Daddy-O Turns 58

Dave with his caramel birthday cake. When we were first married and living far far away from Mississippi in Lawton, OK at Ft. Sill I attempted to make him a "burn't sugar" caramel cake. His Mom always made him a special caramel cake for his birthday. Well, my attempt was truly pitiful; the icing was more around the sides of the plate than on top of the cake; He laughed at it, and I vowed NEVER EVER to try to make another. Well, here it is, 36 years later and I have NEVER EVER tried it again. David's Mom died last year, so I figured that if he was going to get one, I would have to try again. So, I did. Went on the Internet and found a recipe. It was kind of lumpy; the confectioner's sugar wasn't totally blended into the hot caramelized sugar, but it'll do. He seemed to really enjoy it.



David got a 243 piece tool box from Marrianna-a "Home and Garage tool Box"-mainly because she had pretty much decimated the last set of tools he had on hand...borrowing this and that and the other.



Jared and Lydia gave Dave a Books a Million Card....There is absolutely no better present for somebody, anybody, in this family!



I gave Dave a book by Alan Alda (Things I Overheard While Talking to Myself). Kaite's present included reading material and food! She bought him Mental Floss and some Mac Mags that he hasn't had in a long time as well as WHITE BREAD, REAL BACON (not that turkey stuff) and IBC Root beer in bottles. Wow!

Kemper County Queens

Michelle Byrd and I have husbands, Jerry and David, who are teachers at Kemper County High School; we went to see them after the Mississippi Association for Gifted Children conference at the Silver Star/Golden Moon establishments in Choctaw, Mississippi.







MERIT Teachers enjoying the evening buffet Thursday night at the conference.





Our newest teacher is Victoria DeOrnellis; we couldn't find a table free and had to eat at the bar.





Becky Kinard and Carol Davidson


alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248594507471117970" />


Becky Hayes and Becky Kinard

Happy Birthday Marianna....26?

Marianna On Her Birthday








Everybody should have SOMETHING to open up on their birthday!













Even if you got your Chop Saw
before your birthday!














Coffey Girls
Showing How Tough They Are

Floor Is Down

The hardwood flooring is down. Thanks so much to Marianna, Daddy, and Jared. The shoe molding is yet to be done; guess that will happen on Labor Day Weekend. The room seems so much bigger! And Lily's little paws go "click" "click" "click". She does have a little more difficulty getting a grip to jump up onto the couch or recliner; she kind of slides on the nice new floor!

Marianna's Birthday Present
Doesn't every young Southern Lady need a chop saw?

And the Carpet Comes Up....

It is amazing to see how much dirt is hiding underneath the carpet and padding of 27 + year old carpet! Marianna and Jared have been working to get it up and out....what a job!

The Mad Scientist at Work

David and I worked together with Heather Rodgers from Winona on a week long camp for gifted students called Summer Discovery. David, who is used to working with high school students teaching physics and chemistry, stepped up to the plate and presented all sorts of science concepts from solutions to electromagnetism, sound and light..... to elementary students!

Meet Officer Pierce

Jared is now a full fledged police officer with the Mississippi University for Women's Police Department. He is in a newly created position of Residence Hall Police Officer. He will be in charge of patrolling and being available to all the students in the residence halls. He will be a liason between the police department and the Office of Community Living, working to keep the campus safe and secure.
The Lord is giving him the desire of his heart, and for this we are so very thankful. Jared has wanted to be a police officer since he was a little boy, and this desire has only grown and grown as he has grown up into a man. We need men who love the Lord and who are willing to serve and protect. He is one of them.

Trying on His Newly Issued Vest







All the Kids....and the Grand Dog


Lydia trying on Jared's Vest

Summer Discovery

MENTOS Geyser

David and I did the "Mad Scientist" for kids who had completed either first or second grade last year. Summer Discovery is a week long camp for gifted students; we have two teachers sharing the 8:30-4:30 day; Heather taught the "Cross Country Road Trip". Although it was hot and humid, we had lots of fun.

SummaTime and the Living Is Easy......

It is June 4 and I am soooo enjoying the summer.

David is taking classes at MUW; Lydia is working at the Marbleworks and Jared at the W; Kaite is in London; Marianna is working at Governor's School.

Whoa! I am not working outside the home...I am working, with Lydia and RealSimple, at home. Some people have a personal trainer for getting in shape; I have a personal home/decor organizer for getting my house in shape. Am I blessed, or what?

I should have taken before pictures in the bedroom; I will do before and after pictures of the other rooms as we get to them.

After more years than I can count of benign neglect, this house is going to get organized. We have made some improvements over the years; Marianna pulled up carpet in the dining room and laid down new flooring from the foyer to the utility room. She also painted and decorated our bedroom and painted the bath and the kitchen. Jared and Lydia repainted the guest room.

However, after 3 summers of graduate school and then last summer with Grandma's death and Lydia's wedding, it has been awhile, if ever, since I have concentrated on super cleaning and organizing the house. It might have been since I was nesting....and the last nesting was 18 years ago...Whoa...I have just been treading, barely keeping my head above water, where housekeeping is concerned....

Give me a 20 page research paper any day; I really am not gifted in this area!! I am so thankful that I have a daughter who is, and who is willing to help us.