NANA NOTES

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAY

We finally got it together to have birthday dinner for Bryden.  He didn't seem to mind that we were a week late.  He's such a sweet boy and he was very happy with his "presents".  Boys can always use money. I think he has his eyes on a telescope.   He has a good start on it now.  It's hard to believe he's eight years old.  Happy Birthday Joseph Bryden Herring!!  You're a wonderful, sweet grandson!

JUNE BIRTHDAY PARTY

Let me begin this post by saying that everyone arrived safely!!  Some were late but that's ok.  We celebrated today for ME, Tiffany and Abby (my brother's daughter)!   I got up early and cooked the usual Sunday lunch and included a "Mae Mae" cake and homemade ice cream.  We were in the "throws" of opening our birthday presents when all of a sudden someone said, "Ball practice!"  Tiffany swallowed a piece of birthday cake (we didn't even get to light the candles!) and out the door she went with Ben and Shelby for practice.  Jennifer followed with Emily. The rest of us stayed and some read the paper, napped or watched a movie.  About 5:15 PM Ryan showed up and asked, "Where is that watermelon you bought, Nana?"  He went out to the ice chest and retrieved it.  We cut it and I think the smell of it woke Ed up!  We gathered around the counter and devoured the COLD, SWEET, RED WATERMELON.

I couldn't help but think of my sweet little friend Madge.  I wish she'd been with us.  She loves watermelon.  When I see that man on the road again, I'm going to get her one.  It couldn't be better than this one!

TODAY'S MY BIRTHDAY. . .

and I've received lots of calls and cards and even some "happies"!  I have sweet, sweet friends that I treasure.  Thank you all!!  This bouquet was on my bathroom counter when I woke up this morning.  There was a note with it.  I'm not going to share the note, but it was one of the sweetest I've ever received from my husband.  He went out, cut the flowers from our garden, arranged them and found the vase and put them in there WITHOUT me hearing him!!  Without a doubt I'll treasure this more than almost anything he's done for me--given of himself, his time and thoughtfulness--his love.

This will be my last "birthday".  From now on I will be like my friend Kay and just have "gift" days.  I still haven't grown up and I like it that way.  I am old enough to behave myself when I should and young enough to still have fun when I want to (which is most of the time!).

I thank the Lord for this day and for letting me live when He could have chosen not to eleven years ago. That's one of the reasons that being here today is so special.

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY NANA.

Update on the kids:  Tiffany had her surgery and is up and going.  Jody is in a brace and will not have surgery.  Another reason to praise the Lord.

MARCH BIRTHDAYS. . .

March comes in like a lion and today was no exception.  Three birthdays and two very sick little boys.  Jennifer stayed home with Graham who was throwing up and Shelly ended up taking Sam back home. He had been sick earlier in the week and started over again.  We did birthdays the best we could--Shelly (21st), Emily (22nd), and Jody (30th)--that's DATES not AGES!!  I won't go there; the guys are getting sensitive!! :)  Somebody forgot the cake (I won't say who!) but nobody cared.  We had a good lunch and they had their presents.  It's about being together and having fun anyway. As usual they were clowning around when we were picture taking.  Smiling is "out of the question".  Obviously Emily loved her new swim suit and matching flip-flops.  She couldn't wait to model for us.  The guys didn't want to try theirs on.  I guess we'll have to wait for warm weather.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHELLY, EMILY & JODY!!

GET WELL SOON, GRAHAM AND SAM!!

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAY GIRL??

Our Tomboy Shelby had her birthday lunch today!  About three weeks ago she got a dirt bike.  Her NayNay and I have been doing a lot of praying since then.  She wants to be a carbon copy of Chase Freeman! Don't you just love the way she's sitting on the cabinet on her new "sleeping thing"!  She was so excited about that--It's Spiderman!!  Papa and I gave her a gift certificate to the Honda Shop (?) so she could get herself something she wants for riding her dirt bike.   

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PRETTY GIRL!!

TODAY'S THE DAY!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SAM!!

Today's the day!  He is really four! Where did the years go?  He's so big and grown up!  He thought now that it was "next year" he would be going to school after Christmas. Does that break your heart?  Seven more months of our sweet innocent little boy. I sure hope he still runs to me for hugs and kisses when he gets to be five (and starts to kindergarten).

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS. . .

Hayden and Sam have January birthdays and today was the "party"!  I overslept and lunch was cooked in an hour! ( Yes, we made it to church and weren't late.  Papa didn't even have to slow me down either--drove the speed limit! Good sermon too.) Thanks to Jennifer we had a cake--BRATZ! "Every guy likes a good looking girl on his cake!" (quote from Jennifer)  I started the ice cream freezing when we got home so everyone was happy.  The food wasn't the important thing to the boys anyway.  Sam said he had eaten all his stomach could hold and it was hurting.  Shelly asked him if cake and ice cream would help and he said, "yes sir!"  Uncle Josh lit the candles and they blew them out quickly.  The presents were opened before I could get the camera in my hands. I did get Hayden with his truck and boat. He had already gotten "Heelies" from his Dad and Tiffany.  Aunt Jennifer and Uncle Shelly and the boys gave him something neat that I didn't see.

We gave Sam a truck with a horse trailer and horses.  He loved it.  Aunt Tiffany and Uncle Jody gave him some sort of motorbike thing like Shelby's and he was happy with that too.  Jennifer asked him if there was anything he had asked for that he didn't get.  He thought a minute and said, "a bike."  She wheeled one out and he went running to it.  An 18" bike that you can see for days!!  SCHOOL BUS YELLOW!!  Out the door he went.  I don't think he's had cake or ice cream yet.  I guess that will wait till tomorrow. 

I can't believe our boys are growing so fast.  Hayden turned 6 on Friday and Sam will be 4 on the 15th.  Watch out Franklin Lower Elementary!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRYDEN!!

We celebrated last Sunday, but today is Bryden's 7th birthday. He's got the "candle blowing" thing down just fine!  It's hard to believe he's getting so big--he got a big bike for his birthday.  Take a look at Tiffany's blog (www.jtherring.typepad.com) to see a picture of him with the bike.  As usual we had fun--cake, ice cream and presents. We love you big boy, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!