Accident-Prone?

I guess since Anne Parks has gotten her looks from Jason, she's gotten her grace and coordination from me. You all read about our bathtub/tooth incident. Two weeks ago, her teacher sent home an accident report from school saying she'd busted her lip on the playground and that she'd been given an icee-pop and love as treatment. Well, a few days ago just as my classes were about to be over for the day, I got a call from Anne Parks school saying she'd fallen and they thought she might need stitches.




When I got there to pick her up, she was back on the playground sitting next to her teaher. They said that she'd been sad sitting in the office, so they decided to send her back out.
She was in a wonderful mood. I think she liked all of the attention the teachers had been giving her. As we walked through the halls on our way out, she shouted "Bye!" to everyone we saw. She definitely thought she was special.

The doctor checked her out and, thankfully, she didn't need stitches. She got some neosporin and love instead.

Fun with Garage Sale Finds

At school where I teach, Jackson Academy, the junior class has a fund-raising garage sale every year. My mom, Anne Parks, and I went and spent a dollar on each of the items you see pictured here (the leotard and the house - yes, the house was only a dollar!). We've certainly gotten our dollar's worth of fun out of them!
Miss Priss
helping out with the plants




Jason and Libby have fun in the house, too!

Anne Parks is My Homegirl

Anne Parks has a pair of blue jeans that she's not quite big enough for, but she saw them the other day and loved sticking her hands in the pockets. Later, she brought them to Jason and wanted him to help her put them on. She was hilarious! As you can tell from the pictures, she thought she was super-cool.

You talkin' to me?

Here's our sweet little gangsta saying the blessing.

Our Dog Libby

Our poor dog Libby often gets overlooked, so I thought I'd include her on the blog. She's such a good dog and gets little credit for it. She can stay in the house alone for long periods of time without making a mess or having any accidents, which is wonderful. The best thing about her, though, is not her bladdder control, it's that she puts up with an energetic toddler without complaint. Anne Parks LOVES her dog Libby. She hugs her, bounces on her, and has even tried to dress her with a headband or socks. Libby just sits there happy to play along. Good girl!

She's Leaving Home

Most parents realize that, one day, their baby will grow up and leave home. I just didn't know it would happen so soon. Anne Parks has become "Miss Independent". I grabbed the camera the other day when she had two "purses" on her shoulders (one was actually a trick-or treat pumpkin). As I was shooting, she waved to me and said, "bye". Then...she just walked out the door! Libby (who Jason had let out earlier) came in and Anne Parks left! I'm not sure how far she would have gone, but I stopped her at the porch. The front door has been locked ever since. Jason and I are going to have to keep an eye on this one!

Through the Eyes of a Child...

I have been totally stressed out lately. With housework and workwork and Christmas shopping and grocery shopping and everything else that goes with being a mom/grown-up, I've felt over-loaded. But, I was outside with Anne Parks yesterday, and she was doing her favorite thing - sitting on the front steps. She was pretty proud of herself because she was wearing her new Christmas outfit. The lastest phrase that she's been saying is "Oh, preeeety!" Well, she was sitting there and the wind picked up. Leaves started falling and blowing around everywhere. She was so excited and shouted, "Oh, preeeety!" What a wonderful reminder to me to take a deep breath and enjoy the changing of the season - even if it's a little late for "fall". Isn't it amazing what God can show us throught the eyes of a child?

A New Camera

We've finally gotten a new camera, (Thank you Papa and Grandma!) and we're back to documenting Anne Park's every move. She's growing so fast! You'll notice that her hair has gotten considerably longer since our last pictures. She's also talking non-stop and repeating everything we say. She's developed quite a personality and is at the stage where she wants to do everything on her own.
Here, she's posing for the camera and modeling some toddler fall fashion complete with leg warmers, scarf, and purple paci.


In this one, Anne Parks shows off her mouthful of teeth. You also my notice my new hair color. I got brave over the Thanksgiving holidays and went for it! Now, I look more like Anne Parks mother.

I Couldn't Help Myself...

I had to copy my sister's blog. Some of you who visit both of our's regularly will notice the similarity. But I'm a proud sister and was worried that some of you wouldn't see.

Emily writes, "A few posts ago, you were warned about my tendency to talk about my brother a little too much. Well, basketball season has started and here I go. I am so proud of him and I guess you can say that I like to brag on him just a little...which makes me think of a quote by Dizzy Dean, "It ain't braggin' if you can do it."
Well, Andrew has started off the basketball season really well. They have played two games and he has scored a total of 52 points....yep, in TWO games. Andrew scored 25 points in their 76-49 victory over CM&I and scored 27 points in the opener against Simpson, which they also won 84-39. Andrew was also named the week's TOP PERFORMER by the Clarion Ledger! I can't wait to get to Madison so I can watch him play. GO PATRIOTS!!!"

In addition to being a great athlete, he's also super involved at school. He was recently interviewed for a newpaper article on their new chapel program. Click here to see what he had to say!

A Weekend with Johnny and Jessi

"Well they're bound to get you,

'Cause they got a curfew,

And you go to the Starkville city jail."

-Johnny Cash

Anne Parks, Jason, and I had a great time attending the Johnny Cash Flower Pickin' Festival in Starkville a few weekends ago. I'd emailed my friend Jessi to let her know about the goings-on in our home town, and I guess she just wasn't going to miss the opportunity to be a part of such a historical occasion as the pardoning of Johnny Cash. She booked a plane the next day and was in Mississippi before we knew it. It was a wonderful surprise to spend a weekend with my friend. She took some great photos that you can see by clicking here.


The day was filled with some great bluegrass and country music. That afternoon, the mayor and the sherriff presented Johnny Cash's posthumous pardon to his sister and daughter. After the pardoning, Marty Stewart and the Fabulous Superlatives took the stage. They put on a great show. I recommend seeing them if you get the chance.

Anne Parks read the brochure to let us know who was playing next.

Anne Parks and I enjoyed the music and the sunshine.

You can't have a party in Starkville without Bully!

It got pretty cold when the sun went down. Good thing we bought this cute hat at Mommasissy's store, MINT, earlier in the day.

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Here's little history lesson for those of you who aren't familar with Johnny Cash's Starkville connection... Johnny Cash was arrested for public drunkenness (though he described it as being picked up for picking flowers) in Starkville and held overnight at the city jail on May 11, 1965, which was the inspiration for his song "Starkville City Jail". The song appears on the album At San Quentin. Local oral tradition has it that he finished a gig at what is now the 'Dark Horse Tavern' and then walked a block west to the northwest corner of Lee Boulevard (now MLK) and Montgomery Street, where he helped himself to the flower bed at the front of the house.
An interesting tidbit for MSU KD's - Mom Palmer's husband was mayor when Cash was arrested. I saw her at the festival and she said she remembered the sheriff calling him at 2 am with the news that he'd arrested Johnny Cash.

I'm Still Here

Some of you may be thinking that the McQueen's have fallen off the face of the Earth. We haven't, though it seemed we might for a while there! October was not our best month. On top of Jason's studying, then taking the P.E. in Florida...
We've been sick. - Each member of our family had the stomach bug, Anne Parks had two ear infections, and I stayed home from school with a sore throat and severe larangitis.
We've had car trouble. - I was rear-ended and drove a rental for a week while my car was repaired, but they didn't complete the job so I had to take it back for another two days. When I got it back, it broke down and I had to be towed.
Our camera died! Our duct-taped, five year-old camera finally gave out, so I haven't been able to take pictures.

November has looked a lot more promising! Mississippi State's been victorious, Jason's free from studying, and we're looking forward to Thanksgiving. Please continue to check back with the blog. Soon, we'll have a new camera and I'll be back to posting regularly again.