Christmas Through Their Eyes

The following conversation may or may not have happened.




Zoey: "Dude, did you get what you wanted?"

Dawson: "I mean, yeah...for the most part. I'm still waiting for the Blackberry I asked for. It's still early in the day, so I'm hoping it's going to be in the stocking portion of the event later on. What about you?"

Zoey: "Yes, I got some pretty cute stuff. No awful sweaters or anything like that. But, really? No offense? Your mom is about to drive me crazy. All the hoo-hah about 'Oohh...put a bow on her...she needs a bow in her hair...' You can seriously not be mad at me if I throw up on her.

Dawson: "You are one crazy broad. Be my guest. Did you see my head a minute ago with the hat? I looked like a freakin' candy cane."

Zoey: "Oh..well...I mean, actually? It was kind of cute. Um, slimming? It kind of helped with the..you know...manliness of your forehead."

Dawson: "My forehead is manly? What are you trying to say?"

Zoey: "Nothing. Forget it. I'm just saying you look good in hats, that's all. Listen, you wanna get some milk or something?"

Dawson: "Word."

Dawson's First Christmas!

It's hard to believe that Dawson's first Christmas has already come and gone. Little Man had a great time opening gifts and visiting family and entertaining everyone!

Christmas morning actually started with a short power outage, but all was restored and my dad got to the very important business of making his famous biscuits.
After breakfast, we opened gifts...Santa brought Dawson a lion that he can ride or push - he loved it!
"Thank you, Gran, for my Bounce-and-Spin Zebra!!"

Last year, we were a family of two (one of us looked like a planet)...now, we're a family of three!

Zoey helps Grandpa the Great open his presents...
...then models the latest in evening gowns for Miss America contestants age 6 months and under.
Dawson is sitting in the rocking chair I had when I was a wee tot...he's also wearing my toddler shoes!
My mom's brother and his family came over for dinner and to open prezis...Robin and D-Man had a great time playing together.
Meredith and Zoey...
My uncle Bo (Tim) and Dawson take turns making faces...
Dawson entertains Malori and Meredith...
The next night, we went to my Aunt Trisha's house (this is my dad's side of the fam) and ate and ate and ate some more...and played games that were hilarious! I think I counted 27 people there...we love a big family! This is Mike and his new best friend Zoey.
Lots of kids and loudness and fun...
Part of the family...
The holiday was topped off by Dawson opening his stocking from Gran and Papa. One of his gifts was his first toothbrush!

I hope all of you had a Merry Christmas!

Happy We'll Be, Under the Sea!

After Dad's program, we went to the Tennessee Aquarium in downtown Chattanooga...the site of almost all of my fieldtrips from the 3rd through 5th grades. They've since added a salt-water exhibit, and that's the one we went to. Dawson and Zoey loved it!


There was a little cave-like alcove that kids could crawl into and look up at the fish. Gran showed Dawson...

...while Papa showed Zoey.

These are my hilarious and slightly crazy parents standing inside the cage that divers use to track sharks. My guess is that if that shark actually did get a morsel of my parents, he would say "Hmmm...tastes...slightly nutty."

Dawson and I inside the shark cage...
Dawson reaching for a more responsible adult that won't scare him by taking him inside the shark cage...

This exhibit features all kinds of tropical animals, including butterflies. We spent quite a while in the sanctuary. Dawson loved looking for the butterflies and saying "Oooh!" when he spotted one.
"I promise I won't try to eat it. I just want to touch it."
Looking at the fishies with Daddy...
My son is fearless! I love it! He touched the stingray...it was really neat. The stingray felt kind of velvety and slimy, all at the same time.

We had a great time at the aquarium...hopefully, the fish have recovered.

Field of Dreams

(Disclaimer: Some pics in this post are sideways. I don't know why, and I can't figure out how to fix them. So humor me. Or e-mail me and tell me how to fix them.)

To most of you, this looks like your average football field.

To my dad, this field represents countless hours of hard work, dedication, late nights coaching, and, most recently, yet another undefeated season for his team at Hunter Middle. Oh, and? No opposing team even put a point on the board. Just thought I'd add that, too. So, all of these reasons and more make it even more appropriate that the name of this new field is in honor of my dad: Eaves Field.

On Thursday, we surprised my dad at the sports awards program at his school. He had no idea that the field was being named for him, or that we would be in attendance. This is Coach Richardson, Dad's assitant coach and former student, announcing the big surprise. My dad was shocked. He was even more shocked when our entire family rounded the corner.

After several standing ovations, a speech by Dad's hiring principal, the county commissioner and a school board member, my dad thanked everyone, including his family. I had already been crying since we walked into the gym, but this sent me into the ugly cry.

The audience included the student atheletes at Hunter and their families...

...all of which came to my dad at the conclusion to hug him and congratulate him.

We attended a reception in the libary following the program...how perfect is this cake?!

This is my dad and Mr. Sterchi, his hiring pricipal. Hunter Middle opened in 1995, which was my 8th grade year. So, my dad was my art teacher! (I got an A, woo-hoo!)

This is my dad and his two assitant coaches, Coach Nau and Coach Richardson (what up, Crystal!). They're responsible for arranging the covert op that enabled our family to crash the program. My dad also loves working with them.

Coach Eaves and his family (we miss you, J!)...

They say behind every great man is a great woman...

Me, Dawson and my dad. Let me just tell you, it was a wee bit surreal to be holding my kid in the hallway I used to walk every day when I was 14.

My dad in front of his art room...he's been an art teacher for more than 28 years. That's A LOT of finger painting. (So kidding!)

Ah, yes. My humble baby brother. This is the plaque for Outstanding Leadership Award...both of our names are on it. Brandon will be quick to point out his is on there twice. (Duh. Seeing as how I was only there for one year.)

Afterwards, we ate lunch together at Cracker Barrel...

...where my dad's day was topped of by a phone call from Afghanistan.

Jason was on the other end to congratulate him.

There are days that you keep locked in your memory...ones that are epochs in your life. This day will always be one for me.

Next time you're in Ooltewah, swing by HMS to check out Eaves Field!

Hi, Jason!

Oh, people, I am so excited because my brother called my SIL from Afghanistan today!!! He is doing good, and asked that I post some pictures of the Zomeister on my blog so he can see them. His e-mail is really, really slow, so it works better for him to look at the blog. If you want to leave him a comment on this post, that would be great!

Jason - I love you and miss you! I'm glad you're ok and I'm glad you're in a hard building inside the wire. Don't go on too many helicopter rides. Krystal got her hair cut like Miranda on General Hospital and it looks fabulous...you will love it. Zoey tried to take Dawson's bottle away from him yesterday...hilarious!! It's been rainy here but not too cold. Lots of people ask me about you and are praying for you and are grateful for what you're doing. Jeff and Leatha sent you an e-mail...I forwarded it to you and I hope you got it. Please be careful!!!!! Here are some pictures for you...love you, Ross...