We set-up the trip-pod and did it again folks. Thankful that they put up with me getting family photos throughout the years.
Wish I would've zoomed in on the photos a bit more, but all in all, our 2023 Christmas Card turned out pretty good.
FOURTEEN YEAR OLD, WYATT
Tuesday, August 1, 2023
Happy 14th Birthday, Wyatt!
Goodness Bud, you make life so fun! So quick-witted, you keep us laughing all the time. It's an absolute joy to have you around. You are seven days away from starting your Freshman year of high school, which is so exciting for me. You couldn't care less. I guess I'm most excited because you'll finally get to go to school dances! And with all of the moves that you bust around the house, I bet you're really going to enjoy yourself at those.
You and your guitar have been inseparable for nearly two years now. Currently, your favorite band is Led Zeppelin, but you enjoy a wide range of rock music and have a small appetite for any other genres. You performed at your school's talent show in March of this year, playing the guitar and singing House of the Rising Sun. You didn't get the outcome that we had expected, but your friends didn't let your self esteem take a hit, telling you that you "got robbed". And you did. Here's the link to your performance.
Once I quit working, you asked if we could sign you up for voice lessons, so you've been polishing up your pipes since May. Come the end of August, they are having a showcase and you will be playing and singing the same song. I can't wait to hear it!
Over the past year, you've grown taller than your Dad, and every other male in the family, except for Papa J. You have a well visit scheduled for later this week and we'll get an official height measurement there. We're thinking it'll be really close to 6'2". And you've been working out at the gym with your Dad for months now, putting in the work and getting tough. You're up to 172 pounds! Still Mr. Big Stuff!
You gave football a try this past school year but opted out of playing for the ninth grade team. You've decided to focus your efforts on Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field - but really just field events. You started the year off running hurdles, but transitioned to shot put at the final event of the season, and ended up qualifying for state! You're wanting to compete in shot put, discus, and javelin next year, and we'll be there rooting' for you the whole way!
Time for some pics!
We thank the Good Lord for giving you to us! I cannot wait to see what your future holds, but we know it'll be bright! Love you, Rooster!
ELEVEN YEAR OLD DELTA MAE
Tuesday, June 27, 2023
The most beautiful Honey Chicken you ever did see is ELEVEN! 🍯 🐥💛
This has got to be your busiest summer yet. You and I keep the roads hot, chauffeuring you to swim practices, swim meets, volleyball games, and an occasional gym class. You’ve dabbled in so many different extracurriculars over the years, searching for your “thing”. Well Dear, we think swimming might just be it for you. Being a member of the Athens Gators Swim Team has brought you so much joy the past few months and we love watching you complete!
You’re the best student. I got a message from one of your teachers this past year. She said, “She is such a blessing to have in the classroom- I know I can always count on her for anything I need and ask for (and even if I don't ask for it). She can read me like a book and just knows when I need a little extra assistance like passing out some papers this morning, extra cleaning, etc.” Another teacher told you that you were his, “faith in humanity.”
You’re still the biggest book lover I’ve ever known. It’s remarkable how quickly you devour the pages and move right along to the next one.
You’ve got some spunk, Little Lady. On one of the last days of school, something didn’t go your way and you said, “Awe, fiddlesticks!” Some punk kid made fun of you for saying fiddlesticks, and you barked back with, “You’re annoying and I don’t like you.” You were so proud of yourself when I picked you up from school that day - and honestly, we were too. You’re learning to stand up for yourself.
We recently filled out a survey for your pediatrician before we go to your next well visit. It asked if you felt hopeless. We filled in the bubble next to the word never just after you said, “Heck, no! My future is bright!” And your future is so very bright, Chick! You have a brilliant mind. You have a generous and loving heart. God has great plans for you.
Off to middle school you go!
I love you. I’m proud of you. I’m thankful you’re mine. 🩷
LAST DAY OF 8TH + 5TH GRADE
Thursday, May 25, 2023
And just like that, another school year has come to a close. Wyatt was exempt from finals and got an early start to summer break. On his last day of being a middle schooler, he was awarded an All As certificate at the awards ceremony. Over at the Intermediate School, they don’t give letter grades and therefore, there are no award ceremonies to attend. But brilliant Delta Mae was allowed to lead the “Reading Olympics” parade through school since she completed the most books forms for her grade.
On to the pictures.
EXPLORING WEST VIRGINIA || ZIPLINING
Sunday, April 2, 2023
For Spring Break this year, we loaded up the family and the truck and headed North, to a cabin in West Virginia’s wilderness. We called Ace Adventure Resort home for four nights and loved the privacy our cabin afforded us. During our stay, we took part in a zip-lining excursion - complete with a trolley malfunction which required Wyatt to be rescued. He was stuck on a cable for about 15 minutes but stayed his calm self throughout the process, at one time saying he had, “never been better,” when the guide asked him how he was doing.
This was the third time that I have been zipping and each time has been a lot of fun. At Ace, they allowed us to fall backyards on the last zip and encouraged us to flip upside-down. We were happy to oblige. 😁
CHRISTMAS 2022
Monday, January 2, 2023
I guess I’ll get started with photos from our Christmas Card for this year. We drove a few miles south into the small town of Mooresville and took a few family photos. Here are the ones that made the cut.
We hunkered down over Christmas break and spent lots of family time in Athens. We will often buy a new game to play on Christmas Eve and this year we gifted the kids with the game Ransom Notes. It’s rated for an older crowd, but Brad was careful to select prompt cards that weren’t too inappropriate and just the right amount of absurd. We laughed our hineys off!
Come Christmas morning, our four walls were filled with smiling faces and later stuff bellies.
The next weekend, Granny, PawPaw, Papa J and Kitty drive up and we had a second round of gift giving, although we didn’t take photographs to document their trip. We watched football all weekend, which was right up our alley.
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