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Call Bret at 931-540-0228 or 931-797-2232 for a private tour of this beautiful land

Mule Day signals the start of Spring for us. Much history is involved in this celebration of Columbia being a major stop along the Natchex Trace trade route for travelers to exchange their animals. People come from near and far to come to this event. It was a fun day - here are a few pics to give you a taste. Much fun was had by all! Come join us next year!

Here are a few pics from our yearly trip to Anderson Creek. This guy has 600 acres of land you can’t do much with - so he built an ‘offroad park’. He has mud pits, plenty trails, creeks, rock hills and other obstacles people can’t help but try to get thru. There are thousands of people that come here over this holiday weekend and it is pretty much a blast. Some camp for the entire 4 days here. Lots of specialized trucks and such just for this place - it’s neat just to watch everyone else. Good times were had by all!

While we were down to the coast over the holidays we couldn’t help but go fishing for the day! Dustin caught all the fish - I guess we were there just to help clean up! It was a nice quick trip and we plan to eat those fish soon!

Well, many of our readers have not met Dad’s new wife Anna yet so here is one of the many post-wedding pics. This one is from the Christmas holiday - they hosted us in their home and here they are in the kitchen preparing food again!

This next photo is an inside joke but I just had to post it. Hehe. Anna - THAT was funny!  Love ya!

Merry Christmas everyone!

“So let’s make this short story by saying the basic premise is that every mother have the unexplained desire to dress their little boys in attire that will years later cause them pain and suffering when their friends inadvertently view the pictures.  This universal truth is a mystery that scientist will probably never fully be able to explain.   
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The scene from the “Christmas Story” where Ralphie is forced to wear Aunt Kara’s bunny suit comes to mind but I digress. Usually I am out of the house before anyone else stirs.  I do this for two reasons; (1) get to work early and (2) avoid the drama that transpires as the rest of family gets ready for the day….those people are cranky in the morning.  However this morning I slept later and got to see some to the domestic drama unfold.  .
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The episode begins as my three year boy is protesting vehemently about something in the other room.   It seems my wife wants him to go put on something his grandmother has purchased for him at the thrift store.  This really doesn’t register till later because these types of altercations are not an uncommon occurrence in the morning.  Later I enter the room and Ben has on a Christmas sweater vest and his head hung low, shoulders slumped.   A small smile creases my face because, in my humble opinion, it is not a very flattering sweater vest.  My wife asks me with steel in her eye and a forced smile on her face, “Daddy, doesn’t Ben look handsome”?  I am unsure what to say as I feel for my son, having suffered the same indignities as a young man but at the same time fearing for my own safety.  After doing the math, I decide to take the low road and sell my second child out.  I stammer…yes dear, yes he does look handsome stifling a giggle at the same time.  My youngest son continues to stare at the floor in despair knowing now that his fate has been sealed.  He has no ally in the ruling body. 
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Not two seconds later my eight year old walks into the room, obvious to the Christmas sweater vest controversy, takes one look at his brother and begins pointing and laughing.  He eventually doubles over laughing.  Even my wife can no longer keep a straight face at this point.  The three year old fails to see the humor in situation, rips the sweater vest off and throws it on the floor trading short term pain for long-term gain (no photographic evidence). 

Actually I am proud of him for having the discernment to understand what was at stake.  My mother still has a picture of me in an “apple suit” which she proudly displays for all the world to see as I move through the later part of my third decade. 

While we were in Alabama for the wedding we decided to hit the water for a day of fun. Carmel, Me (Bret), Dustin, & Kristin. Niki and her hubby Aaron (Boyett)… and Carll, Ginger, Aaron (Craddock) and Amber .. and Granmama (Margaret) (Did I spell that right?) all went out for the day. Carl and Ginger brought their new boat (very nice!) and we had the pontoon Dad and I bought the previous year. Ahhhh

I can’t take ‘em anywhere any more!. Kids leave the nest and before you know it… well… there goes the neighborhood.

So as the story goes, several years ago I was trying to talk Dad into getting a computer and he asked me why he needed one. Trying to find some examples I told him he could store all his addresses on it. He reaches into his back pocket and pulled out a little book and told me he had them all right here and asked me if I wanted to race. Forget it Dad.

Fast forward and we finally got him on the internet and hooked up with email so he could stay in contact with his Coast Guard buddies. It was a good thing as the next few years were tough at times and this outlet was a blessing. After a long battle Joan went to be with the Lord and Dad was a widower. It’s hard for me to imagine the feeling.  After a year of healing Dad decided he didn’t want to be alone and, well, I can’t blame him. Well one thing led to another and like I say “He learned what to do with his computer!”

He doesn’t like the terminology but I like to say ‘he found this girl on the internet and married her’.. hehe.. They met on one of the ’social networks’ they like to say. I say eHarmony rocks! Rock on Dad.

Truth is we love Anna and am so glad for them both. SO… what self respecting son (and HIS son) could pass up one final opportunity to pull a little prank! Dad came to his own wedding dressed improperly. Note Dustins knee brace - a left over from his serious knee in jury from months back..

The wedding picture is right after the preacher declared them married and introduced them to us all. Then we all went for a fun boat ride around Dauphin Island and to the Lighthouse at the end of the ship channel. It was great fun for all. We ended the night at a local seafood place.

Much love and luck to Dad and Anna (Gramma Anna as the kids now call her) !