Bass in the Boro

Bucket List------Check!

2012-01-31T16:49:00.002-06:00

Oh the joys of motherhood, dirty diapers, runny nose and trips to the zoo with kids. But then they turn 19, and the joys become a plane ride, museums, deep dish pizza and Macy's.

I started myself a mental bucket list.....and several items include sharing some of my favorite things with David and the kids. Chicago is one of my favorite cities and Stephen is the last Bass family remember to experience it.

I was taking a chance booking $39 one way air-fares for January 4th. It could be snowing, raining, sleeting or just plain freezing. But it just so happen to be cold but not unbearable and a little bit of sun shine. The next week they got a lot of snow.One of the reasons I like Chicago so much is that you don't have to have a car at all. The public transportation system is enough to do plenty if you don't mind adding a little walking.

Stephen turned 19 and might have been a little old for the science museum but he was a good sport. One of the more interesting exhibits was part history and science. The exhibit was the submarine that the US captured in WWII.

Turning 19 usually does not have many milestones but sharing Stephen's birthday in Chicago was fun for me. Stephen has a lot of milestones in his life. One being that he is 6'5" tall. He is a sweet boy and has great compassion. It was a joy to check off one of my bucket list with him!

Camping or Puzzling???

2012-01-27T23:31:00.002-06:00

When I was a young Mom, I read where there were two activities that helped with family time: Camping or doing puzzles. Having four children under the age of 6, camping seemed like a nightmare. At some point, I begin buying a puzzle during Christmas time. Last year it was a round puzzle. This year was a glitter puzzle.

Now how does one get her children to put together a puzzle? Put most of it together. Then as the puzzles takes shape, they like to add and finish it. But the hard part (the beginning) is always done by Mom.

But the fun part is as the friends come in and out, they begin to work on the puzzles. Sometimes there is conversations and sometimes not. Then they come in and say "Hey, that puzzle is coming along". Or they come in and say " Mrs. Bass, you know that puzzle will not fit on your card table?" Yes, I had bought a puzzle online. I bought it for its glitter! A Chicago Glitter puzzle. I did not read the measurements. I even had ask David to buy me a card table as an early Christmas present for the puzzle.

But I keep working knowing somehow we would get it all together. And at the last minute, we added the ironing board to the table and "Wha..la" the entire puzzle was together.

Good tradition and Better than camping in my book.

Simply Having a Wonderful Winter Time...

2012-01-12T19:23:00.003-06:00

What happens when company comes, college boys come home and cold weather enters the Boro atmosphere.....a day to indoor ice skate....

First time on the Ice for Stephen...but by the end he was trying to ice skate backwards and trying a few jumps....

Jason wore his Christmas hat and was easy to spot with the other 1,000 people who thought ice skating would be fun on Jan 2nd.

Caroline took to the ice slowly but very well by the end of the day and she had to ice skate after a 2 hour basketball practice....

It begins at IHOP

2012-01-10T22:53:00.002-06:00

Christmas season comes and some things are always different and some of the same. Christmas Eve breakfast at IHOP has been a tradition for 5-7 years now. They were all in school together then they went to different high schools and now there are some in college. One thing is the same....there are 4 Bass kids and 4 Newman's plus some extras....

Another Last time....

2012-01-09T14:14:00.002-06:00

Senior year is here again. And we have ended another Cross Country Career. Katie Ann has ran for three years on the Varsity Cross Country team. All three years, she has been a member of the the team that has run in the Tennessee State Meet. Her first year she ran with her brother and the last year she shared it with Caroline. Cross Country is a great Sport and has a great bunch of kids running.

Of Course having a great coach who can train you to run your best potential helps. Coach Young is one who knows what he is doing and can help you achieve your goals.

The traditional Senior gift with Katie Ann's jersey , picture and PR (personal record ) engraved in a glass case. Now it is Caroline's turn!

Dress up

2012-01-09T14:05:00.002-06:00

Here we are in Murfreesboro Tennessee and our boys are living in Auburn. At a school with 22,000 students. They both end of dressing up on the same night for the same event. Makes a mom smile. And they look good even without Mom there to make sure.

2011-11-16T21:53:00.001-06:00

Yes, This is a championship trophy!

Yes, This is in Auburn Alabama

Yes, This is my boys and my Dad

And Yes, This was Sweet!

Running the Race

2011-10-31T23:51:00.001-05:00

Running is hard but winning is fun.

Running out of October

2011-10-31T23:49:00.000-05:00

We have spent most of the month of October watching people run 3.2 miles including our two girls. The end is near. And it has been a sweet run.

Vistahs....

2011-10-24T22:36:00.001-05:00

I wish it was my cooking that brought Jason and his Auburn friends to our house but it was Taylor Swift!

3rd time in a Row

2011-10-24T22:33:00.001-05:00

First day of Freshman and Senior year. The boys are at AU and just girls live in the house with Dad.
Should be interesting....

It is that time again...#3 Senior

2011-10-24T22:27:00.000-05:00

An Unusual Week for the Bass

2011-07-13T12:03:00.003-05:00

There will be four times (hopefully) that this day will happen. We have already experienced one about a year ago. This June we experience #2. Stephen registered for his freshman year. He is now a registered college man at Auburn with 16 hours and he is the most excited that on Tuesday and Thursday he does not have to be at class until 11:00. The Beach.....we chose not to go to the beach in the summer for many years. And one day at the beach with 500 people with the average age 10 reminded me why. But we travelled 5 miles down the rode to Grayton State Park. A few locals were on the beach. Here we had a front row seat. The water was warm and I had a good book. I also did not have to look up but every 10 minutes to check on the family. After 14 years, here we are.

Katie Ann and Caroline were our tag a longs for the week at the beach. They did not complain.

What are they thinking?

2011-07-09T21:57:00.004-05:00

A Memory Field. It is full of flags and names we do not know. But I like to go there. Why? You have to stop for a moment and think. Who are these people and why does the city of Murfreesboro have a weekend of all these flags. I can walk freely because of these people. I don't know all the answer of wars but I do know that people sacrificed for my and they did even know who I was.

#2 Graduation

2011-06-30T17:14:00.002-05:00

Somethings are the same as last year. The place, the color of gowns, the heat. But Stephen's had a different flavor of graduation. Above is Stephen and his Auburn Roommate Sam. So fitting he wears the "National Champs" T-shirt.

Even thought the graduation was the same place, Stephen had over 500 classmates. So we sat are a different side of the coliseum this year:)

Other things that were unique:

1. Jason was not in attendance. He is off in Texas working at a family camp.

2. This year graduation was at 2:00 not 10:00 thus we had brunch before graduation with friends and family.

3. David actually knew what was going on this year instead of " out of it" due to 10 days in the hospital with 103-105 fever. Thus Dad felt like he was going through emotionally two graduations since he missed last year.

We enjoyed this chapter of Stephen journey. He had a great Sr year. He is off to Auburn in the fall. It is hard not to smile when know your kids are looking forward to going to your Alma mater. Actually I would smile if they were not going to Auburn. I am just smiling because they are confident to go out of the county to college.

#2 Graduation had some of the same and different emotions. I am grateful for the gift God has given us to walk this far with Stephen.

First and Last

2011-06-07T10:19:00.003-05:00

PCA had their first athletic banquet. Steak and Potatoes were on the menu. Great set up. All athletes were recognized. Having an athletic banquet is one thing that Caroline got to experience at PCA that her siblings did not. She played middle school basketball and volleyball her 8th grade year. She also played up for the varsity for both sports. These three girls have played many years of basketball together. They are each going to separate sports for high school: basketball, soccer and running.

Some Pictures Make me Smile...

2011-06-05T21:07:00.003-05:00

There are some pictures that make me smile. ..And feel a little sad. For 13 years I have been going to soccer games. This was Stephen's final year in soccer. The year he has been waiting for. All 10 of these seniors have worked hard. They were all starters. They are all good soccer players. They were state ranked. They won their District and by a fluke lost a game that ended their season way too soon.

But this pictures reminds me of how some may feel a season is wasted because of the outcome; this bunch did not waste their season. They worked hard on the soccer field but they also enjoyed the journey of the season. Stephen came home saying what fun he had. He had fun playing soccer games they had lost and fun just practicing. He had fun on the games out of town and he had fun winning. The journey was fun. They took the game very serious but they also loved the game.

I hope I remember that. I sometimes am in such a hurry to get to the end of a project, I forget to live in the moment and enjoy the journey. These pictures were taken on Sr night after a serious Sr picture. What good memories and hopefully life long lessons.

Last day in a Chapel Uniform

2011-05-30T22:32:00.001-05:00

How do you put 11 years in one blog post. You don't. Eleven Years, four children, Twenty something History Fair projects, 100 games of some sort, Five championships, 26 art folders, lots of books read, and many chapel days. I am so grateful that part of my children's journey were days spent where people poured into them the Word of God. Some Chapels were discussed over dinner, some were ignored, some kindled something in their hearts. After 11 years of Chapels at PCA, we are turning in the plaid. There are still other ways they get God's Word spoken into them, but I will miss knowing that every Wednesday, there was a nugget.

May again....

2011-05-16T21:57:00.005-05:00

Here we are again at another May month. Filled with soccer games, track meets, graduation invitations, finals, returning college freshman home for a week, mosquitoes and then some. Stephen is days away from graduation. Classes, studying, soccer games are a thing of the past until college I hope.

Three years apart. KA (on left) is older by 3 years but little sister is definitely catching up .

And the returning freshman home for a week before his next adventure. When arriving to J dorm, he had all his clothes packed (below). Did not know what was clean or dirty so I did a lot of washing...

Good Reminders

2011-05-03T22:50:00.002-05:00

Having a three year old is a good reminder: Reminders that make me smile: Things like:
"Mamma Bass, Wanna go outside"
No Alive I think I would get too cold.
"Ah you will be allright"

"Just one more time"
"I will be right back"
"Can I come back tomorrow"

Dyeing Eggs................

2011-04-26T18:08:00.002-05:00

Who knew that egg dyeing would be as fun as teenagers as when they are younger. Actually more fun because you don't have to worry about them eating the eggs. And they invite friends over to join in.

Oh my...........time is flying...........

2011-04-11T13:46:00.003-05:00

It is April.....and in 4 days we will be a month away from graduation #2. In the winter, I keep wishing for spring and warmer weather. But when it gets here, the days go by faster. Why is that? I nice spring day goes by faster than a cold winter day and it is the same number of hours. What we are doing on spring days...... Soccer, Prom, Senior week, Youth, late nights that is what Stephen is doing.

College shopping, studying, running, babysitting for cash for mission trip is what KA is doing.

A little of this, a little of that.......Caroline has been doing a little volleyball, a little studying, some cleaning of her room and a lot of thinking about high school. Yes, next year Caroline will be in high school. Jason we hope is living college life .....................................in Auburn..............

I miss Azaleas......

2011-04-01T23:42:00.002-05:00

There are some agriculture perks for living in Tennessee. Not many pines...less pollen; Lot of hardwood trees.....great fall colors; tulips: great color. But I do miss the Alabama Azaleas. Here below is the one of two azalea I have. This is the best it ever has looked. We have lived here 10 years. I was trying to make it look larger than it really is. Notice now close to the ground it is. When living in Auburn, there were 2-3 weeks where I would love to drive around. When the azaleas were in full bloom. There were many colors and some bushes were as tall as...

Katie Ann. KA went to War Eagle day in Auburn this week. Not only did she she the campus but she saw plenty of azaleas. I do miss the Alabama Azalea Trial.

#23

2011-03-27T23:42:00.002-05:00

In 6th grade, she picked out a number. But it wasn't just a number. It was her brothers number also. Now #23 is retiring. Last of basketball for the Bass House. Despite the fact she no longer will pursue basketball, she did manage to get upgraded to the High School team at her school for the last part of their season. Injuries and small numbers were hurting the team and she stepped up to make the first Varsity PCA girls basketball a success.

Thanks for working hard Caroline and for all the minutes we got to watch your play.

Using your Head

2011-03-21T23:04:00.002-05:00

Another option for using your head..........

Katie Ann....first formal.....

2011-03-20T19:55:00.002-05:00

The last two years we have watched Jason and Stephen get dressed up for a school event and now it was KA turn.....Her shoes were her own design to match her dress.

It was first also to get her hair "done". We thought we were going for a "up do" but this was the style we came out with.

KA and her friend Tony all dressed up.....

A proud dad.........

Mom having a little fun with pictures.............

Part of The Puzzle....

2011-03-07T22:21:00.003-06:00

People, events, learning experiences are all a part of the puzzle. The puzzle of life. There are different chapters about this puzzle. The out part, the green pieces etc. Stephen life at Providence Christian Academy is a big piece of his puzzle of life. He spent 7 years there. The most time at any one school. We celebrated being a senior with a group of friends that were on his PCA journey. Some all 7 years, some 5 years and some just 1. But I hope this group will remember the fun and the life lessons they learned together.

It does seem that after 4 years, they can still sit around and talk. They can talk about things going on now and things in the past. They have shared .......being Egyptians together, learning Latin for years together, being Greeks and Romans, having a Medieval Feast, learning parts of speech, learning the preamble of the Constitution...and the list goes one...They also have shared in many first PCA moments. First basketball game in the new gym, first soccer team, first PCA team to win a championship.....They have also shared in sorrows...death, moving away, sickness....

Overall, the one thing that did not stay the same was Stephen's height...I think each one of these girls was taller than Stephen at one point...but he passed them all.........just took a while.....

February Ends..and March Begins....

2011-03-03T23:08:00.002-06:00

February found us once again celebrating.......Caroline's middle school basketball team won the Championship game in their conference tournament. The boys also won. PCA had a double win.

March begins and that means soccer season. Four years Stephen has played at Siegel. He has been four years with 8 or 9 of these boys. They are expecting big things this spring.

Bus Rides are a part of Soccer. I am just excited that there is a boy who can takes pictures. Because no girls are allowed on the bus:)

Versatile

2011-02-15T15:03:00.003-06:00

It pays in life to be able to be versatile....at least I think so. Exposure will help you be yourself in a tux at a prom fashion show and in an indoor soccer game. Stephen and 4 of his soccer buds went from an indoor soccer victory to a prom fashion show within 24 hours. Hopefully they were themselves both places. It is hard as a mom to know how much to push and how much to let go. But there are a few things that a 10 year old does not know....a tux in not a curse..................
but there was a time they thought a tux would turn them into who knows......

Yes, we have snow in Tennessee.....

2011-02-02T14:52:00.003-06:00

Flurries of snow use to send my Kids into utter excitement. As they got older, it was not the snow itself but "will we out of school?" David even took off when it snowed. As of recently, if David took off, he would have to take most of his vacation days! ha.....But this winter we have had enough snow to have 6 snow days from school...........................A nice snowman......... enough to travel to "school" for sledding (KA school is in the backgound)

Even enough to get out the ruler................

View from Front door on one the snow days...........

And when they are tired of snow...........Ice Skating.....................KA is third from the front....

Here we go again........

2011-01-25T22:51:00.001-06:00

Wow. Countdown of Graduation #2 is on it's way. Here is Stephen and his classmates in 4th grade. And then at a Pep Ralley when he was a junior...

Where were you?????

2011-01-20T22:32:00.002-06:00

I know football is something that some people take way to seriously and in the thought of eternity, it is not the in the top 10. But........I love Auburn football and I will always remember where I was when they won the football game that allowed them to be the national champions. It really is best to watch Auburn football with real Auburn fans. Those fans who went to Auburn. You can pace the floors, not change positions because Auburn was playing well while you were sitting in that chair and moan and groan about how they are playing. We went to watch Auburn with some old and new Auburn friends. They understood the tension and were very gracious. They understood we were not strange people because we jumped and high fived when Auburn scored or when someone paced a path through the living room. Thanks David and Jill for letting us watch our alma mater win. Even though we were not in Arizonia, we were there........

We did not have the confetti in our background but we have a true Auburn picture on the night Auburn beat the Organ Ducks. Jason was in Auburn helping roll Toomer's Corner, and Stephen was watching at friends.

2011....and what makes you smile.....

2011-01-12T23:44:00.003-06:00

18 and almost done with high school.......... halfway done with the hardest school year of my life..............

Going back to the town where the Football National Champions are.........

One more child off to college this year.....................

A Few Christmas Moments.......

2011-01-04T19:42:00.002-06:00

Traditionally we give each kids 3 gifts. Sometimes there is more than one thing in a box. Each child has a different wrapping paper. The three gifts use to be a toy box, a book box and a clothes box. That has gotten a little harder as they get older. Sometimes the book box will have a movie in it! This is not tradition........but we had snow on Christmas morning. Not as much as some of our friends in Alabama, but it was a White Christmas.

Christmas Eve one present is opened for everyone. It is a new game. This year was Five Crowns which is like Gin Rummy with a twist.

Christ Eve dinner consisted of anything I could find to dip in chocolate. I had strawberries but there was a lot of chocolate left over. So we had Ritz crackers, pound cake etc. Jason and Caroline got out some CheX Mix. They didn't realize it was Bold and Spicy chex mix. I don't think we will try that again.

The Tree speaks

2010-12-21T23:43:00.002-06:00

The Christmas tree sits in the corner.....The lights turned on in morning......and not really looked at as a "wow" tree, but our tree speaks....it speaks of our lives and our memories. And even though the tornado took several ornaments with it, some of the memories were found, wiped off and are on the tree.......
A memory of the past......... This year memories.............

Caroline tried a new sport..........

Katie Ann turned sixteen.......

Stephen was on Homecoming Court...........

Jason went to Auburn and Auburn is #1 (notice the one finger Aubie is holding up)

A few Bass Moments.........

2010-12-18T20:15:00.002-06:00

Stephen loves to eat out and visit...............................

Katie Ann continues to figure out how her camera works. She took my lens and put it on her camera here...........

Caroline's class had a dinner and read "Taming of the Shrew" for entertainment..........

And Jason has been playing the piano at college. Something we didn't know about or have paid any lesson's for.

It was time.......

2010-12-17T00:36:00.001-06:00

Time for a teenage dress, time for curls that didn't fall out and time to get nails done..........and it was time to go to the schools first Winter Wonderland dance.........

A trip to the Tree Farm

2010-12-12T23:13:00.002-06:00

We have been cutting down our own tree for a few years now. So off we go (without our friends the Smith's who were our tradition family to go cut down a tree...they decided to move to somewhere warmer....but that is another post) to the tree farm. Things were a little different. It is two weeks before Christmas.........the trees have been picked over, it was snowing and cold, and they had a sale........................ Below are the Tree farm helpers......one being the oldest Bass child.........
Our nice little tree getting wrapped up...........

The tree staffer who tied up our tree on the van.

Showing off the choices..............

Stopping for a photo op........it was really snowing...............

Another tree....................

November moments............

2010-12-07T22:43:00.004-06:00

Life is full and Life goes on........................Stephen is a senior and is 6'4" or 6'5". Homecoming week below on twin day with a real set of twins. We went to Alabama for Thanksgiving. All the girls cousins are below. 18, 16, 14, 13

Auburn Football is in full force in November........and so far in November, Auburn was undefeated..............

Basketball begins, Caroline is the only one playing basketball...........

November brought the college boy home for a week............

A Day of Orange and Blue

2010-11-18T14:41:00.002-06:00

Even the sun sets are orange and blue in Auburn.............

KA and Clay waiting to get on TV

Game day begins.............

I don't have a comment just had not seen one of these signs before..........

It is art...................

2010-11-07T21:24:00.005-06:00

Hand-Blown glass sculptures are not your everyday occurrence in Murfreesboro. And I will admit it takes special teenagers to appreciate it. Especially after two of them (KA and her friend Laura) have run 3.1 miles at one of the most challenging cross country courses with 150 other girls. But they braved the cold weather due to this was the last weekend the Chihuly exhibit was in Nashville. The artist came to Cheekwood and took 100's of picture. Then went home to Seattle Washington and gathered glass he already had and made others. He sent a team with his plans for where he glass should be.

Color

Color, light and form in nature.............interesting....................at night the "glass" glows.......there are lights.............

Topic of discussion here was did they float or were they on stands????

Two mom's who saw a lot of running that day......................

This was named the sun..............

Can you say "focus"

2010-11-03T22:46:00.002-05:00

Katie Ann received a digital camera for her birthday this year and I have had a good time using it. But I have missed my zoom lens. I attempted to put the lens on KA's camera and it fit. But it would not auto focus. So I had to figure out how to zoom and focus. But then my pictures were still fuzzy. Then I realized unless I needed my glasses "on" when I looked through the lens or the pictures were going to be blurry. So it is a work in progress. Sometimes I get the picture and sometimes I do not (as seen below. :)

Look what we got in the mail.....

2010-10-27T22:35:00.002-05:00

12 years, many books, honor classes, AP classes, book reports, history projects, math HW and art sketches later..........................................they are offering Stephen admission!!!!! We are in the college planning mode for the 2nd time. So far, the boys have had only one goal...Auburn. Katie Ann has told us it will not be easy with her. We are grateful and excited to see what direction God has for Stephen. But until then, it is nice to know he is accepted.....................

War Eagle

2010-10-25T10:01:00.002-05:00

Yes.............I have been watching way too much football. But this year.........it is hard not to watch your college win and in so many ways. But what I also watch in case I see #1 in the crowd. Which he is in this picture. Jason is left of #2 and up half way. Has on an orange shirt and waving a shaker....Maybe a mom is the only person that can pick out their son in a blur...............:)

New Action This Fall

2010-10-22T08:57:00.002-05:00

This fall Caroline decided she did not want to run Cross Country and try her hand at Volleyball. This is the sport I loved in High School and had not had a child to have an interest. Jason and Stephen decided they liked Volleyball when they were Jr's and Sr's in high school and now play some. Caroline's first year to touch a V-ball. She became a setter and learned quick. They were a young team but managed to win a few games. Watching was fun and painful at times. Trying to learn to not coach and be a spectator was my goal. Thank goodness God and Caroline gives 2nd chances!

Look at the cool socks. We never had such cool socks in the 80's.

Waiting................

2010-10-06T12:31:00.002-05:00

Well, it will have been 8 weeks since we dropped Jason off at Talon Hall in the Village at Auburn. I have been waiting..............to see if he would find friends he could relate to........to see if he could wash his clothes..................to see if not having a car was the right thing to do..........to see if he could get to Wal-mart....................to see if he could print papers without a printer............The wait is over...................he is fine and all he is waiting for is football games to begin.

Things that make me smile.....

2010-10-03T23:18:00.002-05:00

My 17 year old taking time with a two year old......................... Eating out..................................

Great sunset moments when you look up and said "Wow" that is so cool!

Our Days are filled with.........

2010-09-28T23:33:00.002-05:00

Races in other states................ Celebrating 21 years of marriage...............

making cookies and spending time with a two year old............

eating out because we seem to be in the gym at supper time................

watching a little volleyball..............................

“Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”

2010-09-14T13:04:00.002-05:00

The missing Bass child.........

2010-09-10T13:26:00.002-05:00

Sending your son off to college is hard enough. Not having pictures to capture the memories is something I was having to come to grips with. Well, thank you facebook and thank you Jason's new friends for having camera's. I can only use my Auburn knowledge to title these events.... but mom intuition is usually correct............... Playing board game into the morning................

I hope a social with a theme.................................

Chawacala Park............

Jordan Hare Stadium.........early because look at the stands in the end zone.....................

Before Auburn's first football game............................... Grateful to God for allowing this opportunity for Jason to stretch himself and meet people who can invest in his journey!!!!

Using his head.................

2010-09-07T09:02:00.002-05:00

As Parents we always are telling our kids to use their head when making a decision etc. Since Stephen has grown to be 6'4", he has been using his head for soccer goals. Above is a sample of that.

Another head moment.....not really I just think this is a cool picture of Stephen on one of his many adventures this summer as a Almost "Senior".

A Little of This and A Little of That

2010-08-25T14:57:00.003-05:00

Life over the last month has had major events and then events. But all should be considered major events because they are each a part of who these Bass children are. Each memory molds them even when they don't think so. So there is a little of this...... Caroline is playing Jr. High Volleyball this year. Here she is running out during the pep rally at school.

Caroline also went on a weekend youth retreat where GERM was the theme. Here she is with her friend Hannah.

Before school started Katie Ann and I took a lunch date with her friend Hannah. There is a lot of history with these two girls and lots of photos. They are at two different schools and are involved in extra activities but manage to be able to chat when they get together.

Nothing like a spend the night party to start your teenage years. Caroline had her basketball buddies over and were waiting for pancakes.

And a little of that ......................Something about teenagers and all night things. This is one of the all night events Katie Ann has attended this summer. Her cross country team did a 12 hour relay starting at 7:00 in the evening until 7:00 the next morning.

It makes me smile................

2010-08-21T23:13:00.002-05:00

This makes me smile. And you have to have spent 4 1/2 years on "The Plains" and lived in a state where at age 8, you were the only one wearing blue and orange to love this........

Here we go again.....

2010-08-19T08:57:00.002-05:00

The start of another year of school. Senior #2 year has started. Stephen is now 6'4" and a senior. He is playing soccer and has spent the summer having fun. Katie Ann is the junior now and is running and being creative. Now with a license she is "babysitter" worthy.

Caroline is in 8th grade. Last year of middle school. The year of transformation seems like. She loves her friends and love her sister.

Celebrating in Shifts for Jason

2010-08-18T23:32:00.003-05:00

Jason was gone for a month and returned on his 19th birthday. Little mix up in times of arrival but I believe he was glad to see all who showed up to say Happy Birthday and eat a little Oreo ice cream.

Sisters in the wait...

Good friend Ross who will be departing a few days before Jason to college. We love Ross......

This is one of Jason 's favorites and my mom's recipe: Vanilla ice cream, cool whip and crushed up oreos. Soften ice cream, fold in the cool whip and then the oreos.......There is ever left overs!

She's 13, She's beautiful and she is ours.......last teenager......

2010-08-12T23:06:00.001-05:00

Heat+Hotdogs+Baseball=Summer Fun

2010-08-07T23:26:00.002-05:00

Katie Ann's friend Laura was able to get tickets to a Braves game for Katie Ann's birthday. They game was a 1:00pm game and the week was a hot gone. Eight of us loaded up and took the 4 hour drive to the see the Braves. The seats were behind home plate and we were in the shade which brought the temperature down a few degrees.

Seeing Hank Aaron statue reminded me of the days when I came to a Braves game. There was an Indian in a tee pee that only came out when a run scored or a home run. Now they have fireworks.

Nothing like a hot dog to make your summer complete. It was the best hot dog I had in a log time or maybe I was just hungry:)

Summer Foods..........

2010-08-04T23:09:00.002-05:00

We went to Alabama one day to pick up the girls. While there, David , my dad and myself made a trip to his garden. We came home with these great vegetables. Had green beans one night, had three nights of fried okra and squash, had several days of tomatoes on sandwiches, had jalapeno poppers and a yellow watermelon. So good but after the third day of veggies, Katie Ann ask for pasta the next night for supper!

16....16.....16....16.....16...

2010-07-23T21:58:00.002-05:00

Well, here we are at 16 again....but it feels so different. After two boys, putting your daughter in the car alone was quiet a faith moment.....She is a gift Lord, she is yours......but we are so blessed to have Katie Ann in the family. She is a wonderful big sister to Caroline...........

She is creative. Give her a camera and a yard and she creates..................

She got a new camera for her birthday. A nice camera. :)

And she got a key chain.........................

Now she is ready to venture out...........................

Summer Necessities

2010-07-18T10:26:00.003-05:00

There are some things that identify summer. One is trampoline naps. Some good naps, conversations and memories have been on our trampoline. Of course jumping on the trampoline is a summer necessity also. This is 3rd trampoline of the Bass kids childhood.

Birthdays are a necessity at our house seeing how we have 4 birthdays in July. This year Katie Ann turned 16. Katie Ann loves ice cream and I means loves it. So to be given her own "half gallon" of Death by Chocolate was her birthday cake this year.

Photo shoots are a necessity also. Great colors and flowers make great subjects. Katie Ann got a new camera for her birthday and has had several photo shoots with included her sister.

And of course Water is so many forms in needed for summer. Pools, lake trips and a few trips to the ocean............................

Sharks in Alabama

2010-07-08T23:20:00.000-05:00

We spent a few hot days in South Alabama. One morning some of the Bass family took a trip with another family in Evergreen. They told us there was a water hole with shark teeth. We loaded up the car and went with them to see it for ourselves. The above is what Jason and nephew Zach found and below is their method. Take a bucket to the botton. Scoop up sand and bring it up. We can now say there are Shark teeth in fresh water in Alabama. These are the only pictures I have. I was standing in line at the Piggly Wiggly waiting on 50 pieces of fried chicken :)

Mexico..........Take 4

2010-06-23T23:20:00.002-05:00

Jason began going to Mexico after his 9th grade year. The goal was to make relationships and help people. No preaching. Just love on those who needed love and work long hard hours. This is Jason type of Mission Trip. He worked hard and loved the children he helped provide for. This is Stephen's third year and he hasn't met too many kids that didn't like him. That was the easy part. The hard part was the hard work. But working for those who don't have what you have and probably never will makes it easier.

This was Katie Ann 2nd year and she left off where she was last year...painting. She can paint and this year she was able to work with both of her brothers.

Stephen working on the "ranch" where the single Mom and her children are staying under the care of Pastor Rubin and his family.

First mission trip with her brother Jason who will be leaving for college in 2 months.

How does your garden grow???

2010-06-05T21:13:00.002-05:00

This spring ( who am I kidding)..... Every spring I have great ideas for gardening, then life or poison ivy gets in the way. But here are a few things from our yard that God's handwork without human influence grew.

Roses from new rose bushes.

Iris flower that I did think out the bulbs but will need to do again. The one flower that reminds me of Auburn. Our yard and neighborhood was filled of azaleas in the spring time. The dirt in Tennessee does not have what they need to flourish. We do have two bushes and this is the best we have seen the azaleas bloom.

She runs like the wind.............

2010-05-28T23:41:00.002-05:00

Well at least to Katie Ann's mom she does. Katie Ann is now the 11th fastest high school athlete to run the 800 in the state of Tennessee. And she will tell you she hates to run but she is good at it........And for those of you like myself who didn't know how long the 800 meter run was( due to not being taught the metric system in my lifetime.) It would be 2 circles around a football field track!!

I don't understand....

2010-05-19T23:25:00.002-05:00

I really don't understand why I can never get a Bass family photo with all 6 people in it. I think it has something to do with we can only take one shower at a time due to water pressure, someone has to hold the camera and four teenagers are not ever in the same room at the same time....... But I will say that starting a new chapter of life (have children graduating from high school) was not a sad one but one of joy, and I looking forward to seeing what God has for Jason in the next four years.

After a week in the hospital and a week at home on drugs, David still managed to get dressed up and celebrate the day!!! Very thankful !!!

Did I mention.......

2010-05-12T22:27:00.002-05:00

Did I mention while David was in the hospital on day two......we had tornado warnings, a flood and the boys had prom.................

What I Missed this Week.....

2010-05-10T23:13:00.003-05:00

Pneumonia........Did you know that there are at least 30 different causes of Pneumonia? I didn't but I do know that we just spent Nine days in the hospital. 4 1/2 in Murfreesboro and 4 1/2 at Vanderbilt trying to find a way to cure the Pneumonia and the 103 fever that came with it. David and Michele's life did stop for over a week, but we chose to let the kids remain occupied. So below Katie Ann had to have a new family (thank you Francis family) to take a picture with for the DNJ athletic banquet. And above Caroline was cheered on by other friends mothers at the finals of her soccer team championship game. I am just so glad for digital cameras and websites (facebook) that let me experience their moments while sitting in a hospital room.

Another new sport in the Bass Family.............

2010-04-20T22:35:00.003-05:00

Jason is a senior and decided he would like to be on the tennis team his senior year. He missed try-outs but begin to play the varsity tennis players on the team. He managed to play well enough the coach watched him and he is on the team playing some days 6th seed and some days 5th. Not too bad for a boy who has not had a lesson.

But the parents had the learn the "parent rules" for this sport. And it was quiet different. No cheering until the point is over. No coaching. So when the point is over, you only say "nice hit, "good point, " good volley" So it is finally a sport where the parents can't talk! ha.....

And the players are the lines judge and the score keeper. This was how they kept up with how many games each player had one.

I have enjoyed seeing Jason play and it has been good for him to be busy during "Senior-itis"

The Egg-Dyeing Machines..............

2010-04-14T22:33:00.002-05:00

Caroline doing some sponge painting...........
Katie Ann making sure this project is hand's on......................

Natalee.............the Prom Egg Designer................

Jason......just thinking about the philosophy of Eggs..............

Eggs of Teenagers...............

2010-04-12T08:11:00.003-05:00

Gone are the days of single colored eggs........

Of course Mom tries to buy unique dye. This year I bought a marbling kit. Did not turn like the picture but the eggs turned out great!

Easter Lunch centerpiece above

During the egg dying. There were eggs dyed with the "magic" crayon and rolled or handed across the table.

Number 1 Egg: Prom?

Number 2 Egg: Yes

Number 3: Sounds Egg-cellent

Number 4: I am sure it will be

Number 5: Egg-citing

Sending my 15 off to Chicago for the day......

2010-04-03T00:05:00.004-05:00

I love Chicago and it didn't take me very long to answer when Katie Ann ask if she could fly to Chicago with her Art class for the day. We left the house at 4:00am. They flew into Midway, took the train downtown, went to the Art Institute, took a outside walking tour of some of the city, had Chicago pizza, took the train back to the airport and flew back to Nashville. The famous "bean" when you can take your picture. Very cool.

On the train or subway heading into town. Don't know what point her friend was trying to make!

This picture I love because I actually get to see what they are doing. They took a drawing tour and got to sit at different paintings to do some drawing techniques. Love this one too!!! This is the little girl who didn't want to get on an elevator and now travels to cities for the day!

Through the eyes of a 12 year old....

2010-03-27T23:20:00.002-05:00

Caroline went on a trip to south Alabama last week. I was going through her pictures on her camera. You never know what is going through your child's mind when they take a picture or what struck them to think they needed to capture that moment. We have never told Caroline this is they reason we go to church so I am sure this sign was a eye catcher.

I don't think she has seen this type of plant in Tennessee. Even in Alabama we had these. I take for granted what they have grown up with and what I think they have grown up with.

I guarantee you that she has seen ice cream before (maybe too much). But the upside down ice cream cone must have caught her eye.

What good is a camera if you don't have a self portrait or two or three in your camera!

They use to hate to dress up...............

2010-03-17T23:54:00.003-05:00

I remember one Christmas Eve when I wanted Stephen to wear something nice to dinner. After it was all over, I wondered if it was worth the battle. So I didn't force it again. So what joy to see him getting dressed up and not complain!!! I think he may even think it was cool! Tux # 8 for Jason. He was ready to branch out from the "black". He wanted some color!

He wears t-shirts most days of the week, but when the time is right, he doesn't mind a tux!

Too Fast...................

2010-03-09T08:39:00.002-06:00

I remember when they were babies. I couldn't wait until they could walk on their own so I didn't have to carry them. Then I couldn't wait until they were potty trained. Then I couldn't wait until they could eat by themselves. Then I couldn't wait until they read on their own. What was I thinking........That was only yesterday. People told me it would fly and I did not believe them when I had three in diapers at once and then had four under the age of five. What a journey and I cannot slowed it down. Now they are 18, 17, 15 and 12. We are looking at colleges and every week is a new memory. God does give them to us briefly but they are his for the journey!

It has been a busy two weeks....

2010-02-14T22:37:00.002-06:00

Stephen was on the basketball homecoming court.................. Caroline's middle school basketball that I help coach won their league's championship!

Homecoming week at meant dress up days. Jason is in his "snow" orange suit but is dressed up like a Tennessee Football player (prisoner)

Katie Ann and David spent 5 days in Mexico visiting an orphanage and seeing friends they have made over the last few years...................

All this and snow is coming tomorrow!!!!

More Snow Moments

2010-02-03T23:04:00.002-06:00

Snow began at noon and it didn't stop. Living in the south you learn if there is snow, you need to get out right away and play..........

The only snow toy left from the tornado...............

It is always good to know a good hill. There are plenty of people with lots of things to slide on.

A good safe crash is always a fun part of snow. They will talk about this crash for years!

Snow In Tennessee

2010-01-30T11:17:00.001-06:00

I have to confess these are not my pictures but my friend who braved the cold while I stayed home. But I so wanted my "blogging" family to see what is happening this weekend......

I wonder........

2010-01-21T22:59:00.002-06:00

Sometimes I wonder .....................if Duncan (the dog) could talk, what would he say! He has heard plenty in his 7 years at the Bass home..............

2010

2010-01-03T23:34:00.004-06:00

Who knows what God has in store for this family in 2010 but this is on our calender: Stephen will become a senior and the only brother in the house.

Jason will leave Murfreesboro for college.

Caroline will continue to try and talk her parents in getting her a cell phone with no success.

Katie Ann will be 16 and will be able to drive!!!

Another way to cook fresh corn

2009-12-11T23:00:00.002-06:00

Another way to cook.....put gas grill on porch. Take corn out of freezer that was from the garden. Place corn in black iron skillet. Add a stick of butter and milk. Let cook. Taste like summer time on Thanksgiving day!

Who I am Thankful for........

2009-11-23T16:12:00.002-06:00

A family with as much different personality traits as hair color! I love them!

Yes...he is my big brother.....and we run together....

2009-11-12T23:11:00.002-06:00

What fun it was to watch Jason and Stephen on the basketball court together for so many years. They would pass to each other without looking. They had plays they created when they were 5 and 6 that they used in middle school. But there was a end of basketball playing together after 7th and 8th grade. Not until this year have two Bass siblings been on a team together. Jason and Katie Ann ran for the High School Cross Country team. The plays are different but watching two siblings work together is still joy. From riding back and forth to practice, to cheering each other on in races, teamwork was evident. This was Katie Ann's first year but she managed to run varsity and to run in each race her big brother ran. Both teams went to State. ( Another overnight trip of memories without the parents) Then the season ended with both Bass kids having great runs at Steeplechase. And after all the running was done, Katie Ann and Jason each ranked 10th in the Mid-State Cross Country Team. A job well Done!

This is what I clean weekly....

2009-11-04T23:39:00.002-06:00

Cross Country last year was gorgeous weather. Never too hot or too cold and it never rained. This year....A different story. This scene is a weekly scene since September. Mud, Mud and more mud. It has rained in Murfreeboro, Birmingham Alabama, Bowling Green Kentucky and others. But I have managed to keep it clean! Spray and wash....then press the soak cycle plus the extra rinse cycle.....it only takes 73 minutes! ha.....

What has Caroline been up to?????

2009-11-03T13:39:00.002-06:00

One thing Caroline can not get enough of is hugs from the family. SO this is a typical sight of seeing her hugging her dad! Caroline was invited by her Hayden to come visit a farm for the day. They made a mosaic and did some running after chickens.

Caroline has finished the race at least for this season. Her school ran their last race of the season at Cedar Hall which has a great place for a cross country race. You are really running the country. I actually hear runners say they had to jump over "cow poop"

It has been 20 something days.......

2009-10-28T23:05:00.004-05:00

It has been twenty something days since I have blogged. I have come to the site and just sat there and couldn't put anything on our blog. Sharing our family life is always fun for me and even therapy at times. This month our family went through a loss. An unexpected lost. Hallee #35 and the girl holding the basketball suddenly went to be with our Lord one morning. She has been a classmate of Caroline's since kindergarten and her life has intertwined in the Bass family for many years. Hallee was on the basketball team I help coach and her sister Hannah was a big part of Katie Ann's life at PCA. Hallee's dad was part of our life. He helped me coach one year and he would take his girls and my boys with their cousins to the state basketball games at MTSU. I have went on may trips with Hallee's mom over the years to basketball games, DC etc. So this unexpected death was very sad for me and I just couldn't write about the whereabouts of the Bass family.

But as sad as I have been, I know this sadness is for us here on earth. Because Hallee is serving God today in ways I cannot. She is not tired or bored with it as I get sometimes. She is not afraid to serve God for there is no fear. She is not even wondering if she is doing the right thing as I do so many times. I hurt for my daughter and her loss of a friend, I hurt for Hallee's family because they will miss her. I hurt for her teammates for they will miss her encouragement and her laugh. I hurt for her friends who have so many memories. But I don't have to hurt for Hallee. She is whole and serving God.

Thanks for letting me ramble and give a memory of this time. There is lots of things the Bass family is doing and I will get going on the posting soon!

Football Homecomings have changed over the Years...

2009-10-01T21:57:00.006-05:00

Homecoming at Siegel is a little different than when I grew up in Weaver Alabama. There are no floats that each class worked on all week, no parades and no bon-fires. But they do have a week of dress-up days, a variety show, dance off competition between classes and a homecoming queen and king. Jason was chosen by the class to be one of the Sr representatives. The biggest perk was he was out of school most of the day. Pep Rally, a photo shoot, supper and then a limo ride to the game. Things have changed since my homecoming days.

David, his mom and Caroline in the stands watching all the festivities.

Pep Rally

Off to the photo shoot.....

High School

2009-09-27T23:01:00.003-05:00

High School........Moments of learning who you are and trying to have as much fun as you can. I can only say that what I am learning is that Mom tends to get in the way of their journey. God is teaching me that he has a journey for each of these gifts and I need to love them and Trust God. Here are a few pictures when Mom is not in charge and not even in the same county.........Stephen is Rock climbing

Jason goes to some lake that I don't even know where it is......

Katie Ann and her friend go somewhere and practice their photography. And they all came home safe!

THings are busy..

2009-09-13T23:16:00.002-05:00

So much has been going on. One being we lost our computer. But a young lady name Kallie at the computer shop was able to get my pictures and some other important things before the major crash. So I am still learning how to do things. And while that was going on, we had a hot water leak, a CC meet in Memphis, a soccer tournament in Atlanta, a few local meets, a Latin project, starting up of Bible study and we are still making repairs of the tornado of April.....

But did want to post this picture of the girls with there cousin Jordan at the beach.

Last First Day

2009-08-12T22:54:00.002-05:00

Motherhood is about milestones. The first time they roll over. The first time they sit up. There are even books that we document these milestones in. This week we have witnessed a new milestone. The last first day of high school for Jason. Wow. I feel overwhelmed because I wondered if I have prepared him for life. Then I remember what God has been trying to teach me for the last 3 years. Let Go and Let God. Below is the first day of school picture by the faithful tree! This tree has been in many first day pictures! Because I don't know how to change places of photos on my blog, the first pictures is just sweet. Sisters!

We interupt this blog for a child update

2009-07-17T17:05:00.002-05:00

In case You didn't know ....Jason will be 18 this July. He will be a senior this year. He is very social and tends to think sitting around is a waste of time. He thinks that Auburn is his next stop of his education. We will see. And the boy can text.... Stephen is 16 and is driving. He has grown a foot and is now 6'3" He is still playing soccer and is great with small kids.

Caroline is 12 as of July 24th and is still very sweet. She can't decide what her passion is but she is passionate.

Katie Ann is 15 and has not gotten her permit yet. Doesn't seem to interested yet. She runs against her will (so she says) but is good at it. She is very artistic and has grown a few inches this year.

15...........No!!!!! Not again

2009-07-09T16:41:00.002-05:00

Here we are at another milestone. Fifteen for the 3rd time. The 3rd time to get a permit. The 3rd time to hold my tongue while driving. The 3rd time to give up another child to God for the sake of my sanity. But on the other hand, she is a girl. So it is the first time we have been to get a permit with a girl and try to teach a girl to drive. I am sure I will still be praying for my sanity and for God to remind me he is in control.
Katie Ann is a very creative child and has a gift. She and her creative friends decorated a rice crispy cake for her birthday.

Rice crispy treat molded into three different bowls. Caroline and Natalee helping her out.

Fifteen candles, over fifteen peple and at least 15 degrees over 80 in South Alabama

Mexico in the city

2009-06-29T10:55:00.003-05:00

While David and Jason were in the country, Stephen and Katie Ann were in the city helping a church. They did lots of painting and some cleaning.

I don't know what Stephen is doing here. I guess he is working but the wheel barrow is empty!

Katie Ann using her talent of painting. Actually she would rather be drawing but she painted several chairs, a swing set and some monkey bars for the church.

Needs no explanation..just plain summer fun

2009-06-22T23:31:00.000-05:00

Some things never change.... even in Mexico

2009-06-18T23:49:00.003-05:00

No ac, many miles from home, sleeping on roofs. Some things were different but hand games are always a hit. David and Jason spent 8 days at an orphanage helping a family better their home for this orphanage. David has always played hand games and this has not changed!

The group taking a dip in a pond.

David and Westbrook digging a home for a stucco wall that the group built.

Two sweet girls whose lives are bettered by living at this home.

Chicago

2009-06-17T09:09:00.002-05:00

For many years Chicago was been a gift for myself. I thought it was time to share with the kids. So while most of the Bass family was in Mexico on a mission trip, Caroline and I went with friends to the Windy city. The weather was not great so there are not too many pictures. We went to the Science Museum, the Aquarium, saw Mary Poppins and did a little shopping It was great fun. Cool picture of a sea horse that Caroline took. The Science museum has a free learning lab with dissecting owl pellets. The girls loved it.

My friend Juli e and I waiting on a presentation.

The girls getting ready to eat deep pan pizza Chicago style. Very yummy!

Summer travels begins......

2009-06-13T21:46:00.002-05:00

If you know me at all, you know I love to travel and I love my children to get to travel. I think seeing different cultures, states, cities lets you get outside your box so you can decide who you really are. I also think traveling different types of transportation makes you appreciate a plane! I also am glad to see all parts of this world that God has made.
My mom took Katie Ann and her two cousins on a train ride from Anniston Alabama to New Orleans. Quiet the experience.

Nine hours witouth train problems...........10 with train problems.......

remember

2009-06-01T23:23:00.002-05:00

A day of remembering. We went to the Healing Field On Memorial Day. It was a field of over 1500 flags that were in memory or honor of someone who have served in one of the branches of service. My children have not personally dealt with living with a family member that has been away. But some of their friends have. This was a great place to experience a small touch of how many people have served for us.

They gave rides from the parking lot. It really wasn't needed but it was part of the adventure......

And the new sport is............

2009-05-12T22:31:00.002-05:00

TRACK......the newest sport for the Bass family is Track. Jason and Katie Ann have both ran this season. Three weeks of bronchitis and flu did not help Jason achieve his goal but he was the cutest one there! Both ran the mile and the 4x800. Katie Ann's 4X800 team is going to state. Not bad for a a little freshman whose mother made her run:)

The hand off is critical. I am happy to report no Bass child dropped the baton all season :)

Notice the colorful baton. This 4x800 team ran fast and was the most artistic! One of the runners decided the baton needed some color.

Last Kid Marathon for the Bass family

2009-05-10T10:43:00.002-05:00

Five years or maybe six we have gone to Nashvile for the last mile of a 23.2 run that has lasted over a month. Caroline started when she was young. The Nashville Country Music Marathon has a 1.2 mile race the day before the big marathon. Providence has always used this as a time to raise money for chartiy. This year they kids raided money for a school in Africa. Below are the students who ran the 23 miles in 6th grade.

David has always ran with the students. This year he couldn't keep up with this daughter....

Before the race.
Caroline taking off. She was the 3rd grils in her age group to cross the line!

Shadow Fun

2009-05-04T21:21:00.003-05:00

This picture was taken by my girls. All on their own without Mom prompting. It is good to know that shadow play is still "in" in the playing department. Now there are digital cameras to capture the fun. When I was little, it was just a memory!