Sam's Birthday Happens Again!

Birthday parties used to be filled with elaborate planning and family and friends coming to a cool location like Chuck E Cheese, or McWane, or a Barons Baseball game, but now it is just planning a couple of hours at a Cracker Barrel with Sam on his way up to Cullman.   We found a good location in the middle for all of us in Pelham, and even had Davis come through on his way back from Tuscaloosa.   I think everyone had a good meal, and Sam liked all of his presents, which included a couple of Brandon Sanderson gifts I picked out, which is unusual...for me to pick out anything.   

The Bundt Cake dessert was amazing, but left me not feeling well for the remainder of this short get together.   I will share an embarrassing story that had me in the bathroom with a sick stomach, and looking over to see wheels rolling up and trying the stall door.   I then realized in my hurry to get to an immediate relief area, I grabbed the first one in, and the larger handicap one.   Oh No!   I quickly took care of the paperwork and came out of the stall to find no one waiting.  So I felt a bit of relief until I walked out the restroom door directly into the gentleman sitting and waiting for the restroom.   I quickly said "Man, that guy in there is a jerk, he is still in there" and walked past quickly.   

Oh well...what is this blog about again...Oh Yeah, Happy Birthday Sam!   I guess we could now go get us a CoBeer, but that might be frowned upon, and I have a feeling we would both be disappointed.   Your goodness and kindness is amazing to see as a Dad.   I know you will be an awesome husband, thankfully because your patience matches your momma better than mine.   I wish we had more time together, but I will always cherish the time we do have.   Thank you for always giving me the big hugs.   

Another Year at Tumbling Rock

I like to get into the cave at least once per year to remember my way to the topless dome, and always to find new people to have this experience.   It is still one of the most unique things I have ever done, and as Davis and I have already said "We are ready to go back again" (even as I write only 1 week following this trip).   This was originally planned to be only for family, but the Sartins were traveling, and Colby made up a last minute excuse, but we did get Katie and Wyatt to join in.   Now to find others that wanted to go.

Sam and Noel have wedding plans each weekend, but we got one of the Montgomerys (Keegan).   Davis decided he could make this visit to the cave.   And after reaching out to the church, I got Dave and David Holley, Jonathan Bailey, and a visiting preacher Hunter Davis.   And we made it to the week of the cave visit when Cash and Linley also decided to go.   And since Linley was going, Anabelle felt forced into attending also.   Then mid-week, Katie let me know that she had inadvertently invited a couple of friends to attend.   And then morning of the cave visit, a text from Hunter Davis said that he was not feeling well, and Cash showed up at the church to let us know he was not feeling well, and oh, Linley is not coming either.   I quickly told Anabelle that it would be no problem to take her back by the house if she did not want to go...but she said "I am already up...and there is a pizza buffet".   I love that girl!

With our smaller numbers, the Chelsea crew was down to only one van, and we all met up at the cave at 9:30AM.   I think everyone was ready to go into the cave by 9:45, but I am pretty methodical not wanting to forget anything, and making sure in my mind I remember all of the turns and steps in the cave.   So finally at 10:00AM, we got the picture of us all at the cave entrance.   Kyle and Olivia were Katies friends, and they knew the cave well, so they took the picture and were very helpful getting everyone ready to go in.   After a quick safety message and prayer, we all turned on the lights, and headed into the cave.   

I let Davis take the lead, so I could stay back and help Anabelle and Katie and Wyatt where needed.   We found out quickly that Dave Holley liked to explore every hole and different pathway he could, and usually right behind him were Keegan and David Holley.   Davis made quick friends with Kyle, and learned some new tunnels and pathways to explore next time.   Davis did great leading the way and stopping at all the right places.   He also has never lead the slower group, so I had to show him the old people way of getting down butt break slide.   I probably also annoyingly go towards the dryest pathway possible in almost all cases, which sometimes is more difficult.   

Everyone did great as we got to our first big rest spot at the top of Wildcat rock pile.   After a quick snack, I invited everyone down to a flatter area where we sat to turn off all of our lights and have a thoughtful moment of reflection in the cave.   And after taking several minutes for everyone to find all of their lights, and iWatches, and glow bracelets...we finally had complete darkness, when a large fart ripped loud in the complete silence.   Followed by Wyatt guiltily saying "Was that you mom", but we all knew it was him.   While there is no wind to break in the cave, the silence was definitely broken.   Then after the laughter ended, we had another group catch us and had to wait for them to pass by.   So this added a bit of time to our cave experience.   Finally in the darkness, we were able to all have a moment and sing "God is so Good".

I loved being in the back with Katie, and was proud of her for even trying this adventure.   She did amazing, even if she did bang her head into the cave ceiling pretty often.   Usually followed by a snort as she was laughing at herself.   But Anabelle and I were also glad to be back with Aunt Katie when she slid down one hill and ripped her pants.   So we tried to always be behind her to protect the moon shining from her little butt flap rip in her pants.   I also was able to trick her once when we got behind the main group.   I knew a "dead end" was coming up in our hike, and when we rounded a corner, and Katie was slightly in the lead I said "Well this is a dead end, did you leave the rest of the group somewhere".    Haha, she quickly got defensive saying "They were right ahead of us".   And they were, but at this "Dead End", you have to start climbing up, so we just could not see them ahead of us.   

We finally made it to the Christmas Tree and Tumbling rock for the required group photos and family shots.   Then back the base of the topless dome for lunch.   After lunch, we finally made our way up into the hole in the ceiling to see the topless dome.   I have never seen the top, but Kyle had a massive search and rescue light that hit the very top.   Pretty cool to see, and with the water falling not too bad in here, we had time to explore.   I think I heard that Wyatt got the wettest in the water fall.   Our trip out was a little faster, but we had to wait for a while near Elephants foot for Davis to crawl into "Uvaldi's passage" and explore a completely new room that Kyle told him about.   I heard that at one time, Wyatt warned others to not get behind him.   

And then we were out.   As much as I like going in this cave, it is always a joy to see the actual true light of outside when we finally exit.   We took the required dirty exit pictures, and then everyone took turns getting changed before we all headed home.   I was very proud of both Katie and Wyatt, and my buddy Jonathan Bailey that finished round 3 in the cave.   

The Chelsea crew made the planned stop in Rainbow City, and pigged out at the pizza buffet.   We ate way too much pizza, but at $16/person, we all felt like we had to eat more.   We found out you could order whatever pizza you want and have it sent to your table also.   So I got a ham, pineapple, and banana pepper one...and a chicken cordon bleu one...and everyone helped me eat every bit of them.   And while Belle only got one piece of the strawberry pizza when we first arrived, we waited long enough to get more before we left.   

Belle and I cracked up leaving the pizza place, as I commented on her Winnie the Pooh shirt by asking "Is that pooh on both the front and back of your shirt", not realizing it until then that Winnie the Pooh was in reverse on the back.   But she thought of how nasty we all felt coming out of the cave, and thought I was asking if she had actual pooh on the back her her shirt.   And that should be the last of the story, but I will continue to share that I had some terrible gas on the way home, and since I did not want to stop, I just kept letting some pockets of that gas release while I was driving.   I verified each time that there was no stench, so luckily I was in the clear passing gas for the last hour of the drive.   When we finally home after dropping the others off at church, I told Davis and Belle, that I had been sneaking gas out because my belly was not feeling well.   Then they both surprised me by saying "WE KNOW!".   "It smelled horrible all the way from the pizza place."   Belle said it just keep seeping to the back of the van.   Davis told me that Dave Holley kept trying to sleep, but his nose kept twitching when each new round was delivered to the back of the van.   Oh well, I have yet to bring it up to Jonathan or Dave or David...but if they ever read this...Sorry guys.   

April Showers...I don't think there were any this month

Every month, Mom gets a few stories, and those of us close get to hear them over and over again.   We love her, so we don't mind, but Belle and I always share a look when we know it is coming.   This month's selection included a conversation with Rinoa at the Cullman wedding shower, where she bragged on Davis being the "life of the party" in Tuscaloosa.   Apparently many are just in death scroll mode on their phones, but when Davis comes in, he helps all remember that we are there to interact with the other humans.   And it is a good story, because Magan and I have both tried to get the kids to keep phones in their pockets when with company.   Our other story of the month was Magan at a department store and the cashier commented on her wedding ring.   Magan, who seems to be comfortable talking with anyone that will listen, immediately begins sharing that we will soon celebrate our 25th anniversary, then shares about the significance of the rings stones indicating her 4 children.   At this, the cashier was blown away and asked "How old are you, you can't have 4 kids" (Apparently the 25 years of marraige did not sink in).   But of course this made magan smile, and eyes disappear, and I think that cashier got her first tip as a cashier.   

And perhaps a story that speaks to the problems of technology.   One day while I was working from home, and the kids were out of school, I heard her and Ruby laughing in the living room.   Then I received a picture of Ruby where she had stuck a magnetic tool to her braces.   It was really funny, but I turned back to my screen and back to work.   Ruby ran over to my desk in the Dining room, looking for the same laughter shared with her mom moments earlier.   But when she showed it to me, I said "Yeah, that is funny, Mom already sent me the picture".   Ruby looked at me in surprise and a little sad "I just did it over there".   Ugh, Dad failure in response coupled with technology misuse.

So what is going in in the hodge podge of pictures below...I think Anabelle did all the boys hair one day...play day with Jordan...Sam gets to work from Cullman all week...Murder Mystery in Tuscaloosa with the game facilitated by Davis...Davis wins the golden egg ($50) and various other prizes at the Northwood church easter egg hunt...Belle inducted into the Music Honor Society...plans for the new target in Chelsea revealed...Davis goes behind the scenes at Bryant Denny with the Crimson Chaos...Stella does an excellent job in a stage show of Pride and Prejudice (altho Scott learns that this is the worst and most horrible story he has ever suffered through...and he verified on google that he is not alone)...Small group at the Britts...a chance encounter with Mrs Speegle at the P&P play...pickleball days...A fun visit to Activate with my "Little" in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.  My "Little" is Cameron right next to me in the pic, but I also got to hang out and play some fun games with Caleb and Israel.   My favorite story from this last year was Cameron setting a goal of doing 5 pushups as one of his goals.   I really didn't worry about it, because we don't get enough time with these kids to really help with big goals, but when I told him he had to meet these goals to get to go to activate, I asked him if he could do it.   He gave me his big smile and said sure.   That was good enough for me.   Then one of the BBBS coordinators came by and asked if he met his goal of 5 pushups.   Bernice asked Cameron, and he said yes...she looked him up and down, then challengingly said "Show me".    hahaha...so hilarious, but Cameron dropped right there in the middle of the meeting and did his 5 pushups.   

And lastly, Magan found a wadded up piece of paper that was unwadded then a picture taken of it, then a text sent to me for it to go in the blog.   So I don't know the details of the original wad, nor of Belle's knowledge that this poem would be captured in the blogs, but I thought is was nice, and I am very glad that her bed is captured in this memory, now and forever.   

An Ode to my Bed - Anabelle Junkin

A simple bed, white and pink, wood and cotton, The bed stays unchanged

The room is different, and the sheets have changed.   The bed stays unchanged

There used to be another right above, but now the other is beside.   The bed stays unchanged

Dolls and stuffed animals used to be gathered there, but now only one remains.   The bed stays unchanged

Used to be a trampoline or a castle, but now they're no where to be seen.   The bed stays unchanged

Both then and now, the bed protects and comforts.   Its a hiding place when the world is too loud.

Even if only as a memory one day, the bed stays unchanged now and forever