Family Camping Weekend

Our family took part in an unusual camping trip: We camped in Billy's parents' back yard! Yes, it was a bit unorthodox, but we had a great time. Instead of going to all of the trouble of pulling the camper somewhere for the weekend, Billy's Dad decided it would be fun to camp/tailgate in their pasture. And actually, it was fun! Papa has a big shed (which normally houses all of our campers) which he turned into a tailgaters paradise! We had 3 or 4 tables full of food, a TV with football games being shown, a TV dedicated to the Wii, several kerosene heaters, a ping-pong table and various other "stuff" set up to keep us occupied. During the daylight hours the kids would amuse themselves with throwing the football/baseball or riding the 4-wheeler. Sunday afternoon Uncle Jeff saddled up 'ole Star and everyone had fun taking turns riding (except Rylan who is allergic to horses and Billy who is a chicken-baby when it comes to horses!!) It was a fun-filled weekend (well actually Sat. thru Sunday afternoon) for all and maybe next time the camper will actually hit the highway! Who knows?!

Boy Meets Girl

O.K. So here's the scoop on Rylan and his older lady friend! I know you all have been waiting with baited breath....

Date: Oct. 24, 2008 Place: Fall Festival-Greenwood Family YMCA

Boy walks in with mother (UGH!-how humiliating) and little brother and a friend. Boy (AKA: Rylan) and friend (we'll call him C) are let loose to roam the festival at their own discretion. BIG MISTAKE as boy comes back with an important announcement: "I'M GOING OUT WITH THAT GIRL OVER THERE IN THE RED SHIRT." Mom's first reaction: What exactly does GOING OUT mean when you're 11 years old?! As later explained to Mom, going out means: Boy asks his friend (C) to ask little cute girl if she wants to "go out." Girl says Yes. Now keep this in mind: Boy has never met this girl before! He may have seen her in passing at school--maybe, not sure. One reason he hasn't seen much of her at school is because SHE'S IN THE 8TH (EIGTH) GRADE!!

(I insert a new paragraph to give you time to catch your breath....)
Anyway, the threesome pal around for about another hour and then everyone goes home. Mom has all but forgotten about R's "girlfriend" because I figure it's just a passing fancy. Well, fast forward to today: November 10. The Boy and Girl are still an item! I've stressed and fussed and steamed and stewed but to no avail: their love endures. What's a mom to do?

I've warned my child of the dangers of older women! I've told him to beware of hand holding (which he assures me is "gross"), too much talking on the phone and other such dating dangers. He very non-chalantly tells me, "I already know, Mom!" Well, excuse me! This "going out" (though they actually never go out anywhere TOGETHER) thing is very new to me! And I must say, even though she's 2 years older, she is a very sweet, respectful girl. She seems to have bolstered his self-esteem and given me another bargaining tool to use as punishment against him! ("Rylan, you can't call "M" tonight because you ran your mouth at your father....etc.") So, it may all work out well in the end. I just want him to keep his options open and play the field a LITTLE before he settles down!!!

Halloween

We had lots of Halloween fun last week. Landon had several occasions to dress as a policeman and by the time it was "really" Halloween, he was tired of dressing up! Of course, Rylan is "too old" to dress up but when it was actual trick-or-treat time, he managed to wrangle a few candy bars, too! The first photo, of pumpkin carving, is self-explanatory. The second photo, however, deserves a little explanation! We had a new toilet installed last Thursday and the guys left the old toilet right in the front yard, of all places! I tried to think of how to incorporate it into our holiday decor, but Rylan insisted it be removed ASAP (as his girlfriend---another blog in itself--was coming over!) I couldn't resist snapping a few photos of Landon on the throne before the toilet went bye-bye. (Landon didn't mind posing for the shot at all!)

Wow

I think I finally understand why politics is a no-no to discuss among even the closest, oldest of friends, except perhaps church friends. Why, you many ask? Simple. Church friends understand that Christ comes first and foremost in EVERY daily decision, especially an important decision like electing our next President! I have been recently shocked by a friend's declaration of intent to vote for Obama. Let me begin by saying, I have never, in all my life, really cared much about political goings-on. Yes, I would vote but I never felt strongly about any particular candidate. This time is different. I feel like we have to, first and foremost, have a Christian in office as President. It doesn't matter to me gender or race as long as the person is a Christian who believes in Christian principles. I'm not saying that I think McCain is the perfect fit, either. I'm sure he has many flaws, but he is a Christian and he has a Christian VP candidate and I feel strongly that nothing is more important than that. I wish I could forget my friend's intentions because I feel like I really don't know her anymore and that she's going down a questionable path based on her beliefs. Most of all I feel sorry for her because she obviously has not found her true Father. I will not, however, cast judgment because I'm in no position to judge. But I do feel so sorry for her and hope the best for her.

Billy went shopping???!!

I think the search for the evasive Policeman Halloween costume for Landon may be over! I have searched high and low for "the" policeman costume without spending more than $6,000! Seriously--considering kids wear their costumes once or twice a season, it is ludicrous how much they cost! Of course Landon does not bother himself with such small details as COST or anything! Billy, the non-shopper extraordinaire, is actually the one to find said costume for Mr. Landon, in Augusta no less. Yes, we had to travel all the way to Georgia to get Landon's costume. (Actually WE didn't travel anywhere--Billy works in Augusta almost daily). However, he did have to go through the VERY unnerving/unknown process of actually walking into a store and making a purchase! So to Billy, I say a big thank you and I hope Landon realizes what a treasure his costume really is!

Well, the time has finally come (and gone!)--Billy and I just celebrated our 20th highschool reunion. I know it's hard to believe that we could possibly be that old (HA), but, alas, we are. We had a great time reminiscing with old friends Friday night at the homecoming football game in Clinton and then again Saturday night at the "What Use To Be The Holiday Inn hotel"! I'm not sure how many people were there, but I know we had at least 75 classmates with probably 50 guests as well. I think a great time was had by all even though the banquet room was quite warm and the food was just so-so. The DJ was good and some of us old foggies even danced a little! We had classmates from all over attend--as far away as Yugoslavia! I saw some folks that I hadn't seen since graduation, which was pretty cool! Maybe at our next reunion we'll try to invite a few other classes that were in school with us and have a ginormous (my word) reunion! All I know is the planning better start TODAY because we only have slightly under 5 years to go! (And since I was in on the planning of this last one, I'm here to testify that planning MUST start early!)

Rylan's cotillion debut!! Isn't he handsome?! We're hoping by next year he'll know lots of good manners that he can share with us!!

Landon does the Big Dig

Landon Pitts: Construction Dude Extraordinaire! This picture was from last weekend's Big Dig event in Greenville. Landon and his Mom and Grandma went and had a lot of dirty fun! Landon got to drive, with a little friendly help from a "real professional", 5 construction vehicles!! A dream come true for Mr. Landon!

I have learned an important blogging secret: always remember the name of your blog!! Yes, I forgot the name of my own blog!! I guess I have not fully embraced my blogging yet--shame on me! I am, however, committed to do better/more blogging in the near future, so watch out! Now I am going to attempt something never before attempted by me--putting a photo on my blog! If you see one, I was a success! If not (more likely scenario), I was a failure and you must stay tuned 'til I learn what the heck I'm doing!

Blogging #2

This blog looks VERY elementary compared to other blogs I've seen on here! In due time, mine will be cool, too (yeah right!) I'm just brainstorming what to put on my 2nd official blog and my life must not be too exciting because I can't really think of any topics right now! Landon is screaming for me to come upstairs and play "Hess trucks" with him so I guess I must play for now and blog for later!

Finally the aspiring writer in me can be tamed! My blogging guru, Jennifer, held my hand through the set-up process and thus begins my venture into this unknown world of BLOGGING!