Bodock Festival 2009

August 14, 2009---Rick ran in the Bodock Twilight 5K at the Pontotoc Bodock Festival. We arrived early enough to browse many of the vendor tents and get dinner at Red Rooster before the run started. The Bergerons drove over from Oxford to watch Daddy Rick strut his stuff. Grandmother, AJ, Emily, and Kye met us for dinner. Jackson had no interest in watching the race so I swapped AJ for him. AvaJo was eager to see her Uncle Rick anyway. She had called him twice earlier in the day just to talk.




We watched the beginning of the race just outside of Red Rooster but walked down to the courthouse to wait for the runners to return. AJ picked her spot and watched the runners come in.

There were 348 participants but only 333 finished the race. It is a tough race...heat, steep hills, and starts at 8:00 pm. The last mile of the race is all uphill. Every year there are several people who finish the race and immediately get sick. Rick (in the grey shirt) finished in 27 minutes 10 seconds. It wasn't his best time but it wasn't his worst either. He didn't really train for it either. Next year he'll have a better finish time.

By the end of race Molly was getting tired and a little fussy...

...but so were many others. I just don't have pictures of them. So, we had to say goodbye to the Bergerons for the evening.

We met up with Grandmother, Jackson, Aunt Sherry, Madison, Russell, Trey, Sheryl, Jonah, James, Hannah, a guy friend of Hannah's on the court square where a majority of Pontotoc County had come to watch a bad Elvis impersonator.

There had to have been a couple hundred people on the square...both young and old and everything in between...all waiting for the street dance to begin. A few people even rushed the stage in the hopes of touching the fake Elvis's hand or scarf. It was quite funny.

Even though we were only in Pontotoc for a few hours, it was good to see family and friends we haven't seen in a while, some since we moved 10 months ago. I must admit that I almost teared up a time or two. I miss the quaintness of Pontotoc, our church, and the Wellness Center too. For a town that I vowed to never like, I sure do miss it!!

Mr. and Mrs. Mooneyhan

March 20-21, 2009---We were honored to be a part of JR and Carla's special day. We met JR three and a half years ago when we joined the Wellness Center. He is a fitness instructor who has become a great friend. We (and JR) met Carla two years ago when she became a nursery volunteer at the Wellness Center. Carla has to be the sweetest person I have ever met. My children absolutely adore both of them and we were thrilled to have Anna Catherine serve as one of their flower girls.

Rick was able to get into town in time for the rehearsal dinner. It had an "Ole Miss tailgate" theme and was absolutely wonderful! We took all three kids to the rehearsal and dinner. As usual, Chloe attached herself to JR and refused to let go. We knew this would happen and that is the reason we chose to leave her and Jackson with Grandmother during the wedding.

My favorite pictures from our rehearsal and wedding were the ones given to me by guests. I wanted to take lots of pictures and do this for JR and Carla but I somehow forgot to take "lots"of pictures. I do not have any from the wedding and only have a few from the reception.

The wedding was held at Thaxton Baptist Church in Thaxton, MS (a suburb on Pontotoc, I suppose). It was a beautiful ceremony and the a capella singers were amazing!! The reception was held at the Pontotoc Community House. It was a romantic setting with dim lighting so my photos are dark.

first dance:

wedding party dance:

Groom's table:

Just before cutting the groom's cake, the DJ began to play "From Dixie With Love" and JR and Carla shook their pom-poms in time with the music:

The Happy Couple:

Park Day---Spring Break 09

March 18, 2009---According to the weather man, Wednesday was supposed to be the most pleasant day of the week, so we declared Wednesday as "Park Day". After hitting the gym that morning my mom and I loaded nine kids and a picnic lunch into our vehicles and headed to Avent Park in Oxford. That is my favorite park! It has so much for the kids to do---forts, swings, slides, rope bridge, shaking bridge, zip line, balance beams, etc. The Bergerons met us there. I always LOVE hanging out with them. Although, with our nine children and their one, there wasn't a lot of time to chat or take pictures. I thank them so much for helping me keep up with all the little ones. Jackson did manage to get away from us once. I don't care to talk about that though...

Anna Catherine and Anna Grace help AJ down the slide:

Chloe is not afraid to do the big slide alone:

Chloe is thinking about the rope bridge. She didn't try it:

Gage had no problems with it:

Jackson and Molly, just hanging out:


The "older kids" like the zip line best! Anna Catherine:

Ben:

Hallie:

Jared:

The swings are always a hit too. Grandmother and AJ:

Jared:

Hallie:

Everyone was exhausted after two and a half hours of FUN!!! All of the girls rode with me. I snapped pics of them via my rear view mirror on the way home.

We'd been home about half an hour when we had to leave to visit some more friends in Pontotoc. Jackson and Chloe were too tired and opted to stay with Grandmother, so Anna Catherine, Anna Grace, and I headed to McDonald's to meet up with the Gibbses and Smiths. A good time is had by all when this group gets together!!! The kids ate and played on the playground while the adults snacked and talked. Then we went to Stafford Park in Pontotoc so the kids could run out even more energy. Our visit was short, but I'm glad we had the opportunity to see them for a little while.

Anna Catherine and Anna Grace:

Oliver and Kathryn:

Sam and Kathryn:

Skating, Mules, and Softball---Spring Break 09

March 16-22, 2009---The kids and I spent spring break in Pontotoc. Initially, Rick was going to join us but work had other plans for him. Our week was packed with activities: birthday party, rides in Uncle Adam's wagon, trips to the Wellness Center, playing at the park, lunch with friends, attending a softball game, shopping, preparing for/attending the Mooneyhan wedding festivities, and finishing up by going back to First Baptist Church for services on Sunday. It was going to be a busy week and we were ready for it!

We drove up on Monday, with a slight detour through Columbus, adding two hours to our already three hour drive. We were all so ready to get out of the van. It was a dreary, rainy drive the entire five hours. We arrived in time to make it to Auston and Madison's birthday party at the skating rink. I have no pictures of the birthday kids---not sure how that happened.


Chloe and AJ liked playing the video game:






They're too little for skates but that didn't keep them off the floor:

Laken and her friend, Amber:

For the first time, Jackson decided he wanted to skate. His skates were so tight they barely rolled but he thought he was really skating!:

Morgan skating while holding Jackson:

Laken skating while holding Chloe:

Doing the limbo:

Anna Catherine was focused on getting under the bar. I don't think she understands that you aren't supposed to touch the floor as you go under the bar:

Uncle Adam took the kids for a ride in his wagon two afternoons. They always love this! Jackson liked talking to the mules:

Chloe, Jackson, and I went to the gym Tuesday - Thursday mornings. I miss the Wellness Center and all of my friends there SO MUCH!!! It was so good to see them again. There are no words to describe how excited Chloe was to see JR. She would hug him and make him hold her until I pried her away. I had fun chatting with "the girls" too. We had lunch together on Thursday, but I also had four kids with me so I didn't get to socialize very much. Hopefully, on our next "girl's outing" I can go kid-free.

On Thursday we went to the South Pontotoc vs. Booneville JV high school softball game. Morgan is the starting pitcher. Nicole's friend, Kaylee, plays outfield. The Lady Cougars won 5-2...WAY TO GO GIRLS!!!!

Kaylee batting and on base:

Morgan pitching:

Morgan batting:

More to come later...