World of Coke -- TASTE IT!!

Earlier this month while in Atlanta, Middle Child and I visited the World of Coke....and he couldn't wait to get inside the TASTE IT exhibit...to do just that, TASTE the products from all over the world!

I'm not sure that it was his favorite flavor, per se, but he did get extremely excited when he saw one for DJIBOUTI...."Mom, we just studied about the country of Djibouti last week"....cool.  Although, I really think you only remember it because you enjoy saying the name.

Listen, here's my tip of the day, especially for all you folks traveling to Italy.....BEWARE of their drink, the Beverly.  Those crazy italians may like it, but it's not for us. I assure you.

Clearly, I'm not a big risk taker....as the raspberry sweet tea from Spain was my favorite "taste" of the day. And the only one I asked Middle Child to refill my cup with!!

BEHOLD....we finally reached the area that held good ol' American fountain machines filled with our kind of COKES....Middle Child could have sucked the Vanilla Coke pump dry!

Have a Coke and a Smile!

Coach Candice

Baby Girl had her first big experience with the heartache of having to "let people go".  She cried so much one night, I thought we'd have swim to get out of the house.  Middle Child didn't know what to do with her (he's a man with a crying woman in front of him---they never know what to do), so of course, he came running to me and whispered quietly, "she's crying again and I don't know why.  I asked her if she got in trouble at gym practice tonight or didn't do well on a skill or something and she said no, and then I asked her did she get in trouble with you on the car ride home for anything and she said no and then just stared at me with glossy eyes and said in a weepy voice, Candice is leaving." 

One of her gymnastics coaches, who has been with her almost since she began this journey over 5 years ago, left our gym this month.  She has graduated from the University of Alabama (Congrats!) is moving back to her hometown and then getting married this summer (Congrats again!).  To say the least, Baby girl has been devastated, but she's pushing forward, knowing that Candice is cheering her along the way!

Candice is a precious sweetheart, whom we love dearly, and are so proud of and excited for her.  It's just heartbreaking because my Baby Girl was so very attached to her sweet Candice.  Don't get me wrong, Candice could be very stern and strong on Baby Girl during training, hard core when needed.  But has lovingly guided her with full support all along the way!

We love you, Candice!!!!

Family Bed and Breakfast....

No, this is not a post about me pouring the kids a bowl full of Lucky Charms while watching Food Network in my bed.  Although, that could totally be a post on here one day, as it happens, quite often.

We recently took a trip to South Carolina, with a few other lady family members, for a weekend retreat at our cousins' bed and breakfast....better known as The Veranda on Main. 

Some of the Tyner women who were there....several generations.

There are many bedrooms in the house....my mom's favorite colors are yellow and blue, and since we were first to arrive she dropped her bags off right on the spot in this bedroom!  Although it really was a hard decision, as they are all so different but equally beautiful! 

And I would be in big trouble if I didn't include the room Baby Girl slept in with one of her favorite little cousins.  They giggled often behind those closed doors at night....a sure sign of good times.

The lush backyard---which was our view for much of the trip as the weather was near perfect and we just about lived out on the backporch!

• we ate breakfast  there each morning (and it wasn't even Lucky Charms either, it was DELICIOUS homemade food my cousin Linda magically brought forth from her oven!)
• we played cards there in the afternoon....and no one cheated, or maybe they did and I just don't want to say. 
• we ate a late lunch there as well....I'm telling you it was divine.  

All the while, we would gather on the back porch and there we would linger, for HOURS, listening to family stories from years past, or recent ones from the drive over.  In the background you could hear the birds singing....well, you could hear them singing during those few moments when we weren't being so loud with our laughter.  I'm going to tell you, that old saying, "laughter is good for the soul"....it's the truth and it doesn't take but just a minute for our family to spout out a good story that will have you tearing up one minute and then cackling the next. 

I am so proud to be a part of such a family, with deep roots and strong branches....

Thank you to my cousins who were so gracious to host us all piling up for a weekend of fun! And if you are ever in their area of South Carolina....or even if you're not, it is well worth the drive to stay at their B & B.

I'm going to fess up and just tell you that I hardly even took my camera out during our visit....too much fun to get into that needed my full attention!!  But you can and SHOULD TOTALLY go to the website to see the Bed and Breakfast gallery photos and read about it for yourself.  It was also mentioned and described in an article about Abbeville (in the South Carolina section) in Southern Living this month.

The Veranda on Main

What are you waiting for....plan a trip there NOW....and if you feel like you need a traveling partner, call me...I'm always game for a roadtrip with crazies....see:

On your mark, get ready, get set....GO!

Last Friday, my niece was a qualifier in the State track meet finals, and I was able to go see her! She finished 21st in the state in 1A! She is only a 7th grader, competing against Varsity girls in her classification....I can hardly wait to see what she will be able to do in 5 more years as a senior!!!  Where is the next Olympics anyway???? I may need to plan my travels accordingly!

While she competes in many areas of track and field, my favorite and what impresses me most---HURDLES! Although they make it look easy, it's not! Clearly, I would fall flat of my face and eat a mouthful of track for breakfast

Here she is during her heat:

Way to go Banana! We love you and are so very proud of your accomplishments!

Hard working girls...

Finding a stronghold.

I'm going to make this month's devotion short and sweet.  Because really, my ramblings on this blog are nothing compared to the depth you can find in a few short words of scripture to hide in your heart. 

Have you ever had a "day of trouble"?  Honestly, haven't we all.....

I may not know exactly what your trouble is, has been or will be, but I do know an answer:

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble;

and he knoweth them that trust in Him."

~Nahum 1:7

On of our kid's bibles says it like this:  "The Lord is good. When people are in trouble, they can go to him for safety.  He takes good care of those who trust in him."

Trust in what the Lord has in store for you, even in the days of trouble.  Seeking refuge in the right stronghold, trusting in the one true stronghold, could prove to be our biggest blessing yet. 

Rodeo night

The family had a fun evenign at the arena for the rodeo, where we saw some sweet bucking broncos and bulls, barrel racers, calf ropers and more cowboys and cowgirls than you could count. 

"Dixie Darling" takes the crown....

The high school has a Relay For Life Cancer fundraiser every year known as the "Womanless Beauty Pageant".  We were first introduced to it a couple of years ago after being encouraged by his teachers, Elder Son competed in it during his 7th grade year, once was enough for him....he did not enter again.  

This year, Middle Child was encouraged to enter .....he's a bit more of a ham for sure, so we all felt certain he could work the crowd and table of judges.

And we were not wrong.  He did just that. 

 His stage name was "Dixie Darling", a true southern belle complete with auburn colored braids (the wig is from a Daphne (Scooby Doo) get up that is several years old and once a wig is stuffed in a toybox for years on end it gets a bit unruly....so the only thing we could do with it was make a couple of braids!).  Dixie struted the stage like a pro, and upon reaching the end of the runway, pulled her dress up just high enough to show a little leg, which brought many catcalls from the crowd and no doubt added extra points from the judges.  The nerves got the best of her as she did "just okay" during her interview question on stage, but later came back as a strong competitor during the dance improv portion of the pageant.  Showing moves NEVER BEFORE SEEN ....especially for someone in a pageant  gown.  It was the dance improv that brought about many a wardrobe malfunction for the contestants.  

She may not have been the tallest contestant, or had the most buxom body, or the best spray tan, but in the end, Dixie Darling was crowned the hands down winner.  And most importantly, came home with a sash, crown, and allowed her to win not one, but TWO goodie bags filled with candy.  Eventually, though, enough was enough and Dixie Darling's inner diva showed herself as evidenced in the photo below.  I was merely trying to capture this golden moment for the record books, needing one more picture of Dixie, who was clearly exhausted from the days events.....afterall, it's hard being a pretty girl with an itchy dress, hot wig, and waterproof longlash mascara holding you down.       

  

Middle Child, it's sad but true, this photo will come back around again sometime, like Senior Year when you least expect it.  But you did outstanding, gave many people a good laugh that afternoon and raised a lot of money for Relay for Life.....I am proud to call you my little "Miss Womanless 2012". 

Now it's time to put your helmet back on and hit somebody at football practice today! :)

The field trip where I was thankful they didn't offer the kids real military bayonets....

Baby Girl's class took a field trip to the American Village this week, where "students step into history and discover the power and drama of America's journey for independence, liberty and self-government". 

They offer a great hands on lesson into our Nation's history, just a few pics from our events of the day:

Nothing beats good ol' George...I mean, really, where would we be without him? 

After learning their mission in a secret meeting, the students carried a letter to the wife of Paul Revere to implore with her to notify her husband to give a warning!

Baby Girl even had a short lesson in 18th century dance!

Holding court, and then voting as delegates to determine our independence.

Doesn't this photo make you want to go ring that bell? And watch their legs shake like jelly just like in the cartoons?  Oh, no, well, maybe it's just me.

Our fearless "infantry" learning how to properly carry, load and shoot their muskets and march forward together.

Baby Girl had a great time, as did her mama.  It's just one of those trips that makes you feel so proud to be an American, so thankful for the freedom, so thankful we have an Independence Day to CELEBRATE! 

Even FAMOUS people love Golden Eagle...

We recently took a trip to Albany, GA....birthplace of legendary singer, Ray Charles. He's sitting at a baby grand while his music plays from speakers all around the plaza and piano key benches extend through the park. I couldn't resist taking his picture with a little syrup....maybe it can be a new tradition. Who knows where Golden Eagle might wind up next! ;)

Egg Hunt Surprise

So here's the deal, my kiddos are getting older every Easter...weird, I know, but apparently this is what happens. ;). I am learning to deal with it in my own way....hence the hours of crying in my closet in the fetal position. But alas, I am determined to make the most of these years I have them all to myself, so I suck it up and come out of the closet, most of the time. Or at least for major holidays, like the celebration of the Risen Lord....which we all know goes hand in hand with an egg hunt. Right?

Anyway, we usually spend Easter with my mother's side of the family, at one of my favorite childhood sleepover spots, my Granny Bunt's homeplace. However, this year we celebrated with my husband's mother's side of the family at his grandparents home. I knew the kids would enjoy getting to spend time with their great grandparents as well as their little cousins. We all enjoyed dyeing and then hiding the eggs for the much younger cousins......I anticipated this egg hunt phenomenon would be lost to my aging kiddos, and I was right.

But with a little help from pinterest, the egg hunt was reconstructed to better fit the needs of those older aged easter basket toting egg hunters.  In fact, newfound traditions have been made, moments seared into our minds, along with lots of laughter shared.....all over a few dollar store finds to create a "glow in the dark" egg hunt. Which was fun, but the impromptu, find yourself an adult partner, "glow in the dark egg toss" was the cherry on top!!!

Below I have a few photos....flash on, flash off. And again, flash on, flash off. The glowing eggs were SO MUCH FUN....an idea I'm sure we will use again this summer for some nighttime entertainment.

                                     

Pretty cool experience executed with ease which left behind some rockin' memories!!!