Up in a cloud of smoke...

Well, the Arkansas vs. Ole Miss game has come and gone now, and for once, I can honestly say that I don't care about the end result.  Can you believe I just said that?  That is sooo out of character for me, but lots of bad things happened that day other than our loss to the pigs.

I'm going to do my best to catch you up rather quickly, so here's the story in a nutshell.  On game day, during the first rain delay, my mother-in-law started yelling for us to get out of the house because our propane tank and fence were on fire.  Yep, on FIRE!  So, of course in a huge panicked rush, we all ran outside barefoot.  I had Gigi in one arm and my cell phone in the other.  After calling 911 and EVERY fire dept within a 20 mile radius, we watched as our fence and storage building went up in flames.  I've never seen such big flames, and honestly, I was scared to death.  I just knew that our house was going to be gone, but somehow, I remained somewhat calm.  I sat on the sidewalk shoeless at our neighbor's house and just prayed that God would protect my family and my house too (if it was His will).  Sure enough, miraculously, my house didn't burn and the fire was stopped literally as it reached my roof.  Of course, our privacy fence and the storage building and all of the contents are gone, but our house survived, and we couldn't be any more thankful!  We lost a lot, but we could've lost so much more.  The only things I'm really gonna miss are my custom-built dollhouse that Mom and Dad gave me on my 5th Christmas, all of Manning's baby clothes and memorabilia, and of course, my gorgeous Christmas decorations.  The rest, we can live without.  They are just "things," after all.

With that being said, we do have a little trouble sleeping at night.  I've installed fire detectors all over our house, and I now have a phobia of fires.  But, I do know that God protected us and our home for a reason, and that I don't need to worry.  He will take care of us.  Some nights, I just can't help but pray 'til I fall asleep for God to watch over my sweet baby boy and protect him all the time. 

As I mentioned earlier, ALL of my Christmas decor is gone... and if you know me very well, you know how much I love Christmas.  If you don't know me, here's a short recap.  I love anything and everything Christmas, seriously.  My tree goes up the day after Halloween every year, if not before....  With this being Manning's second Christmas, but the first one that he'll actually be able to take part in, of course I had to continue with my tradition.  No fire is going to dampen my Christmas spirit and take away from all of our traditions.  So, Manning and I have been shopping up a storm trying to replace everything.  After 5 shopping trips and a lot of time spent online, I have finally finished.  I bought lots of beautiful ornaments like these...

And got a gorgeous new tree skirt...

And, of course, I lined the stockings up in Pier 1 to make sure I liked them before I purchased them...

When my packages arrive, my Christmas decor will be complete and all will be right with the world.  :o)  Enjoy the pics of our shopping adventures....

We bought a sock-monkey @ Wolfchase in Memphis...

Mommy's lil' elf :)

Shopping is a tough job!

Of course, we stopped for dinner after one of our many trips...

Now, my backyard is a different story... it looks like a junkyard.  I can't wait for the insurance adjustor to give us the go-ahead so we can get all of our burned memories off of our lawn.  Until next time, have you decorated for Christmas yet?  Why wait?! Stay tuned for some photos of my finished tree. 

Do you smell that HOG stench?

Praise in the Park



Fun in the park with Ella

Well, first and foremost, let me say Happy 11 months to my Manning today!  In one short month, my little baby boy is going to be a 1-year-old.... WOW!!!  I so can't believe it.  I am having a blast though planning his first birthday party.  It's going to be such a fun day!! :o) 

Fun in the leaves

For all of you Ole Miss fans, the HOG stench is getting pretty strong in our little town... We woke up yesterday morning to find a surprise on our lawn.  Cody went to the door to leave for work, and I heard "Marci, you might want to come to the door."  We found our Colonel Reb statue had been "hogged"... See for yourself...

Later, when Mamaw Joyce showed up.  She informed me that not only our Colonel had been tampered with... Turns out, Mom's and Melissa's got a new look as well.

Mom's Statue

Melissa's Statue

As for the neighborhood pranks, I'll post more about this after this weekend.  As you all know by now, I'm a pretty humble Ole Miss fan.  I know our faults and know that we have the tendency to make major mistakes.  But, oh how I'd love to WIN this weekend!  This is the most important game to me of the whole season because I'm surrounded by so many HOGS and have to listen to the jokes year-round.  As fun as it may be to have this ongoing SEC rivalry, a win would just make this football season spectacular for me.  So, Rebels, Masoli, and my boy Melvin Harris, don't let me down, ok?!  HOTTY TODDY!  Go Rebels! 

You probably noticed that I haven't mentioned our mascot change.  I purposely don't want to elaborate on it.  Colonel Reb will always be the Moore family's mascot.  Here's a picture to explain how I feel about those black bears.....

Wrap it up, Wednesday!

Well, I'm going to call today's post 'Wrap it up, Wednesday' because I realized that there are many random things that I haven't blogged about.  So here it goes...

First of all, meet Rosie!  She's a lab that someone dropped off at the office a couple of months ago.  Dad's workers named her, and she is the sweetest little ol' thing!  Seriously, she's one of the most kind, friendly dogs I've ever seen.  I love her so much that I tried to take her home with me.  After a few nights of hearing her cry, I brought her back to the office.  She just loves it here, so she's now our Girdley Flying Service/Girdley Brothers Farm dog.  Look at her sweet face.....

We also celebrated Cody's birthday recently. Here are a couple of pics of his birthday dinner (obviously before we started our Jamaica diets)...

Yummy

                                                

Birthday cookies for Cody... thanks to Marci Crocker ;o)

I made them in the shape of footballs, helmets, jerseys, and megaphones b/c Cody loves him some football!

This past Friday night, Cody and I lucked up and got FREE fifth row tickets to the Hank Williams, Jr. concert.  He called me and told me the news at work, so we got so excited about having a date and such a fun concert to go to.  After work, we got ready and headed on our way....  Now, before I continue with the story, please know that I'm one of the most accident-prone, awkward people in the world.  In true Marci fashion, I started itching and my neck started semi-closing up on our way to the concert.  I just tried to tough it out and not even tell Cody until we made our way into Mississippi.   Then, I started getting worse...  I seriously couldn't breathe and had no idea why.  After popping a few Benadryls, we headed to the Desoto Baptist emergency room.  After sitting there for a while, the Benadryls started working and I could breathe again, so we left.  I was bound and determined to enjoy this date, so we went to the concert and actually got to see all of Hank Williams, Jr.  We just missed the 3 opening acts.  Oh well....just another day in the life of Marci. ;o)  We did have a great time, though, minus the ER visit.  Turns out, I'm allergic to Burt's Bees chapstick... I learned this the following day when I put the same chapstick on and had another allergic reaction. 

Hank Williams, Jr. Concert

My little man is almost 11 months old now and learning so many new things each and every day.  In the past week, he's learned to clap his hands, make a clicking noise with his tongue, and he's almost running now.  He's walking EVERYWHERE!  My little boy is almost 1!!!  I so can't believe it............

@ Denso's Family Picnic/Cody's Work Picnic

Love his cute lil' teeth

Tons of photoshoots....

Boo!



Ready for Halloween...

You'd think I thought of myself as a photographer by seeing how many photos I've taken lately... but I am just a picture person.  I feel that you can NEVER have too many pictures.  

I wish I were in the land of cotton.......

Cotton Photo Shoot, 2010

Sorry I haven't posted in a while for those of you who really like to keep up!  We've just been pretty busy.  Between Ole Miss football games on Saturdays, harvest, Burch's football games on Thursdays, planning for Manning's first bday party, and all of the photo shoots in between, I haven't had a whole lot of extra time.

Since I blogged last, Daddy has had back surgery and is on the mend.  Thankfully, he's feeling much better.  He just called me randomly one night and asked me to come to the air strip to help him.  He was in the floor and couldn't get up.  This event ended with him being escorted to the hospital in an ambulance and having surgery the next morning.  He's much better now, though, thank the Lord!



Picking out our pumpkins @ the pumpkin patch

Work is great... We are about 2 days away from being completely finished with our harvest.  I've been spending a lot of time driving Daddy's truck from field to field and doing what little bit I can to help.  I've really learned a lot about farming, and I LOVE it.  Not my personality at all, but it's kinda fun to get dirty every once in a while!! :o)

Ok, I'll stop boring you with all of this and get onto to what you all probably want to hear about and that is Manning!  He's 10.5 months old now and learning new things every day.  Here are the latest stats on my little man...

*weighs 26 pounds

*size 4 diaper

*loves table food now

*waves bye bye all the time

*walks ALL over the place

*claps his hands

*has 7 teeth

*can say "bye bye" "mama" "dada" "nana" "rah rah rah (cheering)" "ball" "bath" "hey"

*love love loves the outdoors and getting dirty... and loves to climb on anything and everything



A real photographer actually did these...



Until next time....

Grab your camera and do some photo shoots of your own!  They're so much fun! :o)



Mommy's little pumpkin



Happy Fall, y'all!

This past weekend, we were very busy, but very happy and entertained!  I love getting to experience things all over again through the eyes of my son.  It's so much fun seeing him have a good time and to sit and think about the way he perceives different places and experiences.  It makes me appreciate simple things...like how beautiful fair lights are!

Friday night, Cody and I enjoyed Manning's first trip to the fair.  He loved seeing the lights and all of the people.  The hubs and I had a blast, too.  We rode the carousel and the train over and over.  Who knew kiddie rides could be so fun?!

Saturday, we got ready for Manning's next "first" experience...his first Ole Miss football game.  We were a little nervous that he wouldn't like it and were prepared to leave whenever he decided it was time.  After a rocky start and a few terrified cries when he heard the opening hotty toddy, he got accustomed to the noise within about 15 minutes.  Before long, he was bouncing up and down, and waving a pom pom.  I was so proud! :o) 

While at the game, I also noticed something else... people are so nice to you when you have a baby. I made all kinds of friends because they wanted to talk to Manning...and of course, everyone LOVED his name.  Wonder why?!  ;o)  Once when I took him to the restroom for a diaper change, a girl grabbed my arm and said "Oh my gosh... the cutest baby EVERRRRR!"  She said it with that much expression, and that Delta Gamma sorority girl made my night!  

Happy Fall, y'all!  I am so loving this cool, fall weather.  I can't wait to decorate the outside of our house for Halloween.  The inside has been decorated for weeks now.  I love to get a jumpstart.  I feel like I get to enjoy the holiday more if I start early.  Enjoy the pics!  Have you decorated yet?  Why wait?

My spooky fireplace

Happy Halloween!!

Manning's best bud... welcome Ford!

September 17, 2010 is a very special day.  It's Manning's best friend's birthday!

That morning, I woke up bright and early to go be with my best friend, Joanna, and her husband, Chase.  They had been in the hospital all night and were getting ready to welcome their precious son into the world.  I sped the whole way because I didn't think I'd make it in time.  After my arrival, I quickly realized that Ford would be taking his time and didn't almost miss anything.  The funniest time of the day to me was when Chase told me he was shocked how much went into this labor thing... He thought it was gametime right after JoJo's water broke at 8 a.m. that morning.  It was funny and too cute!  :o) 

I stayed with Joanna all day long and didn't leave her side until I had to, when she was getting ready to push, which was around 4 or 5 p.m.  Finally, at 6 p.m., we got word that Ford Ashton Chafin had arrived, and the celebration began! 

If you're wondering, of course I got emotional and cried a little... but I'm just extremely sensitive when it comes to babies.  After the journey Cody and I traveled to have Manning, I realize what a miracle childbirth truly is.  As Joanna lay there, I was listening to Ford's hearbeat on the monitor and began to thank God for the many miracles we get to experience here on earth.  It is so amazing!  I'm just thankful for my precious son, and I feel blessed to have been able to be with my best friend on the day that her sweet son arrived.  I just know that we are going to have a blast raising our boys together and am looking forward to all of the stories, birthday parties, and even tantrums that we will share!  Motherhood is the most amazing blessing I've ever received, and not a moment goes by that I don't thank God for it.  Words can't describe the joy and love that dwell within my heart. 

Uncle Cody & Ford

Aunt Marci & Ford

Ford, we are so happy that you are finally here!  We love you, buddy!

We love you so much already!

Holy Masoli...

Well, kickoff has come & gone now, and Ole Miss football is in full swing... and we are loving every almost every second of it! When football season rolls around in our tiny little town, the pranks and the bashing begins.  If you aren't a razorback fan, boy "they" let you hear about it.  Here's a picture of Colonel Reb who was...I guess we'll call it "hogged" by some anonymous hog fan.  We never know who does this stuff, but I've got to admit it is fun to see what they keep coming up with. 

As you rebel fans know, I say we are loving "almost" every second of football season, because we went to Oxford for one of the most disappointing games ever, the Jacksonville State game, and now after today, our second embarrassment, our loss to Vandy.  Let's just say we had a very quiet drive back to Arkansas after the game.  Cody was very upset and didn't want to discuss it. I was pretty much devastated as well... Right after our loss, I turned around to see one little fella, probably 3 years old, balling his eyes out.  I wasn't quite as sad as him, but I was pretty darn close!

This past weekend, we watched the Ole Miss vs. Tulane game on tv, and even though I'm still not impressed with our defense, I will always love and support my team.  However, I am a pretty big Masoli fan, and so is Manning.  We proudly sported our matching #8 jerseys last Saturday.  Cody jokes and says I have a football crush, but I'm in no way, shape, or form attracted to Masoli, but there's just something about him that I like to watch.  It could be that he's short and stocky (just like I like 'em) or the fact that he is wearing the number 8.  One of my best guy friends in high school was #8.  We called him "Brother."  He was the quarterback and one of the best, most fun people ever.  Sadly, he passed away my sophomore year of college and I miss him dearly...maybe this is why the #8 is so dear to my heart. 

Back to the rebels... boy, is it going to be a looooong season, or what?!  Don't get me wrong.  I love the rebels with all of my heart, but I just think we're off to a terrible start, and I just don't know if we're going to win any games since we can't win any of the "easier" ones.  But, I guess we shall see... Regardless of the outcome, I will continue to wear my red and blue and chant Hotty Toddy because I'm no fair-weather fan.  I'm in it for the long haul!  Peace, love & hotty toddy! ;o)