Day Two Hundred Ninety Two 2013

FAMILY, FOOD, FUN, FELLOWSHIP, FOOTBALL! [GO BIG ORANGE!]

It’s been a long time since this bunch of Tennessee Volunteer football fans [also known as my family] has come together on game day to watch a Big Orange football game. We used to do it every game every Saturday during the UT season, taking turns meeting at each other’s house, especially when the Vols were ranked in the top five college teams in the country. But I guess as our team dropped out of the ranks over the years, we gave up the get togethers and found other things to do on a Saturday during football season. We kept saying we need to get together again for a game, but we never did. Well, until today. My sister Ann and her hubs Terry decided this game ~ UT Vols against the South Carolina Gamecocks ~ would be a good one to come together and watch. The Vols have had their coaching problems lately, but this team and the new coach have shown promise this season. UT, unranked, lost to number six [at the time] Georgia by only a field goal in overtime two weeks ago. So never say never. We put on our Big Orange shirts and gathered at Ann and T’s house for great food [ribs, Ann’s homemade potato salad, T’s homemade baked beans, and Shelby’s homemade brownies, all so very yummy] and watched some SEC football.

We dug in to all that great food at half time ~ the Vols were leading.

You can probably tell by the smiles on our faces [well, except for maybe Ken and Knox] that the UT Volunteers were victorious over the Gamecocks ~ unranked UT beat eleventh ranked South Carolina 23 ~ 21. What a great game! Well played, Vols! So happy for the UT coach and the Big Orange team and of course Tennessee football fans, who are always pleased to hand Steve Spurrier a loss no matter who he’s coaching. Thanks for hosting the game, Ann and Terry! Good times!
Our happy group shot: from left back row: brother in law Terry, sister Ann, sister Jane [who ran her first half marathon this morning in a little over three hours! woo hoo! way to go, Jane!], nephew Alex, hubs Neil, grandson Knox, niece Sarah, niece Julia, daughter Kelly and moi.  Front row, from left: brother Ken, daughter Holly, granddaughter Shelby, and grandson Elijah. Always grateful for my family and the times we can spend together.

Day Two Hundred Sixty Six 2012

My sister Ann and her husband Terry always host an annual Labor Day family get together at their house. This year, we got rained out, so they moved it to this afternoon and rented a huge shelter at the beautiful park just down the hill from their house, just in case the rains came again. But we couldn’t have asked for a more gorgeous day, and what a way to kick off the first day of Fall than with family and yummy food!
























My sister in law Cynthia snapped this one of us enjoying BBQ, Ann’s killer potato salad, Don’s killer cole slaw, and Terry’s killer baked beans. I took a similar picture and sorry to exclude you, Cyn, but your shot was much better than mine.
After dark, we headed back to Ann and Terry’s for a huge bonfire.
This fire was so big and hot you had to have a ten foot pole to roast a marshmallow! It sure did knock back the evening chill.

Thanks, again, Ann and Terry, for hosting this good time shindig! This is my favorite time of year, and getting to spend times like these with my family is always a blessing to me.

Day Two Hundred Fifteen 2012

My Lunch Bunch Peeps! Niece Sarah, great nephew Ethan, great niece Ashley, nephew Chris, sister Ann, sister Jane, and niece Julia. We try to keep a long-running weekly lunchtime get together. Sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn’t. The kids were out of school for election day here, so this particular group of peeps gathered at Zaxby’s and enjoyed some chicken and milkshakes, conversation and lots of laughs. We are a blessed family, especially in the sense that we truly love each other, and yes, even like each other enough that we go out of our way to be together whenever and wherever we can. How many families can make that claim?

Day One Hundred Fifty Two 2012

Since my mom passed away a month ago, our family lunch bunch had to find a new venue if we were to continue the weekly tradition. Sister Ann suggested Dogwood Park for our rowdy group, so we gathered there today where the picnic tables are near the pavilion (a stage where local talent performs concerts and plays during the summer months). We enjoyed eating lunch and hanging out together and the forecasted storms stayed far to the west of us. I didn't realize until I was looking at this picture just now that I took it too soon because the rest of the gang had not shown up yet--nephew Chris and his kids Ashley and Ethan. Sorry about that! Left to right are daughter Holly, brother Ken, sister Ann, sister Jane and hubby Neil, all at the picnic table. On the quilt are grandson Elijah, niece Sarah, niece Julia, and grand daughter Shelby. We plan to continue our lunch bunch tradition. Dogwood Park is the perfect place for now. 

Day One Hundred Eighty Five 2011

This is how my family celebrates the Fourth of July every year. God blessed us with great weather, delicious food, a fun time playing corn hole and just hanging out talking and laughing, and after dark, the most awesome fireworks show in town. We are so blessed to have each other and to live in the greatest country on the planet and so blessed to celebrate freedom every year on the Fourth of July. As always, it was a blast!

Day One Hundred Sixty Five 2011

Spent a pleasant late spring afternoon with peeps at my mom's place out on the porch in the swing and rocking chairs, talking about weird dreams (think flaming skulls with helmets and swords) and laughing and eating Kit Kats and M&Ms and playing a neat game called The T Shirt Game (similar to Apples To Apples), then picking big fat cherries and slamming them into the pond scum. Now that's a fun time; I don't care who you are. Love ya, Peeps!

Day One Hundred Ninety Two 2010

Happy (almost) 15th Birthday, Sarah!

My niece, Sarah Catherine Foy, celebrated her 15th birthday today (a couple of days early). An ongoing love affair with the mustache inspired her birthday cake decorations. Wearing a mustache was, of course, a must.

So we all wore mustaches to help her celebrate.

Sarah got lots of goodies--some of them mustache related--but the shiny new bike from her mom and dad was probably the best gift of them all. Ride, Sarah, ride! The party was great fun. Happy Birthday, sweet niece! You know I love you to pieces. I wish you all the best of everything always. Hope you have as much fun on your real birthday!

(And thank you, Jane and Don, for these pictures. Yours turned out way better than mine.)

Day One

Happy New Year!
and here we go again ....

This picture was snapped by daughter Kelly's camera on the timer as the Ranft, Foy, Myers, and Kimbrough Families toasted in 2010 at the stroke of midnight. (Jerry couldn't take it any more and was already in bed asleep at this point) We all had a blast at Kelly and Kerry's home. Thanks for hosting!! Welcome, 2010 and new beginnings as I start Project 365 all over again.

Day Three Hundred Fifty Nine

Merry Christmas!

Here's our Mom surrounded by her kids, grand kids, and great grand kids at our annual family Christmas at sister Ann and brother in law Terry Sissom's home. We enjoyed a delicious turkey and ham dinner with loads of tasty casseroles and yummy desserts. The kids opened their gifts and the adults played a fierce game of Dirty Santa. The Beatles Trivial Pursuit was the hot sought after gift, exchanging hands countless times. We ended the evening playing that game which was fun but a lot harder than we thought it would be. Ann and Terry always make everything festive and just right and we always have a great time celebrating our family Christmas there. Thanks again, Ann and Terry, for hosting another great get together! We are all so thankful to be so richly blessed not only with things but with family. We look forward to doing it all over again next year. Missing those who couldn't be with us! Sleep in Heavenly Peace, Dad and Rob! I love you all, and to all a good night!

Day Three Hundred Thirty

Good Food, Great Time, Wonderful Family ~~ Happy Thanksgiving!

May your stuffing be tasty May your turkey be plump, May your potatoes and gravy have nary a lump. May your yams be delicious and your pies take the prize, and may your Thanksgiving dinner stay off your thighs! -Unknown

From left around our Thanksgiving table: Terry Sissom, Neil Ranft, Kerry Kimbrough, Jerry Myers, Shelby Myers, Elijah Myers, Holly Ranft Myers, Kelly Ranft Kimbrough, Hamp Mabry, and Ann Mabry Sissom. All of you around this table and those who could not be with us today are my greatest blessings on the planet. I love you all and thank God for you every day. Happy Thanksgiving 2009.

Day Two Hundred Forty Nine

Annual Family Labor Day Blow Out At The Sissom's

Niece Julia made Labor Day greeting cards for everyone and each one was unique. This one is mine. Thanks, Julia!

Big smiles from nieces Julia and Sarah, nephew Alex, sister Jane and Angel Button.

Big brother Ken and hubby Neil all happy in their bouncy chairs.

Sister Ann, nephew Chris (I can tell that's him because of the Blackberry that never leaves his hand), Bev Ligon and brother in law Terry, who keeps us laughing with funny stories.

Brother in law Don, niece Evan and her sweetie Shawn.

Alex, daughters Kelly and Holly, Don and niece Kendra shootin the breeze.

The only group shot I managed to get and even then not everyone was in it. Around the table from the left: Kendra Shelton, Cynthia Mabry, Evan Mabry, Ken Mabry, Ann Sissom, Chris Mabry, Shawn Scantland, Terry Sissom, Julia Foy, Jerry Myers, Don Foy, Jane Foy, Neil Ranft, Holly Myers, and Kelly Kimbrough. We enjoyed a delicious meal of BBQ, Ann's potato salad, Don's cole slaw, Holly's deviled eggs, Terry's baked beans, cantaloupe, and the Sissom's home grown cherry tomatoes. Not to mention to die for desserts like Jane's peanut butter fudge and pumpkin cheese cake.

Ann shows grand daughter Shelby, Julia, and grand son Elijah how to maneuver on the hammock.

Don, Shawn, Alex, Chris, Jerry and Neil test their skills at corn hole.

Ann and Terry's awesome fire pit. In fact, their whole yard is pretty awesome because they've worked so hard on it this Summer and it shows in every detail. It's a piece of heaven in their back yard.

Of course, the fire pit was a magnet for marshmallow roasters like Shelby and Elijah with a little help from Ann.

Elijah got a big kick out of roasting his marshmallows but had zero interest in actually eating them. Ann didn't let them go to waste.

Chris and Kelly hang out on the swing by the fire pit and check out what's happening in the world on Chris's new obsession: The Blackberry!

Jane, Terry, Ann and Cyn chillin around the fire.

The ladies try their hand at corn hole. Terry set up a spotlight so they could see where to toss their corn bags in the hole. No easy target. Kelly pitches while Holly, Shelby and Julia wait to see where it's going to land.

Evan, Shawn, Terry, Jerry, Kendra, Chris, Ann and Cyn keep company around the cozy fire.

Thanks to Ann and Terry for hosting another awesome Labor Day get together! We eat too much and laugh so hard it hurts and stay up way too late, but we always have a blast because we love each other and love being together. Our family rocks! (And rolls!) And each one is a blessing to me!