Iron Bowl Memories

This is the game day that every football fan in Alabama waits for.  It is the Iron Bowl.  Alabama vs. Auburn for those of you not from around these parts.  This year was not the year for Auburn though, the score made me pretty sad.  Especially for the players.  Nobody wants to end their season like that. I am sure that changes are coming for Auburn and I know that they will be for the best.  No matter what War Eagle!
Amy, Terry, Sasha, and Connor came over to watch the game.  I had gotten a Home Depot Gingerbread house for the kids to do.  It was meant to be fun and they definitely had fun doing it.  All of us stepped back and watched and let them have at it.  Smiles and memories are what happened at the kitchen table tonight.

Amy also helped me cut material and make the garland for the railings at the house.  I love the way that it turned out.  Who knows maybe I will start to really try my hand at being crafty.  We will have to see.  I have been thinking more and more about a lot of different things and crafting is one of those.  The garland is gorgeous though and I am so glad that I did it.  I love it and so does everyone.  Brandon even hung it for me tonight which was awesome of him. 

Another Load

We got up and took the Metro truck back to them so that we would not be charged another day.  Definitely not something we wanted considering we were already paying for one day and for the over 80 miles that we had put on it. You add in  the gas and well, it just sucked and was an expenses that we did not need, but at least it is behind us now.  Of course we could probably use it one more time, but we will make due with what we can get.
After we dropped the truck off we headed to Home Depot and got a few things that we needed for the house.  The list has started and will be in existance forever now, but it feels good to be buying things for our home.  We mainly needed a dust mop, I have never had hardwoods so I have never needed one, and my mom's well was destroyed in the tornado.
We headed to the house and got Charlie Brown.  He only had to spend one night with out us.  We also got mom's rosebush and Brandon's from the house.  Brandon headed home via backroads.  I loaded my van with a few more things from the house and office, like the garbage can for the kitchen and bathroom.  The little things in life.  I headed home via the interstate.  I think the back roads would have put me to sleep. 
Charlie Brown was so excited.  I took him for a walk on the leash for a little bit and then he took right to home in the back yard on the run.  The boys were so glad that he was home with us, I think that they were worried.

We took the boys swimming, Brandon has not been able to go since we closed and he wanted to unwind for a few minutes too.  We met two of the neighbors and just had a really nice time together.  I sort of feel like I am living in a dream right now.

The First Flood

This morning was the first school Mass that I missed. And while I wanted to and feel like I needed to go I also knew that I was needed at mom's and I know that God knows that. The boys' said that they would definitely thank Jesus for keeping so many people safe and to please continue to do so.

After I dropped the boys off I picked mom up. She was ready to go. We made our first venture down Old Springville Road since Sunday. This was a horrific sight and one that will forever be with me. Nothing is the same. The landscape has forever been changed. So many amazing memories, learning how to drive for one that all seemed to take place on Old Springville Road. While the road is still there it does not look the same.

Now to mom's.

So today we waited and waited on the insurance man. In the meantime we cleaned out the deep freezer and the refrigerator and freezer and took inventory so that she can get reimbursed for everything that she lost. This was the easy part of the day.

When we made our walk through for the morning and the rest of the ceiling in my old room had come down and was on the floor. This was unbelievable sight to see. She had her China and Crystal from when her and dad got married there and it was also on the ground. While there is a monetary value, the sentimental value for her cannot be matched.

Brandon headed to the attic to see what he could get out and down came my childhood or what was left of it. I guess when I was about 13 and wanted a "big girl's room" I packed up all of the things that I could not get rid of to save for when I had a little girl. Well, there was no saving them. While the value was all sentimental except for my Little Women Madam Alexander Dolls there is a lot to be said about watching it all come down.

When I started to really go through I had gotten the boys from school. There was actually a few things that they wanted so we boxed them up as they looked salvageable, just need some good cleaning. So many things went to the garbage. 6 bags of my childhood.

My first jewelry box. i remember dad buying it for me when I got my ears pierced. My Valentine teddy bear that daddy gave me when I was almost 8 years old. The baby doll that I had and played with so much that her head had to be reattached several times, even when I went to daycare for the first time and the wicked woman was so mad that I was up asking her that she locked me in a closet. My cheerleader uniforms from the days of cheering for the Huffman Raiders where I met some of the most amazing people that I am still in contact with. This list could go on for day, but that gives you an idea of where I was on memory lane all day. There were a few things that made me laugh, and that is what I chose for the picture today.

I would like to thank again all of the volunteers who have given of their time and talents to help. Thank you to Home Depot who took the time to come out and bring boxes full of things that will definitely be useful. Thank you to Chick-fil-A for the HOT chicken sandwhiches for lunch. Thank you to Shane Shirley who took the time out to get look at mom's house and give an opinion from a builder's perspective. Thank you to all of the people that I know I am forgetting. You have all done so much and it means so much! Thank you Mr. Ken and Lance for the boxes, they will definitely be useful as we start this packing process hard and heavy tomorrow.

Well, again a shower and the bed are calling my name. Until tomorrow!

Happy Veteran's Day

Today everyone at my house had a day off but me. It was two great photo sessions though so I am not complaining. The first was with Alexa, for her two month pictures. The second was with an adorable little girl Malory. It was a great day. Watch www.monicaannephotography.com for more on these two sessions. They will be coming soon.
Today is a very special day. My dad was a Veteran and I was raised to say Thank You to everyone and anyone who has served this amazing country. It is one thing to love the US, it is another to give your life for it, and anyone who signs up for the military is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for everyone in this country and the freedoms that are so often taken for granted. So today and everyday thank a Veteran.
We took the boys' to Logan's tonight, they have been wanting to go and since they finally (it took all day) got their rooms cleaned we decided to treat them. I have to admit I was a little disappointed in the steak, I think from now on I will keep Logan's to burgers or salads. It was nice to go out and have a dinner with the family. Today they were giving 25% of all proceeds to the troops so it made it doubly nice.
We are on a hunt for an adapter for our shower so we went to Home Depot, and had no luck. Will start searching online now. Hopefully we will have some luck now, as it will put our downstairs shower back in full commission and we can start using it some. Right now it is just the shower I clean every few weeks and that is about it.
Well, I am working on editing, hoping to make a huge dent this weekend! Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers! To all of our veteran's past, present, and even future...thank you!

Trees Down

So today the boys' went back to school after their three day weekend. Many of the schools in the area were closed due to the amount of trees and power lines down, thank you Tropical Storm Lee. We were late, but because traffic was horrible and we had to go around our rear ends to make it to the school.

After I dropped the boys off I decided to go by and check out my moms. She had some trees my uncle said did not look like they were going to make it. Since our power was still out and I had to go around the county anyway to get home I figured I would check it out. I pulled up to her house, after stopping at Starbucks. Again no power means no coffee...needed a fix! Well, I could see sky in the backyard. Not a good thing since there are about 10 trees back there. I also could not see the ground due to trees down.

At first I thought that there were 5 and a half trees down, after Brandon and I went back through there were 6 and a half down. She literrally has 3 trees up, and one of those is dead...go figure.

Brandon went out to get a chainsaw, the last in stock at Home Depot. We checked the boys out of school about 30 minutes early. I hated to get them, but I also knew that it was easier considering the work that was ahead of us. They were very excited though.

Well, we were not able to really do anything but take a lot of pictures, but we will get it done. My mom is truly lucky. I know that my dad was watching over the house. There were several trees that could have done a lot of damage to her house. One would have literally cut it in half, but other than her deck it looks like all is well. The largest tree and the one that was closest to the house that was leaning towards the house from what my uncle said ended up going straight down the center of the handicapped ramp on her deck. Thanks Dad for watching out for mom. Thank you God for showing us that while things looked bad, were really were blessed.

Well, still no power at home. Time to cuddle in the bed again!

Good Bye Forest....Hello Yard

So today we knew without a doubt that Brandon would have some yard work to do. Between the rain and the ballpark it has gone unattended. It was the yard that people had to think as they drove by, Do they still live there? Well, now they know that we do!

The plan was for me to take the boys to the baseball fields for a player's clinic but neither were feeling great so I opted to let them stay home. Hopefully everyone understands why we made the call. I think that they were seriously exhausted, because they were both in bed early.

I did want to spend some time outside so we played out back a little, and then after a trip to Home Depot where the Mulch was 1.12 a bag, we got the boys some seeds and the little starter greenhouses and we came home to plant. Brandon even got me 2 of the larger azalea bushes. I think that azaleas are so pretty but I am very glad that we have the larger ones, those are my favorite! Now to get some roses!

The wasps were trying to form an army today, but I was also armed with my new favorite spray to kill them. I have to say I found it satisfying to watch them die. Mess with my family or our space and watch out. The boys, especially Danny thought that it was great to study one of them who landed on the back of one of our deck benches...never to land anywhere else again! Sorry I am so not a fan of insect...and YES insects were harmed!

So I have been adding up what I need to get through these last 2 months of school. Why is it that the end of the year is so much more than the beginning? I am determined not to let finances get me down, but they are definitely trying. I have a lot to get ready this week because there is a lot going on.

Danny is supposed to have a game tomorrow night, but I guess that will be decided by Mother Nature. With the weather as questionable as it is who knows. I just hope that we are home when it starts. All of us, I do not like it when we have to be on the roads and the weather is bad. I am definitely praying that the weather holds off till we get home.

John Michael found a leaf that looked like Batman...he had to add eye holes, but it is really crazy the similarities. I wonder if I could have sold it on e-Bay like those who find Mary in toast? Hmmm...The thing is I was lucky to get a picture. Batman the leaf had a run in with metal man...who by the way is rubber. John Michael is definitely a trip! You have to stay alert or you will fall behind.

Well, everyone is in bed. I am still working on homework and pictures, but I do not think I can go anymore. I am off to bed myself. I will be of no use if I get sick. Well, as we all know mom's never get sick. Anyway, before I go to bed I will say a prayer for all of my family and friends. I am also asking for a prayer for my mom, she is not wanting specifics out there but know that she needs some prayers. Thanks everyone. Until tomorrow, which is picture day for John Michael!