The Life of a Football Coach's wife...on her Anniversary

So, yesterday was our Anniversary. Thomas was the first to tell me Happy Anniversary...at 2:30 a.m. while we were up with Tanner. For dinner, I whipped up a box of mac-n-cheese that I shared with Tanner & Tristan, while Thomas was able to enjoy a romantic dinner with the local high school football coaches for the weekly coach's radio show. Our day ended with Thomas bringing me what I love most...a Snickers.

This is our life. And I love it. And, I love him. I am so thankful that I get to share every day with my best friend. Here's to many more years Babe...and to Sunday when we get to be alone to celebrate!!!

As Bright as the Sun,

Our Little Tanner Has Turned One!

I've really been into Pinterest lately, and wanted to try out some of the neat ideas I've seen on there for parties! I decided that Miss Tanner would probably have plenty of "pink/girlie" parties, so I wanted something a little different. I decided to go with a yellow/sunshine theme...and I am so happy with the way it all turned out!

Perfect cake from Hovey's House of Cakes

Love this printable that I found...will look cute in her room now too!

I made this banner with different yellow scrapbook paper and then printed out her monthly pictures that I took...I think it turned out so cute!

Tanner was a typical girl when it came to the cake. She dantily took small bites, and barely made a mess...it was hilarious! The boys had to be taken straight from their highchairs to the bath tub. I was able to get her clean with a baby wipe!

Who's up for a high-5?!

The day was so special thanks to all of our family who came to celebrate with us! It wouldn't have been complete without each and every one of you. We love you all!

Loves her new baby doll!

Little Miss Sunshine

Daddy's princess.

Mama's sweet girl.

Hard to believe that our little Tanner will be turning one a week from today! She has the most infectious smile, gorgeous baby blues, and a sunny, bright personality that makes our hearts melt. She's a delicate little lady, that already gets rough with her brothers and isn't afraid to join the fight! I love to watch the excitement in her face at every new little thing she experiences. So innocent. So precious.


Here are Tanner's 11 month pictures.

T-N-T Boom!

"Big T"

-N-

"Little T"


My boys. So beautiful, excuse me, handsome! Oh, how I love them. I love their eyes, their smiles, their dirty fingers and stinky feet. I love their little hugs and sticky, sugary kisses.

They are so fun to watch while they are playing together. Chasing each other in circles around the house; giggling as they dodge each others swipes. Hold up...wait! What kind of fairy tale am I living in?! That only happens initally before the fights break out...

Mayhem is 2, and has become quite good at pushing all of the right (or wrong) TJ buttons! Like this past Saturday. We were at the lake; enjoying our last summer hurrah. We were playing on the dock and Tristan began screaming at TJ because he wanted the toy boat he was playing with. I explained to Tristan that TJ had it first, and that when he put the boat down or was finished with it, then he may have a turn. Initially he seemed upset that he didn't get his way, but quickly picked up another toy. Whew...proud of myself for stopping a fight before it started. A minute later, Tristan's toy hurled through the air and hit TJ square on his chest. Stunned, TJ grabbed the closest toy and threw it back at Tristan. One more shot from Tristan, and TJ threw the other toy in his hand...the boat! After it hit him, Tristan picked up the boat, turned to TJ and smiled, then said, "thanks TJ!"

Again, I'm asking for your prayers...

Refresher Course Needed

Potty training stinks. That's my wise thought for the day. Don't get me wrong, I'm so excited to get one out of diapers!!! And, Tristan is doing absolutely amazing at potty training. . .in school. He's been in underwear all week and has had ZERO accidents. . .at school. They started out in pullups 2 weeks ago, put him on the potty every 10 minutes and now he's potty trained. . .in school.

At home has been a different story. I think the score is something like Potty 2 - Tristan 978, but who's counting?! And, not to mention who has time to sit a child on the potty every 10 minutes. So maybe I haven't been as consistent as Miss Meg, but I do offer candy and cookies for poop!

He knows when he needs to go. . .he asked Saturday afternoon if he could "tee tee in da gass!" So, he went in the grass. . .TWICE. So, I decided (wise Mommy here) that we would just leave his bottoms off in the house and that would help force him to go in the toilet. Shortly after being in the house, he gets put in timeout for who knows what that time. And I walked in the kitchen to see Tanner doing the slip-n-slide! Pee puddle. . .huge. . .and he was just sitting in it so nicely.

Sunday, after church I decided to give the bottom-free thing one more try. Not long after actually using the potty, he comes running up to me and says, "Mommy, come yook! I went tee tee!" I run after him thinking he is going to take me to his potty. . .he turns sharply at the kitchen and stops in front of the refrigerator. "Yook Mommy! I tee tee on da figrata!" He even opened the door and peed on the inside. Yummy, yes I know!

We've also had poop in the underwear, which I do not do. So, I just tossed 'em! But, my favorite of all. . .

One day this week, as soon as we pulled into the garage, Tristan tells me he wants to go "tee tee in da gass" again. So, I oblige being satisfied that he at least told me he needed to go. I help him get prepared, then grab Tanner and run it the house to drop all of our bags in the floor. Literally, that's all the time I was gone. I walked back outside and immediately saw it. He had pooped on the garage floor. Like a dog. I had to hold back from gagging, laughing & yelling at him. Thank goodness Thomas came home a minute or two later, because I just don't think I could've picked that up!

Thank goodness the last 2 days have gone better. He made it all the way to bed time last night with no accidents all day long!

L.O.S.T.

So, we have started fall, or at least fall-like activities, seeing as it is still 90 something degrees! And with fall, brings football. Southerners LOVE their football whether it be pee wee, high school, or SEC college football! Our family always pulls for Daddy's Wildcats on Friday nights, and win or lose we are in the stands yelling "Go Daddy!"

And if we get a scrape, I swear it bleeds ORANGE & BLUE for our Auburn Tigers on Saturdays!

We are so lucky that at least one of us gets to go to most home Auburn games; but this past Saturday, my overly ambitious, and must be slightly crazy, mom decided she would keep all 3 of our kiddos while we traveled to Atlanta for the AU vs. Clemson game. We went a little early to visit Uncle Buck's new Atlanta bachelor pad. We were given a code, and once we reached the gate we entered the code...and the gate stayed closed. 15 mintues later, we're still sitting at the gate! Finally we scoot in front of another car once they pushed in their code! This should have been a sign...and we should have read it loud and clear. "YOU PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO DO ATLANTA!"

We made it to the Marta station, with just one turn around in a gas station parking lot; parked right across the street in a parking garage. Made it South Bound 5 stops, switched trains and went West one stop. Pros, yep, we've been here multiple times...we're definitely pros!

We had a blast at the game!

And especially with Papa...he was the life of the party ;-)

We were on the 5th row...
Thomas, KK, and I had a lot of fun posing with Binocular Man! But, in the end, our AU Tigers couldn't pull it out and we went home with our first loss of the season.

The game went down to the final seconds, so getting 75k plus fans out of one place at the same time was rather difficult. To escape the crowd, we exited at the first place we could see, and started our trek to the Marta...inthe WRONG direction! KK had bought new flip flops for us both, and I already had blisters on both feet. I realized we were going the wrong way, so I stopped and asked a police officer how to get to the Marta. She gave us 2 options. So, we went back the way we had came and...wrong decision...stuck! Probably took us 30 minutes to get to the Marta. Once we got there, it was packed. So we decided to take the train one stop the opposite direction and then get on the right train at the next stop. Good idea...and may have been the first (and only) one for the day ;-) The Marta was so, SO crowded. I had armpits in my face...in every direction I turned. Some man was telling me about his sweaty butt...that was ON ME! "Yummy!" was all I could say. Once we finally made it back to our stop, we joyfully exited the Marta and all was looking up. We went to the parking deck, up to level 2...no car. L.O.S.T. car. Back down, we walked some more...KK and I stopped to put bandaids on our blisters...and walked some more. We were laughing and having a good time, but I was beginning to think I may never get out of Atlanta! Three more parking decks and an hour later, there she was, the best looking car I'd ever seen!

And no, it's not over! We went back to Uncle Buck's to pick up Mike...and stuck at the gate again! Oh, how Atlanta makes me love my small town!

Too big for his britches!

My little man started the 2nd grade today! I seriously can't get over that...2nd Grade! TJ is such a bright, sweet, funny little boy and I'm so excited to see what this year has in store!

When I told him to complete the sentence he said, "Well, I think I might want to be a teacher...just like my dad!"

He's gotten so big he can hold his squishy little sister!

Getting ready to go in!

With Mrs. Slade

Ready for the 2nd Grade!




Not only has my TJ started 2nd grade, he is trying to steal the heart of yet another taken, and much older woman! The first time he tried was on his Uncle's girlfriend, and at least the poor guy was aware that he was trying to get his girl! This time, I'm pretty sure the other man is clueless to this 7 year old's kniving ways! TJ has become smitten with the new receptionist at our office (cute college girl). The first day he met her, he strutted by a her desk a few times, and flashed a few of his devilishly handsome smiles her way. Then, when he was getting ready to leave, I officially introduced him to Marissa and told him that she would be babysitting him in a few weeks. He smiled and then asked if he was allowed behind the receptionist area. She said, "Sure, it's pretty cool. Come check it out!" As soon as he got behind the desk, he went for it! He gave her the biggest, two-armed, head-on-chest hug. Wait for it...then he said, "I've been wanting to do that since the first time I walked by you!"

Then, the day Marissa was coming to watch the kids I reminded him that she would be coming. He said, "Oooh, I love Marissa!" with that silly, half-open eyed look. When we got home that night(at 11:00pm), TJ was still awake and watching T.V. with Marissa. She was giving us the run down of how the evening went, and when she finished she said TJ told her that we had pictures of everyone else in the family on our wall, so it was time for us to get her picture up there too!

Oh my!

I quickly grabbed my camera and told him that I would take their picture together and he could put it up in his room...that was settled...at least for now!

So, apparently I have a 7 year old, Second Grader going on 13! Saying a little prayer...these next 20 years are going to be one wild ride!