Oh How I Love Corn

Pictures from Juke Joint Festival

Matthew and Hayes Clegg took a spin on the train.


Looks like we are going to have a lot of explaining to do this Thanksgiving.


Matthew fed the goats!


He wasn't afraid of feeding the goats until...


...this goat tried to nibble his finger as he fed it a corn husk. (This picture was taken prior to the corn husk incident.) After that it took him a while to warm up to the goats in the trailer, but he wouldn't have a thing to do with this goat.

Matthew and Daddy thoroughly enjoyed the cowboy monkeys.


Here they are - the cowboy monkeys with their dogs and trainer.


Matthew tasted his first cotton candy and loved it!

Where have we been?

The answers are Atlanta for Easter, nursing Matthew's high fever and enjoying the Juke Joint Festival with Maxine.

Easter in Atlanta was fun-filled. We arrived Thursday, then Steve and Matthew played at Uncle Glyn's house with Glyn, Grammy and Maxine on Friday morning while Mags and I ran errands in preparation for the Easter festivities held at her house. Friday night Steve had a sleep over at Shawn's house with Tracy and Eric. Thankfully he returned to Mags house injury free on Saturday. Saturday afternoon and evening we dyed Easter eggs and ate pasta at the Prestia's house. Lots of Birdsongs were in attendance so naturally it was a great deal of fun. Sunday morning we went to Pete's church and nursery. The only tears shed were mine when we sang "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today". Matthew was happy as a lark in the nursery. But after lunch and a nap, his little attitude was the reverse. He had a fever of 103, but thanks to a serious dose of Motrin he still wanted to hunt for Easter eggs (really the candy contained inside :). Nam took pity on the poor boy and led him around the yard in search for candy eggs. We arrived home Monday afternoon, and Matthew was feeling much better Tuesday. By the time Friday came and Maxine rolled into town he was back running at full throttle.

Last weekend was so much fun. The festivities kicked off Saturday morning. First things first, he had a football painted on his cheek by ladies of Junior Auxiliary. Then he took a spin on the train with Hayes Clegg. Steve went too, but he had to walk beside the train because it was a child only ride. After the train ride Matthew fed goats at the petting zoo. Many goats later, we ventured over to the pig races. Our favorite part was in the last heat when the little piggies took a swim. Part of the race course included a mini lap pool. The piggies leapt into the pool and rushed to the finish line. It was absolutely hysterical, and Matthew loved it. After visiting more tents and eating lunch, we headed home for nap time. Post siesta we went back downtown for our finale of the festival - monkeys riding dogs. Owned by a world champion bull rider, these cowboy monkeys ride border collies and herd big horn sheep in an mind blowing demonstration. Apparently they do this at rodeos all over the country. I know you think this is too good to be true. Just wait. We have pictures to prove it!

Saturday night Steve, Maxine and I went Juke Joint'n. Great blues, beer, and friends made for an incredibly enjoyable evening!

Now it is Tuesday. Clothes are in the washer and dryer, and Matthew is napping. I will post pictures of Easter and the festival as soon as I get a chance. Bye!

Easter Pictures

More Easter Pictures

John 16:33

In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33


Happy Easter Everybody!

Birthday Fun

Yesterday we went to our cousin, Patrick Marinelli's 8th birthday party. Before we left for the party I told Matthew where we were going. He immediately said birthday cake. Then on our way there he said, "I can, I can blow candles." I told him I knew he could blow out candles, but the candles on the cake would be for Patrick to blow out. He didn't like that response so he told me again, "I can blow candles." So I told him that the candles were Patrick's. Once again he said, "I can blow candles." Once again I told him the candles were Patrick's. Then in all seriousness he said, "Share." Nuff said about that.

Last night after prayers I started singing lullabies, as is our custom. Matthew asked me, "Sing Happy Birthday Patrick." This threw me for a loop because usually if he wants me to sing Happy Birthday it is to himself, but I guess he was getting more used to the idea of sharing birthday fun with Patrick. Anyway, he ended up requesting the song five times last night. It was after the fifth time I told him it was time for bed. Whew.

Go Will and Steve Go!

Our backyard is coming along quite nicely thanks to Will Scott and Steve Downing. Will has worked for the family for about 4 years now, and when he is here he works incredibly hard. We are thankful to have him. He and Steve moved the entire dirt pile to the backyard in a little over a week, and now they are laying bermuda sod. Here are some pictures to show you their work in progress.

Rain + Dirt = More Fun!

Mama so prowe

Though it is informal (he is enrolled in Downing's ITT Potty Tech this summer), Matthew has been undergoing a little potty training. This morning after doing some serious business in the potty he called his daddy. This is what was said:

Daddy: Hello?
Matthew: Me poo poo potty!
Daddy: Oh that is great, Matthew!
Matthew: Mama so prowe o me!
Daddy: Daddy is so proud too!
Matthew: Bye Bye

It is true. I am so prowe!

Yet Another Quiz

Four jobs I have had in my life:
1. Mother and Wife
2. Account Manager
3. Account Executive
4. Sales Associate

Four Movies I have watched over and over :
1. Sound of Music
2. Pretty Woman
3. Steel Magnolias
4. Grease

Four Places I have lived:
1. Clarksdale, MS
2. Denver, CO
3. Atlanta, GA
4. Oxford, MS

Four TV shows I love to watch:
1. Grey's Anatomy
2. CSI
3. Desperate Housewives
4. Brothers & Sisters

Four places I have been on vacation:
1. Bermuda
2. Hawaii
3. England
4. Italy

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Rice
2. Artichokes
3. Gussie Mae's Chicken and Dumplins
4. Nam's Dressing

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. On any beach
2. Anywhere on vacation with Steve
3. In the middle of a great book
4. In a European city outdoor cafe, drinking a cup of something yummy and watching all the hustle and bustle while knowing there was no place I needed to be other than right there

The Neighborhood Attraction

The dirt pile is a big hit among the neighborhood kids! Hayes Clegg and Kate Murphey played on the dirt pile with Matthew for hours yesterday afternoon.

Instant Entertainment

DIRT!

David Carr delivered a huge pile of dirt this morning. It will ultimately be used to level the backyard and make new flower beds, but now it is a major construction area for Matthew. Here are pictures from this morning. I am sure we will have many more to post on the blog.

His Highness's Throne

The other day Matthew wanted his potty. So I took off his britches and diaper and put the potty on the living room floor so he could watch tv while he did his deed. I went to the kitchen to do something, probably not cook. :) After a little while I went back into the living room to check on him. This is what I found:

What a Weekend!

We saw Mate, Joni and Uncle Glyn this past weekend! We ate incredibly well - Indian one night, crawfish the next, and two big breakfasts, and we played incredibly hard at an awesome playground. Thank you Mate, Joni and Uncle Glyn for making it a fabulous weekend! Our only regret - PICTURES! We were so caught up in the moment we forgot to take a single shot.

"Precious Sight"

I figured it out! Last week while I was singing lullabies to Matthew he requested a song, but I had no idea to what song he was referring. Over and over again he would request "Precious Sight".

Matthew loves the song "Lord, You Are" because the lyrics include the word precious. He obviously thinks it is too cool that Precious has her own song, and he requests the song often. He really stumped me with the "Precious Sight" request.

But before his nap today we figured it out. I sang the song, "Jesus Loves the Little Children". After I finished he looked at me and said with a big smile on his face, "Precious Sight." Yep, that's right! Here are the lyrics to the un-p.c. version I grew up singing:

Jesus loves the little children
All the children of the world
Red and yellow, black and white
They are precious in His sight
Jesus loves the little children of the world

Click HERE for the tune.

Call Waiting

Precious and Papa babysat Matthew Saturday night while Steve and I went to dinner with our supper club at Nawlins. While hanging out at P&P's Matthew pretended to call Anna Carson and Chloe Tyner on a toy phone. In the middle of the "call" apparently his cousin Pete beeped in because he looked up at Papa and said, "Call waiting". Then he proceeded to talk on the phone to Pete.

Matthew's Version of Hotty Toddy

Matthew has discovered the liquor cabinet and has grown quite fond of the airplane bottles contained therein. Sometimes he wants to take them with us to run errands or maybe put them in his book bag to take on a play date. Thankfully I have managed to keep them out of the book bag on Sunday mornings.

The other day must have been a long one for him because he went straight to the liquor cabinet after dinner. As he was carrying an armful of airplane bottles into the living room he looked up at Steve and said, "Hotty Toddy".

Oh my! What have we created?!?!

The Mathews Came to Visit Us!!!

Jack (3), Jeb (2), Will (9mos), Hilary, and Michael Mathews drove all the way from St. Louis for a visit with us! All the Downings were absolutely in heaven. It was more fun catching up with them. We sure wish they lived closer!!!