Christmaaaaaaaas

Whew, it's been a busy week.  I love this time of the year.  Christmas, giving gifts, goodies, and two weeks of from school!!  Our first week of vacation was jam packed with events.  I'm kinda glad Christmas is over and we still have this week to slow down and TRY to relax....doubt it.  Christmas was a little more magical this year since Cooper was old enough to actually know what was going on.  Of course, we have had our Elf (Fredrick) bunking with us so he could keep an eye on the kids and report back to Santa.  It worked.....sometimes.  I do think Cooper is a little creeped out by Santa.  He would not answer his phone call nor would he watch the special video Santa sent him.  I guess the thought of a strange old man coming into our house in the middle of the night freaked him out a bit.  He wouldn't even leave the reindeer any food.  I guess he just wanted Santa to make a fly by and throw the presents out in the yard.  Here are some pictures from Christmas morning.

Didn't quite realize how much Santa would bring until it was all laid out.  Yikes!!

Happy girl!!

Checking out the kitchen and baby dolls

Here, let me help you

Already a pro

Shaving kit

Clothes.....big whoop

A weed eater.....got to train them early right?

Too many baby dolls to choose from.......9 all together

Daddy did GREAT!!!

Always get him an Ole Miss gift each year.  I think he liked it.

We had to show the kids the swing set through the windows since it was raining and yucky outside :(

Is it over???

Well, it's taken me a while to post about our loss because it was and is just downright heartbreaking.  Life goes on of course, but it would have been nice to be in Jackson this past weekend watching our boys play.  My heart breaks the most for those kids.  November 26th was the last and final football game for the majority of our senior players.  Those boys wanted it so bad but we just couldn't pull it off.  Many talk about there being a "South State" curse at West but I don't believe in curses.  I think West will win a South State.  When?  I don't know but they will. 

With that being said, I wanted you to meet some of the boys that have made and impact on mine and Justin's life in the past 5 years.  Now, these are definitely not the only one's that are special to us.  The players I am going to talk about are linebackers that Justin has coached since the 9th grade.  We have become very close to them and will be very sad to see them leave.  A few are juniors that I am already dreading graduation.  Let's begin.  Note:  If Justin looks like he has been crying its because he has.  These pictures were taken after our playoff win against Vancleave.  BIG win!  I'm so proud of my emotional husband.....he's a manly man too.

This is Tay.  Devontay had played running back the past two years but he started out as a linebacker his freshman year.  He and another senior had to step up their freshman year and start because two of our senior linebackers we injured before the season started.  This kid is very talented.  He has come a long way on AND off the field.  Justin had to ride him pretty hard for years because of Tay's behavior issues.  He has since straightened up and hopes to play college ball.  I can't wait to see who he will sign with.  We will miss #1 next year!

This is Matthew I've-had-facial-hair-since-the-4th-grade Farrar.  He is the other senior that had to start as a 9th grader years ago.  This guy may be small but he is one scrappy dude.  Matthew is such a sweet guy.  Always polite and very kind hearted.  I can't believe he is a senior!!

Next up is Ervin.  Ervin transferred from Stringer this year but you would have thought he had been here since the 8th grade.  What a personality!  He is the comedian of the bunch and a sweet, sweet kid.  We really wish he would have been with us longer but we are glad to spend what time we did have with him.

OK, so I didn't get a picture with Andrew because we couldn't find him.  This one will have to do.  Andrew is a man of few words to say the least.  I didn't get to know Andrew that well.  I think Andrew liked to talk to Justin about anything that was bothering him.  I love that these boys have that sense of comfort with our coaches.  Warms my heart.

This is Artis aka Scooby.  He is a junior but I am already dreading the day he graduates......in 2012.  This guy led the team in tackles when he was just a wee freshman.  Great player to say the least!  Great kid too!  Artis is another quiet guy but his demeanor changes once he steps on the field.  He reminds me of Dasman McCullum only shorter.

Last but certainly not least is Seth.  This child is the kind of kid you hope you kid turns out to be like.  After several feedings at our house and while the rest of the guys are watching TV or playing xbox, he is helping me clean up my kitchen!  His mother did a great job!  Seth is basically like our 3rd child.  I will surely shed many tears when he leaves West Jones.   

All of these boys have helped make our time at West very rewarding.  To watch them grow and mature into great young men is what makes all the time and effort worth while.  We wanted more than anything to see these guys experience playing in Jackson and possibly win a State Championship.  I'm sure the memories they have made thus far will produce many great stories in the future.  We sure have plenty!

We are very excited to go watch Ben and Devontay play in the MS/AL All-Star game this weekend in Mobile!  So proud of those two guys!  Two very exciting futures!!

 

New Christmas 2010

Cool Peppermint Dots Christmas 5x7 folded card

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Uno, dos, tres

Well, we officially are proud owners of a 3 year old.  I know people always say this but, time has flown!!  It is amazing how much he has grown in a short little year.

                                                           Cooper on his 2nd birthday

We started out the day with some donut holes from the one and only Shipley's!!!  Best donuts ever!!!

                                                                Thanks Johnny!!!

                                                                 Birthday boy!!!

After daddy got home from practice. we decided to go ahead and give him his gift from us.  I had it played out in my head that he would be beside himself about this bike.  Not so much.  At one point he actually asked if we could take it back and get a dinosaur!  Yeah, I was crushed!

We had a small party with just grandparents and aunts......and Johnny.  Cooper had a great time opening gifts.

Wrestling with Coach Papaw

Eating his delicious birthday cake.  Mrs. Udith Pippen makes our cakes now.  They aren't elaborately decorated or fancy but they are soooooo yummy!!  Yellow cake with milk chocolate icing!!  I just added some mini dinosaurs on there and Cooper thought it was awesome.  All for $20!!  Nice!  You can see where Cooper made a finger swipe earlier in the day.

Avery loved it too!

By bedtime he was one tired and ill little dude.

I wonder what 4 will be like????

Oh, guess what we had for breakfast this morning!

So good!

Here is Avery giving Johnny some love.  I thought it was cute!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The boy is 3!!!

                                                                           This dude

                                                                             is

                                                                           

Happy Birthday Cooper Jaxon Cooley!!!  We love you to the moon and back!!  Let's party!!!

I will post later on the happenings of the day....toodles :)

                                                                            

Christmas cards from Shutterfly!!!

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Those are just a few.  I could probably have put about 10 more on here.  Go check out Shutterfly's cute photo card designs.  http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-cards


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Questions???

The following list is made up of questions that I have.  Some of you may be offended so here is your warning.  Hopefully, some of you will find yourself either saying "Yeah, me too" or "Oh, I know!"  .  This is also another vent blog.  It's the second round of the playoffs and I am little stressed.  So, here it goes

1.  Why is there a need for the hands-free hand sanitizer?  Even if the pump you have to touch is covered with germs aren't you about to DISINFECT your hands?  I will stick with the cheaper GermX pump bottle.

2.  Why do some women wear lip liner in shades like brown or dark red then fill in their lips with a light or translucent lipstick?  It just looks like they forgot to apply the lipstick.

3.  Why do some crappy human beings not put children in car seats?  I have actually called the police on some people that I have seen riding around with kids jumping from seat to seat or babies being held and not in a carrier.  May be crazy but I always think if those people did end up getting into an accident and the child/children are hurt or killed, then that could have been prevented.

4.  Why would you want to put a decal of a young boy peeing on something?  No matter how much I dislike something I doubt I will ever relieve myself on it.  Just a thought.

5.  Why do people put aluminum foil in the windows of their homes?  I understand that it blocks out sunlight but for a couple more bucks you can have your very own set of blinds from Dollar General.  Leave the foil for kitchen uses and the occasional highlights ;)

6.  Why do some women choose to dye their hair that darkest shade of black then throw a big chunk of platinum blonde in the center? The bride-of-Frankenstein/skunk look is not flattering AT ALL!

7.  Why do people get upset about other people knowing their "business" when all they do is put their "business" on places such as facebook?  Don't put anything private as your status because, in case you didn't realize, hundreds if not thousands of people (friends) can read it.

8.  Why do some adult women still wear ribbons in their hair?  Unless you are a member of some older women's cheerleading squad the above should not happen.....EVER!

9.   Mullets, Skullets (bald on top), or Wollets (women with mullets).........Why?

10.  Why would someone want to be able to fit a can of green beans through their earlobe?  I don't get the whole gauged-ear thing.

11.  Why are some people so unbelievably lazy enough to park in a handicap parking space?  Is it really going to kill you to hoof it the extra 20 feet to the entrance?  Probably not.

That is all......for now :)

Can I vent just a minute?

The following rant is simply just for stress-relief purposes.  I'm using this blog to vent to instead of my husband (just on game days) so I don't stress him out even more.  Please forgive me for this whiny complaint you are about to read.



Our first playoff game is tonight and I am STRESSING!!!  Not why you would think.  I'm pretty confident that our boys will be ready to play unless they just go out there and lay a big ol' egg!  I'm stressing because of my "hosting" duties.  Here is what my afternoon/evening is looking like.  3:00.....Rush to Children's Place to try to find gloves for Avery's tiny hands.  3:30.....head home and start getting the tailgate food ready, pack game bags, get kids dressed and myself, and load up the truck.  5:00.......pull up at the game and unload kids, grandparents, and food.  Set up the food while making sure kids do not run off into the sea of tailgaters.  Make sure there are "strategically" placed seats for my father under the tent.  Get the rest of my family/guest parked and into the game.  Make sure all my guest have seats, eat, and can see the ballgame.  Visit with my pals and chase kiddos.  Make sure the babies don't freeze.  Make sure Cooper doesn't eat 5,000 cookies and puke. Hope for a Mustang victory and go see daddy after the game on the field.  Clean up the tent and pack everything back up.  Collapse into bed!!!  I'm already tired and it's 5 hours before kickoff!  GO MUSTANGS!!  BEAT THE WARRIORS!!!

Halloween and The Sellers' Tea

Ok, I finally downloaded the Halloween pictures.  Initially, Cooper was going to be a farmer and Avery was going to be a cute little cow.  Well, Cooper had other ideas and the cow costume swallowed Avery.  Plan B......Dinosaur and a Princess Bee (Cooper's name for Avery's costume). 

Mine and Heather's trunk for Trunk or Treat.....we didn't win

Coach Papaw and Cooper

Getting into character

Tired pups.....what is up with Cooper's face?

The first weekend in November we go out to Wayne Co. to the Sellers' Tea.  I'm not really sure why it's called a "tea" because we eat lunch.  Anyway, we always have a great time.  Aunt Jean has a nice little back yard to run around in and the weather is always nice.

One of the few times she wasn't running (waddling)

Please excuse the stuff on his chin.....it will be gone at the end of football season ;)

Sweet boy

Ahhhhhhhh.....but the little one on the left didn't stay down long