Christmas 1984

We lived in Talladega, Alabama and my mom had paid a fortune for these dresses. It was pouring rain outside and Kelly wanted NO PART of meeting Santa Claus.

On the way into the boutique where we were to have our picture made with Santa, Kelly ate it in the middle of a huge mud puddle. I mean, she got muddy water in her face and all over the beautiful smocked gowns my mom had dressed us in.

She cried the whole time I told Santa my "list" of toys that I wanted that year. Little sisters...

Another Ellyotte "First"

Getting Ready for Christmas!

Hi All! Sorry I have been a lazy blogger lately. Things are going well... But Dan's been in Europe (only for a week, but still) and being a mom of two 24 hours a day with no break is taking it's toll on me! This week I had to finish up my grades for my students and get them submitted. I had seriously fallen behind because of Aunt Mamie's death - I took about 2 weeks off when I went to Nashville to be with our family.

I also have been doing a 3 day strict cleanse and am just finishing up day 2. So that has been hard to do while Dan's been away. Yet, I HAVE to lose this baby weight so I am doing the CoolerCleanse to jump start the weight loss regimen. Not fun, and I am hungry. However, the 6 fresh pressed juices have been pretty yummy and satisfying. I am looking forward to Saturday though when I can eat solids again!

Ellyotte is 4.5 months and is just a DOLL BABY. She's started teething so she's drooling non-stop and I think she might be dropping one of her 3 naps right now. But she still sleeps so much: she goes to bed at 6:15 pm each night, wakes maybe once (sometimes twice but I will just put her paci back in and she's good) to eat about 3 am, then will sleep tll about 7:30-8:00 am. Then she goes back down an hour after waking up, take a 2-3 hour nap at lunchtime (when Noah naps - WHOO HOO!)and then another short nap around 4 pm.

I am not sure how much she weighs right now because we haven't had her 4 month check up yet, but she's a big girl. Really long and getting some cute rolls!

Her hair is just as out of control as Noah's was at this age - it stands straight up and straight out. She has a legitimate mohawk. Her eyes are a beautiful blue and her hair is brown with some auburn highlights. She's a gorgeous girl and I am so in love with her. She cries only when she is hungry or tired - a far cry from the kind of baby Noah was! He was a hard baby so I am welcoming this break with Ellyotte.

Here are some cute pictures. We are ready for Christmas in this house and can't wait to celebrate it with our families!

Baby Love

Here are some cute videos of our babies! They are so precious and we are really loving every moment with them.

Noah "Conducting"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VHkJoraBWA

Noah and Ellyotte having some crib time
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m4BZGHnFDrQ

A Nashville Family Thanksgiving and Celebration

As you all know from my previous posts, my precious Aunt Mamie went to be with Jesus on Wednesday night at 10:15, 24 November. It was 3 years to the day that her granddaughter and my cousin Shannon got married. I was a very pregnant bridesmaid and my Aunt Mamie did the flowers and planning. It was over the top beautiful. And I can honestly say, Mamie hadn't ever looked more radient. She was glowing. Little did we know that exactly three years later, we'd say goodbye to her.

Her service Saturday was a celebration. We had family who had driven 2.5 days to be with us from California; people from all walks of life gathered to pay tribute to an extraordinary woman of God.

We had the service at Belmont Church in Nashville, just off of Music Row. She and Bob had been integral in the founding of that church back in the '80s. Don Finto and Steve Fry presided over it, her grandchildren, Shannon and Will, and her best friend, Jeananne, eulogized her and lifelong family friends Amy Grant Gill and Vince Gill sang. Amy sang hymns and Vince sang "Give me Jesus."

We wept while watching her slide show but rejoiced for we know where she is now and she is no longer suffering.

Following the service, we had a "party" at Amy and Vince's barn on Leigh Ann (Mamie's daughter, my cousin) and Mike's farm (they have two barns there. The one we had the party at was where Shannon's reception/party had been just three years before). We had a bonfire, lots of food and stood around space heaters. There was laughter and there were tears - Mamie would have loved being there with all of the people she loved most in her life.

Here are some pictures.

Our Loss...

... Is Heaven's gain.

Mamie Evelyn Mason, my mom's older sister and my beloved aunt, succombed to brain and bone cancer just as Dan, Noah, Ellyotte and I were pulling into the Nashville city limits on Wednesday night at 10:15 pm. It was the night before Thanksgiving so it has been a particularly hard holiday.

We knew how sick Mamie was, but that doesn't make losing her any easier. She's no longer suffering so we are relieved but the hole left in our family by her passing is massive. We are heartbroken to be without her. But the rewards she is recieving in Heaven right now are probably mind blowing. She fought the good fight and she's dancing in the presence of her Savior now. She's been restored to the fiery redheaded beauty she once was and she's pain free.

This is brief because we are getting ready to leave for her funeral. We will celebrate her life today surrounded by our friends and family. Her oldest grandchildren, Shannon Jones Banks and Will Jones along with her best friend, Jeananne, will share memories of her. Her lifelong friend, Don Finto, and Steve Fry will lead the service and our family friend, Vince Gill, will sing "Give Me Jesus."

Remember our family in your prayers. We are celebrating while crying - and that isn't easy to do. She and her love, Uncle Bob, were married almost 56 years - remember him as he learns to live life without his earthly partner.

Redheaded Aunt

These are some gorgeous photos from my wedding day and my cousin Shannon's wedding day (her granddaughter) of my precious Aunt Mamie. She planned/coordinated/provided flowers for my special day. She's the redhead my Noah got his beautiful coloring from.

Please remember her in your prayers. She's finishing her valiant fight against bone and brain cancer right now. She's so close to Eternity and I am thrilled by the reward that awaits her in Heaven but I am heartbroken by the void that will be left when she leaves us.

Videos

Noah with Amy and Vince Gill's horses at the farm in Franklin, TN
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_2JNEsHjL0

Ellyotte's first fire in the fireplace - she's captivated
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvzxlI5N6ro

Ellyotte and my best friend's baby boy, Cy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WiMCGw0Ae_Y

Homecoming 2010

Following an emotional week in Nashville, TN, it was wonderful to be able to celebrate my school's Homecoming. Troy always does homecoming right: parade, tailgating, game. It is so much fun. Ellyotte stayed home with our sweet housekeeper (she's been with us since 1989) Mary and slept a lot. But Noah was there all day and was ready to play with the band at every turn! Kel and I got to catch up with a lot of old friends and it was a really special day.

Nashville Visit

I cannot begin to express how special this visit was for me, my mom and dad and sister. We got to spend some wonderful time with my precious Aunt Mamie. She's been battling bone and brain cancer since 2004 and has been incredibly brave.

In May, they stopped treatment on her and told her that she may not live longer than 8 weeks... here we are in November and she's done great. However, she is tired, she is in pain and she's ready to meet Jesus.

We are heartbroken by the amount of pain Aunt Mamie is in right now but we are overjoyed by what waits for her when she decides to give up her valiant fight. I am honored to be the niece of Mamie Evelyn Grindley Mason. She is the fiery redhead my own boy inherited his good looks from, she's the woman who grandmothered us when our own grandmother was too tired (she died at 102 years), she is the woman who has a kitchen that is so full of warmth and good smells that you are overwhelmed, she is the woman who orchestrated my entire wedding, and she's the woman of God I so long to be like.

There aren't enough words to express my love and admiration for her and for Uncle Bob. So, I will let you see the love we have for her in these pictures - she is "Nashville" to me. And Nashville is my second home....