Cottonton

On Friday morning, we headed to Russell County, Alabama ~ Birthplace of Fannie Bradley's namesake.

Short story:

The first time John came to my parents house, he and my Dad sat down to have a little get to know you chat. I think my Dad played 20 questions.

It went something like this:

Joe: Where is your father from? John: Augusta

Joe: Where is your mother from? John: Columbus/Cottonton, Alabama

Joe: You and Kyle might be Kissing Cousins!

John: (insert choking sound)

Turns out that we are both decesendents of Russell County. Oswichee for my family, Cottonton for his, which are about 10 miles apart along the Chattahoochee River.

But the funny thing about this is that in all of my 23 years at the time, I had never heard of Russell County or Oswichee, I only knew that my ancesetors on my Dad's side of the family were from Columbus. Not Alabama!! But John likes to call it Metropolitan Columbus.

Our destination: Cottonton

From Atlanta we had 9 adults, 3 teenagers, 2 kids, 1 baby, 2 dogs, 2 bikes & 2 cakes in 3 cars!

We arrived just in time for lunch. Since there were 34 of us, we ate lunch at the Cottonton Baptist Church, which is the church where Uncle Chuck is a Deacon, right around the corner from his house and the Schoolhouse.

First up ~ Feeding Miss Fannie Bradley. So happy!

Since we were at a church, we had a fenced in playground to play in.

There was whiffle ball...

Kite, age 5, Mindy's baby

There was family and best friends...

John, Mindy (John's 1st cousin) and Rusty (John's 1st babysitter/basically older brother)

These 3 grew up together

There were swingsets...

Rusty giving Courtney quite the push





Preston (age 10, Mindy's oldest), Katherine (age 18 this week, Chuck's baby), Courtney and Kyle



There was football...


Christopher, age 6, Rusty's baby, John & Courtney's Godson




There were dogs...

Sundance, age 2 1/2, Our first lab




More whiffle ball...

Hunt, age 7, Mindy's middle child with such a special heart


There were new friends...

Butch, age 2 1/2, with his new girlfriend Bella, age 2 1/2 (cousin Kimberly's baby)

There was a big game of whiffle ball...

Patrick, age 9, Rusty's middle child, at bat

There were babies...

and adoring grandmothers

There were baby swings...

and the most precious baby in the swing!

Mommy and Daddy, can we put one of these on my Santa list?

There were fresh grown peanuts...

Uncle Chuck, Angie's youngest brother

still on the vine

There were all 4 Kite Siblings...

Bo, Angie, Coty (short for Courtney!) and Chuck

Our next stop: The Schoolhouse

A brief history: This was John's Grandparent's house when he was growing up. It was a real school equipped with a library, water fountains in the hallways, a full gymnasium and bathrooms with stalls! Can you even imagine all of the fun it was to go visit as a kid with 10,000 square feet to explore? John's Grandfather, Daddy Hugh, graduated from there and Angie went to elementary school there before her mother, Mama Dot, moved the children to the city (Columbus!!) to attend school there. After that, Angie's parents bought the school and converted it into their house.

Kite Family and Friends gathered at The Schoolhouse

In the beautiful gymnasium...

John and FB



3 Generations of Kites

Getting kisses from Mammie

With our two favorite young men



There was basketball...

Uncle Saj taking a shot

Aunt Courtney and Uncle Saj

Our family on the front steps of The Schoolhouse

Next stop: Kite's Store

A brief history: This store has been in John's family for multiple generations and in multiple locations. Daddy Hugh and his Daddy ran it, now Uncle Chuck runs it.

Fannie B really enjoying her tour of the store

There were minnows...

for bait

We had a special day in Cottonton and loved showing Fannie Bradley all of John's favorite childhood places. The memories are boundless and we hope FB will spend quality time there as well.

Then Grandfather Joe picked Daddy up and they headed to Camilla to quail hunt. Little did Daddy know, but Mommy had to take Sundance to the after hours emergency vet when we got back to Atlanta because he had worn 3 out of 4 of his paws, RAW!

Daddy's home!

Daddy just got home from hunting in Camilla and his baby girl was very happy to see him and his Ray Bans!

Playing with Daddy's new hat

Welcome home, Daddy! We love you!

Giving Thanks for Fannie Bradley

That's what we did on Thursday.

Gave thanks for Fannie Bradley on her First Thanksgiving!

We are ever so thankful for this little girl and for the immeasurable joy she has brought to us in her first six months of life.

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good."
~ Psalm 118:1

We had Thanksgiving lunch at The Hinson's house with 19 people.

Both of the sweet grandmothers with our little Turkey in her Turkey pj's





We put Fannie Bradley in a high chair for the first time, with the assistance of a pillow!

What are y'all doing to me? Quit messing up my Turkey bow.

Aw, much better. I'll just chew on this spoon.

Fannie B's first Thanksgiving meal consisted of squash (for the first time!), peas and sweet potatoes with a little rice cereal for dessert!

Double Bibbed to protect her outfit!

Uncle Saj, FB and Aunt Courts

We reinstated a Thanksgiving Night Tradition this year, as we used to go when the Barber Boys were younger....going to the Lighting of the Tree at Macy's ~ Lenox Square Mall, followed by hot toddies (Mulled Wine and Angie's homemade hot cocoa with or without peppermint schnapps!) and dessert at our house.

FB also experienced her first fireworks show

Someone is NOT happy.

She does cry, occasionally. She was over it and us! Really, she should have been sleeping.

Ha Ha. I love this picture.

We hope everyone had a wonderful day giving Thanks! We sure did. God is Good!

Falcons

Every week at the Falcons game, they randomly select several season ticket holders to give field passes to and this week my parents were selected! They were notified earlier in the week and since Dad and John are hunting in Camilla, Jake went with her. They both hung out on the sidelines for a while and then when it was time to be introduced, Jake ran back to their seats to take pics!

Go Grandmommy!

Go, You Silver Britches!

Fannie Bradley made her much anticipated and long awaited Athens Debut on Saturday.

Fannie Girl, wake up, you're going to see the Bulldogs play!

Seriously, she is the happiest child.

Daddy going in for a kiss

We left home at noon and got to Athens a few minutes after one o'clock. Our first stop was lunch with Frank and Amanda at the new Allen's. John told FB that it was only fitting that we spend her first day in Athens with Frank as we spent our first date on September 28, 2002, (partly) with Frank. Allen's was nice but definitely not the same ambience that we all loved.

Sonny Seiler and his entourage were also eating lunch

A bottle for Daddy....

A bottle for Fannie!

So, as most of you know, John is infamous for his Silver Britches. He found old silver tuxedo pants in San Diego in 1999 and mailed them back to Atlanta for his mother to work on. She added the stripes down the legs and the "G" on both hips. There are many Silver Britches imposters out there, but none are as authentic and classic looking as John's. John retired the Silver Britches during the 2005/2006 season and hasn't worn them since we have been married.

UGA vs. Marshall

September 18, 2004

So, this summer I asked Angie to make FB a Silver Britches dress, as a surprise to John. Y'all, it is the cutest thing you have ever seen!

On Friday night, I brought out John's pants in the drycleaning bag and held them up to him and asked if he could wear them to the game on Saturday. I got a grimmaced look and he said no, he was saving them for a special occasion, like when Georgia goes to a National Championship. I am pretty much destroyed at this point but still holding out hope. So then I pull out Fannie's handmade Silver Britches dress and ask him if his first born child's first trip to Athens and first Georgia game was a special occasion.

Guess who wore his Silver Britches?

This proud Daddy!

Better pictures of THE DRESS!

Too cute! Thank you so much Angie!

I am the luckiest girl in the world.

Mr. Andy: Fannie Bradley, whatcha think about that rattle?

FB and Aunt Caroline chatting it up. Check out those checks!

Just hanging out...playing with and eating her ribbons! Best Baby Ever!

Daddy and Uncle Kristian

Evidently, Fannie loves beer.



This might be my favorite picture of the entire day!

These two belong to each other, in more ways than one!

Fannie Bradley's first trip 'Tween the Hedges!

Enjoying the game...

Touchdown Georgia!

Fannie's First Touchdown inside Sanford Stadium

Uh, Daddy, I can't see.

Ah, that's much better!

And yes, those are socks on her hands. I am a terrible mother and didn't think about bringing mittens with us but I had an extra pair of socks. They worked just fine.

Fast asleep and snug as a bug in a rug!





As planned, we left at the beginning of the second quarter but walked by the Hedges on the way out.

UGA VII Tribute

A beautiful night in Athens

We had a perfect day as a family and can't wait for next season!