Saturday Sing-a-long

I don't know what the weather is like where you are but right now in GA it's freezing and snowing. In MARCH! In GA! So we're kickin' it indoors today. But here's a little sunshine to get you through the day. Please excuse the freak out in the middle of the song. Chuck tries in vain to stop the song to better hear the girls' voices while they sing. It never works.

Dude, just send it back

http://cbs5.com/food/Belgium.champagne.crackdown.2.627421.html

This, my friends, is a travesty. Seriously, could he not just send it back. I would have gladly taken it off his hands. The only good thing to come of this was hearing him on NPR this morning in a glorious Belgian accent say "Only Champagne from Champagne is Champagne". It made my day.

TGIF/WATT

It's Friday and to celebrate, Lovely Racket is going interactive!

It's an easy game. Each Friday I will post a picture of someone who I captured making an unusual face. Your job - fill in the thought bubble. Welcome to WATT - What Are They Thinking?

Our first victim, I mean subject, is Ryan! So Ryan Lovett, come on down!!

Let the commenting begin! What is he thinking?

Save the Sea Bass!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUNTIE ERIN!

One weekend it was Dad's turn to make dinner and in jest (to the pickiest kids in the world), he suggested broiling up some Red Snapper or perhaps some Sea Bass. He then left for the store to get supplies. While he was gone you drew and hung posters all over the front door with pictures of cute little red fish and "SAVE THE SEA BASS! SAVE THE SNAPPER!" slogans. We should have known then that it was just the beginning of your compassion for the animals. So Happy Birthday baby sis!! You're saving the animals one bite at a time!

Further reasons to love my Grandma!

This conversation is the basic epitomy of why I love my Grandmother. Why she is God's gift to this earth. It started out with my mom and aunts talking about girls they played soccer with, back in the day, if you will. They began talking of a girl name Gay Lynn or Gaelyn, they couldn't decide but the focus was on how silly her name is. Then it continued on to this:

I remember Regina - everyone hated Regina.

Gma - Why would anyone hate anyone?

Well they didn't like her because she was kind of dikey.

Gma - Well that's how God made her. At least her name wasn't Gay Lynn!

Grandma's House

I love my Grandma's house. There are so many things that are distinctly hers, it always feels like home. This is just sampling of what I love about it:

Brown pool table:

Hours upon hours were spent down in the basement playing pool with my cousins and aunts (and Pat.) We started out just rolling the balls around by hand and as we grew older, graduated to the cue sticks. The support beam and close walls made for some creative shots that are some of my favorite memories. My personal favorite is the behind the back shot while sitting on the edge of the table and leaning around the beam.

Vintage Coke vending machine. This is distinctly Grandpa and I love it! The number of surrounding bottles has diminished but there's still a few around. I'm not sure if he was collecting to sell off one day or just like the shape and memories. Either way, I always think of him when I see old coke bottles and it makes me smile.

Frog collection!! I have no idea how this got started but it certainly got out of control. The craziest frog she ever received was from my Uncle Frank who one year gave her a live Horned Frog for Christmas. That was a bit too much for Grandma so my mom adopted it and Mr. Spock lived with us for a while. Unfortunately we had no idea how to properly care for a Horned Frog and I'm pretty sure he didn't last a year.

Original Family Tree drawn and painted by my Mom! This one was done in 1977 which is why I'm the only one in the nest. I think if she did one now the branches would be bending and about to snap! This tree had just two grandkids on it. Currently there are 17 grandkids and 4 great-grandkids. (You can see the full picture on Flickr over there to the left)

Spring is almost here!

Yesterday gave us a glimps of springtime! I walked to mom's from the office and it was gorgeous.

Signs of spring I saw on my walk:

One lonesome blooming tree

Kids selling lemonade! This was doubly awesome because they were selling it to raise money to see Wicked.

Then the girls and I played outside which is a very good thing since today is rainy and depressing. I wonder if I should worry that they pretended to be in jail......

JAIL BREAK!

Fairy Godmother duties

I love my Godson, Gabe. He calls me his Fairy Godmother and who would not love a kid who calls you that? This is him & his brother Riley racing down my Grandma's steps. I totally remember doing this as a kid but I don't think I had the forsight to put pillows at the bottom.

W.W.T.D.

What would Tricia do? My God she was an amazing woman! No better proof was given than the fact that Holy Spirit Church was packed with hundreds of people paying their respects and honoring her life. I have come away from it all in awe of her and inspired to live my life with more humility. I'm not the only one. Last week my Uncle Pat's Facebook status read "Patrick wants to be more like Tricia". Nancy's wait in the line at the DMV seemed less of a trial when thinking about her. Barbara said Tricia will now serve as her marker in life. Oh that everyone has this example to follow. This wife, mother, and teacher involved in prayer groups and book clubs, taking her kids to soccer, rowing, swimming, and countless other activities and events. Always with a smile and without complaint. Always, until the very end. She told Father Sam, "do not make me out to be a saint". I'm sorry Tricia, there is no better way to describe you.

This is my favorite and saddest picture of the weekend. This is my grandmother looking at one of the Tricia memory boards. Grandma was amazing this weekend. I will never forget her words of comfort to others at a time when she needed comfort the most. There is no question where Tricia got her strength.