Has it been almost a year and a half?!

Can you believe it's been this long since I posted last?! OMGsh. Well, I can tell you that I have put pictures on the web album all along and so has Dad. Mine is: http://picasaweb.google.com/Joanbuddy
Anyways, I won't even ATTEMPT to go into what all has occured in this past year and a half, except to check out the webalbum.
I will say that Britt and Ash graduated from High School, both had full scholarships and both wanted to go to college. Britt is majoring in Surgical Technology to be a scrub nurse in the O.R. and Ashley was in criminal justice and decided school just wasn't for her. So, she decided to join the Coast Guard and graduates from basic training this Friday. WOO-HOO We're going up there to watch and bring her home for 5 days. I wonder if they have a Waffle House up there?
She'll then report to the USCG cutter FORWARD based out of Portsmouth, Va. The best part is the boat stays in the Caribbean and central/south America. Woo-hoo. She is taking her computer, web-cam, dig. camera and cell phone, so we should all get to see what she's doing!!!
Courtney is still singing everywhere and has been EXTREMELY busy this summer. She has decided to audition for American Idol in two weeks in Jacksonville, FL.
All the dogs are doing well...Buddy's crazy, but that's understandable! ha
I would put some pictures on here, but I don't have time. I PROMISE and give my solomn pledge to keep this thing updated at least weekly if not sooner. I also want Ash to have this to go to for updates on us too while she's gone...sniff sniff....
More soon...........

North American Country Gospel Music Assoc. International

I can't believe it's been this long since my last posting!!! We haven't stopped to BREATH much less BLOG!
Let's see what's been happening! I reloaded my Windows XP twice! Don't ask. I have been working a TON of overtime, the girls are driving me crazy and we just returned from Pigeon Forge. The month of February was good...American Idol is in full swing, C.S.I. Miami is GREAT and Boomer is starting to settle down FINALLY!
The girls are doing great...I just scrolled thru my web album to see exactly what we did do in Feb. and HOW could I have forgotten!??!
Michael came home from Iraq! Of COURSE Ashley had to be there...so Courtney and I took her to Camp LeJeune for the big homecoming, and it was a huge event! I am very honored to have been there and I know it made a huge impression on Ashley and Courtney. Britt is taking a nursing class and couldn't miss a day.



While we were there waiting on the Marines to arrive on base, we took some time and went to the beach ON BASE! How cool is that...the Marines have their very own beach! I thought they were supposed to be big and bad!



It was so cold! Everytime we have been there, it's been SO windy and cold, we would run out on the beach, I would FORCE them to stand still and smile, then we'd RUN back to the van!











To view ALL the pictures taken that day, click on
http://picasaweb.google.com/JoanBuddy/32Homecoming

After returning, we have seen Ashley very little...she is, out of the three girls, our most independent daughter...just give her a debit card, a vehicle and a hair brush and she's off!

So, now I'm scrolling thru my VAST amount of pictures to find some of Brittany and her boyfriend....


His name is Justin from Seneca. He's going to college and Britt seems to really like him!


















AND I have learned that bonfires seem to be a big hit for the teenagers in our area...these are fine, intelligent, motivated teens...who support our country....







WOO-HOO



I'm so proud.










Now for Pigeon Forge....Courtney, since she won Entertainer, Vocalist and CD of the year in Georgia, was eligable to participate at the International Country Gospel level...so we did! We had a blast! Mike, Courtney and I went along with Mike's mother and my parents.




This is Courtney and one of her good friends from Conyers, Ga, Amanda. They were in line here to BUNGEE JUMP! AHHHH Can you believe Mike actually LET her do this! Dad and I were armed with cameras...Dad took pics and I took video. I did snap this picture....



















Here is a couple videos of it....





Courtney was also able to do a little singing there and here is a video of that...


and here she is singing, "These Arms of Mine"...









She line danced with a bunch of girls...you don't think Mike would let her with a GUY!!!!







Then, she also went to the Country Tonight theater and watched others perform and she sat with some of her friends from Georgia...










We have so many pictures that we have taken and I cannot possibly add them all on here...here is a link to the pictures that dad took...http://picasaweb.google.com/LarryMcCauleySr/NACMAIAwardsPigeonForgeTenn11March2007

and here is a link to the pics I took....
http://picasaweb.google.com/JoanBuddy/NorthAmericanCountryAndGospelAssociation

My page is too long to add more photos, but you can see them all there.
I'll be posting more soon...Britt and Ash have had my other camera and there's NO telling what they've taken...
Joan

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

Happy Birthday, Dad! Actually, yesterday was his Birthday, but all three girls were home and I didn't get the opportunity to get on the 'puter to do this. I won't say how old he is, but it contains the numbers...7 and 0! May we all be as healthy and active as he is at that age!!!

I LOVE this picture! HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

It is a little scary looking, but if you stare at it long enough, it ain't so bad. hee hee
It was taken at the Battle of Canebrake one FREEZING cold morning...to view more, click here http://picasaweb.google.com/home
Today it's Sunday and why am I up at 6:04am? Because I forgot it was Sunday and I don't work today! Geeeeeze.
So, while everyone is in bed and no one was sitting here at the computer, I thought I would take this opportunity to update this thing.So, I go thru the camera to see what the girls have taken on it without my knowledge, of course...here is a sample of what's on it...just a SAMPLE.

Poor Cujo...I had no idea they were doing this to him. I was going thru their outfits they wore when they were babies, and I guess they decided to see what Cujo looked like wearing this.

So, I keep scrolling thru the pics on the camera and there are a HUNDRED pictures of this!

Do you know how long it takes to delete all these off?

OK...so I get past 86 pictures of Courtney and then I get to THIS. WHAT THE HECK? OH yeah, I remember now...

So, I'm at work the other day and my cell phone dings like I have a picture message coming thru. I open my phone up and see THIS. OH. MY. GOSH.

I immediately know whose belly this is and call her. Ashley. She answers and I start. I then hear giggling...it ain't real.

GIT-R DONE

My heart still pounds thinking about it. She thought it was hilarious!Now that I have just remembered all that, I don't feel like scrolling thru my camera anymore. I'm tired. BUT, I shall perservere and continue on. For those of you who don't have girls...let me explain something...one thing they LOVE LOVE to do is take HUNDREDS of camera-phone pictures of themselves...And I mean HUNdreds...then they email them to their friends, their Moms and to their own emails...and clog up my computer with this. Britt does it too...she finally had a GOOD hair day and decided to take 42 pictures of it.

Ashley takes this of herself and the boys. Don't THEY look happy.

I won't bore you with more of these. I figure, If I start now, I can have EVERthing deleted of both camera and computer by 10am. I would "select all" then "delete", but there are a few pictures I would like to keep. NOT these tho.

Well, I think I'll go watch C-Span for awhile and bore myself back to sleep. C-Span is better than any sleeping pill out there. 2 minutes of that and your body won't want to stay awake for fear you'll make it watch MORE! HA!!Joan

Holidays 2006

You see how far into 2007 we are before I have a second to post anything about the holidays. Well, this is the first day I've had off to do this!
We had a GREAT Christmas and New Years and now we're off to a new year. I worked all thru it, so I didn't have time to enjoy it. Next year, I will take time off to sit and stare at the tree!
We started off on December 23rd at Mike's parents house for their annual Terry family get-together. This is where all Mike's Grandma's kids, grand kids etc.. come over and they all swap presents, we play games and EAT of course! hee hee Here we all are sitting in the den. I would be the one taking these wonderful pictures!

From Mike's family...

That's Will showing of her new drawers she got for Christmas! In the back ground there is Britt and a boy she brought over for the party. I think we scared him off because she ain't really seen him since! HAAAAAAAAA LOVE IT!

From Mike's family...

This is Mike and his cousin, Kevin (Will's middle son). They cut up the entire evening!

From Mike's family...

Well...I have tons more pics, which I will give you the web link for at the end of this...you have to wait...
The next day, was Christmas Eve, which meant that we went to MY family's get-together at Mom and Dad's. The best part of the day there...besides the food and presents, was watching Dad and Courtney pick the guitar together. Well, Courtney picked, Dad, well, I'm not sure WHAT he did, but it looked good in pictures! (grin)

From Joan's family...

We all sat in the den and listened to the joyful noise they created! LOOK AT ASHLEY! HAAAAAAAA Need I say more! hee hee

From Joan's family...

I love this picture...they're all clean! Ashely was pretty sad all day, Michael had called her from Iraq earlier and he was extremely homesick. She was trying to act bubbly, but was sad. Michael comes back home next month.

From Joan's family...

Is this not just the best picture? I take GREAT pictures! Notice how he is centered and I framed his face with the hat! Dang, I'm good!

From Joan's family...

OK...so after there, we went home and recouped. The next day was Christmas Day! YEAY! So, we opened up presents at home, then ran across then ran across the street! Mike's grandma had cooked a HUGE breakfast!

From Christmas Day...

OH yeah, baby. Mike's sister and her family arrived just in time to get BEHIND me in line to eat! hee hee

From Christmas Day...

After that, we opened presents!

From Christmas Day...

From Christmas Day...

From Christmas Day...

From Christmas Day...

From Christmas Day...

From Christmas Day...

We had a great Christmas! As I watched everyone come together over the weekend, I realized alot of us had not really remembered WHY we were together. We were so busy preparing to make it special, we just wasn't into thinking. We just couldn't wait to get together and laugh!
We have always tried to teach the girls that families are THE most important thing in a person's life. ever. When I see our combined family's all celebrate Christmas by actally WANTING to be in each others company and all the wonderful craziness that goes on, I believe those moments will always be with all our kids... to be remembered with smiles and a sense of belonging and knowing they are loved by very many people.

What could be better than that???!

THEEEN, we had New Years Day Dinner...I think all we did was eat for 3 days!

From New Year's Da...

I wanted to add these next few pictures to show those who don't live around here how it's done. The tradition of eating black-eyed peas, collard greens, chow-chow and everything else......one of our better traditions!

From New Year's Da...

From New Year's Da...

From New Year's Da...

From New Year's Da...

Yeah baby! All I know is, I should be exTREMELY rich this year if we go by the consumption of peas and collards! I'm talking LOTTERY, baby! HA
After we feasted until we couldn't breath, the girls helped do dishes...

From New Year's Da...

Then everyone gathered around the dining room table and listened to Grandma Terry talk about when she was a little girl...and she talked...

From New Year's Da...

and talked.............................

From New Year's Da...

and talked, then everyone started sharing stories....

From New Year's Da...

at the end of the day, we, even the dogs, went home stuffed, happy and sleepy!

From New Year's Da...

WHAT COULD BE BETTER THAN THIS??!

Have a great 2007 everyone!!!!
Joan and Herd http://picasaweb.google.com/JoanBuddy

Toys for Tots

Courtney was invited to the Toys for Tots fund raiser in Dalton, Ga last weekend. I didn't get to go because I had to work, but Mike and his maw went. Believe it or not, Mike actually took some good pictures....but DON'T tell him I said that! Shhhh........

Courtney was one of several people who was able to perform.

I heard it was decorated up real nice too with all the Christmas decorations.

She had a great time...I wish I could have been there.

She's been pretty busy lately singing just about every weekend somewhere. She's finished for the moment now just in time for Christmas.

So, after they returned from Ga on Sunday, I came home sick from work with a stomach virus...WHAT! I won't go into any detail except to say that I don't EVER want to eat a sausage bisquit from Hardees...or anywhere else..ever again!

Then, Tuesday, Courtney, then Ashley, then Brittany all came down with it too and they are STILL home. It's Thursday.

I took Courtney to the Dr. since she came down with it first after me and they prescribed Phenergan...said it would stop the nausea AND make them sleepy. Let me just say that when a Dr. TELLS me to give my three wide-open teenagers something to make them SLEEP...well, I nearly danced all the way to the pharmacy . I had no idea that was LEGAL! My house was so quiet and peaceful and even the dogs were happy while they slept. I like Phenergan...I wonder if the Dr. gave me any refills?!

Well, it didn't last long. So, I better run......more later!

Battle of Canebrake 2006

WHAT is the Battle of Great Cane Brake, I hear you ask! WELL, I took a picture of this sign at the foot of the great battle field.

Again, as we do every year, we attended the Great Battle of Canebrake in Fountain Inn, SC. All I can say is MAN was it COLD. It was in the low 20's when we got there at 10am, but soon warmed up to a balmy 35. Yeah Baby!
Courtney sang the National Anthem, Go Lassie Go and There's a Hero. YES, I took pics, videos etc. Mike and his Dad had went earlier to set up the sound system and there were about 200 people in attendance...200 VERY cold people!


This is Dad....Oh. My. Gosh. To anyone reading this, I am adopted. My true parents are little German people who DON'T WEAR HATS LIKE THIS.
Also, to anyone reading this, if you know of a job for this man, please call me. Part-time, full-time, ANY-time.


There were the usual Revolutionary War reinactors who were fantastic!

Also in attendance was a local high school's color guard. Courtney was checking them ALL out, baby!

Of course, with all the MANY fantastic pictures I take, I often get rather bored with perfection, so I have to spice them up a little. Hence, the black and white photo of Courtney.

I was thinking, in the Revolutionary War, they wouldn't have had colored film...or even film at all, so I took this photo to add to the vintageness of the moment! GOOD, ain't I!

AND lastly, I took this picture of Dad and Courtney. I didn't get any of Mike's Dad...he was busy helping set up with Mike.

Notice how I captured the the sun's rays glowing down on Courtney....THAT was no accident, but rather a carefully executed layout, created by me and God.

Dad will be sending me his pictures this afternoon. I'm sure he had to go home and take a nap first! hee hee...I will add them on here when he does....

DOLLYWOOD!!!

We had the BEST time this past weekend at Pigeon Forge! The weather was great, the people were great and the food was great!

We got there on Saturday, checked into the motel and then went to a dinner theater and saw a play WHILE WE ATE! HOW COOL IS THAT!? We had our pictures made entering there........

Dad really got into it and took TONS of pictures...so I had to take a picture of HIM taking a picture of us! Then after that, we went back to the motel and passed out!

The next morning, Mike and his parents arrived...YEAH! Courtney was excited to get going to Dollywood, so we got ready and headed out.......Dad got him a SEASON PASS to Dollywood...I reckon he and Mom plan on going alot.......... I don't think he and mom plan on going to Splash Country tho!

We all headed to the Chapel where Courtney was to sing, found out where it was, then headed out to EAT AGAIN! MY LORDY! I took several pictures around the park......

Courtney and Mike had gone off back to the van for Courtney to change clothes and warm up, so Britt and Ashley were stuck with me! They don't look like they are suffering any! Dad took alot of pictures of some of what we did, when he emails me those pictures, I'll add them here.

Court sang, " O Holy Night" and because I was busy recording it, I didn't get many pictures of that, but Dad did....this is one picture I did get.....

AND here is the video..I have loads more to send tonight...

From Dollywood 2006

Here we are on a train ride thru Dollywood...Woo Hoo!

Mom and Dad brought their own groceries...we ate so much while there, I'm sure they didn't eat their HEALTHY stuff!

AND, I had to add this picture of the chapel where Courtney sang all lit up at night. ALL of Dollywodd was beautiful, but with the lights and all, it was great!

I have a ton more photo's that I didn't have room on here to add, and here is a link to those pics....http://picasaweb.google.com/JoanBuddy/Dollywood200602

the pics there are mostly what Dad took and added to his web album, but I...uh...BORROWED his pictures for MY blog! hee hee