Kickin' It With Billy

In college I can remember sweating out Taebo videos in my apartment along with my roomies. They were a butt-kicker then and still remain so now. I have loved working out in Franklin at the new Taebo studio that recently opened by the Taebo creator's daughter. Imagine my excitement when the announcement came that Billy Blanks himself was coming to town do do some classes and training! I jumped on the chance and signed up for 3 of his classes. 

Several peeps from my Monday, Wednesday, Friday bootcamp class joined me for the fun. We were all exhausted by the end of the week with all of that hard core cardio but it was a great time! 

I can't wait until he comes back for some more booty kicking! With his inspirational, motivating talks after a hard workout and his love for the one true God, I'll sign up for training with him any time! Good times!

Hoopster

Grant decided to step out this winter and give a new sport a try. He was our lone child playing basketball and I'll be honest....it was SO nice only having to keep up with one kid in a sport's season! Grant actually did really well considering that he'd never played organized basketball. 

He was a point guard of sorts. Our team basically had one play: Grant dribbles down the court, gets a screen sometimes, and dribbles to the right and in for a basket. It worked 25% of the time.

He scored several baskets this season but if I had to give him an award it would be for the kid that had the most almost baskets. I'm serious that the ball would actually roll around the goal, touch the net and then pop right back out. Unbelievable. He was a pretty good dribbler though.

I caught this free throw in sequence and thought I'd include it for memory's sake. If you scroll through the pics really quickly it's just like a flip book:) 

Grant's little team struggled this season only winning one game (and that was in tournament play). But, all in all, we had a great relaxing season just trying something new. Way to step out, Grant! 

Niner, Niner

Once again, here we are at another child's birthday and I cannot even believe my ears when I say "nine". It's the last year of single digits and oh, how it makes me sad on most days! Our birthday crown has fallen by the wayside....mostly because I'm a slacker. Well, entirely because I'm a slacker :/ I did bake Grant some chocolate chip bread for his birthday morning breakfast of champions.

We headed out to Logan's for dinner with grandparents and then topped off the evening with Sweet CeCe's. I'll take any excuse to head out for some froyo!

My birthday boy and me:

Grant's party was the weekend following his actual birthday. He requested "grandma's chocolate cake" (as everyone usually does because it can't be topped!) and she went all crafty and tried a MineCraft design. MineCraft....the game that makes no sense to me but is dominating the minds of young boys everywhere. He thought it was pretty cool!

We invited all his buds over for the usual sleepover, movie, play hard party. 

His bud Tanner had written a "Grant Morgan Biography" and it was the cutest thing EVER.

 G thought it was pretty funny!

 All of these crazy boys made for some interesting conversation at the dinner table over pizza. I usually just stand by all ears and soak it in. I love to hear what these kids are thinking because it usually gives me a good belly laugh:)

 We ended the night settling down with a movie. 

All were tucked in and sleeping by 1030 or 11. I think that counts as a win! It was a great night celebrating Grant and his 9th year of life. I pray the Lord blesses him with 90 more!! Happy Birthday, Grant! 

Down Goes Ducky

Cade made his duck hunting debut in the wee hours of the morning (as duck hunting usually is) with his dad somewhere in the hills of west Tennessee. 

 While I was sleeping soundly in my bed, he was popping up out of a duck blind in the freezing cold to pop a cap in some flying birds.

Rumor has it that he thought it was awesome!

 Bobby captured a picture of his first kill. 

What makes dressing in camo and hiding out and shooting things even better? Sharing the experience with one of your best buds. Lifelong memories!!

Cade had a blast hunting and can't wait to go again. I think he's now third in line since he has 2 brothers just as anxious to get in on the fun. It will be a few more years before Bobby can safely wrangle all of them wielding weapons. I'd prefer that everyone always come home with all of their appendages and be alive. The only dead thing after duck hunting should be, well, ducks:

We're not a duck eating family but I did eat a duck taco at a fancy restaurant one time and I found it pleasing to my palate. There's no way I could turn the above ducks into duck tacos though. Too close to the original source for me to do without vomiting. So, for the Morgan family, we'll just show up and shoot them and send the carcases to the Jones's to be used in some duck gumbo. Happy Hunting!