I am so thankful...

I am eternally grateful that I have been blessed with the most wonderful family on earth. I don't know what I would do without them.

My girls:

Jessica-She is so beautiful and talented. She makes the best cakes in South Carolina. She works hard and is always the first one to jump up and help with the dishes! Most of all, I love her because she loves my son.

Mary Beth-She is the most unselfish person I know. She is so dependable and honest. She is a wonderful mother and I never doubt that she loves me.

Chelsea-She is incrediable. She played college basketball, coached volleyball and still knows how to be a girl! She is very kind and never says anything bad about anyone.

Christi-She is just about 5 feet tall and probably weighs 100 pounds soaking wet but she is our little motcho girl. Actually, she's just a little softly! She's very tender-hearted, always supportive and really loves her family.

These women are the very best. They try to make their home a bit of heaven on earth. I could not survive without their friendship.

My boys:

Kevin-What a wonderful guy! He's very smart and almost always happy. He's such a good daddy. He is just perfect for Mary Beth!!

Kenny-He's just awesome. I have never met a man more kind, compassionate and loving than him. He never fails to let me know that he loves me.

Joe-He is smart and very philosophical. Well, Joe is Joe. Enough said. He's my baby - what more can I say?

Tim-He is a good man. He takes life seriously and is a very hard worker.

All of these men are top choice! They love the gospel, honor their priesthood, love their family and respect their wives.

My grandchildren:

Hunter-He is very helpful and loves a good project. He gives wonderful hugs!

Peyton-He is smart and kind. He likes to learn new things.

Hagin-He is all boy! He wants to do everything the big boys do. What a hunk!

Olivia-She is all girl! Everything must be pink. She is very sweet and beautiful.

Jackson-He makes me laugh! He is very obedient and loving.

Owen-What a sweet little personality! He's always smiling and lovey.

Maizeigh-She's just a doll baby! She has almost as many pairs of shoes as I do.

They are all fabulous grandchildren and I love having them around!

My man:

Michael-He is oh so handsome. He is a very hard worker. He is very honest and trustworthy. He loves the gospel and magnifies his calling. He is patient with me and accepting of all my many faults. He is my best friend. He still takes my breath away! Here is where my heart lies!

Turkey Day Run

What a way to start your Thanksgiving morning! I had cooked all afternoon the day before so that we could go to this race early Thanksgiving morning. Chelsea, Jessica, Kenny, Hunter and Peyton were all signed up for the 3K (2 miles) and Michael, Christi, Mary Beth, Angie (my friend from work), her daughter Adrienne and I were signed up for the 8K (5 miles). Joe and Kevin, along with Jackson (AKA Spiderman) and Maizeigh were our support team and cheerleaders. Now don't go thinking I ran the whole 5 miles. There was a lot of walking going on there! But all that exercise justified all that eating I did when we got home!!

Beginning the 3K

Go, Chelsea, Jessica, Kenny and Peyton!

That's my man!

Christi had a great race!

Mary Beth ran the whole 5 miles!!

Angie and I had some help from Peyton and Jackson

Me and My Gang

Sleigh Bell Trot 2008

Mary Beth, Jessica, Christi, Jackson, Maizeigh, Hagin, Olivia and Owen

3.1 mile times - Big Daddy 22:49, Hunter 29:37, Peyton 43:49

Awesome times guys!!

Merry Christmas!


Olivia just couldn't stay awake

Owen and Jackson

Me and my gang

Last night almost the whole family went to the Sleigh Bell Trot 5K at Saluda Shoals Park in Irmo. It's a great way to ring in the season. The whole park in covered in various displays of Christmas lights from the three wise men to santa riding a jet ski! The race starts at 7pm so it's already dark and cold. We all bundled up and got ready to get moving. Michael, Hunter and Peyton were the only ones who were really racing. Kenny ran with Peyton but he probably would not want me to qualify that as "racing". Maizeigh, Jackson and Owen were in their sleighs (a.k.a.-strollers) with Mary Beth and Christi pushing. Jessica, Hagin, Olivia and I were walking along. That is until Olivia decided she needed her daddy and nothing would make her happy except for Jessica to carry her the whole 3 miles! Actually, Christi and Mary Beth gave her a couple of piggyback rides too! It's sort of a strange loop you make through the park and you have to go by the finish line before finishing the race. So we stopped there to cheer for Hunter and Peyton while they finished the run. (Michael had already finished by the time we got there.)
We got hot apple cider and stayed for the awards ceremony since Michael placed second in his age group. Go Big Daddy! Then off to CiCi's Pizza for the celebration!! I sure do love being with my family!!

Things that drive me crazy!

Okay, so there are a lot of things that drive me crazy but here is just one of them.
Saturday Mary Beth and I went to Dillard at Columbia Mall because they are going out of business and have everything on sale for 40 - 70% off! Good deal, huh? NOT!! Think of walking in Dillards - Everything is beautifully displayed, well organized and the clerks are helpful. Now think of walking in the army/navy surplus store where things are hanging everywhere with boxes of "stuff" all over the place and not a soul who knows anything within 50 feet. Yep, that's what it was like Saturday at Dillards. Apparently, they had shipped all there nice items to the surviving retail stores and emptied the stock room of it's rejects! They were actually trying to sell this stuff for 40% off the retail value!! I was so overwhelmed that I seriously didn't know how to look for anything. Two items "jumped" out at me saying, "I'm cute. Buy me." So I did. But that was it. Of course, before leaving, I had to walk by the shoes. There were some awesome shoes there but only if you are in the mood to take a walk on the upper east side of Columbia. So I didn't buy any! I already have a man!!

Tonight Big Daddy, Kenny, Hunter, Peyton and Hagin went to the second USC basketball game of the season. Olivia decided she would rather stay and "play" with me! So we made cookies, took bubble baths and watched "Shark Boy and Lava Girl". My kind of night!!

Last Friday night was the first USC basketball game. Michael, Mary Beth, Jackson, Maizeigh and I went. It was good fun! Jackson is always SO excited to see Cocky! Not to mention, he loves being able to eat whatever he wants for 2 straight hours! Maizeigh was a sweetie. She slept nearly the entire time. Here are a few pics.

Yeah, yeah, I know, you're saying, "What the heck??? Jackie's got a blog???" At the sweet insistence (nagging!) of my two daughters, I finally took the plunge. I don't have a clue what I'm doing yet. But anyway, here goes...............

Wednesday night Christi and Mary Beth went to see SYTYCD in Charlotte. They thought they had a good time but actually I was the one that had fun! I got to babysit Owen!! He has "grown" into such a sweetheart. He's always happy and smiling! He's a very mellow little fellow. Hey Christi, where did he get that from?