The 53rd annual Junior Auxiliary Cotton Ball was this past weekend and "Oh What A Night"! Anne Craig served in the Children's Court this year. She did an outstanding job as she walked down in front of hundreds of people and took her place on stage as the official "Royal Attendant To The Queen". Our family just happens to be steeped in the rich heritage of the Cotton Ball and this year was no exception having Anne Craig in the Children's Court and Craig Brown, Mama and Craig's first cousin, as King. His daughter, Mary Hayes, was queen back in 2004. Mama was Queen back in 1968. Ya see... Anne Craig was asked to be in the Cotton Ball because of my years service to the organization over the past. Gamba and her sister, Mary Norman (King Craig's mother), were both life members of Greenwood Junior Auxiliary and my Great Great Aunt, Janie Craig (who was like another great grandmother to me) was a charter member of the organization. It's fun to recollect and keep in mind this is my family album of sort for those wondering the need in such detail! One never knows who is going to refer back to my blog just wondering such detail right?? Right.
Here we are at Rehearsal practicing the details hoping to get it right......
Kim and Mary Hayes putting out the placecards for the Royalty tables
It was definately a full day affair beginning with mine and Anne Craig's trip to Legends to get our respective hairdos for the occasion. What better of an afternoon can one spend than going to the improvement center with your daughter to get all gussied up?
Here we go.....
Under the big girl dryer
Mama's getting her hairdone too!
Neat!
Love those ringlets!
I love my dress I found at the consignment store in Fairhope! Can't beat that!
On our way...
Floyd and Anne Craig as we are about to leave.
Checking things out at the Civic Center to be sure it's how we remember at Rehearsal.
Floyd and his buddy, Eli Burton, whose sister was a Maid this year.
Our babysitter, Lucy Clinkscales, who was a Maid this year poses with Floyd and Anne Craig. Doesn't she look pretty?
Two of Anne Craig's favorite Sunday School teachers were there, Lina Elfert (above) and Nancy Walker (below)
We were very fortunate that Gooddaddy could be with us at Cotton Ball. I think he had the most fun of all. From the following pics you should be able to tell. He loved seeing Anne Craig for sure but also having tons of folks come up and speak to him. Some even danced with him! He was on cloud 9 to say the least. Craig and Cary picked him up from Indywood and they told me that when they were driving off heading to the Civic Center a giant hawk flew over. We are wondering if that may have been Gamba in a 6th sense sort of way. It was one of those moments that's for sure. I sure do wish my Gamba could have been there with us this special night. I'm sure she was looking down on us for sure.
Here he is posing with Floyd, Craig, me and Anne Craig
with Floyd and Anne Craig
with Mama and Rick
with Susan Gregory
Gooddaddy with his physical therapist, April Castle
She gave him the go ahead to boogie!
Dancing with Craig!! So much fun!!
Craig and Anne Craigie
Cary and Craig
We had 2 tables of 10 filled with family and friends along with lots of good food and drink.
All of the Floyds with Moms
Cyndi, Kathleen Gallagher, Tony and Suresh
Boyce and Steele Robbins
Jane and Dad
Lisa and Steven Cookston
with Rick and Annie
with Papa and Jane
2009 King and Queen about to pass the torch...Tommy Gary and Elizabeth Pillow, both old old family friends for generations past.
Here comes Anne Craig!! She did a fantastic job and made us all very proud!
From the House of Brown and From the House of Strain...Cotton Ball 2010...King Craig and Queen Emmie!!
Time to Party!!! Let's Dance!
Long Live King Cotton! We all had a great time at the Cotton Ball this year if you can't tell.
