It's been awhile....

It has been a crazy summer to say the very least! From Allstar baseball to three weeks at the beach to spending 2 weeks in Camden. We have had some amazing times and some very sad times. Abby, our black lab passed away, which absolutely broke all of our hearts, but almost killed Chris. We adopted a new puppy into the home, she is a golden retriever named Jersey. She is about 7 months now (the vet guesses) active as you would imagine a puppy would be, but yet just like a little southern belle.

As soon as baseball ended we headed to the beach, which was amazingly relaxing, but oh how I missed Chris during the week...we looked so forward to the weekends when he would drive down to the beach. Hannah and Brunson had friends down the entire time and had so much fun!

We celebrated Brunson's 9th birthday in Camden, it is simply amazing to watch my baby grow so fast! So hard to understand how time goes by so quickly. Chris and I are so very proud of the little man he has become. He loves and believes in God with all his heart. So sensitive of sins and bad behaviors yet such a boy's boy with baseball, hunting and all around boy behavior!

We love being in Camden with our extended family and we try to work these visits in as much as we can between ball schedules! The kids love fishing and swimming at Mamaw's and they sure had a lot of time to do both. Got to spend quality time with Mamaw, Uncle Greg, Patrick, Hank and Sam! We spent time prepareing our hunting spots, cause deer season is just around the corner! We can't wait!!!

And finally today is the start of 6th grade for Hannah (her first year in middle school) and Brunson starting the 4th grade!!! I'm actually looking forward to schedules and fun family nights at home! I'm sure things will remain just as crazy and out of sorts with travel baseball for Brunson, art programs for Hannah, tailgating and hunting for us all, but I guess these are the things our little family of four enjoy! I just need at least a week to get my home back in order - you see Chris has been a bachelor during the last 6 weeks (coming to see us on weekends - with dirty laundry in hand) and my house is a stinky boy mess!!!

MDYB Allstars win Sub District

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Time To Play Ball!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

We had a wonderful Christmas weekend in Camden with Mamaw and family! The children enjoyed all their new goodies from Santa and Chris and I sure enjoyed watching all the smiles, giggles and squeals!

Carolina Gamecocks!

A 3-PEAT!
The Stone family enjoyed another season of Gamecock tailgating! To end the season with a win against Clemson, for the 3rd year in a row, was a happy finale! As always we enjoyed friends, family, food, and the great Gamecocks all season long.

VIEWER BEWARE!!!

If You Are Not From The South You May Not Understand!
Hannah Got Her First Deer!



An afternoon hunt on Thanksgiving will never be forgotten in the Stone family! Hannah and I were in the stand for about an hour when two nice does came into the field! After getting her nerves and shakes under control...Hannah decided on the biggest doe about 75-80 yards out. She takes the shot...and misses! The two deer run into the woods...one makes the error of stopping and looked back. I reload Hannah's gun (with her very sternly whispering..."give me the freaking gun"), she takes a deep breath, aims and cuts the doe for a flip!!! Let the giggling begin! She and I are hugging and squealing like silly girls! I don't know who is more excited her or her very proud Mommy!!! Then the tears started flowing...she was crying and my heart sank. What I think are remorse tears she explains "are you crazy these are happy tears" and the giggles start again!
Since Daddy was hunting a long way away, we called him to come and help us. And I have to share, Chris was running so fast in his excitement he fell, :) ! We all walk to the wood line and there is no deer, no blood, nothing. My heart sinks, we know we saw the deer fall - where is she...in our giggling fit we did not see her get back up? Trying to track a deer that didn't leave us a trail was beginning to try on our patience. We were hunting close to Uncle Benny and Auntie Anne's home and thankfully their lab, Bella, was curious of all the commotion. As soon as she made it to us, Bubba tells Bella to find the deer...in less than two minutes, Bella ran straight to Hannah's doe about 70 yards in the woods! Let the celebrations start!!! Hannah was such a brave hunter, she let Daddy "bloody" her face. A tradition of smearing blood on the face. Of course, as soon as a few pictures were taken, Auntie Anne was helping her clean her face. Chris and I are so proud for her...heck I was 18 when I shot my first deer and Chris was 15 and now Hannah at age of 11, wow! Next in line is for Brunson, he is 8, and we can't wait!

Brunson "Allstar" Stone

Congratulations to Brunson for making the allstar team this year!!! He wanted and worked hard all season hoping to make the team! We had the first practice of many yesterday and Brunson was super worn out! Big difference already in regular season to allstar, but he is so excited and tough!! We are so proud of our little man!!!

The Last Game Of 2011 Spring Season!

Lookie What We Did!!!

We Love Spring!


From Homemade Jelly to planting our little garden, we worked hard today! There is no jelly like Grandma's jelly and every year I try and try to make her strawberry jelly. I still haven't got it right yet, but I won't give up! I can't seem to figure out how to get the actual berries to disperse throughout the jar, my berries stay on the top...but it does taste oh SO good!!! And our garden, we are a little late getting ours planted due to our spring break beach trip! Last year was our first attempt at a garden and we planted all kinds of goodies...only to produce successful edible tomatoes. All the other veggies didn't quite grow or taste very good. This year we will probably keep it small, so far we have planted several tomatoes bushes and just a few cucumbers and zucchinis. I think we will refrain from planting the melons and berries this year, but may add a few more veggies and an herb or two!