GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAL

Still on a high from Reagan getting two goals on Saturday.  We went from soccer, to doing a full truck bed of mulch, Louisville for a great dinner, back to Lexington, waking up on Sunday- stopping in Gatlinburg for lunch, driving to through Cherokee NC, arrived in Greenville SC for a night in a hotel room together.  Today, I'm at Clem(p)son, tomorrow off to Nashville, Thursday Chicago.

What a week started off by Reagan's two goals on Saturday. 

The Mayor of Seton

This is my middle girl Caroline, as I have said before her personality is just like mine. Well she talks more than me. She wakes up talking, goes to bed talking, and even talks in the middle of the night.  I have NEVER met a person who enjoys talking as much as Caroline does. Truth be told I was worried this year as she started school. She is so sensitive and I was worried school might eat her a live.  For a while there she was having a hard time adjusting to people pottying in groups and not being able to get naked when she went potty like she does at home.  I was worried she would not do well with her course work, I was worried about damned near everything.  I was sad when Reagan left because she is my buddy but I knew she would dominate the work.  Caroline scared me to death, I wanted to protect her.

I realized today that Caroline is the Mayor of Seton Catholic Grade School.  It amazes me that one month into it she walks down the hall and everyone knows Caroline.  Caroline knows everyone's names as well.  She waves and says hello Ms. SoinSo to EVERYONE.  She shakes hands and kisses babies with the best of them.  We went out in the parking lot and there were three adult women, she went up to all them and called them all by name and started a conversation with them.  She waves at other kids in older classrooms.  She is a social butterfly, she is Mayor Caroline.

It has taught me a very valuable lesson, kids surprise you when you least expect it.  I know there will be bad days and days when she wont want to go to school.  But I can't tell you how good it makes a Dad feel when he was so worried about his Carolina and she passes the test with flying colors. I hope it stays that way for her. 

No Name.

So my father thinks we should name the new baby Snotnose Megaphone because every time you come over there is a kid with a snotty nose and it is loud.  Both of which are true.  My brother Patrick thinks we should basically call the new baby Vasectomy.  We are still stuck on names.  It has gotten to the point where I have begged my wife to fight me about the name because I want it settled, I don't like not having a name for our baby.

Hadley Morgan is back in the lead. I have been calling her (E)liza Jane which I know is an old minstrel name. The point is I never thought i would be blessed with this many kids nor would I be blessed with this many girls.  We are really out of girl names.  Before you get there, no we don't know that it is a girl yet.  But we don't KNOW the sun is going to come up but it is just as easy to assume that it will (as it is that this is a girl).  So we are still taking suggestions.  Snotnose Megaphone- while accurate- is out of the running.  I don't even like talking about Patrick's suggestion.  So, if you have thoughts- keep them coming. 

Its never too early part II

Monday nights are my time with Baylor Grace.  Mom takes the older girls to dance class, so its me and the blue eyed bombshell hanging out.  Oftentimes we go to the mall and walk around.  For me, Baylor Grace truly is a blessing.   All kids are but every day she amazes me even more.  It goes beyond the blonde hair and the eyes that are as blue as the Bonnie Blue Flag  She has such a great personality and really is a beautiful girl.  I love watching her because everyday it is something new to her and she enjoys so much of life.  Steve Miller would be proud because Baylor Grace is almost everything he sings about.  Well we went to the mall and as we walk through Sears we run right into their Xmas stuff.  You should have heard the yell that she let out when she saw all the Christmas stuff.  She was waving at everything, kissing everything, and was in pure heaven.  She really couldnt get over the Abominal Snowman from Rudolph. I wondered and would pay all the money in the world to know what was going through her head when she was looking at that stuff for the first time. There is no way she can remember anything from last year but she really did act like she was seeing a long lost friend.  Dare I say....she lit up like a Christmas tree.  It was a spiritual uplifter for me.  It makes you realize the joy of a child at Christmas- when they still believe- and makes me think of all the amazing Christmas' I had as a kid.  It really is the most wonderful time of the year.

It is never too early....

Yesterday was a big day in the Ayers (Southeast) house.  We got out all the fall decorations which means the house will now be decorated until well into January.  This was always one of my favorite times of the year.  Football is in full swing (did I mention we beat St. X 48-0), the weather is cool, trees are turning colors, and holidays are a time for families.  Of course I loved Christmas, but now that I have kids of my own- I can use Santa as a corrective measure for their behavior for the next few months. 

Yesterday was big but not only because of the decorations but we had our first fire in the fireplace.  The high yesterday was only 53 so it was well within the range of having a fire and for a long time yesterday it was roaring.  Reagan, Brooke, all really- were excited to see it.

Bring on the Fall!  (Lets skip Jan and Feb).

Raise Your Voices, Shout Her Name- Wherever You May Be

Let our love be known to all, our love for TRINITY.

48-0

Do-Do

Tradition is big in my family.  Im sure all families say that but it REALLY is in mine.  I must give my parents a lot of credit for not only emphasising tradition since I was a kid, but also adjusting just a little now that I have kids of my own. Mom, Dad, Patrick, and Sarah- all have been great about adapting our traditions to fit 3 and 1/2 kids here in Lexington.  There were some traditions that I will never forget and always cherish.  When we drove to Florida (which we did every time except one- a tradition into itself) no matter what time of day it was we would stop at Valdosta.  That way we could get up early in the morning and stop at the Florida Welcome Center and grab all the OJ and free brochures.  We could never listen to Jimmy Buffet until we got to Florida state line- then we always had to listen to Margaritaville first.  We always went to Moore's the first night.  We could never listen to Xmas music till Thanksgiving but we always had a fire in the fireplace and the music on that night.  I could go on and on about things that some people would say were just habits.  To us they were more than habits and by saying that they were just habits does not do them justice- there was meaning behind all of it, therefore making it tradition.

Now that I am older and have a family of my own I am trying my best to be respectful of my wife's family traditions and incorporate some of our own.  We still on get one gift to open on Christmas Eve, and it is the same thing it was when I was a kid...pajamas.  We still listen to Margaritaville when we cross that state line, but it might be at some odd hour because with 3 kids we just want to get there.  Moore's is always on the menu the first night. 

Anyway, yesterday was a big day for me- I embraced the fall.  My tradition is now well over 10 years old.  When I was a freshman in college at UK I came home often.  One of the times at home during the fall my parents were watching a John Denver live concert.  I laughed and couldn't believe they were glued to the set.  To me, John Denver was a relic and hadn't had a good song in years.  Outside of his Christmas album there wasn't much to listen too when in came to John Denver.  After that weekend, I had rushed out about the CD of the concert my parents were watching.  I was a 100% John Denver fan.  For some reason that CD became my fall CD that I listened too every time the fall came.  It takes me back to going home during college in the fall with a fire in my parents fire place (which brings up all sorts of memories).  It brings back inner warmth.  It also is my accepting that my shorts days are almost over for the year, the leaves are going to fall, the house will be decorated, and Santa is eventually coming.  All great things for my family.  So yesterday was just that day, with the nip in the air I popped that CD in there for the first time and my girls and I drove home from school singing the Best of John Denver Live.  My girls knew two songs on the CD already and it made me laugh because I hadn't realized how much I was passing on to them.  John Denver (Do-Do as my brother would call him) really has some significant meaning in my life.  The first song Brooke and I danced to at our wedding was For You, one of my favorite John Denver songs.  Both Brooke and I had a passage inscribed in each others wedding rings, both were song lyrics, both were different John Denver songs, neither was coordinated. 

Its funny, some traditions you make sure to hammer home, some just happen over time.  Regardless, if its to teach your kids something important, or bring you back to a place and time, traditions are good. Thats what connects MaMaws and PawPaws to their grandbabies.  And while sunshine on your shoulders might make you happy- poems, prayers, and promises do it for me.

Come let me love you, let me give my life to you.  (needs sound)