Movies, Movies and more Movies

There are a bunch of great movies out on rental right now.  We began with Invictus starring Matt Damon a few weeks ago when the North Carolina Jones' were in town. Very fitting since The World Cup is on right now. The next movie we decided to watch was Unthinkable with Samuel L. Jackson. This one is not for the faint of heart. Whew!  It is not suitable for young viewers by any means. But it takes a look at the twisted minds of terrorists.  Movie number three was The Book of Eli. I have to be honest, I fell asleep towards the end and totally missed it. I was worn out from laying on the beach all day! LOL! Denzel Washington was the lead actor.  That man does not make a bad movie.  He's one of my all time favorite actors. We watched The Hurt Locker with our friends, Wade and Jennifer, on Saturday night. A story of war and the risks that servicemen and women take on a daily battle each and every day.Charlie and I watched Brothers last night with Toby Maguire, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Natalie Portman. Great, great movie. It was extremely hard to watch, knowing that we have men and women oversees serving our country.  So, go pop some popcorn and rent a movie!  BTW, Blockbuster has a free rental today only. Go to any kiosk and type in the code "THREE".

Braces for Mags

Thursday was a big day for Maggie. After a few years and many orthodontist appointments later, she finally got full braces. I think she was ready to get them on, so that the count down to getting them off could begin! So here we go. It looks like she'll have them for at least 2 years. That happens to fall right around or before her 16th birthday. UGH!  I don't even want to think about that milestone. She looks gorgeous with her braces and has had an easy time adjusting to them. Just a little soreness.  Here are a few pics of the big day.

Lake Party at the Sandlin's

Another fun day with the cousins! We loaded up and headed north to Cullman to spend the day with the Sandlin's at the lake. 8 kids and 6 adults makes for a crazy day on the water. We swam, jumped, lounged and boated all day long. Many tried to ski and only a few succeeded. Maggie was the first of the cousins to attempt to get up on the ski's. She was so close but had to let the other cousins try. Next was Emma and Eliot, with no luck either. Caroline almost got up the first time and wore out quickly. Did I mention that Connie was in the water the whole time, coaching the kids and cheering them on?  She was exhausted. Leah was next and almost made it up several times. Then, Mandi jumped in and popped up on the first try! The kids went crazy! Stone was so proud of his Mom, yelling "You rock Momma!" the entire time. Last but not least, Connie showed us how the pro's do it....on one ski! 

We had a wonderful time and are looking forward to our next visit to the Sandlin Lake Resort.

The Beach.......

The beach is one of my favorite places on this beautiful earth.  It holds so many wonderful memories that are dear to my heart.  Memories of family vacations with grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins....memories of "summer loves" as a teenager, memories of my own child's first trip to the beach at 6 months old, memories of laughter and tears, memories of late night conversations with family on the balcony of our condo, memories of looking at the stars with my Daddy through his telescope. I could go on and on of what the beach means to me.  It is a place to reflect on my life....the good times and bad. It is a place to create new memories.  It is a place to let go of all of my cares and just breathe.

Even though our Gulf and it's beaches have been tainted by the oil spill, it's beauty is still breathtaking.  God's masterpiece on display for us to enjoy. 

A Day with the Braves

I must first tell you that my sister in law, Leah, is the biggest Braves fan ever! She eats, sleeps, and drinks the Braves. If the Braves are playing, she will find a way to watch or listen wherever she may be. She knows baseball like the back of her hand and wants everyone around her to love it like she does.

So......we went to a Braves game and had a blast! Of course, it was the hottest day yet of the summer, so the kids continually doused themselves with water to cool off. The boys had their gloves in hand, just in case a homerun came our way. Our seats were behind the outfield, so I (with a little A.D.D.) had to keep myself focused on the game instead of people watching! Braves won and Leah was a happy girl.

The girls hopped in one van and the boys in the other as we headed back to B'ham. just in time for rush hour traffic in Atlanta! Oh, and the girls got a little turned around but thankfully made it back to I20 WITHOUT any assistance for the boys! It would have been nice to have a little help though ANDY! We stopped at Mellow Mushroom for some yummy pizza and salad in Anniston.

Lots of laughter and great memories for the kiddos.

Easy Listening :)

One of my favorite artists has a new cd out. RUN get it, sit back and enjoy!

www.jackjohnson.com/music/detail/to_the_sea/

Memorial Day

Last night I watched "Dear John" and was completely moved to tears. It is a beautiful story of a love that never dies despite time and distance. It made me more aware of the great sacrifice our service men and women, as well as their loved ones, have made and continue to make each and every day. So, thank you to those who have died in the line of duty. Thank you to the families who were left behind. Thank you to those who serve now, risking everything for freedom. I am forever amazed by your strength, passion and sacrifice.

www.moviefone.com/movie/dear-john/37012/video/dear-john-trailer-no-1/44821079001