Did You Want to Fall in Love with a Cowboy?

Well I did this morning!

My little cowboy with his Daddy helping get him ready.

But I never thought I would love a pig too.

I couldn't resist this little ham!

Happy Halloween a little early from Granger and Zetta Grace!

Have You Ever Taken a Ride on One of These...

Well, we did this weekend thanks to Wells Fargo Advisors. Wells Fargo Advisors hosted a client event and brought the stagecoach to town along with barbecue and a bluegrass band. When we told Granger and Zetta Grace what we were going to do that morning, Granger was a little hesitant about the idea of a stagecoach. We carefully explained to him that it was similar to the stagecoach in his new favorite movie "The Apple Dumpling Gang" and showed him a picture. He was then very sure of the idea and the chance he might see some real live cowboys. Only one real live cowboy was driving the stagecoach but who else arrived in their cowboy gear?
This guy was the main attraction at the event besides the stagecoach. Everybody loved the real cowboy Granger but he was very shy. Lots of people asked to take his picture which was very hard when you hide under this big hat.
We had fun and the kids enjoyed riding the stagecoach even though you can't find Granger in the picture and Zetta Grace looks a little pouty faced. Look closely and you will see Granger's big hat in the background behind Zetta Grace. We should check out the skills of the random person first before we ask them to take pictures huh?

After the event was over, the kids went to spend the night with GerWindy and GrandTed. So what did the parents do since we had the night off? We served a missions dinner at the church for some homeless women and watched football. We also slept in until 9:00 am on Sunday morning and then made it to Sunday school and church without much rushing. Bailey and I both admitted after being without the kids for one hour on Saturday that we already missed them.

What joy and stress kids bring to your life! We enjoyed our adult time but we sure were glad to see our kiddos on Sunday.

Zetta Grace's 1st Alabama Football Game

This weekend we traveled to Tuscaloosa for the showdown between the Gamecocks of South Carolina and the Alabama Crimson Tide. Zetta Grace and Granger were super excited about going to see Khaki, Granddaddy, Nat Nat, and the Roll Tide bus (Granddaddy's motor home). Granger was a little under the weather with an upper respiratory infection and ear infection but the doctor said he would be fine traveling. He politely asked Granger where he was going and Granger quickly replied that he was going to the Alabama football game. The doctor told Granger he was a Gator doctor and he understood about going to football games. So, we traveled on Friday to Tuscaloosa.
Saturday we attended the Homecoming parade, shopped, tailgated, and really tried to decide if we should take the kids to the game. We worried about Granger because he didn't seem to act like himself. Bailey and I both offered to keep the kids at the motor home but knew we both really wanted to go to the game. After much discussion, Mom and Dad said we should try to take them and see how it went.

Zetta Grace was all about the football game. This was her first Alabama game and she must have it in her blood big time. She danced with her pom pon, shouted Roll Tide, and wanted to see all the action. (Try not to notice all of her non-matching reds in this picture. She kind of reminded me of Grandmothers and the many shades of one color. At least she had the team's colors on.)
I had to hold her through 3 quarters while standing so she could see it all. If I tried to stand her on the bleacher to see, she didn't think that was good enough. She shouted a lot during the game screaming "Roll Tide", "Get em", and "Go, Go, Go". The kids lasted until mid-way through the 3rd quarter and then Bailey and I decided to head back to the motor home. Granger looked like he was about to fall asleep and we didn't want to carry his 47 lb self back to the motor home. We were impressed they had made it that long.We had a great weekend and thankfully Granger seems more like himself today. As usual, Khaki and Granddaddy were their usual selves and spoiled the kids rotten. The kids were fortunate enough to see Uncle Ricky and Aunt Kristina as well but somehow I don't have any pictures of that.

Growing Up

Yesterday Granger stayed home from school sick but we had to take Zetta Grace to school. Aunt Busy was kind enough to walk Zetta Grace into her class so that I didn't have to take Granger inside the school. Thankfully Lake's class is right beside Zetta Grace's class. Granger was really upset, crying, and demanding to go to school.

Aunt Busy saved the day (not originally knowing Granger was sick) and brought him a hand-me-down cowboy vest from one of his uncles. Granger put the vest on and immediately stopped crying. He continued to wear the black leather/brown suede cowboy vest all day including to the doctor. I explained that the vest was part of his Halloween costume but all he kept telling me was that his Daddy must have worn it when he was a little boy and that GrandTed gave it to him as a present.

It was time to go back and pick Zetta Grace up from school and Granger proudly showed her his vest. The conversation in the back of my car picked up with enthusiasm and so did my laughter. Granger told Zetta Grace that when she got bigger and bigger and turned into a boy, he would give her his bull cowboy vest to wear. He said she would really be excited because he shared it with her just like Lawrence did for him. So, in case you all wondered girls grow up and turn into boys in Granger's mind. I will have to quiz him on what happens when he grows up. He often tells me when he grows up and turns into a Daddy he is going to drink...

DIET COKE

(although I always think he is going to say BEER)

Soccer Sunday

On Sunday afternoon, we walked over to the YMCA to let the kids enjoy the beautiful but cooler weather. Granger really wanted to take the soccer ball and Zetta Grace had her ball of choice. After kicking the ball around, Granger decided it was time for him to score. He would line up right in front of the goal and kick the ball in the net yelling "Score". Zetta Grace really wanted a turn but every time we yelled for her to "kick it in the net", she would lay down and take this approach. We finally decided that she thought we were saying to "kick it with your neck".

Fall is here y'all or at least it was on Sunday and Monday.

Stuck It

Saturday afternoon, Granger looked at me and said, "Stuck it!" I quickly asked him what he said and he repeated it. With a lot of fear, I asked him what that meant. He responded, "You know like when you get stuck in the mud. That's stuck it Momma!" You never know what will come out of the mouth of your 3 year old boy. I just nodded okay to him.

Table Talk with Granger

Tonight the kids and I ate dinner a little early because Bailey was away at a seminar and we didn't have to wait for him to get home to eat. Granger asked me if he could watch a movie after his bath. I said we would see how quickly we completed the bath tub time. I asked him what movie he wanted to watch. His response was, "The Big Red Caaaa".
I said don't you mean "The Big Red Car?" Granger said, "No Mom! Greg on the Wiggles says Caaaa (in his New Yorker accent) not Car."

Zetta Grace's Idea of Sharing on the Farm

Zetta Grace was in a real sharing mood yesterday while we played at the Bartee farm. Allie loved receiving so much attention from Zetta Grace. I am not sure I have ever seen Zetta Grace offer to share her lambie (which is the pink snugly thing she is giving Allie) with anyone. Thank goodness she didn't offer to share her pacifier.

Zetta Grace also shared Klondike bars with her cousin, Lake. They each had their own bar but the results were the same: one big mess.

The kids enjoyed their day on the farm after having a fantastic weekend with Khaki and Granddaddy. Khaki and Granddaddy came to babysit while we went to Bailey's college Homecoming. We had a great time and it sure looked like the kids did too. We don't have any pictures from their experience unless Khaki brought her camera. We took our camera to Spartanburg but never took any pictures either.

Granddaddy and Khaki had to leave early Sunday to head back to Alabama, so we decided to spend the day on the farm. Uncle Bill pulled the kids around the farm on the wagon behind the tractor. GrandTed treated us to Courtney's barbecue and Zetta Grace sat on her favorite pig.

The kids rode around in GrandTed's big truck and fed the horses. Everyone just enjoyed the beautiful weather and surroundings outside on the farm. Nobody wanted to go back to Charlotte especially this guy.

This is what a chocolate fudge Popsicle face looks like.