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.

Saturday

Tamra and her friend, Kaitlyn, eating during their bible school kickoff.
Here's Taylor showing off some girls sunglasses and his pearly whites.
I think he's coming to attack me! I'm not sure! HA! The youth played volleyball and basketball during the bible school kickoff. Taylor is coming over to me to make sure he can still stay. I'm all for it. I just sit and read while I wait and Tamra plays on the playground and he plays with his friends.

Natural Tunnel

Here is Taylor and his Youth Pastor, Mike, during their trip at Natual Tunnel. Mike is trying to braid Taylor's bangs. Why? We're not sure! HA! They had a good time swimming and mingling with one another for two days.

ROBIN EGGS

Last year I found a birds nest under my deck and this year I found this bird nest under the end of my house! HA! We haven't put any underpinning under our house yet so I guess the bird thinks it is a big tree! HA! It's high enough to be a tree that's for sure!

Wednesday

Okay, as usual something has put a big kink into my plans! Tomorrow after Taylor's CIT Training he will be heading to Natural Tunnel with his Youth group from church. They are planning an overnight stay with a day at the pool on friday. Instead of going to ball practice on Thursday night I will be taking him to Natural Tunnel. Friday they will be getting back at around four thirty then I will be heading to Jonesville to drop him off at ball practice. At six Tamra will be heading to her commencement at Jonesville First Baptist! Run. Run. Run.! The fun just never ends! HA!

Tuesday

Today has been so nice outside! The wind is blowing and the sun is shining and the temperature is just right! I just love to have the windows open on a day like this! I have plenty of windows now to do that! HA! There are twenty windows all together! Good grief! Didn't realize there were so many! You should see me trying to close them all when it starts to rain! Now, the boys on the other hand like to put the windows down and turn on the heat pump! We usually fight over which one we are going to do and unless it is really hot I usually win! HA! Today I have laid out in the sun a little bit and mowed what parts of the yard that could be mowed without killing the grass all together! Luckily there wasn't too much. The 'guys' are out on a fishing trip to where? I have no idea. They went lastnight and had a really good time so Taylor was all ready to go again today. Leon actually planned on working an extra but it didn't take much 'coaxing' to change his mind! Tamra has a bit of a cough so I am keeping her out of the pool and inside for a few days. If the cough doesn't subside soon I will have to get her in to see her doctor. She has bible school at Jonesville First Baptist so she will be able to go there tonight and the rest of the week unless she gets worse. Taylor starts back to ball practice tomorrow night . I am going to get my hair trimmed tonight at my mom's. I think she is getting bored during her summer off so I need to give her something to do. I am thinking about asking her if she will make me a table for my dining room. Guess I will throw that at her tonight! HA! I will buy the wood if she will just make it! We have yet to buy a dining room set! They are just so exspensive! Mom can make anything so I hope she says, "Yes!"
Well, next week we begin our bible school at my church. Taylor has CIT training for 4-H camp this thursday. He has to take some sort of test and pass it by 85% in order to be a CIT leader. I am sure he will do fine. He loves the whole 4-H thing! Saturday he will be volunteering his time to ask for donations at Food City. This helps to raise money for the CIT leaders. Anytime he helps with something it helps pay for his camp fees. I am all for that!!
The following week we don't have anything planned. I am guessing Taylor will have some games and maybe Tamra will start soccer? This is the first year Lee COunty has had soccer so they are starting out with the younger kids. I think Tamra will be really good at it but we will see. The last week in June Tamra will be going to Camp Creativity. My sister actually works with the kids during this camp and gets paid pretty good to do so. Tamra just loves it and there are lots of kids that go. At the end of the camp they go on a field trip. I think this year they are going to Barter Theater but I am not sure. They may go back to the Water Park in Jonesborough again. The kids really like it there. So, that is our summer for June as far as I know. I am sure there will be more things planned but as for now that is all I know.
Oh yeah, big news for my sister! She applied for a new position at JMS this past month and received the job! She has her masters degree as a Reading Specialist and now she will be teaching as a Reading Specialist at JMS. SHe has taught 1st grade for at least five years so this will be a big change for her! She is really excited and we are really proud of her accomplishments! Way to go Amber!!

Saturday

Mom called today and asked if Tamra and I wanted to come over and have a burger. We are always up on a free meal so after going to Telitha McFarland's bridal shower we headed to Mom's for a visit. Leon was at work and Taylor was in Pigeon Forge with his dad so it was just me and Tamra left to visit. The guys say that a family get together always happens when they are gone somewhere! HA! Doesn't get planned that way it just happens. We had a good visit and got our belly's full. Grayson was a little bit grouchy but Amber said he was off of his regular schedule due to a birthday party they had gone too. COme to find out on monday he had a bacterial infection. The doctor also thinks he may be allergic to milk. He had to go back to the doctor again today to have his second shot and the doctor said if he still had a temp in the morning to bring him back again! Poor little guy! Mom said he was pretty life less! AAAHHH!!We will have to go and visit him after he gets better!

An evening with Grayson

One day while waiting for Taylor to finish ball practice we stopped by and spent some time with Grayson. Amber bought him this little pool for the summer and he was dying to get into it. I have a feeling he will keep his mommy busyin the pool this summer! All he says when he is inside is "Water" meaning the pool. When he's in the water he says, "Bath!" HA! He loves it!

1st Junior League Game

Tay up to bat.
BBBAAAALLLLL!!!! But he was raring to hit it!

Here's Grayson and Tamra walking around during the game. Notice Grayson is carrying around a football! He loves football! This first game was cancelled after two innings. A huge rainstorm hit us all at once. We were winning 2 to 4 but I don't think they counted it. I guess we will be playing Appalachia again soon.

Tiny

Tiny got herself a new haircut yesterday so I took a couple of pictures of her and Tamra. DOesn't she look cute??

Pool Officially Open!

Here's Leon putting the final touches on opening the pool. Tamra watches to make sure "Dad" puts the ladder in the correct spot.
Jessica and Tamra enjoy the cool comfort of the water during this hot day!
Taylor? Just acting cool!

Last Lee High JV game

The singing of the national anthem. Tay is number three!!
This was the last game of the season, Thank God! This whole baseball year has been a nightmare! Once you change into high school ball everything is totally different! We expected our boys to be a really good ball team this year but coaching issues were in question! It was a really bad year! We can only hope next year will be better. Junior League practice has already begun and Taylor has been able to make it to a few practices so far. I can tell it is going to be a better season than this JV team was. It won't even matter if we win or lose! The coach for this team will make it an all around better experience, in my opinion. The atmosphere is so much better! Their first game is next friday with practice beginning all over again for us monday! Oh boy! Looks like summer will be run, run, run!

Final Day as a 3rd grader!

Here is Tamra and one of her friends from her class. Tuesday was the final full day of classes so this also became Tamra's last day of school. There was no need for her to return for the next days which were only half days. They only do that for the high school kids who have to take exams. Taylors last day was today. He only went two days this week but it happened to be the beginning of the week and the last! HA! He just thought he was going to get out of going! Anyway, on this particular day the school gave out awards and then had a little fun outside with what they call their SOL Beach Party. The day was actually scheduled for another time but since they had so much trouble with the computers this year there was no way they could have the SOL party. They had to wait till they actually finished all the testings! HA! Anyway, they rented some fun things for the kids to enjoy in order to reward them for their hard work. SOL's have taken over the whole school system and everyone lives and breathes the tests until they are finally over! It is quite insane if you ask me!
Here's Tamra doing a little pose for me before she gets on the big slide.

Awards day

Well, these pictures didn't turn out very good but here they are anyway! Tamra received awards for Most Responsible, AB Honor roll, Perfect Attendance, and an Art Award. She has now been passed on to the 4th grade! Time sure does fly by!

Happy Birthday Debbie!

Mother's Day

Well, once again we headed to my sister's for Mother's Day. After going to our old church at First Baptist in Jonesville we cooked out at Amber's and had an enjoyable afternoon. We had to take our normal 'family' pictures of the Mom's and their children! Grayson wasn't quite as cooperative as last year but he made it through it! HA!

TAYLOR

Taylor gets destructive!

I finally got MY camera to work from what looks to be back in January! These pictures of the trailer and Taylor were on it. Here is Taylor ripping apart what use to be Tamra's room. You can see the add on with the picture of the trailer. I am so glad to be out of that little thing!! Taylor and I had fun this day working together to tear down this room!