A Little Heavy

We have spent the last 2 weekends in Andalusia. We have had a fun time visiting family - on both sides.

Ellie, cousin Carly and Burkita (I have been calling him that recently?!)

Turner and cousin Hudson

We went to get ice cream for the twins' birthday (Natalie and Mallory) with Winston, Sam and William - I thought it was so cute that they sat at this little table together

John Burke with Uncle Curtis

Turner with Granny Fran. I think he was negotiating more ice cream from her

However, we also went down to see MeMe in the hospital. She had emergency surgery, and we found out she has cancer. It is not easy to say. Shocking really. But, we know God is in control and He is sovereign.

They are flying out to Houston next week to visit MD Anderson, and we will find out more details. Please, please join us in praying for Melissa and the whole Henderson family. We love, love, love her and hate that she is in pain!

MeMe will kill me for putting this picture on here...but look how good she looked just a week later!

She is recovering from her recent surgery, and we probably pushed her to the limit playing with her this weekend. But Turner and John Burke can't go very long without seeing their MeMe! We were able to read, play trucks, and do a lot of playing outside with MeMe and Pap and Kelly and Jonathan.

And, Kelly and Jonathan had a baby shower for Cameron - who is coming in just a few weeks! It was next door to Heath's parents' house and we rode in this high-tech golf cart (or Pap's tractor as Turner calls it). Hilarious. You might be a redneck if you ride a tractor to a party - just kidding, it was endless entertainment!

Entertainment at the baby shower

Meanwhile, back at home I was on Jury Duty last week. All those years I was teaching and could have gotten off work without it counting against me and without worrying about childcare. Of course, I get picked now. Here is my badge.

Jealous? I was actually the foreman and got to say "We the jury find..." - so it wasn't all bad!

These monkeys rode to school with Daddy. I could get used to that! Just kidding, sadly I missed them and their messy, crazy, LOUD selves in my car!

Overall, our April has been bittersweet. One more reason is because Grandad Starr died yesterday. This was my dad's dad - and we sometimes even called him "Tiger". He was a funny old bird, and he has lived here in Birmingham for the last 2 and a half years. We were so blessed to get to spend this time with him. He lived in Los Angeles and Phoenix when we were growing up, so we were glad he moved closer.

He was very opinionated, and never scared to share these opinions with us. He liked to tell us about how our metabolisms were changing - usually when we were scooping dessert. But, now I see what he was talking about! Also, he was very entertained by the grandchildren. He loved to comment on what they were going to be when they grew up, and compared them to my Dad, who he thought was pretty close to perfect. Did you know my Dad was potty trained at 18 months? According to Grandad! And, he had a cat that could jump from the floor to the counter without a running start. A magical cat!

Grandad with all the Starrs at Christmas

But seriously, he was fiercely in love with my Grandma. She died of Alzheimer's when I was a freshman at Auburn, and he has had a huge hole in his heart since then. He loved to talk about her and his family - sons and daughter, brothers, parents. And also his time in the Navy. He was a huge history nut!

Grandad, Nanny and Dink with us when Turner was 3 days old. Kate reminded Lindsey yesterday that Dink would be nice to Grandad in Heaven!

We loved Grandad and I am so happy for him that he is in Heaven with all these loved ones he has missed so much! I am glad my kids got to know him and spend time with him. Thank you, Grandad for loving us all these years. We will miss you!

Grandad with Pop Pop on John Burke's baptism

My favorite picture of Grandad and Turner

Psalm 23

¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.

Eagle!

Turner (because he is his mother's son and very stubborn) has never said "War Eagle." Instead, he says "Auburn Tikers." Every time.

Well, now that we have mixed up our Good Night Moon rotation with this book (thanks to Volree from Turner's shower I think), he won't stop saying "Eagle!" At the end of every page, it says "War Eagle!" and he has totally gotten on board. A few months AFTER the best season ever. Oh well!

Speaking of War Eagle, Heath and I got to go to a dinner for Coach Chizik a few weeks ago. Heath's boss got us tickets to the Bobby Bowden National Collegiate Coach of the Year Banquet (I had to look at the bulletin). We didn't know what to expect, but we had so much fun! Bobby Bowden and Coach Chizik spoke, and we were able to get a picture with them.

And, I was able to yell "You're the Man!" to Coach Chizik as I walked away. I immediately wanted to say "I promise I am not hitting on you" by the look he gave me, but he was very sweet. I told myself he has to hear that all the time. And I don't take it back. It was a big year for my Tikers.

Back in the day to day, though, these are some common scenes around our house.

In this picture, Turner saw me with my camera and said "Ook (look) Burke Burke, a peecher (picture)" He is VERY into pictures. They are both very into destroying the house in a matter of seconds. And car and their clothes for that matter. But, it is to be understood with 2 wild boys. And the mess is worth it.

These weasels make me crazy, but they also make me laugh. I go back and forth constantly from wanting to freeze time to getting excited about how they are growing and changing. And this is my fat baby's new look.

It is a mix between a flirty glance and an evil glare. And he does it all the time. It makes me laugh, and it was hard to get a picture of! In the drive-thru at Chick-fil-A the other day, it was a girl I didn't recognize. Turner and John Burke's "friends" - the ladies behind the counter - came to the window to say hello and the one I didn't recognize asked them if they had seen his "look." It made me laugh that they had all seen it, and again realize we are there entirely too much. They even corrected Heath's order for me this weekend. And they were right!

I will leave you with their school pictures.

A little like a farmer/grandpa. I did the shirt to make Heath happy, but now I am not so sure.

Look at that big, fat, 11 month old squishy face! I love it.