Jay Baugh - Lip Sync Champion

To say Jay was excited about his last High School Band Camp would be an understatement.  As always, it started with a couple of days of Rookie Camp to help teach the incoming Freshmen how to march and play at the same time.  Then it went to 2 weeks of full time work....8am-6pm the first week....then 8a

m-830pm the 2nd week.  The last day of camp is always a private performance for the parents to show them the new program, and let me just say, I think this year's program may be my favorite.

Along with all the work they put in, they do get to have a little bit of fun.  Each day is a different theme, and the kids all dress up.  As you can see in the photo, Jay(ne) went all out on backwards day (where the boys dressed like girls...and vice versa).  They also had competitions each day.  I'm so proud to say that my son is the Gatorade Guzzle champion...AND the Lip Sync Champion!!  A student captured Jay's Lip Sync performance on video, and I felt obliged to include it here.  Enjoy!

Family Cruise 2015

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Family Cruise 2015 is in the history books!  We had so much fun!  it was the first time that we had ever all been on vacation together at the same time.  In total there were 29 people in our group.  We all boarded the Carnival Glory out of Miami, FL and we went to 4 different ports:  Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas; St Thomas in US Virgin Islands; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Grand Turk.  By far, the best 2 stops were Half Moon Cay and St Thomas.  In Half Moon Cay, the water was crystal clear.  We rented some tubes and mats, and Carnival had a big barbecue on the beach for everyone.  Cody got some good video with his go pro here.  In St Thomas, we took a 40 minute boat ride over to the island of St John (it is only accessible by boat) and, on the ride over, we saw lots of famous peoples' houses (Michael Jordan, Tim Duncan, Madonna, David Letterman). When we arrived to St John, we went into the US Virgin

Trunk Bay - St John

Island National Park to the beach at Trunk Bay.  It is listed as the 3rd 'most beautiful' beach in the entire world.  We went snorkeling here, and loved it!  We saw lots of fish and coral along the snorkeling trails there.  In San Juan, we just walked into town from the pier.  We stopped at CVS and got a few groceries, took some pictures at Senor Frogs, and got back on the boat.  San Juan is not one
of my favorite places...it is just nasty.  In Grand Turk, we docked right on the beach.  There is a new shopping area that had a Margaritaville with a HUGE swimming pool that we hung out in for a long time, and Cody and Riley snorkeled in the ocean again for a little while.

The ship we were on was pretty cool.  It had been refurbished in 2012, so it had all the new Carnival bells and whistles.  Like Guy's Burger Joint (we had a BUNCH of burgers!).  It also had a big waterslide that Riley rode 212 times!  It had a taco bar that me, Jay, and Cody ate pretty much everyday.  Riley and Cody won at sports trivia one night and got a trophy.  We watched some amazing musical shows, played bingo, and saw lifesize Hasbro boardgame shows.  Jay tried all sorts of new and 'amazing' foods that he had been wanting to try....octopus (he did not care for it), ratatouille, ox tongue, and frog legs!  We had a great waiter named Vane.  He was from Macedonia,
and he made all our dinners very enjoyable.  He cut up with the boys, and they all had a blast!


The best part of the trip for me was just being able to shut down my cell phone for a week, and spend time with the people that I love the most.  Hopefully we made lots of memories that will last a lifetime!

To see all of our Cruise 2015 pictures, click here

2014 JCCHS Band - 'Into the Light' performance

From the first day that we saw the 'parent performance' of this show, we were amazed.  To take 80 Freshman who had never marched before and teach them all of this in a 2 week band camp is just unbelievable to me!  Apparently we were not the only ones that enjoyed it.  This band went won grand champion at the competition in Milledgeville, GA.  And they also placed ahead of numerous nationally ranked bands at competitions at Habersham, at Jacksonville State University, and at UT-Chattanooga.  This is the band that has put JCCHS on a national stage. They have even been invited to go to London, England on New Years Day 2017!
Jay, you guys were so good.  Everyone talked about how powerful (loud) you were.  Your band just seemed to blow everybody else away.  Above all else, you seem happier than you ever have.  Your love of music is something that I believe will stay with you throughout the rest of your life.  You just let it shine through you!  I love you, and I am SO proud of you!

Riley's 1st Falcons game

Riley has been waiting 10 years to get to go to the GA Dome to watch the Falcons play.  Today he finally got that chance.  We got tickets to see the Falcons play the Arizona Cardinals.  Both teams were in 1st place, so it had the makings of a pretty good game, and it did not disappoint.  The Falcons pretty much dominated from beginning to end.  They ended up winning 29-18.  We got to see Matt Ryan, Julio Jones (who set a career high with 189 receiving yards), and Devin Hester (he is REALLY fast).  Roddy White was hurt and did not play, but we did see him on the sidelines.  For Arizona, we saw Patrick Peterson and the Honey Badger.  Riley really wanted to see Larry Fitzgerald, but he was also injured and did not play. 
We had a pretty good time.  We got there a little early, so we threw a football for a little while in the parking lot.  Then we came in and walked around the dome.  We ended up at an ice cream stand.  I got a brownie ala mode, and Riley got a cherry Italian ice.  VERY Very good!  It was a very good day...cannot wait to do it again!

To see our Falcons game pics, click here

Fernbank Museum of Natural History

I had always thought that Cody would enjoy going down to the Fernbank Museum in Atlanta.  I had went there on a school field trip when i was younger, and just knowing how much Cody likes that type of stuff, I knew that we would have a good time.  So, today when we were looking for something to do, I thought of Fernbank.  Off me and Cody went on our adventure.  Of course we had to stop at The Varsity on the way down to have lunch.  Cody tried one of the best onion rings in the world, but he was not too impressed.  Once we got to Fernbank, we were met by the biggest dinosaur skeleton that we had ever seen.  It was MASSIVE!  Crazy big....3 stories tall, too.  The museum had many dinosaur exhibits.  They also had an exhibit about the different parts of GA and what animals were native to each part.  Cody liked the exhibit on fears....it tested what you were afraid of.  And he also liked the exhibit on your senses...it had a bunch of illusions...and if you know Cody, that is right up his alley.  We finished it off by watching an IMAX movie about the Galapagos Islands, and then we also got to see people perform a Chinese Lion Dance.  All in all, it was a pretty good day for me and Codybug!

To see all of our Fernbank pictures, click here

Nerd Day

I'm not sure that words are necessary to describe this photo.  Today was nerd day at Riley's school, and he went all out with the glasses, bow tie, striped collared shirt, and even had a couple of pens in his pocket!  Oh, and don't forget the hair....got to have the nerd hair!  He is so funny.  He is the life of the party...always!

Jay's 15th birthday

Get off the highway, Jay is driving!!!  Happy birthday Jay!  I cannot believe that you are 15 years old today.  To me, you will always be the sweet little boy that loved to fall asleep on my chest....but let's to try to re-enact that anytime soon, please.  Seriously, over the past 3 years you have started changing from a little boy into a young man.  I could not ask for a better 15 year old than you.  You have grown so much just over the first part of your Freshman year of high school.  I think that band has helped you mature so much, and I'm so thankful that you found your love of music.  I think that it will take you wherever you wish to go with it.

For your birthday, we went and ate Japanese (your favorite)with Aunt Sue.  Of course, they had to call Japan and get extra rice shipped in for you to eat!  Mom took you to get your learner's license.  Your driving is still a ...uh...work in progress.  But we are working on it.  I love you buddy!

Click here to see Jay's birthday dinner pictures

Zoo Atlanta

I finally convinced everyone to go to Zoo Atlanta today.  Apparently I'm the only one that enjoys going to the zoo...even though, I must say that by the end of the day, everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves.  When we first walked in, the first animal we saw was the elephant.  It just so happened that it was taking a great BIG poop at the time we walked up...and when an elephant takes a poop, he takes a BIG one.  Then he peed enough pee to fill up a bathtub.  Needless to say, you boys were fascinated.  Then we ran to watch the gorillas get fed...that may have been the neatest thing that we saw all day.  They were throwing apples to gorillas from the top of the building, and the gorillas were catching them just like they were human.  Mom got freaked out...1 gorilla dropped it's apple on the ground, then picked it up and wiped the dirt off of it before it ate it.  We saw all the animals....monkeys, rhinos, giraffes, lions tigers, bears, SNAKES, and pandas.  The snake building freaked me out.....MY ANACONDA
don't want none of that!  We had a fun day, but it will probably be our last trip to the zoo for awhile.  I won't be able to convince you guys to go back anytime soon!

To see all of our Zoo Atlanta pics, click here!

Mom's 40th birthday

Today is Mom's 40th birthday!!  You cannot tell by this picture, but she is really happy.  Mom would never say it, but this was an important birthday for her because her mom died when she was 40.  Me and mom celebrated her birthday by spending the night in Atlanta at the St Regis hotel.  We dressed up and walked to dinner at Seasons 52.  It was one of the best dinners that we ever had.  This hotel room was pretty swanky.  It even had a TV inside the mirror in the bathroom!!  When we got home, you boys had decorated the yard and the house with birthday signs....AND when mom got out of the car, you guys just bombarded her with silly string.  And, of course, there was the traditional ice cream cake with a clown on it!

I hope you boys realize how lucky that you are to have the mommy that you have.  I pray that one day you see the sacrifices that she makes to make sure that you boys have absolutely EVERYTHING that you need....no matter what it takes.  She truly is amazing!  Happy birthday, Jen.  We all love you and appreciate you.

Click here to see Jen's 40th birthday pics

Riley Luke Sleepwalker Baugh

Tonight, Riley wasn't feeling good...running a little fever...so Jen gave him some medicine before he went to bed.  Next thing we know, here he comes down the steps in his t-shirt and underwear.  I'm sitting in the recliner in the living room, and I asking what he is doing.  He responds, "I'm tired."  So, I figure that he is just going to get him a drink of water or something.  He proceeds to get in the cabinets and takes out a sharpie marker, a BBQ brush, a tervis straw, and spoon.  Then he writes our last name on the BBQ brush with the marker.  Then he just goes back to bed.  Needless to say, I have requested a dose of whatever Jen gave him that night!

UGA game - NIT Tourney

Tonight, me and Riley went to Athens to see the UGA basketball team play Vermont in the opening round of the NIT tournament.  But first, we stopped atvThe Varsity and ate dinner.  We had great seats...we sat on the 2nd row behind the Vermont bench.  Charles Mann scored a career high 29 points, and UGA won to advance to the 2nd round.  Riley sure di have fun at his first college basketball game!

Snow Mountain

We had been wanting to take the boys snow tubing for a while.  But we just had not had the opportunity.  Finally we got the chance, and we went down to Snow Mountain at Stone Mountain Park.  Every winter, they transform the park, and they have all the snow fixings.  Tubes, snow machines, etc.  We got to ride the tubes for an hour...they had single tubes and family tubes....we rode them all.  They went pretty fast, too.  Very fun family day!  We ALL enjoyed it!

Walker Stalker Con

For Jay's birthday this year, we decided to do something a little different than just having a party.  Jay is a HUGE fan of the tv show 'The Walking Dead', so when I heard the radio commercial about the Walker-Stalker Con coming to Atlanta, I knew that he would love it.  We took off this afternoon and headed to Atlanta.  We rode the Marta train to downtown and then got off and walked around.  The convention was held in the Peachtree Plaza (We rode the glass elevator to the top!), and it was crazy.  There were all kinds of people there...you could even order your very own customized fangs!  We saw many of the stars of the show, but the highlight was getting and autograph and a picture made with Scott Wilson, the actor that plays Hershel on the show.  Jay was soooo upset when the Governor killed Herschel in season 4!!

After the Walker-Stalker Con, we decided to walk around Atlanta for a little while.  We went to Centennial Olympic park (I had never been), and we really enjoyed it.  I did not realize it was so big.  Then, we went to the World of Coca-Cola....of course our favorite part was tasting the Cokes from all over the world.  We saw the new Skywheel, and we saw where the new cable car system is going to be...all pretty neat.

We closed our day off with a trip to Ted's Montana Grill....what a treat!  We had Bison Burgers....and we LOVED them!  Jay said that it was the best burger that he had ever had.....and THAT right there is saying something!  It was a GREAT daddy / Jay day!

Click here to see more pictures from our day.

Playoff Victory!

Cody, today your football team did something that no one would have ever thought possible when the season started.....you guys won a playoff game.  Your team has pretty much been together for 3 years now.  The 2 previous years, you guys went winless.  This year, you were 4-3 going into the last week of the regular season, and we had to go to Winder-Barrow to play them (also 4-3) for a shot at the playoffs.  Well, you guys went into Winder, and you just dominated them the entire game.  You earned your way into the playoffs and a first round match against the Towns County Indians.  You guys prepared very hard all week for this game, and you came in and dominated this game also.  We are so proud of the way that you boys have played this year.  You have absolutely played to your full potential each game and not left anything on the field.  Your team has a saying that you chant at the end of your practices and games...it says "clear eyes, full heart...can't lose".  You boys have made a bunch of people believe in you this year.  You have earned their respect.  They used to think that they could come to Jackson County and run over us and get a victory, but now when they come here, they know that they will have a fight on their hands!  Great job today!

Aunt Carolyn

Boys, today we had Aunt Carolyn's funeral.  She was mommy's Great Aunt....she was mommy's Grandmother's sister.  She had lived and worked in NYC for over 30 years, and when she retired in 2003, she moved down to GA to be close to her family.  A little over a month ago, she was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer, and she died earlier this week.  Every time that we would see her, she would always hug you boys and tell you that she loved you. 

This was the first funeral that you boys had ever attended.  Jay had asked mommy what went on at funerals, and mom said that there was usually a preacher and someone playing music.  Jay asked if he could play the piano at the funeral, and mom asked Grammy.  Everyone decided that it would be a great idea.  So, as the preacher was making his opening comments, Jay got up and went to the piano.  He played the song "Our God", and when he was done, everyone gave him a round of applause...right there during the funeral!!  Jay, I am certain that Aunt Carolyn would have loved to hear you play that song.  You really honored her today.

Aunt Carolyn never married or had any kids of her own.  She had requested to be buried in the same cemetery as her parents and her brothers in Spartanburg, SC.  So after the funeral, we all drove to SC for the burial.  It was really neat seeing the graves of your Great Great Grandparents, Chalmers and Evia Jones.  Your Great Great Uncles are also buried there.  The men had all served in the military, and it was neat to see their footstones.  The footstones showed their jobs that they were assigned, as well as the wars that they had served in.  They had served in WWI, WWII, The Korean War, and in Vietnam.  It was very awe-inspiring to see, and it is pretty neat to think that your relatives played a part on the history of the country like that.

Pool party at the Brown's

Tonight, Mr Eddie and Mrs Dee invited their Sunday School class over for a pool party!  They had pizza, cookie cake, and cupcakes.  We had a belly buster and back buster contest, and the boys played paddle ball and football in the pool.  They all had a great time.  All the boys love the Brown's.  Eddie and Dee pour so much into these boys. They truly treat them as if they are their own.  Boys, I'm very thankful that you have such wonderful people in your lives like Mr Eddie and Mrs Dee!

Jay's first piano recital

Today was Jay's first piano recital.  It was held at Jefferson Presbyterian Church.  You could look at Jay and tell that he was so excited to perform today.  He had worked hard for weeks practicing on his keyboard at home.  He picked the song "Our God" to perform. And it was the only Christian song in the program.  When it was his turn to play, he stepped up to the piano and hit every single note perfectly!  Mom was in tears because it was so good.  I just sat there thinking how in awe I was of how good Jay played.  I am so proud of you, Jay.  God has given you a gift of music, and I can just see you using that gift for Him one day.  We love you, and we are so proud of you.  You played awesome today!

Cody's 10th Birthday

Double Digits!  Happy 10th Birthday Cody!  Can't believe that my little mischievous boy turns 10 today!  We had your birthday party at Skate Country.  You had your friends Wesley Herndon, Derek Vaughn, Dane Zwimke, Wesley Rigdon, Sam Weaver, and Travis Hughson come to your party!  Ya'll really rocked it.  Mom and I are so very proud of the young man that you are turning into.  We love you so much!  Happy birthday, buddy!

Locks for Love!

Boys, you should be very, very proud of your mom today!  She did something that she had wanted to do for a long time.  She has been growing her hair out for over a year, so that she could have it cut and given away to 'Locks for Love'.  They are an organization that take donor hair and uses it to make wigs for Cancer patients.  That is a subject that is very close to your Mom's heart, and I pray that you boys get that servant's heart from her.  As much as I LOVED your mom's long hair...i loved even more the fact that she wanted to make a difference in someone else's life....someone that she will never even know.  That is one of the many reasons that I am in love with your mom!

Jay's first shave!

Well it almost took 13 years, but tonight Jay shaved for the very first time.  He was very hesitant, but he did great!  He has slowly but surely been getting some "peach fuzz" and he had a little 12 year old moustache....but we took care of it tonight! Shaving is one of my least favorite things to do...right up there with yardwork....but as a man, it is pretty much a neccessity.  I'm glad that I got to teach Jay this life lesson.  Love ya buddy!!  Hate to see you grow up so fast!