Guess who's 40

I'll give you a hint......

It's not the pretty dark haired girl on the left.

Buster is 40

Buster is 40

Buster is 40

Happy birthday to my 40 year old little brother.

You are old.

She's a blue ribbon winner!

But of course!

Yay Carol

Yay Mini-Me

The only complaints....Her "Relay for Life" sign was a little skee-wamp-us and her "Hope" necklace got looped around the backside of her neck so you couldn't even see it-dang it.

And now she gets to come home with me  :)

My Mini Me

 Keep an eye out for this little beauty in the exhibit building at the Morgan County Fair this weekend.

This is my soon-to-be Mini Me doll that Carol MADE.  For me.  From scratch.  All by herself.  From cloth.  She even made the clothes.   She has entered it into the Morgan County Fair but she gave me a little teary sneak peak before she whisked it away.

It's made of all things that remind her of me.

 Diet Coke, Relay for Life, breast cancer ribbons, camera around her neck.

 Look at the detail.....right down to the charm on the bracelet.  I couldn't get a close enough shot of the buttons on the shirt but they even have the breast cancer ribbons on them.  Even cute pink finger nails.

 Her hair is red with blond streaks.  Carol hand painted the face.

Cute little camera and pink little sandals.  Just and FYI---the dolls legs are much nicer than mine!!  Although mine are just as white.

Cute little  hope necklace.  She even has on a bra-you can see the little lace on the right next to the camera strap (her boobs are nicer than mine too).  Sorry for the shadows.  I was trying to hurry and take pictures and either my hair or my finger got in the way.

Thank you Carol!

She's beautiful!  I can't wait to see her at the fair.  And I can't wait for the fair to be over so that I can show her off!  You did a wonderful job!  I think you have found your true talent.

Dear Dad: Shirlee did NOT puke

The sponsors of the  Morgan Valley Marathon will be happy to know that Shirlee's $15 entry fee/deposit won't have to go towards a "hose down" of the 5K route since she was able to do the entire distance without even so much as a dry heave.

Teresa, Shirlee, Carol and I got up bright and early last Saturday and joined the rest of the Morgan ranks to participate in the Morgan Valley Marathon/Half Marathon/5K.

Les was on vacation and wasn't able to join us, but look--that's Cindee's face squished in there between Teresa and Shirlee's faces.

 Even Buster participated

 He was there with Bren, Chase, Deanne, Caybree and Ron.  Tiff and her sister Amy ran the half marathon which started a half hour before the 5K.

 More of our courthouse friends--CoyAnn, Steph Teri and Tammy

 It should be noted that the rules were explained before we even began the 5k that timing chips were not going to be handed out, that this was not a timed race and was to be more of a "FUN RUN".  Did you hear that rude lady standing behind us?  "FUN RUN"  Because you were pretty much using your loud, outside, rude voice when the starting pistol went off and you shoved your way past us and you said "I knew this was going to happen" when we weren't moving fast enough for you.  FUN RUN rude lady--not a timed race. 

Any hoo....where was I.......

We very much enjoyed our "FUN RUN" by taking it easy and "fun walked" the route.  In fact, by the time EVERYONE pushed past us, we were in last place.  Which was ok,  I looked at it this way:  we were like the pick-up crew.  We made sure there was no one left behind.  And we got to see all kinds of fun clothing that got left behind.  By the looks of the number of shirts we found, there must have been a lot of topless runners out there.

Below is photographic evidence that Shirlee made it over the Como incline and on to mile marker one.  The party balloon was not left for her as a congratulatory gift.

 My favorite part of the whole shebang......the ottorpop aid station

 Buster (who made it to the finish line a lot faster than we did) made sure that he documented that we made it all the way to the end.

 At which point Shirlee kicked it up a notch, started flapping her wings, and brought 'er on home.  She may have thrown out her shoulder a little with that final push to the finish line. 

Terry checked her over, gave her a clean bill of health and released her.  If my blog had sound you would hear Terry telling Shirlee "No, really Shirlee, you're fine.  We don't need to cut your britches off.  No.  Really.  You're fine.  Please, Mrs. Wilkerson, put your leg down.  Those are strech pants--if we needed to we would just yank them down"

Here's our group photo suitable for framing. 

 After the 5k we watched friends and family finish up the half marathon.

Tiff and Amy show us how real runners look when they cross the finish line.  They actually look too pretty to have just run 13 miles.

 See what I mean!?!!   Too pretty to have just run a half marathon.  Not fair!

 Cathie our independent auditor who is also in full hair and make-up just finishing the half marathon.

 Patrick, our other independent auditor, doesn't need hair or make up to look pretty at the finish line.

 Chaston give us the "That's all Folks"



Congratulations are in order

Because this fella graduated today!

 Lydon Edward finished fire science classes and is now certified in not only Fire 1 but Fire 2, Folks!!  That's a big deal around these parts.  So that calls for a celebration (and a blog post!).  We rounded up Grandpa Bob, Grandma Carol and Alan and Grandpa Tim and Grandma Margy to par-tee!

 Grandpa Bob made the best home-made card (even though it took him a couple of 3 or so hours to make).  It was  a super cool card that involved stealing Lydon's picture from his facebook page, a very nice firefighter poem, and some sappy/tear jerky words of encouragement(who taught him how to do those things-especially stealing pictures from facebook).  It totally put my balloons, congratulations button and crepe paper to shame.

 He followed it up with a new firefighter hitch cover for Lydon's truck and a firefighter key chain .

 You have heard of re-gifting.......how about re-enveloping?  Ask Grandma Carol what was up with this re-do of my envelope.

 After gifts, we partied! 

Why does it always look like they are trying to run from me and my camera?

 We made the boy a feast fit for a Firefighting King of steak and chicken.

Congratulations Lydee--you are only 19 years old and you are EMT certified and Fire 1 and 2 certified and we are so very proud of you!!  You are almost there with your EMT intermediate--keep up the good work and soon enough you'll be living your dream!

We Love You!

Out of Order

Tim is currently incapacitated.

He recently went under the knife and had BOTH, I repeat, BOTH of his hands operated on.  He had a double carpel tunnel release surgery.  That's right-----there is a doctor out there somewhere that has it out for me because he was willing to do both of Tim's wrists at the same time, which means that he is out of order for the next six weeks. 

I am going to choose to look at it this way:  He better be nice to me because he is basically at my mercy for the next six weeks  :)

 This is the major look of excitement on Tim's face when he realized that I had smuggled a camera into the operating prep room.  Remember Honey, you are going to be at my mercy for the next six weeks---be nice.

The nurse said something about this being a dose of bear tranquilizer.   Just let the medicine do it's magic Timmy.  Close your eyes........

 This cute little gal was using her Lady Schick to shave the hair off of Tim's knuckles before surgery.

 Timmy did really well through the surgery.  Except he came out sporting these really nice looking Hulk boxing gloves.  My suggestion is that we spray paint them green so that they actually look like Hulk fists and then he can impress all of Lydon and Aaron's friends with his super big muscle hands but nobody would go with my idea. 

I have been shown up

I was feelin all full of my self.

I was on top of the world

I thought I was the next 5-K wonder........

I was still on a high from getting up at 7:30am and walking the Morgan Marathon 5K route.  No sooner had I posted my massive accomplishment on the blog when Grandma Carol has to go and conquer the "M" on her first try. 

WHAT THE!!??!! 

And she has photographic evidence. 

SERIOUSLY?!!? 

And she did it in the middle of the afternoon in the heat of the day.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!?

And then she went home and mowed her lawn.

I'm gonnago have some ice cream and then go take a nap.