Wordless Wednesday

~ sharing a root beer ~

Buzz Cuts for Pierce

Pierce, a first grader at Jack's school, is fighting cancer.  Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma to be exact.  Pierce has had surgery to remove as much of the tumor as possible, is currently undergoing chemotherapy, and will have radiation once the chemo is completed.  The good news is that considering his tumor's staging, the cure rate is 90%.  Pierce's brother, Jack, is in second grade with our Jack.  In fact, the two Jacks went to preschool together, too!  This is a sweet, sweet family.

After school today, there was a Buzz Cut Party to support Pierce.  A good many 1st and 2nd grade boys participated and a few dads as well.  At first, Jack was undecided about whether he was going to cut his hair, but when he realized he wouldn't have to fight the tangles each morning (and might not even have to brush his hair at all), he was all in!

So here is the story in pictures:

  This is the length we started with.

Our principal gets a little trim, too.  In the background, you can see Pierce being interviewed by a local television station.  The son of one of the news anchors is a student at the school.  She heard about the event and asked our principal if they could film it.  Mrs. C said that we weren't doing the event to garner publicity for the school, but in an effort to raise awareness for childhood cancer we could film.

Brian, Pierce's dad, sharing their story.

A few of the boys and a dad left before the picture was taken, but this is most of the group.  I was so proud of each and every one of these boys.

At the very end, Pierce helped give his dad a buzz.  I had been fighting back the tears all afternoon, but after this I was a goner.

Local News Story

On the way home, Will was so upset that he didn't get a buzz cut.  I told him that I would take him to Mrs. Adela tomorrow to get one, but when Brent got home, Will and Daddy decided it was time for a buzz.

He is so proud of his buzz.  He thinks it looks cool!

I love my 3 buzzed boys!

Please remember Pierce and his family in your prayers.

2011 Year in Review

2011 was a good year for our family; a year filled with change and while I usually go kicking and screaming with change, this year I was excited about it.  Brent changed firms which reduced his work hours and gave us more time together as a family.  It's the little things, like an occasional Friday afternoon off, being present at school performances, more time spent at the lake, coaching soccer, things that Brent would have never been able to do working at the big firm that have paid huge dividends in the quality of life category.  We did a bit more traveling this year than normal...spring break at the beach, Memorial Day at the farm, 2 trips to New Orleans, the Hilton Head beach trip, a visit to Mimi's new home, and Disney World.  With the boys a bit older and self-sufficient, it is so much easier and more enjoyable to travel and we are still talking about the vacations!  What I will remember most about 2011 was family.  This year, we circled the wagons and grew closer as a unit.  It was a good year!  Looking forward to what 2012 has in store.

This might not be your thing, but I have loved watching these Year in Review videos.

Biggest Moments of 2011: The events we'll never forget

Inspiring Moments of 2011:  A few of the stories that touched our hearts

Astounding Moments of 2011: Headlines you might have missed in 2011...So cool!

ROLL TIDE

Favorite Quote of the Night:

"Fear the Tide, Honey Badger.  Fear the Tide."

--Brent Musburger

Brent Musburger's Obsession with the Honey Badger

How I wish I could have been there for this

A Fun Swagger Article:  

No Doubting Alabama, Nick Saban

My feet haven't touched the ground yet!

ROLL TIDE ROLL

Happy New Year

...and only a week late!  Well, let me be the last one to officially wish you a Happy 2012!  Our year has gotten off to a smooth start.  Brent left for India on New Year's Day and is enjoying the trip now that his "GI meltdown" has passed.  He is there for business and to speak at two conferences.  Yay to Brent for stepping out onto the international conference stage.  But please don't ask me what his presentations (yes, 2 different topics!) are about because I have no idea.  He is even managing to find time to be a tourist.  Yesterday, he and his partner went to the Taj Mahal.

Beautiful!

See!  I wouldn't lie to ya...he was there!

Such a joker, he is!

And meanwhile, I'm at home folding laundry.  Jealous!  Well, at least if my life can't be glamorous, then I can be married to someone whose life is!

We had the best time together over the Christmas holidays.  We spent time with family, had fun in the Big Easy, and just enjoyed being together so much that the boys weren't ready to go back to school and I wasn't ready to drop them off.  Will started back on Wednesday and Jack on Thursday, so it was a short week to help ease us back into the school routine.

I am back at the gym trying to run off the holiday pounds, finding time to read again (Yay! here's my 2012 reading list), and in my free time have been adding posts about our December activities.  You might have read about Will's birthday, Christmas, and New Year's Eve, but I've also added some backdated posts about our Operation Christmas Child experience, our Walk Through Bethlehem, and Will's Christmas program.  You aren't contractually obligated to read.

So that wraps up 2011, and I can move on into 2012 with a clear conscious.  I hope you and yours are happy and healthy, and here's to a joyful 2012!