“I’m a ‘Tomato’” 🎶

Mason is really loving learning the bells at Music Academy, and his teacher says he has a natural talent for music.

He also has very particular taste in it. He informed me this week he has “three best songs.” These are “5-1-5-0″ by Dierks Bentley, “The Only Way I Know” by Jason Aldean, with Luke Bryan and Eric Church, and “Tornado” by Little big Town.

The truth is, I inadvertently let Mason watch the music video for “Tornado” one day on GAC. Now he likes the two girls in the group. His favorite is the black-haired lady. Yeah.

The best part is that when that song comes on, Mason starts drumming and singing, then Miss Julia chimes in on the chorus. Of course, she sings like her mama and is really loud as she she belts out, “I’m a ‘Tomato!’”

Yes, yes she is!

Easter Fun Photo Dump

I thought I’d share some of my favorite photos from Easter weekend.

Throwback Thursday {My Mama}

My mom and I were so very different. I used to seriously wonder if I was adopted; that is until I realized that we shared the same huge forehead inherited from my Granny.

My mom had a hard life, and she suffered from depression and PTSD. Sadly, the only times I remember her truly and freely happy was when she was around small children, especially her grandbabies.

This past weekend, I reintroduced myself to the younger, more carefree mom that I never knew all that well. I spent about three hours looking through her senior books, albums and school yearbooks. The beautifully silly girl that I found there was so refreshing and lovely. And she was always smiling that huge, toothy grin that I adored.

Nancy Emmi, Connie Eddy & Charlotte Cheshire {1970}

My Mom in Junior High Schools {Callahan Ramblers}

Having her actual cheerleading uniforms is just precious to me. I’d love to have them framed. She was tiny and so pretty. I am proud of her. I wish I would have told her that more. About a week before she died, we were talking as I was getting dressed to go off and she told me that I always look classy. It touched my heart when she said that and now that is a memory I will always cherish.

West Nassau High School

Nancy Emmi & Charlotte Cheshire {Senior Mock Wedding, 1974}

My favorite find was a stack of old letters from her best friend, my Aunt Nancy, which were written when Nan was in Gainesville attending University of Florida. Mom saved them in their envelopes with the postmarks on them. I left them be and have wrapped them carefully. I’m going to return them to their author this week. The fact that my mom kept these letters for nearly 40 years speaks volumes to me.

A Little Boy’s Dream

After Thanksgiving dinner, we drove up through Georgia to meet up with my cousins Susie and Chris in Nahunta. They own a pulp-wood (timber) company, and Chris’ equipment was near his house. He was sweet enough to invite Mason out to play with him on the tractors.

It was nearly dusk when we got there and was so peaceful and beautiful deep in the woods. Mason’s face lit up when he saw the equipment but I was not sure how he would do when it started. He does not like loud noises usually; but he did really well.

He got to ride on three machines–a loader, a cutter, and one other I forgot the name of for now. He actually got to cut down some trees, then cut them up. It was super cool!

Fun on the Farm

After Aunt Tanya left, Mom, the kids and I went in search of a pumpkin patch. Instead, we stumbled upon Aunt Louise’s corn maze located on Waukeenah Highway in Jefferson County. What a great afternoon surprise!

We did not have much cash on us, so we skipped the corn and took a tour of the farm. The owner and her family are so nice, and they showed Mason and Julia the animals and even took Mason on a tractor ride. They had baby goats, cows, chickens and bunnies. The kids got to pet them all.

After the animals, we hung out under the oaks and watched as the kids played in an old tire filled with corn kerns. Who knew something so simple could entertain them for so long?

I am so glad that we live in the country. I want my kids to enjoy being outside, breathing fresh air and soaking up the sun. I also want them to appreciate agriculture and to learn where their food comes from. What better place to start than right down the road?

If you are in the Jefferson/Leon County-area, stop by Aunt Louise’s Corn Maze. It is great, old-fashioned family fun.

Aunt Tanya

Aunt Tanya is my best friend. She does not have children of her own, but she was brave enough to come for a visit and deal with mine. I hope we did not scare her off for good. I would not blame her if she swore off my house, at least for the next ten years or so, though.

The kids were thrilled to see her. She went with me to pick them up from preschool, and they proudly gave her the tour of their classrooms. It was adorable. Julia took to her like white on rice, which was great until she decided to fill Aunt Tanya’s makeup bag with water. Yeah.

We tried to keep her busy and entertained. After breakfast on Saturday, we went shopping in Thomasville. I was scheduled to be a “story time” reader at the book store, so we played in there for a while, then went in most of the shops downtown. We also had a delicious lunch at Moon Spin Pizza thanks to a gift certificate from Ms. Katie B. Of course, on the way to lunch we had more mommy drama, after Mason told me he had taken a small book out of Shapes and More. A crying, guilty Mason returned it promptly and all was well. He was so freaked out and scared that we had to run and potty behind a dumpster to prevent an accident. Sweet boy.

Afterwards, I showed off the beautiful historic oak tree by making her pose for pictures with the babies. I love these shots!

Poor Tonner! Seeing my life through eyes is really kind of crazy. I did at least send her home with a chocolate cupcake from Lucy & Leo’s. Maybe that will bribe her to come back soon?

Miss Julia’s First Pageant {Not Honey Boo-Boo}

Miss Julia passed her first rite of passage on the way to coming a belle by participating in the Wee Miss Okefenokee Pageant last Saturday. I would like to think that she put some class back into the South Georgia beauty pageant circuit.

This event is held annually in Folkston, Georgia, the town over from where I grew up. It is a wonderful pageant which is run by Ms. Elaine Thornton. Mike and I even had the honor of judging it several years back. This is by no means a glitzy, tacky train wreck.

We stayed at Charlotte Nelson’s house and her daughter Amber came over early to style Miss Julia’s hair. That was no easy task, as Jules decided to throw a hissy fit the whole time. Bub had to finally intervene and calm her down.

Charlotte then helped me get Jules dressed, and she perked up immediately when she got to put her Cinderella slippers on. She was all princess after that!

My mom and dad, Susie and her girls, and Charlotte all came to watch Miss Julia perform. I was not sure that she would even get on stage, but she did. She loved every bit of the attention, prancing, blowing kisses, and even bowing gracefully to the audience before exiting. I had to literally pull her away.

In the end, she was 1st runner-up, Prettiest Eyes, Most Photogenic, and People’s Choice. No disrespect intended, but I think she may have had a good chance of winning had she have had a “pageant” dress on–I just did not want to spend a fortune on one not knowing if she would even get on stage. Instead I bought an elegant dress which she can wear again.

I think she looked beautiful and was so brave. I do not think I have ever been so proud. She is amazing in every way, and I had the best day with her bonding over a small town Southern tradition.

Throwback Day After Thursday, Because I Forgot To Post Yesterday {Mommy’s Pageant Crown}

Mason’s Favorite Place

Mason’s favorite place “in the whole wide world” is Shapes and More in Thomasville, GA.

Located in the historic downtown shops, this quaint store is old-fashioned in just the right way. The owner, Miss Linda, is friendly and kind, and she stocks up on lots of Thomas the Tank Engine pieces. The store sponsors “Thomas” on WFSU, our local PBS affiliate, so Mason has been associating Shapes and More with his favorite trains since he was a small baby.

There is a train table in the center of the store, and Mason likes for me to sit and watch him play with it while he also ponders which pieces he is going to ask for before we leave. I cannot think of a better way to spend our time. Plus, I really like that he is interested in trains. Something about that appeals to my old soul.

Shapes and More also carries Melissa and Doug and lots of other educational toys, games, and puzzles. I am big on shopping local, so I always try to buy my birthday party gifts from here, too. She does complimentary gift wrapping, which I appreciate.

It is also my go-to place for classroom supplies. Shapes and More has a wonderful assortment of bulletin board materials, support books, and office products. If you are in the area, teachers, stop in. The prices are perfect!