Run For The Border

The ladies joined me for a delicious lunch at Taco Bell today. Gracie
and I each had the Volcano taco.

Gracie and the Ved Med Cheerleaders

The team is always glad to share their kool aid with fans Addie and
Clara Grace. Addie took the field midgame tonight when I was in charge
of watching her. AB ran her down and I missed the whole thing because
I was so focused on the game. Whoops!

Team Vet Med

Good Grapes

Addie enjoyed the fruit at Ella Davis's baptismal brunch this afternoon. I wish I had a better to picture of the gathering, but the iphone camera is limited. Cameras aside, Ella has the honor of being the first child baptized by Trinity Presbyterian Church's first pastor, Randy Rhea. Addie, however, will always be able to say she was the first child ever baptized at Trinity. I hope I can remember to remind her of that someday when she actually cares. 

Wagon Rides at Jack's Bday

Running With Three

   

Anita Beth and I logged a collective 21 miles this morning, with three kids and no Grandmother to help us out. Iris is in Switzerland so we were on our own. We needed a little help from our friend Bubba, but we got it done. I'm very proud of AB as she is planning on running the St. Jude Half Marathon in December. The best part was meeting at Bubba's after we finished for donuts and hang-out time. Gracie and Addie each ate big chocolate-covered donuts with sprinkles. After they were finished, they were both chocolate covered and sprinkled. 

Pedro Says Hello

Snowballs are Snowballs

A new dog walked up to the house last week. He slightly resembled the Taco Bell chihuahua so I called him Pedro. He's a cute cream-colored little dog built like a jack russel or a feist except with a tail. His only annoying habit is treeing our three-legged declawed cat (George), but other than that he's not so bad to have around, and it's kind of fun to have a dog named Pedro to greet when you come home at night. 

After Pedro had been with us a few days, his owner pulled up in the driveway. Apparently Pedro had a home about two miles down the road. The owner let us know that Pedro's name was not Pedro, but Snowball. According to Anita Beth, Pedro did not want to go home. Poor Pedro. 

Anyway, Pedro came back to us again a few days ago. He slept on the front porch last night. This morning on the way to school, Gracie reminded me that Pedro is not our dog, and she told me that his name is not Pedro. 

"What's his name, Dad?" she asked. Apparently, she couldn't remember what the neighbor had said.

I told her that his real name is Snowball.

"No, Dad," she said, in her usual corrective tone. "His name is not Snowball. Snowballs are snowballs and names are names and dogs are dogs."

I couldn't have said it better myself. 

Addie at the Picnic

Desperate Housewives

I'm So Glad You're Home Dad!

Audrey greeted me from the excersaucer when I arrived at home tonight.

Futbal Star

Gracie was all over the field Monday night. She chased the ball really well and had a couple good kicks. Who cares which direction she kicked it? I don't. 

We are really proud of her. She also knows the Pledge of Allegiance as randomly demonstrated here. Needless to say, we'll be sending her to college early.

Soccer, Week 2

Gracie plays her second soccer game tonight. I am excited to see whether the burst of potential she showed at the end of last week's game with show forth again tonight. Gracie was talking big at the breakfast table this morning. She verbalized the objective of taking the ball away from other players and announced that she intended to do it. I'm not sure whether she distinguished players on her team from players on the opposing team. I didn't want to quell the fire so I didn't tell her that you only want to take the ball from the other team. Frankly, I wouldn't mind seeing her take the ball from anybody, whether it's her team or the other team. Stay tuned to jakeanitabeth.blogspot.com for updates.

Assistants to Chef Bubba

Bubba cooked his famous white chicken chili Sunday night. Gracie and Addie sat on the counter and helped. 

Flying First Class

Anita Beth and Audrey joined me in the Rebel Club for the Ole Miss/Samford game Saturday night. If you've never been in the Rebel Club, all I can say is, there is a place where the cokes are free, with no lines and you can drink all you want, and there are unlimited supplies of barbeque nachos, and air conditioning, and close circuit tv and bathrooms without urine on the floor. There is such a place. A big thanks to Uncle Larry for showing us this place! 

The Nanny Returns

Savanna is home from college this weekend. The girls prepared for her return last night. She is going to take them to a "tea" while AB and I head to the Ole Miss game. Gracie and Addie are so excited. The sign in the background says "Welcome Home Savanna."

This morning Gracie and Addie were sitting on the steps waiting for her to walk up like she did b.c. (before college). "When is Savanna coming," Gracie asked. Anita Beth looked at her watch and subtracted the time from 2 p.m., which is when she's coming. "She'll be here in about 6 hours" Anita Beth replied. 

Gracie thought about it for a second and said, "Ok. 6 hours. Does that mean she'll feed me breakfast?"

W

I promise this is my last post about 9/11. Writing this stuff down and publishing it has been cathartic for me. Do you remember this speech the night following the attack? It was so comforting to me to hear a strong leader.

And when Bush came to New York a few days later I could actually see his Marine helicopter landing at the downtown heliport across the harbor from our apartment. The visit to Ground Zero was covered live. His impromptu speech was truly inspirational.

Memories coming back...

Maybe one of the most sobering moments was the first major league baseball game after 9/11.  Do any of you remember this?

9/11

Most of you probably know that Anita Beth and I lived in New York on 9/11. In fact, I saw the second plane hit and I watched the two towers burn and then fall with my own eyes. Needless to say, it was traumatic. Luckily, I didn't lose anyone I loved or even knew. Each year that goes by I think less and less about it. You would think that I would have nightmares about that day, but I don't. Yesterday came and went and I didn't think much about 9/11. In fact, I didn't care to read any of the news articles about the different memorials around the country. I'm almost ashamed to admit that because it makes me feel callous. 

Today, a friend forwarded this Budweiser commercial to me and it kind of hit me because I remember seeing the commercial from my couch in Brooklyn a week or two after the event. From that couch I could look out the same window that I was looking through on 9/11 and see the hole in the sky that was once filled by the World Trade Center. It was a magnificent view really, until 9/11 it was anyway. After that we mostly kept the blinds down so we didn't have to see the smoke rising. The rubble smoldered for weeks and smelled like burned acid. You could smell it all the way across the harbor in Brooklyn. 

If you'll recall, after the 24-hour news coverage ended and television went back to normal, the commercials were mostly be tributes to New York and Washington and the vicitims of 9/11. I remember my eyes would well with tears at these commercials that autumn. 

Now I've mostly put all those memories out of mind. I think a failing memory of tragic events is a gift from God that allows us to go on with our lives, but sometimes, we need to make ourselves remember. It actually feels good to remember... somehow.

This one really got me.....

The First Soccer Game

Gracie played in her first soccer game Monday night, and more important, she finally got that team shirt she'd been asking for since she was two. Though we've been practicing kicking the ball in the yard for a couple months, the whole game thing took a little while to register. In fact, she cried at the beginning of the first game because she didn't understand why everybody didn't get a ball. Once I explained the "one ball" concept and the game got underway Gracie mostly stood on the field with her hand in her mouth and tried to spot her fans in the bleachers while Walker Rhea (our preacher's kid) took the ball down the field and scored over and over again. In her defense, she is 3 1/2 while the kids who had the hang of it were four and five.

I started out encouraging Gracie to chase the ball, but then resorted to telling her to chase Walker, since he usually had the ball. Gracie jogged around a few times and I told her how good she was doing. For most of the game she was more concerned about the location of her Kool Aid than the location of the ball. But then, in the last quarter of the second game of the double-header somebody flipped the switch. She jumped in the scrum and kicked the ball and actually followed it and kicked it several more times all while fending off some ferocious D from the purple team (I think they had a couple 7 year olds out there). I was soooo proud. I know that was more than I ever did when I was three. I was (am) the most unaggressive athlete ever. My only pride is that I didn't skip down the field when I played soccer (I hope I didn't anyway).

SUBSCRIBE OR BECOME A FOLLOWER
I don't know who all out there reads the blog, but I want to let you know a couple new features you'll find just to the right side of the page. First, you can subscribe to The Adams. That means when I put up a new post you'll get an email. This comes in handy when I don't post for a few days. If you get no email there's no new post. Click subscribe and follow the instructions.

Also, you can register under "Followers" and show yourself as a follower of the blog. This would be very gratifying for me, the blogger, to know I actually have an audience out there. Now that I've invited you it would be rude of you not to join, and humiliating. If nobody identifies themselves and subscribes it will be a little bit like inviting all my friends to a party and nobody showing up. Don't do that to me. I don't think my ego could take it a fourth time. Do it for me. Please.

2020 Olympic Gold Gymnast

Addie didn't get to go to the circus. She got this nifty outfit
instead. Seemed like an even trade to her.

Gracie Hits the Big Top

Is the circus sometimes referred to as the "Big Top" or did I make that up? Cindy treated Gracie, Garner and Moms to the Barnum & Bailey Circus Sunday night. Apparently they hit the souvenir and concessions stands hard. Gracie saw tigers, elephants, and clowns and is still talking about it. We both agree that we don't want to go in the cage with the tigers and we both think it would be pretty cool to ride an elephant. Neither of us is sure how you get on the elephant. Thanks Cindy!

The Sports Writer Returns

I decided to try my hand at some sports writing. This time, I'm not getting paid, but I had the itch to give it a try. I'd love for you to read it and let me know what you think (unless you don't like it, then I don't really care to know). Check out my new sports blog at www.sportscoverageblog.blogspot.com

Check back in a day or two for circus pics. That's right, Gracie's with the elephants.

Sunday Nap

Addie rarely makes it home from church before getting her nap.

Good Hair Essential

"Mommy" by Gracie and Addie

Mommy Gets a Makeover

Neeter, Warrior Princess

Addie Helps

Corinth Lawyer

AB tells me there has been some confusion about my new law blog. First, I'm flattered that there are people out there actually reading my stuff. Second, the correct web address is www.corinthlawyer.blogspot.com. Thanks for reading it.

Also, anybody out there who wants to help me get google optimized, I need my web sites linked on other people's web sites. If you know anyone willing to link to my www.neeseadams.com or www.corinthlawyer.blogspot.com please tell them to have at it.

Also, you can access the blog or the web site anytime by looking under the links section for My Law Blog or Neese Adams.

Thanks again for reading it!

Last Saturday

Halleluja! Football season is back! Thus, I was glad to stay home with the kids last Saturday while Anita Beth did whatever. During commercials I snapped a couple pics of Addie and Audrey. There's also a few from Gracie's first day at preschool.

Gracie's First Soccer Practice

Weeding the Soccer Goal

Gracie has her first soccer practice tomorrow night. AB and I bought
her all the gear and a goal Friday night. We kicked soccer goals all
weekend. She's got talent. Gracie is most excited about having a team
shirt.

Change to New Web Site

I changed the name of my new law web site to www.corinthlawyer.blogspot.net. I thought the name might be a little easier to remember and hopefully more likely to turn up on a search engine.

Addie got her tongue clipped yesterday. Don't worry, it's not as bad as it sounds. She had a tiny piece of skin holding her tongue down, just like the rest of us, but hers extended all the way to the tip of her tongue. We were worried it might be impacting her speech and the pediatrician confirmed that it likely was, so yesterday she clipped it. I wasn't there and I'm glad, because AB will tell you, I am a coward when it comes to seeing my children hurt.

But according to AB, Addie felt no pain. That's because the doc gave her a anesthetic that effectively schaaped her. She was stumbling down drunk. AB said it was funny. I didn't see it, but it's a funny mental image. Addie's feeling fine today.

New Web Sites

I have added a couple web sites to the repertoire. The first, www.neeseadams.com has been set up to promote the law firm and try to attract some web traffic. The other is a new blog, www.adamslaw.blogspot.com. You may ask why I created another blog. Well, the short answer is, it's just got a different theme and I didn't think I want to mix work with family. I would obviously be glad for anyone who is interested in reading my musings on the law to check out the blog. To make it easy for you I permanently placed the links to the right hand side of the blog page. Let me know what you think.

Chillin at the Beach

8-1-08

Uncle Brian Explains Life

Pop Tarts on Uncle Bailey's Sailboat

Poolside Popscicles

Addie's Party

7-12-08

Here's some pics from Addie's Birthday party last Saturday. It was HOT! But the kids had Cheetos and cupcakes so I guess in their cute little minds it was a hit.

Addiweeze turns T-W-O

7-7-08

Addie celebrated her Second year with us Monday night. I grilled burgers and AB made chocolate cupcakes. Yummy. Addie even blew out her candle all by herself. AB bought her make up, jewelry, and accessories and then she and the girls dressed up like Fancy Nancy. We love you Addie.

Baby Deer at Supper Club

Brownies for Dessert

Waiting for Breakfast

 

I think I probably let the girls get a little too hungry before I started the cinammon rolls this morning.

What a Hoot!

June 2008 Destin 6-14-08

Addie laughed it up in Destin this week, but we're glad to be home. We wheeled in the driveway at about 8:30 tonight. The drive home went well. The highlights were the two and a half hour nap by the girls, Addie and I exchanging little hand signals with each other through the rearview mirror in the 20 minutes before AB and Gracie woke up, and Gracie demanding that I listen to her question over and over again and then not having a question to ask. That was also a touch frustrating. AB and I tried to turn the tables on her and ask her if we could ask her a question, but she was too good. She would say, "yes" everytime and never get frustrated. She won. Our victory came a couple hours later when we got home and got motor mouth into bed!

I had to go ahead and post these pics. They were taken with Mom's camera.

Boat Lookouts

6-13-08

We hit Big Kahuna's for the third day in a week. Today Gracie decided to get brave to try the Big Girl slides. I was impressed. One of the slides shoots out into the "Lazy River" which is a three-foot deep flowing swimming pool river. Gracie launched out into it (with her life jacket on) and came up smiling. I wasn't even down there to catch her. Addie had a big time too. She just hits the small slides and the wading pools. I wish I had pictures. They would have been cute.

After lunch we picked up Mom and Audrey and took them to Harbor Docks.

The Good Big Sister

AB and I decided to start taking Gracie up on her offers to help with
Audrey.

Together

6-12-08

Gracie and I hit the dock for some serious fishing yesterday afternoon. It was a blast. The fish were mad as Pirhanas so catching them was not hard. After lots of lost hot dog we, I mean Gracie, caught 10 fish!. We had a good system going. I baited the hook and cast it for her. Then I handed her the rod. She watched the cork and reeled it in like a little champ. She had so much fun I had to make her go back to the condo for supper. It was a blast.

We put all her catch on the stringer that came inside her Bass Pro beginner tackle box and took them home to show Momma. After dinner she told me she had more fun fishing with me than going to Big Kahunas (the water park). I took it as the highest form of flattery.

Fish er Bitin'

Gracie caught 10 fish on her Diego rod n reel today. We used hot dog
for bait.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

6-10-08

I know I'm her Dad, so of course I thinks she's gorgeous, but is this not a striking picture of Gracie? We are having fun at the beach. Lots of swimming and playing in the sand.

The Mellow Mushroom

After a funtastic morning at Big Kahuna's it was time for Addie to
refuel.

Breakfast at the Donut Hole

Big Weekend

6-2-08

We had a busy busy weekend. Saturday the we hiked over to April and David's for fun in the pool. It was obvious Addie had been watching her sister because she jumped in the pool and decided she was not scared to go under.

Randy Rhea began his tenure as the first Minister at Trinity Presbyterian Church which was exciting in and of itself. We spend last night at Bill and Lori's with the church cooking out and celebrating the Lord's provision of our first pastor. He is indeed a good God who loves his children.

Good Nails Are Important

Porch Manicure

Memorial Day Weekend

Wish I had time to write. Enjoy the pics.

Sunday at the Lake

Buford Pusser Festival

We rode every ride!

Gracie the Swimmer

5-22-08

We had a great time in Destin, but the trip was too short. The drive home was not! It took us 12 hours to get home! As you can see, Gracie has turned into a great little swimmer. There are some good pictures of her in action. I caught some fish. Enjoy the show.

The Other Fish

Luckiest Little Fishing Village

Check out this paid of 30-pound reds I caught just inside the Pass in Destin. They wore me out!

Coke 10k