For Abby and Lilli...

I did not realize.

Abby and Lilli check the blog regularly for updates.  Sadly, since joining facebook, I have not posted to the blog - and that was in February, 2012.

Well, that needs to change as I have an audience of 2... and that is enough reason to sit behind a key board on occasion and type a few lines about recent Judge Family outings.

That also means breaking out the "big" camera again.  Laziness has set in - it is simply way too convenient to pull out the smart phone and snap away.

So... a quick update:

As I type, Holly is probably stretching in her bed... in Xiamen China, where she is doing her second summer studying abroad.  Last summer, she took classes in New Zealand, and did this:

Joey, now a senior at University of Alabama, has been selected for a co-op position with a company that supplies axels for Mercedes Benz.  Joe and I are very proud of the man that Joey has become.  He completed a year with Best Buy last month, took a trip to Disney with his best friend from Australia, and worked hard in school to maintain his Honors standing and Dean's List.  

Daniel - who will be a senior in high school in about 2 weeks - still loves all sports!  He lettered in Varsity Tennis this year, played basketball, won both a state and national journalism award, and fished whenever possible.

Abby and Lilli are now 8 and 9 - 2nd and 3rd grade.  They are the most active of the bunch - playing basketball, golf,  and soccer.  Abby now plays with a travel basketball team - so that keeps us all busy!
They are both great students!  Abby still loves Star Wars and has now added Indiana Jones and Minecraft to her favorites list.  Lilli remains the girly girl and has started watching one of Holly's favorite shows from our Australian years - H2O: Just Add Water.  Not bad footsteps to follow in!

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Well, that is about a year and a half in a nutshell.  ; )  Enjoy Abby and Lilli...  I promise I will post a few times each month just for you guys!  If I forget... you can remind me!  ; )

Hey Mister... I'm Throwing You Something....

Yep...  that is correct!  We spent the Mardi Gras Holiday in the New Orleans area and instead of watching the parades and begging to be thrown at.... this year we did the throwing!

Abby and Lilli had a ball!  I think they never ever want to go back to the "other side"!

Our Float

Surrounded by her "throws"

I love beads... always have... but now realize those on the parade route waving their hands... they don't want beads anymore... they want "stuff"

Practice throwing before we "rolled"

Blurry... but I could not resist!

Perfect theme for Ms. Abby!  

And we are rolling!  

Look at that crowd!  

3 hours later.... pooped!  and all out of everything!  

Thank you so much Nanny for making this possible!  It was a great day and a great experience that Abby and Lilli will remember for a lifetime!

Yada, Yada, Yada

Last weekend, Joe and I went down to southern Alabama to work on our house that we are preparing to put on the market.  Holly had come home for the weekend to watch over the homestead and the siblings... so Joe and I were actually making a "weekend" out of the trip.

We arrived Saturday evening - went and checked on the house before checking into the hotel.  It was Saturday - about 9pm by the time we were ready to "paint" the town... or basically just get a bite to eat and go to bed.  ; )

We drove around Enterprise for a while... knowing that it was bad when the number one restaurant listed on Urban Spo@n for the area was an ice cream parlor.  Yikes!  Anyway, we had decided - based on the time - that we would go somewhere, sit at the bar and have a drink and some snacks.

We passed one place that looked pretty nice on the outside... lots of cars... well lit... and when I go@gled it, it had half decent reviews.  So... in we went.  Now, I HATE walking into a place that I have never been.  Just not comfortable with that.  You would think I would be fine, as many times as I have moved and with my age experience.  But nope... I detest walking into a place - especially when everyone turns to look at who is walking in.  Needless to say, everyone that turned to look at Joe and I as we strolled into this establishment had a median age of about 21.2 years and they all appeared to have been there since happy hour.  The smoke was such that I quickly wondered why the firemen were not knocking us down as we were walking in - wow.... I forgot all about this "scene".

We did saunter up to the nearest chair at the bar; however, after what was the longest 18 seconds of my life, I told Joe that I just could not do it.  It hurt my ears... my lungs were shriveling so quickly,  I could feel them begging for clean air.  Now... walking in was painful... walking out a few seconds later was easy!  Joe and I laughed all the way to the car.  It was the first time that my age truly smacked me in the face.... and in a good way.

We opted for pizza and turning in early.

I write all of that as a lead in to last night.

Joe and I had purchased tickets months ago for Jerry S@infeld.  We bought them the morning they went on sale... I am picky and like to sit on the isle.  Anyway, I am glad we bought them early as the show sold out pretty quickly.

So for the second weekend in a row, we had a big date night planned.  ; )

We had a great dinner - we even caught the early bird specials at a really nice Italian place up the road.  Then we headed to the Theater for the show.... This time we fit right in... the average age of the folks in the audience was more our speed... about mid 50's!  And how thankful am I for smoke-free venues???VERY!!!  How life changes in a few short years....@ 20 to be exact!

Tom P@pa opened for Seinfeld and did a great job warming up the crowd.  His entire segment was on marriage and children... which obviously hit home with his audience.  He was so funny.

Then came Jerry.  Ninety minutes of hilarity followed.  And what is so great about him - and Tom as well - is that the show was pretty much G rated and still side-splitting-ly funny!

Bottom line - It was a great evening!  (and I am getting old!  Jerry turns 58 soon ....)

Dream Team

Even though it is Saturday morning, the girls were up and dressed early this morning as they had a basketball game.  Mom wasn't so "up and at 'em" - I sent them off with dad and a big hug and good wishes for a great game.

About an hour later I heard them giggling at the back door.  I opened it and could tell by their smiles that we had "won" the game.  The Dream Team is a tiny team and it is not often that we have a victory to celebrate after our games... we often suffer defeat.

Seeing the girls smiles, I offered my girls a hearty congratulations before they had spoke a word.  "No mom, we lost - 24 to 4", Abby quickly replied, the grin never leaving her face.  To which I replied, "Why so happy"?  Both of the girls in unison excitedly answered me, "Jewel made a basket"!

Jewel has not made a basket all season.  She is our tallest player, but hard as she tried, the basket had remained elusive.  Joe has been working very hard with her at practice and during warm up time before each game reminding her to bend her knees and keep positive.

Today all the hard work on Jewel's part paid off and she added 2 points to the Dream Team final score!
I am told that the crowd went crazy!

The Dream Team might be small and might not win too many games... but they understand what is truly important when playing sports - the meaning of the word Team!

If Only...

In Abby's eyes, we are superheroes.  If only...

Number 14 - Roll Tide!!!

I thought I understood the mentality of fans - I did grow up in the land of "Gueaux Tigers" and "Who Dat".  But... I seriously did not "get it" until I moved to Alabama.  "Roll Tide" (and "War Eagle" to be completely honest) are spoken as often as "Hello" in this great state.

Joey was recently stocking the shelves at our local grocery when he looked up and greeted a customer (decked out in crimson and white) with a hearty "Roll Tide" - at which time the customer made a point to report his "good service" to management and he earned a free sandwich!  ; )

Bottom Line... Roll Tide Roll... or for the next 364 days, Rule Tide Rule!

Sad Day...

Two of my "Babies" will be on the road, returning to college today.  Sad sad sad for me....  excitement for them!  How many days until next Christmas Break???  ; ]

Awwwww ; )

I wonder...

.... What the New Year will bring our way?

"It is more blessed to give than to receive."

I absolutely loved this Christmas!  Surrounded by family... the moments are even more cherished once they start going their own ways.

What made me most thankful and full of joy....

Usually, I will talk to the kids about what they want to "get" for each other and then I go from there ~ wrap and place all the gifts under the tree.  This year... everyone insisted on doing their own gifting for everyone.  Even the littles personally picked out each gift, wrapped them with care, and placed them under the tree after skillfully studying available locations. It was such a joy to watch how excited they each were to share with each other!  "Getting" is always fun... but it is truly a blessing to "give"!

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

I've Been a Mother for 20 Years

20 years ago in a small hospital in the middle of Bangkok, Thailand, Joey was born at 7:59 am.  I became a mother for the first time.  Motherhood started as a great adventure and has remained so for the past 20 years!

Joey (and Holly) are home for the holidays and the house is overflowing once again. The house is decorated and full of life - music and fussing over the television... short order cook service expected in the kitchen... tons of dirty dishes and extra laundry....

I love this time of year for so many reasons...  but birthdays make it extra special at the Judge Home!

Happy Birthday Joey!  

Joey's 1st Birthday in front of the Christmas Tree.  

Joey's 20th Birthday in front of the Christmas Tree... he cooperated better when he was 1!!! ; )

E - I - G - H - T

Someone has been counting down the days forever!

It is easy to see that we are still going strong on the whole St@r Wars thing....  ; )  Abby had a great day...
Student of the day at school.  Chick Fil@ for lunch with a special cupcake surprise, her choice for dinner - Cr@cker Barrel, and then a great party at home.  Joey and Holly are in the middle of finals week so they were not here; however, they both Tweeted about Abby's birthday and that was pretty thrilling for Miss Abby!

Now I wonder if she will start tomorrow... only 364 days until she is nine????  hahahaha!

Never Doubt the Lillster!

She said she could... a few of us doubted her...

I am glad that I didn't "bet" against her!  ; )  I would have an "after" photo of a neat little pile of very clean bones... but my camera battery went kaput!

Mom.... Run!

That is how Abby woke me up this morning.  I was rushed out of bed and down the stairs much like a (sleepy) lamb herded by a very talented sheepdog.

Giggling, Abby excitedly stopped in front of the refrigerator telling me i was not going to believe what I would see.

I opened the fridge to find this:

The girls had asked our trusty elf, Elvis, to show us a little magic last night.  Well, he did!  We woke up to green milk!  What an interesting cup of coffee I had this morning with frothed green milk!  : )

The girls loved the green themed breakfast!  They were also glad that Elvis choose to bring a scarf back from the North Pole to wear while he was in the fridge!  That led to an interesting conversation over breakfast about elves' closets.  What is in the closets?  Lots and lots of little red elf uniforms or do they have jeans and sweaters... maybe a Hawaiian shirt for the summer?  Hmmmmm... I guess we will always wonder about this!  ; )

It "Clicked"!

I have 5 children.  Of the 5, 3 "learned" how to read.  It was evident on a daily basis that their reading skills were improving and they gradually "learned" to read.  2 did not learn how to read, it simply "clicked" all of the sudden.  They went to sleep one night struggling with putting all the rules and phonics together and simply woke up reading.  Seriously, all I can say for the 2 is something "clicked" while they slept.

Lilli was one of my two that simply "clicked".  I will admit I was a bit scared watching Daniel struggle many years ago.  It had all come so easy and "on schedule" for Joey and Holly.  But with that experience, watching Lilli over the last few years did not cause me concern.  I knew what would happen one morning.  I trusted and reassured her that it would happen.  And as with Daniel, when it "clicked", there was no looking back!

Lilli can read anything now!  And her comprehension skills are amazing!  It was worth the wait!  

Her current favorite:

I Forget Sometimes...

Borrowed from a friend's blog...

A Few Statistics from Searching the Internet:

Absolute Poverty: More than 1 billion people live in absolute poverty. This includes 700 million people living in slums, 500 million people on the verge of starvation, 93 million beggars, and 200 million children exploited for labor.

Minimal Wages: Half the world’s population—3 billion people—live on less than 2 dollars a day. About 1.2 billion people live on less than a dollar a day.

Hungry: More than 800 million people go to bed hungry every day.

Orphans: 500 million of the world’s children are orphans.

Sick: 1.5 billion of the world’s people have no access to medical care.


Homeless: 55 million of the world’s people live in caves.

No Food: 1.5 billion of the world’s people do not have enough money to buy food.


Uneducated: 121 million children around the world are totally outside of the educational system.
 Only 6.7 percent of the population has a college degree.

Oppressed: Oppressive governments deny religious freedom to 2.2 billion people worldwide.


Enslaved: More than 27 million of the world’s people are slaves.


Shackled Minds: 3 billion of the world’s people are denied the freedom to teach ideas.


No Gatherings: 3 billion of the world’s people are denied the freedom to assemble.


Disabled: Around the world, 88.3 million people are at least partially blind, 538 million people are at least partially deaf, 11.6 million are dumb (deaf mutes), and 150 million people are severely mentally disadvantaged.

Dying: Globally each year, 2.5 million die of AIDS, 1.5 million people die in manmade disasters, 1 million people die in war, 975,000 people are murdered, 500,000 people commit suicide, 25,000 people die of pollution, 21,000 people die in earthquakes, and 12,000 die in floods.


Imprisoned: Around the world, there are 4.5 million political prisoners, 1.2 million prisoners due to religious faith, and 1 million prisoners of conscience.

Urban Slums: In the past century, the number of urban slum dwellers has increased from 20 million to 700 million.


   AIDS: Almost 3 million people died of AIDS in 2006.

I Always Did Like the Number 14...

My children are very happy this morning as the official announcement was made at 7:15 last night:

                                    January 9, 2012 - Roll Tide!  Championship Number 14 !!!

I Am Thankful

... for so many things!

I am especially thankful for my family... that includes the little artists that were responsible for the above artwork!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Holly Polly Just Makes Me Smile

Holly has decorated... and has proven that you are never to old for a little construction paper and glue!

Her Inst@gram pics: