Coach Saban's Camp 2010

For Christmas this year, we decided to get Steven a gift certificate to attend Coach Saban's Football Camp. He was really excited about it and we got to go watch them practice this week as well. It was 9 million degrees outside, but watching him on the field at Bryant Denney was totally worth it. There was a voice going over the loud speaker hollering at the boys and telling them what to do...it sounded like some sort of psycho to me, and it was....it was Coach Cochran, the strength and conditioning coach at Bama. He is the one that holds his hand up the entire 4th quarter with 4 fingers up...

I snuck out to go find Steven's helmet that he traded in for a BAMA helmet because his Cedar Ridge helmet was hurting his head. He told me he left it at the practice field...
If you haven't ever been to the practice field down at BAMA, its locked up like Fort Knox. But, being the determined Aunt that I am, I decided to make my way in, probably in not the most legal way. Well, thank goodness a little frat boy equipment guy came to my rescue...and actually let me in the building, the legal way. We searched and searched for the helmet with no luck finding it. I did however get to meet some really cool people while I was in the "high security" facility. Everyone I met kept asking me how I got in there, but I didn't tell!! :) I got to walk around in the locker room, weight room, coaches area, and lots of other cool places I probably shouldn't have been. Thank goodness Meghan called to say that Bryce, the 3-year-old, had found Steven's helmet in the lost and found bin at Tutwiller! So, I left my new found friends and headed back to meet up with everyone. I know Steven had a great time at camp and learned a few things as well!

Bravo to Kroger!

Last weekend, I was doing a little grocery shopping at the ol' Kroger when I came upon these lovely treats...

What is that you say? They are some delicious portabello mushrooms stuffed with spinach, onions, tomatoes, and feta cheese. So, I picked them up, baked them for the allotted time and dug in...YUM is all I can say. I will say, they were in the grill section and they recommended that you grill them, but they also gave instructions for baking them. For some reason, I am terrified to light the grill myself and David wasn't at home. Yes I know, that seems stupid, but I have always been afraid that the gas will have been left on, or there be some other issue that I might not be aware of that could be a HUGE safety hazard. And no, that doesn't mean I want David's face to get blown off, its just that he knows what to look for and I am just really cautious with that stuff. Anywho, so I gobbled these treats up and was really surprised at how delicious and healthy they are for you. So next time you are at Kroger, swing by the grill section and see if they have any. :) Oh, and the pan, is a Pampered Chef stone, so that is why it looks like it is covered in tar....the darker they are, the better they cook!!

Bath time!!

If you didn't know any better, you would think Wilson hated the water...he loves to swim in the river, get sprayed by the hose, or jump in puddles....however, when it is bath time, he looks like someone just mentioned going to the pound to him. He always looks so beat down when I give him a bath. David got home mid-bath and snapped some photos of the poor pitiful thing. I made a deal with him....if he could somehow quit stinking, I would stop giving him a bath...we will see who holds up their end of the bargain. :)

Suzie's Show

This past week, David and I were on Suzie Wiley's show for a wedding special. He was the featured photographer, and I was the co-host/wedding etiquette expert... :) Which basically meant, whatever I felt like was an appropriate answer was given, correct etiquette or not! Anywho, we had a blast on the show minus the whole getting up at the crack of dawn thing. If you missed it, I'm sure its on Youtube somewhere...we may actually upload it one of these days. Oh, and I'm not quitting my day job either... :)

Goodbye My Love.....

Wednesday evening was quite possibly one of the saddest days I have had in I don't know when. That's when the $4200.00 mistake was really a reality. As most of you know, I am an avid boater. I LOVE my boat probably more than I even like most people. :) It has been my baby, my first big purchase by myself and my source of joy for 5 years now. To make a long story short, this past winter, the boat was not winterized properly. When we went to put it in the first time this summer, we realized something was wrong with it. Several diagnosis later, we realized that the engine block was cracked and the motor was totally useless. A new motor would be $4200.00 and it didn't make financial sense to put a brand new motor into a used boat that was an older model like the Bayliner. So, Wednesday, I put my baby on Craigslist to see what would happen. An hour later, I got a phone call from a man that said he had cash in hand, ready to buy it. IT all happened so quickly, I didn't really have time to process it. However, when I hooked up the Bayliner to take her to meet her new owner, the tears started...and I'm not talking about droplets, I am talking waves of uncontrollable tears. I got to the Holiday Inn, where Justin and Micah were meeting me, so I wouldn't be alone when the transaction occurred, and it just got worse. I was hysterical...and I don't get hysterical. I think I freaked both of them out, and the guy that bought the boat from me surely thinks I am nuts. He said, "Ma'am, are you sure you want to do this....are you okay?" Hmmm...well, let me think...of course I am not okay, but this was the lesser of the evils. So, we made the transaction and I told him to let me drive away before they left so I didn't have to watch him leave with my baby....Later that night at church, Justin told David, "It was like watching Superman react to cryptonite....very disturbing..." And, to be fair here, I know that this is just a boat, a material possession, and we were very fortunate to have it. I know there are people who are selling everything they own to pay for a sick child's operation....I know its not that big of a deal in the big picture of life. But that was my baby....and now she is gone. We had some good times, and I hope her new owners love and appreciate her as much as I did...

Slough of Fun!

This weekend, David and I finally got some much needed R&R. We went to Smith Lake to this awesome rental property called Slough of Fun. www.sloughoffun.com Anywho, when we got there, David immediately collapsed after his insane month of May and he slept solid for 2 hours. I went out to start fishing it up and had pretty good luck. I would run back up to the house with my latest fish in hand, hoping he would wake up, but no luck. Poor guy was out like a light!






Anywho, after fishing and David coming out of his coma, we ate a little dinner and then sat around a camp fire. David brought his guitar and played some lovely tunes. It was super relaxing! We then went to bed and slept like babies. It was the most comfortable bed ever!! Saturday morning, I woke up, had some coffee on the screened porch and made a little breakfast casserole before we headed out for some swimming. We played in the water a couple of hours and then decided we were well over due for a nap! This is a vacation right?? After the nap, I went back out for more fishing and met some of the cutest little guys ever!!



Hello precious puppies! The neighbors dog had puppies and they came over to visit. If Wilson wasn't such a spoiled little brat, he might have gotten a new brother!


Oh, we saw a little wild life too while we were there....


Oh, and this....devil spawn


Let me tell you, if you are looking for an awesome spot to go, Slough of Fun is it! Its great for a couple, or a huge group. It sleeps 12 people!! Check them out at www.sloughoffun.com

Memorial Day Weekend

May was extremely busy for the Higginbotham's....not much time for blogging! David had 5 weddings in May so there was a great deal of alone time for me....he had a Friday night and Saturday night wedding Memorial Day Weekend, so I went out to the river and met up with my neighbors at Sugar Creek. We went on a couple boat rides and just generally took it easy. They are such a fun group! Then on Sunday night, Justin and Micah brought there bikes over, and we rode out to Point Mallard to watch the fireworks. P.S.-If you ever decide to do this and go back on the road that is by the bike trails, bring a light...or two! Super dark out there and we had one light! Anyways, the fireworks were beautiful and the atmosphere was great as usual. While out at Point Mallard, one of my gripes came out....I know I know, I rarely have anything to gripe about...but stay with me here. People all the time complain about there being nothing to do in Decatur and that this town sucks...first of all, if you feel that way, MOVE. But secondly, we have all these HUGE festivals, fireworks, a water park and all the great campgrounds and stuff in our town. People TRAVEL HERE FOR THEIR VACATIONS!! I know it may seem like no fun to you because you grew up here, but it is pretty neat that in a town this small, we have all this fun stuff. Oh, and back to my original point, if you don't like it, move. No one is forcing you to stay here. :) Here are some shots from the weekend!