My Mother

I took a picture of my mother a couple of months back and she thought she didn't look good in it. So, when I attemped another shot at her the other day she said she wouldn't take a picture unless she gave herself a facelift:

So, when I tried to take another one, she hid behind Sally:

And finally, here's one of my mother in a ball cap. I don't ever think she's had a ball cap on in her entire life.

I kept telling her just to sit and smile. I bet she will next time. :)

ROJO 05-09-2010

After checking on Ashley Sunday morning, I needed this respit. Ashley was going to be very sore and bruised, but I was satisfied that she was going to be OK. So, we went ahead with our plans to go to the Norah Jones concert at the Alabama Theatre in downtown Birmingham. Our besties Gray and Cindy from Anniston met us at a bar/restaurant they suggested, ROJO. The guys watched the golf tournament and Cindy and I caught up on life. I just don't get to see or talk to her enough. We have so much in common it's pitiful. She is my rock! I can't even imagine how much I am going to miss her when they move to Texas later this summer. But that's another blog post. Back to ROJO - a quaint little spot serving delicious sangrias and other Mexican delights, it is nestled in the heart of Five Points South in a residential neighborhood in downtown Birmingham. What a wonderful evening with wonderful friends. Norah Jones was just what I needed. She was marvelous! Pics of Rojo and good friends:

Happy Mother's Day?!? 05-09-2010

So what is the worst phone call a mother can get? Especially on mother's day? The dreaded one. I got the dreaded phone call Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. My daughter, Ashley, was involved in a one car accident Saturday evening around 11:30 PM. There were four in her car. One of their friends was having a seizure and they were trying to get him to the hospital. The driver lost control of the car, and they ran off the road. Thank God, Thank God, Thank God she is going to be OK. But I have to say my heart stopped for a minute. It could have been so much worse. All four passengers were treated and released from UAB Hospital in Birmingham. One has a fractured back, but surprisingly they sent him home in a brace. Ashley did not have her seat belt on in the back seat (we have had a chat about that) and was thrown out of the back window of her car. Thank you, Lord for making me a mother. But next year I'd like a much milder version of mother's day please. And most of all thank you for my children. That they are alive. That is what I am thinking about the most this mother's day.

At The Ballpark

Last Saturday I was feeling a bit better after two sinus shots on Friday, so I went to the ballpark to watch my niece, Allie, play softball. My mother and father were there, as well as Payton and Allie's sister, Sally. Here are some pics of a beautiful spring day at the ball yard:

This is Sally and Payton:

And Allie playing Ball (they won in a close game, 12-11)

Another shot of Allie in the dugout:

This Is Why.

Tracy Clark of Shutter Sisters, one of my blog links (a little further down and on the right) had this picture on her blog today. It brought tears to my eyes. And made me very, very thankful for what I have. Freedom. Family. Employment. A roof over my head. Thank you Tracy. This is incredible.

Into and Eating EVERYTHING.........

Today, as usual, I went to see Gan, Ashley, and Payton at lunch. What I found was the busiest little girl on the planet. She was into (literally) everything.

Eating The Table.

Eating the foot of her baby doll.

On her tippiest of tiptoes finding things:

Reading her animal book. And then eating it.


Poor Mr. Dog. His fur was all slobbery.

Oh, but wait. There's more.
She also ate Mr. Telephone.

Then it was down for a 2 minute snap (short nap)right there on top of another toy.

When she woke up and started eating the chair, I grabbed my keys and ran out the door before I had to use sick time from running after her during lunch.

God Bless mama and Ashley this afternoon. I hope they survive.

A Day With My Mother

I spent the afternoon with my mother yesterday. We went to her favorite place to lose money, Greentrack. Now, for those of you who do not know this establishment, it is located in a tin roof building in Greene County Alabama. And, it has lots and lots of slot machines disguised as "BINGO". Right. Whatever. There's nothing BINGO about it. And, it's not regulated so I like to say their slogan is "Greenetrack Takes Your Money" instead of the one that they advertise, "Greenetrack Pays You Money". We wondered why they were so dang busy, and oh yeah, it was Kentucky Derby Day. Everyone in Greene County was there to place a bet on a horse. Everyone. I really felt like getting a nuclear scrub-down after I left there. Yuck. But, we still had fun.

We really wanted to eat at the Cotton Patch Restaurant, which we found out was closed. Such a shame. I have many memories of eating there as a child. Steaks that melt in your mouth. Onion rings shreded so thin it's almost sinful. Watermelon rind pickles. And homemade buscuits. (sigh) oh well calories saved. Instead we went to Outback, which was good, but not quite the Cotton Patch.

All in all a great time with mother, which is rare these days with Payton in the picture. I just wanted to document it so that one day I can read this again. Mother's day is next Sunday. I love you mama. Thanks for a wonderful day.