Leaving for the pageant!

Dropped Katie off this morning! She looked beautiful, but, so did all the others! Lots of TEENS and about 22 Misses. We'll see what happens! Here's how she looked as she left! (As you can see, we were in too much of a hurry to take anymore shots! HA!)

Miss Ala./USA Pageant is tonight

Here's some shots from Katie's last practice session ! The first pix are from the card/cookie cake Katie made for Don!!! complete with CROWN and earrings! He went crazy over them! (He ALSO wrote HER a sweet card!). She has had so much fun! She's gotten so many sweet e-mails and cards wishing her "good luck" and she appreciates each one! She met an adorable cheer-leader from Auburn and they have been calling each other and are going to hang out together today. I'm glad b/c NO MOMS can go.I think that's a GOOD thing after watching some of those crazed PAGEANT moms! HAHA! I'll drop her off at Samford around 8; buy our tickets for tonight and drop off Pat/Stefanie's at Marks Outdoors for Pat; drop off Nat/Kadie's at Natalie's and then JON will come to ride with me. TERRY is "preaching" as a Lay Minister this afternoon at 5 @ Holy Apostles so he'll come as soon as he's done. Jon's dad/step mom and step sister are also coming from Clanton. Some boys Katie knew at school also said they are coming. When she told them how much the tickets were they said they didn't care---they wanted to cheer her on to win!  Keep your fingers crossed! There are TONS of gorgeous girls and each one wants the SAME THING! That CROWN on their head! HAHAHAHA Last night Michael called on his way to Gainesville, Fla (Ala-Fla game!) and said, "good luck tomorrow night in whatever it is you're doing!" hahahahaha She said, "I don't  KNOW what I'm doing!"....Whatever happens tonight---Katie, you're our dimpled winner now and forever! REIGN ON Queen Cutie!

P.S. Katie bought a new digital camera and is taking it tonight to get some "behind the scenes" shots of the pageant. Hopefully, we'll get those downloaded tomorrow!

Going for the CROWN!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's time! Katie has one day left to "cram for her exams"! HAHA! Only her "EXAMS" include last minute studying on : how to walk/how to give a good interview/ how to flaunt her "assets"/ how to have the million dollar smile!! yes, Katie is participating in the Miss USA/ALABAMA pageant at Samford Saturday night! She will be up against some of the most gorgeous girls in Birmingham so it will be a challenge for her to STEP UP HER GAME!!!!!!! Her dress/bathing suit/interview outfit/opening number outfit all look simply gorgeous!!!!!!!!! I wanted to post some pix of her in her gown/bathing suit but she won't let me until she has ALL her make-up /hair done so guess we won't get them until AFTER the pageant now b/c today she has so much to do!  BUT, one thing she needs/deserves is using the certificate Patrick gave her for a massage this morning at Greenhouse at the Summit! Of course, when JON arrives tonight she will be even happier! We're excited that Jon's dad/step-dad/sister are coming to the pageant, too! I'll finally get to meet them! We've got signs made and buttons to wear, too!!!! Today is a crazy/exciting and nerve racking day----but nothing to compare to SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!!!!!!.........Here's some pix of Katie's adorable CROWN SHIRT that Natalie gave her yesterday...! I'm so nervous FOR her but I know that she will , as Nat said in her card, "SHINE!" GO KATIE GO!

P.S. (KATIE, don't kill me!!!!!!! )I've decided to put a couple of pix of her practicing yesterday with her dress on and a bathing suit (not the bathing suit she will be wearing) (even tho she didn't like these b/c she doesn't  have on make-up on; it's not the bathing suit she's wearing and the dress is also wrinkled!) but so many people just wanted to see her dress I just had to at least show her dress. The dress just "shimmers" (and looks gorgeous on stage!) She's just got to take her STEAMER with her the day of the pageant b/c it wrinkles so easily just carrying it in the car!

Sept.28th, 1972 was the year......

Sept.28th, 1972 was the year I became a MOM!!!!!!!! Yes, on this day 34 years ago I had my first child---a SON--whom we named Terry Charles Fry, Jr. At first it was SO HARD to call that baby boy : CHARLES, but now I can't imagine him being called Charlie or Chip or any other nickname for Charles. His name is perfect for him! ..We're so proud of Charles--of all our kids--but Charles is just so special, in so many ways that I can't list---but for the first reason, he made Terry and I, PARENTS!! He ws our "curly haired " little angelic boy. The little boy who looked like the masculine version of Shirley Temple with that crop of curls! I would be walking Charles, Michael and Natalie when they were little,  but it was CHARLES that the old ladies would run to and run their fingers through his curly locks! He is the oldest child, therefore the "driven child"---the child who worked so hard in school---the child who agonized over a "C" on a paper--the teen who worked so hard to impress his teachers--the young man who loved going to college in town---Birmingham Southern--and then quietly informed us he wanted to be a lawyer and went to U of Alabama Law School and after much  hard work, fulfilled that dream. Married Rachel Blake and works hard for his law firm!  And, on top of   that, he is a role model to his group of teen boys whom he and Rachel are shepherding at church. ( Lucky boys they are!).But, our proudest moment with Charles came when he was named one of  BIRMINGHAM'S 40 under 40 !!!!!! That day , at the Wynfrey Hotel, was one of my proudest of Charles! To hear his PEERS talk about MY son?????? WOW! .....What a shock to see this young man , in my mind, still the curly haired little angel holding a blanket--now in positions to make huge decisions and defend his clients and have such responsiblities.  How can it be that he is all grown up? Last night when he came to dinner ,(Rachel was in Pittsburgh for her job), we had so much fun. It was also ODD that we only had our OLDEST sitting at the table and our YOUNGEST! That never happens! Around the table was just Terry and Charles, Katie and myself ! And we got to talk about his recent Emmaus Walk and how much it meant to him and , for us, to have him go on the Walk that Terry led. He loved his scrapbook I made for him of his Grand-daddy Powell most of all. And it always makes me happy to see him walk into the house, so tall and so mature and yet when I  look at him-- I still see the same little boy I held for the first time 34 years ago in his eyes. The wonder in that tiny bundle I held 34 years ago---all my hopes and dreams for him---fulfilled. But, oh, how I wish I could go back to this day, 34 short years ago  and hold that precious angel, all bundled up and fresh from God--just ONE MORE TIME..........

I love you, Charles and I'm so proud of you for not what you have done, but for WHO you have always been---my son!    I love you, Charles! mom

SECRET Beauty tips!

Katie has a make-up session! Not an "every day"make up session, but an ON STAGE make up session. More make-up--heavier. Tricks to make her, already huge blue eyes, even bigger! It was fun seeing her go from pretty girl to glamour girl in a short time!

Little Lil

Her name fits her! LILY---the child LOVES flowers! We went outside and immediately she went for the flowers! She's the prettiest little LILY flower I've ever seen! Here the LILY is: Fairest Flower of them all!

"Chicks Dig Me"!

This shirt is the cutest thing I've ever seen! When we went out to dinner, EVERYONE who saw Kemp said, FIRST, how CUTE he was and SECOND, "that's the cutest shirt I've ever seen!" I know you'll agree!

Big Man and Little Man

Terry gets so excited when he calls home on the way home from work and finds out one of the munchkins are here! I never would've thought he'd be that much of a "Hands On" grandpa, but oh , is he! Here he is having some fun time with Kemp yesterday afternoon!

TNT week!

It's TNT week! (And I'm not even sure what TNT stands for? TRIED AND TRUE?). Anyway, at Riverchase UMC there is this HUGE money making sale for the Day School/Play school that helps the moms and the church! People can take their old children's clothes/toys/books/riding toys and sell them. A small percentage goes to the church. This sale is one of the biggest in Hoover! I bet 100 women were HELPING with it yesterday! Why I am writing about the TNT sale? WELL, duh! Natalie WORKS at Little Lambs Playschool now, as one of the Assistant Directors, and she is very involved in all aspects of it---more than I can tell about or even know about! All I know is she is B-U-S-Y this week---working way overtime into the late afternoon/early evenings.  So is KADIE, who has helped in between working/teaching! These pix are from Wednesday, when I picked up BOTH of them at school! And , to keep Kemp from being there for HOURS each day, GranJan to the rescue the rest of the week as well (including me picking him up today)! He has even spent a couple of nights here this week. He was sooooooo sweet, and Wed. night he slept between Katie and I as Terry was in Pensacola checking on a job. When I woke up I saw him in Aunt Cutie's arms all snuggled up to her like a stuffed animal! SO SWEET!  Yesterday, I dropped him off at 12. Kadie met me at the doors with Lily who was screaming "JIN JIN" at the top of her voice! So that Kadie could SHOP, I then picked up LILY and off we went to the mall for a couple of hours! She never did fall asleep but she CHATTED and SANG like a little monkey the whole entire time! HAHA! She's a MESS! I saw one of my friends and she suddenly got SHY and when we started talking we heard this little voice singing, "Jesus loves me"!.....I've enjoyed helping out this week and have been blessed to be with my two little munchkins. Am I  a tad tired? Yes, I'm 55! BUT, it's a GOOD tired!

Michael b'day pix (MORE!)

Here's a few more shots from Michael's b'day get together!

All About MICHAEL!

Today is a special day! Today is MICHAEL'S 33rd birthday! I can't believe my Michael is 33!!!!!!! I'll never forget the day he came into the world! He arrived 3 weeks early (like his older brother, Charles did!) and Terry wasn't here! That's right! Terry was on a business trip ! Thinking we had 3 weeks to go, we didn't think it would happen again! (having one 3 weeks early!). DADDY took me to the hospital! It was hyserical! He was so nervous and it was like a scene from "I LOVE LUCY" when Mimi was throwing my bags in the car (holding Charles) and Daddy was saying, "hurry up!" and off we sped! As we checked in , I'm sure I looked like an unwed kid (I was barely 22 years old!) and here was my DADDY taking me to the hospital. Anyone who knows my Daddy knows that patience wasn't his greatest virtue. So, imagine me sitting with Daddy in the emergency room and the receptionist saying, "I don't have your pre-registration!" (well, DUH! I was EARLY!). Daddy flipped out!!! He said, "Just get her in a room and I'll do the damn paperwork LATER!" HAHAHAHA! Then, he rode up the elevator with me and imagine his face when the nurse casually said, "We had a woman give birth on this elevator last week!" Daddy almost passed out! As soon as those doors opened he gave me a hug and a kiss and said, "I'm fixing to go get your MOTHER!" Soon, Mimi was there and DADDY was babysitting! HAHAHA! After a short labor, Michael was born! MIMI was the one who said "you had another little boy!" All images of pink flew out of my mind as she said, "you aren't disappointed are you?" I laughed and said, "I told yall it was another boy!". Then Mimi said, "Just wait until you SEE him! He's the prettiest baby I've ever seen! I've never seen so much hair!" Yes, that was the truth!!! All I can compare him to is Tom Cruise's new baby girl! A head full of thick, black hair!!! Everyone---from the doctors to the nurses to friends to strangers would comment on that head of hair! More than CHARLES had :who wasn't quite a year old!!!!!!!! Yes, that's right!!!!!!!!!!!! Charles wouldn't turn 1 for 9 more days! So, for 9 days I have 2 sons the SAME AGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Today I'm the mother of 2, 33 year old sons who AREN'T  twins! HAHAHA!......From the start, Michael has made me LAUGH! The first moment I held him, after saying how gorgeous he was, I laughed! Yes, laughed! His famous "twist mouth" started at one hour old! He twisted that little rosebud mouth and I swear, he looked me in the eye and winked! We've always had such a wonderful relationship and how proud I am of him! Nobody makes me laugh more than Michael Brandon Fry!!!!!!!!!!!....How did I tell Terry about Michael? Well, Daddy dialed the number and put the phone to my ear and I said, "Terry! We have another little boy!" He thought I was kidding and said, "Let me speak to your daddy!" Daddy laughed and said, "Yes siree! You have a fine new baby boy that looks JUST LIKE YOU!" hahahahaha!! He did/does!!!!!!!!! Not only that, he is the best daddy in the world! I knew he would be, he loved Patrick and Katie so much when they were born and was always (And IS) the best big brother to them!Lily is his special angel and I love watching them together!(yesterday when she woke from her nap she was crying for "DADDY! DADDY!")......Michael, I love you and I know how much you love YOUR BIRTHDAY! While we celebrated Sunday night, I'm looking forward to having lunch with you today and being with you on Sept.19th. (and, yes, that is a satellite radio we gave him in the picture!).....Michael,  You are such a joy ---to me and to anyone who has had the good fortune to have met you!!!  I've never met anyone who doesn't like you---you just have the sweetest disposition and who doesn't love that crooked smile and devilish humor?! And so much more than that, you're one of my greatest blessings from God  to me personally and I will love you forever and be so thankful that God gave YOU to our family!!!!

P.S.and, Michael, yes, I know you love hearing that you were gorgeous 33 years ago and ONLY TODAY I will tell you that you are  just as gorgeous today as the first time I laid eyes on you, you handsome devil!

Modeling pix

Katie modeled last week at Mt. Laurel. I had never been there before but it's off of HWY 280 and the neatest place! The photographer was soooooo nice and made a ton of pix. I had MY camera , too, and while my shots weren't as great as his, I still got a few great ones!

More Little Rascal pix

Here's a few more shots of the LITTLE RASCALS this week!

Sweet patooties

Here's my sweet patooties! I could eat them up! They play just like siblings---hug one minute and fuss the next!! I'll be keeping them both together one day a week (starting this past week).  This Wed. I'm picking them both up at school! Should be interesting! HAHAHAHAHA

Katie practicing for Miss Ala/USA Pageant

It's crunch time! Katie has stepped up her game! She practiced today at the church on the stage with Don. She looked so pretty and she was just practicing!!! Don is such a great coach and helped her so much---he's a doll!.....Katie is so busy finishing her ads for the program book; checking to make sure she has all her "ducks in a row" and is just about ready for the pageant to begin! Keep your fingers crossed this will be her year! ....Sunday was her workshop and she got her pix made and filled out the mountains of paper work! Donald Trump (owner of Miss USA!) is a stickler for details! HAHA

Amazing Grace on an Amazing Week-end!

Want to see a TASTE of Emmaus? Want to finally uncover the SECRETS? Well, I am uncovering a little tiny bit of Emmaus Walk # 43 for those who want to see!  SHH! It's a SECRET! You'll see a teensy bit of it, but there is so much more!!! The JOY; the laughter; the food; the fun; the skits; the camp experience; the fellowship---there's no way to photograph all that, but here is a bit of what CHARLES experienced through the eyes of his mom (who was doing altars!). All the kids  (but Patrick, who hasn't been on a walk YET) were there at some time during the week-end! Even Charles' little niece and nephew visited ! (SHH! That's against the RULES, but BIG T was Lay Director so we they were there for just a little short visit!). I made snapshots of so many pieces of Emmaus but, like I said, unless you GO on one, you just can't KNOW!!!! haha!

The pix of Natalie and Jack (our cute pastor for SonDay Live at RUMC) and Gina , etc. were the contestants for the SKIT called : EMMAUS IDEAL! I gave Nat the idea (she was in charge of Entertainment) and she flew with it! Pat downloaded the American Idol theme song so it was OFFICIAL! HAH! It was the FUNNIEST skit I have ever seen!! Wish I could've made pictures of them during it with their incredible outfits but didn't want to take away from the moment by flashing pix so I made them of the rehearsal instead! So much fun! The pictures of the altars I made as we finished one. There was lots I missed, tho, b/c my battery charger got lost and I couldn't charge up the battery! YIKES!  Thankfully, I had enough battery to have a few of the end  of the week-end and even of us packing stuff back into the trailor on Sunday night!...... It was a wonderful, incredible GOD FILLED week-end and , as Charles said in an e-mail to me today, "I witnessed the priesthood of all believers strengthening my faith---stone by stone. God's agape love and grace flowed throughout me". Perfect words to describe an undescribable week-end!

Walking the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-37)

Tonight Terry , Brad and I went to Camp Rolling Hills to check out the camp for the Emmaus Walk that starts tomorrow.  Terry is LAY DIRECTOR of Birmingham Emmaus Walk # 43!!! This is the first time we've stayed there and we wanted to look around and see how everything is laid out---the chapel; conference room; the KITCHEN; the guest rooms. Everything is so nice and I really love the place ! It's nestled in some HILLS (hence the name!) by a couple of small lakes. It's much smaller than Chula Vista and Sumatanga but , that I really like that! I will be doing altars all week-end  as well as the Camp photographer and laundry woman and Humble Servant! OH! And Terry just informed me I'd be the "outside co-ordinator" (whatever that is!). Thankfully, WalMart is right across the road, I'm sure we'll be making lots of trips when we run out of stuff!!!!! We'll be leaving early tomorrow afternoon and will be there until fairly late on Sunday night (clean up!). CHARLES is going as a pilgrim and we are so thrilled. He will LOVE it!!!! I can't wait and I get so excited when I work a walk---it's the best thing next to heaven! Want to know more about Emmaus? Check out the website!

http://bhamemmaus.net/

 De Colores!!!