Our Masterpieces

My kids love to do arts and crafts and so do I.  I found some canvases at a local discount store.  One night this summer we all sat down to create our masterpieces.  It was fun sitting around the kitchen table sharing ideas.  It was a time to use our imagination and make something special.  Noah just started painting as I set out more paint.  His picture started off as a bunny in the grass.

Then he started adding brown and it became a night time scene.

Abbie had a hard time trying to figure out what to make.  Then she started doing splatter painting.  She added all of our names to her picture.  You can also see little hearts and smiley faces if you look close.

Emma liked these sponge dot painters and started putting dots all over her picture.  She also added a flower and her name.

James and I got in on the fun too!

It was really cool to see all of our creations.  James noticed that he and Noah colored the entire canvas and you couldn't see any white left.  The girls and I left some white showing with ours.  They turned out so good that we decided to hang them in our dinning room!

Monday's Memories..............My Mama!!

Sonya Jean (Brown) Laney was born June 19th, 1939

to Anna Jean (Bay)Brown and Tom Chester Brown.

Proud sister, Cherie(Brown)Denney.

They lived in Hillsdale Michigan.

This is how I imagine the birth announcement looked when my mom was born.

She is such an amazing women!  I love to listen to her tell stories of when she was a little girl growing up in a tiny house. She and her sister shared a room.  It was actually a sun room that was turned into a bedroom.   The way their room was situated my mom could look into their mirror and watch her sister get good night smooches from her boyfriend.  She once read her sisters diary at the Thanksgiving table.  Like all sisters do they fought over clothes, boys and attention. My Aunt recently came for a visit and it was fun listening to them walk down memory lane.

She also tells stories of how they lived life when she was young.  They didn't have a television until she was older.  She remembers listening to shows on the radio.  They didn't have much but they were happy.  All the things we think are essential just didn't exist.  It's hard for my kids to imagine life without TV, computers, microwaves, and cell phones.

She was very imaginative when she was little.  She would talk to trees when friends couldn't play.  She loved her dolls as well.

In high school she was a cheerleader.  It's fun to look at her yearbooks.  All the girls wore dresses or skirts all the time.  It was their dress code.  Jeans were not allowed.  She remembers wearing jeans one time when they decorated the gym for prom.

They lived on a lake and she remembers swimming across the lake for her lifesaving course.  She tells stories of spending time with friends in the summer on the lake or walking through town.  It honestly is stories from the 50's.  She remembers Poodle Skirts and Saddle Shoes.  Sock Hop and Sadie Hawkins dances. I have often thought what life would have been like in this "slower pace time".  Small town livin!

She met my dad in High School.  They graduated from Hillsdale High School in 1957.  My dad joined the Army shortly after High School and she headed off to Michigan Sate to study art. They married on December 13th. 1958.  They celebrated their 50th Anniversary in 2008.

    

My mama is most selfless person I have ever met.   She always puts others needs and wants before hers.  She has inspired me to be the kind of mom she was to me.  Her example is something I rely on everyday.  She is the kind of grandma I always imagined for my kids.  She is kind and loving and I have cried on her shoulder way more times than I can count.  She is a great listener.  She has never made decisions for me but guided me.  I have made quit a few mistakes and she reminds me that these "learning experiences" will make me a better person.  She is my "best girlfriend"! 

It is my hope that I can be half the person she is because that is a lot.

 I can remember as a little girl she was talking with me about loving God.  She told me that I should really love God more than my family.  That was hard for me to grasp.  I couldn't imagine loving ANYONE more than her.  So, in my child like mind I told her if the world was made out of dots that I loved her one dot less than God.

Mama thank you for all that you are!  You mean so much to me. More than I could ever write here. 

I will always love you "one dot less".

Tennis Anyone??

Emma has taken up playing tennis.  It all started early summer.  We have a tennis academy that teaches in our neighborhood and she was excited to try lessons with a friend.  She went the first time and LOVED it.  James was so excited to have a tennis player in the family that he could play with.  He used to play in high school and also has started playing again.  They go down to the courts a few night a week and James works with her too.  She has learned to bounce serve.

She has a great back hand (per James)!

She also did a summer tennis camp and had a great time.  She is still thinking about if tennis is something she wants to continue.  We have told the kids that they can pick two extra curricular things to do.  She normally dances and has also said she would like to play basketball.  I love that she likes to try new things!!

She still has awhile to decided.  So, time will tell!

I love this one!!  Thank you James for taking the camera down and getting some great pictures!  She looks mighty hot to me!!

She also loves that she gets some one on one with her daddy!  This picture is not one of them playing tennis but I love it!

That girl loves her daddy!!!

And they're off......First day of school 2010

I really can't believe how fast this summer zoomed by!  I know I say that every year, but time really does fly by.  So, last night we got all the kids to help pack up their backpacks and set out the clothes they were going to wear.  They got to bed at their designated bedtimes and I got in bed at 10:30.  I layed in bed all nervous and excited for them.  It's like being a kid again myself. I finally had to get up and come downstairs.  I played games on the computer, read some of my book and finally started feeling tired.  Let me just tell you that when the alarm clock went off at 6:00 I felt like I had just fallen asleep.  I woke Emma up first.  She sat up in her bed rubbing her eyes and then realized what today was.  She climbed out of her bunk bed and happily hopped down the stairs!  Noah was next.  I went in and rubbed his back and he opened his eyes and said "Mommy why are you waking me up?  It's not time to get up yet!"  Boy I couldn't agree more!  He climbed down the stairs and layed on the couch to wake up a little.  I opened Abbie's door and she pulled the covers over her head.  I  told her I knew it was early but reminded her she insisted she needed an hour and a half to get ready!  She layed in bed and few more minutes then stumbled out out of her room.  I hopped in the shower to get ready to take Emma and Noah to school.  Emma came in and asked if I had to work today and I said no.  She asked if I was going to put my pajamas back on and go back to bed after I took them to school.  That sounded so wonderful, but I told her I had lots to do before they got home from school.

Abbie called Emma to the bathroom and asked her if she wanted her to do her hair.  Emma was excited and said yes.  I thought that was very sweet of Abbie.  They have not been getting along very well lately  and that was a sweet gesture on Abbie's part. 

"Seriously mom, you have the camera out already?"

Emma looked so cute and grown up!

We were already to go!  We stopped at the front door to take some pictures.  My sister taught me that trick.  You can look how much they've grown if you take the picture in the same spot every year.  We always look at the doorknob and it's fun to see how tall they are.

Off I went to take Emma and Noah to school.  James stayed home with Abbie until it was time for her to go up to the bus.  Oh, and take pictures of her.

On the way to school Emma and Noah talked about how old they would be when Abbie started High School.  Right there it hit that that is next year!!!  I became very emotional and bit my lip so I wouldn't cry!  I had to talk to myself and say we still have one more year and this year has just started.  Who, am I kidding?  I just said time flies!!!  So anyway, we pulled into the parking lot and Emma asks me if I'm walking her to her class.  "Why wouldn't I?" I say.  She replies "you can walk me to class but you can't kiss me in front of all my friends."  Rip my heart out why don't you I want to cry!!!  I was good and said I would just hug her.  So that's what I did.  I left her smiling and laughing with her friends.  Noah was very sweet and said "Mom you can walk me to my class as long as you want".  That boy has the biggest heart.  He knew just what I needed to hear.  I worried about Noah the most this year.  He will be changing classes a lot.  I'm sure he will do fine.  He never ceases to amaze me!  We were walking down the hallway and all I could think was I hope no one is unkind to him.  I worry about that the most.  We turned down his hall and he saw his teacher. He gave her a big hug  and gave me a hug and then saw a friend.  He and his friend have similar issues.  They hugged each other and sat down next to each other.  He has a friend was all I could think.   He was also smiling when I left!  I drove home feeling happy for them.  I was a little sad but knew they would have a great day.  I arrived home before Abbie left to go to the bus!  So guess what?  I took pictures!!!  She and her friend decided to ride the bus today.  I said " You don't want me to take you to school?"  "Mom. I'm in the 8th grade!"  "Don't remind me I wanted to cry!"  So, James had already grabbed a couple of pictures and I was able to grab one of Abbie with her friend Brooke.

Off they went!  The house was quiet and to be honest it was a little nice.  I almost put my PJ's back on but knew I had things to do.  Emma and Noah will be home in about ten minutes and I can hardly wait to hear about their day!

Monday's Memories...Has it really been 20 years?

James and I went to James' 20 year high school year reunion this past Saturday and had a wonderful time.  He and I both graduated in 1990, but went to different schools.  He went to  Etowah and I went to Sprayberry.  I would have gone to Etowah if we hadn't of moved my Freshman year.  I went to Elementary and Middle School with a lot of the same people James went to High School with.    The reunion was held at the Hilton in Marietta.  It was beautiful!!  James and I both agreed it felt like we were going to prom, just not so dressed up.

It was so fun to see people I remembered from so long ago.  James had a chance to catch up with old friends too.  We sat at the same table with one of my good friends from 7th grade.  We both looked at each other awhile before we really knew who each other was.  It was so good to see her and we are hoping to get our families together soon.

My friend Michaele and her husband.

We also got to see the wonderful Mrs. Towns again. (Noah's teacher last year)

It was comforting to see that other people had changed just like us!  Cause let's face it we really are 20 years older!!!

It was fun to look at year books and all the memorabilia from 1990.

 We saw lots of other people we knew and some we honestly didn't recognize.  The night was filled with dancing(not by James and I).  It was really funny to people watch!  The food was great. The friends we caught up with and reconnected with was truly a surprise!  I have to say I was a little hesitant to go remembering all the cliques.  It's funny that as you get older all of that just seems to fade away and everybody just has fun seeing each other.  All in all the night was fun and a lot better than I expected.

So, there you have it...Etowah High School class of 1990!!!

Monday's Memories

It is hard to believe that twenty-one years ago this week James and I had our first date.  We had met each other a couple of times before but actually started dating the summer of 1989.  One of my best friends April had dated James before and they decided they were just friends so she introduced us.  The first time I met James, he and April were actually on their first date.  The second time we met, April and I went over to his house.  A couple of weeks after that he called me and came over to my house.  We sat on the front porch for a long time and talked.  We had our first date 3 days later.  We went to Olive Garden for lunch and then went and saw the movie Dead Poets Society.  A few days later I had all four of my wisdom teeth pulled and James came over and sat with me after my surgery.  He was even there when I "got sick". I remember if he can be with me at my worst he must really like me. We both knew from the start that their was a special connection between us.  Seriously, it's hard to believe that we have been together for over half of our lives!  We were high school sweethearts.  James went to Etowah and I went to Sprayberry.  I would have gone to Etowah if we wouldn't have moved.  We have often thought, would we have dated if I had gone to Etowah?  It's funny how things turn out.  I truly believe that everything happens for a reason.

It is so funny to see how we have changed.  I really would like to look like that again!  James had HUGE hair, almost as big as mine!  It was so long that at one point I french braided it!  I so wish I had a picture of that!  Here is our prom picture.  Evidence of the big hair!

We dated for 5 years.  We had great times.  I only wish I had more pictures!

James proposed to me Christmas Eve 1993.  I t was one of the happiest days of my life!  We were so excited to start our new lives together.  We got married the following December.  I am so blessed to have married my best friend.  We have shared  many joys and sorrows.  We grow closer and closer each time. I can't imagine where my life would be without him.  I can't imagine being any happier than I already am!

Thank you James for being my best friend and choosing  to spend the rest of your life with me!  I love you always!

I'll save our wedding day for another day.  More pictures to come!

Monday's Memories

I thought it would be fun to write down some of my earliest memories to share with my kids. So, every Monday will be dedicated to memories.  These memories will not just be mine but I hope to "interview" other family members as well.  I  remember all the wonderful stories from my grandparents and aunts and uncles and I don't ever want to forget them.  On Wednesday I will do "Way Back When Wednesday's".

Some of my earliest memories are:

My glasses!  I got eyeglasses when I was about 18 months old.  I actually remember them!   My mom would tell stories of me sitting behind the chairs pulling them apart.  She said I also liked to hang them on door knobs.  She would find them all over the house but those were my two favorite spots.  I can't imagine trying to keep glasses on a toddler.  She said I eventually got used to them and didn't play with them as much. 

                          Wasn't I cute with my pink cat eye glasses?

I remember my mom rocking me to sleep in a blue rocking chair.  She would sing "Rock of Ages"  She would also hum a lot.  The picture below is an older picture but the rocking chair is in the picture so I wanted to include it.                                 

I was about 6 years old in this picture.

I remember playing with my friend Joel.  His dad was the pastor at our church and they would come to our house or we would go to the parsonage.  The church was right next door and we would sneak over and play the pipe organ and eat the communion wafers (not sure where our parents were).  We had to have been 3 or 4 when we did that (again, not sure where our parents were)!  We would put on talent shows for our parents.  He was one of my best friends.  It has been fun finding him on Facebook!

We were about 4 years old here.

I also remember birthday parties at our house.  All my cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents would come.  It was a fun family time.

My Grandpa Brown playing my toy guitar.

                

Me blowing bubbles at my 2nd birthday.  My sister Sara and my dad are in the background.

My sisters Sara and Lisa and brother Tom.

My mom and her mom (Grandma Brown).

I also remember playing with my dolls a lot.  I was always sick as a child so I would play nurse with them. I always knew I wanted to be a nurse!  I couldn't find any picture with me and my dolls.  I had a lot of hand me down dolls from my sisters.  My favorite was one that didn't have any eyes.  I guess I felt sorry for it and always wanted to take care of it.  My mom tells a funny story about me being in the hospital one time and wanting my favorite doll.  Mom said she was so embarrassed to bring it.  I was in my crib and started screaming when all of the nurses came rushing in.  My poor dolls arm had fallen off!

I remember bear hugs from my Aunt Inney.  She wore White Shoulders perfume.  Every time I smell it I think of her.  I can be at the mall and smell  it and still always think of her.

Me playing the piano with Aunt Inney!

I remember my Grandpa Brown was a clown.  For real, a "real" clown!  His name was Korny Kernel!

Me and Lisa and Sara and Grandpa as Korney Kernel.

      
These are my favorite memories up until the age of four.  It has been fun looking at old pictures and remembering actually having some of them taken.