a great weekend

This has been a busy and great weekend. I got the opportunity to go to Starkville, one of favorite places ever, and visit with my sorority sisters. I had not seen some of these lovely ladies in a decade. This are two of my closest friends, Anna and Julia.



We had such a wonderful time catching up, eating, and shopping. I would have loved to stay another night and enjoy their company, but I had to get home to see JR and the apple of my eye!



I got to spend the afternoon with my family. My daddy made me Bar-B-Q Shrimp as my birthday dinner and Moma got me Primo's caramel cake. JR and the Plum got me a new kettle, a onion chopper and the Pioneer Woman's cookbook. We are kind of a food oriented family!

Love, the Cuddler

Alissa

I'm the Mama.

J.R.

Coming Soon!

Love Dumplin'

born in China, longed for and loved here in Mississippi
coming home December 2012

prayed for and loved always
also known as Sam

a big boy, big boy hair

I'm sporting a new hair cut in my 3T pajamas. Thats right, I'm a big boy.





Love a good looking Plum

a hero and a mule

I have the pleasure of being friends with a hero and a mule, Mr. John George. Mr. John served in the Army during the Vietnam War as a crew chief and gunner on a helicopter gunship. He received the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal, and numerous Air Medals for heroism. He was known as the Mule.



We already knew he was a wonderfully kind and thoughtful person and great friend to the Cuddler and Morning Guy. We did not realize what a hero he and his friends were. One of his comrades, Luis Molinar, was recognized for his bravery by receiving Purple Hearts and Silver Star for his service. Read more about his heroics here. The honors may be forty years over due, but we think it is better late than never. Mr. Molinar asked Mr. John to join him in Phoenix and on stage when he received his awards. Thank you to Mr. Molinar and Mr. John and all of the other brave men and women that serve our country.

Much love to Mr. John.

Love, the Plum

Update on Mary Elizabeth

I wanted to give all of you an update on my friend, Mary Elizabeth. She is still getting antibiotics through a pic line for her meningitis but is feeling much better and expected to make a full recovery.



She is looking pretty good to me.

Love, the Plum

a name

From the Cuddler to the Plum:

I want you to know where you come from and how special you are and your name is. You are named after my grandfather.

John Hammond Hinton
May 8, 1926-February 13, 2004

Today marks seven years since we lost Pappaw. He was such a special man to everyone that knew him. He and Mammaw Ina played such an important part of my childhood, and Morning Guy and I wanted to give that to you before we even knew you. After college, we decided to come home so that our children could have that same experience.

Pappaw always showed me love and affection and had the up most faith in me and thought anyone who didn't agree was a fool. When I went to my recruiting visit to Mississippi State University, I visited the School of Civil Engineering. I was the only girl in group of a dozen guys. The Civil Engineering representative told me that a couple of girls had graduated in Civil Engineering but that they barely got out with passing grades. When I came back and told Pappaw this story, he looked at me as serious as ever and asked, "Does he know who YOU are?" As if it was preposterous that I would do anything but excel and this guy was a jackass for any other inference. My point is that it would be easy for a man of Pappaw's generation to agree with the jackass, but on many occasions Pappaw showed how much he believed in me.

Your Pappaw loved a good stiff drink, gambling, dancing, and food.

He was a hunter,





A fisherman (two fish, one line on an oil rig platform in the gulf),



An excellent story teller,



A soft spot for my naps,



A display for my dresses,



A loving and adoring grandfather,







Your name is something to be proud of and I expect you to live up to it.

Love, the Cuddler

P.S. Your PawPaw has that same love for you. Here is an excerpt from his Valentine's Day card to you: "Your world will change each day as will things around you-But no matter how much things change, always remember that we love you with all of our hearts and souls."

it was a blood bath

here is the crime scene...



here is what I found inside...



The victim's name is Bert. The Cuddler got Bert for me yesterday. Two of his hooves were chewed off and he is now blind. He is in stable but critical condition. The veterinarians are trying to decide whether we should try to reattach his hooves or cut the other two off.

We have named a suspect...



And an accomplice after the fact...



The crime lab is currently analyzing the DNA to determine if it is purely bovine or if there could be some identifying canine DNA in there. We've set up a fund at Trustmark to help offset the expenses of his medical care.

Love, a Plum who will be sleeping with one eye open

my Uncle Chris

We BIG RED PUFFY HEART my Uncle Chris. All three of us.



He is everything that a little boy could want in an uncle. He knows all about hunting and has invited me to stay at his camp with him. He isn't afraid of The Cuddler so he does what he wants with me. He gives me oreos when I have not eaten my dinner. He is appalled at all the girly outfits that The Cuddler puts me in and is putting up a strong opposition against her.



Today is his birthday. We won't say how old he is, but next year he will be over the hill. =)

This picture is everything that is so right with the last year. My family.

We love them and are so thankful for all of them, especially my Uncle Chris.

Happy Birthday!

Love a lucky Plum

Happy Birthday to our Mammaw!

Today is my Mammaw's birthday. Isn't she fabulously pretty? With beautiful ladies like these two as my genetic make up, how could I be anything but good looking?



We love her so very much and hope she has a wonderful birthday and cannot wait to sing her "Happy Birthday" this weekend.

Love, the Plum