The race for pancreatic cancer

You all know that my sweet mom was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer in October.  Since then she has undergone 4 tough rounds of powerful chemo, spent the majority of the latter part of 2013 in the bed, and was unable to have surgery because the cancer had spread to her liver.  She is now in stage 4 and is trying a new kind of chemo.  This treatment seems to be treating her much better and she is able to enjoy life and get out as she pleases.

My parents have joined a support group and learned about a 5k run/walk to benefit pancreatic cancer research.  Now I am not a runner by any stretch of the imagination, but I can do some walking.

The 5K event takes place on Sunday, March 23, 2014, at 2:00 in Memphis, Tennessee, at Shelby Farms.  You can participate in the 3.2 mile run or you can join me in the 1 mile walk!!!  The registration fee is $25.00  to run or $15.00 to walk until March 15.  If you want to walk or run for my mom we have created a team called “Faith Walkers”.  And you better believe that my mom will be out there walking and I’ll be right beside her. 

If you live around the Memphis area we would LOVE to have you join us.  I think it would be so neat to meet some of my blog readers that I don’t know personally .  Please consider joining in on the fun.  Mom said she wants them to find a cure in her lifetime and I do too!!!!!!

Register HERE

My mom's name is Suzanne Anthony  (It will ask you when you register)

My e-mail is: jlamar0044@hotmail.com

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His birthday deodorant

One would think that living in Mississippi it’s always hot and you don’t get snow.  That would be incorrect.  I don’t necessarily always rely on, or trust what the weather man might forecast our future weather conditions to be.  On Saturday I woke up around 6:45, walked into the kitchen to fix myself a glass of unsweetened tea (I don’t do coffee), and while I was getting my ice I peeked out the door.  I didn't have my contacts in, but I definitely saw “white”.  I was amazed that it was snowing and raced to wake up Trey.  I didn't tell him it had snowed, instead I said, “WAKE UP…. It’s an emergency!!!”  He had no clue what was going on.  We looked out the door and he was pleased to see the blanket of white snow covering our yard.

 He took the boys outside to play and I joined them a few minutes later.  Ford has experienced snow several times, but this was Bitty’s first rodeo.

 I would say we got about 2 inches.   

 We went across the street to the hill by the railroad tracks.     

 Bitty’s hands got so red and cold.  I think after an hour he was done with the snow.       

 I have no clue how we inherited a snow saucer, but we have one and it was great fun going down the hill.  Our neighbors joined in on the fun as well.         

 Ford was a pro at the saucer, and John Brantley even liked it himself.           

 All the acorns made the snow angels a bit uncomfortable!!!             

After we thawed out from the snow we headed to Germantown to my brother’s house to celebrate my dad’s 63^rd birthday!  Ford LOVES a birthday party, and he is invited to many throughout the year.  When I told him that BoomPa had a birthday coming up he wanted to know if he was invited to his party!!!  I talked to my sister in-law and we decided he needed a party.  She graciously hosted the event at her house.  We had lunch, cake, presents, and play time.                

 Jack serenaded us with the hit song from the movie, Frozen.                 

 We gave BoomPa jeans, slippers, and a gift card.  Ken and Ashley definitely did better than I did.  Ken gave dad a gag gift- some deodorant.  I’m sure you are all wondering why in the world would he give his dad deodorant for his birthday.  Well, when my mom went in to have the whipple procedure last month I forgot to put on deodorant.  I guess getting up at 3:00 AM to get to Memphis bright and early had me all thrown off.  When we were sitting in the waiting room I told Dad and Ken that I forgot to put some on and dad said he had some in the car.  Well, the man wears roll on deodorant.  It’s wet and nasty, but under the circumstances it’s all I had to work with.  I went into the bathroom and applied the deo, only to find that my arm pits were soaking wet, I was in a panic from the wetness, and it was making my shirt all wet.  I went back out to explain the unfortunate circumstances to Ken and BoomPa, and Ken laughed.  He reminded me that dad uses a hairdryer to blow dry his armpits after applying the wet roll on deodorant.  Ken decided he needed to join current times and bought him some regular deo!!!                 

 And the man got a Santa Clause suit.  He’s been wanting one for a while!!!!  THRILLED!                 

 BoomPa was also given a vest and Representative Lamar decided to try it out.  I believe all those lobbyist need to stop feeding my hubs steak and lobster.  He might need a nice side salad!!!  Love you Trey… that’s payback for what you did to me!!!                 

 When you have two older girl cousins they tend to do things that might be inappropriate…like dressing my baby boy up as a girl!!!!!                 

He would make a cute one!!!                  

My Dave Ramsey underestimated the price

Do you know Dave Ramsey?  I don’t know the “real” Dave, but I used to think that Trey was just like him.  The first two years we were married (2005-2007) we lived in Jackson while Trey was in law school and I taught in the Jackson Public Schools.  To say money was tight would be an understatement.  Even though we were broke as a joke, those were some of our best times. 

Dave Ramsey believes in saving money, not using credit cards, spending cash instead of charging things, etc.  When we lived in Jackson we had a food envelope and a gas envelope to last us an entire month.  How we survived, I’ll never know!!!  When we would travel from Jackson to Senatobia to visit family Trey would make us listen to Dave Ramsey and all of his financial advice on the radio.  It was NOT fun.  I don’t think financially.  I think: kids, laundry, cooking, cleaning, grocery store, etc.  Butting my head into the dashboard sounded like a good idea at the time instead of listening to him.  Now that we don’t live off of a teacher’s salary he has lightened up a bit, but still has his Dave moments.

I do have a point in discussing Mr. Ramsey.  Last year, yes 2013 Mother’s Day, my gift was to get some professional pictures taken of my boys.  That was a lovely and thoughtful idea, but the whole deal was work to me.  I had to find a photographer, plan a location, time, outfits, etc.  Stress a woman out!!!  My very own Dave Ramsey didn't think about how much professional portraits would cost.  You have the sitting fee, the charge of the pictures you choose, and the cost of framing them.  I think he underestimated the cost of his gift idea!!!  I put it off and put it off, and put it off some more.  Finally, Trey said I couldn't cut Bitty’s hair until we had pictures taken.  That got me going for sure.  So, at the first of December I called a photographer and we headed to the farm for our portraits.  

 The idea behind my present was to get some big pictures done of the boys and have them framed.  I love my pictures.  I still have to get them framed and hung up, but I think they look great!!   

 I got them done on a canvas background and they are 16x24.

So sweet!!!  Trey doesn't understand why I like pictures of people walking.    

God surely blessed me with these two!!!!!!!!!!!    

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I'm Over It... Buy a diary

I am over it.  OVER it… do you hear me people?  I.  AM.  OVER.  IT!!!!  I HATE cold weather.  I can tolerate chilly, but this 20 something degree weather and the wind have just about done me in.  My sanity is slowly slipping away, and my kids have cabin fever too.  And if you were wondering, NO, my dishwasher still isn't fixed.  The part is supposed to be here tomorrow and I may kiss the postman when he comes.  He better come too.  My hands are cracking from washing so many dishes.  Hats off to all of you without a dishwasher…you’re my role model.  

 Why not dirty up a few more dishes!!!????

 John Brantley is still in potty training mode.  He “needs to go” too many times a day to count.  The dressing and undressing umpteen times a day gets a little bit old.  The other night he walked into the living room like this…

 I’m sure Ford was watching his show called Wild Kratts on PBS at this point.  He actually learns a lot of interesting stuff so I don’t mind that he watches it.

 This morning we were getting ready to go run some errands and Ford said he needed some of his Daddy’s deodorant!  He then told me how good he smelled!!!!

 My parents didn't believe me that John Brantley puts himself in “time-out”.  It is rather funny when I think about it, but he does it so many times a day that Ford and I are used to it.  On Tuesday the time-out got to be a bit much.  I bet he went 12+ times that day.  Finally, I started videoing him going to his chair and pitching one.  I proceeded to send each video to my parents as proof.  They loved it.  Today he was so ticked he went under the chair!  Trey wonders if this is normal!!!???!!!

 Tonight I cooked “Shepard’s Pie” for dinner.  I thought it was good, Bitty ate it, and Trey said it was a keeper.  Ford didn't have the same feelings.

 I have decided that Ford doesn't like his food mixed up, such as a casserole.  I love a casserole.   

 And he’s done.   

Representative Lamar made the Jackson paper this week.  He’s also making lots of Facebook posts about the teacher pay raise.  I encourage those of you who like to post or comment about other people or political issues to make sure you know the facts before you share your thoughts!  Or consider buying a diary….

Jack's big day

Yesterday, my nephew, Jack, turned 3.  My sister in-law, Ashley, planned a family only birthday party for Saturday morning.  We loaded up and headed north to Memphis.  Ford was beyond excited because his energy level goes up several notches when his cousins are involved, and Bitty was excited but he had no idea why!

 The first stop was the train museum.  It was a neat place with a Thomas the Train table, flashing lights, bells, whistles, toy replicas of little cities, etc.  I am pretty sure we wore out our welcome at the museum.  The men in the orange shirts (workers of the museum) probably applauded when we left!  BUT, the kids loved it.

 Birthday boy!!!!

 After we left our mark on the museum we headed outside to ride the trolley.  This was very exciting for my boys since we had never done anything like this before.  Under the circumstances, I think the 5 kids behaved very well while on our city tour.

 Gran and BoomPa

 After the ride we needed a group photo.  Someone always feels the need to goose the picture up somehow.  Ford thought “special faces” were acceptable in this one.

 And Jack wanted to show his midriff in the last one.  It was his birthday…anything goes!!!

 I met Representative Fancy Lamar on New Year’s Eve 2002 while I was in Memphis with my friends.  We met at Silky’s, but later ventured on to another location.  When we parked our car this morning by the train museum we saw this sign staring us in the face.  Ahhhh the memories from 11 years ago…. We definitely visited this spot too.

We need a picture for the momentous occasion.  

 Ford too…. You can’t forget Ford!

 The next stop was lunch.  We like to eat.  We headed to a pizza joint called “Trolley Market Stop".  I felt the need to take a picture of the menu since it said “Jillybilly’s” on it.  Trey just doesn’t understand all of my picture taking.  It’s for the blog!!!

Ashley and I came to the conclusion that we were NOT our waiter’s favorite table.  Other than John Brantley knocking my gigantic glass of water over I don’t think we were much of a problem.  He took a month of Sundays to bring us our pizzas so we had to entertain ourselves while we waited….

 Happy Happy Birthday to our sweet nephew and cousin, John Cooper “Jack” Anthony!!!!

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