This week

1.  We have a marriage retreat this weekend.  The boys are going to Memphis.  We are pretty pumped about a weekend together!!
2. My grandmother, Helen, appears to have suffered from a stroke.  She also has dementia.  Not many people are fortunate enough to know their grandparents.  I have had the priviliege of having deep, meaningful relationships with three grandparents.  Helen (or Grams) has been one of my best friends: my lunch date, my constant supporter, my shopping buddy.  It breaks my heart to see her like this.  Through the saddness though, God has given me glimpses of her. She will do something through the fog that is so distinctly Helen, I can't help but smile. 

 

The above pictures were from her 84th birthday in May.  I asked her how old she was and she said, "I do not know.  Old, for sure."
3.  Because of Helen's dementia it will be really difficult for her to rehab through these falls.  The doctor explained that once a dementia patient loses mobility they typically go downhill quickly.  Basically he was saying this is the beginning of the end if she doesn't regain mobility.  I tried to explain this to Clayton.  He looked at me and said, "Well really Mom, it's the end of the beginning for her since she knows Jesus."  Well said, son...well said. 
4.    Jack LOVES breakfast food.  Loves it.  One of his favorite things is a sausage and biscuit.  He really like a frozen or canned biscuit.  This morning I pulled out all the stops and made canned biscuits.  He ate three, with sausage.  I told him three was enough.  He lobbied for four.  We stopped at three. 
5.  The boys are going to Memphis this weekend.  Andrew is going to a live performance of Yo Gabba Gabba! with Zachary.  This could go either way for Andrew.  He loves Zachary.  He enjoys watching Yo Gabba Gabba on tv.  However, he is terrified of someone in a costume.  Let's hope he and Mawmaw don't spend the entire show in the bathroom.

This week and last...

1.  Fred's sister got married last weekend in Gatlinburg.  The boys missed one day of school for the occasion.  We tried to squeeze in as much fun as we could.  We went by the outlets and found this guy at The Fudgery.  Love him.

We went to Cade's Cove and hiked around.  Jack is giddy when we are outside.  Giddy.  We really had the best time, desptie a wrong turn that caused us to hike an extra mile with a three year old. 

We went to the outdoor wedding.  Yes, all three boys "fell" in a mud puddle on our way to the wedding location.  Yes...all three.  Ahh, the memories. 
On the way home we stopped at Fall Creek Falls briefly.  It really was the best trip!  Quick, but fun!

To view pictures from the wedding, click here. 
2.  I have a friend here in Paris that owns a flower shop.  Several years ago she asked me if I could help deliver on Valentine's Day.  I loved it!  I volunteered this year to help.  Andrew and I started about 8:30 and finally got home last night around 6:00 pm...just in time to start our family celebration. 

3.  We told the boys we would celebrate Valentine's together by eating pizza and Reese's hearts, drinking Diet Coke and watching a movie.   A good time was had by all and everyone felt the love.  Nothing says love (around this house!!) like pizza, Diet Coke and Reese's peanut butter hearts!! (Please note the salad in the corner was NOT a part of the boy's celebration.  Ha!  That was mine!)

4.  All three of my boys love to dance.  During the reception a DJ played music and people were dancing.  Jack wanted to dance with me several times.  It melted my heart.  That grin of his is about the cutest thing I have ever seen!
5.  Andrew wanted to take his sandwich with us to Story Hour.  He asked me to put it in a "zipy lock" bag.  I thought it was too cute the way he said "Ziploc bag".  I asked him to say it three times.  Upon asking him to repeat himself the final time he said (very emphatically), "Mom, I said zippy lock bag.  It's right there in your hand." 

This week...

1.  Our deacons and their families are coming over tonight for a little party.  It was supposed to be on New Year's day, but alas we were sick with the flu.  We'll celebrate the new year on February 1st.  A party any day is good with us. 
2.  Each week on my drive to Jackson I pass a school that has a sign with announcements on it.  They typically list the announcements by month.  The month was spelled F-E-B-U-A-R-Y.  Bless them.  It was on a school sign.  Bless them.     
3.Clayton told me this week he wants to be a lawyer, architect and preacher. Sounds like an interesting life, doesn't it?!?
4.  Jack has started taking AR tests at school.  If he scores an 80 or 100 %, 6 times he gets to eat lunch with his teacher.  I told him once he took 10 we would get a milkshake.  Game on.  He got to 10 rather quickly and grinned from ear to ear once he got in the car after school.
5.  I made chocolate chip zucchini bread.  I told Andrew he could have a piece, to which he said, "No thanks.  I don't like zucchini."  I said, "Your loss".  He said, "I'm not lost."