My Daddy--The Track Coach

Those of you that know my Daddy, know that it is definitely NOT in his nature to brag on himself, his Grandkids yes, but not himself--I guess that's why God gave him me and my Mom so we could brag on him! :-)

This past weekend, September 20, 2008, Bobby Don was inducted into the UCA Sports Hall of Fame. It was a very nice and formal induction weekend. It all began Friday night with a reception at the President's home, continued on Saturday with a 2 hour induction luncheon (yes my children made it through the entire thing), then continued with 'the hanging of the plaque' ceremony, a little UCA Bears tailgating, and the festivities ended with an introduction of all inductees before the kick-off of the UCA home game.

I'm just going to quote a little bit of what the program said about my dad--I've always thought this was true so it was nice to see that others recognized this as well. It began: "It may not be fair, nor wise, to compare any track coach to University of Arkansas legend John McDonnell, who won 42 collegiate national championships with the Razorbacks. But if there is a parallel to be drawn within the Arkansas high school ranks, there's likely no better place to start than Bobby Richardson."

The introduction also highlighted his running career at UCA where he was the 1962 AIC Cross Country Champion, a 3-time AIC mile champion, won the 880 title once and broke the league's record in the mile by 6.8 seconds in 1963--running 4:20.6 (guess he used to be pretty fast)!

It went on to tell that the Crossett Eagles under the leadership of Coach Richardson won a total of 18 state track championships and 4 cross country titles while he was there. Also mentioned that "He's probably one of the BEST high school track coaches we've ever had the privilege of having in the state of Arkansas." The introduction went on to say that "Not only was he a great coach and a great athlete, but he was a gentleman as well."

I guess you can tell I am pretty proud of my Dad--it was a great weekend. We enjoyed every minute of being there with him while he received his honor. I wish some more of you out there could have seen him too! I love you Daddy!

Pet Potato

Tonight for AWANA the kids were asked to decorate a potato or some other vegetable as their favorite character--Laynie picked Hannah Montana. We tried a few different outfits on for our potato, but Laynie wasn't impressed so we had to get crafty! I hot glued and she stuck everything on--it really was a team effort. I even tried to change a couple of things and she said, but Mom it's my potato! Everyone who made a potato received a pack of skittles! Yumm-o!

Bike Wreck

On Monday night of last week Laynie was showing off her bike riding skills to Trey's parents. She still isn't great at starting by herself, but she wasn't afraid to try for them. She was at the top of our road and her sweet little brother accidentally ran into her bike at the same time she was taking off. She fell on her left hand and I immediately thought she had broken it.

Two days and two doctors later, we found out it was only a severe sprain. Praise the LORD! She is feeling better now and not wanting to wear her splint at all--of course I think she should and her Daddy doesn't! :-) Hopefully we can get back on the bike this week to get our courage back while riding!

I'm Back

I think the reason I am having such a hard time keeping up with posting on my blog is because this summer I would spend early morning time typing before the kids were up. Well now our day starts early and I just haven't found a good blogging routine yet--Jones is in Crossett this week so I will have a little down time, hopefully I can catch up on some things around here and on my blogs--writing & reading them!

I've already been missing my little guy and I've only been away from him for a day. Thursday may need to come sooner than later for me to pick him up! Anyway I thought I would just post a few sweet/funny things he has said lately.

* On Thursday morning we were getting ready for school & he made his cute but very serious frowny face and said, "You aren't my teacher today, Mommy. I will miss you!"

* On Thursday afternoon we were playing in the yard. He was riding his tractor and a little dog was chasing him, but Jones didn't know it. Jones stopped and the dog ran over and licked his leg. Jones shot off of the tractor so fast and ran over to me screaming. He jumped in my arms and said, "The doggy licked me--I don't want him to drink me!" :-)

* Saturday night at the UCA game I told him to have fun at Grandma's and Popa's, he said, "OK Momma, but I will really miss you." He's probably just trying to make me fell better, don't ya think?

Me--A Preschool Teacher?

I must say my eyes were opened to the Pre-school (3 year-olds) World on Tuesday. Jones goes to First Place Academy at our church here in VB. They have a wonderful program and were able to expand it this year so basically they added three teachers (I think) who used to be their subs. So of course I said I would sub for them on Tues/Thurs. if they needed someone.

Well Tuesday was my first chance to sub and I was Ms. Amy--Jones' teacher. There were only 7 kids and they were actually pretty good with a few exceptions like not knowing really how to walk in a line, scribbling ALL over the page before I told them what to do, screaming when someone took a toy away, getting out of their seat a million times within the hour, etc. (I could go on and on!) I know you are probably laughing at this point and can picture the frazzled look I had at the end of the morning! When I left the church, the thought crossed my mind--"Why in the world did I say I would do this? I could make as much money seeing one speech client!"

Well of course it wasn't for the money!! Once I got home and thought about it, it was about spending time doing what my little boy does. Now that I've had some time to reflect, I'm ready to go again--I know they are only 3 so maybe I won't expect too much from them next time, but I will also be better prepared to handle their class. At least no one got hurt, cried, or sick, right? And we even managed a cool experiment sort of--It was pink and purple day so for snack we mixed pink and blue juice together to make purple--they REALLY liked that! :-) Bring on the 3 year-olds!

Whose FAN are you?

As long as I can remember I have been going to football games. I remember lots about football season--I love it when it just feels like football weather, I loved going to "Coaching Parties" after a win, I loved performing at halftime as a majorette for the "Marching 100 Eagle Band" and I just love watching the game and actually know what is happening.

I have been and will always be a Crossett Eagle fan and a HOG fan, but when you move to a new town how long does it take to become a true FAN?

I remember becoming a "Heber Springs Panther" not too long after moving there during basketball season of 2000-2001 probably because we went to all the games. I even think I am a MVE Warhawk at heart too! So last night we did it, we went to our first VB sporting event. I bought a cute green t-shirt especially for the occasion and it was OK I guess--I think it would help if we knew some of the players.

I LOVE living here, but right now I think I am a City Heights Cougar and becoming a VB Pointer will just take a little more time.

They're UP!

Since moving here in OCTOBER of last year, I have wanted to do this as a window treatment....and it finally happened this week. My friend, Ashley, in Heber Springs had recently built a beautiful home and had done this to her wall of windows so naturally I had to copy her 'good taste' and decorate that way!

Thanks to Hobby Lobby for always having a 40% off sale of material, Wal-Mart for putting the rods and clips on sale, Larry for cutting down the rods, Trey for hanging the rods, Mom for sewing the curtains, and me for ironing and hanging the curtains! Yeah--we did it! Now Trey thinks we need blinds to, but we'll see.

Meet Taco Turtle

Well you never know what Popa's going to find when he's around. He was graciously mowing the backyard and found a turtle. Jones really took to it; Laynie not so much! I thought we were going to have to keep it for a while, but they ended up letting Taco go. I think a turtle might be an OK pet, but what do they eat? What kind of pet do you have?

Lemonade Stand

I am a little late posting this story from Sunday afternoon about my sweet little girl. Laynie tells me all the time she wants to have a "party--a free party". Well it took me a little while to figure it out, but she has been to a few homes shows with me--Premier Jewelry, Pampered Chef, my cross parties, etc. and she wants to host a FREE party at our house. I asked her what she wants to have at this party, and she said, "Your crosses Mommy." Now I'm thinking no way--she doesn't understand how much it costs to make, the time, etc. but she's very sure of one thing--she wants it to be free.

So on the way home from church Sunday morning she asked to have a lemonade stand. I said I'm sure we can do that. So we proceeded to make the lemonade, take the table and chairs outside and I told her we needed to make a sign so people would know how much the lemonade costs. She of course said, "Well Mommy it's FREE!" The business woman in me wanted to tell her nothing in life is free, but I didn't have the heart. Well we only had two customers at our first stand (plus Jones & Laynie's 2 cups each), but wouldn't you know for her FREE lemonade she made $2.66!

I'm sure there will be many more FREE Lemonade Stands in our front yard in the future!

Bike Riders

I don't know what it is about bike riding, but all kids seem to love it. Maybe it's the thrill of riding fast with the wind in your hair or that you are in control of where you go--I'm not sure. Well my children LOVE to ride bikes with their Popa. They can bike for hours in Crossett with him probably due to the fact that there are literally no hills there! Anyway, we have been biking for exercise as a family on a pretty regular basis so Jones got a new 'Big Boy' bike with hand brakes and everything! And today............... Laynie made her first sucessful ride WITHOUT training wheels. We were so proud of her! Check it out!

CROSSES

I finally took a few pics of the crosses that my Daddy and I have been making. I have a friend in Heber Springs, Felicia Stone, that graciously showed me how to make these wire beaded crosses. It all started when a group of my friends got a team together for the Cleburne County Relay for Life in my honor--we were the OC Girls. It was a long, but fun night! Anyway for a fundraiser, Felicia made 50 of these crosses and we had a 'beading party' where she showed me how to bead them. The Relay was in September and we moved to VB in October. I talked with her and she showed me how to make the actual cross.

Since our move I have been making these crosses for people in NWA. I recruited my Daddy to help me (without much trouble) and we even let my Mom get in on the deal! He cuts the wire and puts the actual cross together. My mom or I swirl the wire and add the beads. You can order a cross in just about any color or color combination. I also make them in 'Cancer Colors'--for those of you that don't know, each cancer has a color associated with it (ex. Ovarian cancer--teal, Breast cancer--pink, etc). It's a nice gift option for someone dealing with cancer. A lady here in VB said it beautifully when she saw the crosses I was making--she said, "That's really all you can do when you are diagnosed with cancer; just take it and put on the cross for Jesus to handle."

Most everyone in VB just runs into me somewhere and places an order. I am doing a few Christmas bazaars in the area and will have an Open House too. I also have done 3 'home shows'. People have these crosses in at least 6 states from me: Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma, Georgia, Florida, and Kentucky! So if anybody out there is interested, leave me a comment and I will get back with you! If you know you need some for Christmas gifts, order early PLEASE!

They come in 3 sizes: Small 5" X 7" for $10, Medium 7" X 11" for $20 and Large 17" by 11" for $30. Sizes are approximate and could vary slightly.

LABOR DAY

I know I'm almost a week late for this post, but better late than never right? We had visitors for Labor Day. Colby, Damitra, Madalyn, and baby Carter came up on Sunday and spent the night with us and hung out long enough to eat a late Labor Day lunch with us before heading back to Conway. We had a good time visiting--the boys did their thing and so did the girls. I showed Damitra all my new crafty things that I am making and we got to go on 2 long walks chatting the entire time of course! Laynie and Madalyn had a blast playing together and Jones LOVES baby Carter! We always love a good visit with the CROWS!

Running--Weeks 3, 4, & 5

Yes I'm still at it, just not logging many miles. I had hoped with Laynie starting school I would have more free time, but it seems like I just keep cramming extra stuff in my day! I will get on a better schedule and hopefully sooner than later!

Week 3--7 miles
Week 4--12 miles + a workout class
Week 5--9 miles + a workout class

So my Daddy was right, it doesn' matter how fast you go in the beginning; it's just that you go! I need to go more, huh Dad?

I'm Back!

I can't believe I haven't posted for a solid week--I'm definitely going to work in some blogging time this next week! I'll give a quick run down of the week and then add some better posts throughout the day!

Monday--Labor Day fun with our friends Colby & Damitra and my cousin Luke

Tuesday--The beginning of Gustav! Workout & Die cutting for the City Heights K teachers, 1st PTA meeting

Wednesday--Gustav in full force--woke up to NO electricity at 6 am, CBS all day, came home to electricty, NO electricity at 5 pm, church, went to bed with NO electrictiy (good thing my mother-in-law sells candles!)

Thursday--Gustav leaving us, yeah! Observe at 1st Place Acaedemy (I'm gonna sub at Jones' school, hehehe), prayZkidz shopping with Amy, MORE die cutting for K teachers, lunch and MORE prayZkidz with Amy, Jones & Avery, bike riding lessons with Laynie

Friday--CLEAN HOUSE and go to EVERY Wal-Mart in two counties!!!, out to eat and ride the Ferris Wheel (but I didn't have my camera)

Looking back on the week, I think the NO electricity thing reeked havoc on my bloggin life, it put me behind at home and I had to play catch-up! Can't wait to post more today!