rode with him anyway and I remember thinking how selfish that must have sounded on my part---worrying about my own child's safety when he was doing what he felt compelled to do. Of course, that is one of the reasons Katie wanted to do the same thing this year. She remembered that night. She was probably only about 6 or 7 but it made such an impact on her heart. She has such a giving heart., too.(just ask Kemp and Lily!). Actually, not to brag, but ALL my kids have giving natures. I'm so thankful for that.  As I look at all  piles of beautifully  wrapped packages in her room, it makes me so proud! It brings tears to my eyes because it isn't something I have taught them (although I have always tried to teach them to share what they have), but  it is  also something God has impressed on their hearts.  I know that feeling, too. It's like you're compelled to do something for someone else and the JOY you get back is soooooo much greater than the gifts or services you offer.  It amazes me each time how good you truly feel when you give, not just from the pocket by cash, but give from the heart. What an incredible feeling. And I am so thankful that they "get it" and respond to that call.  To me, that is the true meaning of Christmas---giving until you feel the pinch. I needed to be reminded myself. And when I hear someone say, "I don't have the Christmas Spirit" I want to say, THEN GIVE SOMETHING TO SOMEONE ELSE and you will find that "Christmas Spirit"---over and above what you thought was possible!!!!........ :)!

P.S. We DID find the Baby Alive Afro American! a couple of weeks ago!! Katie found it online so we took the white one back (in the picture!) and got the black one! WHEW! Katie was so worried about that ! I think we found the LAST ONE in the USA! HAHAHA

 

 

 

 

This brightened my day!

I tossed and turned last night b/c I am sick! I have a form of "the crud"--coughing/sore, sore throat/lethargic---generally feeling rotten. Most of the day I have spent in the bed watching T.V.--dozing and taking meds! BUT, I heard Katie scream "LOOK OUTSIDE!! QUICK!" and ran into the back yard to see this beautiful hot air balloon right over the lake! I know the people inside laughed as they saw me run back into the house, looking like a madwoman, grabbing my camera!

Kemp is with MICKEY!

Natalie called yesterday morning early and said they "were pulling into the Magic Kingdom" right then! That it was actually HOT and she wished she'd put on shorts! She said Kemp was the best traveler ever on the way down there! Brad took Katie's new camera and she has a "1 G -SD" card, so they can load it up with pix to bring back! I can't wait to see pix of Mark and Charlie's little girl, LIBBY, as well as pictures of the Nathanson's! As many of you know, it was because of CAMP MATOAKA , owned by the Nathanson's that brought Brad and Natalie together!!!!! That fateful summer, in MAINE, Natalie met Brad the 2nd day they were there and it was a love match made in heaven!!! Mark and Charlie also worked there as well. Also, their friends from Camp Matoaka , Chrissy and Norm (no kids yet) from Atlanta, also went down to WDW to see them ,too. The Nathanson's only child and daughter, Rachel, who is Katie's age (21) was only 11 when they worked at the camp. She is in college,  (can't remember where!), but insisted she come to WDW to "SEE KEMP!" She always adored Brad, like a big brother, so I'm sure she is having a BLAST with Kemp as he sees all the characters and BUZZ LIGHTYEAR!!! He'll love the big action Buzz I wrapped up for him as one of his "goodies" to open on the trip. She is saving that one for on the way home. (I bought a bag full of small gifts---coloring books/toys/ snacks/books/DVD's---things he could do while riding for Natalie to pull out at intervals on the way down. Of course, he loves his DVD's and with their new SUV and DVD player, he watched lots of movies on the way down!!!!)....I'm so jealous, I want to be there today! I wish I could click my heels and be there today as they are walking around! Kemp has the SWEETEST little voice and he'll say, "look, mama! Look daddy! Mick Mouse!" I can just hear him!!! WAAA! I miss him!!!!!!

We're glad Jacob Bishop is better today!

 My niece, Becky (Bryant), and Scott Bishop's 2nd son, Jacob--age 6, has severe pneumonia!  He has had a couple of very tough days!He had surgery yesterday to relieve some of the fluid and will be on antibiotics for several weeks! We are so thankful today that he is better, just hope he continues to improve! Not only that, but they have 3 other boys at home to worry about (all which have been sick as well).What a scary time for all of them! Continue to keep them in your prayers! I put their names on Discovery UMC's e-mail prayer list as well as on RIVERCHASE UMC lists! .........Natalie, Brad and Kemp are on the way to WDW! I haven't talked to them today, so I don't know how far they got, but they are on the road heading towards "MICKEY MOUSES' HOUSE", as Kemp says! I can't wait till they get back so I can see pictures of Kemp's face as he sees the Disney characters; sees the PIRATES; sees MICKEY MOUSE!!!!

Almost finished!

Our little Mexican friends are almost finished with their job here! Today they finish the bathroom (big job as they have to remove the sink/toilet!) and hallways and edges. Then the job of GROUTING everything!! Terry says TOMORROW they should be completely done!! Last night we left to go have dinner with Nat/Brad and Kemp and when we got back at 8:30, the guys were STILL HERE---WORKING!!!!!.......Nat/Brad and Kemp leave today for: WALT DISNEY WORLD! Hurrah! The weather there is around 85 so they should be in for some nice weather! Natalie said that according to the websites, this is the BEST TIME OF THE YEAR to visit WDW , b/c most kids are having finals/Thanksgiving is over/Magic Kingdom is decorated and you can get around the park much easier! I'm so happy they're going but SAD I'm not going, too!

Here's how my dining room/den looked around 3:00 p.m.! It's going to be beautiful!

Wood Floors----GONE!

 Here's a few pix of the kids the other day. They were so cute playing with their stuffed animals!...............Well, at this very moment, there is only a concrete floor downstairs. It's so weird b/c when we walk thro and speak---everything ECHOES. Just like in a brand new house without furniture. The room looks SOOOOO different! In a little while, they will begin putting down the new floor!! I am going to stay in the craft room and take the time to straighten up all my scrapbook supplies. Something I never seem to have time to do! Poor Buddy is delegated to my room behind a gate and the cats are FREAKING OUT! Maggie doesn't mind walking on the bare floors, but Jezebelle jumps around like a scaredy cat. OH YEAH! That's what she is! HA!.....

OH NO! My house is upside down!

On one hand I am excited to pieces and on the other hand, I'm LOOPY! My house has been TURNED UPSIDE DOWN and INSIDE OUT! We started tearing apart our den this afternoon! I even skipped church so that I could start putting up all my collectibles  and moving things to both spare bedrooms. When Terry got home from church, we moved furniture that we could move without help. Then we had the BIG STUFF still to move! SUCH AS: Dining room table/chairs; couches; my grandfather clock; my buffets; our HUGE armoire that housed our T.V. ; tables; lamps, etc. etc etc!!! We called in some troops to help: Brad/Michael and Jon get extra Christmas goodies as they helped soooooooo much!!!! We only had one slight accident---one of the huge weights fell off in the grandfather clock (that Katie had just gotten to work again!) and it smashed into the bottom of the clock! Brad said it can be fixed! Jon did good today, he left with the big screen T.V.!! We are getting one to put on the wall and since we moved the armoire into our bedroom, we put our other one in there! (it looks GREAT!!!).Jon was beside himself! He got his room-mate, David, to come and help him load it up and take it back to Auburn. I told him that he had to MARRY Katie or I would come and get it! HAHA!....Brad got the couch that was in our room (Hurrah!) and poor Michael left with only some bruises and a sore back! HAHA! My house is a TOTAL and COMPLETE wreck! They will start pulling up the floor tomorrow and hopefully, by wed/thurs. we'll have our new Mexican Tile floor!!! I can't wait! After the floor gets down, we're PAINTING. And after painting,  we are getting our new couches! FINALLY  We have a NEW COUCHES coming BEFORE Christmas that we got at Leather Creations (I ADORE that place!). Actually, it probably won't be here till the week of Christmas (fingers crossed!) b/c it has to be made. They custom make all of them. It's soooooooooo pretty and incredibly COMFORTABLE! We looked everywhere but after we sat down on that one, it was ALL OVER! We looked at each other and said, "THIS IS IT!" We tried to get the connected one that wraps around the room, but we had to get separate ones b/c of the fireplace. They are so cool, tho! And we got some ottomans to match and when you put them up to the couches they make chaise lounges! AWESOME! OOOOOOOOOH! Can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!! BUT, for now, I must endure lots of DUST and NOISE (as they have to dig up the floor) , only watch T.V. in ourbedroom (b/c JON got our old one!) and move around my house like a snake! I'm taking Lily to the mall tomorrow and to HER house since she can't get in all this mess! We can't even get to the kids toys!!!!......WHAT A MESS! But, how EXCITING when it all gets FINISHED! IF I can stand the craziness around here until it all gets done! HAHA!

Thankful

Thanksgiving Day 2006! What a blessing! We had extra blessings around our table this year! Besides all of us (everyone!) we had Rachel's grand-dad/aunt/mom/brother and MIMI to join our Thanksgiving table this year! It was a beautiful day---temps in the 70's and sunny. Perfect weather and guest list! ........How can I even begin to list all the food????????? I've never seen so much! ALL the girls cooked and brought several dishes to share. Each one better than the next!Two of the GUYS also cooked! Terry and Brad! (Brad fried a turkey). All the dishes were fantastic, no doubles!, and the dessert list was incredible. I'm still FULL 2 days later!!!! ......The highlight of our day was watching Mimi and Mr. Lane sit beside each other on the couch and giggle and talk. They were the CUTEST couple!!!!!!!! They really enjoyed having each other to talk to!....Terry had the sweet blessing for everyone and then the instructions: GET A PLATE!!!! HAHA! (they followed instructions to the letter!). Here is who all that was here: ME, Terry, Mr. Lane, Mimi, Cathie, Jamie, Jay, Rachel, Charles, Michael, Kadie, Lily, Natalie, Brad, Kemp, Patrick, Stefanie, Katie and Jon! Oh yes, and MAGGIE the cat and Buddy the dog! (Jezebelle was sent off to the garage!). Maggie laid on the couch and nuzzled Mimi's ear!.....We had such a wonderful time and I thank God for the blessings He has given each one of us. It was truly a wonderful day for which I will always be THANKFUL!

Star gazing

It's so much fun to light the chiminea (spelling?) and warm your hands while the outside air is cold! Lily and Kemp liked it, but even more---liked running around in the cold at night! Here's some cute shots in the Fry Backyard with Nat/Brad and Katie/Jon and kids!

My new dishwasherS!

I cleaned in my kitchen all day! Not that it was THAT messy, I just decided to start re-arranging drawers; throwing away old utensils; washing old pot holders; make the dressing; help Katie with her dishes she's taking to Jon's mom's; cleaned and WASHED MY DISHES ! Well, KIND Of washed my dishes. I LOADED my new dishwashers! I LOVE my new dishwashers! Yes, dishwasher S!!! It is a double decker that has DRAWERS in it. You don't have to lean over, you just pull out the drawer and load it up. Then, if you have lots of dirty dishes, pull out the bottom one! It's just AWESOME! I love love love it! Who would've thought that I, Janice Fry, actually enjoyed loading a dishwasher these days! (at least until the new wears off! HAHAHAHA). AND, I got them JUST IN TIME for THANKSGIVING!....Oops, gotta go and UNLOAD my NEW DISHWASHERS!....

Jon (AU) vs. Katie (UA) IRON BOWL PIX

O.k., o.k. So the whole world knows that Auburn got lucky and beat Bama by one measley point! It was close and we did have fun watching it with JON , that usually QUIET boyfriend of Katie's! Well, he became a dancing fool everytime Auburn would score! Here's the proof! And, Katie would retaliate and do the same thing ! Only, we RAN OUT OF TIME so Auburn ended up with the win! ROLL TIDE anyway! (right, Katie?!). These picutres tell the story, in case you missed the game! HAHAHAHA

ROOOOOOOOOOLL TIDE

Well, it's that day again. The day I dread all year. The famous, or I should say INFAMOUS,  Iron Bowl game between Alabama and that other team. I'm already nervous. I SAY it doesn't matter to me---but already my stomach is in knots!!!!!! We were supposed to have been in New Orleans this week-end, but the job Terry has there wasn't ready enough so we had to wait. I was really HOPING we wouldn't even BE here! But, we are. I think all the kids but Katie/Jon are going.  Of COURSE, Jon is nervous, too, he just won't admit it! HE being the big AUB fan!!!! How in the WORLD did Katie end up with a boyfriend going to AUBURN of all places?! HAHA!  O.K., so even Jon has one fault, other than that, he's nearly perfect!!! Imagine he and Katie watching the game together! HAHA! Last year , Katie became a FRY OUTCAST by wearing a blue/orange outfit to an Auburn game. Her brothers (and Brook Dodson!) gave her so much grief about it that I think she gave the clothes to the Good Will! She's admitted that EVEN IF SHE LIVES IN AUBURN if she and Jon get married, she will FLY THE CRIMSON FLAG! (right Jon?!). HA!....Anyway, back to TODAY. I would love to be there, in some ways, but I get to darn nervous. Kind of like my daddy always did during the game. Not as bad as MICHAEL, but I do tend to freak a little.  (Terry, on the other hand, just leaves and goes plays golf and calls and asks me, "who's ahead?!" Then, if Bama is winning he will listen. Otherwise, he rants and raves about THE COACHING! That leaves me here, alone with the T.V.---trying to decide. Do I watch or not?! SO, being the gracious and loving grandmother I am, I volunteered to babysit so the OTHERS could get nervous and freak out while watching it LIVE! HURRAH. I can get my mind OFF the game for awhile by reading JAY JAY the airplane or playing with Lily and her baby doll! It's Lily's turn to spend the night tonight, too, (so I can wallow in my sorrow --if we get beat-- by hugging my little girl as she goes to sleep! ) I WON'T sneak a peek at the T.V. Well, maybe once or twice. Like KICK OFF?! or.... UNLESS I get an excited call from one of my boys from T-TOWN screaming their joy! THEN I will! HA HA HA HA! Oh, well, whatever happens, agony or ecstasy  ROOOOOLL TIDE!

Decorating for Thanksgiving!

It's time to decorate for Thanksgiving! I know, some people forget poor ole Thanksgiving and go directly from Halloween pumpkins to Christmas trees, but I can't! I have to put out the little pilgrims and fall leaves,etc! And this year, we're having a larger crowd than usual ! We're thrilled that Rachel's Mom/Grandfather/Aunt and brother join us and MIMI! Yes, MIMI is coming! For the first time in so long! I usually ask AFTER she has already been asked by one of the other family members! So, I asked EARLY. Like back in early October! HAHA! Jon and Katie are picking her up  b/c I'll be busy SLAVING (HAHA) in the kitchen! Actually, with all the girls bringing so much I don't have so much to do! I always fix the turkey/dressing (Paula Deen's famous dressing recipe! SHH! It's a secret!) and sweet potatoe casserole and, for Patrick ---DEVILED EGGS! His favorite! (and also Stefanie's favorite, I've heard, too!). And Pumpkin Pie for Terry. I like it O.K., it's not my favorite, but it's HIS favorite. (Cathie, Rachel's mom is bringing THREE desserts! HURRAH!). Nat will bring her Hashbrown Casserole (YUMMY!) and Brad will also fry a turkey. Terry is smoking one, too. Yes, that's 3 turkeys! The Frys love turkey! Kadie is a great cook and will bring some delicious veggie dishes and Rachel is bringing some fruit, etc. (Plus, I HOPE her peanut butter balls!). Katie is fixing Strawberry Pretzel Salad (a Fry favorite!). She loves to cook and is a great little cook already! Besides cooking, I love to decorate the table and get everything ready. ( won't take pictures of the table until Thursday, tho!)..... I remember as a child loving Thanksgiving ALMOST as much as Christmas! Why? Because BOTH sets of grandparents came every year (I don't know how that happened, but they always seemed to come to OUR house each year!). I loved watching out the window for Big Mama and Grand-daddy and Mama and Papa Powell to come. Believe it or not, I would SING "Over the river and through the woods" all morning long, in between running and sneaking TURKEY SKIN and eating it! Daddy would get so mad at me for eating that skin! To this DAY, I love Turkey skin! UMMM! Brown and salty! YUMMY! Mimi would be so busy in the kitchen with her little apron on and we would constantly have to shoo the cat out of the kitchen b/c he loved sneaking bites of the turkey! He would jump on the counter and LICK IT! Yes, he did! In fact, one year, she had it thawing in the sink before it was cooked and we walked in and there was KAT, licking the heck out of it! Mimi screamed, the cat jumped down and she looked at me and said, "Don't you tell ANYBODY that Kat did that! It'll be fine! I'll just scrub it and after it's baked all the germs will be gone!" I guess MAYBE I can finally tell that story. I might remind her that after 40 something years, secrets must be told! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA

*By the way, that's Mimi's baby plate on my buffet. Since I took it and hid it when I was about 8 years old, I guess it's time to tell Mimi THAT secret, too! HAHA! I promised it to Charles a long time ago and told him when he/Rachel have a baby he can have it. I GUESS I'll part with it then. Maybe....?

Katie to the rescue!

I sure was glad Jon didn't come home last week-end! Why? B/c that meant KATIE could help GranJan and Big T entertain the munchkins when she got off work! They were soooooooo happy to see her when she got off of work and both ran and screamed, "CUTIE!" She bathed them/read to them/played with them! But, when they were FIGHTING and screaming she said, "I just hope I don't ever have TWINS!" hahahahahaha.......

Kemp's (WIGGLES!) 2nd birthday!

From the moment you stepped onto the HORNE'S sidewalk, you knew it was going to be a fun party! From Kemp's personalized "WIGGLES" shirt that said, "happy 2 Birthday Kemp" to a HUGE blow up Kangaroo holding balloons who greeted you at the door! Yes, it was KEMP'S 2nd birthday bash!!! It was held on Sunday afternoon from 3-5. Everyone was there except, of course, Brad's family who wished they were but were sending hugs and kisses through SKYPE (video instant messenger) and Charles/Rachel who were in Washington, D.C.......The highlight of the party was in the backyard! A huge surprise awaited everyone! Brad had built Kemp his own Playhouse! It's the coolest thing ever! He didn't even use a "KIT", he designed it totally on his own, using his brain!It's awesome---complete with CLIMBING WALL (or steps) and a little Fort on top. The kids either climb the wall or the steps to go down the large yellow slide! It's just incredible!!! (the swings will be added later---Brad ran out of time to get it completely finished!).The ROCK CLIMBING wall is the favorite part---all of them loved that! And, on that fort/playhouse is where all the kids stayed!  The parents were all in AWE of it and Brad has already had requests to "Contract" him out to build one for their kids! HAHA The kids stayed on it until time for burgers and hot dogs! Uncle Michael cooked and the kids played! It was perfect weather. A little cool, enough so that we could fire up the chimenea! Everyone ate; the parents of the kids chatted and the kids played! It was a great time! When it came time for Kemp to have "happy birthday" sung to him we all held our breaths! He HATES being sung to! GO FIGURE! His mom sings all the TIME to him, yet he hates being the center of attention. BUT, he didn't cry--he ALMOST did---but started laughing the minute the song was over and we handed him that cupcake!!! GranJan made him a little "TOOL CAKE" , too, besides the cute cupcakes the kids got.He got TONS of gifts and he loved them all! BUT, I do believe his favorite gift was JAY JAY the AIRPLANE that sings and rolls his eyes. Kemp is OBSESSED with JAY JAY  and watches the videos all the time and reads the books about him, too. We almost had a disaster when Lily ran up and grabbed Jay Jay when Kemp was opening another gift. He screamed and she threw herself down on the floor and cried until tears about floated her away! Unfortunately for them, the rest of us were laughing our heads off!!!! We also so enjoyed seeing all Kemp's little friends, especially Ladare Dodson, the cutest little "cabbage patch" baby you've ever seen! ......All in all, a 2nd birthday for the books! Just precious!......KEMP, GranJan and Big T love you so very much and you are one (of the 2!) lights of our lives! WE LOVE YOU!.........

Big T loves these babies!

Big T loves his babies! And he got a chance to see them both twice on Friday (he came by at lunch) at noon and Friday night. (Natalie had a baby shower for some friends and Kadie helped her get ready for it so I helped THEM by keeping the munchkins). Terry was so excited to have Kemp spend the night Thursday and Friday night (and next week-end we'll have Miss Lily)! I have TONS of pix so for this entry I'll just put some of BIG T and the kids. More over the next few days b/c KEMP'S 2nd BIRTHDAY is TOMORROW!

Pretty/Singing Mama!

Katie made these pix of Natalie and Kemp (as Nat/Brad were leaving Sat. night to go to Rolling Hills Camp). I think she is such a beautiful little mommy!!!!Kemp is a lucky little fella to have such a pretty mama who sings so beautifully, too!

Kemp's b'day is coming!

Our little angel boy's birthday is Sunday! I can't believe he is now 2! Katie couldn't wait to give him one of his gifts and decided to go ahead and give part of her gift to him early when she and Jon kept him Saturday night. He went nuts over his ELMO tool bench! Here's a few shots of Katie/Jon putting it together for him AND when Kemp playing with it as well! Katie said he went nuts over it and wore that adorable little tool belt with the talking tools all night. Would say, "MYYYYYYYYYYY tool bench. MYYYYYYYYYYY tools! MYYYYYYYYYY saw and drill!" Both the little ones LOVE Aunt "CHOOTIE" (as Lily calls her) b/c they know she brings them presents all the time! Yesterday we had Lily in WalMart and Lily said the longest sentence I've heard her say yet and it was, "CHOOTIE buy LILY  Ariel , take home?" HAHAHAHAHA! Lily loves the Little Mermaid but calls her by her NAME, Arial! HAHA These "babies" are getting so big and are SOOOOOOOOOOO SMART!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Rachel Fry, Emmaus Walk # 44!

This week-end, Rachel attended Birmingham Emmaus Walk # 44 in Rolling Hills in Calera, Alabama! We just got back and we had got to enjoy hearing the ladies speak at Closing. Rachel was the first one up to talk!! She shared what a great week-end she had and it was wonderful getting to see her with her new group of friends from her Table as well as her friends on Walk # 44. What was REALLY special was that her Aunt Jamie came up from Mobile just to come to see her this week-end during some of the special events during the walk. It was priceless seeing Rachel's face when she saw Jamie on Saturday night! She was shocked and so happy!!!!!!!! All of us, except Pat and Kadie  (who haven't been yet , altho Pat is slated to go on a Chrysalis in April!) went and supported Rachel this week-end. SO MANY FRYS! HAHA! People thought Rachel was my daughter instead of my daughter-in-law b/c they all said she looks like Katie and Natalie!!! .....

 P.S. To  Rachel: I'm so thankful that you got to go on your WALK TO EMMAUS , Rachel. I loved what you said at closing and I know you will ,indeed,  share His love in wherever you go and whatever you do. De Colores! I love you! jxxoo

Katie and Jon @ Formal

Here are some pix Katie made tonight at Jon's formal. They looked so cute!!!  I'm sorry I didn't get to see them but glad she took HER camera and made these for me to see! We were at Holy Apostles auction  while they were gone to SOHO for Jon's formal. They had fun and so did we! AND we bid on LOTS of stuff and won LOTS of stuff! THE CONDO! Yes, kids, we got the Robertson's condo in SandDestin again this year for the summer! Terry went wild bidding on everything from a huge basket of chocolate; a big ice cream basket; a chocolate cheese cake (Yes, he LOVES desserts!) and I've forgotten what all! I got a few Christmas gifts so I can't say what all I got! HAHA!  I did grab a scrapbook and a frame for cheap! OH! And my  contribution to the auction: a "photo shoot"  at Aldridge Gardens. It was a big hit! Had lots of bids---I don't know who got it or how much it went for! Guess I'll find out when whoever bought it calls for their Photo shoot! ....But, all in all, we had fun sitting with Don/Yvette Heath and bidding on stuff! Actually, another one of my favorite gifts is  that we're going with 3 other couples for a lobster and wine dinner one night.  Should be Fun!

Laura, Kadie and Miss Lily

Lily and Kadie came by this afternoon  to see Laura . Laura has been wanting to see Lily and Lily usually isn't here on Fridays when Laura comes.Lil was a little shy and wanted to sit in her mama's lap when we made the pix but Laura thought she was so cute and kept saying, "you're so PRETTY, Lily"!

CHARLES IS A PARTNER!

WOW! This is one of those milestone days! My little "boy" has added another milestone to his life! He became a partner yesterday in his law firm! We are so excited for him and proud of him, too!  CHARLES, I love you and am so proud of you!

The Devil Wears PRADA!

Now this has to be the PRETTIEST little devil this Halloween! And, this little devil, does indeed, LOVE  PRADA! HAPPY SPOOKS DAY!

Halloween Bash @ the Heath's house!

Last night we were lucky enought to be invited to the HEATH's HALLOWEEN PARTY!We had a BLAST! We had sooooooo much fun dressing up and , yes, we went as BOUNTY HUNTER, DAWG, and his wife, Beth! We had soooooooooo much fun! Like Yvette said,it's fun to be with Christian friends. YES! CHRISTIANS CAN HAVE A GOOD TIME!!!!!!!!(I've always said  I just know that Jesus had a great sense of humor and HAD FUN, too)!

AND, NO MORE BLONDE JOKES! I have decided that I'm going to become a blonde after being one last night! HAHAHAHA! WOW, that was  a fun HALLOWEEN PARTY! I felt so: FREE; so SEXY; So DUMB! hahahaha! Like I said, we had so much fun going to the Heath's FANTASTIC Halloween Bash last night! It was sooooooooo much fun! The funniest thing, this girl I just met said, "are you really blonde?" I told her, that I had long dark hair and she said, "I can't imagine that! I can't imagine you looking dark haired!" HOW FUNNY IS THAT?! ......We had so much fun and we danced and danced! When we got into bed last night Terry's back was killing him and my hip was hurting! HAHA ! Yep, those old dancing days seem long long ago! Thankfully, most of the people were OUR ages so we got to dance and rock and roll to OUR music from OUR time! HAHA! Don/Yvette are the BEST HOSTS and always have the best parties!!! The food was great , too! YUMMY.........Our costume was the hit---(I must admit, we stole the idea of course, from Nat/Brad. Too bad I looked like a chunky monkey when I was "Beth" but Nat looked HOT! haha). Anyway, so much fun ! We had a wonderful time! I love dressing up and tomorrow I just might  dye these BLACK LOCKS  and go............BLONDE!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

We definitely have a crazy family! Last night was Michael/Kadie and Nat/Brad's Sunday School HALLOWEEN party (this is the DINKS class---remember? USED to be---that stood for D-double I-income N-no K-kids! Now EVERYONE has kids!!!! There are even 3 sets of twins in there now! WOW! Anyway, they dropped by on the way since it's on the way to Brook/Patti's home in Helena (and I wanted Kadie/Nat to look at some tile we are thinking of putting in the house!). They all came IN COSTUME! Now, really, Michael should be ashamed to go AS A PIMP! But, he did! Kadie was a witch (a sweet witch!); Lily---the adorable little Ladybug (Aunt Cutie gave her for her b'day!). Brad and Nat were hysterical. They went as the BOUNTY HUNTER and his wife, Beth. Brad actually looked MORE like "Leland"---DAWG'S son! But, they looked pretty funny to us! Actually, so funny that we are copying the outfits and wearing them TONIGHT to a Halloween Party Terry and I are going to! (so, more Halloween pix to come!). Kemp was a SPIDER! Now, let me tell you, that boy did NOT want to wear that SPIDER hood! But, we made him for some pix , despite his howls!!!!! They were all soooooooo cute last night and I've been busy all day , printing out the pictures! (and making snacks to take to OUR party tonight). Anyway, I had a hard time trying to decide which to put so I made it easy and put them ALL!!!!!!!!!! BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

A real DADDY'S GIRL!

Lily loves her daddy, like most little girls do!!!!  But, I honestly can say, she adores that crazy daddy of hers!!!!!! Michael is the biggest tease and has more fun with his little angel!She's used to his teasing and acting crazy and she sometimes turns the tables on him and ignores him! HAHA! And, sometimes when he comes to get her here she screams, "NO, DADDY!" even though she is glad to see him, she still wants to stay at GranJan's. Yesterday she was so happy to see him and immediately crawled up in his lap and laid her head on his shoulder! SO SWEET!!!! She loved showing him the AMERICAN GIRLS catalogue that came yesterday! She studied every single doll and looked at every single page!!! I love it, because KATIE had those American Girls dolls (still does in the attic!) and I have been looking forward to the day when I can start buying them again! (I'm really the one who loves those dolls! HAHA! Gosh, they sure have gone up in price over the years!). Right now the "BITTY BABIES" are really  more for her age, but even those I think I'll wait till next year. (When Katie came home and saw that catalogue she said, "OH! MY OLD DOLLS ARE STILL IN HERE!"). Anyway, she loved pointing out each one for her daddy to see. That lasted awhile but, if you know Michael, you know he just HAS to tease her a little!!!! O.K., a LOT! (Reminds me of how he used to tease Katie and Patrick!!!! ). So, he started tickling her and chasing her and holding her upside down. She giggles and laughs and when she gets tired of him she will frown at him and poke those adorable little lips out and say, "NO, STOP,  DADDY!".....Also,  Lily never, ever tries to go upstairs UNLESS her mommy or daddy come in. Then, she tries to run upstairs (to "CHOOTIE'S ROOM") aka Katie's room. I do have toys up here in the computer room, too, and I let Lily and Kemp come up here when I'm up here with them, but we mostly stay downstairs b/c I don't want them falling down all those steps. They never try to come up here unless UNTIL  their mommies and daddies come in and sure enough, the minute Michael (or Natalie)  walk in they both try to run up the steps! As you can see, Lily tried that yesterday and  got  really MAD at her Daddy b/c he wouldn't let her go upstairs! HAHA! JUST LIKE HER DADDY WAS/IS, Lily is a MESS! (oh, does she bring back memories of Michael Brandon Fry when HE was 2!)..........hahahahahaha!

Lily O'Lantern!

What a cute "JACK , excuse me, LILY-O'LANTERN"! Isn't she the cutest little thing? This is what she wore to playschool on Wednesday. (GranJan bought it!). I love picking up LILY from Little Lambs Playschool---she gets so excited when she sees my car! She climbs in her car seat and immediately wants her JUICE in her arm rest cup holder and then says, "Going to GranJan's house?" SHe stays awake long enough to watch her "MISS SPIDER" on her T.V. and we then read books and play. She loves to COOK (like her mama!) and wants to "wash dishes" all the time! Funny!!!!!!!! After reading, she doesn't mind at all going and lying on "BIG T'S BED"! We climb into bed and watch our big screen T.V.in the bedroom. We don't watch too much b/c soon ALL of us are snoring! BUDDY, in the cage next to the bed; MAGGIE at our feet; Jezzie on the couch; LILY on Big T's pillow and GranJAN, all SOUND ASLEEP! Zzzzzzzzz!

Big T's boy (and girl)

Big T loves his babies!!!!!!!! And he loves having a grandSON AND a grandDAUGHTER! Best of both worlds! He can play ROUGH with Kemp---throw ball caps on his head and throw him around and then  can play sweetly with Lily--giving her hugs and kisses and read her books and help her rock her doll baby!........It is really SWEET to watch BIG T with his little grandbabies! He never gets tired of them and loves for them to come over ALL the time!!!!!!!..........

SOAP tales

Kemp loves the bathtub! BUT, tonight he got SOAP in his eyes and he was NOT very happy till we got the wash rag and washed it out! OUCH! That burns! But, he soon got over it and had his usual fun bath time!! After his bath, I wrapped him in a towel and then put his snuggly new DINOSAUR p.j.'s on him. He was so SNUGGLY we just couldn't quit hugging him! What a SWEETIE! G'nite, sweet Kemp!  (I just put you down and you were crying. Then you stopped! Are you already asleep??????????NO!!!!!!!!!!!! Big T couldn't stand to hear you CRY, so he went and got you! You're being rocked to sleep right now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!).

The BEST toy (and cheapest!)

We're keeping Kemp this week-end b/c Natalie is leading music on a Chrysalis (and also she and Brad are giving the "MARRIAGE TALK" on Sat!). Katie is giving her first talk, too! ("IDEALS").  Funny---Natalie and Katie are roomies at Camp Sumatanga this week-end! What better "get-away" than to GET AWAY with girls and GOD! All the laughter/food and even tears! Yep, just what GIRLS Love! BUT, back to KEMP! We're keeping him some of the time this week-end. (right now, he's home with his Daddy, but, he's coming back this afternoon and will spend the night tonight). Yesterday he was here all day and spent the night on Thursday night. We (Kemp and I) , went to WalMart and I was going to buy him a new toy but he was getting tired of shopping and  HUNGRY so I decided I'd just pull something out of my "granjan toys" to give him when I got home (I have a box full of  new toys I keep in a closet to pull out when the little ones are bored!). After lunch (we ate his favorite, and mine! Mickey D's! He LOVES french fries!), he found 2 large pieces of styrofoam from the box that the new heater came from! OH MY GOSH! If I had bought him a toy at   FAO SWARTZ he wouldn't have been happier than he was with those 2 pieces of foam!!!!!!!!!!!! He went nuts over them! Threw them; rode them like  a horse; sat on them; broke them; threw them into pieces! Then, he got the broom and "swept them" up! Laura and I laughed at him for 2 hours! I had so much fun snapping pix of him at play! I HATE those POSED shots of kids. Where they're sitting in custom made little clothes and sitting like a statue, not doing anything.  I like to just follow Kemp/Lily around shooting pix after pix! (Oh, if I had had a digital camera when MY kids were little we'd have to have 2 houses! One for pix and one to live in! It's almost that bad NOW!).I have found that the pictures I made of my own kids of them PLAYING and acting silly are my favorites now. SO, that's what I do with Kemp and Lily! I love the ACTION SHOTS; the pix of them CRYING; Eating; sleeping! I love ALL of them! I don't even care if the house is clean in the pictures, after all, that's part of having kids! Having a mess around!  I even made pictures of the carpet of all the pieces and mess he made! WHO CARES? That's what vaccum cleaners are for!!!!!!!!!!!!!!......As you can see, he was ZONKED after going to WalMart; playing so hard; jumping; laughing; SWEEPING that he fell RIGHT to sleep and slept, for, get this! THREE HOURS!!!!!!!! (now that's definitely worth messing the carpet up for! A 3 hour nap!). I just LOVE sleeping kids pix, too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Konie's 50th Birthday!

Today is Konie Bryant's 50th birthday! (HURRAH!  FINALLY,  the girl is in her 50's! hahaha! )Beth Marsh had the  birthday party for Konie at her beautiful home (in Mtn. Brook aka "the Tiny Kingdom").  Of course, I didn't follow the directions they gave and tried to find it on my own! After about 50 wrong turns, I made it! So glad I did! Great fun!  It's a GOOD THING, I showed up with Katie's camera! (too bad I didn't know how to use it! HAHA), but glad I had it to get some candid shots!  Gosh, I needed a WIDE ANGLE to get all of us together on those steps! No slam intended, but good gosh!  But, we did it! Even if we did have to make the pix in shifts! I mean, who, but KONIE BRYANT would have 100% attendance at their b'day party?!  (I'm still waiting, BETH AND KONIE, for my JULY 17th SURPRISE B'DAY PARTY! You promised me when I lived in RIVERCHASE!)So many GIRLS helping celebrate with Konie on her special day!!! Gosh, we look great to be sooooooo young!!!!! Check out the pictures!!!! All of us GIRLS are in our 50's but I know everyone thinks we're in our 20's! (O.K., O.K, 30's!!!!!!!) .....We had such a great time and the food was great; the house was gorgeous; the GIRLS looked spectacular and Konie, the BIRTHDAY QUEEN was like she always is---the sweetest girl in the world.  I bet if we had WHO'S WHO of our group, Konie would get "BEST ALL AROUND"  and "SWEETEST". (Of course, I would get "best looking"' ; "biggest flirt"; "Personality Plus")....KONIE, this is YOUR DAY! I love you sooooooo much and I know that your 50th year will be sadder this year without Bill, but just look around you and see all the friends who came out on this rainy , gray day  to celebrate YOU and  just see how many friends love and support you.  AND, girlfriend, I love you !  AND  I MISS LIVING ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOU! WAAAAA!And if any of the other GIRLS are reading this, sorry, hate to tell you but I, that is ME, Janice Fry, is Konie's VERY BEST FRIEND (put that in your pipe and smoke it ! Only a 50 year old would remember that old saying! HAHAHAHA)!.............

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BEST FRIEND (just don't tell BOBBIE!)

P.S.  I'm sorry , Konie,  but after thinking about how much fun Beth and I had carrying on today while YOU were partying with all the other girls, I have decided that you might be my 2nd best friend. I had forgotten that Beth and I were best buds in Riverchase. Sorry. Not only that, she spiked your b'day punch. Now that's a good friend! So, Now I think you're my 2nd best. Or even 3rd. I don't want Bobbie to be mad and we DO have history, going back to high school.  I know this will hurt you on your 50th birthday, but sorry, this is how it goes:

KONIE--M3BF

P.P.S. sorry, Konie (and any of the "girls" who are checking out THEIR pix from the party), but you have to look at my grandkids. I stopped by after the party  @ Natalie's and just HAPPENED to ask Natalie to make a pix of me and Lily/Kemp to add to Konie's b'day page! HAHAHAHA

BOX SEATS!

Of course, the favorite new toy was NOT the one I bought for them to play with on Saturday! It was the box that Big T's new carseat came in!!!!!!!!! This provided quite a bit of PLAY TIME on Saturday during the game! Kemp/Lily LOVED playing hide and seek in the box! They were so adorable!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The AGONY and the ECSTASY!

We kept Kemp/Lily yesterday while their mommies/daddies went to Tuscaloosa to see the game. The AGONY were many fights over toys in the morning and The ECSTASY was  the calm after the storm (called "we need a nap"!) in the afternoon .I couldn't help it, I had to laugh my head off when Kemp "wigged" when he and Lily would fight over toys! It was hilarious! She would grab something and run 90 mph and then he would go ballistic! He would fall on the floor, but soooooooo carefully! He didn't want to hurt himself! She would stare at him and then, after grabbing something, would pat him and say, "sorry, Kemper".  After long naps and lunches, those little gremlins LEFT and 2 little angels showed up!!!!!! HAHAHAHA! (just like GranJan, give them some FOOD and a NAP and things are all better!). Actually, by the time Terry got back from playing golf, he DIDN'T BELIEVE me when I told him that K/L had been arguing and fussing!  He kept saying, "they're perfect! What are you talking about?!" They were perfect little angels the rest of the day! In fact, we even got to watch the game while they played AND SHARED on the back porch the rest of the afternoon! They were so cute and so took me back in time to when my 5 were those ages! Kemp reminds me so much of Patrick! I can see Pat/Katie now, playing (and fighting! HAHA). Terry and I laughed at them all day, it is so much fun to have them  come over ;  to play with them; read to them; give them things their mommies won't ; enjoy them;  spoil them  (and , when we're worn out---GIVE THEM BACK! HAHAHAHAHA!)

I've said it before and I'll say it again, being a grandmother is the highlight of my life! I LOVE BEING GRANJAN!!!!!!!!!!!!(yes, even when they aren't perfect little angels! ALL the time!)

Alabama and Ole Miss!

ROLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL TIDE ROLL! In OVERTIME, Alabama beat OLE MISS 26-23!!! GranJan and Big T kept Lily and Kemp today while Michael/Kade and Nat/Brad went to Tuscaloosa to the game. (Pictures of the kids later! First things first! HAHAHAHA!).......HURRAH! ALABAMA WINS! SWEET!

FALL is here! HURRAH

WOW, Fall is here! At least today! This morning it is nice and COOL !  I love FALL in HOOVER--- however, this is when I miss RIVERCHASE b/c we had so many more beautiful trees to change color. But, it's still pretty to look out in my backyard at the trees across the lake changing. Here's a few shots of KEMP enjoying Fall  on the back porch ! (yes, we ARE enjoying the back porch now that it's cooler. Guess I'm going to have to get a big heater for out there when it starts getting cold! I love having most of the TOYS out there!).

HOW DO THEY KNOW?

HOW do the little ones KNOW that boys play with trucks and girls play with dolls???????

Lily playing is so different than Kemp's playing!!! Lily goes for the DOLL in the stroller. Kemp goes for the cars and the trucks and the toy "weed wacker"! HOW DO THEY KNOW ?! Is it INSTINCT?! HAHA! Here they both are, this week, PLAYING with their respective TOYS! (I'm so blessed to get to play "girly stuff" one day and play "rough stuff" the next! FUN FUN)

Update on Becky

So many of you have written me asking about the latest on Becky. Terry has spoken with Donnie, Becky's husband several times lately, but I wanted a WOMAN'S perspective so I finally got in touch with Mary Margaret (Terry/Becky's other sister). I hate to bother her at work so I e-mailed her and she called me back yesterday when she wasn't so busy.....We ,(the Fry family), had in mind to try and get together to see Becky now that it is cooler so I was trying to find out if Becky felt up it, etc. Here's some notes that I jotted down from Mary M yesterday....

Becky is still going to chemo every day. Mary M. takes her and Donnie picks her up. This chemo doesn't make her so sick and doesn't make her hair fall out, but it does make her very tired. Her mouth continues to hurt constantly and the plate that is below her bottom teeth has worked out through her chin so she now has a bandage on that all the time. The doctor wants to take that out after the first of the year. Her "Pet Scan" came back good--they saw nothing but they can't see under that plate, so after they remove it, they will scan her again. She communicates by writing things down on paper (even when she goes to the doctor and has questions) but Mary M. said she tried to say a few words yesterday! Praise God! She has lost down to 114 pounds and has about 5 cans of her nourishment each day (she knows when she is hungry and writes down, "I'm hungry!"). She still has her trac at this time. The Supper Club of friends that Donnie/Becky belonged to :disbanded--they didn't want to keep going if Becky couldn't eat (they are such sweet friends and used to eat out each Thursday night together) , but they continue to visit with her,e tc. She is still living at the Hulseys house, during the week, with Donnie's parents and go home on the week-end. They are going to the beach this coming week-end! She tires very easily but will occasionally ride with Mrs. Hulsey to WalMart and Mary M. said they have even gone, BRIEFLY, shopping. (anyone who knows Becky Hulsey knows she was the SHOPPING QUEEN--she and Mary. M. used to go shopping EVERY Saturday!). As far as getting together with the family---right now Mary M. says she is still  just not up to it. In part, it's b/c she doesn't want everyone to see her like she is right now and partly because she just doesn't feel good. She is hoping to one day get rid of the trac; quit doing chemo and getting on with her life and THEN we will have a HUGE celebration.  That day will be when Becky is Cancer free. That is our hope and our prayer! For everyone who e-mails me and asks how she is doing, I appreciate you and your prayers for Becky. Keep them going. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could see her next year at the MALL shopping (like she loves to do!) or better yet, able to enjoy being with her family who loves her so very much! Please continue to keep her in your prayers and the prayers of your church! If you would like to send her a card, I know she would love it. This is her mother-in-law/father-in-law's address:

Becky Hulsey

1600 Sue Drive

Birmingham, Ala. 35214

...........blessings and hugs Jxxoo

KEMP'S new SUV!

HURRAH, HURRAH! The HORNE'S have a new CAR! Actually, it's a cross between an SUV and a VAN.  It is SOOOOOOO roomy (now they can have more kids!) and you can even switch seats around and have a "tailgate seats"! Natalie said , "it's my dream car!" Obviously, she loves it! Bless her heart, she is soooooo excited and is just beside herself!  I got to ride in it to Springville on Saturday and then, last night, they came by to show "Big T" (no, Big T did NOT go to Homestead Hollow! HAHA). Kemp was watching the WIGGLES as they drove off last night with his feet propped up on the seat in front of him!!!!!!!!!!!!!