Snow + South = Crazy

**This post is a bit late, the snow was actually back on February 10 and since then we recently had a full week of the absolute most pleasant weather ever here. Ever. So pleasant. High 60's or low 70's for a solid week. In February. However, this post had to be included, we may not have snow for another few years so I need it documented.  Plus, I may need it to remind myself this summer when the scorching temps arrive in July and I begin complaining about the heat....it does eventually cool off again. And sometimes, even in the south, it snows.

 

Seriously. Snow. In the South. AGAIN. Can you believe it?  Me either. 

This is crazy. I've never seen such a winter wonderland in my life. Of course, that's because I reside in Alabama, not Minnesota....we don't do winter wonderland so much. However, it's fun to pretend every once in a while.  But if this keeps up, this snow event stuff every couple of weeks, I may be forced to start asking "you guys" to run downtown for me a "pop".  Instead of asking "y'all" to go get me a glass of sweet tea. :)

 

Seriously, when it snows hard enough to blow sideways and stick into the netting of the basketball goal.....it's a real snow event, y'all.

Every aspect of play my kids would normally use outdoors was covered in snow.  The ground was almost 5 inches deep with the white stuff.  And it was the good white stuff, too.  The powdery kind.  The soft kind. The kind not crusted over with the ice pellets coating, hard, scrunchy, hurt like heck when you get pegged with a snowball stuff.  Sure the icy topping made for a fun sled ride last time, but the whole snowball fights lacked much to be desired, unless emergency rooms are your kind of fun.  

And it was the PERFECT snow for making snowcream. Mom made the kids some fantastic melt in your mouth snow ice cream....several batches in fact.  We ate it as though it were calorie free...and by the way, it's not, just so you know.  Snow may be calorie free alone....but not when you mix it with a whole can of sweetened condensed milk.

Ice Popsicles along the roofline are calorie free.  But they don't taste nearly as good.

And because it was the perfect powdery kind of snow, Middle Child thought it was immensely fun to rake it off the air units and watch it fly through the air with the greatest of ease.

I've mentioned a time or two here on the blog how I'm not a real cat person.  I love our dog. I sort of like our cat. He's a great cat, really, and he's growing on me, but he's still not my dog.  I'm happy to report Mr. Jingles and I have bonded a little through the snowstorm.  I've let him come inside occasionally because he looks pitiful when it's 20 degrees outside and he comes to every window possible peering in to see how warm and cozy we are inside. 

Mr. Jingles frolicked very little in the white covered ground.  He didn't care much for his paws to sink deep in the snow and come out all wet and sticky, but he stil wanted to bring his curious self to whereever we were playing. He was fun to watch.   Every time we stopped to play, for any length of time, he'd start scratching out a dry spot to pace around in until we left again. Cats are weird....a highly peculiar sort of animal....but I get a kick out of them and their quirks....maybe Mr. Jingles is more like me than I thought. :)

So, all in all, the snow was cool.  Really cool. But I think it's only because we don't get it very often. Especially not enough of the stuff on two different occasions this year to go sledding and build snowmen and make snow cream and play!play!play!....but just a day of it is enough for me.

There's a reason I live in the south. Actually there's many reasons I live in the south.  But one of them is because it doesn't snow all winter.  I appreciate all "you guys" above the Mason Dixon who battle through the winter season and the blizzards that drop a foot of snow that sticks around for months on end......I do. I just don't really want it filtering it's way down here. I'm not equipped to handle it often.  But thanks for the beauty of it this season, it's been gorgeous, and brought my children amazing moments of pure exhiliration. Memories to last a lifetime, or at least until time for the flip-flops to come out!

Guessing Game....

    Think you know what these snow covered objects are? 

Homemade Granola Bars

I had a terrible headache earlier this week.  One of those that makes you feel nauseous...just plain ol' sick. Then I decided I needed to bake something to make me feel better. Something with chocolate always helps. :)

Homemade granola bars was the recipe of choice.  Why? Because a) I've never made them before and I'm always up for trying my hand at a new recipe, b) I've been watching too much Top Chef and Chopped late at night from the DVR and therefore have an increasing desire to run in the kitchen and start whipping up something scrumptious up from my "pantry", c) I thought it would be a fun treat for the kids to have after school and a booster for energy needed in their activities, d) Giada looks so cute when she makes stuff on food network, I thought it might work for me.

But mainly, let's not kid ourselves, it was primarily the result of my need for chocolate. You know, because my head hurt. :)

And y'all....they were good. Really good. Better than the store bought individually wrapped stuff in a box for sure!!!  And my lovely little taste testers came in after school and confirmed my theory as well.  Baby Girl even passed out sample bites to her gym coaches and school teachers. 

They were so easy to make.  I can't wait to pull from my inner top chef brain (bahahahahahahaha) and tweak the recipe for different variations. Because sometimes my headache needs, actually it beckons me to feed it, white chocolate and cranberries in my homemade granola bars. Padma would be so proud.

The Miracle Worker

This past weekend, Mom took "anyone who wants to go" to see the play, The Miracle Worker.  Helen Keller has long been my mother's favorite heroine.  Her senior year of high school, 1958, she gave a speech in the County Oratory contest based on Helen Keller.  She did not win, but placed 2nd against a young man (now a prominent banker in the area).  His mother took the medal that was given to her son for winning the oratory contest and gave it to my mother saying she thought she deserved it....apparently she loved Helen Keller too!  :)  

You can ask my mom about that speech today, some fifty something years later and she can still recite a paragraph or two without hesitation. In fact, Baby Girl just a few weeks ago did a social studies project on a famous Alabamian--Helen Keller, and she quoted a few lines from her Granny's speech.  Sometimes things really do come full circle. 

When I was younger, I remember going to Tuscumbia to see her birthplace, the famous water pump and watch the live play they held there.  It was wonderful.  As was the play this weekend.  My kids sat on the edge of their seats the entire show...they loved it.

Seriously, my mom adores the life of Helen Keller. So much so that it's the only time in my life I ever remember her raising her hand to strike me.  We were traveling down the highway with my MawMaw sitting up front with mom driving and myself in the backseat.  I was in elementary school and had just heard some really funny (what I thought) Helen Keller jokes.  You know them, you heard them too. Apparently they still circulate the hallways because 30 years later my kids are hearing them.  Anyway, I didn't even get the punch line out of my mouth before I saw my mom's right hand leave the steering wheel and start flailing in my direction across the seat.  I dodged under the diress and promised to never tell Helen Keller jokes again. Ever.  And I haven't.  I don't want Mama to slap me now either. :)

Since I no longer wish to corrode my brain with such trash as those jokes, I read her famous quotes instead.

A few (although she has many I adore) of my favorite Helen Keller quotes: 

• "Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of the overcoming of it."
• "I can see, and that is why I can be happy, in what you call the dark, but which to me is golden. I can see a God-made world, not a manmade world."
• "The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision."
• "The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart."

Helen Keller was truly was a phenomenal lady.  Her story is remarkable.  Her abilities outstanding. Her perserverance inspiring.  And my mom is a pretty great lady too. I think Helen would be proud of her as well.

Perfect Love

It doesn't exist. Right?  I mean really, those two words should never be placed together because it just isn't possible.  Think back to your high school years...oh, I know you don't want to, but humor me, okay?

I bet at some point you had a boyfriend and were totally in love...totally. Enamored with him, even.  

And it was perfect. For about 3 days. Or maybe even a week.  Even a lucky few of you who felt perfection for a month.

Then the drama of relationships hit full force. Ugh, the drama. (And to think, my high school days were during a time where facebook, email and cell phones were not even in use.)   

Needless to say, despite the nurmber of times I wrote his name in pretty script along with mine on the outside of my notebook, the perfect love I thought we had was never there. Sadly, even though every 15 year old girl would argue with me, the truth is there is no perfect boyfriend. Not even when you get to 12th grade.  

What about your husband, you say?   Oh, I didn't even know my guy in high school so he doesn't really count.

Sure I finally found him, with God's grace, after high school.  And it was an immediate love. I was enamored with him, certainly. He left me cute little messages on my scrabble board.  It was adorable. And a few short years later, we were married. And he's really close to being the perfect husband. Thanks to me. :)

So, marriage, that will bring about perfect love, right?  No.  Did you not read the first sentence???....it doesn't exist. There is no perfect husband.  There is no perfect marriage.  (He probably doesn't even know where to find our scrabble board now.)

There can be really great marriages, full of really great love, shared between two really great people.   

However, there is no perfect love. Not from us anyway.  But with God there is perfect love. It's just what He is, it's in His blood, that same blood that covers us.  His perfect love allowed his only Son to die.  His perfect love gave us salvation. 

Through Him we can know love, we can experience love, we can share love, we can give love. Because of the love He has shown us, we can love others, our non-perfect boyfriends, our non-perfect husbands, our non-perfect children, our non-perfect co-workers, our non-perfect friends, our non-perfect fill-in-the-blank.

Know God so you can know love, true love. It's the only way.

"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
~1 John 4:8

God is love. He is perfect love. 

Dirt Road Living.

 

A little message to start off this "month of love" with a little perspective.

"Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." ~~Romans 12:9-10

Last weekend we took a trip to where the NATIONAL CHAMPIONS live....

A-U-B-U-R-N

Cam came running out when his # and name was called.  The crowd went wild. I think he'd make great commercials for Crest or Colgate. :)

AU Students were allowed to have field access....first come, first serve....and thus those on the front row were able to get a high five from this AU favorite.

Cam gave a super speech that he wrapped up with a favorite quote from the Auburn Creed, "I believe in Auburn and love it."

Pat Dye was given a standing ovation. 

Auburn's Mayor spoke in appreciation from the city of Auburn for Auburn University....and ended by saying he hoped to see "each and every one of you" (all 80,000) at Toomer's Corner after the ceremony! :)

One of my all time favorite AU players,  Kodi Burns.....not because of his great plays (although he's definitely had a few) but more importantly because he exhibits the meaning of a true, selfless, team player.   He said people were always asking him why he choose to come to AUburn.....he tells them, "for two reasons, 1) to be a part of the Auburn family and 2) to win a National Championship."  I love Kodi.

Govenor Bentley, looking ever so sharp in his orange and blue tie, was among the many dignitaries who spoke at the ceremony as well....ending his speech with "I have one thing left to say... (pulls an AU National Championship hat from the podium shelf and puts it atop his head)...I'm ALL IN, War Eagle!"

The quarterback from the 1957 Championship team joined in the festivities by speaking and also he was chosen to carry the crystal football onto the stage for the ceremony presentation.

Cam Newton receiving the Heisman trophy from fellow AU quarterbacks.  I include this photo, not because of Cam, but because of Stan White.....who I may or may not have had a crush on while I was in college at AU.  He happened to be the QB part of my time there, actually during the undefeated season of 1993....and more importantly, he was the only man standing between the future with my husband.  

 I remember thinking to myself, "oh, if I bump into him on campus (or during the Wednesday night Karoake at Denaro's)  and he asks me out I'll have to tell Temple we'll work things out later".   I never bumped into him on campus, lucky for Temple. :)

Coach Chizik. I'm not gonna lie, I really like Coach Tuberville, and was sad to see him go. Turns out the Chiz was a good hire. :)

Oh indeed, Saturday was a great day on the plains.  My favorite place on earth.
I believe in Auburn and love it.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again!

I know. I know.  I stay so behind on this ol' thing called the blog. But I'm trying to do better. It's a matter of relevance, the term better. Putting up a post months after the fact is better than not putting it up at all. Right?  So, Elder Son tried out for the basketball team again this year, and this time he made it! Yeah for Elder Son! We were proud of him, as this was something he really worked hard to do, and really wanted to be a part of the team.  

He still isn't a starter, but he has seen some playing time on the court.  I actually wasn't there to see him play in his first game, but his father was....and he was kind enough to send me that sweet text "your son just scored his first points."  I was elated!  And immediately sent a text out to several friends announcing the big breaking news. As if anyone really wanted to know, but hey, I'm a proud mama, I'll tell the world about my kids if they'll only stop and listen! :)

It's been hard trying to keep up with 3 kids all going different directions, but I wouldn't trade it for anything else in the world! 

Now, aren't you glad this was a feel good post instead of a tear jerker like this POST from last year when he tried out...and didn't make it?

Me too.

'Cause those will break your heart slap in half when you have to live through them.

This year it was a much better time for all of us involved.  And don't think for a minute I didn't sweat bullets waiting for the call to come forth that tryouts were over.  Last year, I had been at gym with Baby Girl and Granny had to pick up Elder Son from the dreaded let down of not making it.  I decided not to miss that this year, win, lose or draw, I'd be there to shout with joy or cry silently inside with him.  

So, because he is a teenager, it seems fun to play tricks on your mom.  Tricks that make your heart stop a beat or two. Just because. Yeah, it's real funny, unless you're the mom. Who loves your child more than basketball or life itself. Here's how this year's conversation went after try outs:

"Hey, mama?"
"Yeah, buddy, are you finished?"
"Yes, we're finished, come pick me up."
"Okay, I'll be there in a minute, so, how'd it go, did you make the team?"
"I can't hear you real good, just come pick me up."

I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to figure out teenage boys and their emotions even face to face, but through a converstaion on a phone???? please, ....it's virtually impossible. So, my mind raced a thousand miles while I drove the dreaded few to the gym.  What if he didn't make it?  What would I say? How could I make it feel okay? It's not like a scrape on the knee after a bicycle wreck on the driveway when he was 6....band-aids, kisses and popsicles don't work anymore.

I pull up to the gym and he's in the parking lot talking with some other kids, and a close family friend who's in college. He hops in the passenger seat and I just smile, not wanting to cause any unneccessary drama in front of his peers, I don't immediately ask the BIG pressing question.  

The college aged family friend (who was an outstanding athlete in high school and college) stands at my window and leans in....then says aloud across me, "it's okay, Elder Son, you'll make it next year." 

I just look back and forth between them like a tennis match at Wimbledon.  I'm speechless. And heartbroken. But trying to be strong. Elder Son seems like he's being really strong, too. And we sit there for what seems like forever or maybe it was just a few seconds, and finally Elder Son cracks a broad smile and says "Mama, we're just messing with you, I made it!".

Real funny. Teenage boys. They're a laugh a minute.

So proud of my AUBURN TIGERS...NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!!!

I believe in Auburn and love it!

WAR EAGLE!

A championship family!

War Eagle!!

We live in the south where snow is a rare find.

But we love playing in the white stuff when it comes around! :)  We played in it until almost midnight---it was so powdery and soft!  And I'm so glad we did, because overnight a layer of ice pellets was atop the 2-3 inches of snow. It made it harder to make snowballs and play play in it, but the sledding was still fun! 

I took these photos the first night of play....it was SNOW much fun!

The boys had made snow slushies using a cup full of snow and pouring Mt.Dew and Sunkist over it! YUM!!

Just like the saying goes...."Nothing runs like a Deere".  We didn't have a sled, but with some good southern ingenuity, we managed to find a suitable replacement....a John Deere lawnmower hood turned upside down worked like a charm!! It also doubles as a snowboard! :)

Hope you all had fun in the snow too....until next time, which will probably be in another decade or so!!

Sledding the BIG HILL.....

I know it's a lot of photos....but they tell a story, so I had to include them all.  Here's the storyline.  We live on a hill.  We have a driveway that is a long hill which ends at a main highway.  It took us a few hours to get up enough nerve to let the kids try to travel down it....with folks on the lookout at the bottom to watch for any traffic.  Fortunately, there was limited travel on the roads. So off they went, one by one, down the BIG hill, repeatedly. 

 I just want you to notice in the photos how different their respective rides are....Baby Girl was most cautious, while she loves the thrill of the ride, she is careful to keep her hands placed gently on each side of the "sled".  Kind of like a break check, keeping her right on track and alsom keeping from flying down at too high a speed....and you will notice she practices saftey....looking both ways as she approaches the highway. :) 

Then you'll see the photos of Middle Boy's run down the hill.....a wee bit different.  He lays out one hand in the snow....but only because it helps him complete a 360 while speeding down the hill.  Yes, he was able to make complete turns and keep sledding. That child. And you will notice that he practices what his Daddy preaches to them all summer on the water slides...."lay back into it, put some weight back there, and the speed will follow".  And so he sped right across the highway.....

As to not imply that it was a perfect round of sledding each and every time, there are photos showing a wipeout from Elder Son.  Who had several great runs, but I just happened to get pics of the snow plowing stop mid-run that plummeted him overboard. And it's memories folks, fun snow memories.