Sweet Home Alabama!

We have never lived in Alabama - but it sure seems like home. My sister gave my mom a little plaque that says "Home is where my Mom is". It is true - and where my Dad is. My parents have moved a lot in their lives -but have been in Alabama for 9 years - the longest they have lived anywhere. So it is home. When I hear the song "Sweet Home Alabama" - I smile and have the same feeling of home as when I hear the Cougar fight song. Don't ask me to sing them. Just know that I love those songs and the feeling I have when I hear them!


Tanner told everyone that he wanted a boat for Christmas. We don't know which came first - Tanner asking for one or my Dad deciding to buy one. . . Actually Dad has been planning this for a while. The kids loved riding in it - even though it was a bit chilly!


These pictures were mostly taken with Eliza's new camera that she got for Christmas. Even though - I took this one of Eliza - it was nice having Hannah and Eliza be the photographers for the vacation.

Hannah and Mom. I don't know if you can see it -but you may notice Grandma and Grandpa wearing beautiful hand-crafted plastic necklaces in some of these pictures. It is fun to be with them and hear them rave about our children. Steve and I love to go there for the relaxation and great food but the the best part is just talking with Mom and Dad about how awesome our kids are. You can't do that with everyone!
We had many great family dinners at Grandma and Grandpa's house but the only picture I have is this one at the Mexican restaurant we went to. I also wish I had pictures of us at the symphony our last night there. Grandma and Grandpa gave me, Steve, Hannah and Eliza tickets to see a featured violinist and hear Tchaikovsky. It was wonderful. I think G and G are hoping to inspire the musicians in our family.
Our friends, the Owens came to visit us while in Birmingham. They braved a 3 hour drive from Atlanta! We became friends while living in South Pasadena. Leah and I both managed our apartment buildings while our husbands were at USC. She helped me a lot with my two little girls - especially the summer I was pregnant with the third! We have not seen them in seven years but after a bit of catching up - it was like we never parted.

The two Dads took 6 of the 8 kids out on the boat.

This is Daphne and Tanner. I took about 8 pictures of them. They kept asking for more. They were giggling. I wish I had audio to go with this picture. It would make you laugh!

Kellie and Tanner playing with a new pirate toy. It was fun to see Kellie and get to be with her for a few days. She showered the kids in presents.
The highlight for all of the girls was their individual dates with Grandma. They each got to choose what they wanted to do for an afternoon. The best part was having Grandma's undivided attention.
Grandpa kept the kids full of ice cream, cookies, chocolate milk and everything sweet. I was not shocked when I found him helping Eliza make the biggest chocolate chip cookie she had ever eaten. She even took a picture of it before she ate it. We wish all of our grandparents lived closer. Life is better with Grandparents. It's true!