Birthday and Bulldogs

I may still have him by an inch in the height, but if you look at us side by side, I think he is definitely bigger, which makes me feel like he may also be taller too.   I think I finally got his birthday correct this year, even though you would think that the 17 years would make me think 2/17 more.   It was somewhat of a crazy birthday though, we had to wake up at 5AM to get moving to a College visit at Mississippi State.   It is strange to begin these college tours so shortly after doing them with Sam.   But it makes for some great trips with the boys, and rare times with just me and Davis.

On campus, Davis got to see Bully, and then we went to an Orientation session, where we were one of the last ones, so we had to sit one in front of the other.   I will admit, I fell asleep somewhere during this presentation about MSU being all about family.   Instead of the campus tour provided by the school, I showed Davis around myself.   We saw all of the Engineering Buildings, I showed him all thru the library, and we even walked through the Swalm chemical engineering building.   It was national chemistry week, and I got to show him my chemistry class I had at 8am on MWF of my first semester.   That classroom seemed so much larger back then.   Dr. McMahon...look at that, the memory wheels are working tonight.   

We did a session on Engineering, then found our way over to the Perry Cafeteria for some unlimited food.   And me and Davis did our best to get as much as we could.  Wow, we ate too much.   We visited the book store, and saw the weird collection of clocks from the Wade family.   We toured the Sanderson center, where I shared with him the same stories I shared with Sam...the amazing ping pong room, the amazing raquet ball courts, and the amazing pom squad girls dance room.   And before we left, we made it back to the student center to grab some ice cream before we left.   As I struggled to eat my ice cream leaving campus, Davis told me of a crazy story about Uncle John eating cereal every day on the way to work...strangely impressive.   

We had actually just left Sam at our house on this morning, but he was heading back to Tuscaloosa for class midday on this Monday.   So on our way home from MSU, we stopped at the Ferguson to meet up with Sam.   I really did not want to stop, and actually thought Sam would tell us to keep going, because we had just seen him all weekend, but he said "Sure, let's meet up"...and we did.   It is amazing to watch those boys.   I am so glad we stopped because as we sat and ate a cup full of Auntie Annie's pretzels, i just sat back and listened as Davis told of his day, and Sam told of his day, and they both laughed at each others stories.   I almost hope Davis gets to come here as well, they are good friends still, and I think they do miss each other a bit.   We walked down to the store for a bit, I think there was a joke about Davis needing one of the Alabama sports bras.   And it was here that Sam finally got his valentines card from the university PO box...little late.   

Back at home, we celebrated Davis with some requested Dole Floats.   Pineapple Juice with vanilla ice cream, because those are the best.   Davis laughed to get a giant squishmellow, loved getting his new carhardt coat, and while I can not for the life of me remember what we were laughing about at the table, that is what I remember about this day...great day with Davis, but even more fun watching him laugh with his brother and sisters.   Happy Birthday Dave!  Belle did all the streamers.   

Day for Saint Valentine

Like many other days, our Mom makes this a special day, and even though I thought this would probably just fit into the random assortment of February picture blogs, I decided it should probably live on its own.   With that being said, Mom surprised us all with some fun gifts.   I am horrible to buy for, but I think I will really like the new MSU shirt.   I think everyone is showing in the pictures what they got, and even Magan got some new faucet covers she asked me to pick up at Lowes.   Apparently, Saint Valentine was martyred on 2/14, and parts of him are now in part of a church in Rome.  Later a Pope began celebrating this day around 500AD, so we have a pretty good tradition here.   And now we at least have some wikipedia history to beef up this blog.   

 

Youth Bowling and Super Bowl Watch Party

We have not had a gathering with our youth in quite a while, so I set up a bowling and laser tag day after services one Sunday.   Only later did I realize this was also Super Bowl Sunday, so we tied it into our annual watch party at the Kolb's house.   So could these kids handle a full day of fun with each other, most definitely.   

Few memories from this day...A surprisingly quick trip to Wendy's for lunch, where everyone got their food fairly quickly.   Then at the Bowling alley, it was good that I had reserved lanes early, because they were booked with multiple birthday parties.   So I quickly ran over to the laser tag to get some times booked, and those were all completely booked.   But after talking to the workers there, I found that their ropes course would be cheaper and the kids got as much time as they wanted up there...Who are the best bowlers?  Baker Speer and Brandon Rawls, but it was known, when they both brought their own balls and gloves into the alley...The ropes course I think was fun for all of the kids, but even more fun for me to stay below and watch.   My favorite from this day was Cash trying to get over one area with a spinning bar below him.   He kept slipping and falling, and it was hilarious each time.   

At the Kolb's house, there was billiards, and two watch parties, adults upstairs and kids downstairs.   There was a group playing cards, and many just hanging out.   Cash had the shirt of the night with "Go Taylor's Boyfriend".   Ruby got to join us and play with the dog, which is her friend.   I bought way too much pizza, as usual.   I don't think any of us really liked the Usher halftime show, but there were alot of really funny commercials.   Maybe the Arnold Swarzanegger (spell check gave up on me here) commercial for state farm with him trying to say Neighbor was one of the best.   And then in overtime, the Chiefs win again.   Taylor Swift celebrated on the field with Travis Kelce, and it was time to go home.   Magan and Davis and I drove on that night, and all of us will remember the torrential downpour that had us barely able to get out of the neighborhood to get home...and all soaking wet from just the run from the house to our cars.  

 

World of Wheels

I don't know how many times I got to come to the World of Wheels as a kid, but for some reason it is a part of many of my memories.   I know the commercials around Birmingham always advertised it big, and with the business Granddaddy is in, it was always a possibility.   Maybe at a world of wheels or maybe at another similar car show event, I remember getting a box of cool cars to play with.   I remember going around collecting key chains from so many vendors it was ridiculous the ball of key chains I had at the end.   What kid does not like seeing cool fast cars with cool paint jobs.  And if I am being completely honest, it was the lure of the Texas Bikini Team that captured my imagination during those afternoon commercials.   

But I have wanted to come to the World of Wheels every since we moved back to Birmingham, and it just never happened.   And now that Davis is a part of the Automotive group of CTEC, he got to visit the world of wheels on the opening day of the show, then got free tickets to return to the show.   YES, I called dibs on one and planned to go after church on Sunday.   Davis toured the full show with his class, then went directly after church with his friend Cole, and then was nice enough to hang around and tour dear old dad around the show for his third time around late Sunday afternoon when I could arrive.   

I had to park on the other side of uptown, and run thru the rain, but I did not have to pay for parking which helps when you also have a free ticket.   World of Wheels was all that I remembered, but it was strange in that I remember as a kid, Granddad telling me about the cars and pointing out a cool paint job, or the type of car it was...and on this day, I was still as oblivious about these things as a 7 year old kid.   Yet this time, it was Davis that pointed out the cool paint jobs or the motors and horse power.   I have gotten somewhat good at acting like I have some idea of what Davis is saying, but I truly do not.   My comments are limited to "Yeah, that looks cool".   I liked seeing the Batman cars and I liked seeing the Dukes of Hazzard cars, I did get a chance to talk with David Palmer (former Alabama star receiver) for a bit.   

Fun time with my bud Davis.   I wish I could speak more intelligently with him about these motors and such, but while I can't, I do enjoy just seeing him in his zone.   He truly loves it, and has a collection of Hot Wheels to show for it.   And while the Texas Bikini team is no longer a part of the show (at least I could not find them anywhere), the cars are super cool, the smell of the almonds were irresistible (yep, we had the large bag), and within a few steps inside after showing my ticket, I was just a 7 year old kid again, being escorted around the show.