Christmas photos

Mabry playing with her brother's new keyboard from Grandpa and Grandma Bulger.

Gabe's Batman tent filled with his gifts from Santa. You can't see it, but it has bat ears.

mabry's loot from Santa Claus. She got a scooter, fur real puppy, a couple of pairs of slippers, and an alarm clock with Hello Kitty.

Yesterday, Mabry and I baked and decorated an ornament cake. Not the prettiest cake in the world, but still should be delicious.

We also baked and decorated gingerbread men for Santa.


The video below is Gabe rediscovering how much he loves the bouncy/rocking chair of his infancy.

Twas the night before Christmas

Mabry and Gabe are wearing these adorable shirts with their names monogramed on them. They are adorable and my mother wanted a picture with them wearing them. Gabe did not feel cooperative today though. I think this is the first time he didn't smile for a picture. Isn't Mabry's smile cute though?

This is the nativity set that I grew up with that belonged to my dad's mother. Mabry is completely fascinated just as I was as a child. I used to play with this set like they were Barbie dolls. You can see where my mother has glued the sheep legs back on from me being too rough with them. Luckily, I have a mantle seven feet up that children can't reach. Notice the wise men are missing. They are slowly beginning their journey to the baby Jesus since I decided to celebrate Epiphany this year.

Last year, Mom decided to give me some more of her ornaments. These are some of the examples of some handmade ornaments from my great-great aunts Ana Lois and Ola. I can't imagine the hours it took to hand bead these ornaments and I have so many. I left off their hand knit snowflakes and intend to use them next year when I put up a tree with all white lights and white and clear ornaments. I also am going to start the kids their own tree upstairs with all of their ornaments on them.

The tree fully decorated but without lights on. Gabe has been slowly removing the ornaments at his level while Mabry likes to relocate ornaments often.

coming soon!

Posting has been slow going around here since the computer decided to die a slow death. We finally have a new CPU and hope to be back in complete action shortly. I will update later. Today, we are actually closing on the Ashland house! Yea! No more paying two mortgages every month!

long time update

I'm not sure that I like sitting in this little chair.
Maybe I will like this chair.
Playing in my car that Nana and Papa gave to me.
Like my new haircut? Mama got tired of my pseudo-mullet do.



Daddy likes to use the force.

Gabe and the dog food

This is what Gabe does while I cook dinner. Needless to say, Riley hasn't had a meal in months that didn't have kitchen dirt in it as well.

Gabe has also learned to say no!

Gabe's birthday!

Mabry with her Hannah Montana cake.

After Gabe has had at his cake.

I think I like this cake thing!

I might try the cake now.

This icing isn't so bad.

I love to play cars on the tray of the high chair.

Gabe and Mabry on Gabe's birthday dressed for Matt's wedding.



Below are the videos of Gabe's newest toy and Gabe eating his birthday cake.

Happy Birthday, Gabe!!

Our computer is giving us fits. I have to upload pics from school. Today is Gabe's birthday. It has come quickly. Gabe is now walking when he feels like it, saying mamamama and dadadada over and over. He eats regular food and drinks from a sippy cup. He loves books and things that move. We will be going to Papa Matt's wedding later today and hopefully will have some great pics of everyone dressed for the wedding.

Gabe discovered that he likes Sugar Smacks this morning and Mabry was kind enough to share with him.

Gabe sitting in his big boy chair.

We're the potheads!

Britney Spears' Love Child?

Last Saturday,Gabe was supposed to go to a classmate's first birthay party. After spending four hours in the pouring rain on Friday, Mom got sick and forgot to call Karli's mom to say we wouldn't be making it after all. Karli sent Gabe a goody bag, and he found a bag of Cheeto's. He loved them.

Somehow, I deleted the picture with one cheeto in each hand and one in the mouth. My question is, can you believe that I have already allowed this child to have junk food? I, the mother who would not let her oldest child have sugar until she was one, allowed cheeto's! I am now as redneck as Britney Spears and will soon be allowing Gabe to swill Coca-cola from a bottle.

This is what Gabe does when he is allowed access to the bookshelves that aren't his. At least he picks history books.

Gabe is going to looooove Halloween!

This is how I look after eating a full lunch of brocolli, carrots, and pumpkin. Mom gives me a special treat like a half of a blueberry donut. I think I enjoy them more than most people.

This is how I feel after the sugar rush hits me.

My costume for Halloween. I am absolutely cute and adorable and know it.

Hopefully, I will learn to walk and growl like a real lion before the big day.

crocs for a cause

Mabry's school has a new civic project. One of the classes is having a crocs drive. Since most of us own a pair or two, I thought you might like the opportunity to participate. Crocs will recycle old pairs of their shoes to create new crocs that they give to people in third world nations. Grenada Elementary School is also accepting off-brand crocs that will be recycled into new shoes and given to various charities within the US. If you have some old crocs or croc like shoes and would like to help, send a comment with your e-mail or facebook for me to contact you with an address to send them to. I think we have until Thanksgiving to collect as many shoes as possible. Also, Mabry is an official Brownie!!! Prepare to buy LOTS and LOTS of cookies. No is NOT an acceptable answer.

Gabe Stands Up

What are you doing with that camera? Why is it always pointed at me?

this is what I do every time someone goes outside--Daddy, Mabry, Mommy, the dog, the cat, etc. usually, I am crying though. I have started standing next to anything that will stay still long enough to support me. I am starting to let go once standing, with mixed results.

Yea for new babies!!!

Congrats to Shawna and Joe on the birth of Jack! Congrats to Wallace and Shannon on the birth of Maeve! We can't wait to meet the newest little people around. Anne Marie and Denny--hurry up!

Gabe's first people food breakfast

Gabe ate an entire waffle and piece of bacon. Is the end of expensive baby food near?

Gabe is sick AGAIN!!!

Okay, yesterday Guy and I started our tutoring job (after school on Mondays and Wednesdays from 3:30 to 5:30). we went to pick up Gabe and were told that he had a fever of 102. Of course, we hit a panic. All doctors offices are closed at that time! We stopped at Aunt Joyce's to find the address of the urgent care in Grenada. We get there only to find out that they were closed---two hours early. One option left: ER. Yuck! Long waits, too much money, little service. We waited until 7:30 to go to the back (oh, and it took two hours to get Gabe tylenol to reduce his fever). We waited another forty-five minutes to see the doctor. Gabe's ear infection didn't respond to the amocillin. He also developed a reaction to the antibiotic. He isn't allergic (Thank goodness!), but doesn't need to take any forms of penicillin unless absolutely necessary. the doctor wrote us a prescription for the new antibiotic (hello--it's almost nine o'clock! What pharmacy is open at this time of day?). So we head home. This morning, I am the lucky parent who got to stay home with Gabe. At nine, we go to the local pharmacy to get his prescription filled. guess what? No one in Water Valley carries that antibiotic. They will be happy to order it and the prescription will be available tomorrow, maybe. We decided to come home and I begin to call pharmacies in the Oxford area. NO ONE CARRIES THE DAMN ANTIBIOTIC!!!!!! But wait, a wonderful local pharmacy called Chaney's offers to do the one thing that could make my day. The pharmacist gets the number of the prescribing doctor for me and calls them to see if they can make a substitution. It takes her an hour and a half, but she called me back to say they will have a prescription ready for me today, this afternoon. HALLELUJAH!!!! Thank God for some people who still have service as their primary goal. So now, Gabe and i are just waiting for Guy and Mabry to come home so that I can go to Oxford and pick up said prescription (Our other car has no air conditioning, and I refuse to put Gabe in that for a thirty minute drive.). Wish us luck that they will actually have said prescription and Gabe's ear infection will finally disappear.

Mabryism #2

Scene: In the car on the way to WalMart, Kroger, etc. The radio is playing the Kid Rock song that samples "Sweet Home Alabama."

Mabry: This could be the national anthem of Alabama or something.

Mabrism's of the past two weeks

Scene: doctor's office

Doctor: The baby is too young, but can Mabry have a balloon animal?
Me: Sure.
Doctor: Do you want a chicken, turkey, or fish?
Mabry: chicken strips!
Doctor: Do you want a sad, crazy, or insane chicken?
Mabry: Crispy chicken!!!

Missing some phone numbers

Hey, Joe--Guy had to get a new phone and no longer has your number programmed. Call him and leave him a message with a number to get in touch with you. I hope your whole family is doing well! We look forward to hearing about the baby's arrival.

First Day of First Grade

Gabe is so happy that Mabry is going to school and he gets to see Miss Tina. Of course, this won't last, since later in the day, Gabe will develop an ear infection and we will have to go to the doctor.

Mabry looking so much older in her uniform and bookbag.

She's so excited for the school year. She gets to check out books from the library this year and take Spanish every week. In Spanish, they even watch "Dora, the Explorer." She's hoping this week to also visit the Kidzeum on their campus. Mabry's fondest wish has also come true. Every day, she rides a yellow school bus from her school to the high school with the other faculty kids and gets escorted to my room by a big girl "high schooler." She also gets to order lunch every day in the cafeteria, where they always have a salad!

Meeting Mabry's teacher

I don't think I can rave enough about the Grenada school district. Yesterday, we were given time out of professional development to go to the other schools and meet our children's teachers. Guy and I went to the lower elementary and switched Mabry's class assignment on the advice of the high school teachers and administration (Thanks, Mrs. Howell!!). Mabry is now in a multi-age classroom, which has a mix of kindergarten and first graders. Mabry's new teacher is named Mrs. Chism, and man, is she organized!! We filled out all of the required forms. Mrs. Chism found the bus number that Mabry will ride after school to the high school with the other faculty children everyday, and created her nametag with all of her information to wear during the first two weeks. Mrs. Chism's classroom was well organized, clean, bright, and decorated so well. Mabry fell in love with the class! She even made friends with two of the other girls while we did the paperwork. We look forward to hearing about Mabry's adventures with her new friends, Pressley and Jasmine.
We also walked around the school and found our friend, Jennifer Howell. This way, Mabry will have someone if she needs help outside of her class. The music room was the highlight of Mabry's day. It was huge with built in risers for the students. There were 12 electronic keyboards and tons of rhythm instruments. Mabry also is itching to get into the library, where she has noticed all of the chapter books and a Madeline doll just like the one she has at home.
During our afternoon, the high school was available for our students to come by our rooms and meet us and find out what supplies they would need. I was overwhelmed by how many of our students showed up during their final days of vacation. The students were polite and seemed excited to start another school year. Of course, since my classroom and Guy's are next to each other, we had several students come to the wrong rooms, which we expected.
Today, we have a morning department meeting and then we have the afternoon to finish preparing our classes for the beginning of school on Thursday. Mabry is going to her friend Adele's house to play for the day. Oh, and Gabe loves his daycare and Ms. Tina, and has started pulling up on the furniture. I guess this means he will be walking soon.

Quick Rant about McDonald's

McDonald's in general--okay. McDonald's in Charleston, MS--awful!!! Since the McDonald's in charleston is halfway between Water Valley and Sumner, it is an awfully convenient point to meet Guy's mom. Louise is keeping Mabry for a couple of days intermittently since Guy and I are back to work. Last night, we went to meet Mabry and Louise for the switch up at McDonald's. When we realized it was five thirty, we thought that we should go ahead and get something to eat. guy got in line and after five minutes asked another girl what was taking so long. At that point, everyone in the restaurant (Guy, four people in line, Mabry, Louise, me, Gabe, two toddlers, and three other people (including a grandmother with two toddlers) realized that all the employees were in the back and were shouting. All of the sudden, we hear two people fighting. We all looked at each other in shock. One girl bursts out of the back and tells the grandmother, "Let's go. i'm not putting up with this s****!" and goes to the other side of the McDonald's, which is a Shell station. Another girl comes out of the back with the other employees following. This girl is holding a broom. The grandmother yells, "You are NOT going to hit her with that broom!" and starts swinging while holding one of the babies. I immediately went with Gabe to the back of the restaurant since mabry was with Guy and Louise. Guy grabbed one of the toddlers (whose mother was fighting at this point in the Shell station) to keep him safe. Someone said to call the cops and right at that moment, someone from the wildlife and fisheries department came in and broke it up. The customers stood there in shock for a couple of minutes until we realized that Mabry was crying because she was so scared. We all calmed Mabry down and decided to leave without eating. We explained to Mabry that people fight when they have no manners and that everything was okay. When we got home, I called the national McDonald's headquarters to complain. I explained the situation (oh, the girls who fought--they were the managers!) and have informed them that we will no longer go to that McDonald's. We will find another place. I think this was the most bizarre fast food experience that we have ever had and feel lucky that none of the children were hurt.

Gabe says hello

Mabry reading

Mabry learned how to read this past school year. Two weeks ago, I took her to the library and she got her own library card. I've been suspecting for a couple of months that Mabry could read at a higher level than her books allowed. We went to the library today, and I had her read aloud from a book to me. The book? Little House on the Prairie. How'd she do? She has only asked what five words were in the first ten pages. She reads slowly, but she reads well. She says she loves the book. I guess now she'll get the rest of the set for Christmas, and now she has something to read on our trip to Jackson Monday.
I conveniently forgot that I have a workshop in Jackson on Tuesday and Wednesday at Millsaps. This workshop does not provide lodging, so we are camping at LeFleur's Bluff from Monday until Wednesday afternoon. This allows me to be near my children, participate in the conference, take Mabry to a couple of museums, and see some friends and family. Late notice, but exciting.

Gabe discovered Riley's paws and Ree's ears. Luckily, they are patient and know that he is little and doesn't mean to hurt them.

Gabe has one of those stacking ring toys that we all had growing up. He loves to take the rings off, but has yet to put them back on. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that he actually does more than take the rings off. He discovered that you can bounce the rings on the floor. This is hours of fun as long as someone will retrieve the rings.

We are teaching Gabe to respond in certain ways to questions. Obviously, when we ask what sister says, Gabe looks for Mabry and waits for her to squeel so that he can join in. This is too funny.

When we ask what does Gabe say, Gabe whines. This is also funny if you know what a crybaby I have. We are working on what does Daddy say. The proper response is "Blah, Blah, Blah." He actually does it most of the time, but refused to when the camera was out. When we ask what does Mommy say, Gabe lays his head on your chest for a hug, and we say, "I love you, sweet boy."

In other news, Gabe finally is crawling the right way. for a couple of weeks, Gabe has been doing the butt scoot, the backwards swim, and the drag one leg behind crawl. Last night, the container of Gerber vegetable puffs were on the floor about six feet away from Gabe. I guess he decided he needed a treat (these are remarkable for making him go from a crying, whiny mess to a smiling laughing child in .003 seconds). He crawled to them and started crying to get our attention. We moved the can about forty more times just to watch him crawl for them. Amazing--my child won't crawl for a toy, person, or animal. He only crawls for food.

Trip to the Lake for the 4th

Gabe with Papa before the meltdown.

Gabe swimming for the first time with Nana and Mabry. Gabe was fine for about .003 seconds before he wanted out NOW!!

Happy to be going to lake for the 4th.

This is Gabe in his swimming outfit from Denny and Ann Marie. Isn't it cute?

The whole family went to the lake for the 4th. We had a fabulous time swimming, cooking out, watching the fireworks. Guy rode the jet ski a couple of times and we took a boat ride so that Kaylin and Mabry could swim at the beach.

Gabe loves the Baby Alive doll that Aunt Candy sent Mabry for her birthday. At least something entertains him.

Quick update about Guy and your inability to contact him

We recently celebrated Guy's 33rd birthday with cheesecake and ice cream. Unfortunately, Guy broke his phone the day before. We just received his new phone today and he will be able to talk to all of you starting tomorrow after the phone charges. We are going to be extremely busy for the next few days. Today, we both have to get new driver's licenses. both of ours expired and we had no idea until we realized that our school district needs copies. Then, we are off to the bank, post office, and storage unit. Tomorrow, we will be in Grenada most of the day. We are filling out all of the employment paper work, registering Mabry for school and hopefully finding Gabe a day care. Afterwards, we will be taking Riley to the Delta to be doggiesat by Louise and her friend, Draino. Wednesday we are off to the lake for the long weekend. have a happy fourth and we will talk and update with pictures soon. Oh, if you need us before Guy's phone is charged--you can call mine (662)544-0463. Don't be surprised if we don't answer. Just leave a message and we'll get right back to you. I don't tend to answer numbers that I don't know. Sorry. Just a habit.

All Gabe with a link to Mabry

Don't I look drunk with the seratonin release that chocolate provides?

So we are almost done moving--almost. Gabe is sitting up really well now and the doctor says that he could crawl if he wanted to badly enough and we didn't pick him up every time he makes a noise. Also, it must be noted that he is a mama's boy. He loves chocolate ice cream almost as much as his sister and I do.

Mabry's softball team is world famous now. their picture is in this week's South Reporter, the newspaper that serves Marshall County and Holly Springs. You can access it by loggin in to www.southreporter.com and clicking on the sports section and scrolling down. Her team's picture is below the picture of Gabe's sitter Caitlyn's team picture. by the way, Caitlyn is Mabry's boyfriend's sister.

Quick Update

many of you know that Guy and I have moved back to the house in Water Valley. We are selling the house in Snow Lake. due to moving, we have a lack of pictures right now and just got the internet this morning. we still have some things to move and a house to clean. we are slowly organizing the house in the valley. Mabry had her last softball game of the season tonight. Unfortunately, her team is out of the tournament. The South Reporter Sluggers did come in 2nd in the league and mabry got a cool trophy. Gabe got shots this week and likes to play peek a boo. guy and I were officially hired by Grenada schools. Marshall Academy will not let us out of the tuition contract for next year. I need a gas inspection by a plumber and he is on a mission trip in Nicaragua, so I can't cook. The washer is draining into the bathtub downstairs so I need my plumber. Hopefully, when things are settled, we will post pictures of the new house. Believe it or not, we are happy to be home.

Daddy likes to hold me upside down. Generally, I find this hilarious. Today, not so much.

Maybe I'm just feeling pensive, or wondering how much Mom will yell when she finds out what I just did. I might be in trouble.

Riley's kisses feel so funny on my face. While I am laughing, I am also repulsed by the smell of her doggie breath.

Below are the videos of my latest tricks. I can sit up and play now, but prefer it when someone is sitting with me. I can play on the computer with my dad. I also like to get Riley to play and am learning to be gentle with the cat. Ree is very patient and just purrs when I pull her fur. by the way, that's Mabry in the background of the video of me and Riley yelling, "Mi casa is you casa." I am so happy that all that Spanish paid off.

GAbe update

Of course, I have more pictures, but they are at the house and I am at work watching the clock until I am told that I can leave this place for the last time. Gabe was a very busy boy this week. This week, Gabe started sitting up. He only sits for a couple of minutes, but he is sitting up. Gabe will now tolerate being on his belly for about 10 minutes. I think that he is catching on that he might be able to change locations if he can figure out the knees thing. Daddy taught Gabe how to play his video game. Gabe loves to press the space bar and watch the character jump. Will post video later.

Kindergarten Graduation

Mabry and her friend, Amanda.

Bowen and Mabry with their diplomas.

Mabry being proud of herself.

The kindergarten class of Marshall Academy 2008.

Mabry's Softball Team

This is Mabry's softball team, the South Reporter Sluggers. The girls are: Kaila, Jordan, Mallory, Erin, Jakayla, Peyton, Karah, Zie, Mabry, and Lindsey. they have won their past two games!!! We are hoping for another win Tuesday when we play Byhalia.

Mabry hates playing softball. Guy bought her a pair of pink cleats and she likes it a whole lot more now.