Davis Lake

June 28, 2008---Rick decided to take the family to Davis Lake Saturday morning. It is a small lake between Pontotoc and Houston (a 35 minute drive from our house). We arrived around 9:45 a.m. and it was not crowded at all. We essentially had the shallow end of the swimming area all to ourselves. Anna Catherine, Jackson, and Rick enjoyed swimming/playing in the water. Chloe hated the water so she sat on the bank with Mommy. She loved wearing Anna Catherine's goggles (looks a little like Michael Keaton in Multiplicity--haha). Chloe looks sunburned in the picture but she's not. Not really sure what was going on there. Jackson played in the water with his small elephant and water dinosaur. We can't go anywhere without a few animals tagging along. The kids played on the playground and tossed the football as well. We also took a tricycle, scooter, and push/ride toy for them to use on the sidewalks. After a picnic lunch we headed home around 1 p.m., which was great because it was starting to get hot and crowded. Although we weren't there for a long period of time (we had plans later in the day), the kids had a great time and slept the entire way home.

Gumtree Ball 2008

June 21, 2008---Rick and Anna Catherine attended the Gumtree Ball in Tupelo tonight. It is a father/daughter dance held to benefit Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Along with dinner and dancing, there was also an arts and crafts station, carriage rides, a silent auction, and a "fashion model" station in which the girls added make-up, glitter, and feather boas to their ensembles and strutted their stuff on the catwalk. The night was spent hobnobbing with celebrities such as Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, Barbie, Raggedy Anne, Fairy Godmother, Mickey Mouse, Mary Poppins, and Dorothy with Toto. Anna Catherine also met Kasey Wilder, Miss Teen Mississippi(who is from Pontotoc) and Molly Anna Baulch, Miss Teen Magnolia State. Each girl was given an autograph book to fill with signatures. Rick said there had to be at least two hundred daddies plus their daughters. Anna Catherine's favorite part of the night was doing the "Cha Cha" dance. They both had a wonderful time. WTVA news aired footage of the event on their ten o'clock show and Rick was in the background.





with Snow White:



with Barbie:



with Belle:

A.J.'s First Birthday

Wednesday June 18, 2008---My beautiful, loving, adorable niece, AvaJo "A.J." Marie Dowdy, turned one year old today. She is so sweet. Her curly dark hair and pretty blue eyes just make your heart melt. He always wants to give hugs and kisses, but she usually takes Chloe down in the process. They love to play with each other but do get jealous often. A.J. and Chloe are so cute together.

Her party was held last Saturday at a park in New Albany. Adam cooked burgers and dogs on the grill. The kids played on the playground and went for "hikes". It had rained earlier in the day so the kids were nice and muddy. A.J. wasn't too fond of her cake. In one picture you can see that she is trying to throw it off her high chair. She did enjoy opening presents and she received a lot of nice things.

T-ball Season Highlights

The Pontotoc Park and Rec t-ball league season is now officially over. It was quite entertaining for the spectators and Anna Catherine enjoyed playing tremendously. She was an awesome fielder. She often played first base, pitcher, or third base. Her favorite was first base because her coach makes the players throw the ball to first base after each play. Out of approximately forty balls that came her way during the season, she only let four get past her. Pretty good for her first season playing ball!! It took her a couple of games to get used to batting but was then able to hit the ball on her first try for the rest of the season. Rick (and Jackson and sometimes Chloe) coached second base which meant they told the runners when to start and stop. Some poor kids didn't know the order of the bases or where to run so people were stationed at each base giving directions. Anna Catherine is #3. I must say that we had the BEST t-ball team in the four-year-old division. Our children knew how to hit, throw, and field the balls without fighting. It was obvious (other teams even made comments) that our kids played well together . Thanks to Coach Kevin and to all of his assistants for their patience and determination to make it a great t-ball season!!

They had an "end of the season" pizza and skating party on Tuesday night. Anna Catherine is the orange blur in the pictures. The camera just couldn't focus with all the movement. She had a blast skating with her fellow teammates. She likes to dance to the "Cha-Cha" song that gets played at every party we attend at the skating rink. Rick said she was all into it (I stayed home with the little kids). Anna Catherine also received a trophy for participating this season. It doubles as a piggy bank which is kind of cool. She's eager to play next season and Jackson will be able to play in the same age group next year as well. Surely, they'll be placed on the same team.

Jacksonology #3

Rick and Jackson spent almost an hour picking up Jackson's toys which were distributed throughout most of the rooms in our house. His bedroom was a total disaster--you couldn't see the floor or bed! Not long after everything had been organized Rick saw that Jackson's walrus, polar bear, sting ray, whale, and shark were on the kitchen table. He called Jackson into the kitchen. He wanted Jackson to understand that his toys belong in his toy box in his room.

Rick: Jackson, these toys should not be on the kitchen table. Where do these animals belong?

Jackson: In the ocean!



My boy knows (and loves) his animals!!

Dinosaurs, Caves, and Camping (part 6)

May 23-28, 2008---Wednesday morning we loaded up the van and drove to Nashville. First, we took in the beauty of the Opryland Hotel (but didn't take any pictures). The gardens and waterfalls are amazing. Then we walked over to the Aquarium at Opry Mills for lunch. The kids thoroughly enjoyed it. The food was delicious and the kids loved watching the sharks, stingrays, and other aquatic wildlife swim by. The kids were especially excited about the shark dessert we ordered! Afterwards, we took Mimi to the airport and then headed home. We were quite exhausted after our week of fun. The kids had missed our dog and were anxious to get home and play with him. Shadow was mad at us for leaving him so he went to my mom's house and refused to come home for a few days.