Tailgating at The Grove

Last Saturday was a home game for Ole Miss (The University of Mississippi). On game weekends, the town fills up with big Rebel fans. The stores and restaurants are packed.

The thing that fascinates me the most is the football fashion. I had never seen a pair of red pants in my life before we moved here. On game days, they are a common sight. Some pants even have little Colonel Rebels embroidered all over them. And the girls wear fancy (little) dresses with high heels. I can't imagine anything more uncomfortable than hanging out and going to a game dressed like that.
These two are ready for some football!

The double decker buses give people rides around town on game days.

Here we are at the Square. It is the center of town and is full of great shops and restaurants.

TAILGATING: an Ole Miss institution. It goes on for hours and as far as the eye can see. People set up elaborate buffets with huge flower arrangements and barbeque stations. There are TV dishes set up everywhere.







It is quite an experience and something to see. We should be bigger fans than we are, I guess. I just don't feel it. I don't even know who won the game. We have other things to do on Saturdays, like fix the toilet.

GO REBELS!

Hannah's 1st Temple Trip

This week Hannah went to the temple for the first time with the youth. I was so glad I could go with her! It was wonderful to see her in the temple. We are so proud of Hannah and what a good girl she is. She had a really great experience. It makes me look forward to the many times we will go there with her in the years to come.

On a side note, we recently installed the Angel Moroni as our dashboard ornament.

Instead of a flashing light and a siren, we have Moroni.

Happy Birthday Charlotte!!!

Today Charlotte turns NINE! She has been counting down for months, and the day finally came. She has made signs for herself wishing her happy birthday.

White cake = tasty.

Finally, an American Girl doll. Welcome to the family, Ruthie. Thanks Tanners!

We hope Ruthie will be a good influence on Hannah Montana and tame her wild ways.

Three things we love about Charlotte:
She is ALWAYS happy and sweet.
She offers to help me and everyone else whenever we need it.
She has a tender heart.
WE LOVE YOU CHARLOTTE!

Last Night's Dinner

So last night I made this really good dinner of turkey breast over angel hair pasta with a sauce/gravy. It was delicious! Max even told me how much he liked it. Then I found it in the trash can in the bathroom. MAX!

Welcome Gavin!

My little sister Anne just had her second baby--a little boy they named Gavin Milo! Welcome to the family, little Gavin. You have the sweetest mom! And your big sister Cailey and your Dad are great too.

Nice work, Anne! John, good backup.

Awww, he's so cute!

I might need to call you Milo. Whenever I think of Gavin, I think of Gavin McCloud who played Captain Steubing on the Love Boat. Let's meet for hor'duerves on the Leto Deck. And there's also Gavin somebody who was my 9th grade prom date. But I know the name will belong to you as soon as I get to know you!

CONGRATULATIONS ANNE AND JOHN!

The Dove Hunt Lunch

Yesterday we were invited to a Dove Hunt. It was in Clarksdale, Mississippi, at one of Bill's boss's amazing homes (spectacular). There was a beautiful catered lunch (delicious) and plenty of diet coke (free). The hired staff wouldn't even let me throw my own trash away (lots of pop cans: awkward). After lunch, the men-folk went out to a club to hunt doves (birds representing peace and the Holy Ghost). The women and children hung around the beautiful pool drinking mint-julips (diet coke).



Here is Bill with his hunting friends (NRA members). Max went with him (weapons expert at age 11). Bill and Russ would shoot the birds, and Max would fetch them (not with his mouth, thank goodness). What parent wouldn't want their child in a field full of men with guns and dead birds?




Swimming. Notice Charlotte's buns in the background. I claim full responsibility.




Charlotte couldn't climb up, so the little boy tried to pull her up. He was saying, "Use all your strength!"




Bill's boss and his wife are super-nice, and they were so gracious. We had so much fun.



This house was amazing. I couldn't figure out a way to take pictures of the inside without looking like a tourist, but the pool and patio were so beautiful. This is the good life in the south.

Great Book!

My sister Rachel sent me this book, and it totally changed my life! Thanks Rach--best gift ever! It talks about the nature of revelation, how it comes to us, the principles that govern it, the role of faith and self-reliance in receiving it, and how to recognize it. It is all stuff I have known all my life, but there's something about this book that opened my eyes and let me see how it works every day in my own life. You have got to read it!




Oh, and this was in our dining room this morning. Nice.