Graduation and Carolyn's 80th birthday party

Today our Sam graduates from high school.  We are so proud of him!  He's a very smart young man and I know he has a great future!  He will be attending Mississippi State this fall on a full scholarship.  Go Bulldogs!

It's an exciting but bittersweet time!

Haven't graduation announcements changed since we were in high school?

Carolyn's 80th birthday was Wednesday.  I intended to post these pictures then but somehow never got around to it.  That happens a lot lately!

Her children gave her a lovely surprise birthday party a couple of weeks ago at the Botanical Gardens in Huntsville.  She was really surprised!

The Botanical Gardens was a gorgeous setting for the party.

The food as delicious!

The table settings were also beautiful.  Would you believe all of this is plastic?

The look on her face was priceless!  She thought she was coming to hear her grandson give a speech.
They really got her, which is hard to do!

Carolyn and Cameron.  He's almost as tall as she is!

Carolyn getting a hug from Luke.

These are Carolyn's three children.  Rick and Kathy live in Huntsville.  Geary, on the right, lives in Kwajalein.  He traveled a long way but his first grandchild, a granddaughter Rosemary, was born just a week before the party so he was able to combine the party and meeting Rosemary.

Max was really surprised too.

She got lots of money and I called her Wednesday to wish her a happy birthday and she was out shopping.  The money was burning a hole in her pocket!

She also got several gift cards which she loves.

Four sisters.

Kathy's family.

Kathy and her boys.  Her daughter who lives in Texas was unable to come.  Her husband is in the Army which makes it difficult for them to travel at times.

Karen's family.

Our family.  Heather wasn't able to come because of Sam's baccalaureate that day.

Sheila, Doug and Doug's mom.

Rick's family.

Pat and Dave.

Geary and his friend Pam.

It's weekend again.  Where does the time go?  Have a good one!

Dance Recital and Mother's Day

Emma Taylor's dance recital was Saturday night.  She has been taking dance lessons since she was 3 years old.  She has been taking hip-hop for the last few years.  Gone are the days of cute recital costumes but the dances are interesting!

I loved this little Snow White costume!

Hip-hop costumes aren't nearly as cute!  However, the dancer is still cute!  She had her hair braided once she got to the recital venue.

The dance moves so fast and it's hard to keep up with her!

She had quite a few "fans" there!

That's Randy's mom and step-father in the picture.

Sunday for Mother's Day we were invited to their house for a dinner cookout.  It's nice that we can get together as a family with them, Ben and Cam, Randy's sister, and Randy's previous in-laws.

Hope you had a happy Mother's Day as well!

We have taken the house off the market.  We had a very good offer on it last week but we just can't find anything that fits our needs and that we like.  Guess it wasn't meant for us to move and we will happily just stay right here!  It's a big relief not to have to keep the house ready for showing all the time.  What a pain!

What's Happening?

Cameron's 12th birthday was last Thursday, May 2nd.  He was on his way to baseball practice but stopped by the house to collect his birthday cards!

We are celebrating tonight with dinner at Mt. Fuji, his choice.  He always picks that place!  We love it too!

Blue Suede Cruise was last weekend.  Bob and Linda Pushee came down on Thursday for the cruise.  We had a nice visit with them but they ended up going home on Saturday because of the predicted rain.  Actually the rain didn't come in until late afternoon on Saturday.  Pat and Dave were also here and the "girls" did lunch at Sweet Tea and Biscuits and then a little shopping.  We were joined by Marie and Paula.  It was a fun girls day!

Three generations of Harrison car guys!

That's Ben's truck that has just been finished...I use that term loosely!  He's very proud of it!

A group of Yankees came down.  Jim Gunter, Doug, Danny Stevens, Jim Franks, Mervin Elrod, Tom Franks. Harold Kennedy and Dave Schneider.

Harrison has been having baseball games at least twice a week lately!  He has really turned into a very good pitcher.  He pitched the entire game last night and did a great job!

He's also gotten some good hits.

This is the first year that he has enjoyed pitching.  In the previous years he was very nervous and looked uncomfortable on the mound.  His dad is the coach and made him pitch anyway.  This year he seems to enjoy it and is much more comfortable.  Both he and Cameron tried out for the school baseball team and made the first cut.  The games keep us busy for sure!

Sunday was Decoration at the cemetery where my mom, dad and grandmother are buried.  Karen and Pat took the flowers to the cemetery this year.  It was nice that Pat could be here for that.

Mother would be very proud.  It always meant a lot to her.

We celebrated my sister Carolyn's 80th birthday on Sunday.  I'll post those pictures another time.

Hope you all have a happy Mother's Day!

Morgan's Bridal Shower

Morgan and Tyler will be getting married in September.  I went to her first shower on Saturday in Red Bay.  It was a beautiful day and the shower was held poolside.

It was a recipe shower and the invitation came with a recipe card.  I had never been to a recipe shower before but it was very interesting!  She got some great stuff to stock her kitchen, very useful stuff, and looked like some good recipes too.  I loved seeing how the gifts were packaged.

Here are a few of the gifts.

Brownies, brownie pan, PAM, oil, etc.

Chicken casserole with ingredients.  Beautiful casserole dish.

Pancake mix, griddle, wisk, etc.

Ingredients to make Moscow Mules, Morgan's favorite drink.  From her sister Courtney.

Muffin tins, cake mixes, wisk, wooden spoons, potholders, etc.

Biscuit ingredients including Crisco, flour, pan, jellies, etc.

Spaghetti ingredients from her mom.  Colander, tomato sauce, spices, etc.

This is Tyler's mother and sister, Laurie and Anna.  Anna will be a bridesmaid.

Morgan's sisters will also be bridesmaids.

Morgan and Darby and Allie Ruth.

Such an exciting for Morgan, Tyler and our whole family!

Easter

Thought I'd finally get back to the blog...at least today!  There's no way to catch up so I'm just moving forward!

Nothing new about the house.  Viewings have been few and no offers.  We have just about decided to stay here.  There's nothing out there that we are interested in buying that fits our price range and needs.  Looking at what's on the market has given me a new appreciation for what I have in this house!

Cameron broke his hand back in March while playing football at school, a Boxer's fracture.  He was in a hard cast for 6 weeks, then  a smaller cast, then a Velcro brace.  He didn't let it stop him from playing baseball!  He got released from the orthopedic last week and says his hand is fine.

Heather and I took Emma Taylor to Birmingham over spring break for a little shopping trip.  Heather let Emma Taylor drive almost all the way.  She did a great job and the experience was good for her.  She'll be getting her license in June!

Harrison has started his baseball season with games almost every Tuesday and Thursday nights through May.  Last week he pitched and did a great job.  He actually seems to enjoy it this year!

These were taken last night.

They've won their first three games!

We had a wonderful Easter!  The weather was beautiful and we were able to sit outside on the porch after dinner.  Cameron spent the night with us on Friday night and we dyed eggs on Saturday morning, which became deviled eggs later than day.

We had the family over for lunch on Sunday including Randy's mom, stepfather and sister.  I was able to get some family pictures, as always!

That's about it for now!  Hope everything is going well for all of you!