Cousins

Kennedy loves her cousins, Karley and Abby!





They had so much fun playing together at Thanksgiving. We can't wait to see them again in a few weeks!

Cheerleading!

I have not posted about my "new" job yet .... mainly because I have been working every waking minute of my life since I took it. I took a new job in July at EMCC. My title is Athletic Academic Advisor/Head Cheerleading Coach. (The backslash simply means, you are idiot because you are taking 2 full-time jobs that we have combined into one!)

I am not commenting at this time on the Athletic Academic Advising portion of my job for fear of losing it based on my comments. But I am now ready to comment on the Cheerleading portion. I was suckered into the cheerleading part (that dang backslash!)and very reluctant to do it. For those of you that remember, I was the Cheerleading Coach at Jacksonville State for 3 years so I knew what I was getting myself into and how much work it would be and I had also seen the EMCC Cheerleaders at basketball games over the last 2 years so I REALLY knew what I was getting myself into and how much work it would be!

I can say that they have worked their tails off and are 1 millions times better than they have ever been. I have a wonderful group of girls and I am honored to coach them.

Halloween

I'm a little late posting but our computer has been messed up.

Here are some Halloween pictures. Kennedy had a blast! She loved it! She actually said, "Trick-or-Treat" and the sweet thing said "Thank you" to every single person when they put the treat in her pumpkin!



We went to Pumpkinpalooza in Starkville the day before Halloween. Kennedy had so much fun walking around and loved getting a balloon!


We had a football game the afternoon of Halloween. Kennedy came to the game in her costume and her sunglasses!


At the door of her first house! She was such a good trick-or-treater!


The cutest cow ever! Moooooooo!

Basketball Season!

Basketball season has started! We had our first game last night. It was a long night, but the Lions came out with a victory. Kennedy came to the game and sat in mommy's lap and watched the cheerleaders (who did extremely well, might I add). She slept a little through the second half and didn't get in her crib for real sleep until 11:00 pm!!!! Oh, the life of a coach's child.

Here's the article about our game ....


SCOOBA – The East Mississippi basketball teams split with the defending state champions of Jones County in season-opening action Monday evening at Keyes T. Currie Coliseum on the Scooba campus. The EMCC women dropped a 70-65 decision in the first contest, while the Lions claimed a 90-84 victory in the nightcap.

...

In the nightcap, head coach Mark White’s Lions looked to be cruising to victory by extending their 17-point halftime lead (54-37) to 23 points (62-39) four minutes into the second stanza. Jones County steadily cut away at the deficit, eventually trimming the margin to six points (77-71) with 5:30 left on a Kadeem Fleming three-point basket and a pair of free throws by Todd McDonald. EMCC answered the initial comeback attempt by bumping the lead back up to double digits (82-71) following an inbounds basket by second-team preseason NJCAA All-American CoCo Ware and a three-point play from fellow sophomore guard Terence Bennett of Jackson.

Seemingly in control with a 10-point lead (88-78) and ball possession and with just two minutes remaining in the contest, the Lions fell victim to poor shot selection and costly turnovers down the stretch. The Bobcats took advantage of the temporary letdown by scoring six unanswered points during a stretch in which EMCC turned it over four straight times. The Lions’ 32nd turnover of the contest resulted in a dunk by Brandon Wilson to cut the deficit to 88-84 with 21.8 seconds left. The preseason second-team NJCAA All-American was also fouled on the play, but Wilson couldn’t make it a one-possession game by misfiring on the ensuing charity toss. EMCC’s Bennett capped an 11-point night, including 7-of-7 from the line, by securing the victory with two free throws with 15 ticks remaining in the game.

Ware, of Starkville, tied for game-scoring honors with 19 points to go along with six steals and five rebounds to lead five EMCC players in double figures. Fellow Starkville native Chris Brand followed with 15 points on 7-of-10 shooting and a team-most eight rebounds, while former Meridian High School product Donovan Walker tallied 14 points and six boards in his collegiate debut. Nashville’s Anthony Alexander added 12 points and six assists for the winners.

Jones County was led by Fleming’s 19 points, followed by Kendrick McDonald and Wilson with 16 and 15 points, respectively. Tyrone Brinson was also in double digits with 14 points.

The East Mississippi basketball teams stay at home to play host to East Central Thursday evening on the Scooba campus. Women’s action is set to begin at 5:30 p.m., followed by the men’s contest at 7:30 p.m. at EMCC’s Currie Coliseum.

Kennedy loves Tailgating!

Kennedy attended her first MSU tailgate as a toddler several weeks ago. She absolutely loved it. She walked all around the tents, just looking at everyone. She loved the food - she had her first twinkie ... and lots of other junk foods! (I know, my child eating junk food???? Special Occasion!) Kennedy is a little bulldog and we couldn't be happier with her decision! :)


We went to the Dawg Walk. Notice her mini cowbell!

The first bite of Twinkie! Yummy!

Go Bulldogs!

Girls Trip 2009

My closest girlfriends are my friends from high school. I say high school, but actually kindergarden. There are 4 of us that grew up together and gradually along the way became the best of friends. Our friendship is unique because we all went to separate colleges and live hundreds of miles apart but we remain the best of friends. We decided on our high school senior trip to Destin that we would go on a trip every year and we have. We went on Senior Trip #2, as we called it, our freshman year in college and then we made sure to all get together at least once during the rest of our college days. Since college, we have gathered in Baton Rouge once and then Gulf Shores, Alabama, has been our spot. We went on hiatus last year because two of us had babies, but this year, we were back on! We were minus a member this year and we missed her dearly but we kept the traditions alive without her. We did text her a Girls Trip Quiz and she passed with flying colors - we are so predictable! Thanks for a great weekend girls! I love you and am so thankful for your friendships! I can't wait for the next 50 girls' trips!

Pics from Arkansas Vacation

I promised pics from our vacation with Grandbuddy and Nana and then I forgot to post them ...

Summer Recap

Okay, so despite all efforts, I have really been a terrible blogger this summer. I have barely posted anything, leaving you WAY behind on all our summer news. So, here goes a quick recap of our summer! (Aren't we so sad that it is over!)

1. Kennedy turned 1 in June!
2. Mark and I went on an adults-only vacation to Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia! It was wonderful. Kennedy stayed with Grandbuddy and Nana and had a wonderful time herself.


3. We listed our house "For Sale", sold our house and moved once again.
4. I went back to work as Athletic Advisor/Head Cheerleading Coach and Kennedy now stays at home with our wonderful Nanny.
5. We celebrated July 4 with our own little celebration ...

6. We celebrated my mom's birthday! (It was a big one, but if I put the numbers on the internet, she will kill me!)
6. We went on a family vacation with Grandbuddy and Nana to Hot Springs, Arkansas.(Pictures to follow soon!)
7. Kennedy decided to start walking and talking all in the same week. She says 25-30 words (yes, we counted) and she now will stand up and walk on her own. However, she is very cautious and she has realized that holding our hand to walk provides that someone is always paying attention to her... and she loves attention! (Wander where she gets that???)
8. I still have one more trip which I am looking VERY foward to ... the annual Girls' Trip!!!!
Can't believe the summer has come and gone. It will be Christmas before we know it!

Country Living

We have moved! I've done it so often that it shouldn't even phase me anymore but it always does. And everytime I do it, I say I will never do it again. Who am I kidding ... I am married to a coach! Even though we only moved an hour down the road it feels like we have moved clear across the country ... to the woods!

We have lots of land ...well, we don't, but our FREE house that we are living in is on lots of land. Horses to watch out the front window, lots of grass for Kennedy to play in and a long driveway for wagon rides and bike riding. There is nothing to do, no where to go - no one is in a hurry and everyone knows who you are.

It is not really a bad place until you realize at 9 p.m. that you are out of milk and diapers! There is no grocery store, no restaurants, no fast food .... there is literally nothing, nothing but this college campus sitting back on an old country road.

I guess home is wherever you are ...and here we are!

1-year pics

Kennedy had her 1-year pictures made not too long ago. Again, I will brag on the photographers that I have used - they are fantastic!!! They used to be "Deja Vu Photography" but they just changed their name to "Twice the Focus". I love them and I think Kennedy does too. This last session was the best yet. They really made Kennedy's personality come through and there is not a bad picture in the proofs! Here are two:

Kennedy is 1 year-old!

Kennedy turned one!! I absolutely can't believe it has been one full year. Everyone always told me that it would go by fast but man, does it ever! Her birthday was on a Sunday and we made the whole weekend a birthday celebration. She had a trip to the zoo with Mimi and a cupcake party on Friday. On Saturday, she had another party at Grandbuddy and Nana's. She wasn't so much in to all the attention. She basically spent her whole party on Saturday attached to her daddy's shoulder. But, we adults had fun!

Einstein and Bulldogs!

SO .... my child was obviously born an MSU Bulldog! Look at how she is handling that cowbell!




...and I have to show you the Albert Einstein hair pictures. This is what I found one afternoon after she woke up from a nap ....

Dad

My dad is retiring from Mississippi College after 26 or so years - most of those years in the same position. I can't imagine that! I get bored after 3 years, can't imagine half of my life at the same university, in the same job! I guess that is when you know you have found your passion - found your calling. And think about the lives he has touched at that University - thousands upon thousands!

I joined my extended family in Clinton for the weekend to celebrate Dad's retirement and join in on the huge honor he received - giving the commencement address at MC's graduation! I was so proud! His address was very good - not too long, not boring and a great message - an encouraging one. He talked about believing in yourself, not taking lightly what graduating from college means. Take all the things you have accomplished along the way, using that confidence and the lessons learned to face the "monsters" (who aren't usually monsters at all) of the future. So, keeping in line with his message, I say: let's pat ourselves on the back for our past accomplishments, believe in ourselves in the future and do something - something great!

Here are some pictures from our wonderful weekend!


Dr. Buddy Wagner, retiree

His fantastic cake for the celebration! The picture doesn't do it justice and to truly appreciate it, you must take a bite!

His proud daughters!

Dad waiting to give his commencement address

Congrats, Dad!!!!

Happy Easter!

Hope everyone had a very Happy Easter weekend!



This is another "booty" plate from the paint-your-own pottery place. Yep, you guessed it - the bunny is Kennedy's booty!

Spring Travels

Kennedy and I just got back from visiting my sister in Knoxville, Tennessee. We were there for 4 days and had a blast! Karley, Abby and Kennedy had fun "playing" with each other and we sisters had fun talking, shoppping and talking some more!

Kennedy had a bunch of first. She went on her first Easter Egg hunt (was not at all interested), went on her first trip to the zoo (she absolutely loved it), went to Pump It Up (an inflatable jumper gym which she also loved), saw her first snow in April (yes, it snowed while we were there) and had her first 6 hour car ride (we only stopped once!)


Kennedy and Abby playing in the house!

Dying Easter Eggs!

At the Easter Egg hunt - the one time I put her down. Not a fan!

Mommy and Kennedy at the zoo. She loved the animals!

Everyone ready to enter the zoo!

Go Bulldogs!

Congratulations Bulldogs on winning the SEC Tournament Championship!

Crawling and The Shark

Kennedy is crawling! She started attempting it on Monday. She would take about 2 crawls and then land on her belly. By Wednesday, she had it down pat. The very first thing she went for was an electric socket in the living room. It was almost as if she had been staring at it her life thinking, "one day I will touch it!"

She now loves looking at the dogs through the back door, still loves the electric socket and likes the big air vent on the wall. None of which are very clean - or safe.

Speaking of clean, I must tell about my new favorite product: The Shark Steam Vac!



I'm in love with it! For those that know me, you know I'm obsessed with cleaning and organizing. I actually got the Steam Vac for Christmas. (Yes, I asked for it for Christmas, I know ...)

I was feeling like the SwifferWet was leaving sticky stuff on my floors, so I saw the late night infomercial for the Shark Vac and wondered if it really worked. It does! It steam cleans your floors (no product - just water) and leaves no sticky residue. And ... as the commercials say - the proof is in the pad. I mop once a week and I am amazed every week how dirty the pad is.

Now with Kennedy crawling on those steam-cleaned floors - I can refrain from freaking out!

Picture Update

I haven't posted pictures of Kennedy in a long time. She is growing up so fast! She is almost 9 months old and is so much fun ...


She is such a happy little girl. I finally got a bow to stay in her hair! We were both so excited!


She is almost crawling! I can't believe it - I'm a little scared!


My friend Brandi told me to take a picture of her sleeping so I could remember her that way. I love the picture and am so glad that I did! However, seconds later, I had a screaming baby on my hands. Apparently, the flash and weird noise my camera makes terrify my sleeping baby!


Daddy pushing Kennedy in her car on a pretty Sunday afternoon. She loved it!


I thought she looked like a little angel in this outfit. It is a gorgeous hand-me-down from my sister.