Friday

Well, all week Tamra has been going to camp creativity at Lee High from 8:30 till 12:15 everyday. Friday they have scheduled a field trip to Fun Expedtion in Johnson City, Tn. Our whole family including Jared are heading that way at around twelve noon. I am sure it will be a full day of exhaustion for me mentally and physically but here I go anyway! We were suppose to go to the WaterPark as well but for some reason that was cancelled. No matter!! It will still be something different for us all to do. Wish me luck! HA!

Tamra

Hope you have a great 9th birthday.

We love you Mom, Dad, Taylor

Vacation Trip

Mom and Kenny headed out on vacation last friday and I have decided to keep you updated on their whereabouts. It seems they headed to Freeport,ME first to do some fishing, sunbathing at the ocean, and shop. I chose this picture of the LL Bean store because they spent a lot of time here shopping! I think they also headed to Brunswick, ME while in Freeport as well.
Today, thursday, they are heading to Hershey, PA where they are excited to see how much chocolate they can eat in one sitting! HA!
I believe they are going to stay here in Harrisburg, PA after visiting Hershey.
Mom has always wanted to see the Amish Country so they will be sightseeing here as well.

RELAY 4 LIFE 2007

Once again we enjoyed the fellowship at the Relay 4 Life dedicated to cancer patients who have survived and for those who passed away. It has been seventeen years since my Dad passed away from liver cancer. It was quite an emotional time for me and I am sure for others. I really enjoy being a part of this dedication but it also makes me sad. I've had a hard time over the years trying to deal with my fathers death. I guess I will never get over it......................As you can see we donated money to the cure for cancer by having a bag set out in memory of my Dad. During the ceremony all the lights are turned out and the luminere candles are lit. At ten o'clock there was a prayer and a moment of silence followed by bag pipes being played while everyone walked around and looked at the bags lined up on the pathway. It is a very peaceful time when it seems our little county is really united. This goes on for twenty minutes and then the lights are turned back on and people continue to walk. The whole Relay 4 Life lasts from six to two in the morning. There are different teams set up all over Leeman Field. Each team has members that are scheduled to walk starting at six and ending at two a.m. We didn't stay that long but we did stay until close to eleven.
One lap of the Relay 4 Life included the children only. Tamra took a lap with them behind some big animal, I think it was a dog? There's Tamra with one of her friends in the brown shirt turned looking at the camera! HA! I almost missed her! I hate this crazy camera! Always a delay and a half!
Just a picture of my Dad's bag and the rest that were around it. They were lined up all over the entire area where Relay 4 Life was set up.
There's Taylor doing a lap in the blue shirt. I didn't take the time to lighten the picture but you can see him there.

Leon's new girlfriend

Aren't they cute together??!! HA! This is Taylor's Papaw Larry! One of the events taking place during the Relay 4 Life was all these men dressing up like women. Whoever raised the most money won at the end of the night. I'm not sure what they 'won' exactly but believe it or not Larry actually raised the most money and won! He raised over one thousand dollars in his red dress and fish net hose! HA! It was so funny. Taylor and I also took our pictures with Larry. Someone else took Taylor's picture with him. I am anxious to see his expression while he was standing next to him!

Surprise Party

Tamra's birthday isn't until the 27th but since my mom and Kenny are heading to Maine for a week or two they decided to have a little cake and presents for her. We made it a surprise cause I knew she wouldn't be expecting anything so soon. We will have her a little something again when her birthday is here. Don't have the money to go all out this year but hope to next year on her double digit birthday and Taylor's sixteenth birthday!

Dining Room Set

My mom has offered to give me a housewarming gift. She couldn't figure out what to give me so since I don't have a dining room set.........well, nuff said! YAY! I'm so excited! It won't be delivered for a few days or weeks so I decided to post a picture of it! Next time when I have a get together I won't have to borrow someone's table and use outdoor furniture! It is a greatly appreciated gift! Thanks Mom!!

Soccer Clinic

Some of the parents helped one of the coaches by throwing the ball to the kids. Here's Leon getting ready to throw the ball.
Tamra, in the red shirt, is about to kick the ball with the side of her foot. They were taught how to properly kick the ball with the side of their foot.
Now Tamra is learning to 'dribble' the ball with her feet. They didn't get to do a lot at this clinic but we were able to get some extra info. on what would be happening here on out. There were a lot of parents and children at this clinic. Coaches were taken to the side to get some information from the soccer coordinator. During this time 7,8, and 9 year olds were taken to a soccer field with a coach with past experience in soccer. While the 4,5, and 6 year olds were taken to another soccer field. The coaches with the most experience were there to teach the kids a little bit about soccer. Since this is a new sport to Lee County we don't have a lot of people who really know a lot about the sport. It should be interesting how this all goes together later on. Tamra met her coach while her dad worked with the kids on her team. Thursday is their first practice and I'm already in a dilema. Taylor has a game that night at the same time she has practice! UGH! This should be fun.

An old friend

I went to a wedding shower saturday to see an old friend from high school. Angela found her true love and is planning a wedding for July 14th. I am very happy for her. I wish her all the luck in the world. She is a really great person who deserves the best. If you ever want to hear a really great singer you should listen to Angela!! I could listen to her all day! She sang Sunday at church but I wasn't able to go and hear her! I am sure I missed a great blessing. Best of luck to you Angela and your new ministry!

Ramey Reunion

Here are the four Ramey sisters who are still living. Pauline, Vita, Erma Jean (mamaw), and Mattie I believe originally there were ten brother and sisters.
Here is the "Martin" clan. In front we have Hannah, my uncle Kendall's youngest daughter, behind her and to the left is my daughter, Tamra, Laken, Kendall's oldest daughter, Keith, my aunt Janice's youngest child and Mamaw Martin. Next row is ME, my stepdad Kenny, Aunt Donna, Aunt Janice, and uncle Kendall. Last row my son, Taylor, Papaw Martin, Uncle Gary, and my mom. Kendall's wife, Shelley had to leave early for a wedding shower. My sister and Grayson had to leave early to get Grayson in bed. My husband had to leave eaerly to go to work.

In Memory of my Dad on Fathers day

Wish you were here Dad! I miss you more today than ever! I love you now and always!

Father's Day

Taylor's dad, Tony, and Brian try to cook some hamburgers and hotdogs for the family.
Here's Tony and Leon watching Papaw Kenny teach Taylor and Jared 'his way' of playing pool.
Just a picture of me with Taylor's family.
I had my first get together at my new house. I still don't have a dining room table but everything worked out anyway! I invited all of my family and Taylor's dad and Papaw Larry. We cooked out and later the boys entertained us by playing pool and we watched Grayson acting like Grayson! HA! I just love to watch him and listen to him talk. We had a good time and I was happy for Taylor that his Dad was able to join us. Today was also Mamaw Stapleton's birthday. I invited her to come and eat as well but she was tired and decided to stay home and nap.

Fathers Day (cont)

Tamra awaits her dads reaction to her funny card.
Brian was the cook for the day.
Grayson? Probably into some mischief.
Papaw Kenny showing Taylor and Jared how to 'really' play pool.
Taylor with his Dad and Papaw Larry.

Nascar Speedway--Pigeon Forge

Here's Tamra doing a little racing on her own. She is finally tall enough to ride by herself on the big cars!!
Here's Taylor starting the race in his M&M car!
Leon's just cruising! I'm sure he's looking to take out Taylor! I think that is Tay behind him after Leon already spun him on one of the curves! They were getting in big trouble with the Pit Crew! HA!
This is what the evening consisted of after a day out with our family. There was a lot of 'hurry and wait' in the lines to ride the go carts. Before we headed to this Nascar Speedway we had spent the day with my immediate family. My mom, Kenny, AMber, Brian, Grayson, and then my family. WE all met up at the Apple Barn for breakfast and then the men and women headed in opposite directions. The ladies went to the mall in Pigeon FOrge and the men went to Bass Pro and the Orvis store. The men even took little man, Grayson! It was a long day but we all had a good time finding deals and being together! Our family stayed a little longer because we had rain check tickets from the go cart place from last year so it didn't cost them a thing to ride! Thank goodness!

Shopping

Here's Grayson at the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge where we ate breakfast.
This is the family sitting on the porch at the Apple Barn.
Mom and Amber doing some major shopping!
Me and Tamra decided just to sit and relax a minute! We were tired from going to store to store! We did a lot of shopping at the 5 Oaks shopping Center in Pigeon Forge while the men were at Bass Pro living it up! We later met up at "Hammer's" where we went our separte ways. It made for a long day!

Monday

I caught Grayson doing a little flirting during Taylor's baseball game! HA!

Tamra

Practice at vacation bible school.
Tamra had an overnight guest, Kaitlyn, so the next day they decided to do a little swimming.

BBBBAAAALLLLL!!!!
Tony and Taylor
Taylor hits the ball and makes it to second! Way to go!
Taylor warms up to pitch.
and he pitches!! STRICK! ONE TWO THREE YOU ARE OUT! His first pitch of the season and he strikes him out! Way to go Taylor! Shooo, was I ever nervous for him! Coach caught us all off guard when he put Taylor in to picth. Tay hasn't pitched since Little League so it was very nerve racking. This Junior League coach has been practicing with Taylor on pitching during practices. I guess he thought he was ready! HA! I sure wasn't! ANyway, they played the their first 'whole' game monday and they won 10 to 2. They play again on friday.