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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

A little of this and that...

As I was laid out last week I did have time to catch up some reading, which is never a bad thing! I have several bloggers that I like to read and then of course a book or two and several magazines that I had piled up.

{At this point I realize I am a lot like my mother!!}

 {Let me clarify that is not a bad thing!}

Anyways, I found a few things that I wanted to share here on my blog. Hope you have time to read a few of these....

  • I came across this blog post and appreciated what she had to share about motherhood! I know I am not in her season of motherhood and maybe that is why it spoke to me so much. She closes with one of my favorite Bible verses and I think you will enjoy the post as well -

http://blueeyedbride.com/2013/11/20/a-messy-motherhood-story-for-his-glory/

  • It is no secret that I love College Game Day and if there was a dream job for me it would have been Erin Andrews until now! I LOVE this new ESPN reporter and after reading this post I love her even more...
http://www.prothirtyone.com/welcome/


  • Since we are talking about sports I really could relate to this post by one of my favorite bloggers after a tragic ATM loss this past Saturday....
http://thebigmamablog.com/15146/glass-case-emotion/


  • I have found countless things on Pinterest and looked at all kinds of recipes but I came across this one the old fashioned way... a COOKBOOK! Anyways, it was something different and very warm after these cold, rainy days we have been having....
Creamy Chicken Taco Soup:

1 package of Taco seasoning
1 can of corn (I used one can of cream corn and one can of regular corn)
2 cans of Ranch Style Beans
1 can of Rotel
1 can of cream of chicken soup
8 ounces of sour cream (or more if you want it creamier)
2 cans of chicken broth (or 16 oz. chicken stock)
2 chicken breasts boiled (if you boil your chicken you can use the broth plus one can of broth)

I poured everything in the crockpot then shredded my chicken and added it in. I just kept it on low for the afternoon so the flavors could get all mixed together. The recipe I read said to use a rotisserie chicken but I like to boil my own and use the broth. It's up to you!! Brian ate his over Fritos but I like mine over regular tortilla chips. Again, it's up to you! This will make a lot of soup so you will enjoy leftovers or it would be great to take to a party.

So, that's just a few things to pass on to you. The flu has entered our house so this Thanksgiving is shaping up to be all I had imagined!!

Monday, November 25, 2013

Because getting old is not fun...

Some of you may think I have completely fallen off the earth, or caved under the pre-Black Friday chaos that I love this time of year. But the truth is I am in fact getting older and the proof came last Sunday!

As I reached down to get my cans of cinnamon rolls out of the lowest shelf in the refrigerator {because I cook a mean Sunday morning breakfast for my family!} I felt something in my back that I can only explain as PAIN!!!! I mean that kind of pain that makes you see white light, like maybe the end is actually here. I finally got up, thinking it would pass and as only a stubborn person like me would do I went on to get ready for church. I willed myself through Sunday School and the service and by the time I got home I officially realized this might not be a short battle.

Brian did his best to medicate me and make me comfortable all afternoon but we finally both agreed maybe the ER would provide the best medicine for me and even a possible answer as to why I was in such pain. Clearly I was not in my right mind!!!!

The ER did provide a good shot of some pain medicine from a sweet, sympathetic nurse. I do not have such nice things to say about a doctor who had the nerve to ask me if my back hurt because I was constipated! Or maybe because of kidney stones! If I could have choked that man I think I would have because a) constipation has never sent me to the hospital and b) the one experience I had with a kidney stone left a life long impression of pain. Thankfully the medicine knocked me out before I could say anything that would lead me to the altar to repent!

So I spent most of last week laying flat on my back, taking strong medicine which kept from enjoying my daytime TV shows that I would have loved to watch had I been able to stay awake for them! Brian has been the best nurse and I have not been the best patient! I started physical therapy as well and by this morning I think things just might turn around.

There were several times last week that I thought I would sit up and post a blog but two little words kept me from it - MUSCLE RELAXERS. I just can't fight those strong medicines! And, blogging was on my list of things to do last weekend. Not that I had whole lot to share, but I was going to let you know how the kids were doing in basketball and my plans of decorating for Christmas before going home for Thanksgiving and a recipe for something that I can't even remember now. Little did I know what awaited me when I woke up Sunday morning!

So a week later I am posting just to let everyone know we are alive and somewhat well here in Mississippi and that I have discovered getting older is not fun...

Monday, November 11, 2013

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Last week our family entered into the most wonderful time of the year. Not because Christmas trees deck sales displays around town but because the kids started basketball season! This time of year keeps us on the road and in the bleachers, but we are all excited to see it get started.

The boys won their first game by 30 points but lost their second game of the week by 3. Here are a few pictures from their first game of the season...


Before taking the court the boys paused in their own huddle to pray
 
 
 
 
Brendan gave us two surprises in the first game! First of all, he changed his jersey number and came out sporting #2. I have several theories as to why this happened and he hasn't really confirmed any of them but he says this will be his jersey number this year. So far, it has proven lucky and we all know how he tends to be superstitious! The second surprise was that he would be jumping at tip off. Let me assure you of one thing - Brendan got his vertical ability from me! At this point I am not sure what his coach is thinking in letting him jump but that's why I sit in the stands I guess.
 
 
Brendan has a left handed floater that he likes to shoot when driving the ball....
 
 
....but not to be outdone Koby takes his own left handed layup in to the goal!
 
 
Kamdyn plays two quarters on JV and four on Varsity. In this picture she was setting up on defense. She continues to take a beating down low physically and sometimes emotionally but she keeps on going!
 
 
And she is never scared to pull the three!
 
 
So pretty much this is what we have been doing and will keep doing for the next few months! These are the days that go fast with memories that will run deep in my heart. Watching the kids play, cheering on their team, eating popcorn for supper, loving them through their disappointments in loosing and elation in winning are all highlights on the reel of raising teenagers.
 


Saturday, November 2, 2013

The End and The Beginning....

This week was one of those weeks where on Monday you are already anticipating Friday! You know what I mean? It's like when you eat a good meal but really you just want to skip on to the great chocolate cake at the end except I knew my week might not be good and there was no chocolate cake coming my way on Friday!

Let me backtrack....

Koby's team came up short by two points last Friday night in the district championship. When I tell you it was a heartbreaker I mean it! The boys were just devastated to be so close and not reach their goal, literally. The last one off the field was our child, teary eyed and disappointed. The team's biggest cheerleader had nothing to say and I think that pretty much lasted until sometime Saturday afternoon. So, we gave him some space and waited for the Aggies to give us the win of the weekend.

Koby's team did qualify for the playoffs and we found out over the weekend we would be playing in Natchez, MS against the #1 team. It was at that point I began to realize the craziness that would be our week.

Brendan spent last weekend in Florida with Ellie and her family enjoying the beach and the sunshine as we froze to death here...



His flight coming home filled up so he got to stay an extra day and came back into Birmingham on Monday, and that started our week of being on the go.

Kamdyn's team had two preseason basketball games last week and since she plays on both the JV and Varsity this year that meant I would have the opportunity to get reacquainted with the basketball bleachers and my basketball diet very quick! Her team got beat both nights and not just by a few points. They really got beat down and Kamdyn had a rare showing of emotions Monday night that we don't usually deal with. Frustration and pain and exhaustion just got the best of her and I found myself thinking what a long season this could possibly be and how the drama that comes with a 15 year old girl is so much more than I recall experiencing myself. I kind of feel like I should apologize to anyone who dealt with me at that age in any way!

 So, see why I might be anticipating Friday so early in the week?

We wrapped up the basketball games Tuesday night and then celebrated with 1600 of our closest friends in the church and community at our annual church "Trunk or Treat" Wednesday night.

 
 
Kamdyn handed out candy at our trunk and here she is with a few of the kids before the night got started. Our trunk was just decorated for fall and our game was a bean bag toss because I am that creative. {Aren't you impressed?} And, nothing says fall like a 75 degree night of trunk or treat!
 
I did have the chance to post this picture on my Instagram Thursday for #throwbackthursday in honor of Halloween 1999...
 
 
For the record, the boys were Batman and Robin three years in a row. My mother taught me to be thrifty and I am telling you we got our money's worth out of those costumes. I have kept them put up because our boys got so much wear out of them I just can't stand the thought of getting rid of them! 
 
So, now we get to the end of the week. Yesterday we traveled to Natchez for the playoff game, which by the way is located 4 hours south of where we live. We fed the boys a late breakfast, got on the charter bus and made our way south knowing full well we would be facing the giants of our conference.
 
I snapped this picture of the boys after they finished their pregame warm ups! Helmets up and heads held high...
 

 
 
And after the first quarter I snapped this one of our "warrior"...
 
 
He and the rest of the team came ready but in the end we were not the better team and our football season came to an end. They had a great run and making the playoffs is always a positive to any season. Brian and I were so proud of the leadership Koby showed for the team and of all the effort he poured into the season!
 
Kamdyn and I enjoyed cheering the team on together in the final game of the season and as you can tell her smile was finally back!
 
 
 
 
So now we get ready to begin our next season as all the Bailey's will suit up for basketball. This week we will play Tuesday and Thursday and Brian and I plan to enjoy seeing Brendan and Koby play their final year on the court together. I'm sure I'll be posting pictures, but first I am going to spend this beautiful fall Saturday recovering from the week that is behind us!!