On The Road Again

Friday morning, we packed up the car and moved to Carrollton, Georgia. Well, okay.......we didn't really move to Georgia, but why does it feel like we're moving every time we take a weekend trip? It's possible that I am the world's worst packer. Oh, I've tried to be one of those savvy packers - you know the ones - the "I'm only taking one outfit for each day and one pair of shoes that matches all of those outfits". It doesn't work for me. I must have options. You never know when a good grilled hamburger with lots of Dales Seasoning is going to be served. And if it is.......break out the fat clothes. Nobody wants to be stuffed into their clothing like a vienna sausage because they weren't prepared for the Dale's bloating. So.....there it is, I have a packing problem - now let's move on.

We arrived in Carrollton in time to "move in", eat a bite, and then head to the Trojan home opener against Douglas County. My brother-in-law, Rayvan, is the head coach at Carrollton High School, and when there's family involved - it's never "just a game". I know this all to well, having grown up in the role of a coach's daughter. When there is family involved, it's not just a game - it's life! Not too many people really understand that concept, but I wouldn't trade the experience of being a coach's daughter for anything. What could be more special than getting to actually watch your father touch and influence the lives of so many young people?! Rayvan's children will know this someday, if they don't already. It's not just about the football with Rayvan, it's about shaping lives and that's what makes him a great coach. Well, that......and he wins a lot of games! :) As was the case on Friday night, when the Trojans sent Douglas County home with a crushing 35-14 loss. As a bonus, we got to see Laurel march with the flag corp in the college-sized Carrollton Band. She was fabulous, of course. Taylor and Barrett kept the Trojans in balls and water - a very important job!! They, too, were fabulous. What a great atmosphere for high school football! The place was rimmed out with people decked in black and gold. And it's true what they say, "There's nothing like being a Trojan on Friday night, in Carrollton, Georgia!"

We enjoyed the rest of the weekend with the whole Teague/Roberts/Williams crew (minus Tate who was laboring on Labor Day). It was a wild and wooly time at the Teague compound, with 4 children under 4 ruling the roost. Luckily, for sanity's sake, the adults outnumbered the kids -and it took all of us to keep the peace! Saturday night, we feasted on grilled hamburgers and homemade ice cream. See, good thing I had my fat clothes. Not only did I have a big, fat burger, but I also returned for seconds on the ice cream. The reality of it is, I could have eaten the whole container - I just love it that much! Can you say "gluttony"?? Fortunately, we had "popcorn church" on Sunday morning, so I was able to ask for forgiveness for my homemade ice cream sins (among others). What? You've never heard of popcorn church? Well, here's the breakdown: you can come in your pajamas, sing off-key, eat popcorn, and hear the good Word from someone you love. Taylor, Barrett, and Richmond were the organizers of our 1st Popcorn Church at South Bend. They turned the Teague bonus room into a sanctuary complete with Bibles, music, and a pulpit that doubles as a dining room table. The only thing missing that the 1st Popcorn Church could have used was a nursery! Fortunately, the congregation was tolerant of the indiscretions of our children :) Fun times......

From one sister's house to the next, it was on to Birmingham to visit with Tre, Marcy, and Hardy. When we arrived, the cul-de-sac was all abuzz with the neighborhood kids. It's a kid party everyday in my sister's neighborhood. We migrated into the next door neighbor's backyard upon invitation. Little did we know that we were entering a virtual kid's paradise. This backyard looked like a city park! There were kids swinging on tire swings, jumping on the trampoline, scaling the rock climbing wall, riding on the plethora-0-riding toys, and digging in the rocks with various construction vehicles. It was pure kiddie madness. The owners of this Taj Mahal of backyards, Evan and Amanda, were quite the host and hostess. While I was busy trying to keep up with Knox, Amanda was preparing and serving dinner to every kid on the block, including my kids. Feeding the kids of your neighbor's sister approximately 30 minutes after introductions, now that goes way beyond neighborly. Little place settings with little kiddie cuisine and sippy cups for all. It was the darndest thing I've ever seen! Did I happen to mention that she is the mother of 2 year old twins? And the hospitality didn't end when the kids went to bed.......we came back (with baby monitors in hand) to enjoy more of what they had to offer. We lounged in the hot, humid Alabama evening - no kids, just adults - eating, laughing, and sharing our stories of life. It was a nice end to a holiday weekend.

Thanks to all who hosted us this weekend...........we had a wonderful time! We miss you already.