Smith Lake...one last "summer" visit

We spent this weekend at Smith Lake realizing that summer was close to an end (I know that technically it is fall...but it has been in the mid to high 80s around here). We had the car loaded when we picked Banks up from school. When we got to his school his class was outside eating snack...he had everyone sitting in a circle and was asking them one by one if they had a life jacket. If they answered "yes" then he said they could come to the lake, if they answered "no" he said they couldn't. When we got there we were all amazed by the amount the water has gone down since our last visit. Banks is standing next to the seawall in the first picture...normally all this is under water. The kids swam for a little bit on Friday and Saturday. Banks and Jody swam on Sunday...and I didn't even put on my suit! The water was a little chilly for me! Saturday morning the kids and I were down by the water and we saw 2 deer run through the woods...then a dog came chasing after them. We spent a nice and relaxing family weekend eating, taking boat rides and resting. Here are some pictures from the weekend...if you have never been to Smith Lake...the water is beautiful!

Let’s all go to the Fair!

Last night we made our annual trip to the Morgan County Fair! Both of our kids were so excited to get there…I barely got dinner in them! Honestly, I didn’t think Mary Reese would ride anything since she didn’t ride on anything at the Kiddie Carnival a few months ago. But she was right behind Banks in line for every ride! I think their favorite ride was the new safari train…I think they rode it 8 times! Jody took Mary Reese to ride the train again because she didn’t want to ride the carousel, I thought Banks was going to jump off the moving carousel when he realized it! When that carousel finally stopped (I don’t think it was completely stopped), he jumped off and ran to the train ride…but there were no seats left. He was heartbroken! We topped off the night all sharing a caramel apple…how else would you end a night at the fair?

On a sadder note…I have been following this truly amazing family’s blog (conorbootheandgirls.blogspot.com), which I found through another friend’s blog, for a week now. I have been in total awe of their faith and strength during these extremely trying times in their lives. While my family was happily getting ready to go to the fair last night, they lost their precious 8-day old baby girl to Trisomy–18. Please remember to pray for this family…they have inspired me!

A Peppermint Patty Story

Once upon a time there was a little boy named Banks. He developed a love for York Peppermint Patties at a very young age (in fact that was his reward during potty training days). One fall (really summer like) day his mommy brought home a bag of the small peppermint patties in the shape of a pumpkin complete with an orange tinted filling for the little boy! The little boy was so excited that he wanted to pack one in his lunch the next day! The next night when the little boy was helping his mommy pack his lunch, he said “I need to pack 2 peppermint patties in my lunch. One for me and one for my teacher, Ms. Davis.” (I forgot to mention that this was one of the sweetest little boys in all the land!) When his mommy picked him up from school that day, she asked the little boy’s teacher if he gave her the peppermint patty. She replied that he did but the other teacher, Ms. Byrd, got her feelings hurt that she didn’t get a treat from the little boy! So that night, the little boy was helping his mommy pack his lunch for the next day and put two peppermint patties in again. His mommy asked him who the second peppermint patty was for and he sweetly replied, “Ms. Byrd!"

Riverfest Weekend

We spent the entire weekend at Riverfest ("a barbeque cook-off and musical extravaganza") at Ingall's Harbor on the Tennesee River. Jody literally cooked all weekend and the kids and I ate! Banks and Jody started setting up their Full of Bologna team's tent on Thursday afternoon with all the guys. Banks got his team t-shirt that night and immediately put it on. When I picked him up to go home that night, he informed me that I needed to have it washed and dried for him to wear to school the next day. Friday afternoon/night we spent celebrating Jason Gantt's 34th Birthday. The kids ate hot dogs, played in the blow-up toys and dancing to the music. The adults ate wings, brats, potato salad, slaw and smoked bologna (of course)! After the kids and I chased the man selling the glow sticks all over the park, we knew we needed some rest! You should have seen the dirt I scrubbed off them and of course I had to wash Banks' t-shirt that night so he could wear it again on Saturday. The kids and I made it back out there on Saturday just in time to sample all the food the team turned in for the competition...it was pretty delightful! (Congrats to our friends at Jiggy Piggy for taking the Grand Championship!) The kids played with all their friends and the adults watched the Auburn and Alabama games. I looked up once on Saturday and Mary Reese was at the keg playing bar maid...it was hilarous! The kids and I made it to the end if the Auburn game before we were exhausted (note the last picture if Banks). So Banks and I finished watching the Alabama game in the comforts of my bed! We thought we were going to pull it out at the end...we tried to cheer them on! I can't wait to take them both to the game in a few weeks! We ended the weekend with a quick visit from Baby Carter on his way back to Indianapolis! It is amazing to see the change in him in just one week and I can't believe he will be a month old tomorrow!

Baby Carter meets his cousins

Baby Carter came for his first trip to Alabama. His first cousins have been anxiously awaiting his arrival for almost three weeks now. I think Banks was the most excited to meet him. They both wanted to hold him and Mary Reese even supervised Aunt Sue feeding Carter his bottle. Banks and Mary Reese both decided to helped Carter open all his presents (thank you Aunt Sue for being patient with us and letting us help). Banks did tell me later that when Carter came to his birthday party, he would let Carter help him open his presents! Here are some pictures from the Sip and See at Debbie's house this afternoon. Everyone thought he was the most handsome baby ever...and I agree!

Pre-K is paying off!!!

Banks was so excited this morning. He wrote his name for the first time all by himself! He and Mary Reese were playing with the sidewalk chalk while I was sweeping off the front porch. He has been working on writing his name with Ms. Davis and Ms. Byrd. I am amazed every day with all he is learning. Any one in the area...BEWARE...he is selling wrapping paper and asks everyone he sees to buy some. He is quite the little salesman! Oh...we also got another smiley face on Friday!

While visions of Disney danced in her head...

A friend of mine from work brought me this dress yesterday for Mary Reese. Her uncle works at Disney World and sent this to her child. To make a long story short, it didn’t fit her child so she thought Mary Reese could like it. Needless to say, Mary Reese LOVED it! She couldn’t wait to model it for us. She loved it so much that she slept in it and is wearing to school today! Can you image what she is going to be like when we go to Disney???

Go Big Red!

Last night we had a family fun night at the Decatur vs. Hartselle High School football game! It was officially their first game of the season. We tailgated before the game with the Bibbs, Gantts, Bronaughs, Hicks, Martins and Belchers. We had a blast and tons of good food (of course)! Our friends sure knows how to eat!!!! The kids all played football and practiced their cheers before the game. Jason shuttled us to and from the game in "The Vehicle" (which was decorated for the occasion). Mary Reese had a blast dancing to the band and cheering on the Raiders. I think Banks spent the entire game eating!!! Today is another fun filled football watching day...except for the birthday party this morning! Below are some pictures from last night's festivities!

Smiley Face Day!

Yesterday Banks met his goal of 5 smiley faces! Way to go Banks!!! As promised, he got pick out a wallet at Wykers Toys. As soon as we got to the car, he asked for some dollars and some change to put in his wallet. He has been busy trying to fill up all the slots tonight...he even asked Jody for a business card for one slot! To top it all off, he got another smiley face today...we are 2 for 2 this week! I think he finally has it down!

Fall is in the Air!

I can’t believe that summer is almost over and football season has started! I seems like summer just began. We have all had a busy week at the Murphree house. Banks and Mary Reese had their cousin Sarah Laine’s Backyardigan Birthday party on Wednesday night. She had everyone over for swimming, pizza and cupcakes of course! We had a ball! Sarah Laine, hope you didn’t mind that Banks took over the present opening duties! Banks got another smiley face on Friday (the grand count is 4…only 1 more for our wallet). Sweet Ms. Davis thought he had been good enough all week for a trip to the treasure chest. She has been dying for him to get to pick a prize out because there was something she knew he would love. Of course he picked the prize she thought he would…a digger (what else)! He did tell John B. this week when they were watching the burnt down Chick-Fil-A being demolished, “I would rather be doing construction but my Mommy and Daddy say I have to go to school instead!” Hopefully he can finish school so he can own his own construction company one day??!!??!! Mary Reese is holding her own in her all boy classroom. They say she just sits there for the first 10 minutes taking everything in…then she is off and going. When I picked her up one day last week she had made a Fruit Look necklace. The other day she had a pink purse shaped like a dog she was dragging around. I think the boys let her have all the dolls and purses to play with! Last night Banks got picked up by his “girlfriend” Mary Bradford for her birthday dinner. They went and ate Mexican together with some of their other friends. Mary Reese was mad because she realized Banks was with “Gray Gray” and she wasn’t! Later Jason, Stephanie, Banks and I went to the D-High football game. Banks sat with his friends Colwell, Evans, and Meredith. They were all thrilled when Sloane brought them back blue snowcones and the cheerleaders threw them little footballs! This afternoon we went to the Splash Pad for a cool down! Banks ran right in and joined in the fun. Mary Reese sat with me on a bench for a few minutes and then decided she wanted to put on her bathing suit…and off she went. Here are some pictures from the Sarah Laine’s Birthday Party, the football game and our visit to the Splash Pad.

We hope everyone is having a nice long weekend (it will be our last for awhile)! I think we will be spending the rest of ours at the pool! Jason, I did this entry just for you!!! Hope you enjoyed your pancakes! This is Alabama Football…ROLL TIDE!