Alabama Football

Fall 2009

As anyone can tell I'm really up on this Blogging thing. I keep up with my brother's blog and a friends but I can't seem to get the hang of it. Every year or two I put something up and pray I remember my password to get back on.

Life has changed a lot for the Mitchell/Carr/Knighten family since my last blog. Jeff and I have both changed jobs, we have a driver, an almost driver and all 5 kids are in school. We still follow sports year round. Of course now it's football season, which I might say is my favorite!. Our family has been cheering for a different high school team for the past 2 years but that's okay at least we have high school football. And of course we have Alabama football.

Alabama football, my family of origin(my mom, dad, step dad, brothers, aunts etc..) don't understand my conversion to Alabama football. Not that I ever really understood why I was an Auburn fan. This is an important decision when you live in Alabama. My parents went to Samford, and Momma's parents were both Alabama fans. So why exactly was I supposed to be an Auburn fan? Because for years, everyone said redheads couldn't wear red? I looked better in navy? I don't know?

I spent a lot of time with my Aunt Lola when I was growing up. First at Athens's State College ( why wasn't I a hard core Athens's Bear fan?) Then in Tuscaloosa when Aunt Lola went there to work. I always got those neat thick notebooks from the Alabama bookstore to use in school and wanted to keep them so neat but felt that I had to deface them and put Auburn on them. I got to meet Bear Bryant, I wandered around the Tuscaloosa campus, eat in the cafeteria. Still during those times I was supposed to be a die hard Auburn fan. Odd. My brother's then attended Auburn, should my loyalty go to Auburn for them? I attended Troy State Dothan, an off shoot from main campus and as an adult. No die hard Trojan fan either. I was still a big Auburn fan but had no real drive for it a little light competition with friends but my heart wasn't really in it.

My family say I just converted because my now husband is a HUGE Alabama fan, is that why? Maybe, but I think it had been there all the time. I can remember being at Homecoming in Tuscaloosa around 1982. It was so exciting seeing all the Sororiety girls at the KD house get ready for the game and then get ready to go out later that night. Their date's looking so handsome in their preppy handbook styles, with the proud colors of crimson and white mixed in. I can remember the feeling of the energy, pride and excitement in the air. Now I can't tell you if Alabama won that day or not but I remember the electrical feeling of being a part, if only by slight association, and being on that campus.

When Jeff and I got together and he started talking about Alabama football that electricity, that pride that little taste I had as a 13 year old girl came back. Then we as a couple went to his friends (Alabama fans) home for one of the games. The anticipation and excitement was reborn . I was asked that night by a now friend if I was an Alabama or Auburn fan. That night I honestly answered I'm not sure, but by the next Alabama game I watched with my soon to be husband, I finally knew the answer, I was an Alabama fan, through and through.

So those who like to say I'm a turn coat, only rooting for Alabama since they are winning, well I still root for Auburn, when they aren't playing Alabama and I promise if Alabama does loose I will stick by them through and through. For I know now I am an ALABAMA FAN heart and soul.

I'm not good at the everyday!

Summer 2009

Yes, if you happen to follow this blog(I'm sorry) there is no everyday report. In fact there may not even be a monthly report! As you see it is nearly the middle of June now. Shelby, Zac and Kristin had winning seasons!!! Kristin is now on the all star team for 10/9 year olds and

Shelby would be on the all star team if the majority had agreed to play.

Shelby and Zac are going to my mother's on Friday to attend Space Camp and Art Camp!

Ballgame Report!

Spring 2009

Yesterday was our first real game day. Last night Shelby played in Wicksburg at 6, Zac in Slocomb at 6 and Kristin was supposed to play in Geneva at 7:30, but since the fields in Geneva are still under water she played in Slocomb also. Kristin's mom took her to her ballgame and Jeff stayed and watched after Zac's game. All three won their games. I am so proud!!! It was a hard night to watch ball though, it was freezing! I had so many layers I could hardly move!

Thank goodness for grandparents, Aeryn stayed with Nanny and Pawpaw walked Zac out to his game until Jeff could get there from JV spring training.

another cold night.

Tonight we had three more ballgames. Thankfully, Jim took Zac to his game, I have to make his next one!!! All three games were lost. Shelby's was the only one I really got to see, she was hit by a ball in the second inning and that was about all she wrote. She did bat again and did got a run.

This past weekend was Easter and we actually made it to church! We haven't made it in a while, due to sickness or being overwhelmed by our schedules and such. Unfortunately, we didn't get to stay the entire time. Shelby passed out after Sunday School. At first I thought it was an elaborate plan to get out of church, but no, she really did pass out. I don't really know what really happened. Her lips were really white and she could not stand and was really loud ( but that is normal!!). We believe it happened because she ate too much sugar that morning( blame the Easter Bunny!!!) and then got to hot. Her Sunday School room was hot. She told her teacher she wasn't feeling well, but since her teacher is her cousin she didn't think there was anything going on. Once we got her home, gave her some Gatorade and a sandwich she was fine.

I'm gonna try to post my pic of the kids on Easter Day. I wanted to get more pics, but since we had to rush home, Shelby and Kaylyn changed as soon as they walked in the door!!! When Zac, Kristin and Aeryn came in Shelby and Kaylyn were already in tshirts and sofees.

It's too cold to be Spring

I am freezing! I am sitting in my living room with a blanket over my legs. I refuse to mess with the thermostat since it's not running. I know it will be running non stop soon when it's hot later in the week. Crazy isn't it freezing now and hot on the weekends!



Tonight we have three ballgames. Zac and Kristins are in Slocomb, Shelby's is in Wicksburg. I'm taking Shelby. I do not have enough clothes to put on to keep warm tonight! I'm really feeling for the girls. Their uniforms are sleeveless shirts and shorts. Aeryn will have to be bundled up also and she does not like wearing extra clothes.

Surviving Family Day!

Saturday was Family Day in Slocomb. Family Day is the opening of softball, tball and baseball season. Three of our kids played Saturday. We were there from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Zac and Kristin played at 8:00 am, she won/he lost, Kristin played again at 11:30, they lost, Shelby played at 3:00/ they lost and Zac again at 4:00 he won!

I am nearly 40 years old and I have been a redhead all my life, but I cannot remember to put on sunscreen when I know I'm going to be outside all day. I am suffering. My chest and legs are fried! After two days they are sensitive to the touch and this added to the cold weather outside which requires more clothes to rub in contact with my sunburn! Ouch!!

On another note, JV spring training for football starts today. They have had afterschool workouts about two times a week since they went back to school after Christmas. Now is the when the want to be highschool football players begin their careers. Well 7th, 8th and 9th graders that is. Sixth graders cannot participate a state regulation. I am learning so much! Aeryn is just as excited about football practice as Jeff. We have the guys over after home Friday night ballgames. She is always asking when "her football boys" are coming over. When getting ready for Family Day, I found a can of silly string left over from football season. She is really keyed up and ready for football games. She can't wait for the Jamboree on May 22!

This weekend was also the 25 anniversery of the re opening of St. Bernard Preparatory School. I graduated there in 1987, the first new graduating class. I really wanted to be there but alas... Family Day. The past means so much, but it is the future for which we live! I do hope I can make the next get together. It's funny when I look at a the pictures the people I went to school with look a lot younger than those I don't know!

Springtime and contemplation

Okay, I decided to do this in August and haven't written anything since. I have really been thinking about this and about how much I want to put out there. I follow a couple of blogs and I really enjoy reading them. I'm still not sure just what I want to put out here but I'm doing this for me so I'm planning to figure it out!



Springtime is beautiful, the flowers, grass, new flowers. There is also baseball and softball. With five kiddos we have 3 playing. This past month has been a challenge with getting everyone to practice. Now it is game time. Tomorrow is opening day! The Mitchell/Carr/Knighten family have 5 games tomorrow. Two at 8:00( that is just cruel!), one at 11:30, one at 3:00 and the last one at 4:30. We are just waiting now to get the game schedules, they come out tomorrow. We are sure we will have 3 games at the same time in 3 different cities!



Spring training starts next week too. JV that is to add into the baseball/softball mix Slocomb will also have a Jamboree game on May 22!



Last week Aeryn turned 4. When they are that young it's almost like you can actually watch them grow and change. I thinks someone must have told her that when your 4 you are grown. Jeff and I would like the person who gave Aeryn the smart a** attitute for her birthday to please take it back!!! Unfortunately, I think Shelby has just been grooming her and she has learned well!!