The Black's on the Beach!

Welcome to our first annual Black Family Vacation!  Typically, the guys take a hunting vacay (think kill ducks) and the girls head to the beach!  This year we started a new tradition of vacationing together!  But, of course, the first thing Wayne and Mitch (FIL) see is a double banded pigeon on our balacony!  Ha!  I guess boys will be boys! 

We had a great time relaxing poolside (no beach bc there was no wind), playing cards (Wayne and I won in pinochle), reading (I have the cutest book about a pig), eating at all of our fav places (the guys were impressed) and, of course, the dog races (Dean (MIL) and I almost won all of our money back)! 

As the sunset on our last day even the guys were eager to return next year!  And that's a big deal!

A Novel Idea!

Whether you are conservative or liberal this page turner will keep you on the edge of your seat.  Although its fiction, this 556 pager is loosely based on the life of Laura Bush creating curiousity and delight around the famous character who is referred to as Alice Blackwell in the novel. 

And, of course, I will be passing this novel on.  I could think of no better recipient than my enthusiast friend Katy (who is currently the bread winner while her husband finishes through law school).  Katy's secret wish is to be the wife of the governor and host fantastic parties at the capital - she is truely the American Wife! 

He's Back!!!

I love Jay Leno - his long chin, his silly laugh, his love of cars - it just makes me smile!!!  I am so glad he is back, but I am especially glad it is at a earlier time (some nights I had time keeping my eyes open for his monologne).  And, for the most part, I liked the first show - the monolgue, the dan band, Jerry and Oprah were great, but I turned off the TV after the first few lyrics of the JayZ/Rihanna/Kanye West tune (actually Wayne did it bc he actually understood what they were saying)!  Ha! 

Show us your teeth!!!

How cute is she?  Lucky for her she is super smart too!  This is the response I get with "show us your teeth" - good thing Sara has an IPhone!  Do you see those big pearly whites?  I think she is going to have big white teeth like her Aunt Sally!  :)

Us girls had such a great weekend... Grandmommy came to visit!  And we went with Sara to Build a Bear - the highlight of the weekend was building Maggy the Monkey who wears a red & white sundress and white sunglasses (lots of work for a two year old)!  Thankfully Sara spent the night Saturday night - I am not sure we would have made it to church without her!  After church (Kailee loves the nursery) we had lunch with Dean and Sara!  Wow!  It was a big weekend, but it is such a joy to be around Kailee!  Now I need a nap!!!

Neeli earned a RIBBON!!!

Neeli had such a fun time with her daddy this weekend.  They ran the West Mississippi Hunt Test at Kearney Park.  I honestly am not sure who gets more excited - Wayne or Neeli!  But they both were thrilled to return home with a ribbon this afternoon.  Go Team!!!  Only three more finished passes to go, and we will have a Champion Hunter! 

Song of the Day

Do you listen to KLOVE?  If not, you should give it a try!  In Jackson the station is 100.9, and I listen anytime I am in my car (unless Dave Ramsey is on Talk Radio)!!!  Ha!  This morning I heard a song that just spoke to me... "He is" by Mark Schultz! 

Father, let the world just fade away

Let me feel your presence in this place

Lord, I've never been so weary

How I need to know you're near me

Father, let the world just fade away

Till I'm on my knees

Till my heart can sing

He is

He was

He always will be

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me

Be still, my soul

He is

Father, let your Holy Spirit sing

Let it calm the storm inside of me

As I stand amazed

Lift my hands and say

He is

He was

He always will be

He lives

He loves

he's always with me
Even when it feels like there is no one holding me

Be still, my soul

Through every fear

And every doubt

And every tear I shed

Down every road

I'm not alone

No matter where I am

He is

He was

And He always will be
He lives

He loves

he's always with me

Even when it feels like there is no one holding me

Be still, my soul

Be still, and know

Be still, my soul

He is

DOVE SEASON!!!

With Labor Day comes the official beginning of hunting season.  We embarked on the Delta for a weekend of food, fun and hunting doves!  Wayne will soon disappear into his hunting rituals, so the opening weekend is a great time for us to spend some time together in his favorite place.  And it was a successful weekend as well with a total of 353 doves joining the messes of game in the freezer.   

Happy 60th Anniversary

Granny and Poppa celebrated their 60th anniversary yesterday! 

Their story: Granny was just 16 when they married, and Poppa was 22!  Ha!  Poppa found him a young girl!  They married in Mobile, and they told no one what they had done!  They spent the afternoon of their wedding day (a Friday) at a baseball game.  Then Granny stayed with her Aunt Gladys and Poppa stayed with his family that night.

Wayne and I (and the rest of the Ely clan) joined them for dinner at Bonefish (Poppa loves Bang Bang Shrimp) and then Dairy Queen cake (Yum!  Yum!)

We love yall!!!

Here Goosey Goosey

It's official!!! Goose season is here!  It actually opened yesterday, but Wayne and Neeli got started this morning.  And I think Neeli had just as much fun as Wayne.  Nonetheless, both of them were giddy early this morning - they woke up a 3:30am - that is a big deal for Wayne! 

The hunt was a huge success!  The guys (Wayne and four friends) had a five man limit - that's 25 geese!  Neeli retrieved 18 of them so I am sure she will have a sore neck (geese are much bigger and heavier than ducks), but she is as happy as a lark!