Are we there yet?

I went back to Kentucky Lake and got Brent moved and set up in Oklahoma. I must really like to drive. Thursday I drove 8 hours, Saturday drove 8 hours, Monday drove 5 hours and will drive 4 1/2 hours today. I'm kinda over this whole driving thing.Brent and I stopped at BassPro in Memphis and Penny had her first shopping trip. We looked like complete dorks---but it was 95 degrees out and we could cook the dog in the truck!!!

Then on to Muskogee, OK. Brent was having a good practice, but BASS had to move the tournament due to the flooding in Oklahoma. The tournament is now on Ft. Gibson Lake and Brent NEEDS to finish in the top 40 to qualify for the Classic. Pressures on. I will keep you posted.

The kids and I are headed back to the tournament today and Gigi is going with us. Plans for water balloon fights, water park, visiting my grandpa and AWESOME tournament for Brent.

Back to Guntersville, KY Lake and LQ

Back to reality. We had a great vacation in Biloxi...but now it's back to work.

We spent a few days at Guntersville Lake and had some fun with our friends. Robin and Randy Howell hosted a little BBQ with us and the Martens family. We have such good friends and all our kids had a blast.

I have the best memories of my childhood friends and hope my kids remember these days and maintain these friendships. I think back to the Gray/Rackley/Myers hay days and smile ear to ear. No matter how many years pass----these childhood friends are deep in my heart!! I hope Mason and Makayla feel the same way about Laker, Oakley, Jordan, Spencer...plus the Jones, Faircloth, Lanes and all the other kiddos of professional bass fishing.

We took the boats out one night and parked in front of the bat cave. The TVA said that over 40,000 bats emerge form the cave at dusk every night. It was incredible and a little disgusting.

Next we headed back to Paris, Tennessee and started the Kentucky Lake tournament. We stopped by Financial Peace Plaza and got to meet Dave Ramsey. It was so cool and surreal to meet him.

The kids and I got Brent set up and headed back to Lake Quivira for summer rec and swim team. Going home is crazy and NOT relaxing at all. It was good to see my friends and family--but I had to get back to Kentucky Lake after 3 days at home.

So, as most of you know, I have created a co-dependant husband. I don't want to toot my own horn...but he really does depend on me for a lot of help. I have created this problem by being such a wonderful, selfless, giving, nurturing, supportive, helpful wife. (too much???) OK, I may be exaggerating just a little. But Brent survived the few days without me thanks to my Leslie, Robin and Jimmye Sue.

Oh-

Did I mention that he got a hook stuck in his thumb and had to go to an urgent care to have it removed????? UUUHHH, I think he did it to prove he cannot manage to take care of himself without me.

So now I am back at the tournament and Brent is doing great in the competition. Hopefully he can have a top 12 finish and head to the last event with a little wiggle room for Classic Qualification.

I left the kids at home with grandparents...What does a mom do when her kids aren't around and she can goof off????? She babysits the Martens kids. They are awesome kids and now I have to go play "Go Fish" before Jordan yells at me.

PS----- Training for the Ragnar Relay Race in Central Florida. We have 6 confirmed for our team and need a few more girls to join us. I don't know why everyone is so hesitant to commit...It's not like it's a 200 mile relay race across Florida!! Oh!! Yes it is!!!

Family Vacation in Biloxi, MS

It seems I am always starting my blog with ‘this past week was great….But this past week WAS great!
We finished Brent’s tournament at Clarks Hill Reservoir in Augusta Georgia and headed to our family vacation. We sent Penny (the pooch) home with Leslie and Aaron Marten. They’re wonderful friends and we appreciate this soooo much. Penny doesn’t exactly love people, so this was very generous and just shows how great they are.
We dropped the camper is storage and headed to Biloxi, MS.
We got in late and started the next day with a dip in the pool and walk on the beach. Brent took Mason out on the rock jetty to check out the water and day one of vacation--- let’s start with an injury! Mason slipped and cut his hand on the oysters. It was nasty and probably needed stitches… but he is fine. Now he can tell stories to his friends about his scar from the oyster bed. It's Cool Man!
So what did we do all week---?
Most of the time was spent swimming in the pool, shopping at the outlet mall, playing at the beach, catching hermit crabs at low tide, playing board games and eating lots of junk food. You know…the staples of family vacationing. We did squeeze in a few touristy activities.

(Is touristy a word? Spell check thinks it’s OK.)
Brent arranged a fishing trip and took Mason, Ron, Chris and Emma. They got aboard the boat named ‘Jig-A-Low’ and headed out to catch some shark. They caught over 50!!!! Mason landed 6 and Emma landed 5. Not bad for a couple of 6-year-olds on their first deep see fishing trip. I am so glad they had a good time. Emma was pretty tough to hang out with all those boys for the entire day. Now, I know what you’re thinking… Why name a boat Jig-A-Low? I have no answer. Men are crazy. If a woman ran this charter service it would have a much better name. Fish Tale, Crazy Bait (my spin on crazy eight), Marvin Marlin. OK, OK. There is no way to give a boat a good name. Just call it what it is. Bobbi’s Boat, Brent’s boat…whatever people!!!
We also took an excursion to Ship Island. This was cool. There is an old fort on the barrier islands off Biloxi that was built in 1868. We took an hour long boat ride out to the island and the kids swam and played and we loved it. It was the perfect way to spend our last day of vacation.
My family rocks….I’m just sayin’!!!!
Biloxi was pretty cool. The area has not completely rebuilt after hurricane Katrina, but what a fantastic family vacation!!!!