A Hodgepodge of Fall

Just a little collection of pictures from this fall (yes I'm still trudging through, chipping away)

The kids and I made an early November trip to Oxford for a Dr's appointment. We couldn't go to Oxford without stopping off at Avent Park and visiting a little with our oh, so cute cousin Clara Hartwell. Though they don't looked too hyped about the visit now they will learn to appreciate each other.

Just general tomfoolery in the front yard

This is our first attempt at pigtails. Harper Ann is not really a fan of having her hair done.

Holt's sad face

Yes, I was letting Harper Ann walk around in her sock feet outside

I let Holt play with my phone. It is always interesting going through my pictures afterward.

She's just a little ray of sunshine! We call this is her happy face.

Playing with Lincoln logs at GG's

Getting her ready to play for Nana in a few years

I threw Jonathan a little surprise birthday party for the big 3-0 at Crawdads. It was a fun night, but the room we were in was really chilly. Holt improvised. He's like a mini Bear Grylls.

Harper Ann is talking a lot these days, only we can't figure out what she is saying most of the time, which leads to situations like this -> "Do you want to ride the bouncy animal?" then trying to put her on the metal seal leads to a meltdown. We never did figure out what she was saying that day.

I'm sure he was up to no good.

It took a full 5 minutes for me to figure out Harper Ann was asking for a hat, but when I offered it to her it appears that is exactly what, AAAtty means.

Holt participated in the Octoberfest fun-run this year. I was much better behaved this time around, but Holt was never in the lead. They broke the kids up into heats and they didn't really have winners and losers but participation was cheered. It was still a fun day.

Clearly he has lost some of his edge.

Harper Ann, what does an elephant say? ROLL TIDE

This football season was not quite as sweet as last year's, but we cheered for the Tide with all our might. The best analogy I have heard with regard to this season is this, a statistician writing about the 2010 season said, "The entire Tupelo Honey album from Van Morrison. I mean, it was really, really good -- occasionally beautiful -- but it was no Moondance." So true (although I am partial to the song Tupelo Honey). It is hard to follow up an undefeated season, a national championship and a Heisman Trophy all in one year with that kind of greatness. Still, football season was so much fun and Harper Ann got in on the action this year. Holt perfected "Yea Alabama" and Harper Ann would point at the TV and say fooball and touchdown. She was in a parroting state for a while and would say pretty much whatever you told her to.

Harper Ann Sporting her big brother's Bama hat. I am not sure that it is a good thing that it was such a good fit.

This was our go to game day wear.

mouth-guard : check

You might be asking yourself, is that a blurry picture of a hairy arm? Why yes, yes it is. The arm belongs to one Anthony Steen. Here's the story: I follow Alabama football year round, which means I follow recruiting pretty closely. Well, a few years ago I called Jonathan to tell him that one of the guys that Alabama was recruiting was from Clarksdale. We had a conversation about how Jonathan knew his parents, sort of, and what a big kid he always was. So, a few months ago, Jonathan and I took the kids to eat with their DD at Crawdads one night. While we were eating Jonathan leans over to tell me that the Steens are eating at the table next to us. As we were leaving I look down at Anthony's hand and see "the ring." I not so subtly told Jonathan, "look at his hand." We got a few feet closer to the exit when I stopped and took out my phone. Jonathan tells me, "you might as well go ask if you can take a picture of it." SN -Yay for technology and camera phones. I went to the table and introduced myself and explained in the least creepy way I knew how, that I had been watching them and noticed the ring and that I was the biggest Alabama fan (aren't we all) ever. The Steen family couldn't have been nicer and Anthony's dad insisted I try on the ring, not that much insisting was needed. He also insisted I get a shot of the SEC championship watch. Thus, the blurry, hairy arm.

If I had really tried I am certain I could have gotten my pinky through too.

Harper Ann sporting her houndstooth.

Jonathan, Holt and I made our first trip to Tuscaloosa as a threesome for the Mississippi State game this year. It was so much fun. We stayed at the Capstone hotel and Holt's only complaint was that he couldn't swim (it was November). It was so much fun for me to take Holt to my childhood home and walk around campus telling him about when his mama was a little girl. I am certain that he held onto every word. Those were some happy happy years. I read an article about Tennessee Williams' time in Clarksdale as a child and what a profound effect it had on him as a writer and a person, even though he was still young when they moved to St. Louis. I understand.

On the drive to Alabama, Holt was playing with my cell phone in the back seat. I do not remember the circumstances but I was forced to pull out the, "If you do x one more time..." accompanied my the "I mean it this time" face. It wasn't until much later I realized the face had been captured in digital format. Oh, dear.

The hotel where we stayed is actually on the campus and is the same place the players stay the night before the games. Thanks to Graham and Macy Flautt for letting us have the extra room. This is Jonathan and Holt waiting for the team to load onto the bus.

Holt thought the tandem-articulated-motorized cooler was awesome; I tend to agree. We need to get one of these for Memphis in May.

Still waiting on the players to load onto the buses. We were right next to the 1st bus, which Nick Saban, Julio Jones, Greg McElroy and Mark Ingram all boarded.

A blurry shot of Heisman trophy winner, Mark Ingram

Greg McElroy

Who says Alabamans aren't classy.

Preparing to make our way into Bryant-Denny. We were a long, long, long way up and I am very, very, very out of shape.

Holt was preparing Jonathan for the loss. Poor State. Yay Bama.

Holt was not too sure about the real mascot. Fortunately, the blow up elephant was a little less intimidating.

It is a good thing I am not afraid of heights.

Holt and I walked down to field level for most of the second half. Holt even caught a t-shirt. This is the same t-shirt that later turned two loads of whites at our house pink. Why Jonathan washed this shirt with white clothing I will never know. Why he did it a second time, well..."I thought once you washed something and it bled it wouldn't do it again." Lesson learned.

Holt was not a fan of the sauerkraut they loaded on the hotdog. I was not a fan of making the climb back down and up from to and from the concession stand, so I just scraped it off as best I could.

Holt had a blast waving to the players and coaches. This was much more up his alley.

In case you can't tell, we had a big day and late night.

Talk of breakfast started to liven things up a bit.

I cannot tell you how many hours I spent playing here as a child.

When we lived in Tuscaloosa my mom and I regularly walked up to the Quad and played at the base of Denny Chimes. I used to put my hand in the very same hand-prints.

My mom taught and tutored Derrick Thomas, so this one was for her.

Joe "Willie"

The plateau was prime lighting bug catching real estate when I was a child.

Again, for my mom. Next time we are just bringing her with us.

I thought I was watching a sweet father son moment playing tag or something of that nature...

Turns out Jonathan was throwing acorns at Holt and managed to hit him in the eye.

Again, for Mama

This was my house as a child. I had no problem finding it. The little porch used to be glassed in, but other than that it hasn't changed. Well, except for the fact that it shrunk. I swear that house was much bigger.

It was a wonderful trip. Poor Holt endured all the stories about my childhood with a great attitude. The only thing that could have made it better is if my Mama had been there. Next time, for sure.

For the traditionalists, "Go Statesmen"

We love Delta State and we are doing our part to make sure the kids love it too. This year was a lot of fun since Harper Ann and Holt were both a little older and really enjoyed running around at the football games. Delta State does a lot to make the games fun for those of us in the community with kids. This year was extra special because the statesmen made it to the National Championship. They didn't win, sadly, but Holt, Jonathan and I made the trip to UNA in Florence Alabama for the game and had a wonderful time. My mom and I went to the NC game in 2000 when Delta State won the Championship and fell in love with Florence. It was really fun to go back with Holt and Jonathan on such a pretty day. If only they had won. Oh well, in the words of the Gov. We'll be back.

This was the only shot I could get before pig pickin this year, but the kids were fired up. And, yes, Harper Ann is taking a swing at Holt. You wouldn't like her when she's mad.

A friend from church was kind enough to pass along this little number. Harper Ann had fun dressed up like a cheerleader. This particular game the picnic area where the kids play was really muddy from some pretty heavy rains the night before. Harper Ann was in great spirits and making friends, one of whom let her sit in her camping chair. Harper Ann was leaning over the side and before I knew what happened the whole chair tipped over and HA did a belly flop/face plant right into a mud-puddle. I moved faster than I thought I could and scooped her into my arms. She came up looking a little like the swamp thing with leaves and clods of mud stuck to her face. I am sad to say that she and I were both hysterical for the next five minutes. I was laughing and she was crying. When people would ask what happened I couldn't even get it out I was giggling so much. It was not one of my proudest mom moments, but she eventually shook it off and went back to playing and I pulled myself together for Jonathan's sake.

My only regret was that I didn't get a post puddle picture.

Harper Ann didn't always make it easy to focus on the game.

Delta State sponsored a trunk or treat the week of Halloween and then that Thursday night had costume night at the football game. Holt wore his spiderman costume, but was too busy playing with another spiderman and superman to pose for pictures. The cow costume must have had a supernatural effect on Harper Ann, because she spent the night grazing in the bushes.

When Jonathan got home for the game I had the kids in their costumes. He was very concerned that our kids would be the only ones in costume. He asked me about 20 times between our house and the stadium, "Are you sure they are supposed to be dressed up." I heard him let out a sigh of relief when we got there and there were lots of ghouls and goblins running around. Crisis averted.

I made this sign back in 2000 when Delta State won the National Championship. My mom has held onto it the past 10 years. We took it to the game, but it failed to retain its lucky powers.