Celtic Thunder

In March we watched a concert by a group of 5 Irish singers called Celtic Thunder on our PBS station. I really enjoyed the show and was surprised that Jessie really enjoyed it also.



I was able to get tickets to their concert at the BOK Center in Tulsa and Wednesday November 19th, Jessie, her friend Kyla, Robin and I went to the concert. We enjoyed 2 hours of wonderful singing! Five different voices singing solos and beautiful harmony when they sang together. If you get a chance to hear them Jessie and I highly recommend them. It will be well worth the money!




BOK Center in Tulsa



Jessie outside the BOK Center in Tulsa before the concert

Jessie

Jessie joined the FCCLA (Family, Career & Community Leaders of America)at school this year. Recently Jessie and her friend Beyla participated in the local FCCLA Illustrated Talk contest. They had to pick a subject, write an outline and the talk, make a power point presentation, memorize the talk and present it. The subject they chose was Youth Obesity. They did a lot of research and put together a very good presentation. We are very proud of the girls...they won first place and will be going to regionals in January and then hopefully on to State. We will keep you posted!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CAITLIN

Caitlin has turned 16! October 8th the day started off with text messages from friends and family, a package from Aunt Robin and Uncle Dave, Jessie put a small disco ball with a light in her locker and surprised her with notes wishing her a Happy Birthday, they sang Happy Birthday to her in the lunch room, She received roses from Granna and Papa Larry at school



we took her out to eat and then we (Cathlena, Michael, Granna, Papa Larry, Papa, Nanny & Jessie) surprised her with her number one wish on her birthday list.......a puppy....1/2 Yorkie and 1/2 Maltese who she named Calie, and lots of accessories for the puppy!




On Saturday we had a party with Caitlin's friends...presents, cake, music and a lot of chatter!


We all had a great time celebrating Caitlin's 16th birthday!

Pontotoc County Fair 2008

It is County Fair time again. This year Caitlin entered two Boar goats in the fair. My-Ann her doe and Samson her whether. Caitlin and her goats headed to the fair grounds on Thursday morning so the goats could be weighed in and classed. Then the clipping, bathing, drying, touch up shaving and grooming takes place so they will be ready to show the next day. On Friday the showing starts. The goats are bathed again and blown dry so they will look all sparkly. The showing starts out with the Open Class Pewee Division - 3 to 5 year olds - they are so cute!



After Open Class is completed then the 4-H/FFA Competition Begins. Entries in each class are called to the holding area to wait until time to enter the show ring.


Caitlin and My-Ann in the holding area


Caitlin waiting to show

When it is time to enter the ring the announcer states the class and calls out the entries names and the judging begins. The goats are judged on how they walk, stand and muscle and tone.


My-Ann holding her pose as Caitlin watches the judge.

Caitlin and My-Ann won a Blue First place Ribbon in their class and went to the winners holding area. After all classes have been judged all first place winners are called back so the Grand Champion can be chosen, who receives a Purple Champion ribbon and five hundred dollars.

Caitlin and My-Ann were the Grand Champions of the Boar Goat Doe Show!


A little fuzzy but you can see the big smile


Caitlin & My-Ann taking the official Champion picture with the Judge and check.

Caitlin had a few minutes to relax and then was back in the ring showing Samson.


Caitlin and Samson entering the show ring


Samson waiting to be judged.

Caitlin and Samson took fifth place in their class in the Boar Goat Whether Show. After a couple of days off Caitlin and the goats will get back to work getting ready for the Tulsa Show.

Zip Line

We added a zip line over the pool! Jessie and her friend Beyla really have enjoyed it!

Patio Project

This summer was all about projects. Not only did we put in the pool and deck but we covered the patio as well. We have a refrigerator for drinks, the air hockey game, a sitting area with stereo and a misting fan. What more could you ask for, well I wanted an area to pot plants and I have that too. Now that the back of the house is looking good it is time to start on the front!



Caitlin taking a break on the new covered patio.




My favorite area...




I really enjoy having my morning coffee here or listening to the rain... Come join me any time you can!

Road Trip to South Carolina

On Friday, August 1st, Caitlin, Jessie and I left on a road trip to Aiken, South Carolina to visit Eva, Danielle and Shaun. I really wasn't worried about the drive except for getting through Memphis and Birmingham. Thank goodness for cell phones! Mike stayed on the phone with us giving precise directions that got us on the right highways with little or no stress! We spent the night in Oxford Alabama and on Saturday we arrived in Aiken, South Carolina a little after noon.

On Sunday we were privileged to attend services at New Covenant Presbyterian church, where Shaun is the assistant pastor, and hear Shaun preach. The rest of the week we went shopping, enjoyed touring downtown Aiken and relaxing with family.


I had a very special alarm clock every morning...Eva would come in and wake me up so we could start our day together. I really enjoyed my mornings with Shaun and Eva!



Eva and Jessie playing ball


Relaxing on the deck


Shaun, Danielle, Eva, Caitlin & Jessie


These two lovely ladies sit outside a gift shop in downtown Aiken


On Friday August 8th, we left Aiken and headed back home. We decided we were going to try and make it all the way home in one day, stopping only when we needed gas. Danielle thanks for the wonderful kettle corn, it was the favorite snack!

It was a long day (16+ hours) but we arrived back home at 10:45 pm on Friday (I did load up on caffeine along the way)

Thanks for the great visit Eva, Shaun and Danielle

Pool Project-Phase 5 -The Deck

After many months of waiting and hard work I think we can say the pool project is complete. Flowers are planted around one side and the first section of the deck is built and we are enjoying the pool and deck! Summer is nearly over so we will concentrate on getting grass growing and when spring arrives we will start landscaping again and add another section of deck.


Laying out the design


Almost there


Ready to use!





A little color!

According to the weather this morning we are going to have temperatures in the 90's so the pool will be open and ready to use so......so come enjoy it with us!

Project Pool - Phase 4

Project pool is almost complete. The pool is up, filled with water and we can swim! The first swimmer in was Papa.....



Since we don't have the deck up and the steps in we used our "red neck" ingenuity and backed the pickup up to the pool and use the tail gate as a deck. Notice the designer steps for getting in the truck bed!



Next phase of the project is the landscaping and deck building.....stay tuned!

Project Pool - Phase 3

We are in phase three of the pool project! Saturday morning we had several volunteers here and we were ready to lay the liner in and set up the walls. We lay the liner out in the sun to help get the major wrinkles out and then carried it to the pool area and stretched it out.


Getting instructions from Papa on how we were going to carry the liner to the pool area.


It took 7 of us to move the liner



Stretching the liner out.


Smoothing out the wrinkles.


Walls are up and we are filling the pool!


Setting the pool walls up and pulling the liner up over the walls was a lot harder than we thought it would be. There are no pictures because no one could turn loose long enough to take a picture. We were tired and sore at the end of the day. The girls and I know for certain that we never want to be pool installers.

Not much longer and we will be swimming!

Phase 4 coming soon!

Project Pool - Phase 2 (Little Pool in the Woods)

On the twenty ninth day of the sixth month in the year two thousand and eight we started the grueling task of establishing "The Pool". The task seemed quite challenging but our little minds couldn't begin to imagine the obstacle ahead of us. The first step was not to erect a pool in this open area of Earth but to establish a level and stable foundation for The Pool's construction . We shoveled and raked the grains of sand until sweat dripped off our noses and the leather of our gloves worn through. It was back breaking and time consuming but we were determined to have each grain of sand it's rightful place. The heat and physical work quickly wilted us down thus resulting in no further work to be completed. With an evenings rest and our hearts in high spirits we long to proceed back to the establishment of The Pool.

-An excert from the diary of Caitlin E. Spencer, a young pioneer woman


Ma laboring in the Earth.


Pa and myself.


Jessica and I leveling the grains of sand.


Pa using the large machine as I stand and ponder in amazement.

Future Red Hatters

What happens when a bunch of girls get together? You never know. Jessie and her friends Beyla, Kyla and Landon decided to play dress up with my Red Hat stuff. Then they had to do some posing......

Project Pool - Phase 1

This year we planned to put in a new pool (27 round with a deck). Papa got the dirt work done then it seems as if every time we started to work on the pool it either rained 3 or 4 inches or the wind blew 40 to 50 miles per hour.








Last weekend the weather was great and there was no rain in the forecast for several days so we set to work on getting the ground work finished for the pool.




Nanny on the tractor moving rocks


Papa & Caitlin


Caitlin & Jessie clearing out the smaller rocks



Phase 1 is completed and now we will start on Phase 2..... Stay tuned

Relay For Life

The last few months I've been participating in the Allen chapter of Relay for Life. We have sponsored a street dance, hamburger fry and Cutest Pet contest to raise money for cancer research. On May 30th we had a county wide fund raiser in Ada. It is an annual event and is held on the football field at ECU. Teams walk in honor of cancer survivors and in memory of those who have lost their fight. Each team has an activity (face painting, cake walk, moon jump, etc.) or sells something (homemade ice cream, icy drinks, hot dogs, nachos) to raise money. We start at 7:00 pm with calling the honor roll where survivors are introduced and then they walk the first lap, it was very moving to see all the survivors! Then the teams are called one by one on to the track to start walking. From 7:00 pm on Friday to 7:00 am on Saturday there is someone walking.


Team Allen walking together

An other fund raiser is the purchasing of the luminaries. You can buy one in honor of a survivor or in memory of someone. At 9:00 pm as each name is called out the luminaries are lite. The stadium lights are turned out and the only light is of the luminaries that circle the track. At the same time the word HOPE is spelled out in luminaries on the east side of the field. I took a picture - it is a little fuzzy - but you get the effect.



Allen raised a total of $6,822 and all the teams raised a total of $180,341 for cancer research! One day hopefully we will have a cure!