Granny

Jasey with Granny Oct 4th.....Looking pretty darn good for a 99-yo if I must say so!
5 Generations: Granny Maxine, Jasey, Me, Grandpa Dale & My dad, Brian

Granny holding Jasey for the first time at 11 days


Granny and Daddy admiring our girl !

Me, Granny, Dad & Jasey


Losing a family member is hard...no matter how you're related or how old they are. This past Saturday the world lost a very special woman, Lillian Maxine Atha. She was a strong Christian woman who was very wise, caring, smart and sweet. This was a woman who saw things change through out many decades and generations. There's wasn't a thing this woman didn't know how to do. She made every piece of clothing in her closet, she planted a garden that would compare to some farmer's fields, she had a huge backyard full of chickens, flowers in every color and cooked a feast at every meal. She made my sister and I's dresses for every occasion. I remember the joy that it brought for Brandi and I to go pick out the pattern and material for Granny to make it. We had the coolest dresses ever! She made us patchwork quilts that were so soft and fluffy. She had one of the 1st ever Monopoly games made and I remember sitting at her beautiful dining room table rolling the die out of that little felt cup. She taught us how to play Tiddliewinks and marbles. But my favorite memory that makes me smile about Granny is when my dad or any of the boys would walk in with a beer in their hand little 'ole Granny would ask for just the last sip. Now the rest of the world would say Yuck, I don't want the spit left in the bottom--but Granny would say she only needed one little drink to help with her arthrits.....


She was a very strong/stubborn lady.....depending on who you ask :) My dad always told her she was as stubborn as a mule; I say she was the strongest woman I ever met. You'd never tell by looking at her because she was a tiny frail woman who always wore a homemade dress with her apron over it, hose (as she called them) and a little pair of white tennis shoes. In her 99 years of life she witnessed her eldest son die of a heart attack more than 25 years ago, her youngest son die of cancer 12 years ago and approximately 15 years ago watched her middle son (my Grandpa) suffer from a brain aneurysm and stroke that left him in the hospitals for months and now has a limited vocabulary to about 5 words :( That was just her kids--14 years ago lost her grandson to a tragic bulldozer accident and then a granddaughter who was found murdered and a great grandson who died at birth. Now read all that and tell me she wasn't a strong lady? She grieved in her way and would tell us she'd see them again someday...she was right---she's in heaven right now with all of them laughing and catching up!


I have many many memories of Granny; I could go on for days and days. I wish I had the time and the talent to tell you how amazing this woman was! I can tell you that there wasn't a soul out there that didn't LOVE Maxine! I know that her visitation and funeral will show how many lives she touched. I will miss her each and every day but I know she went home and I'll be with her again someday! I'm so proud to call her Granny!

My Little Model

Jasey was chosen for a photo shoot with a photographer here in Savannah. The shoot went better than I expected! She was very cooperative and the photographers had so much fun with her. You can tell they love their job and look at it as play time. They provided everything for her shoot: tutus, hair clips, headbands, hats, leotard, etc. Jason even had fun playing dress up with all us girls!

She will be the "February Pin-Up/Cover Girl" for Marie's Photography. They're calling it Ballerina Babies! Here are the four shots she posted on facebook yesterday. She ended up taking probably 150 shots which Jason and I'll get a password to and be able to view online.

These photos are almost bittersweet. I love them and I know I'll always cherish them but I look at them and realize that my baby isn't a baby anymore. She's growing up each and every day. Shes talks so much and knows how to count to 5 and now knows her colors! She informed us yesterday during her photo shoot she wanted the purple one!! I can't believe she's almost 2. I remember going into labor and delivery like it was just yesterday. I remember holding her in my arms for the first time and the smell and feel of her skin. Where did all the time go? Now she smells like dirt and her dinner that she's managed to get all over! She tells me NO a lot and refuses to snuggle but still I love her--dirt and all!

Hello 2010

Getting flowers from MiMi & PaPa

Right in the middle of her performance she yells, "HI PAPA!"

Jasey with her new Karaoke Elmo and her fuzzy soft blanket!

Jason's new car--09 Dodge Avenger!

Jasey at her first movie--The Munks

We're only 7 days into 2010 and I'm already so busy it's unbelieveable. Working for a city goverment at the end of the year and quarter and taxes being due makes my life miserable!

The holidays were great and Jasey really had fun this year-even though she made my dad watch Munks (Alvin & the Chipmunks) 10 times a day. She's really into Munks, Elmo & Bob (Spongebob) and that's about all our life consists of right now :) I love to see how she's growing each and everyday-she's not my little girl anymore. She speaks very well for her age and she's too smart for her own good! She won a free photo shoot next week with Marie's Photoraphy here in Savannah. I can't wait. She's so pretty and so fun; I bet the shoot will go great. She's going to be plastered all over--finally her chance to model :)

The beginning of December she was in her first dance recital. We were unsure whether she'd dance or not infront of all those people, but she did. She was so cute and we were so proud of her. My dad, who never made it to Brandi & I's musical events, even drove all the way here to watch her and gave her flowers :) I'm so proud of her--she's the youngest in the whole dance school and memorized her dance! What a big girl!!!

Jason and I also took her to her 1st move in a theater--Alvin & the Chipmunks the Squeakel. She was so well behaved; even though she was a littl tired. The 4p show had been sold out so we had to go to the 7p show so she was ready for bed and fell asleep on the way home. It was nice to take her out with us. I hope she starts to like other characters/movies so we can take her more often!

Jason's Nissan finally took it's trip with us :) I had been looking all over for a decent vehicle in our price range. Joe Machen's Ford in Columbia has always been my #1 choice and once again they came through for us. We went and picked up our new Dodge Avenger and loving it! Jason likes it so much he barely lets me drive it :( O well in this weather I'd much rather have my Trailblazer.

Not much going on in our life. We've had more snow than I'd care to see for the next 20 years. It just keeps falling and getting colder and colder. I'm ready for spring and I don't see it anywhere in sight :(

Hope you all had a great Christmas and I hope 2010 brings you all many new memories!
My 2010 Resolutions--eat healther, lose weight, blog more and get pregnant!!!