Fat Tuesday

We haven't ventured down to Mobile or NOLA during Mardi Gras with the kids yet, but today we celebrated Fat Tuesday in an easy way.  We started our day with homemade, warm cinnamon rolls that were decorated in Mardi Gras colors.  Nothing better than starting a school day with a sugar high.

After school, Walker and I headed up to Central Park to play and watch a small parade of children and their parents.  All of the kids lined the sidewalk and received beads, candy and moon pies.  It wasn't anything too big, but it was a pretty day and fun way to spend the afternoon!

Owlmazing Race at SCE

Every year before Shades Cahaba's winter festival (their big fundraiser), they hold the "Owlmazing Race."  This is where each class chooses a theme and then competes against the other classes in their grade.  Walker's class was called "Letson's Little League," and Walker was thrilled to be dressed like a baseball player.  It was his first time competing in the various challenges, and he had a ball.

The following day was the Winter Festival, tons of games, inflatables, tattoos and all with friends!  Bennett was a volunteer for service hours, Pres had a ball at his final festival as a student, and Walker enjoyed exploring with all of his new buddies!  What a fun two days!

Walker with Beckham Wilson and Colton Wilson (not brothers)

Tough group, right?! :)

Pres Plays Youth Basketball

So as football began to wrap up, basketball initiated.  Pres was thrilled to be selected by Coach David Lee again, as he is the one that led Pres and his team to the championship game a couple of years ago.  Pres knows how talented his son, Davis, is and knows that he will learn a lot from both of them.  There were a couple of weeks where Preston would go straight from a 90 minute football practice to an hour basketball practice.  The boy was dog tired, but loved every minute of it.

As the season progressed, and football ended, Pres asked to get dropped off at the Homewood Rec to practice shooting and dribbling several days a week.  They practiced twice a week, and then games began.  His team lost the first game, but won every game after that.

Pres isn't the tallest kid, the biggest kid, the fastest kid, the best shooter or dribbler, but he loves it.  He has become known for being an annoying gnat on the court, and that is what David drafted him for. Preston is dribbling a little better, shooting a little better and blocking better, but the season is over.

They got a buy at the beginning of the final tournament week, but they lost in TRIPLE overtime by one point.  It was terrible to see them lose, but they definitely gave it their best effort.

Nene Came for a Visit

So February 6th this year was a very sad day....Dad's first birthday since his passing.  It was also Lucy's 8th birthday!  We called Lucy to wish her a happy day, but I can't lie....I was sad.  I cried, I reminisced, and I cried some more (especially when I spoke to mom).  Then on Feb 7th, I picked her up at the airport and we cried again.  It is hard, I am thankful that he is healthy and whole, but man how I miss the man he used to be and just knowing that he was here, that I could lay eyes on him, that my mom had a purpose every day.

Dinner her first night (Christian was at lacrosse practice)

Nene is doing fairly well though.  She stays busy having lunch and dinner with friends, bowling and seeing movies with friends. She arrived in town Friday afternoon, and that night we met Brian's family for a big family dinner.  The next day we went to watch Preston play a basketball game, which went into triple overtime.  Tough loss, but great game!

Afterward, Mom and I headed to Oak Mountain High School to save seats for all of our family who were coming to watch Bennett perform in her only local show choir concert.  She was so excited to perform, and was ecstatic to have so many family members present to watch her (Mimi, Papa, Dan, Michelle, Sara (& her roommate), Brian, Shannon and the kids, Ada and Alexa McElroy and all of our family)!

Our family and so many other Homewood fans!

Mizerany cheering squad

Bennett with Ada

B with Nene after her performance

Homewood's Show Choir ended up with 2nd place, and everyone enjoyed the show.  For the rest of the week with Nene, we just hung out, visited the library and enjoyed another busy week of school and practices.

Winter Jam

Coming home from Enterprise (3 hours away) after a show choir concert, to attend Preston's basketball game didn't leave much time to get ready for the big dance.  However, Bennett showered and straightened her hair before heading to a friend's house to do her make-up, eat dinner and get dressed.

She was invited to Abby Prysbysz's house along with Audrey Biggs, and they had a blast together.  I am thankful for the pictures that were sent to me.

Following the pre-party, the girls went to the jam for about an hour (wearing their cute dresses with tennis shoes), and then back to Audrey's house for a sleepover.  It was a low key night for the rest of us, but glad Bennett is making memories.

Amelia Blish, Amelia Slaughter, Izzy Knudsen, Abby and B

Homewood Patriot Singers

Last year when Bennett didn't make cheer, she redirected her focus towards show choir.  Thankfully she made it!  This year has been a lot of work, yet so much fun for her.  She practices twice a week, and has dedicated a couple of weekends to clinics where she really focused on the dance routine, and singing the songs.  There have been costume fittings, hair tutorials, make-up purchasing and lots and lots of practice!  Now all of her hard work is paying off because it is competition season!

Bennett and Abigail Ryan

Homewood Middle School only enters four competitions, and the season is officially underway!  Their first competition was in Montgomery, and though Bennett was a little nervous, when she got off the stage she was on a high.  She loved performing and LOVED being up on stage in front of everyone.  She looked beautiful performing, and I think I did a pretty good job with her hair and make-up.

B and Anne Siegel

Smiling while performing!

Being apart of the audience was awesome too.  The Patriot Singers did a fabulous job, and it was great seeing the show for the first time!  To top it all off, they took home the 2nd place award!  Steve and I are so proud of her, and thrilled that she found her place and enjoys show choir so much.

Their second show was a week later in Enterprise (three hours away), and it was another fun time!  Marianne Siegel and I volunteered backstage, but we got to watch them warm-up too.  I loved hearing Mr. Litton give them instruction and ways to improve, but seeing my girl with a smile on her face...beats it all.  And THEN, right before they went on stage, they gathered around and a student led them in prayer.  I love that they do that together, and before every competition.  It wasn't a prayer to win, but a prayer to keep them safe and to have fun.

Smiling during warm-up!

Praying before taking the stage

Once the show started, we watched until the first transition.  We were supposed to assist the girls with their costume change, but these kids have it down!  It was so fun watching the performance from the sidelines, and how fast the costume changes take place.  But the best part was them taking home the 2nd place trophy again, beating out the team that took 1st place in Montgomery.  We have two more left.....hoping for more fun and a 1st place win!