Summer is about to come to an end....

It is just about over. Tracie is about to start back to school, the beach trips are done, and football is just about all anyone is talking about, at least in the company I keep. I even just dropped off some arrows to have fletched. It has been a great summer though. We have been pretty laid back this past couple of weeks. Trying to do some things with the kids to keep them busy, and giving Tracie the time she needs to get everything she has going on done, before it is school full time again. So much rain kept our two inside the past 10 days or so....that makes for some wild afternoons in the house. We feel like we are in the yard cutting and trimming biz with all the rain....fun fun.

Tracie and I did have the opportunity to send our precious children to hang out with their grandparents this past weekend. We just thought they all needed some together time...she and I spent our freedom going to a Red Birds game in Memphis, which was much fun. Got to spend the evening with some great friends and eat at the Rendezvous....those are great ribs, almost as good as mine. We did feel a little guilty when a some other friends called us while we where there to say they were in Memphis with like aged children seeing Dora Live.....what C&N don't know won't hurt them.

I went down and got the kids at Parks Mill Sunday. Got to visit with M&D, and Kelli and Marc. N&C love seeing the aunt kelli. I am pretty sure it is party USA when Kelli is in charge. For some reason that is all they can talk about on the way there and when we leave. Dad and I checked on some mineral stations and pulled some cameras (probably broke Matt's). Got some pics of some pretty good deer already. There is a lot of grass that has got to be cut b/t now and when we start spraying and disking, not that we don't already have alot of open ground, we are riding around looking at place we can expand or clear. It's all fun though, some of my best times are working out there.

Dad took me down and showed me his current project on the river. He is building a pavilion and then starting his camp house. He told me he as drove every nail....but I am pretty sure the nail gun was done there. I know what he is saying though. Building another river camp has been a plan of his for a long time and he has worked down there any chance he could this summer. We have spent so much time and energy at Parks Mill, we have neglected a beautiful place on the River. Dad grew up fishing and hunting down there and then got involved with a Newton County woman and the rest was history. That is going to be a great place for Noah, Carson, and _________ .

We also spent a little time shooting at some turtles that where apparently doing harm to the River...
Camp house is planned to go to the North of the pavilion. The floor of it will need to be about 14' high...that's a little taller than the ceiling joist of the pavilion.

Tracie and I went over our schedule for the Fall over the weekend and the kids are going to be lucky to make it to the First of the year if they have to depend on their father this much. Tracie enrolled in Grad school last week, that will be Monday and Thursday, she has choir on Wed night followed by a disciple class that we started in the spring that will start back and she is playing club tennis and church softball.....Noah starts full time preK at FUMC after Labor day and some where in there I plan to attend most of MSU and OM's home games along with a couple or 10 so deer hunts thrown in.....and then we wonder sometimes why the days seem to go by so fast.

Beach Bums

The kids, Tracie, and I spent from Wed thru Sunday in Orange Beach. Great time had by all. The place we stayed had alot of pools and things for the kids and that worked out well. Life is different now. T and I where talking about several years ago, neither of us would have cared if there was a pool, just headed straight for the beach with cold drinks.....now it is like a traveling circus to go anywhere. The kids did have fun though. We where there with a friend from Poplarville that has a son N's age. They played together well. The place we stayed was great. On the bay front, with the beach across the road. The next time we stay there, I will be bring by fishing pole. Alot of piers and structure. People where fishing every night. Weather was great, not even not hot really. Ate some good food, and even got to see some family while we where there. Rob, Wes and their families brought their boat over from Gulfport to stay at the Wharf for the weekend. That is a pretty neat place, even rode the ferris wheel while we where there. N&C loved it.....there mom, not so much.

He love his momma

Good bet that this will be Christmas card material.....

If I had asked him to dig the hole..........

It was great to get away and I would score the trip a 9.9. It is a sign of one thing though....summer is heading towards an end. Tracie has only got 1 month left until school starts back. I think this next month will be a little easier than the last. We have had something just about every week in June and July.

I can tell it is getting late in the summer in my own way, as I was traveling North yesterday, alot more trucks with tractors and clippers in tow with 4 wheelers and coolers. Camp work days are in full swing. I got alot of that done last weekend, with Dad finishing up this past weekend. I think we are in good shape to get a little new growth and then spray rndup and be ready to plant in about 2 plus months. Not to long away and bow shops will start to get busy, and the Extravaganza is in about 3 weeks. That is always how I mark the beginning of a new hunting season and the end of summer.

July is Here

June has been busy and the year is moving by in a big hurry. Can you believe only 65 more days until we kick it off at Scott Field...time flies. But July is important and we should not hurry it along to much. Very important person was born in July....me, on the 28th....start thinking about a gift now.
The last couple of weeks have been busy though. Tracie has wrapped up summer school and is now busy being summer mom....between working out and tennis. I am so proud of her for getting back into tennis. She played in college and has a good friend here who is really good....like pro-am good and is taking up a lot time to get T back into form. Planning on playing in weekly tournaments in the fall.

N & C are well. Noah is really enjoying the summer session at FUMC Tupelo. I think it is great. The teachers love him and he likes to go. It's two days a week currently and will start full time in the fall. C is doing great. She is always smiling and constantly into something. The child runs on nuclear energy. Never gets tired. Takes a short nap, and we have to force her to go to bed. Noah is usually gone by 8 at the latest. Carson just sits in her room playing or watching tv from 8 until we make her get back in bed. They are a wonderfully strange pair. It has been so hot lately we have been inside a good bit, we did get to take to them to the last summer concert series in Oxford on Sunday. Germantown symphony orchestra. Little patriotic music, a little classical, and some Dixie land jazz. T and I enjoyed it....the kids had more fun playing in the wagon. Tough life.

Tracie and I have been working in the yard a lot lately. I made a brick step along the back on Saturday. Found out how much of a candy I was....started at 7 or so and had to break from 11 to 2.....but it was over 100. Tracie's flowers we planted back in May are really looking great, it just takes so much water. We have not had a lot of rain.
That "not a lot of rain" deal makes me glad we did not spend a lot of $ on food plots at Parks Mill this summer. I am afraid they would look like everyone' that did....alot of dirt and weeds. Speaking of PM....only about 1 month until work begins again and 2 until it gets going full speed. I plan to get some clipping done this weekend, in between floating the river and enjoying July 4th.

Tracie and I will be married 6 years on the 5th. Time has really flown by. That was 3 town and two kids ago.....

I did get to slip off to Destin with some wonderful people last weekend. The Forrest where kinds enough to invite me fishing. We had a wonderful time visiting and even caught a marlin. I was very blessed and happy to see them in good health and enjoying life.

BUSY SUMMER!

I guess I had forgotten there is so much going on in the summer. But I don't guess I have ever had a summer with a 4 and a 2 year old. VBS went well. N really enjoyed it and it has been easier for him to start the summer program at the church this week. He goes to FUMC Tup two days a week for the rest of the summer and then he will start full time in the fall. C went to VBS as well and just hung out....she is typically a hit wherever she goes.

A good bit of rain over the weekend kept us inside most of the Saturday, we did get to spend Friday evening socializing with the Beavers and friends. We rode to Oxford Sunday hoping to hear some music in the Grove....but apparently they can't read weather maps along with that schools many other faults and the concert was moved indoors. We played anyway. That is a pretty bunch of trees....until fall rolls around and the candelabras comes out.

Mom's Back - YEAH!

The kids and I had a good several days. We survived - not at the standard of living we are accustomed, but I don't think they will bear any scars that won't heal in a couple of weeks. We were at Parks Mill by 9 after putting Tracie on the plane in Tupelo. Great time with the GPs. Worked around the camp and with dad Friday, got to play in the River Saturday. Noah loved the canoe ride and even "peddled" the boat with Grandaddy. Carson was pampered in only the way that she is accustomed. They are both sweet kids and both REALLY enjoy getting attention form the GPs.

Good float trip-Me, Dad, Noah, Jen, Matt, Scott B., and Johnathan had a great time. Short trip - Stucky to the camp, but that is a good float. Don't get tired and lots to do along the way. The River was as pretty as I have seen it since before Katrina. Water was perfect for the boats. A little cool. Dad's new river camp is coming along. He is about 50% on the pavillion with the slab to be poured soon. It is going to be really nice....because the Lord knows we need another place to cook and enjoy afternoons......

Brown giving Noah a little fishing lesson.....

Tracie had a good time in DC with Kris. Great to be up there and enjoyed the sites and the food I hear....but I think she was really glad to see us pick her up Monday night. The kids were about to panic to get out of the seats hug momma.

Wow....she is pretty, hard to believe I married that sometimes....

VBS at FUMC has been in full speed this week. Noah has really enjoyed it, and Tracie helped with one of the classes today. I think she got a reminder of why she teaches high school. Fun times.

Summer is starting

You can really tell summer is here. Things are getting busy in the afternoons. Tracie and I spent our Saturday building new beds around the deck and planting flowers. It turned out well I think. We are pleased anyway. The back of the house looks better than the front, I guess we spend more time back here. the deck is great, we have shade by 4pm everday...which leads to other vices.We had alot of help from our two. They spent most of the day on the slip'n slide. Tough life they lead. They better get ready for hard times, their mother is leaving them in my care for the weekend while she jets around DC, another one living a tough life. I imagine we will be seeing the GP's shortly after mom's plane leaves. Plan on spending at least one day on the river with N and Dad.

Planting flowers is fun, but I would rather be fishing or swimming. Our two are taking lessons this week. One is a natural, loves it......the other one, not so much, but I guess he will get the hang of it before long.

Mine and dad's fishing trip was great, but the one that got away made us ready for more. Dad and I are not exactly Bill Dance and Scott Brown, bass is not are specialty, but we managed to catch a few and really did lose a big fish. The Parks Mill Lake is doing well. Looking forward to going back. Caught most everything on a white spinner bait. Dad's minnow idea was not the hit he was expecting.

Listened to the Mississippi game last night. They are yet again perched on the eve of an oppurtunity to go to Omaha.......we shall see.

Slacker....I know

Well, we've been really busy I suppose. Seems like I have been gone a couple of nights a week for the past month and 1/2. A lot has been going on though. We are giving the t-ball our best try, school is wrapping up, bible school is about to start, swimming class is next week....and T is headed to DC. fun times. My biggest accomplishment of late is getting the deck stained...yeah me. I will get better at this updating buisness.

Ben and I after running the wettest 10k in history. Gum Tree was fun, but I don't think I would want to do that every weekend just for giggles.