It's Here!

Basketball season has rolled back around. The process never really stops, but it's "game time" which is always fun for us all! I've added a link to the right so you can track the season's if you like.

And if you're really interested, this link will take you to the 2008-2009 media guide. It's hard to believe Jay will complete a decade at Lipscomb University this year!

http://www.lipscombsports.com/mbasketball/news/1/4396/

A conversation between Jay and Willie

WW: Dad, don't get in Emma's breath...it smells bad. It smells kinda...kinda like poopoo.

Me: That's not nice...you shouldn't talk about people's breath.

WW: She knows it smells bad.

Me: DO NOT TALK ABOUT PEOPLE'S BREATH. THAT IS NOT NICE. DO YOU UNDERSTAND?!?!

WW: Yes. Dad, what does my breath smell like?

Me: Depends on what you eat. If you eat waffles, your breath smells like waffles. But if you brush your teeth, it smells like toothpaste.

WW: Do you think Emma ate poopoo?

Harvest Fun!

Happy Halloween from Elvis, the King of Rock and Roll, and a sweet Unicorn! We headed out for a super fun trick or treat last night. As you might expect, Willie really had it down pat this year with good manners etc. Ruby really got the hang up of it too...running up every sidewalk and just taking candy until someone stopped her. With just a little prompting, she'd offer a thank you sweeter than any candy we received.

We started the week with a Harvest Festival at Ruby's pre-school. Willie was thrilled to hang out with many of his old friends--especially the girls. I'm just learning how the girls just eat him up.

Then on Wednesday, we celebrated Jay's 35th. Willie and Ruby planned his party. Willie quickly decided he wanted to buy some carving pumpkins so he and Jay could carve a pumpkin. After selecting the biggest one he could find, he couldn't wait until Daddy got home. The carving was so much fun! I was very impresed with their O'Lantern too. The next day Willie selected another pumpkin at Owl Hill's pumpkin patch on a field trip. That night....I find Jay in on the computer looking up O'Lantern faces on the internet. He admitted he'd been thinking about how he could do better all day. So for the 2nd night in a row, I watched their excitment, listened to the funny conversations, shrieked at the close calls with the carving knife while sweeping up pumpkin seeds and pulp. It was truly perfect!

We wrapped up the week at Cheekwood Botantical Gardens today to enjoy El Dia de Los Muertos celebration (baseically Mexican festival that celebrates ancestors). Jay's friend Ruben is from Mexico and he had his artwork for sale in the marketplace. We bought a couple of small pieces while trying to keep our palentas (spelling?? Mexican popsicles) from dripping on his work. With absolutely perfect weather, Cheekwood's scarecrow exhibit and the smell of Mexican food---we had a super great time. We would have called it perfect if daddy could have been with us. But, harvest time also means time for basketball and he was up in Murray, KY scrimmaging Murray State. Go Bisons! We're ready to watch some basketball.

MSU Homecoming

We've been enjoying the harvest season! Last week, the children and I headed to Starkville. In a nearly perfect 6 hour drive, we arrived to the happy home of the Walton grandparents. Within minutes, Willie found his favorite toys that Gran and Granny keep on site.

We all rested a bit then, as usual, I set out on Miss trek seeing family and friends plus got some work done with my colleagues in Jackson and Memphis. (And gas was well under $3 gallon!) I zoomed back into Starkville to find the everyone still very happy and delighted with grandparent fun!

The next day was the usual hectic prepwork for a good tailgate. I met up with M'lis, Alia, Andrea, & Kelly's families for an full afternoon of tailgating. Willie played touchfootball for literally 5 hours straight. Gran and Granny brought Ruby to join the fun in her cheerleader suit and the DAWGS pulled it out. Willie was adamant we weren't leaving until the gameclock was exhausted. However, middle of third quarter and well after his bedtime, he declared we could all go. (I'm glad we were winning b/c I hate it win bulldog fans leave early out of disgust--not the case. Thank heavens Gran was with us to carry Willie all the way to the car!

Puffy

Willie: Mama, Ruby is going be just like you when she gets big.

Me: What do you mean?

WW: You know, she is going to have puffy.....

My thoughts: (Oh, dear Lord what is he going to say?)

WW: .....puffy legs.

Me: My legs are puffy?

WW: Yeah....close to the top and they jiggle when you move fast.

Me: Oh.

(Jay leaves the room doubled over to keep from laughing out loud.)

Me: It's pretty though right?

WW: Yeah, on girls.

A full week later I'm still thinking "Really?" He notices thighs? And puffy they are not!

Bubbles and kisses

Just turn your head or your computer....it's worth watching Ruby blow bubbles. Tonight she was giving her daddy goodnight kisses, then Eskimo kisses, then fish kisses, then forehead kisses. Then he taught her butterfly kisses afterwards. She loved them so much she gave butterfly kisses to the animals on every page the The Mitten, the Ukranian folktale she adores. She is every bit that sweet until she yanks something out of Willie's (or Lillee as Ruby would say) grasp. I am having more and more referree moments these days.

Willie's Got a Girlfriend

Conversations at bedtime about Willie's girlfriends at school...it all began when I was talking about my best friend growing up, Shane Cornell. Willie asked me what kinds of things we did together.

Jay: When we were little boys we played ball together and rode our bikes all over the neighborhood. Then when we got older we chased girls together.

Willie: (giggling) Daddy, I think I want to have a girlfriend when I get older.

Jay: Oh really?

Willie: (positively giddy) Yeah, I know who it is too...Kennedy. She's my girlfriend right now.

Jay: Does she know she's your girlfriend?

Willie: Yeah, I told her she was.

Steph: How did you get her to be your girlfriend?

Willie: We went into the tunnel together at school. I asked her, "Do you want to be my girlfriend?" She said, "Yeah." I asked her, "Are you sure you want to be my girlfriend?" She said, "Yeah." I asked her, "Are you SURE you want to be my girlfriend?" She said, "Well, do you want me to or not?" Then we came out out of the tunnel and she said (country voice), "Come 'eer boyfriend!" then I said, "Come 'eer girlfriend!"

Jay: Do you really like this girl?

Willie: Dad, you know I do. If I made her my girlfriend you know I like her.

Jay: What makes you like her so much? Why not some of the other girls in your class?

Willie: Well, Emma tells on me, Callie will fuss, and Charlie don't want me to.