Gavin's Speech

In light of Martin Luther King Day last week, Gavin's teacher asked each student to write a speech on their own on something they believe in. Gavin was not in the mood to write his speech and kept asking me what he could write about. I told him that it wasn't my speech and what I believed in, it was his. So after some huffing and puffing, he did it on his own. When I went to look at what he had written later that night, I found this:

By Gavin Morgan

January 19, 2012

I believe that you should believe in yourself and never give up, otherwise you will be a quitter. When you want to be good at something you should always try your best. You can be anything you want to be. You can do everything you want to do. All it takes is believing in you.

I was so proud of my little man. What a great speech. I hope he always believes that to be true. He had to practice and give his speech on Friday. He said it went well. :)

BAMA PROUD

When it comes to football Gavin has two favorite teams. For professional football it is no surprise that he has learned from his dad to be a Pittsburgh Steelers fan. When it comes to college, he is BAMA all the way. Roll Tide Roll.
Gavin plays football nearly every day at our park and the boys all call him Bama for a nickname. He is in love with Alabama football. He was so mad when they lost back in November to LSU in a double overtime...and even more upset that he had to watch it from my iphone at a Taylor Swift concert. When we found out they were playing each other again for the championship title Bowl Game....Gavin was ecstatic. 

Many of Franks co-workers are BAMA fans. That would only make sense since they live in Alabama. One of Franks co-workers was especially proud that Gavin was sticking up for his team. He sent Gavin a shirt and he wore it proudly the morning of the Bowl game to school. He was made fun of and told to watch out for the tigers because he was about to get attacked. He was roared at and told there was NO way his team was winning. He laughed and stood strong in his belief that they would win. Gavin asked for special permission to stay up late to watch the game- we let him. His excitement had us all excited to root for his team. I even put an "A" on our Chicken pot pie for dinner.

BAMA WON. And he asked us to wash his BAMA shirt so he could wear it to school again the next day. HA! HA! HA! This kid is not competitive at all when it comes to sports.

Gavin received a package in the mail last weekend.

He was VERY Excited!!


A Bama National Champion shirt.


He put it on right away and pretty much has been wearing it ever since.

Thank you Joe for your thoughtfulness. He clearly LOVES it!!!

Roll Tide Roll!!!!

Thirty-Seven

The night before Frank's 37th birthday I found an old file with old pictures in it. Some of the pictures just happened to be from his 27th birthday. TEN YEARS AGO. The picture below was the first birthday I spent with him and we were newly engaged. Time sure has flown by. We have had many changes, and have been through a whole lot in ten years. Look at us...we were babies and had NO idea what this world had in store for us.


Ten Years later and here we are married, with three kids who are 3, 6 and 8. CRAZY how fast time flies.

Frank woke up to a special banner the kids and I had made him.....

He opened presents...

And then we went to his FAVORITE PLACE ON EARTH.....(not really but it comes close)......


And we had a DISGUSTINGLY HUGE breakfast.....


Then our family all came over for some cake. I usually make our cakes, but he has had the same lady make his cake for the last 31 or so years....so I couldn't break the tradition. Nielson's baked his white with raspberry cake....


And he made a wish....


And took pictures and opened more presents....




The theme for his birthday this year was beach stuff....we are finally marking off the top of our Bucket List this year.... More to come on that later.....




We ended the night with dinner with our favorite neighbors...the Gibsons. They gave Frank some really funny gifts and they seem to always be a part of every birthday...it was only fitting we eat with them at Frank's second favorite place... Lupe Tortillas. The staff sang to him, and fed him whipped cream...it was a fun ol' time.



I'd say he had a pretty fantastic 37th birthday. :) Oh how thankful I am that he was born 37 years ago and how blessed I am because of him.
We love you Frank!!!

New Years Eve

We have spent the last four New Years Eve's with the same friends. The kids all play while us adults eat and laugh. We had a fun night at the Hayes house saying goodbye to 2011. And we had the biggest fireworks display to date as our friend, Hal got a little crazy at the fireworks booth asking for the "biggest" fireworks they sell. The big boys definitely were like little high school boys as they lit them. Thankfully no one got hurt. But the "Donger" and "One Bad Mother in Law" (the name of the fireworks) did not disappoint. 

 I can't believe it is 2012. Time really does go by quickly. This year I don't have a list of resolutions like usual. I am just making one- to grow spiritually. To deepen my relationship with God. I am hopeful I will do alright with that one. 

Happy New Year!!

I hope and pray that it is a year full of love, health, and happiness!!!