delta tour, basketball, football OH MY!

My last post was about Thanksgiving and how I wanted Kyle to take me on a tour of his family land while we were in the area. So here it is "the to be continued" Thanksgiving trip.

Welcome to Thornton, Mississippi. Population: I don't know! I was all ready to see a town square. There is not one. I guess that is why it is called " touring farm land!"

This is where my mother-in-law grew up. It used to be a cotton farm. Now they lease it out to corn farmers.

This is the tire swing in the back of Kyle's Mimi's old house.

And that was it. Kyle said, I told you we'd be done touring in about 10 minutes. I had a good time and it was nice to see some family history!

Then we went north to Greenwood, MS. Home of where the movie The Help was filmed.

Finally, a town square! It is a such cute downtown area. I'm sure there is farm land there too. Kyle showed me Mimi's "city home!" They spend so much time in the city, they needed a place to sleep! We had lunch at The Crystal Grill. It was one of Pappy's (Kyle's grandfather) favorites.

After walking the streets of downtown Greenwood, we drove east to Starkville to complete our Mississippi tour.

Another game of the century was about to happen. That's right! The battle of the McCoys happened again. Read about the 1st battle here. Round TWO! Mississippi State vs UT-Martin basketball game!

I had to take a picture when the game was tied. It counts even though the game just started right?



The boys in action.
I tried to count the UTM fans. I counted all 6 of them. I think those 6 fans were parents of the players. But I sure did stick out like a sore thumb when UTM would make a basket and I stood up to cheer. I'm a true fan!

To bad UT-Martin lost.

The very next day was the Egg Bowl. Ole Miss vs MSU.



Leah and Josh-the newlyweds.

a game of football at the tailgate.

the hash tag. #hailstate

Mississippi State was the 1st college to put a hash tag in the end zone for people to tweet during the game. MSU made a social medial breakthrough!

It rained, then it stopped.

Then it rained. But it was not a cold rain. So I was able to hang...until the end of the 1st quarter when my SIL Leah wanted to leave and go to BWW to watch the game in dry air.

Leah saving us a parking spot at BWW.

Mississippi State ended up winning the Egg bowl 31-3. They've won 3 years in a row and that has not happened since the 40s I think?! Needless to say, I was with a happy family.



What a great weekend!

thankful for family and...applebee's?

It was our year to do McCoy thanksgiving at the deer camp in the deep delta of Mississippi. We can't make both so we switch each year.

MIL and Annlea (Kyle's cousins baby)

The spread was amazing.

Mimi (Kyle's very funny grandmother) and Aunt Eloise (Kyle's great aunt)

4 generations

Last spring was full of tornadoes. One passed by the deer camp.

Only a city girl would take this picture.

After thanksgiving, we went to Jackson, MS to spend the night with Kyle's cousin since Mimi is now moved to a retirement home in Meridian. I wanted to take a tour of his family land in the Delta where Mimi lived and my MIL grew up. Our drive to Jackson was about 1 hr and 15 mins and about 15 mins from Jackson I had the best idea. I said "Kyle, why did we not stay at a Bed & Breakfast in Vicksburg or Greenwood? Then we wouldn't have to drive all the back tomorrow and you know I want to stay at a B & B in the Delta." Kyle said  "Angie that was a great idea....1 day ago." I was not on top of my game. A little too late.

Then...we needed to eat dinner and wait for his cousin to get back from her in-laws. I just knew there would be at least 5 options for me to choose from. My pet peeve is eating at chain restaurants. So we drove around for about 15 mins and there was nothing open. I kept dwelling on my B & B idea.

eating good in the neighborhood

The chain of chain restaurants was the only place open. APPLEBEE'S! Really? Seriously? That place reminds me of the movie Talladega nights. So we made the most of it. We sat at the bar and had some salads. And I had a great time. It felt like I was at someones home. They were putting up the tree. Very nice people on a thanksgiving night. If you are ever feeling down about missing out on a great idea, go to Applebee's. It will make you have warm fuzzies.

By the time we were done eating, Kyle's cousin was home. Perfect timing. We hung out with her family and I tried to talk Kyle into going shopping at midnight while I slept (HA). I really wanted a Dyson and black Friday had great deals. He didn't go for my idea (got shot down twice that day) so we utilized cyber Monday and now we are proud owners!

Next post will be my delta tour!

thankful for friends

Maybe my new years resolution needs to be to stay on top of blogging!

Back to November...I love the fact that my friends do a "friends thanksgiving." Some of them are my friends from college that are not from Memphis but ended up here. Some are work friends, bible study friends, Memphis friends...friends of all kinds. I am thankful that we take time to do this. Some of them have family far away but it is nice to know that they have a family right here in Memphis when they can't be near their loved ones.

Betsy-Emily-Amanda-me

April-Cindy

So...April's boyfriend Nathan pulled Kyle aside and told him he was going to propose to April on Thanksgiving day in front of her family. Kyle DID NOT tell me! I got a text from April on Thanksgiving night. I can't believe that boy didn't tell me. Don't married people share everything? Even secrets? Congrats April and Nathan! Too bad Kyle didn't think I could keep a secret for 4 days. I guess I understand why he didn't!

 

Mariana-Fergie-Jen-Shelly

deserts

Cindy loves to make crazy faces. Can you pick her out?

The secret keeper and me

Maybe this is why he didn't tell me. I met up with April the next day with a couple of friends to have lunch with our sorority sister who is expecting. Maybe he didn't want me to look like I knew something. He knows I keep good secrets!

me-Betsy-April-Shelly-Jennifer-Holly (and her baby bump)

I am very blessed to have such a wonderful Memphis friend family.





enchanted forest

I am a member of TWIGS. We raise money for Le Bonheur Children's Hosptial. Every year, TWIGS hosts the Enchanted Forest at the Pink Palace. My department always decorates a tree.

Rachel-Amanda-me

Our tree-we got 2nd place in the Le Bonheur category.

In years past, we hosted a preview party where people bought tickets and viewed the forest before it opened. We decided against it this year and just had a reception for the donors. I was the bartender. And by bartender I mean I gave out sodas, beer, and wine. But I liked calling myself the bartender!

Thanks to all who came to the forest and supported Le Bonheur!

food for finance: million mile joe

(healthy) food for finance is a column where we talk about how fitness and finance correlate with each other. join us on our journey to be both physically and financially fit.

Have you heard of the the guy who had 1 million miles on his Honda? Do you know how many zeros that is? 1,000,000!! I don't think he did it because he is a Dave Ramsey follower. I think he likes cars and wanted to see how far it would go. Mute the music on my page (bottom right) and watch his story.

Now watch this one. It is the parade Honda had for him when he hit 1,000,000 miles!



Kyle and I are no where near 1 million miles on our cars...not even if you add them together. We both have 2002 SUVs which means our cars turn 10 years old this year. I have 146,000 miles and Kyle has 192,000 miles on his. Joe has given us hope!

Here is our car plan: As you know, we are on the Dave Ramsey plan. We have no debt but our house. We are about 7 weeks away from having our 6 month emergency fund completely funded (baby step 3). Before starting baby steps 4, 5 & 6, we'll need to save for a car. So we will pause the plan and save for a car. Basically, do what we are doing now-just saving away.

Why do we plan to pay cash for a car? Because we don't want to have debt. Instead of us paying interest on a car payment, we'll pay our self a car payment and gain interest. Since we have no debt but our house, we can save for a car in no time! How awesome will it feel to buy a car with CASH!?!

Will we buy a new car? No, it is not in the budget.  Cars lose 70% of its value within the 1st 4 years (even with the 0% financing that is so so tempting). We don't have the net income to buy brand new. Our "new" car will at least be 4 years old.  Click here to see the full story of why we are doing this. Kyle and I are having fun with getting out of debt! It is very empowering. I am thankful for a husband that shares the same goals as me. I'll be sure to update you when we get our "new" car. Until then, we'll celebrate that our cars are hitting the 10 year mark. Who knows, maybe we'll be million mile McCoys!

all work and no play

The week before Thanksgiving I went to Birmingham, AL with some work people for an early intervention conference. I really enjoy going to conferences. It's easy to feel burnout at work so a conference is the cure to feel refreshed with new ideas!

Barbara Dooley was the keynote speaker. She is the wife of long time George football coach Vince Dooley. Her son Derek Dooley coaches UT football. I blogged earlier about Kyle's experience on the field at the UT-Martin vs Mississippi State football game. I called him the Derek Dooley of MSU. Derek always wears orange pants and Kyle had his maroon pants on during his VIP game experience. In saying all this, I wanted to tell Barbara that I am married to a football fanatic and I feel her pain. But I refrained! She was a great speaker. I could listen to her all day.

We are never silly! 

The girls from work: Kerry-Ulanda-me-Jen-Camille

I even got to see one of my old interns from back in my child life days! Now back to work...