The Big "D"

I don't mean Dallas either.  DIET!!!!!  It may be the nastiest 4-letter word out there.  You can call it a lifestyle change but let's face it.........it's still a diet!  Justin and I both decided that we MUST lose weight.  We are both overweight and very our of shape.  I knew this diet was approaching so I made the best of my two week holiday vacation and drank a gazillion cokes along with eating all of the sweets I could handle.  We are completely cutting out carbonated drinks and decreasing our portions. We are also drinking gallon after gallon of water which is really not that easy. Thank goodness Justin is on board with me on this or I could not do it!!  The hardest thing for me will be Mi Casita.  Justin mentioned that I could eat about 17 chips with my salsa and still be OK.  No Justin, that's not OK.  I eat that chips, salsa, and cheese dip like I am in a competition or something.  Anywho, I am really going to try and do this diet thing.  I would love to lose 50 lbs but my first goal will be 30 lbs.  I keep looking at my wedding pictures as inspiration.  I was pretty darn skinny way back then......oh wait.....that was only 5 1/2 years ago!!  Justin wants to lose a ton of weight but I am restricting him to 50 lbs.  I told him I didn't marry a skinny beanpole for a reason.

Wish us luck........we will need it!!!!

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 :)

                                                                            

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