Left to Right: Caroline Neubauer, Libby Neubauer, Elise, Cason Eslick, Cooper Eslick
SHHHH! Don’t tell my big kids, but we had friends over while they were at school! We all had a good time (especially the moms!)
Ok, I can’t help but add commentary on this one. My tulips have popped through the ground. You have no idea how much this fills me and makes me smile! Be forewarned…there will be many more pics of these as they bloom. I love tulips.
More commentary, UGH, I know that’s what you are thinking. Just in case you didn’t know, my mom has opposition in the election this year. Well, sorta has opposition. That’s a long story. Anyway, I designed and set up a website for her. In your free time (yes, I know what a joke that is…remember, I have kids too) go to www.BrendaHyden.com. I took this picture at the Campaign Kick Off in Franklin this week. (Notice the tulip! I warned you. They make me smile.)
To give credit where it is due, Heath took this picture and the picture of the bird in day 33/62. He is beginning to see why the camera is always in my hand. He realizes it is fun! (Which kind of scares me…we only have one camera!)
This is for my long time friends, Ashley King and Amanda Tipps.
Ok girls, my mind failed me this year! I just wrote today’s date and realized I missed March 7th yesterday. Blame it on insanity. I will fully claim it! So, since I am a day late, there won't be flowers this year. Just a note of appreciation for all to see.
To all of those who are wondering what in the world I am talking about, here is the back story:
Amanda and I met when Heath became the Athletic Trainer at Huntland in 1996. We were both at the athletic events of the school, so we were together a lot. This led to a wonderful friendship. And even though it was a mix up and not intended, we also share the same wedding day. Once Tommy was born, we asked Amanda and Tipps to be Tommy’s godparents, which they gladly accepted.
I met Ashley when she started teaching at South Jr High in the fall of 2001. She and her husband, Phillip had just started working for the Franklin County School System. They had their son, Grant, who is 3 months younger than Tommy. With both of us having boys who were so close in age and teaching together daily, we became friends. We shared interests in books, crossword puzzles, card games and cooking, which gave us something other than the boys in common. Through the years, our friendship has continued, as has Tommy and Grant’s. They enjoy each other as Ashley and I do. They can honestly say they have been lifetime friends!
That being said, 8 years ago yesterday, on a warm sunny almost spring day, 1 year old Tommy, 10 month old Grant, Ashley, Amanda and I were playing in our yard on North High. Ashley and Grant left to go to Wal Mart. On their way home, they stopped back by. Ashley gave Amanda and I a bouquet of tulips. She said the tulips were so pretty, so she bought us all some to enjoy because sometimes friends deserve a “happy” and to be appreciated.
We proclaimed “Happy March 7th” to be a yearly event, to express our appreciation of our friendship. From year to year, usually at least one of us remembers to send flowers to each other. Well, this year I completely forgot. And this is very sad, because what would we do without friends!
Our lives have grown busy with more than just Tommy and Grant. Ashley has another son, Jackson and Amanda has 2 precious girls, Megan and Molly, and I, of course, have added 2 girls to the mix, Caroline and Elise. With the kids and life keeping us busy we only see each other on occasion (which is usually at a ball field of some type.) We love to get together for dinner and a good game of cards, Mexican train dominoes or Aggravation, but it doesn’t happen as often as we would like. The wonderful thing about friendships is, we can go months without seeing each other, then when we do get together we pick up where we left off. Aren’t friends wonderful.
Girls, thanks for your friendship. It is fabulous and it is appreciated. I know that if I ever need anything, I can count on you both. I am so sorry I missed yesterday, but know that even if I have a momentary slip and forget a very important day, your friendship is invaluable. Above all else, HAPPY MARCH 7th! (a day late!)
Love you both.