The Last Splash.

Wow - this week has been SO busy. Next week doesn't look much better. But I had to take a moment to blog about the boy. This week was his school's swim meet. The team has practiced twice a week since the beginning of school. This meet was for the Mississippi Private School Association and 17 schools participated. Hayden's school ranked 7th! YEAH!!!!!

It is hard to believe that just last year Hayden couldn't swim. When he joined our neighborhood swim team last summer he couldn't swim the length of the pool. He would swim a little, grab the rope, rest, swim a little more and repeat the process. Funny how fast things change. Coach Matthew, pictured here with Hayden (photo 1,) gave Hayden his very first swim lesson when he was four. Matthew is also the man who taught Hali how to swim. His sister Lacey gave Hayden lessons at age five and encouraged us to join the swim team. He has loved swimming ever since!

I'm always amazed when I see Matthew interact with the children. He has such a kindness about him. He ALWAYS takes the time to acknowledge the kids. It may be as small as a "hey buddy" or a high five - or even a rub on the top of the head, but it makes the kids feel so important. It just amazes me that a young man, who doesn't have children of his own, would take the time. It means a lot to the kids. It means a lot to the moms.

There was a LOT of waiting around at the swim meet. We arrived at 10:45. We waited until 1:00 to warm up and then it was around 3:00 when he was able to start swimming in events. While we waited, he got all of his homework done (photo 2.) I told him that his teacher LOVES it when he colors neatly. I think this page he colored while waiting to swim was his neatest yet! When we got home we had a message from Hayden's teacher, just calling to see how the meet went. I played the message for Hayden and his face lit up like a Christmas tree! Hayden's teacher is a true blessing. He really loves her. If all of the teachers at his school are like this teacher - we will never want for more.

Last night was the banquet. Hayden is SO excited about his medal. He has lots of ribbons and trophies, but this is his first medal. He slept with it under his pillow last night. He wanted to wear it to school today, but I talked him out of it.

The banquet was at River Hills Country Club. It is a very NICE place with a beautiful entrance. While we were walking in, Had asked "Is this where you and Da got married?" ha! The food was yummy and the kids behaved, so it was an enjoyable night. Had did her best to stay awake......but didn't quite make it!

Next I will blog about the fair. We had a GREAT time!

Our Story

This past weekend, while in West Monroe celebrating my sister's birthday, Chris and I enjoyed a stroll down memory lane. We rode by the college where we met in December 1993 (1st photo.) At the time, this was Northeast Louisiana University. They have since changed the name to University of Louisiana at Monroe.

We met in Hanna Hall at a 8:00 Geology class. Hanna Hall.....why didn't we name one of our H's Hanna? We were going to name Hadley Hannah, but that changed when I had my appendix out during her 4th month in the womb. That's another story... Anyway, We met at Hanna Hall (photo 2) He made an A, I made a D. I was young and couldn't get there at 8. I would get there around 8:20. It was a HUGE class. Chris sat in the front, I sat in the back. I would sneak in late, crawl on the floor so the professor wouldn't see me. The guy that sat next to me would hold the role until I got there. Oh, those were the days....

Our first date was at Ernesto's restaurant. (photo 3)A little old house, or shack, in the Garden District of Monroe. I had chicken tacos. Chris had....ok, I forgot. Chris wore a purple long sleeve button down shirt. His jeans were dark and he wore boots. That's right folks, boots. His hair was BLOND, bright blond, from being outside. His hair use to turn blond every summer. I had on the "elf outfit" as he use to call it. Purple sleeveless long jacket and black tights. He picked me up at my parent's house for lunch. He was leaving the next day for his Marine duty. It was LOVE at first sight.

I still remember getting his first call. I was standing in my parent's bedroom. I had skipped school that day. He called from the campus, where he worked, to explain that he was Chris, he was in my Geology class and lived next door to my friend Allison, and wanted to know why I wasn't in class. I was caught off guard..and thrilled!

I grew up on Pine Grove Circle. (Photo 4) It was a nice little house full of wonderful memories. I remember my Dad enclosing the garage and making a game room. I remember the coke machine located right inside the door - ready to offer an ice cold drink when I got off the bus. There was a pool table in the room as well. And the carpet had squares...that I use to count...when I was bored! My sister and I shared a room. I remember sitting up late at night talking about the Dukes of Hazard. Because she was the BIG sister, she got to have Bo for a boyfriend...I was stuck with Luke.

Our back yard was big. At least to my small eyes it was big. We had LOTS of cats. I loved those cats and I spent many hours playing with them. There were lots of kids in the neighborhood. Once the kids next door had a bunch of kids over and for some reason or another my sister and I weren't invited... we decided to treat them to some yummy chocolate marsh mellows.. we took mini marsh mellows and rolled them in the dirt. Once they were nice and brown, we took them to the fence and served them to the kids! They ate them. Wow...those were the days.

Chris and I plan to go back and take pictures of everywhere we've lived. If we can remember them all! 15 years is a long time. I think we've moved 9 times since we got married. I think.....not sure.

Good times.