Grandaddy Bill

This past summer my Grandfather, Bill Trotter, passed away. He was 88 years old. He went pretty peacefully after suffering a dibilitating stroke. The remarkable thing was that he was man who worked out regularly at the Y daily and was very healthy until the end. He did not suffer in the least and when it was his time to go he was ready. He was a dear, sweet man and we miss him terribly. Here is a picture from when we were all together for visit in Greenville in his home when The Trotter clan came for a visit.

Soccer girls!

Look at this precious picture I dug up from last Spring! Plus with an added bonus!!! Cousin May May was in town and is in the pic as well on AC's back! I love it when I find fun surprises like this!

Delta Rockers- Rockin' The Delta 2012 Tour

Many of you may know that my Mom, Anne Hamilton Trotter, or aka: Annie, is in a dance group that consists of ladies ages 65+ and is led by Betty Aden. They are called the Delta Rockers and they do indeed Rock! I mean they are really really good! They practice several times a week and tour different towns performing to civic groups, retirement homes and etc.. They even put on local recitals during the holidays. They have even been asked to perform on Carnival Cruise ships and at the Biltmore Mansion in Ashville, NC, in which they did both last year. Who knows....New York may be calling next. This is one of their recent promotional shots for the Fall 2012 tour. Aren't they cute? Way to go Annie! We are proud of you. Keep on dancing!

Anne Craig is 9!! Roll out the red carpet please!

I love a good party theme and what better way to come up with one than hosting your daughter's NINTH bday party. It does help that I have a great friend, Michelle Coppage, who is a professional party planner extrordinaire. This past May, we had the best time taking all of our ideas and bringing them to life. (Thank you Pinterest!!) Anne Craig really had a great time and it was worth all of the effort. May is a hard time of year to have a birthday. Why you ask?? Because everything else is scheduled in May that's why. I too am a May baby and I've been dealing with this craziness for 40 years! Geesh, just finding a day to have a party is a feat in itself. But it all worked out, she had a ton of friends attend and had a ball. Even the adults had a great time!! Here are a few of the pics to tell the story! And the guests begin to arrive!!

Secret Service business is hard work.

Back away sir! I said back away! Private party here!

Wait, was that who I think that was??

Handsome movie attendants ready to escort the guests to their seats.

Even the adults had a great time! Stay tuned for more pics of the "celebrities" and the birthday girl in action!

Pillow Academy Cross Country 2012

Floyd decided to run Cross Country this year. It's the first "official" sport that the 6th graders can participate in. Actually the entire team is made up of 6th graders. It makes me especially proud that he is running because Cross Country was one of my favorite sports. Not to mention my team won the State AAA Championship my senior year in 1989. Needless to say I'm glad his love for running is starting to kick in. I hope it will continue.

Floyd and Cole

The Mighty Mighty Cross Country Mustangs!

Da Boyz

Floyd running strong

Hardy, Floyd, Cole and Porter

"Bertie" RIP (January 23, 2000- April 6, 2012) You were too good and we miss you terribly.

Floyd and Bertie on one of her last hunts of last season.

Bertie, and our older lab Belle, with Little Floyd. I guess this picture was in 2001 sometime. Precious!

This past summer we lost a valuable member of our family. Bertie, was our second black lab and she was just a year older than our first born child so we considered her indeed a priceless member of our family. She was a duck and dove hunter at heart but mostly she was a lover of all. She was truly the kindest dog...faithful and true. She'd strugged with her health for a while with tumors here and there but ultimately her health got the best of her. She was 12 years old and she will never be forgotten. I personally took great pride in her name, Bertie. She was named after my family's plantation here in Leflore County, which was named by my Great Grandfather (W.L. Craig) after Bertie County, North Carolina, where our Craig family descendants settled in America when they came over from Scotland. GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN SWEET BERTIE!

INSANITY- the most wicked fitness regimen in the mix!!

Give it a try...you'll see!! For the past 8 weeks Floyd and I have tried to tackle an exercise regimen called INSANITY. "Insane" is the key word....it's completely insane alright!! Well, believe you me it's tough to say the least. I've done it ALL and this is by far the hardest thing I have done but remarkably I really do love it. When we finished the Viking Half Marathon at the end of March I knew it was time to shake things up. I was tired of my hips hurting from the reps of running and spin class day in and out. McLean recommended Insanity not only because of the results he had achieved but because it also had a great stretching program, especially for the hips. Husband Floyd had a bit of a casualty around week 5. His ankle took a turn when it caught under the upstairs couch where we have our home "makeshift" workout area. After "pop, pop, pop" he was down....Remarkably, he didn't break his ankle but the sounds of bones and tendons cracking was LOUD and he's pretty sure it'll ever be the same. I completed the program a few weeks ago with a few workout friends and I truly do really feel fit and in better total shape than I have in a while! Shaun T (the instructor) rocks! He's great. Bottom line....I recommend Insanity! Check it out at www.beachbody.com