Hornback Family

Happy Shiny New Year!!

2012-01-23T09:57:00.000-06:00

It's been a while since I've posted, but I wanted to put out some of the photos from Christmas and a few from the past weekend. We had a great Christmas and it pains me to see John Parker and Avery growing up so fast. I'm glad to have time to enjoy their laughter and sweetness. Here's to hoping that everyone has a Happy, Shiny New Year full of promise and hope!!

Baxter

2011-12-18T18:15:00.001-06:00

John Parker and Avery got an early Christmas present today--from Santa!!! John Parker asked Santa, "Is he mine?" It was so sweet. Avery said this was the best Christmas ever. I'm not sure what Buddy thinks yet of Baxter, but I'm sure they'll be great friends!!

Adventures of Elfie

2011-12-06T14:26:00.002-06:00

Elfie recruited our playful tree sprite to join him in a fun snowball fight!

Hanging at the Hornbacks is mighty fine, especially when you have your own zip line!

Elfie had a sneaky idea in his head. While John Parker and Avery slept, he painted their noses Rudolph red!

Elfie is such a little joker. He's hangin' at the crib with his buddy playing poker!

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, so Elfie hung your stinky underwear!

Santa may have his fancy reindeer, but Elfie says "the buck stops here"!

Big ol' jet airliner don't carry me too far away, ooo big ol' jet airliner, with the Hornbacks I got to stay!

Who knew Elfie was such a rookie? He ate dog biscuits and thought they were cookies!

As Ole Miss fans, we all know the reason...But remember Elfie, there's always next season!

Elfie tried to make cookies, I must confess. But all he made was a really big mess!

It's that time of year again!! Our sweet scout elf from the North Pole "Elfie" appears on Thanksgiving night and stays through Christmas--helping us through the Advent sesaon as we wait for Jesus' birth. Each night he flies to the North Pole and tells Santa how John Parker and Avery did that day and then flies back to our house and "lands" in a different spot. Well, so far, Elfie has been very mischievious. :) I have REALLY enjoyed helping Elfie on his journeys and John Bret swears that I love it as much as the kids. They wake up at 5:30 every day to find Elfie. Here are a few of his adventures.......

Boo!

2011-11-08T14:17:00.000-06:00

We had a great Halloween night. The kids had their parties at school and then we rushed home to get ready for trick-or treat. John Parker and Avery got waaaayyy too much candy and of course John Bret had to "inspect" it (meaning he got all of the ones out that he likes!!)

Hornback Halloween Bash

2011-10-25T13:15:00.000-05:00

We just had our 4th annual Hornback Halloween Bash!! It's alot of fun for us (me) to plan!! haha John Bret and I took off Friday to clean and decorate and were pretty much worn out before the party even started.....The kids have such a great time. I think this was our biggest crowd yet--with probably 50 people (including kids). We ate, bobbed for apples, played, ate, hit the pinata, ate and then ate some more! When John Parker and Avery get older and look back on their childhood, I hope they have great memories of the holidays. Friends and family are what it is all about and we have the best!!!

Run and Not Grow Weary

2011-10-17T09:13:00.003-05:00

Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ~~Hebrews 12:1-2
Back in February of this year, I decided to take up running for Lent. Fr. Mike always encourages us to consider "taking up a new thing" instead of "giving up" something. My goal was to run a half marathon in the Fall or Winter. So, I printed out a training schedule off the internet and started walking and running in intervals. At that point, I couldn't even imagine running a mile without stopping. But, little by little my running increased along with my endurance. I have always been the type person who gets really excited about a project, but has a hard type keeping up the motivation--and see the project through to the end. I was determined not to let my "flighty ways" strike again! The Clarion Ledger wrote an article about me taking up running for Lent. The article proved very motivating throughout my journey and it also held me accountable since now everyone at work knew about my goal and constantly asked me about how I was doing. There was no stopping now! My first 5K was at the St. Paddy's Day parade in Jackson. I was a nervous wreck--but was so proud to finish. I ran another 5K in Madison and then started training for the Renaissance 10K. That was a wonderful experience! The weather was beautiful and I got a medal at the end!! (I'm just like a kid when it comes to medals!! haha)......A few weeks after that, my IT Band on the right side gave me fits and I had to sit out for 3 weeks. I felt defeated, but stretched, iced and started again. I ran another 5K at St. Anthony and John Parker ran the Fun Run. My original plan was to run the St. Jude half-marathon, but since it conflicted with another event, I decided on the Run for Life half-marathon in Madison. I continued to get up at 4:30 a.m. 5 days a week and train--doing my long runs on Sunday. I ran the 300 Oaks Road Race 10K in September. It was probably my best race to date. My time was great and I felt great after the run. I was glad to have my Dad with me too! With about a month left to my first half-marathon, I continued to train. A week before the race, I went for a 5-mile run and when I reached my driveway, I couldn't even walk. My IT Band problem struck again--but this time on the left side! I cried. I couldn't believe that this happened one week before the race. I decided to stay off of my knee until then and continue with stretches, ice and ibuprofen. I also bought one of the IT Band straps that goes right under the knee. The morning of the race I still had twinges of pain, but decided that I wouldn't let it get me down. I was really nervous, but felt confident and prayed ALOT. My knee started hurting immediately into the run, but I prayed and tried to remain calm. The pain eased until mile 6 when I couldn't even run without limping. I stopped at the water station, took a deep breath and tightened my knee strap. It may have only been psychological, but I really felt that it helped. I continued to pray and carry one. Every time "Glorious Day" by Casting Crowns came up on my ipod, I remembered why I was doing this and pressed on. By mile 8, the pain subsided and didn't return (until after the race). I had hoped to finish the race in 2:20, but my knee slowed me down to 2:44. I didn't care. Along the way I thought many times about how Jesus suffered for us and the little pain that I was going through was nothing. At those moments, I really felt like I had fulfilled my Lenten journey. Finishing that race was one of the best experiences of my life!! I will continue to run and use that time to pray for God's guidance in my life. It has been a wonderful journey!!!

11 Years of Blessings

2011-10-10T11:10:00.000-05:00

We went to the beach for a few days for our 11th anniversary. We decided to surprise the kids when we picked them up from school. John Parker said, "Why is all this stuff in here?" When we said that we were taking them to the beach, they were super excited. We had a wonderful time. The weather was perfect and we pretty much had the beach to ourselves. I'm usually ready to get back home, but this time we all wanted to stay another week! John Parker and Avery have done so well at school so far this year, it was great to reward them. I can't believe it's been 11 years since John Bret and I married. Where does the time go? I have been blessed beyond measure and certainly give God all the glory!

Dixieland Delight

2011-09-04T19:20:00.001-05:00

We had a great time in Oxford yesterday despite the Rebels' loss. Hopefully they can pull it together before we start SEC play. Avery loved cheering with the cheerleaders and her new little friend Campbell that she met at the game. John Parker loved the snacks---nachos, chips, skittles, soft pretzel, cotton candy---and that's just at the game!! We always love tailgating with the Dancers and Macks. It's great to have such good friends to make memories with. Avery kept saying, "I sure do love Ole Miss Mama." I do too Av, even when they don't play so well!! GO REBS GO!

Back to Cool!

2011-08-13T10:45:00.001-05:00

The kids started back to school on Monday. This is Avery's 1st year at "big school" and she is very excited! She loves her new teacher and being at St. Anthony with John Parker. I hope they always feel that way about going to school!

~Home of the Braves~

2011-07-05T17:57:00.000-05:00

We had a great 4th of July Weekend. Sunday we went to David and Ashley's house for Supper Club. The kids had a great time playing outside on the water slide. Sunday, we left or Atlanta to see the Braves play the Rockies. Despite the rain, it was a great game and the Braves won. The kids really loved it and didn't want to leave. John Parker was very excited about his first ride in a taxi. Baseball, hotdogs and fireworks--all on the 4th of July!!!

Beach Bums

2011-06-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

We really enjoyed our trip to Destin this past week. The weatehr was nice and the water was beautiful! John Parker could have spent all day looking for crabs and fish. Avery wanted to stay in the water and sing. She also made "friends" with whatever children or adults were nearby. We got to eat at my all-time favorite restaurants--The Back Porch and Dewey Destin's. I was ready to come home and now I'm ready to go back!!

School's Out!!

2011-06-01T13:05:00.000-05:00

School's out and Summer has begun!! Avery graduated 4K and had her Ballet Recital. John Parker is finishing up with baseball and getting ready to go into 2nd grade........I can't believe it. Wishing everyone a safe and fun Summer!

Bunnies and Birthdays

2011-05-10T12:41:00.000-05:00

I've had some technical issues, so it has been a while since I posted! Avery and John Parker both had birthdays recently (Ages 5 and 8). I can not believe how fast this year is flying by and how fast my babies are growing up. They are such a HUGE blessing in my life, and by far my greatest accomplishment. I thank God everyday for choosing me to be their mother. We also had a great Easter and the E-Bunny gifted us with "Rosie"--our very own bunny. I have to admit, she was really more for me than anyone else! :) I hope everyone has a great Summer.....I'm ready for our beach trip in just a little over a month!

Spring....Renewal

2011-03-17T09:26:00.000-05:00

This year is flying by as fast as the last. I can not believe it is mid-March! I am thankful that Easter is later this year so that I have more time to prepare and enjoy it! I love Ash Wednesday and Lent. Every year I vow to give up chocolate and EVERY year I fail miserably.....So, this year I decided to follow our priest's advice and "do something" instead of "give up something". I've been walking for years as exercise and sometimes running--usually in intervals. Well, I decided to start running competetively as my Lent goal. I run my first 5K this Saturday as part of the St. Paddy's Day parade, with another 5K planned in early April and a 10K in late April. My big goal is to run the Lake Caroline 15K in late October and the St. Jude 1/2 marathon in early December. Please pray that I stay diligent. This is the verse that serves as my inspiration from Hebrews 12:1-2--"Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."

I got the kids' Spring pics back from Lisa Patti yesterday and it made me cry. They are growing up too, too fast and John Parker kind of has that "I'm over it" look on his face. Everything is starting to be "too cool" in his world *sigh*.......But, he did hug me goodbye in front of all his buddies when I dropped him off at baseball camp this morning and told me that he loved me, so there is still hope! :) I included several of the pictures and a picture of the Easter wreaths that my friend Diane made for me. I can't wait to put them up. Check her out on Facebook at "Door Decor". I hope everyone has a wonderful Lenten season!!

Spring Fever

2011-02-27T19:13:00.001-06:00

We went to Satartia last weekend and rode around through the woods and down by the creek. It was such a pretty day. I love Fall and Winter, but am ready for some warmer weather. I took some pics of the kids, and can't believe how fast they are growing up!

My Silly Valentines

2011-02-14T12:51:00.000-06:00

Maybe I was going through holiday withdrawal because I was VERY excited about Valentine's Day this year. John Bret thinks the kids got more today than he got at Christmas!! (that is so not true...) haha......John Bret got camo and a knife which probably isn't very romantic, but the card was nice.... :)We had a good morning and the kids were excited about their parties at school and handing out their Valentines. Happy Day to everyone!!

Snow Day

2011-02-10T14:01:00.000-06:00

Well, we had another February snow......not as good as last year, but it was still really nice! We didn't last too long out there at 23 degrees, but managed to run around some. I'm glad the kids have gotten to see so much snow during their childhood. And, I love how quite it is outside after it snows........

Proud Mama

2011-01-07T08:53:00.000-06:00

Last year at this time we were meeting with John Parker's teacher trying to decide what we needed to work on to get him where he needed to be for 2nd grade. We went to a reading tutor and spent countless hours reading, going over basic rules of phonics, etc. It was tough on both of us. He worked so hard and never once complained. He got where he needed to be, but after talking to his teacher and the principal, it was decided that although he didn't have to--repeating 1st grade would be a good decision and give him more time to mature and gain more self confidence. Deciding to have John Parker repeat 1st grade was a tough decision. I worried about how it would affect him and his self esteem. I knew he would miss his friends. He is such a smart boy but really needed that extra time to mature--especially since he was one of the younger ones in his class. For the first couple of months of school he often asked, "So why did I have to repeat again?" We would tell him that it was a good thing and not because of anything that he did wrong. Well, he started thriving and changing in ways that I never imagined. When I received his report card yesterday I cried. What joy filled my heart to see the things that his precious teacher had written:

"John Parker continues to do excellent work in all academic subjects. I am quite impressed with not only his written communication skills and his art work, but with his problem-solving skills as well. He is emerging as a class leader, as one on whom others can rely to make decisions. He takes note of his surroundings and what is going on (he gets the total picture) and he volunteers viable, probable solutions. He has also matured quite nicely in how he relates to others. I am eagerly looking forward to what all he will accomplish next term!" He got excellent marks in writing, reading comprehension, algebra and listening attentively.....

Thank you God for continuing to bless us and for allowing us to raise such a precious, kind son!!

Christmas Fun

2010-12-20T14:10:00.000-06:00

We had a FULL weekend!! John Parker's program--Songs of the Season--was wonderful as usual and he had a great class party. Mr. Coleman does such a great job with the kids and you can see how much they respect and listen to him. Saturday we went to Doughnuts and Hot Cocoa party; took pics with Santa; and went to Logan's Princess party. Sunday afternoon we hosted a Cookie Swap and had a great time. Today was Avery's class party and they were all so happy and excited.....plus Santa paid a visit. I can't believe Christmas is just 5 short days away!!

Simple Pleasures....

2010-12-09T08:28:00.000-06:00

I wish, wish, wish that I had been the one to come up with this "Elf on the Shelf" thing!!! What a great, simple idea. Someone said that they can't believe that their 7-year-old child who is so intuitive and smart could believe that an elf (with a tag attached to his booty) flies to Santa every night to tell him if you've been good or bad and then hides in a different place when he returns. I think there is a lesson in there for all of us........Remember and enjoy the wonder and magic of Christmas. I see it in John Parker's and Avery's eyes every day. As I rush around trying to decorate and wrap presents, they are playing with the Nativity scene (or Jesus' castle as Avery calls it); looking for Elfie and John Parker is writing letters to Santa and making Christmas cards for all his friends. The other night when they prayed, Avery said, "Dear God, thank you for you, Jesus Christ, and Joseph at home so Mary could go to work." I had to hide my face to keep from laughing!!! So here's to you Elfie...........may we all remember the joy and magic of Christmas and rejoice in the coming of our Savior and "his castle"!!! Merry Christmas!!!

Don't be a Turkey!!

2010-11-30T14:18:00.000-06:00

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercy endures forever." What a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend we had!! We went to my parents Thursday and ate and played; John Bret's parents Friday and ate and played; and then to Oxford Saturday to see the Rebels battle for the Golden Egg. They didn't win it, but State better enjoy their "one good season"!! haha. It's good to take time during the holidays and give thanks to God for all our many blessings. As much as I love Christmas, I try to wait until after Thanksgiving to start decorating. Thanksgiving is like that one last deep breath before the rush of the holidays. "Elfie" came out on Thanksgiving night. He will fly to Santa every night and tell him how John Parker and Avery did during the day. They wake up each morning so excited to see where Elfie is hiding. Advent started Sunday at church and it has always been one of my favorite times of year.....waiting on the birth of Jesus. Hoping that you all have lots to be thankful for!!!!!

Halloween Fun!

2010-11-10T09:51:00.000-06:00

We had a wonderful Halloween!!! The kids had a great time at their school parties, we had a wonderful 3rd annual Hornback Halloween Bash, and a perfect Halloween night! Mom and Dad (aka Grammy and Papa) and Aunt Kerry came over and then we went on a Trick-or-Treat hayride with John Bret as our chariot driver. The kids loved it and got way too much candy. It was a perfect start to the Holiday season. It's already going by so quickly--with Thanksgiving here in just a couple of weeks. I'm ready for things to slow down a bit so we can enjoy it.

Fall Fun

2010-10-22T11:18:00.000-05:00

It's been a busy Fall so far..........It's the kick-off to the holiday season (my favorite time of year)!! We took John Parker to the State Fair--which he loves and I took the kids to the pumpkin patch. They had a great time. I rode the giant banana slide, but let John Bret take him on the Ferris Wheel! There are lots of school activities coming up and I can't believe Halloween is next week!! John Parker made a pumpkin look-a-like for the Guord Gallery at school. He was really proud of it and the kids took rainbow cupcakes to school. Wishing everyone a Happy Fall Y'all!!

A Decade??

2010-10-12T18:46:00.001-05:00

September 30 was our 10th anniversary. We've been married a decade. Really? Time flies and I can't believe all that we've accomplished together in that time--a home, 2 beautiful, amazingly wonderful children, a great church home, wonderful friends and best of all--we haven't tried to kill each other (yet)...I kid. I kid. We took a great "honeymoon trip" as JB called it to Perdido and it was wonderful. I did several times wish the kids were with us, but it's good to have couple time. Here's to 50 more years of this crazy life that we love so much!! (on a side note, I can't believe that it's been over a month since I've blogged....I have over-volunteered and committed myself this joyous holiday season....Pray for me!!!) The song playing was "our song" when we were engaged.....nerdy, I know--but hey that's me.... :)

From Dixie with Love

2010-09-06T11:31:00.000-05:00

It was a great day in Oxford--despite the fact that the Rebels played horribly!! The kids had a blast playing in the Grove with their friends and the weather was perfect! This was Avery's first trip to a game and she loved it! John Bret was dove hunting, so I had both the kids by myself. They stuck through the whole 4-hour ballgame like champs......Of course lots of food was involved! Avery loved the music and all the people. She got to see the football team walk through and had her pic taken with one of the sweet cheerleaders. Hopefully our next trip will end in victory!!! GO REBS GO!!

Circus Day

2010-08-31T12:22:00.000-05:00

Today was Circus Day in Avery's class. She has been talking about it for weeks! She couldn't wait to be a "dancing poodle". Sr. Paula was the ringmaster and all the sweet clowns, lions, tiger, elephants, tight rope walkers, dancing dogs and cannon ball men stole the show! It was so sweet and the kids enjoyed it so much. Afterwards, they got to use their "circus money" to buy cotton candy, animal crackers, treat bags and cute monkeys in a circus car. Avery would just get the prize and not give her money.....haha. She is the happiest, sweetest child who LOVES, LOVES, LOVES to dance and sing her day away. I hope she always keeps that sweet spirit. I love her more than she'll ever know!!

Note: Stop the music player at the bottom of the blog to hear the videos!

Too Cool for School

2010-08-12T08:57:00.000-05:00

John Parker started school this week. He seems to be real excited. His teachers are great and they're really into Science. So far they have had a Madagascar hissing cockroach and a "Boxing" turtle as he calls it. He made two pictures for his teachers--one of a bird in a nest and one of a buck deer. Last year if you mentioned him having a girlfriend-- he got really upset and didn't want to talk about it. He told me the other night that he does like a girl (that was in his class last year). He said, "Mama she keeps staring at me during carpool in the afternoon and she even said bye." Bless him!! He's growing up so fast. I told him that he should never feel embarrassed or worried to talk to me. I would try my best to not judge him or get mad. He hugged me so tight and told me that he loved me..... We were in the convenience store the other day and the clerk and one of the customers commented about how polite he was. We're proud that he's becoming such a kind, loving boy. He'll be taking art and karate this year and is really excited about it!

John Parker and Avery love to sing (and dance) to their favorite songs on the way to school. The video shows them singing to John Parker's favorite--Chicken Fried by the Zac Brown Band (or Chicken Fry as Avery calls it) during this morning's carpool. They are so funny!! Just stop the music player below to hear the video!

Wild Wild West

2010-07-30T14:32:00.000-05:00

Today John Parker and Avery had Western day at their school and camp. Avery has been talking about it all week and I think she expected pony rides. She'll be disappointed about that! Everyone was talking about how cute she is. She just eats that up...little stinker. I was surprised that John Parker wanted to dress up but then I heard there was a prize involved. He's all about prizes, ribbons and trophies. I noticed in the car that he ripped the red plastic Sheriff badge snd the cord off the hat. I guess he thought it was too childish. It makes me so sad to see him growing up so quickly. When I blowdry his hair in the mornings, I really notice how tall he has gotten. I love my Roy Rogers and Calamity Jane!

Side Note : I picked up John Parker today and he had won 4 ribbons and a watermelon/blue ribbon for Best Dressed! He was so excited!

Boys of Summer

2010-07-17T20:09:00.000-05:00

Hotlanta has a whole new meaning!! It was definitely hot (although the Braves were not), but we had a great time. I'm afraid John Parker and Avery are spoiled because they've gotten to sit at club level for both the MLB games that they've been to--thanks to John Bret's friend Brian. It's so nice to be in the air condition and be able to to sit outside and watch the game. John Parker and John Bret spent a few innings sitting right behind home plate. John Parker absolutely loved it. He said that he wanted to play for the Braves when he grows up. He told John Bret that hearing the ball hit the catcher's glove was the best sound he had ever heard. When we were leaving the game after the fireworks show, he turned to me and said, "Mama, this is probably the best day of my life." I love that sweet boy. Avery loved all the food (especially the ice cream cart) and the tomahawk chop. She called it "the hammer". She also loved all the music and dancing. I bet at least 10 people at the ballpark told me what a beautiful family we have. They are certainly my greatest accomplishment (thank you God) and I didn't tell John Parker this...but...it was one of the best days of my life too!

Lil' Firecrackers

2010-07-05T19:48:00.000-05:00

This 4th of July weekend has to been one of the best that I can remember. We went to the neighborhood celebration Saturday with a boat parade, food and games for the kids, a band and an awesome fireworks show only rivaled by Walt Disney himself! The kids (and myself) had a great time dancing and visiting with old and new friends. Sunday, we went to Wolf Lake and spent the day eating, swimming and boating...oh and did I say EATING?? Whew!! The ol' inner tube finally gave out while John Parker and Will Hayden were on it! They absolutely loved it....Today was Will Hayden's 7th birthday celebration and everyone had such a great time. The weather was perfect. It really makes you thank God for all your blessings and to live in a country that enjoys such freedom. God Bless America!!

Life is Good Today!

2010-06-17T20:25:00.000-05:00

We had an awesome trip to the beach! The weather was great. There was seaweed the first couple of days that made the water look like split pea soup. Fortunately, it cleared up quickly. We didn't see any oil, but the bulldozers were setting up the berms. Dutch Television even interviewed me about the spill. I hope it is contained quickly, so that the Gulf Coast residents can get back to their lives. Avery loved the water this year and would tell passing boats to "get out of her water!" I hope the beach brings fond memories for the kids. I know it does for me...

Baseball and Ballet

2010-05-25T12:33:00.000-05:00

Avery had her first ballet recital Thursday night. I laughed so hard that my sides hurt!! She had a blast--with her mouth wide open the entire time. She couldnt wait to get back out there! John Parker had his first baseball game of the season on Saturday. He did a great job. I really noticed a difference in his focus this season, and he was determined to keep his batting gloves on the whole game! Boy do I love those little stinkbugs!!

Weekend Fun

2010-05-19T12:48:00.000-05:00

We had a great weekend. John Parker went to a b-day party Friday afternoon at Pump it Up. It rained Saturday for the Lake Caroline Crawfish Boil, but we still managed to get out for a little while and the kids had a great time. Sunday was a beautiful day for Cajun Fest at church. We enjoyed playing games with the kids and visiting with friends. AND, John Parker won the cake walk on the first try!! You would have thought he won the lottery. He was so excited!! He also had his first "big kid" project at school. He chose to do it on coyotes, and he finished 2 days early (not a procrastinator like I was). John Parker's last week of school is next week. I can't believe it has flown by so quickly, but I'm ready for Summer!!

Mama Mia!!

2010-05-10T19:42:00.000-05:00

We had a great Mother's Day weekend. It started Friday night with the St. Anthony crawfish boil. On Saturday we went to Lockard's party and rode horses, went to church and Papito's, and then on Sunday to Yazoo City. I also got a set of Paula Deen pots and skillets. (and I did ask for them :) I'm blessed to be a mother to two beautiful, spectacular children and to have a wonderful mother myself who serves as the best role model. I also have an awesome mother-in-law! What more could a girl ask for??

Lucky 7

2010-05-06T19:04:00.000-05:00

Today is John Parker's 7th birthday. I can't believe how fast these 7 years have flown by! He has grown in to such a sweet, sensitive and kind little boy!! We started off the day with cake and presents, brought a Bakugon cake to his class for snack and then went to Toys R Us and Chuck E. Cheese for dinner. After all that he had a 2-hour baseball practice. I know one little boy that should sleep very well tonight (and one Mama and Daddy too!!) Happy Birthday Johnny P!!

Avery is 4!!

2010-04-17T19:27:00.000-05:00

Last Saturday, we had Avery's 4th Birthday Party at the house with a Cowgirl theme. We had pony rides for the kids, face painting and games. It was a beautiful day and everyone had such a good time. We were afraid that Avery may not ride the ponies, but boy were we wrong! We had to pull her off of them. She would stand with her hands on her hips until someone got off and then race to get to the open saddle. I think we may have a real little cowgirl on our hands! :)

Hippity Hoppity...

2010-03-30T20:49:00.000-05:00

Today was the first stab at bunny cupcakes. We made turkey cupcakes for Avery's class during Thanksgiving, so I promised John Parker that we'd try some at Easter for his class. They turned out pretty cute. It was certainly a labor of love!

Little Buddy

2010-03-21T18:43:00.000-05:00

We've added a new member to the family--a miniature schnauzer. We all wanted different names, but settled on John Parker's pick--"Buddy"......Avery wanted Scooby-Doo!! So far, he's been great! He seems to already be trained to go outside. There have been no accidents in the house and he sleeps all night. The kids just love him. I hope he'll be a sweet member of our family for years to come!!

And in this Corner....

2010-03-12T09:34:00.000-06:00

John Parker loves the new Wii....especially the boxing. Is this some serious concentration or what??

Okey Dokey Matey

2010-03-11T12:43:00.000-06:00

Avery went to her friend Wiley's 4th B-day party on Saturday. She wore John Parker's pirate costume from Halloween when he was 3. She loves the Sponge Bob pirate episode and runs around saying, "Aargh" and "Okey Dokey Matey" with her hands on her face. It is too funny. She had a great time at the party, but I think she enjoyed chasing the dog the most. That's all she talked about!!

Yankee Doodle Boy

2010-03-04T14:02:00.000-06:00

John Parker had his patriotic program at school this morning. He did such a good job. He had to say, "All through the night the flag it still waves with blessing sent from Heaven above." I memorized it too since I practiced it with him 100 times!! haha

Tooth Fairy--Over Worked and Under Paid!

2010-02-24T18:46:00.000-06:00

John Parker lost one of his top front teeth over the weekend. He wrote the tooth fairy a thank you note and wants to leave it under his pillow tonight. Here is the translation: Thank you for giving me a sparkle dollar. And can you find my best yuki o?.......It was actually a $5 bill with fairy dust (aka glitter) and I have no earthly idea where this yuki o card is. He may be disappointed. I tried to tell him that the tooth fairy may not have time to come get the letter and he said, "I'm sure she can stop by for a minute and besides no one else in my class lost a tooth, so she can't be that busy." Who knew being the tooth fairy was such hard work??

Snow Day!!

2010-02-12T10:27:00.000-06:00

We got about 5-6 inches of snow last night and it's still snowing now! The kids couldn't wait to get out there and play. We made a snowman, had a snowball fight, went sledding with the neighbors and made grape sno-cones! I'm sure we'll be back out in it later. It is so beautiful. The kids have seen more snow this Winter, than I saw my entire childhood!

My Funny Valentine

2010-02-09T20:19:00.000-06:00

Tonight we finished all our Valentine's--woo hoo!! John Parker addressed all his for his school party. Avery helped with hers. She loved the princess stamp! And, I finished Av's class goodies!!

Who Dat?!

2010-02-05T11:35:00.000-06:00

John Parker had Black/Gold Day at school Thursday to celebrate the Saints and Avery had a Super Bowl party at school today. They were so excited. The dentist asked John Parker was he going to watch the Super Bowl on Sunday and he said, "My Mama is!" You can see who the football fan is in our house.....Avery was most excited about taking Cheese Puffs to school and kept reminding me about them!!

Eddie the Eagle

2010-01-21T16:44:00.001-06:00

Last weekend John Parker got to bring home "Eddie the Eagle" from school. He is their class mascot and gets to go home with a child each weekend. They fill out a few pages in the Eagle Journal with photos and details about what they did with Eddie. John Parker really enjoyed it.

Cotton Bowl Cuties

2010-01-06T08:12:00.000-06:00

We had a great Christmas/New Year's vacation....The kids enjoyed sleeping late and playing outside (see Avery's mud mug). We also watched lots of football!! Although it wasn't pretty--Ole Miss won the Cotton Bowl, so I dressed the kids in their matching football outfits for church Sunday. John Parker liked the fact that he and Avery matched....I have a feeling that won't last long!!

Christmas 2009

2010-01-05T16:50:00.001-06:00

My Favorite Things

2009-12-22T17:16:00.000-06:00

John Parker had his Advent program Friday and did such a great job! Avery had her Christmas play (Santa and the Christ Child) this morning and she was the sweetest elf ever!! I can't believe Christmas is just a few short days away.......

Santa Baby

2009-12-14T13:04:00.000-06:00

John Parker had his picture made with Santa at the neighborhood Christmas party. It makes me sad that he's almost too big to fit in his lap!! Avery wouldn't get near him--but she would at least allow him to be in the same room, which was a big improvement over last year! John Bret and I had a great time at the Starry Night Gala Saturday night. It was a great event for St. Anthony!

Frosty the Snow Head?

2009-12-05T07:33:00.000-06:00

Well....John Parker begged to go out this morning and build a snowman. I knew there wasn't enough snow so we settled for a snow head. He was just as happy! Avery didn't really want to stand next to it. She kept calling it Snow Beast (from Scooby Doo). I'm sure he'll be gone by later today.....

Hansel and Gretel

2009-12-04T21:09:00.000-06:00

Tonight was our first attempt at a Gingerbread House! I've always wanted to do one. John Parker decorated the roof and then got bored and ate the candy.....Avery ran around calling it her "castle". It was fun, and it was snowing outside while we made it....Perfect!! Now to clean up the mess and wash up. I've got icing everywhere!! Then we played in the Mississippi snow. Can you believe it?!! This may be the best Christmas ever!

Deer Slayer

2009-11-30T10:24:00.000-06:00

John Parker shot his first deer this weekend. He was so excited. The best part was the video that John Bret made. He kept asking "did he get it" and "let's go look for blood"....So funny. He is Star of the Week this week at school and can't wait to take his photos and show his classmates. We were picking out photos for his "star poster" and he would tell me which ones he didn't want. He said "Mama, those baby pictures just WON'T work"....Made me sad to see how grown-up he is......But, he'll always be my little boy...

Turkey Lurkey...

2009-11-22T20:44:00.000-06:00

These are the turkey cupcakes for the kids to take to school. They turned out cuter than I expected....There were even a few left over that John Parker got to decorate any way he wanted. He loves being creative!

HoHo, UH-OH!

2009-11-13T18:47:00.000-06:00

John Parker decided tonight that he would write a letter to Santa, so that he could come tonight and get it. He also drew 2 pictures to give him and left a few "Christmas" goodies for him. Then he told me that he thinks that Santa will leave him a little something in the morning. I told him that Santa only leaves toys on Christmas Eve and he said, "Mama, you never know--we'll just have to wait and see!"

Saints Come Marching In!

2009-11-04T10:55:00.001-06:00

Today was the All Saints Parade for the 1st grade at John Parker's school. Each of the children chose a saint, wrote a report about them and came to school in full costume. John Parker was St. Hubert--patron saint of hunters and trappers. They "paraded" in to Prayer and Pledge this morning while the rest of the students sang, "When the Saints Come Marching In". After that, they had Mass for the 1st and 2nd graders. Fr. Mike did such a good job with them--and let most of them stand up and tell who they were and a little about their particular saint. They were all so cute and sweet. It brought tears to my eyes to see them so happy to talk and sing about their faith.

Halloween 2009

2009-11-03T21:30:00.000-06:00

Halloween2009 was great! We started out with school parties for John Parker and Avery. Friday night we had the 2nd Annual Hornback Halloween Bash (in the rain)--but it was still lots of fun!! Saturday night was perfect for trick or treating with the cutest pink poodle and Wolverine EVER!!

Don't be Tardy for the Party!

2009-10-26T14:52:00.000-05:00

We went to the Cader Halloween Party Saturday night and had a great time! Julie had lots of fun activities planned for the kids like the limbo, treasure hunt, pinata and pumpkin carving. John Parker was so proud of his pumpkin. He carved the face all by himself. There was also lots of good food--which Avery enjoyed the whole time we were there!

Boo!

2009-10-23T17:53:00.000-05:00

John Parker had an art project at school where they paint pumpkins as part of a contest. Well, he was sick this week and missed the pumpkin painting day. So, we decided to do it at home. He painted a "Ahoy Matey" pumpkin and I painted a "Kuntry Bunkin Punkin"! We had a really good time (even though I burned my finger with the hot glue gun!!) And of course, Avery had to get her picture taken with her class Halloween "goodies". She is such a ham!!

Teacher's Pet

2009-10-06T19:33:00.000-05:00

John Parker wanted to take something to his teacher, so I made a St. Anthony pumpkin. I got the idea from a friend of mine from high school. He just loves to take things to his teacher and make pictures for his friends. In that way, he's alot like me...a bit of a people pleaser and "teacher's pet"..haha! I am pretty proud of how it turned out, if I do say so myself!

Harvest Party

2009-10-04T19:37:00.000-05:00

We went to a Harvest Party yesterday at Fullington Farms in Terry. The kids had a great time with games, pumpkin painting, a hayride and just running around like wild indians! It's a beautiful place to go.....

Blue and Gold Rush

2009-09-29T11:11:00.000-05:00

Friday was St. Joe's Homecoming with the theme Blue and Gold Rush. St. Anthony kids dressed up like cowboys and got to load up on buses and go to the Homecoming parade and pep rally. The kids loved the floats, the band and cheerleaders. I know John Parker's favorite part was catching the candy....He had pockets full! It was so great to see how the kids at St. Joe seemed to be all such good friends and truly happy to be there. It really felt like a family. I have to say that I forgot how fun high school pep rallies can be and not much has changed over the past almost 20 years--except for the fact that I was worn out by the end!! Go Bruins!

Supper Club

2009-09-24T13:40:00.000-05:00

We had a great time Saturday night at Lee And Jenni's for Supper Club. Ole Miss and State both won--so everyone was happy! :) We got all of the kids together and took a picture. I can't believe that we've grown so much over the past 6 years. Pretty soon, the kids will take over....well, I guess they already have!

Summer Last Blast

2009-09-07T19:31:00.000-05:00

We had a great Labor Day weekend. Saturday--John Parker, Avery and I spent all day in our PJ's watching football. Sunday--we went to my parents' church 171st Birthday. The people were nice, the sermon was great and the potluck afterward was wonderful. Today--we went out to Wolf Lake for our last "boat ride" of the Summer. John Parker and Bates rode the inner tube and swam, swam, swam!! On this Labor Day, I'm thankful to have a job that I enjoy and that helps provide for my family and affords me the opportunity to spend time with my children!

Happy Fall Y'all!!

2009-09-04T10:33:00.000-05:00

It's September...YEAH! Fall and the holiday season are my favorite times of the year. PLUS, it's finally football season.....Avery wore her cheerleader uniform this morning to school. John Parker wanted to wear his jersey, but I don't think it met school dress code! :) Happy Fall Y'all!!!

Home of the Braves

2009-08-23T17:21:00.000-05:00

We went to Atlanta this weekend to see the Braves play the Marlins. I have to admit that I wasn't looking forward to a 6-hr. drive to see a baseball game, but it was so much fun! We got to sit in the skybox and had a great view of Turner Field. John Parker and Avery loved having the freedom of running around and eating, eating and eating!! John Parker especially loved his #1 finger and the tomahawk chop. He had sooo many questions about the game and loved seeing 2 home runs! The Braves won 4-3....Sometimes the things you dread--turn out to be the greatest memories :)

School Daze

2009-08-11T09:40:00.000-05:00

Today was John Parker's first day of school. Can you believe he is a 1st grader?? He was so excited and wanted to make sure that John Bret and I walked him to class. I know that won't last very long!! It was such a peaceful, Spirit-filled atmosphere. I know this is going to be a great year!!

Go Eagles!

2009-08-09T19:43:00.000-05:00

Today was the Dedication of John Parker's new school--St. Anthony. It started with a wonderful Mass with the Bishop and ended with an afternoon at the school with Meet the Teacher. We got to see Fr. Cosgrove, who was our priest when John Bret and I married nearly nine years ago. It's amazing to see how fast time flies and that our baby boy is in first grade. I'm so grateful for the new school and the chance for our children to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a blessing our church family is, and I'm glad our families got to come today and share in such a special event!

The Bug Easy

2009-08-02T20:26:00.000-05:00

We went to New Orleans this weekend and stayed with Joseph and Jessie. We visited the Insectarium--which the boys loved. It was really neat. We ate LOTS of great food and went to Mass at St. Louis the King Cathedral--the oldest Cathedral Basilica in the U.S. We all had such a good time. It's amazing to see the cultural differences just 3 hours south! Thanks Uncle Joseph and Aunt Jessie for the fun trip to NOLA!

Fishing with Papa

2009-07-28T12:56:00.001-05:00

John Parker and Avery spent last week with my parents and had a great time. John Parker loves anything outdoors--especially hunting for "buck deer" and fishing. Here are a couple of shots of the "big catch" on his fishing trip with Papa. He wanted to make sure everyone knew that he caught the big one!

Krafty Kidz

2009-07-18T10:40:00.001-05:00

I took off yesterday to stay at home with the kids. I can't believe that school starts in just a few weeks! I bought some craft supplies and we had a great time (and made a big mess)! Afterwards, we went to Pizza Inn. It was a really fun day.

My Girl

2009-07-10T09:51:00.000-05:00

I was behind on ordering prints for the photo albums, so I have been playing catch-up this week with over 500 prints starting with Christmas. Last night I saw one of Avery from this past Christmas and we laughed at how much it looked like me. I went through some old pics at my parents last week and brought a few home. This one is from me at Christmas--I'm guessing about 1976? Too, too funny!

July 4th

2009-07-07T09:20:00.000-05:00

We had a great July 4th long weekend! Friday, I took the kids to my parents and John Parker got to take a look at the garden and hunt for bugs. Saturday, we went to Weezie and Gumps for Will Hayden's birthday and went swimming and boat riding. John Parker has just become a little fish this summer. He loves the water. That night we met the Wrights at the Braves game. The kids had a blast and the fireworks were awesome. Sunday, Avery and I went to Ryleigh's birthday party and John Parker and John Bret went fishing. John Parker caught a catfish and a 1.5 lb. bass. He was so excited!

VBS 2009

2009-06-26T15:07:00.000-05:00

John Parker has been at VBS this week. The theme was "Discovery Canyon"--where they had a beautiful backdrop of mountains, a waterfall, tee-pees, and wild animals. They caught bugs, made a pottery piece (although I'm not sure what it is!), made bread and learned about Native American missions. Today was the closing program where they told what they'd learned and sang. The first song was "My God is an Awesome God" and it brought tears to my eyes. John Parker sang his little heart out. I could hear him from where I was standing! I'm so thankful to belong to such a great church--not only a church--but a community of believers! Our God is indeed an Awesome God!!

Note: I also included a couple of photos of my "2 little monkeys jumping on the bed". They love to do this every night after their baths and I don't know anything sweeter.....

Sandestin 2009

2009-06-19T13:34:00.000-05:00

My Sweet Boy

2009-06-12T10:23:00.000-05:00

It's always been said that there is a big difference between boys and girls-- and that's certainly true. The personalities of my 2 couldn't be different. Avery is the independent one with the sassy attitude--not in a bad way, but she has a confidence that just shines through and she isn't afraid to be by herself. Her new teacher said she was "spunky" and that fits her to a T. In fact, I've started calling her "Spunky Monkey". John Parker is the sensitive one--always worried about hurting someone's feelings or thinking about things way beyond his years. My Dad's brother has been very ill with liver disease over the past several years and isn't expected to make it much longer, so my Dad flew to Minnesota yesterday to be with him and his other siblings (My Dad is the oldest of 6). The kids have been staying with my parents this week and John Parker told me yesterday that Papa was sad because his brother is dying. My Mom said that he was fascinated by the fact that Papa had brothers and sisters and was asking about why Papa was sad. She told him that he was grieving and he knew that meant he was sad. Always, out of the blue--he'll ask about why people do things and that God wants us to be kind and nice and how one day we'll see Jesus every day. It does my heart good to hear him talk about Jesus and know that he is sensitive to other people's sadness. Both of our children are such a blessing and I thank God everyday for them and pray for his continued guidance as we raise them.

Summer is Here!

2009-06-03T14:05:00.000-05:00

Well, Summer has arrived! John Parker is having a great time at his new camp and Avery has started her new class. Last week she had Crazy Hair day at school and a pool party. John Parker is playing baseball and planning on attending a baseball camp next month. We enjoyed Supper Club last weekend at the Deers too. Last night, we broke out the alligator pool and the kids had a blast in the backyard. Several kids from the neighborhood showed up too! It's a reminder that it doesn't take much to make kids happy. The simple things in life are the best!

Memorial Weekend

2009-05-24T21:16:00.000-05:00

It's been a great Memorial Day weekend--start to Summer. John Parker got out of school Wednesday and we've had lots of fun with new pet turtles, fishing, a trip to the lake to eat BBQ ribs with the Caders and a "spa day" with Avery complete with pedicure and hair trim. It's going to be a busy Summer for sure and we intend to enjoy it. People always told me to enjoy my children because they grow up so fast. I didn't know at the time how right they were. I want to spend as much time with them as I can and capture every moment! How blessed we all are to live in this country and enjoy our freedom, family and friends. God bless our troops and God bless America!!! (Note: I added photos of my purple iris because they're my favorite and I'm proud of them.....Thanks Mom!!)

Little Darling

2009-05-10T17:56:00.000-05:00

Mother's Day/Crawfish Boil

2009-05-10T17:47:00.000-05:00

We celebrated Mother's Day yesterday by having my family and John Bret's family over to the house where we opened Mother's Day presents and then went to the annual Crawfish Boil at the lake. It was a great day!! I am so blessed to have a wonderful mom and mother-in-law. Thank you God for all my blessings--especially my precious John Parker and Avery!!

Hornback Family

Happy Shiny New Year!!

Baxter

Adventures of Elfie

Boo!

Hornback Halloween Bash

Run and Not Grow Weary

11 Years of Blessings

Dixieland Delight

Back to Cool!

~Home of the Braves~

Beach Bums

School's Out!!

Bunnies and Birthdays

Spring....Renewal

Spring Fever

My Silly Valentines

Snow Day

Proud Mama

Christmas Fun

Simple Pleasures....

Don't be a Turkey!!

Halloween Fun!

Fall Fun

A Decade??

From Dixie with Love

Circus Day

Too Cool for School

Wild Wild West

Boys of Summer

*Lil' Firecrackers*

Life is Good Today!

Baseball and Ballet

Weekend Fun

Mama Mia!!

Lucky 7

Avery is 4!!

Hippity Hoppity...

Little Buddy

And in this Corner....

Okey Dokey Matey

Yankee Doodle Boy

Tooth Fairy--Over Worked and Under Paid!

Snow Day!!

My Funny Valentine

Who Dat?!

Eddie the Eagle

Cotton Bowl Cuties

Christmas 2009

My Favorite Things

Santa Baby

Frosty the Snow Head?

Hansel and Gretel

Deer Slayer

Turkey Lurkey...

HoHo, UH-OH!

Saints Come Marching In!

Halloween 2009

Don't be Tardy for the Party!

Boo!

Teacher's Pet

Harvest Party

Blue and Gold Rush

Supper Club

Summer Last Blast

Happy Fall Y'all!!

Home of the Braves

School Daze

Go Eagles!

The Bug Easy

Fishing with Papa

Krafty Kidz

My Girl

July 4th

VBS 2009

Sandestin 2009

My Sweet Boy

Summer is Here!

Memorial Weekend

Little Darling

Lil' Firecrackers