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Goodbye, Michael.
Your ride into the sunset came too soon.
We will miss you.
Mr. Michael Douglas Carnes
OXFORD — Funeral services for Mr. Michael Douglas Carnes, 44, will be at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Miller Funeral Home & Crematory with the Rev. Homer Longoria and the Rev. Howard Carroll officiating. The family will receive friends from 5-8 tonight at the funeral home. Mr. Carnes died Sunday, May 10, 2009, at Atlanta Medical Center. Mr. Carnes is survived by his wife, Amy Carnes; son, Steven Carnes; daughter, Kelley Carnes, all of Oxford; father, John Carnes, of Ohatchee; mother, Peggy Brown, of St. Petersburg, Fla.; two sisters, Judith Carnes, of Plant City, Fla. and Debra Sears of Charleston, S.C.; numerous aunts and uncles; several nieces and nephews. Mr. Carnes was a native of Sanford, Fla., but lived in Calhoun County since 1984. He owned and operated Carnes painting for the past 8 years. Michael died doing what he loved, riding on his motorcycle. "Ride safe ya'll." Miller Funeral Home & Crematory Oxford, Ala. (256) 831-4611 A Brown Service Authorized Funeral Home
Made With Love
Chandler made everyone "cheese sandwiches" today for a snack. I've just got to show you mine:
Logan's 8th Backyard Birthday Tea
Logan turned 8 and celebrated by inviting a few Sunday School/Homeschool friends over for tea in her "garden".
Tides & Thievery
Sometimes, things just work together, ya know?
If you ever find yourself studying the ocean's movement, and if during that study you are instructed to build a model ocean but can't find any sand, it may all work out anyhow, if you happen to live on a golf course and have one to three children who do not mind being sneaky little thieves on occasion.
That is how we managed our project...bunker sand snatched from the 15th hole:
(we really only borrowed it)
Snowy Greenville
We had the pleasant surprise of snow while in Greenville recently. It was the first time in probably five years or so that we have seen (or played in) any real amount of snow. Since I didn't have to live in it for months on end, it was an agreeable snow :) And thank goodness for 80% off Winter Apparel Clearance!A Snow Day slideshow is at the end of this post, but here are a few of my favorite "snow shots":
See the fallen flower...cool, no?
Beach...Ha!
Beach...Ha! 
Frozen Flowers
Brrrd Bath...
Why Me, Lord?
SLIDESHOW:
Sonrise Choir
Chandler and Logan practice for The Sonrise Choir's special song time on a recent Wednesday night (I only took video during practice so as not to be disruptive during service):
All The Earth:
Praise To You:
All The Earth:
Praise To You:
Mr. Frosty Pants
While in Greenville this weekend, we were surprised with snow showers and the delightful immobility that ensued.
Snow Day pictures to follow in the near future. Until then, Mr. Frosty Pants:
BEFORE:
AFTER:
How Far is Heaven?
Setting: Chaotic ride home- all 3 kids talking, DVD player blaring- Clay and I "discussing" something-headacheFISHER: (incessantly) Mama! Mama! Momma!
ME: (after quite some time) WHAT FISHER, WHAT?!
FISHER: Will you get us space helmets?
ME: (with a "did you really just interrupt me for THAT?!" tone) No, Fisher. No space helmets.
FISHER: (a little sad, a little dejected) But!...How are we going to breathe up there when God comes back?
ME: (after weighing the energy it would take to explain) Oh, well, in that case, yes we can get space helmets.
~I didn't leave him ignorant for long... just so ya know. ~
Chandler's Golden Good Luck Medicine
- Grants ever lasting life
- Treats muscle pain
- Makes you stronger than anyone but God
- Gives you good luck
- Prevents heart attacks
- And much more!
All for only $5.95 per bottle!
Chandler's Commercial:
Logan's Red Hot Rescue Remedy
Logan's medicine is called "Logan's Red Hot Rescue Remedy", reflecting her use of cinnamon. She also added coconut and pink coloring. For your consideration, Logan's Red Hot Rescue Remedy:
- Cures cancer
- Relieves muscle pain
- Stops anger
- Solves toe fungus
- Cures memory loss
- Repairs the baby blues
- Gives you a nicer singing voice
- Prevents insanity
- Makes you happy
- And much more!
All for only $5.99 a bottle!
Logan's Commercial:
Outtake:
(lid malfunction)
Fisher's Amazing Fruit Serum
Fisher's medicine is called "Fisher's Amazing Fruit Serum". He chose to use Strawberry and Cinnamon flavorings and tinted his syrup blue (what else?!)
With some help, he wrote what his medicine cured and decorated the label with a fruit bowl. For your consideration, Fisher's Amazing Fruit Serum:
- Restarts your heart
- Cures Cancer
- Stops you from getting drunk
- Fixes Coughs
- Relieves Muscle Pain
- Stops Fever
- Makes you stronger than bad guys
- And much more!
All this and it only costs $1!
Fisher's Commercial:
& Take 2, with boots (he insisted):
Patent Medicine Projects
One scene in Tom Sawyer involves Aunt Polly giving Tom the latest and greatest in the way of patent medicine: Pain Killer; which Tom promptly gives to Peter, the cat.
Needless to say, this was one of the children's favorite parts.
The Mark Twain book suggested an activity that complemented this scene well. The children were to make and market their own patent medicines. We started by talking about the bygone days of medicine men, the FDA and our current safety regulations today. We scoured the Farmer's Almanac for advertisements to get an idea of all the sorts of ailments that are in need of curing and then the kids began to brainstorm.
Over the weekend, a kind pharmacist gave me three free cough syrup bottles and the children began to do the activity in parts. They were to design a medicine, describe what maladies their concoction would cure,and make a 'commercial' touting their wares to Aunt Polly (and viewers everywhere!)
Most ironically, while watching I Love Lucy during the weekend, one episode just happened to be about Lucy's commercial for Vitameatavegamin,
(in which Lucy promptly gets as lit as Peter the cat):
This made the activity all the more appealing to them and you may notice some similarities between their commercials and Lucy's stemming from their inspiration... namely the "and it tastes delicious!" bit.
Posts following this one will include the children's projects-- they were so anxious to taste their medicines, having to refrigerate them over the weekend and wait until the "commercial shoot" on Monday was almost unbearable.
My favorite aspect of all the many fun elements in this project is that they have completely sold themselves on their own medicines. Sugar water, some drops of candy flavoring and food coloring-- they know and mixed all the ingredients themselves but have sincerely suggested that Clay or I use their own brand of elixir at various times this week, when it seemed we may need to be cured.
(ex. Clay forgot something, Fisher recommended his medicine which is good for memory loss- amongst many other things.)
I hope the following posts will prove to be as entertaining to you as they have been for me!
The Year in Review
For starters, last New Year's saw me face a 'temporary' - i use this term loosely- loss of reason. For a good laugh, read over last year's Resolution List.
(For a good cry, ask me how many are still on this year's To Do List.)
We went to Calabash & Myrtle Beach, the boys played Basketball, Logan took dance and Clay and I wondered at what point does staying at the YMCA become fun (much less make you want to put on a headdress and sing) because it felt as if we lived there. We took in a hockey game and had our 15 minutes of fame on Savannah's local news station. I fell in love with Beaufort all over again and got a new nephew, Reagan.
FEBRUARY
The Lost Month... I cannot account for Feb. of this year with photos or entries in any of my blogs or personal journals... I have an inkling that it was due to busy-ness and other issues, but just for fun, I'm gonna say I was abducted by aliens. 
Obviously, we were still a little busy at this point as the lack of blogging, photos or many other souveniers suggests, but I know for sure we celebrated Logan's 7th birthday. She and I had a "girl talk" over tea and it was awkward as you imagine these things to be We also went to MGM on St. Patty's but you wouldn't know that because for some mysterious reason, all evidence as such is filed under April. Which leads me to:
April was Earth Day, EdVenture Children's Museum, and best of all Easter in Covington. Temperatures warmed and excuses were sought (and found) to play in, splash and otherwise indulge in water of all sorts ... ocean, sprinkler and water balloon encased.
In May,Grammy bid college farewell at her hard earned graduation and we bid Savannah farewell with our move back into SC. We saw the SandGnats play, visited the SC State Museum, and brought our school year to a slower simmer as we settled in the new house.
In June we said goodbye to Clay's MeeMaw, had the chance to visit with dear friends visiting the island, became regulars at our pool and local library and found a church with the biggest homeschooling heart ever, right in our own backyard. Our lives would also be significantly changed through Week of Champions and our new found friend, Mr. Derrick Moore.
July was a busy month. I was finally initiated into the real life world of grown ups when I made the drive "up mountain" to our family reunion in Franklin, NC all by myself. We celebrated Independence Day the best possible way on Hilton Head Island by singing along with SHANNON TANNER and got double the joy from it all when Chandler volunteered to sing the National Anthem. We welcomed a new niece into the family, Little Miss Hailey, Sailed the 7 C's at VBS and helped the InLaws celebrate 38 years of marriage.
August brought company- we had a few days to hang out with our cousins from Augusta and a little quality time with Tyler. We kept a fairly regular check on the pool water, (it was always warm, and clean every day save one involving an unfortunate diaper incident), and took a trip to the zoo before officially opening our own for business... by this I mean we started school.
Chandler turned 9 in September. We celebrated in Atlanta, first by seeing Gina and Pat Neeley at a special event at the World of Coca Cola Museum, dinner at the Varsity and a dip in the rooftop pool followed by a Falcon's game, lunch at Blue Willow and a Whole Wide World BoomDeYada Birthday Cake for dessert. September also saw trips to Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky... and of course Columbia for football.
I turned 29 for the first time in October and promptly found a gray hair that very same day. I will turn 29 again next year, same time. We attended several fall festivals and got to know our neighbors a little better at the Chili Cook Off and Costume Contest. We welcomed (and prayed over) new baby cousin Carys(she's doing wonderful now!) The SC State Fair and concert in the rain were fun Oct. moments. Clay and I marked 11 yrs since I first beat him in basketball (he brought flowers home, smart guy!) and the children carved their own pumpkins for Halloween.
Fisher turned 6 in November, celebrating with his best buddy, Devin, at Chuck E Cheese and an M&M cake. He lost his first tooth a few days later. We celebrated Uncle Ben's birthday with a family slumber party (of sorts) in Greenville and Thanksgiving with my In Laws. We recovered from all that turkey by taking a stroll through Sea World and spending a few moments contemplaing the wonder of Whales and how marvelous it is that they can be taught to "Jump, boy!" We took in some culture- Seussical and WillyWonka- at two local children's theatres as well as...well...um...the Arts? with a trip to Columbia for basketball.
With December came a trip to Grammy's, where we rode the train with Rudolph, Frosty and Santa. Back home, we took a Christmas Trolley ride around Savannah and made our debut as ice skating stars...or, more correctly, falling stars. Our Christmas tree was real this year and we went all out with lawn lights too. Santa brought hand held video games, bicycles and best of all, one more year of the kind of magic that only comes with an innocent belief that he is real.
Oh, that is far from all there was, folks, but it is all I have time (and links) for right now. I am not sure what the new year will hold... I hope more sweet grapes than sour...I do know this much however, next January One, I will feel the same awe and gratitude that I feel this First of January... perhaps only more so... at the amount of life and living that we are given in one short year.
Taking a moment to look back at all that has made up this year helps bring into focus what raced past me at such blinding speeds day by day...
Fare the well, 2008...Welcome home, 2009!
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