We Have Some Great Tyson Team Members

This was the first story on our Update Weekly newsletter this morning:

Sioux City Shows Off Shoes for Area Children

Twenty-one Team Members from our Sioux City, Iowa, Freezer had the pleasure to assist the local Goodwill in their Annual Shoe Party recently. Children in need from throughout the area were identified by the various schools and invited to the Goodwill building on Saturday, December 15. Each of the 1,400 children was assigned an adult who helped the child get sized and select the best pair of new shoes for them. In addition to the new shoes, each of the children received two pairs of socks, a pair of mittens, a knit cap, and a bag of candy.  Tyson Foods prepared and served lunch to all 150 volunteers at the event. “It was a rewarding event that brought smiles to not only the children but to all who were involved in making the day a success,” says Sioux City Freezer Manager Kevin McGraw.

Pretty awesome, huh? They were able to provide shoes, socks, mittens, and caps (and some yummy candy, too) to 1,400 kids. That's so cool. Also, Tyson supplied all of the foods to the volunteers. We need more people like this in the world.

C

Gulf Shores

Wow, it's been awhile and A LOT of stuff has happened. I've been at our Corporate office now for a year and I'm really getting used to and comfortable in my position. Plus, I really like the people I work with and we get along well.

The biggest news we have right now is that we are expecting boy #3 in September. We are so excited and I, for one, couldn't be happier that we will be adding another boy to our already full house. Akeem is happy, too, but it did take him a little bit longer to come to terms with the fact that he won't get daddy's little girl. But, he's already referring to Jabari, AJ, and baby Logan as "My Three Sons", so I think he's good with it.

We took a little vacation a couple of weeks ago to Gulf Shores, AL. Meemaw, Pawpaw, Uncle Patty, Faithy, AJ, Jabari, Akeem, and I all loaded up into two vehicles and took the 12 hour drive down there. It seemed to take forever, but we eventually got there. The first thing we did after we got everything into the beach house was head to the water. Tropical Storm Debbie was starting to form out in the Gulf, which was causing high, beautiful waves. It was gorgeous. But, the most awesome thing I saw that evening was the look on the boys' faces the first time they saw the waves of the gulf crashing into the sand. Jabari was in awe, I think, and AJ was so excited, he could hardly contain himself. When he saw the water, he took off running towards it. Akeem had to run to catch him before he went head first into it.

We didn't do a whole lot during our trip, just hung out for the most part. But, the day before we came back, Mom, Patrick, Faith, and I went to the big outlet mall in Foley. We couldn't even walk the entire thing before we were exhausted. We found some really great deals, though, so it was worth it.

Earlier in the day, Akeem, Pawpaw, and Patrick went deep sea fishing. They had such a good time and they are all still talking about it. They've even hatched a plan to go, just the three of them, back down to the gulf to do it again sometime soon. While they were out there, they all caught sting rays and lots of saltwater catfish. Patrick also had a 40+ pound red fish on his line for over 30 minutes, fighting to try to get it reeled in, before his line finally broke. Their guide, T-Roy, posted on his Facebook page that it was probably a record breaker. Too bad the line didn't hold up.

The trip was great and it will probably be the last time we do a family vacation for quite some time. It will most likely be when baby Logan is close to AJ's age now before we do something like that again. I can't wait.


Until next time...C

Time Goes by So Fast!

I always think I'm keeping up with this thing, then I log on to write another post and realize it's been two months since my last entry. Wow, I didn't realize how long it had been.

Since my last entry, we have returned Bianca to the shelter. She is a great little kitty, but AJ is just not ready for a pet. He was way too rough, going so far as picking her up and throwing her, and even jumping on her from the couch. I spent hours trying to teach him to 'play nice', but finally decided he's just too young right now. So, we will wait until later (much later, if it's up to me) to invest in another pet again. Now, if I can just keep Akeem from surprising me with one. :)

As most of you know, we've moved from Texas to Springdale, Arkansas. We are definitely in an adjustment period, but it's getting better and we are getting used to our new town. (I don't know if I'm ready for the winter up here, though. I've heard it can get pretty bad.) When you're new to a city, it helps if you get out and find things to do. Since moving, we've gone to a safari park in Gentry and to see the air show in Ft. Smith. And, of course, we've made a stop by the local Chucky Cheese, always a hit with the boys.

 

Here are some pics from our outings for your viewing pleasure. (I promise, Aunt Netta, you will get to see them in person BEFORE they graduate high school. But, I hope these will do for now.)

 Things are really starting to look good for us. We are getting settled in and more comfortable with our surroundings. My job is going great. Akeem is getting accustomed to his job and looking into getting his foot back in the door with Tyson. We live in a good neighborhood with lots of kids for AJ and Jabari to play with. And, every day I think, wow, we've been here almost four months and it feels like we just moved yesterday. Time goes by so fast!

Until next time...C

Please Welcome Bianca

We decided to adopt a pet from the local animal shelter. I had some reservations about it because I know the responsibility that comes with having a pet, but Akeem thought it was time to get the boys an animal. Then, we had to decide between a dog and a cat. We decided on a cat, since we don't have to house train a cat. And, so, we adopted Bianca. She's a tortoiseshell who just turned 4 months old and AJ LOVES her. See, in the pictures, how much he likes to give her hugs. It's so cute, but I'm just waiting on her to get impatient with him and swat at him with those teeny tiny super-sharp claws. As you can see from these pictures, AJ is really happy when he gets to play with Bianca, and not so happy when others get to play with her. Let's just say he's still getting used to the idea of sharing. :)

AJ turns 2!!!

AJ is officially a 2 year old. It excites me and it frightens me. Some days, it feels like I just brought him home from the hospital. I don't know how it's going by so fast. Then, there are the days when it seems like he's been here forever (the ones where I can't wait until nap time, teehee).

 Meemaw and Pawpaw came to visit for his birthday weekend. And, they brought a big present. Here are some pics of his little party and his presents.

 Yep, that's a little Ford F150. My dad just had to get one for AJ. There was no stopping him. AJ definitely needs to grow into it a little bit. But, he loves it. He has to sit on the edge of the seat to push the gas pedal, but he does it. And, he loves playing with the radio (yes, it's real!).

AJ's favorite cartoon right now is Backyardigans (choo choo, heh heh heh, all aboard!), so that's the cake we got. For some reason, he didn't want to eat it. Mom thought he might think he was eating one of the characters and it would hurt them. Hmm, I don't know, there could be something to that. Now, although he wouldn't eat the cake, he had absolutely no problem eating the ice cream.

Akeem and I got AJ is first big boy table. It's a picnic table, and he really loves it. He eats at it every day and is being such a little man.

 Well, that's all for now. Until next time...

Happy Mother's Day to Me

I had a pretty good Mother's Day last weekend. We went to Lufkin and went shopping. I got a couple of new shirts, which I really needed since I haven't bought any clothes for myself in a long time, besides lounge wear. That was supposed to be my Mother's Day present, a day out just for me. Of course, that's never the way it goes. Akeem ended up getting more stuff for himself than for me. And, AJ got a new pair of shoes. But, it's all good. I'm a mom now, which means very rarely is anything all about me :).

Here, I've put a pick of me and AJ with me wearing one of my new shirts and holding the rose Akeem got me.

This weekend, we went to the Ellen Trout Zoo. We had a great time. AJ seemed to like the birds and the lizards the most. Here are some pics of our outing.

He had a really hard time posing for the pictures, though, because he was so enthralled with the peacocks walking around the zoo. But, we did get a couple of good ones.

That's all for now. Until next time...

Just Hanging Around the House

Well, my days of luxury are almost over. My doctor has released me to go back to work, starting next week. It seems like I've been away forever, and am excited to get back. But, it will definitely be an adjustment, after being at home for 9 weeks.

Not like it's really been just laying around all the time. I've really kept up my end of the deal when it comes to the walking, doing it for about 30 minutes, 3 times a day. Plus, I have been doing some work, like month-end and quarter-end entries. So, it's not been all naps and episodes of House.

I've had some requests for more recent pics of the boys, so here are a few of the latest ones of them just doing stuff around the house. Here's one of AJ playing with our hamsters, Petey, Pablo, and, our newest addition, Tasha (she's a Russian Dwarf). And, here are a couple of AJ pushing Jabari around on their little train. They really had a blast with that. I also got one of AJ right before he woke up this morning. Talk about a hard sleeper, just like his mom.

This last one was from yesterday morning. I was trying to get a good picture for Meemaw and Pawpaw to show them how cute the boys were in the St Louis Cardinals outfits they got them. But, neither of the boys were having any of that. They were both acting like sourpusses. Oh, well, I still think they are adorable.

Well, AJ insists on helping me now, so I guess this is the end of the post. Until next time...C