My friend, Mandy, and the Memphis Zoo

My friend Mandy (Poland) Meek and I met at Camp Bratton-Green the summer before her freshman year at MS State and became instant friends. We were in the same sorority and lived together. We were together so much that people couldn't tell us apart and we both answered to Mandy and Mamie. Her oldest daughter, Sarah Grace, is my Goddaughter and Camille is her Goddaughter. She lives right outside Little Rock with her husband Scott, Sarah Grace, Maddie and Charlie. We decided to meet at the Memphis Zoo today and it was so good to see her.

Sarah Grace brought her friend, Emily and then Mandy's sister, Kelly, joined us with her sons John Luke and Jake.


Trying to cool off in the wading pool/fountain.



Even the pandas were drained with the heat!

An Explorer's Raft


The sea lions would follow cell phones and try to bite them and do flips.


Camille, Sarah Grace, Emily, Maddie, John Luke, Jake and Charlie.


Oh my goodness, the sno cones were soooooooooooooo good in the heat.

Damage to our yard

Monday night around 11:30 we heard a loud noise that woke us up. We jumped out of bed because we could also hear people talking loudly. We went out side and found a car in our front yard. There is a street that deadends into the street that runs in front of our house and they said their brakes went out. They were not hurt, but they destroyed the water meter boxes and messed up the sod Clark had just put down a couple of days before. Clark was so funny......the car was still in our yard and he was pulling sod out from under the tires!!

Awards and Graduation

It's that time of year - the kids' last day was today and I'm done FRIDAY!! Come on summer. Clayton's awards day was yesterday and Katie's was today. We're so proud of them.

Here's Clayton getting one of his awards.


Katie wanted Piper in the picture and then the other girl jumped in. I wish I had gotten her whole face.

Camille had Kindegarten graduation today. I know it is only Kindergarten, but Clark and I both teared up several times. The lighting in the gym is terrible so pictures in there always turn out poorly.

Camille is on the last row.


Getting her diploma!!

Just us night and park

Friday night Katie was with her mom, Clark and Clayton were at an overnight birthday party so Camille and I decided to have a "just us" night. We started with an ice cream picnic in the backyard, then went to Jackson (TN) for sushi and edamame.

After dinner we went to the Diamond Jaxx game where she was able to go onto the field, say her name and school and receive a pennant for being on the honor roll. After the game we came home and watched Mr. McGorium's Wonder Emporium (cute movie!). We had a fun night.


Today we went to our local walking park that has great ponds with ducks and fish that love to be fed. It was a beautiful day.

Mother's Day

For the last couple of years, my mom has hosted a Mother's Day lunch at her house for her mom and siblings. I wasn't able to attend when I lived in NC, but now that I live 5 hours closer I could make it. It was great to hang out with my family and actually be with my mother on Mother's Day. Clayton and Katie had games and were with their mom today and Clark went to/coached their games and ushered at Church this morning so, unfortunately, they weren't able to join me.

Four generations! O'ma, me, Mom and Camille

Haley, Paige, O'ma, Jeff, Kristen, Uncle Curtis and Mike

Lynde and Aunt Jennie (mom's baby sister)

Camille and Oakley - fun with bubbles!!

Camille, Haley, Oakley and Paxton.

Aunt DeeDee and Uncle Garry were there too, but somehow I didn't get a picture of them. We missed Heather (had a wedding in New Orleans), Brandy and family (unable to make it at the last minute), Lauren and family (in Birmingham to see Benji) and Uncle Neil and family (in CA).

Painting the clubhouse

There was an old dog pen in our backyard, but the gate was broken so we didn't use it for the dogs. A couple of months ago the girls decided they wanted it to be their clubhouse so they raked it and swept it and played in it, (see previous post here) but that wasn't enough. They then told Grandpaw that they wanted walls and a roof. SO, Grandpaw built walls and a roof and Clark cut down all the fencing. We are in the process of painting it white and then they want to put different colored swirls and polka dots on it. FUN FUN!!



Clayton decided he wanted to join in on the painting, but he wasn't an official member of the club so they weren't letting him. Finally they told him that if he said the password he could join, so Clayton recited "Girls rule, boys drool!" and joined in the painting festivites.

Thanks for all your hard work Grandpaw!!

I know everyone's azaleas are probably beautiful, but this is our first blooming in our house so I wanted to show off how pretty they are.

Seth in Memphis

My cousin Seth plays AAA baseball (played in the last World Series with the Rockies) for the Colorado Springs Sky Sox and they were in Memphis this weekend playing the Redbirds. We went to see him Saturday.


Camille had been to a "Sweet and Sassy" birthday party before the game, so yes, she does have on makeup and blonde hair.


Seth coming up to bat.

Some of my aunts, uncles and cousins.




Katie has chocolate ice cream on her face, but it is hard to see.

Clark and Clayton had to leave early because Clayton had a double-header and Katie didn't want to get in the picture. Seth is always so sweet to the kids!


Everyone who was there to see Seth.