And Christmas is over...

The twins in the unwrapping frenzy.


Look what I got!


Robbie being sneaky and getting some icing.


Gingerbread house my mom, Lea (my aunt), and cousins Robbie, Grant and Glyn constructed on Christmas Eve.



First it was Memphis on the 13th. Then Christmas Eve lunch with Grandma and Grandpa, and the rest of that crew, Christmas Eve Service @ Rolling Fork UMC and then a few appetizers at the parents house followed by one present each. Christmas day was more presents with the parents and then a short drive to Valley Park for lunch and finally back to Kosciusko to do dinner with the in-laws.

This whole Christmas season, I have felt like I was running behind and that everything was rushed. It probably was because starting on Dec. 18, I was diagnosed with the bacteria for walking pneumonia and that medicine made me feel worse for 10 days.

I was able to get some Christmas cooking in and all the presents wrapped before we left KO and we were off to as Paul says, "The Delta."

We had many many good Christmases!

"Stone Bowl"

Hayes and Halea with the "Stoney Rocks" sign with mom Jenny hidden behind.


Stoney in action



Complete with my antibiotics, which are also used to treat Anthrax, for my mycoplasm bacterial infection, Paul and I headed to Gulfport Friday afternoon to do some shopping, eat with the Wood family (minus Sadie Kate and Coach Wood), and get a good night's rest before the "Stone Bowl.
Ethel High School Senior and football manager Stoney Armstrong was selected as the South's manager for the Bernard Blackwell All-Star Classic. His mom and brother, Sawyer came too.
He was very excited and all the coaches said he did a great job. I have heard he was spotted on TV.
Very, very proud of one of "our boys!"

Happy Anniversary Husband of mine!

I got to marry my bestest friend on Dec. 18, 2004. Love you, honey.

Neatest little gift so far

My Aunt Ang got Lisa and I a Mini Emergency Survival Kit and it has the 16 must haves -- Lip balm, dental floss, breath freshener, emery board, clear nail polish, nail polish remover, clear elastics, earring backs, hair spray, stain remover, doubled sided hem tape, mending kit, pain reliever, deodorant towelette, tampon and adhesive bandage.

I loved all my presents but this one was the neatest.

Christmas No.1 with Mimi and family

Christine unwrapping presents with my mom in the background. Christine will be 13 on our birthday -- hard to believe!


Daddy, Lisa and Mimi



We traveled to Memphis Sunday for our first of many family Christmases. It's always a little hard since my Mimi developed Alzheimer's but I am glad that she was in a singing and festive mood. She never said my name but I believe she still knows who I am and I am thankful for that!

Why I am so THANKFUL...

Every Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember, my mom, dad and sister have traveled to Valley Park (between my hometown of Rolling Fork and Vicksburg), to have our Thanksgiving lunch with "The Newmans." These days there are a few more of us since Lisa and I have acquired husbands.

If we don't come, my Aunt Florence and Uncle Horace's would probably disown us. One year we didn't get there until mid-afternoon and the first thing Uncle Horace said when we walked into the door was -- "Y'all going to eat."

They reside in my great-grandmother's house and at one time my dad called it home. I, myself, spent some time in Valley Park as a youngster. We moved to Rolling Fork when I was 4.

I always enjoy going there because there is no family sub-text. No hidden agendas. Just a day when come together as a family and spend the day laughing and talking and catching up.

My Newman traits are strong -- opinionated, dry witt and of course, the black curly hair. We all have the first two traits. It makes for entertaining afternoon.

There were about 20 of us for this particular holiday. Four years ago, we had a big reunion of sorts and we easily had 100 there if not more.

I wish I could have more holidays like the ones I spend with the Newmans. But I am thankful for the one that I have.

It was a lovely day for an Egg Bowl Victory!!!!

Maybe it's b/c I have had to listen to one to many fans of "the school up north" and all their junk but this year the greatest gift of buying season tickets to watch the Bulldogs play was the Egg Bowl Victory. And, of course, the end of the game with the Jumbotron flashing Anthony Dixon's picture with the caption "From Dixon, with love."

Then my friend, Alysha posted this on Facebook...so funny!!!

Cowbells ring.....are you listening?

Down the field, Dixon's sprinting!

A beautiful sight....rebels crying last night...

Walking with the trophy in our hand!

So Hey, Ole Miss fans –– What's in your wallet? :)

Oh If Only...

I could just be a personal shopper or have my own gift shop (b/c we don't have enough of those in Kosciusko). My sister, Lisa, and I have a booth in Dees Antique Mall and so far I have had a ball picking out stuff and and selling things.

What woman wouldn't love picking out jewelry and purses and such.

Y'all come check us out on Black Friday.

Working @ The Mall, Traveling to Starkville

One of my favorite things we ordered for the Mall. I love them and Paul hates them!

Scott Field before the MSU/Bama Game

Bully @ The Hump

Now that high school football is over, we can start going and doing again. Our shipment of home decor and Christmas Items arrived at Dees Antique Mall. We spent most of Wednesday night pricing things.

I love Christmas stuff so I wanted to just take it all home with me!

Friday night we traveled to Starkville for the women's and men's games and then returned on Saturday for tailgating fun with the Williams and friends and the MSU/Bama game. We won neither but we still had a good time. I liked the black football unis. There has been much debate about them on my twitter and facebook accounts!

Of Tigers & Titans

Wow! This is the first time since I have been with Paul at the last football game and we WON! Usually losing the last game for seniors is rough. They tear up and they are very emotional but for the most part these guys were all smiles. We were victorious over the East Oktibbeha Titans.

Senior night -- Part 1

And We Won!!!!

We score a bunch of points in the mud and the rain.

Keith on the sideline b/c he couldn't play until the 4th quarter. He got ejected the week prior!

Take the field

The captains take out Dalton's Jersey before taking on T-town.

You just thought last Friday night was Our LAST Home game

Well 'fraid not! The Ethel Tigers be on their home turf tonight. The game got changed due to poor field conditions at East Oktibbeha.

I have had a long, stressful week so I haven't been able to post photos or write anything. My dear sweet wonderful college adviser, teacher and friend Lora DeFore passed away on Monday from cancer. She was 49. She had the most impact on what I am today in the realm of journalism. So, for you teachers out there, know that you make a difference. I owe her for pushing me and helping me and teaching me. Hopefully, I will be able to attend her memorial service on Friday afternoon.

The end of the season is always sad to me especially for the seniors. I know it's their time and they no it's their time but it always pulls at my heart strings. I have seen the toughest of the tough cry after there last game and it always gets to me.

I will post some stuff on sr. night later.

Air Raid

Connor on the sideline. He had knee surgery Tuesday and physical therapy on Friday. He's is just itching to play football. He had his jersey on under his sweatshirt.

Tackles, Tackles Tackles

Hunter passes. We think he will end up with 900

or more passing yards by the end of the season.

Sometimes these Tigers of mine can surprise you. We play No. 2 N.W.'s butt off last night and I can say that we never backed down, never stopped playing and never got our head down.

Friday night we aired the football out! For the first time in a long time I got to see passes and catches -- It's a beautiful thing to watch. Hunter threw for at least 300 yards. Deangelo was the lead receiver of the night but I am not sure the yardage.

Final score was 48-20 N.W.

On a down note, Keith got ejected from the ballgame and will have to sit out the first two quarter of the T-town game, which is sr. night. Keith said the N.W. player had been punching him in the stomach all night and he just snapped. So everyone in attendance watched as Keith punched the kid on the ground multiple times. Atwon got him up and Keith did own up to his mistake.

My only problem is Keith is not the only one at fault. The N.W. player should have been punished too.

So after that the Warriors began talking junk and we answered with another TD. You could have heard a pin drop in the home bleachers.

We have 20 seniors between cheerleading, band and football. It's going to be sad but good to see them take the home field Friday night one more time.

I've been going non-stop and forgot

To update the blog. Well, let's get the bad news out of the way -- McAdams beat us in the battle for Attala. We played well the first half and played hard. Didn't quit!

Several of the varsity starters are out sick!!!!

Good news.....
Three 8th graders -- Ryan, Ashlen and Martez moved up to the varsity team today. They were excited and I am very excited for them too.

Connor had surgery on his knee today and everything went well. He starts rehab on Friday. I know Gena and Dube are glad the surgery is done. It's been hard on Connor not being able to play football because he is such a competitor.

I am headed out to Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze in Rolling Fork in the morning to help the parents with a school group! 69 first graders!

Football finds me...

Sometimes football just finds you. I can't help it.

I had to go to the doctor on Tuesday because I just wasn't getting any better and ears, nose and throat was all kinds of messed up. Lucky for me, Ethel/Greenlee's School Nurse Practitioner Cynthia Dean was working at Trace Medical and she fixed me right up.

After I get my shot, I see have missed called from my dear husband and then I get a text message from Cindi at the office saying to call Paul. I just texted him back and told him I was still in the doctor's office and I can't use the phone. He doesn't have text messaging so I still didn't know what was going on.

I am paying on my bill and I turn around to see my husband standing at the window of the receptionist area.
"Are you stalking me?" I asked.
"No," he replied.
And then I saw senior football player Keith Collins standing next to him with a dislocated finger and Keith has this big ole grin on his face.
It was just a nasty looking dislocation that Paul didn't want to mess with it and so about an hour and a half later, Dr. Bryant snaps it back into place and all is well.

I can't even be sick and stay away from football. :)

The greatest fan

That award would have to go to my bud -- Charles Fancher. He's our stat man and has probably not missed more than 5 Ethel football games since the 80s. That's what I call dedication! The good, the bad and the ugly -- he's seen it all and he keeps on coming back for more. However, he will quickly leave me on the sideline if it's raining.

Chasity crowned homecoming queen

Congratulations to Chasity Green for being crowned homecoming queen Friday night. Everyone looked so pretty.

A disappointing effort

Usually I can find the silver lining in every loss but this time I can't. We lost by 20 points and from what I can tell, they wasn't much emotion after the game.

I guess my thoughts can best be described through this story...

It's after the homecoming game and a young man is sitting in locker room with his head ducked and tears are forming a puddle on the floor. Coach asks the youngster -- "What's wrong?"

He replies "We aren't going to the playoffs and we just lost the homecoming game. It's over."

His heart and his emotion was invested in his team and in the game. The funny part about that is that he doesn't even play the game.

Heart, emotion and effort sometimes count for more victories than skill and ability.

Something besides football

Last weekend I had to sport my new "rockin" cowboy style rubber boots not only to the Ethel/FCA game on Friday night but at my parents pumpkin patch in Rolling Fork – Farmer Jim's Pumpkin Patch and Corn Maze. www.farmerjimspumpkinpatch.com

The funny thing about my boots is the only pair they had in my size were some "Ed Hardy" like rose and skull ones. If you know me, then you know that is not my style at all. I did get a lot of favorable comments on them. Enjoy these few pics from the patch!

I will post a photo of the boots later after I clean them up. It's good for a laugh!

Looking forward to a Soggy Homecoming

It looks like we are going to get wet tomorrow night! I am looking forward to seeing the homecoming court all dressed out and I am almost positive it will be in the gym.
6 o'clock with the game following at 7'o clock. We are all looking for the big "W" (win)!
Going to be cooking a lot of brownies tonight.

Nasty, muddy loss!

It was not a good night to be a tiger. We got beat by French Camp pretty badly.

To me, this loss stung worse than anything. Maybe that's why I haven't posted anything. I was speechless and I had to get up Saturday morning and drive to Rolling Fork to work the family pumpkin patch.

Here are a few snapshots!

Looking forward to homecoming Friday and a Tiger Victory!

Football sweatshirts!

Here is the order form. You have until Oct. 20!

Ahhh It's Game Day!

Sometimes games days are a little nerve-wracking to me. Today is one of those days. For the past two years, French Camp has beaten us by two points and tonight we take them on again. I am just sick at my stomach.

This week has been a rough one -- kids sick with fever and banged up. Connor is facing surgery to repair his knee. He will be back to play baseball this year but will have to sit the rest of the football season out.

So Ethel fans we need your support tonight big time! GO TIGERS!

White Out @ MSU

Now that's a lot of fans dressed in white! Rainy morning on the way to campus.

On little sleep, we went to Starkville this morning for the MSU/LSU game and man what an awesome game to watch. It rained the whole way there just buckets and buckets. Luckily, where our seats are, we remained dry and it eventually stopped rain.

Solid Vegas Gold

In our guest bedroom for at least six months or better there is a box filled with Vegas Gold Jerseys. I was sworn to secrecy and this was to be a surprise for the Tigers before the Weir game.

Just before game time Friday, Paul and the other coaches presented the players with the jerseys and they were so shocked and excited. The came out of our ratty field house with a sense of pride. I don't know if anyone else noticed but I did.

We may have lost the game 48-16 but they fought hard and competed well.

Just a note -- As Weir's team left the field they were chanting "We're going to get messed up." I am proud to say that our team did not.

How much cookie dough does it take to feed a football team?

I decided last night that I would mix together three batches of chocolate chip cookies at one time.
171 Cookies later -- I still had dough left. I hope the boys enjoy them! They get cookies or something another on home games.

If you notice in the background, I have Paul's cough syrup and a calculator to figure out how to triple my recipe. Paul went to School Nurse Cynthia Dean and was tested for walking pneumonia but thankfully he just has an acute sinus infection. He's much better.

The Blind Side

Last night I was watching the much anticipated season premiere for Grey's Anatomy and during a commercial break, I saw the preview for "The Blind Side" – the story of Ole Miss and Baltimore Raven offensive tackle Micheal Oher. At first I didn't catch that the film was about him but I soon remembered about the first time I heard of "Big Mike." A couple from Pontotoc traveled to Ole Miss to watch a football game and began talking to a couple. The couple said they were watching their son, Micheal Oher. The Tuohys adopted Micheal and took him from have no home and no education to graduating high school and college, into the NFL and most importantly to have a family. It's an inspiring story even if the element of football was removed. There is a YouTube link on the right side for the movie trailer and a little about the book.

What day is it? Game Day.

When you take that field today, you've got to lay that heart on the line, men. From the souls of your feet, with every ounce of blood you've got in your body, lay it on the line until the final whistle blows. And if you do that, if you do that, we cannot lose.

–Matthew McConaughey as Coach Jack Lengyel in "We are Marshall"

That always gives me chills when I watch the movie.

I am sure the Ethel Tigers will be getting a motivational speech tonight before they play Weir. Weir is always a big game to the Tigers – We always want to beat them and have a time or two (So, I've been told). I am sure the Lions will be out for Tiger blood tonight because their former coach, Jim Wood, is now suited up in Ethel Black and Gold.

Like the saying goes....

When it rains, it pours. We didn't have actual showers during the football game against South Leake but we did take our first division loss (32-6) and arrive back at the high school to find the field house had been broken into. Money and a cell phone were taken. Several other minor events, led to it being a horrible night that didn't get the coaches home until after 2 a.m. Saturday morning.

Great job EHS Lady Tigers

Just a shout out to the Lady Tiger Softball team for remaining undefeated in district play. CONGRATS GIRLS!

Happy Birthday Kelley!

A Big Happy Birthday to Senior Cheerleader Kelley Watkins! Hope you are having a great day!

It's Game Day!!!!

With all the rain, it's been a slow moving week. Only two days of outside practice with the rest being in the gym. Rescheduling of Jr. High game due to the rainy weather and it looks like it will continue tonight! I will be rocking my polka-dot rubber boots for sure! We will be traveling to Walnut Grove to face South Leake! Go TIGERS!

Happy Birthday to my hubby!

A victorious Friday night is always a good way to start your birthday and Paul's is today. I am cooking supper and his favorite cake tonight. He has already gotten all his birthday presents. We are staying in to watch MSU and Auburn.

That's right 2-0 in division

A win is a win -- no matter if it's by one point or 15! The Ethel Tigers overcame some bogus calls and kept on driving toward victory even when the ball game was tied 21 to 21. I am very proud they kept their heads up. We are now 2-0 in division and 2-1 on the season and headed to another division game against South Leake Friday. GO TIGERS!