John and Tucker

John stayed with us over the long weekend so MB and Hugh could visit San Antonio (where they are moving this summer...for cardiology fellowship for 3 years).  Mom and Dad came out as well to visit and help with John.

We did all sorts of things - here are just a few highlights.

 We took John shoe shopping on Saturday morning, then went to Boots and More to look for Mom and Dad.  John ended up looking for "church boots" since he is moving to Texas and he has outgrown his first pair.  He would put the different pairs of boots on then walk/ride around on the horses.

 Dad and his handy assistance repaired a drawer for me.

 He loves sitting in this bucket.  I don't get it.

 Such a mess...

 While driving him back to Hattiesburg, I noticed he had covered his face with his stuffed animals to block the sun.  Hint taken - tinted windows may be necessary.  

 These three boys love each other and love playing together.  They were playing with Tucker's many socks.

 Mom decided to take my leftover peacock feathers outside while Andrew and I were gone and I came home to find that John had done a little redecorating in the shrubs...

And now for the Tucker story.  While Mom and Dad were graciously keeping all the boys (John, Tucker, and Tico), Tucker decided it was time to clear the counter.  He got Tico's dog treats, ripped open the ziploc bag and ate all of them.  Then he moved on to the unopened bag of Hershey Kisses with Almonds.  He grabbed the bag, took it to the living room, opened the bag, pulled out at least 6 kisses, unwrapped each other, licked/nibbled the chocolate off, and spit out the almond.  Mom found 6 wrappers and 6 almonds.  Dad conducted a bit of research and determined that he would need to eat several bags for it to cause any damage.  But seriously - only the dog that separates nutter-butters, licks out the peanut butter, then eats the crackers would unwrap kisses and spit out the almonds.  Nothing is safe around here, nothing.

Snow Day

Just a picture of the snow

The Toothpick

Random fact - I had half a toothpick in my foot for 15 or so years.  It's true.  I did.  I stepped on it while at Fort Walton Beach on Dad's birthday in 1991.  It was finally removed on March 20, 2006.  I'll save all the lovely details, but believe me - toothpicks are pressure treated wood and they don't dissolve in the body.  

The short version on the story is that the toothpick broke in half when Mom tried to pull it back out.  So after a trip to the ER and several "attempts" to remove it by a surgeon, it was determined that it was too difficult to locate due to location and color and eventually, it would find its way out.  Well, after it "flaring up" a few times over the years, it finally started to push out of my foot.  Only then would orthopedics consider trying to remove it, and finally, they did.

Here's the scar to prove it. I'll get Mom to send me a picture of the toothpick that was removed one day...it is sitting on my dresser at their house, still.  We are only slightly attached to the world famous toothpick.  

The reason I share this random fact is that it to this day - nearly 7 years after it was removed - impacts my "gate."  I still roll my foot from outside to inside when walking or running.  It makes for painful ankles at times.

Just Not Right

Two things that are just not right...

1) Our dog.  Just as Andrew took the picture, he slid over to the side.  Prior to that, he was sitting perfectly upright, front paws on either side of his shoulder with the look of "what's the big deal??  I can sit like a person too!"

2) The amount of rain we have had and are continuing to "enjoy."  Oh and the 77 degree temperature on Saturday.  Yes, we played golf.  Yes, we walked.  Yes, I was wearing shorts.  Yes, I got a little muddy.  This was actually after only 12 holes.  It didn't get any better either.  On hole 10, I splatted myself twice and Andrew once.  It was a mud shower.  The top of my hat has mud on it.  (PS we are saying that it was the camera angle, my thighs are huge otherwise.)

I'm Only Half Crazy

If you will remember, I said at the beginning of 2012 that I wanted to WALK a half-marathon by the end of the year.  Well, I was 5 days outside of 2012, but I started 2013 by RUNNING a half-marathon!!!!!!

I finished in 2:20.52, which obviously I was pleased with...my goal after all was to just finish.  The race was here in Jackson but my goodness did they find all the hills in this town!  My training runs along the course really paid off.  If you consider the look on the lady's face in the first picture in front of me, then mine - one could say that I had a little too much left in the tank.  Honestly though - I don't care how bad you feel, when you get to the finish, you have no reason not to smile - you can finally stop and be done!!!!

I trained with a group from our church, which was an awesome opportunity to get to know more folks.  We got shirts printed that said, "Cathedral Sole Trainers" - ha!  

So I might be crazy, but y'all, I'm only half crazy!

Thanksgiving and Christmas, Part 2

 Here are a ton of pictures from the Ouzts side of Thanksgiving and Christmas...

 Please excuse the fact that we forgot that you are supposed to hide your adult beverage in most pictures...or just laugh at how much we like beer and wine.

 Anyone else find it hilarious that I am all but sitting in the fire...like mother, like daughter.

 This is by far - way far - my all time favorite picture of the three of us...even peanut was looking at the camera!

Just OJ, promise...

 This is the ridiculous face you make when you get a Roomba and realize that sweeping the floor on a daily basis is a thing of the past!!!!!!!!  Make fun of my house slippers that double as fuzzy socks and we will have words...and those are decorations, not beer bottles.

 And this is the face you make when you realize that you totally forgot what was on your Christmas list that you sent out in July when you bought yourself a golf shirt in November - only to discover that were getting you one for Christmas.  And to make it worse - I wore said shirt to play golf with my father-in-law over Thanksgiving and had dinner with my MIL while wearing it - and no one noticed or they aren't saying if they did.

 FIL made this bird house for his dad's front porch...pretty awesome.