HAPPY 8TH BIRTHDAY FLOYD!!!

My sweet boy turns 8 years old TOMORROW FEBRUARY 27th!! That is really almost too hard to stomach. Wasn't he just born? Wasn't it just 2001? I am sure I will blink and he'll be 18 headed to college but still it doesn't make sense and really any easier to believe. What is it about time??? Why does time seem to pass so slowly as we live each waking day in the routine of our lives and then when we take time to reflect on the past it's as though we've been traveling at wharp speed through some sort of bizarre dimension....thoughts to ponder indeed.... I know this is all part of God's plan in that these thoughts come to our minds and make us really thankful, appreciative, blessed and even angry too at things we did or didn't do in the time that we did or didn't have... OK, I'll stop now on the time topic.... getting a little too deep even for me...

It's hard to do a simple blog post about your specific child even if you know every little thing about them and all the things he has done this year to seal the deal that he is in fact EIGHT years old. But seriously... Floyd has grown a lot over this past year. Physically, he's super lean, (we can hardly keep any meat on his bones and are constantly forcing him to eat) he has gotten taller, his feet are longer, his hair a bit darker and teeth are missing in spots not to mention they are all shapes and sizes. (Yes, we need to start an orthodonture fund but that will have to wait) This I suppose is the official beginning of the "gawky years". You know those years that you hear about when people tell you.. "you better go ahead and get whatever portraits you want done before you know they get......'gawky looking'"

Floyd's past year has consisted of lots of transition. Second grade has been interesting but fun and exciting nevertheless. We've moved 2 blocks to our new beautiful "dream" home (it is not new by any means... it turns 100 years old this year). We buried our family dog of 15 years and there are always lots of happenings that I won't bore my readers any further with. I mean for goodness sakes they are on the blog... duh...well, not really yet.. considering I just started in the blog world last fall.

I decided to borrow a neat idea my childhood friend (Kim Sue Gilmer Wise) came up with that tries to capture the things that describe your child right now in time. Sortuv like a sit down interview persay.....Just call me Barbara Walters....kidding. Seriously...I sat down with Floyd last night and here's what he said. This is a moment in time right now.... Happy Birthday Sweet Boy. We Love You!

I AM....Floyd (the 4th) and I am 8
I WAS....in a bad storm in Rick's boat one time
I HAVE....a great family
I PLAY....soccer
I WORRY....about losing the ballgame
I KNOW....math tricks
I WATCH....Sports Center
I WANT....to go to Mardi Gras
I CRAVE....Mexican queso dip
I USUALLY....play outside with my friends
I REMEMBER....when Anne Craig was born
I DISLIKE....homework
I GO....to Pillow Academy and am in the Second Grade
I WENT....to the Cotton Bowl
I CAN.... skateboard
I DON'T....like to be late
I FEEL....good when I sleep late
I READ....Curious George and Berenstein Bears
I WRITE....with my right hand
I BELIEVE....in never giving up
I AM SCARED.... of getting a spanking
I LISTEN....to my teacher
I WISH....I could go to New York
I LOVE....my family
I AM HAPPY....I live in Greenwood
I AM THANKFUL....for my many blessings

Sweetness!

Should be interesting to see how this may change year after year....

Babysitters Extrordinaire!!

We had the distinct pleasure of babysitting Ainsley Sunday night while Moss and Shannon had a business dinner to attend. I can honestly say that she is the sweetest, best dispositioned baby ever!! Wonder where she gets those traits from?? Hmmmmm......Anyway, she was a good sport to pose for the camera in sheer fright in the arms of the kiddos. These pics are priceless. Enjoy!!

"Not so sure here...."

Gotta work on that fake smile Floyd!

me with the kiddos!

Suresh is FORTY!!

Last Friday night we celebrated Suresh's 40th bday and he was totally surprised- as was the plan! It really was funny in that he had no clue. Floyd was in charge of keeping him away from the house till everyone got there and we all loaded up and headed to The Carroll County Marketplace in Carrollton, MS. I had never been there before and it was a good time establishment that had a 2 man band and some good home cooking! You kinda felt like you were back in Mayberry when you drove out there but it was well worth the secrecy and effort. Here are a few pictures to document the night! Complete with bindies atop our foreheads in honor of Gauri of course.

Hoops for Kids!!

I could not help but title this post Hoops for Kids b/c it reminded me of our college days, circa early 1990's, at Ole Miss when Floyd was Treasurer for his fraternity Phi Delta Theta and they took on a new fundraiser called what else..."Hoops for Kids".. Not sure why it reminded me of that... kids and basketball maybe......Anyhooo back to 2009. We recently wrapped up an fairly successful basketball season. Floyd's team faired pretty well with a winning season and they had such a great time and were definately team players. There was no one man show so it made spectating their games for the most part exciting. Needless to say they really improved this year and were coached by Paul Lyon and sponsored by Continue Care Home Health Agency. I actually do some PRN speech therapy work for that agency and Jeff Hardin, Nored's Dad, is the marketing director for them. Here are a few pictures taken at Floyd's last game. We had some special guests that day join us. Ainsley, Moms and Great Grandaddy.

Great Grandaddy, Moms, Floyd, Floyd IV and Ainsley


Moms with Floyd and Ainsley


me and Ainsley


Dia, Elizabeth and Anne Craig at Dance Camp while the brothers were on the basketball court

Nothin' Says Lovie Like Being Cuddled Up In A Snuggie!

Well, I don't know about you but I have had several days of laughs at a recent Facebook post from our dear friend Rob Tyner. He posted this You Tube video spoof of an infomercial on the Snuggie or aka: WTF blanket. It's truly hysterical and the ironic thing is that my mother, Annie, actually puchased this item for my child for Valentines day complete with a state of the art pop up book light. Later I find out it's due to my child's undying request each time she saw it on TV. I am not able to really access You Tube very well due to my discretionary location most hours of the day but I am sure one can find it easily under loose scrutiny. Anyhoo, this gift has been most assuredly a success. I think Annie made the mistake of not getting several for the family to enjoy instead of just the one for Anne Craigie to be used at gatherings such as funerals, weddings, wakes, graduations, parades, soccer games, baseball games, football games, gym meets, dance recitals, funerals, weddings, etc... These pics crack me up so enjoy!

Rest in Peace "Lady Belle Melton" 9/25/93-2/6/09

Sadly the Floyd Melton Family lost a very dear member last week. Our precious black lab, Belle, of 15 years died peacefully in the comfort of her kennell. She even raised her head and wagged her tail one last time and let the kids say goodbye to her before they departed for school Friday morning. What a life that dear sweet dog lived! We often referred to her as "our first born". I mean when you have a best friend like Belle since your Junior year in college what else is there to say except that she was indeed like a child to us. Belle was a special dog no doubt. Probably the most "lethargic" lab you could ever meet but one that too shared a passion for duck retrieval and pleasing others. When we brought her home to Greenwood from Oxford for the first time I distinctly remember Floyd's mom, Elizabeth, insisting that something must be wrong with her because Belle just laid around and was so very calm at all times. Very very un"puppy lab"like. Floyd said she was fine and picked up one of her retreiving dummies to which she was instantly at his side ready to go. She even lived a little culture/couture and moved with us to Miami for the year we were there. She fetched up dummies off the shoreline in Key Biscayne and walked about on Ocean Drive no doubt. She would wait on us daily to come home from work or school as she peered through our vertical blinds in our apartment just staring at the parking lot. We even flew her home with us that year for the Christmas break so she could fetch up some ducks. Ironically, her sister, Gauge Connell (Kelly and Ted's), passed away last week as well in her home up HWY 49 in Clarksdale. Who would have thought that those 2 dogs would live to the ripe old ages they reached much less die a few days apart. Belle was also a great mother to a litter of pups, one of which is still around. Jade Trotter, Lisa and McLean's dog, is holding her own down in Fairhope, AL. She's a beautiful WHITE lab and so precious. However, age too is creeping up on her fast. Moss also had one of Belle's pups, Brooke. Brooke died about 5 years ago but also a treasure of a dog and loved by many. It's hard to imagine our life without Belle. That's the sad thing about family pets...you just outlive them and it doesn't seem fair! We'll never forget the memories and love that she gave so many of us. Tears are falling as I blog this post but as we all should remember from the movie "Steele Magnolias" LIFE GOES ON. And I am a firm believer that yes ALL DOGS GO TO HEAVAN. I know Belle is up there now fetching away and playing with her sister, Gauge, and her ole pal, Mattie Pedigo who is hearding them about keeping them in order... Thanks for the memories Belle. We will NEVER forget you.

Recent Days (and Nights) of Floyd and Anne Craig

The Pillow Academy Kindergarten Class recently put on their school play of "Free To Be Me". As you can tell from the photos Anne Craig was a cowgirl and it was a mighty cute production. Here are a few photos of the big day!

Anne Craig with her Great Granddaddy, Moms and Mama


Posing with Mama and Daddy


AC with her good buddy, Caroline Brock


Nice smile cowgirl!


Saying her part!

OK, this may seem a bit bizarre to some of you but I could not help but share these next photos.... This is truly how my child sleeps at night? I am not kidding. It's not like we don't have curtains in her room to block the blinding light that heavan forbid may wake her up. She honestly chooses to use the "sleep mask" that just so happens to match her pillow case. And guess what? We did NOT puchase such an item for her. She picked it out herself at the local Claire's boutique when she was given the option of choosing a bday favor of her choice at a birthday party she was attending there. Maybe she knows something we don't about peaceful sleep!! She usually rises refreshed each morning and in a pretty good mood unlike myself. I still can't help but roll my eyes at this practice but what's a mother to do? That is not the battle I choose. I promise it's even funnier in person no doubt.





AND last by not least, Floyd's good buddy, Sunjay Chawla, killed his first deer this past Sunday while hunting with the Floyds- all 3 of the Floyds to be exact along with Tony and Moss. He killed a button buck and was sooooooo excited. I'm sure he's hooked now and thirsty for more! Apparantly, that is what happens.... don't really get it but what do I know??? Here are a few pics of all of the excitement.
Sunjay with his deer!

Sunjay and Floyd

Sunjay and his Dad, Suresh

Floyd,Sunjay,Floyd and Suresh

25 Random Things About Me

See, I am on this thing called Facebook from time to time. I usually try to participate around 9pm at night for no more than 30 minutes just to see what those whom I have befriended and those whom have befriended me are up to. By the way... for those not familiar with Facebook, the "befrienders" are 90% made up of people I've known my whole life and it's just a good way to keep in touch and be nosy with what each has going on in their lives. Whether one really cares or not it's all in great fun. Anyway..... back to my point... I have over the past week or so received this notice of "25 Random Things About Me" lists from several of my admirers OH wait, I mean befrienders. Each has carefully listed "random things" about themselves and I am requested to follow suit. However... I am not extremely Facebook savy and am still waiting on my copy of "Facebook for Dummies" to arrive in the mail just any day so that I may figure out how to continue with this dire emergency request of posting my "25 Random Things About Me". With that being said.. I thought it smart to have lasting documentation of such a feat in cyber/blog world (we hope). Why you ask?? Is it really blogworthy? Of course. So here goes.OH and for those of you other bloggers out there. I encourage you to do the same so you won't have any regrets...I'm just saying.

25 RANDOM THINGS ABOUT ME:
1. I did take piano lessons for a few years when I was in elementary school and I can't play a single note.
2. I was offered tennis scholarships when I graduated high school to Mississippi College, Belhaven and Delta State. I did not pursue any of them.
3. I at one time used to cross stitch. Last thing I did was Floyd's Phi Delt crest. Can anyone relate here?
4. Floyd and I lived in Miami for one year following Law School. Coral Gables to be exact. He went to Tax School at Univ. of Miami.
5. I was born in Oxford and still somehow feel connected to that town but have no desire to live there on a full time basis. Yes, it is a great place to visit.
6. I am a Taurus if anyone is wondering where my "hard bullheadness" originates from.
7. I scuba dive
8. I enjoy making lists....lots of lists. To do lists, grocery lists, wish lists, matters not. Any will suffice.
9. I have run 2 half marathons. Currently training for my third.
10. I am a good friend. If you are my friend you are my friend forever.
11. I do enjoy the ups and downs of small town life. Although I still complain about it regularly.
12. I drink coffee with lots of Splenda and Sugar Free French Vanilla creamer. About 6 cups a day. That could explain why my stomach hurts so much I'm sure.
13. My new snack of choice happens to be almonds.
14. I have 2 precious children whom I am most proud of. Floyd will turn 8 this month and Anne Craig is 5.
15. I grew up next door in Belzoni to the current Style Editor for House Beautiful magazine. He was 11 years older than myself but I remember him well. http://www.housebeautiful.com/video/?maven_playerId=housebeautiful&maven_referralPlaylistId=2f282b4fc1dcfdaeeb1cda96858d16847f5c1486&maven_referralObject=9568635521.
16. I was voted Most Athletic in High School.
17. I guess one could say I am addicted to exercise in a healthy way. It's more for my mental well being.
18. I really enjoy Mexican and Thai food although I don't get a chance to visit Thai that often.
19. I HATE being cold.
20. I love hearing my children's voices. Anne Craig with her LOUD scratchy tone and cackle laugh along with sweet Floyd with his mild stutter and excitement.
21. Some of my favorite childhood memories were when McLean and I would get to stay with Gamba and Gooddaddy for the weekend and watch Dance Fever, Solid Gold, Love Boat and Fantasy Island. Don't know why that's so vividly implanted in my brain. Good Times.
22. I am a performer deep down. Was Rizzo in GREASE for my Senior Play and was King Mouse in the Nutcracker Ballet. Aren't those both the antagonist characters? I'm just saying....
23. I love going to the movies.
24. I like organization of all forms and fashion.
25. I am so very blessed to wake up each day with the same wonderful person I have been with for 19 years. My first date with Floyd was in February 1990. We dated for 6 years before we married in July 1996 and have currently been married 13 years this July. What a blessing he is to me.