Christmas with food allergies

Wow, I'm just going to say that Christmas time (or any holiday in general) is really hard on us mamas with kids with food allergies.  The gluten free part has become second nature since Hadley has been GF for several years now.  This is our first year having eliminated gluten, yeast, dairy, egg yolks and limited sugar.  I decided before all the parties and madness started, I wasn't going to allow all the candy and junk that turns my daughter into a different person.  But I also wasn't going to allow her to be sad about it and feel left out.  Our days of making cookies this year were totally different than years past.  Before, I would've stocked up on butter, flour, sugar, more butter, more sugar, and lots of milk chocolate.  This year, it was nuts, dates, dried fruit, GF flour and agave.  I doubted how this day of baking would turn out, but I've got to say...not bad.  And the best part?  We have all been snacking on the healthier desserts instead of wolfing down a whole pan of fudge in an evening.  I feel so much better than I usually do this time of year, and can actually button my jeans.  So here are some of the treats we made this year.

We made these grain free sugar cookies today.  We put red and green sprinkles on them and left some out for Santa.  Mama loved these...we'll see if santa likes healthy sugar cookies ;)

These were my favorite.  I grew up making pecan sandies with my mom.  She always made them in a ball and rolled them in powdered sugar after they cooled a little.  I didn't miss it a bit.  In fact, I liked this version better!  Shhhh...don't tell my mama.  Oh, and Alex even liked these, and he usually turns his nose up at my GF treats.

The kids absolutely loved this version of gingerbread people.  I actually didn't have tiny gingerbread cookie cutters, so I just rolled them into balls and served them in little mini-muffin paper cups.  These have such a wonderful ginger flavor, and they were fabulous!  I packed these in a sandwich baggie for the park, and they are a great little snack.  We have also made many of the other larabar recipes on this site, and are quite in love with them.

These blondies were da bomb dot com.  For reals.  One problem.  They had brown sugar in them, and made my daughter cra cra.  I really wanted to try to substitute the sugar for agave, but they were already so gooey, that I don't think it will work.  I loved these so much, and they were Eli's fav.  And I promise, you can't taste the chick peas...pinky promise.

These pillow cookies were a hit with the kids, but not my favorite.  I substituted the whole wheat flour for my GF flour mix I keep mixed up in my pantry.  I also didn't roll the cookies in the sugar/cinnamon mixture since I was avoiding sugar.  Instead, I added cinnamon to the dough, and it turned out tasting like a snickerdoodle.  If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit smitten by Chocolate Covered Katie.  She doesn't know it, but she's my new bestie, and has made my daughter very happy.

By the way, I had the nerve to serve all of these healthy cookies for dessert at bunko last Tuesday night.   Unless my friends are great liars, they loved them!  If anyone is interested at all in recipes, I'll share with you all what I served for dinner that night too.  Ya'll just let me know.

And last, but certainly not least, I made these lemon cranberry coconut muffins for breakfast on Christmas morning.  Hadley thought these were so pretty that she had to have one for dessert tonight.  She chose that over a cookie.  Eli had one too, and both of them gobbled them up.  So I guess they are good.  We usually cook a really big brunch on Christmas morning, and I thought it might be nice to mix it up for my girl as she is probably getting tired of egg whites and sausage.

Merry Christmas ya'll!  Enjoy celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ with your loved ones!

The Immaculate Conception

I had intentions of posting this on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary.  But it's still advent, and very appropriate for during the time of waiting for our Savior.  Enjoy.

Fetal Cells and Mary

By Sherry Boas - Posted on February 8, 2012

I’m not a theologian. I’m just a mom who has thoughts in the middle of the night. I can’t be the only mom who had the thought I had after reading a LifeSiteNews article about a recent finding that a baby in utero leaves healing cells in the mother’s body that can benefit the health of her liver, heart and brain for the rest of her life. Apparently, they’ve all been right about embryonic stem cells. They’ve just been wrong about the effective mode of delivering those cells: it requires an openness to life to really do the body good.

But the health benefits of pregnancy, although beautiful and fascinating to explore, were not the thoughts that kept me up in the middle of the night pondering the greatness of our God. The thought was this: “Wow! That means Jesus’ cells remained inside of Mary for the rest of her life! Jesus’ sacred body was hidden inside her immaculate one, not only for nine months. It remains so for all eternity.”

According to a recently-published book Do Chocolate Lovers Have Sweeter Babies?  by science writer Jena Pincott, during pregnancy, the baby’s cells enter the mother and the mother’s cells enter the baby’s. Could this help explain the beauty and validity of the doctrines about Mary held so dear by Catholics?

If this study is true, and if it applies to the miraculous birth of God incarnate, the cells of God were not just contained within the womb of Mary, destined to emerge entirely intact from her body on that first Christmas. They were distributed and embedded throughout her body for the rest of her life. Would that explain why God could not leave Mary’s body to decay within the earth? The Assumption of Mary teaches that Mary was taken up to Heaven, body and soul, immediately after her earthly life was complete. Could the fact that Mary’s body had the incarnate God still within in it at least partly account for God’s decision to move Mary’s body straight from its pure existence on Earth into the glory of Heaven?

Another Doctrine we Catholics hold dear about our Blessed Mother is that she was conceived without sin. The Immaculate Conception takes on a whole new relevance when we consider that Jesus’ cells were going to intermingle with hers for eternity and her cells were going to intermingle with His. God is all-holy. He cannot be intermingled with sin. If God is going to leave his very cells inside a human being forever, would it not need to be an all-holy place? An immaculate place?

The reverse is also true. With cells sneaking across the placenta in both directions, you can see why Mary would have had to be conceived without sin. Jesus could not have been born with a single sinful cell in His body. He is, after all, God.

There are moments in history when science and faith intersect in such a stirring way, insomniacs don’t stand a chance once they begin to ponder it all — even it if is one o-clock in the morning and there is a  house full of kids who are going to wear you out the next day. If Mary could have known the science behind what was about to take place in her body on a cellular level, sleep might have eluded her as well.

Took Me Awhile to Get Here

It was Wednesday night and I had remembered a bath recipe my sister had sent me a few months back, and I knew I needed it.  So as I ran my bath, I collapsed on my bed.  Could I even make it to the bath tub again?  I felt my fever coming back...third day in a row.  I had just gotten the little kids to bed after we returned from the dreaded pediatrician.  I had no other choice but to take them there, as we were on days 4 and 5 of fevers with them.  No strep, doctor said, and ears looked fine.  He said we are all coming off of the flu.  I'm exhausted and wondering why this happens during Christmas basket week at Church.  They week that I get a hands on way of showing the children about giving to those less fortunate than us.  We had missed all of the activities except Thursday night (and I knew by the way I was feeling at that time, I wasn't going that night either).

I looked over on my bedside table and found a book that my friend gave me a few weeks ago.  Then it hit me.  I have wasted three days of my life in front of the television.  I watched everything I ever recorded on my DVR, and then started new shows I'd never watched before.  I hadn't read a single book.  I had done my normal devotionals, but I had ignored the down time given to me during a normally busy time of year.  I always long for more time to read, and never have it.  Here it was, and I wasted it.

So I took 1,000 Gifts into my long soak and read.  Wow, was it what I needed.  This is totally paraphrased, and not at all poetic and beautiful like the author explains it...consider this a warning.  She says that if life is a canvas with a painting, the tragedies we go through are rips in the canvas.  She has a realization that the rip may just be an opening through which we can see God.  Absolutely a beautiful way to look at suffering.

Now, I'm not comparing my family having the flu to the loss and suffering of those who lose loved ones, or have terrible illnesses.  What I'm saying is, it was not in "my plans."  And I believe it was God's attempt at getting my attention and maybe giving me the break I would not give myself so that I would cling to him.

Catching up on Thankfulness

Well, the idea of posting daily in November was a grand idea, and one I totally planned on completing. Not so much, but I think doing over half is pretty darn good.  Here are a few more things I didn't post about that I'm thankful for:

Red Wine
Good Music
A fire in the Fireplace
Hot Chocolate
Christmas Lights
My Church
My friends who love me despite my many flaws
My 3 beautiful Children
Our Health
Fall in Tennessee
Carefree Timelessness with my family
Cursillo
Babies
Homeschooling (love having my ducklings under my wing)
Our homeschooling community at our Church
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
Being back in Franklin


And last, but certainly not least...This guy.

My best friend, and husband, and father of my children.  He works so hard for our family so that I can stay at home and educate these youngins.  He hates to leave home every time he has to go out of town, but does so with joy because he knows it's necessary.  When he is home, he just wants to be with us.  He prays with us, and helps with baths and bedtime.  He cooks for us and is an amazing cook.  Very much a hands-on dad.  He makes up crazy fun games that the kids love like "Roar" (like hide and seek but you "roar" when you find someone), and "I saw" (he talks to the kids every night and they ask him if he saw any animals that day.  He asks them the same.  We document with pictures and share them with each other).  Here are some pics of our favorite spottings (I saw 3 peacocks on the side of the interstate on the way back from Orlando a few weeks ago, but couldn't get a picture...not kidding.  Nobody believes me except my dad).

 Black bear in FL

 Dear in Franklin

 Fox on the lawn of the library

 25 turkey in the neighbors yard

And the funniest animal of all.  Daddy.  After all these years, he still makes me laugh.  I love him and am thankful for him everyday!

Thankful for-Day 22-My Parents

I really mean this.  I have the best parents ever.  They sacrificed so much for us growing up so that we could go to private school and take dance lessons, and play sports, etc, etc.  We never had the fanciest of clothes nor did we wear name brands, and I think that helped form who we are today.  We were taught how to manage money and to not spend more than we have, and to always tithe first, before any bills were paid.  We were taught how to pray, and to put God first in every aspect of our lives.  We were taught how to love our spouses, and they were the perfect example of this.  Dad never did (or does to this day) pass up an opportunity to steal a kiss from mom, or grab her butt (or other body part).  We always thought it was so gross, but appreciate it now!  We were taught to be passionate about things we love.  We were taught to stand up for what we believe in and what is right, true and good.  We were taught how to act like ladies and how to respect adults.  We were taught to lean on each other when the "going got tough."  We were taught how to treat our friends and enemies.  We were taught about good work ethic.  We were taught how to sell stuff and negotiate and to NEVER play full price.  We were taught how to fish and how to throw a cast net (and boy would Dad have loved to have raised some girls who would hunt too...no such luck).  We were taught how to stay married.  We were taught that homeschooling could be cool.  We learned what kind of husband to look for and what kind of wife to be.  We were taught how to parent God's way, no matter what the world says.

So today, I want to say how very thankful I am for my wonderful parents (and they don't read my blog so I've got to now email them this link so they see this!!!).  I love you both very much and thank you for all you have done for me and continue to do for me!

Thankful for Day 21-Wifi

I've been at my mom's and she has a computer, but no WiFi, which meant I couldn't post because all of my pictures are on my laptop.  So I'm grateful to be home where I have WiFi.  Now I can catch up on my days of thankfulness!

Thankful for Days 19 and 20-Heidi and Lindsey

My sisters.  They are awesome.  We haven't always gotten along, and still don't always get along.  But I know this.  We choose to be friends, and we always make up.  It isn't always easy having sisters, but on the flip-side, I couldn't imagine life without them.  Though the miles separate us, we still manage to see each other all together at least twice a year (and sometimes more separately).  I'm so grateful to have sisters that all make the effort to stay close.  

 Girls, don't be mad at this picture.  The only other halfway recent one of us is in the pool this summer and I KNEW you'd kill me if I posted that.  It's equally bad of all of us, so that makes it fair.  

My dear, sweet Heidi.  I'm here in FL with Heidi right now and have enjoyed every second of her and her sweet boys.  Sad to leave tomorrow :(  Grateful for you my eldest sister.  You are sweet, kind, giving, selfless, beautiful inside and out, and I love you so much!

Lindsey, you will always be my favorite duet partner.  No matter how much we disagree, we will always be in perfect harmony.  I love you Lindsey and am grateful for your honesty, perseverance, beauty and strength.  How awesome is this pic by the way?  You'd think by the looks of it that we think we are professionals...oh wait...we do!

Thankful for Days 17 and 18-Reunions and Reunions

I am thankful for old friends!  This has been a busy weekend full of reunions!  Friday night was a very casual, relaxed evening with my friends from high school.  A few of them organized a party for our 15 year reunion and it was a blast.  I'm so grateful to get to spend time with these people and learn about their lives and children and where they are in life (and it's really neat that I'm not on FB and get to actually find out about their lives through conversation...just sayin').  

 Hanging with the girls (we laughed all night.  Such a fun time!)

 The whole crew

 Me and AT

 The guys singing a little Hank.

Me and Annice (sitting around a fire pit that later burned down this deck...just terrible. Thankfully it was in the middle of the night and they caught it before it touched the house.  Nobody was hurt.  Lesson for us all...never put a fire pit on a wooden deck!)

Then the next night was my big Alpha Gam sister's wedding.  It was fabulous and I got to hang with the girls.  We danced and laughed and danced some more.  I'm so grateful for that time I had with my girls!

 Do you have one of those friends where you just pick up where you left off?  That's me and Illy.  We can go months without talking and then just act like we never missed a beat.  I always can share my heart with her and love her dearly.  My Nilly!!!

 Me and Alecia, the stunningly beautiful bride!

 There was a photo booth there...lots of fun!

Blake, Nikki, Jill, Illy, me and Emily.

I'm thankful for a weekend full of reminiscing and making new memories with old friends!

Thankful for-Day 16

This is a really big one.  Bunny finished her reading lesson book!  I'm not going to lie.  This book "Teach your child to read in 100 easy lessons" was not always easy for us.  I have a friend who has very bright children (you know who you are) who told me to use this book.  I cursed her silently in my head over the last year as we struggled through this book.  Not easy with a strong-willed child.  I'm sure her children flew through it ;)   But the point is, we finished it and I'm so glad we did, because Hadley is really reading well because of this method (see pic below of the last story she read).

On Thursday we celebrated the completion of this book by going to see Brave at the downtown Franklin theatre, which we've been wanting to go to.  We hadn't been since the remodeled and re-opened it.  It was really need.  It feels like an old-timey movie theatre...well, actually, it is one!  Tickets are ALWAYS $5 there, and they sell beer and wine.  Win/win/win.

So proud of my Bunny and thankful for her perseverance to finish this book!

Thankful for Day 15

I'm so grateful for my 12 year old son who talks to me and his dad about everything.  When something is bothering him, he comes to us.  I hope he still does this when he's in high school and into adulthood.  He's a great kid, and I'm thankful for him.

Thankful for Days 13 and 14-Red and Friends

I'm so thankful for good music.  Music makes me happy.  Taylor Swift's new album is so good.  I do like Taylor, but typically put in one of her cds because the kids want to listen.  Not the case with the new album.  I put it in because I want to listen.  Her writing is really getting good as she grows and matures.

Also thankful for my group of friends here in Franklin.  I'm thankful for all of them, but in this case, I'm talking about the ones from my mom's group.  We get together once a month at someones house for "Bunko."  We rarely play bunko though.  We eat dinner, talk and the hours fly by.  It's just really nice to have a group of like minded women who you can share things with.  We mostly laugh...lots.  Last night was no exception.  Thank you God for these women who are unique in their own ways and are the joy of my heart!

Thankful for-Day 12

I just started singing at church again after 6 years!  This is my first time singing at this particular church ever.  I'm very grateful to be a part of this group of singers.  It is non-pompous, and so welcoming and just downright pleasant.  Tonight we prepared our music for Advent and I just looked around the room at all of these people who gave their time (without pay) away from their families, to prepare the music for the coming of our Savior.  I felt such a sense of gratitude to be surrounded by such talented people who are freely serving the Church with their God given gifts.

Thankful for-Days 10 and 11 Babies and good weather

Phew, this blogging everyday is wearing me out!  I guess since I'm doing two days in one, I'm not officially blogging everyday, but who's counting?

I'm thankful for unexpected 70 degree weather in November.  What a beautiful weekend!

And I'm thankful for a day snuggling with my chunka hunka burnin' love nephew, Blaise!

Thankful for-Day 9- My 6 year old

My sweet girl.  My FIT (fashionista-in-training).  Pun intended since she pitches lots of those :).  I can't believe she is 6.  Time flies and she is just growing so fast and learning so much.  I love my baby girl and am so thankful for her.  Happy Birthday Hunny Bunny!

Thankful for Day 8-New Life

Introducing my latest angel I'm thankful for...Kolbe Augustine Lott...

My sweet...

 ...kissable...

 ...contemplative...

...squishy, snuggly nephew.

Thank For-Day 7 God with us

I'm thankful to have the knowledge that God has his hand on our nation no matter what the future holds.

Thankful for Days #5 and #6

#5-I'm thankful for my yoga class that keeps me sane and healthy.

#6-I'm thankful for my new Lululemon top I got to wear to my yoga class today.

Namaste

Thankful for-Day 4-Fall Saturdays in the South

For us, this means football.  It's our favorite time of the year.  And last night was the most exciting game I've seen in years.  I'm so thankful for a sweet victory!  Roll Tide ya'll!

Thankful For-Day 3: Participation Trophies

You will usually find me on my soapbox about participation trophies for sports teams.  I think rewarding mediocrity gives our next generation a sense of entitlement.  But not today!  Today, I'm grateful for that little trophy!  My little guy was so happy to get it.  He has been proudly carrying it around all day.  He has seen his brother's shelf full of them and now he has one of his own!

Thankful for-Day 2: Laughing at Myself

Check out this little gem.  Apparently, it's been ruthlessly going around FB.  So unfair that I am not on there to defend my, ahem, fanny pack.  Oh wait, I'm pretty sure I wasn't an FBI agent packin' heat when I was 17.  So I have no defense!  Oh well, at least I can laugh at my past, poor, fashion choices!

Thankful for Day 1-Getting up Early

So today I was up at 6:30 am.  This is super early for me...don't hate.  Anyway, I've had this awful cough for a week and woke up early coughing.  Instead of putting my husband through the torture of waking up to a hacking wife, I decided to get up and make the coffee.  I really am not a morning person, but once I'm up, I so enjoy being awake!  I feel like the Proverbs 31 woman...for a few minutes anyway.  While waiting for the coffee to brew, I put a load of laundry on.  Next poured my coffee and said my morning prayers...in the peace and quiet.  It made me smile.  I then decided to make the kids a special breakfast and lay out their clothes.

What a great start to the morning!!!  I thought the kids would be thrilled with chocolate for breakfast, but apparently my muffins lacking gluten, sugar and dairy (with added veggies), were not the chocolate they were wanting.

Oh well, I still liked them and I'm grateful for waking up early today!

She Gets It

I swear, if I knew the author of this blog, we'd be besties...

Leggings are not Pants

I don't care who you are, leggings are not pants.  I don't know who started this horrid trend, but it's disgusting.  Nobody wants to see your hiney.  

 The cropped denim vest makes this look simply unbearable.  

 I don't care how pregnant you are...

 ...how skinny you are...

 ...how nasty you are...

...how stylish you think you are...

LEGGINGS ARE NOT PANTS!!!  They are leggings, to be worn under a dress, tunic or long shirt.  

They've Gone and Done it

Do not judge me.  I'm maybe a little addicted to a few reality shows.  However,  I thought I was done with American Idol.  But they went and did what it took to get me back...hired Keith Urban.   I guess I'm going to have to look past Mariah Carey's and Nicki Minaj's cleavage.  Which is fine.  I've been ignoring Christina Aguilera's for 2 seasons now and am on my third of The Voice.  I keep thinking she is going to look back on the episodes and see how trashy she looks and maybe wear a few more articles of clothing, but I haven't been so lucky.  Anyway, I'll just close my eyes and listen to that Australian accent.  He'll take away my sorrows.

I don't know about anyone else, but I just find The Voice, darn enjoyable.  And yes, I do like it for other reasons than Adam Levine.  To me, the people who are auditioning are more talented than any other singing reality show I've ever seen.  And I truly love the idea of the blind auditions.  I think so many people are overlooked because of their appearance and are extremely talented.

And if you were wondering, yes, I did watch the first season of the X Factor.  Awful.  Hated it.  And way to go, Simon Cowell.  Fire Paula Abdul and Nicole Scherzinger and hire Britney Spears and Demi Lovato.  That's like going from "terrible" to "epic fail."  I will not be watching this show again if you were wondering.

 So just out of curiosity.  Am I the only one who loves singing and dancing shows?  What's your favorite?

What are we doing today?-A Homeschooling Reflection Part 2

Every time I talk to someone who doesn't homeschool about homeschooling, I get the same response:  "There is no way I could do that.  I'm just not the teaching type."  Or, "Me and my kid would butt heads.  No way would homeschooling work for our family."  I get what they are saying.  I felt the same way.  But I'll tell you what I've found out...the more we are all together, the LESS we butt heads.

This was our schedule before we homeschooled:  6:30 am-Wake up, get kids dressed, fix lunch, eat breakfast, make sure all books were together (have an argument about why the backpack is not ready to go out the door), load everyone in the car, pick up carpool, or get picked up by carpool.  7:30am-3:00pm-All away from each other.  4:00pm:  Get home from pick up/dropping off carpool, have a snack, get started on homework (argue about homework).  5-7:30pm-Dinner, running around town to sports practices/games.  8-9:30pm-prayers and bed.

This schedule left us with about 2-3 hours a day when we were together.  What happened was we got used to being apart and then when we were together, we argued.  Little kids wanted to play with Alex, he was exhausted from school, they got upset, fought with each other, then I got grumpy and started yelling, etc, etc.  You get the picture.

Now we are literally together all day.  The kids actually have learned to deal with each other and are closer than ever.  When it's time to go to a sports practice or ballet class, we are ready to get out of the house, and we all go together.  It's been such a drastic change in the dynamic of our family.

Another thing that I have loved, is that we have so many adventures.  Every day when the kids wake up, they say, "What are we doing today?"  They know that each day will be different with homeschooling.  It may be a day when we stay at home all day, or we may meet friends at the park for a picnic, go for a nature walk, science center, children's theater, etc, etc.

I love running my household on my terms and not someone else's schedule.  I know that each homeschooling family is different, and that is what I love.  Some love to get up early and get work done so they have the afternoon to play.  Some like to play in the morning and schedule things with friends in the afternoon.  Some like to just go with the flow and not have a schedule.  Some school year round.  Some school three days a week from Sept-May.  Each family can tailor their school experience to fit what works for them.

I love that we can travel and bring school with us.  Several times, I would travel to TN or Mobile to stay with my parents for a week at a time in the middle of the school year.  We would get school work done there and not get behind.  This year (and last) we will take our beach vacation in September.  Everyone else is back in school, the beach isn't crowded, it's not as hot, and the prices are much better!

Most of all, I love knowing what is happening in my kids' lives every, single day.  I know who they are spending their time with and who and what are influencing them.  This is important at every aspect of my kids' lives, but VERY important to me with my middle-schooler.  I remember how hard middle school was for me in my little, private, Christian school.  I have so enjoyed having my big, growing boy at home with me.  We are so close, and he comes to me and the hubby about everything.  I know it may not always be this way, but I'm grateful for that right now.

Again, I don't know what next year will hold.  I don't know where God will lead our family.  Right now, I feel perfectly comfortable with schooling two children in our home (yikes...did I just say that?).  And so we are off!  Another year of adventure with our family all together.  A year of 7th grade and Kindergarten.  Pray for me please!  

Friends, Chipmunks, McWane, oh my!

We are finally here, back home in Tennessee, and while Alabama is a sweet home, it feels sweeter in Tennessee.  I'm so happy here.  On the way up here, we had some reflection time with the kids and asked them what they loved most about Birmingham and our year there.  There were many answers (lots of friends' names were listed):  homeschooling, our neighborhood park and basketball courts, neighbors, etc.  We all had the same top three answers.  1)  Friends.  All of us agreed that we were greatly blessed during our short time in AL with wonderful friends.  Not just temporary people who we will lose touch with, but true life long friends (see a few examples below).

2)  Chipmunks.  We don't have chipmunks in Franklin...at least not that I've ever seen.  And we didn't have them in Mobile either.  Every time we saw a chipmunk in B'ham, we all got excited...the excitement never faded.  They are so cute.  If we would have been able to catch one, we would've kept it.

3)  McWane.  We love the McWane Science center.  It never got old.  Best.  Science Center.  Ever.

It's a pool

Last night, I took the kids for a night swim at our neighborhood pool.  A man came up to me and pointing to Eli who was sitting on the steps of the pool, said "Is that your son?"  I said, "Yes, and oh my gosh, what has he done, or what did he say?"  He said he went up to Eli and said, "Hey buddy, how's the water feel?"  Eli replied, "Dis is not a water feel, it's a pool."

Lady A Concert...Good times!

I totally hijacked these pics from Donna's blog.  I took pics too, but life is too loco to get them off my camera right now.  Donna so kindly invited Kayce and I to the Lady Antebellum, Darius Rucker and Thompson Square concert!  It was so much fun.  We met up with Shana and Matt and Donna's mama (a.k.a. Miz Becky!) for dinner before the concert.  

Can we discuss how red and sweaty I get?  It's gross.  I remember being a cheerleader in high school and all the other girls looked cute with perfect makeup and hair, and I was a sweaty hot mess.  This pic...just sitting there in the Alabama heat.  Kayce, perfect hair and make-up...me, Hot sweaty mess.

Drinking heavily (Diet Coke that is)!  No red and sweaty faces.

Darius Rucker singing.  He sang some Hootie songs too.  I'm so glad he did.  Takes me back to high school.  Good stuff.

Lady A!!!  Last time I saw them, they opened up for Tim McGraw.  They were so much better this time with their own stage.  They are big time now!

Lady A brought Darius and Thompson Square back out and they all sand "Black Water" by the Doobie Brothers.  I am going to have to say this was my favorite part of the concert.  It was awesome, and the crowd was really into it too.  

 

I run to you, baby!

Donna's hubby Marc was supposed to go with us, but last minute gave his ticket to Miz Becky.  She was so much fun and I'm so glad she was with us.  There were lots of ladies there that were NOT acting there age, but BB, she's a class act.  At one point she looked over, just as straight-faced as you could be and said to me and Kayce, "Do either of you girls have a pair of scissors?"  We were baffled and I said, "What do you want scissors for?"  She said that she felt like she needed to cut her pants off and have some super short cut off shorts like the other ladies.  We died out laughing.  She is a mess, and we can always count on her for comic relief.  Thanks ladies for a super fun night!   Next country night out is going to be in Nashville, and I'm gonna show these girls a good time with plenty of Diet Coke and lots of dancing!