MILE 11

BIG ORANGE COUNTRY

"When in Rome, do as the Romans."

One can't think about Knoxville without thinking about the University of Tennessee.  It affects everything in the town...from scheduling events to wardrobe selection.

When we first moved to K-town, the selection of orange items in my wardrobe was nonexistent.  In fact, the first UT football game I attended, I wore a black shirt with jeans.  I stuck out like a sore thumb  and went to Walmart the next day to buy an orange UT shirt.  From that game forward, I decided to embrace living in Big Orange country.

The boys' bathroom was painted the orange checkerboard, a huge mural of UT football was painted in Parker's bedroom, and we added a lot of orange to our wardrobe over the next eight years.

We have so many fun memories of attending football, basketball, and baseball games at UT.  And it is fair to say that this Wildcat fan and Gator fan became Vol fans and our boys are "All Vol."

"Rocky Top you'll always be home sweet home to me.  Good 'ole Rocky Top.  Rocky Top Tennessee."

SATURDAY, MAY 18

MILE 10

GETTYSVUE SWIMMING

When Parker had just turned 8, we decided to give the Swim Team at Gettysvue a try.  And so my summers of being a swim mom began.

To say Parker took to it immediately would be putting it lightly.  He loved swimming and was really good.  He quickly identified butterfly, freestyle and eventually backstroke as "his strokes."  Even that first year, he enjoyed receiving lots of blue ribbons. 

Last summer Drake decided to swim on the team.  Wow!  That boy REALLY loved it.  In fact, when we would go to the pool to "play," Drake would just swim laps the whole time.  He was named the Most Dedicated Feeder last summer and clocked the fastest backstroke of the 8 and under boys at GCC.

I've enjoyed many hours by the pool watching practice, talking with my "summer friends" and working swim meets.  I've loved getting to know the fabulous coaches - Denise, Cameron, Jeff, and others.  After 2 years, I decided I should invest in the training to become a "Stroke and Turn Judge."  I learned all of the ins and outs of the strokes and when to disqualify a swimmer (which seems kind of mean when you are doing it).

Parker said that he wants to give up swimming this summer...but I told him not yet.  So next week we will find a new swim community in Tallahassee and begin another wet Mile.

 GCC 9-10 A RELAY TEAM 2010

SATURDAY, MAY 18

MILE 9

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS

Some of my favorite family outings while living in East Tennessee have been day trips to the Smoky Mountains.  The trips were always mini-vacations away from the business of our lives in K-town.  I love the color of the leaves in the fall, the winding paths along the trails and the sound of the rushing creeks. When we first moved here, we enjoyed the Cades Cove area.  We eventually discovered Abrams Falls and Clingman's Dome.  There were always a few constants:  we always took a peanut butter and jelly picnic, we always skipped rocks, and we always ended up wet.  

Of course you can't think of the Smoky Mountains without thinking of Dollywood and Splash Country.  We enjoyed lots of visits to both parks each year!  As a fan of roller coasters, I prefer Dollywood (especially the Thunderhead).  Bill and the boys prefer Splash Country.  We had Drake on an intertube ride at age 2!

For the past nine years, in November I've taken a girls trip to the outlets in Pigeon Forge.  We never saw much of the mountains...but we shopped until we dropped, ate a little, and laughed a ton!

This mile was the most scenic along the race and full of unforgettable moments.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

MILE 8

ROCKY HILL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

  

Seven years ago, I walked into Rocky Hill Elementary School...excited about Parker starting kindergarten, but pretty clueless.  I didn't know many kids who went to the school - only a few from church and a few in our neighborhood.  And I didn't know about the many activities in an elementary school!  

This year, as Drake began kindergarten, things were different!  I had six years under my belt as a Rocky Hill mom.  I knew lots of people and considered myself the "resident expert" on the happenings at this school (that sounds braggy, doesn't it?)

Here are the highlights of my experience at Rocky Hill:

- All of the FABULOUS teachers that my boys have had:  Sherry Corden, Teresa Goodwin, Ashley McGaha, Bobbie Kobosky, Abby Turner, Myriah Cain, Barbara Sanders, Becky Andrews.  Thank you for challenging my guys and pushing them to be their best.

- Getting to know so many wonderful families!

- Rocky Hill Traditions - Kindergarten Turkey Trot, 100th Day, Q&U Wedding, 2nd Grade Wax Museum (my favorite), 4th Grade Talent Show, 5th Grade Musical

- Candy Cane Cottage - I had the privilege of chairing this event for 4 years.  I have LOVED everything about this event - shopping year round for gifts, dreaming about how to make it bigger, transforming the gym into a holiday wonderland and mostly watching the kids pick out gifts for their family.  Helping families in need with the proceeds makes this one of Rocky Hill's best traditions.

- PTO Events - Movie Night, Rodeo, Pumpkin Party, CCC, Book Fair, The ROCK.  It is always fun to be together as a Rocky Hill community.

- Being a part of the establishment of the Rocky Hill Foundation and the first Great Harvest.

- Serving as PTO President 2011-2012.  There were a lot of highs that year for me - the opening of the Walking Trail, a successful Great Harvest, and a fun and free Rodeo.  I am so grateful to the twelve women who served beside me and the slew of volunteers who gave so much to make the year so special.

I've given a lot of my time to this sweet school over the past 7 years.  But really...I've been the recipient of the better gift.  I've been offered friendship, hugs from children, encouragement, kind words, and lots of laughter.  Rocky Hill = home to me.  Thanks for the memories.  It has been one of the best miles of this race.

THURSDAY, MAY 16

MILE 7

DRAKE

When we moved to Knoxville, I was the mom of an only-child.  Although we wanted another baby, it just wasn't happening.  We went to a specialist and after a year, we started talking about adoption.   Then, a month later, I found out I was expecting.  How joyful we were!  

Drake caused a little excitement early in my pregnancy that  resulted in my being on bedrest for 6 weeks and limited activity after that.  But on March 12, 2007, Franklin Drake Shiell entered the world.  He was healthy and hearty!  (I grow big boys)  He was a charmer from the beginning...doing sweet things like covering his eyes when he was ready to sleep and smiling at any and everyone.

A few things about Drake today at age 6...he loves playing with friends...he loves to swim, play baseball, football and soccer (sound familiar?)...he has an amazing memory...he feels remorse when he has done wrong...he loves anything sweet..Football Guys are his favorite "go to" toy...he's already a FSU Seminole fan...he likes to follow the rules...he is inquisitive...and he still smiles at any and everyone.  Much like my granddaddy Frank Parks (who Drake is named after), Drake embraces life to the full!  When Bill recently asked the boys if they were excited to move to Tallahassee, Drake raised his arms and said, "I am!"  If we all could only accept the changes in life with such enthusiasm!

I think Drake really changed me (or maybe I'm just getting older).  By being on bedrest for those few months, I became more sensitive to those who have to live in a limited physical condition.  I laugh a lot more.  I don't sweat the little things (like what clothes are worn to school).  I treasure milestones and moments.  I'm more laid-back.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, "We waited a long time...but Drake was worth the wait!"

TUESDAY, MAY 14

MILE 6

BEARDEN MIDDLE SCHOOL

I've just spent the day on a golf course with a slew of middle schoolers from East Tennessee.  Parker was one of five students from Bearden Middle School that participated in the Regional Golf Tournament at Millstone Golf Club in Morristown.  So I thought it would be appreciate to share my thoughts on our experience in middle school.

Bearden Middle School gets a lot of bad rap.  I remember when Parker was in second grade, someone asked me if I would send him to Bearden.  At that point, I was focused on getting through early elementary school, but I replied that we were planning on it.  I'm glad that we never changed our minds.  It has been great.  

Here are some of the things I think Parker has taken away from his year at BMS:

- On the first day of school, it is possible to renew friendship with someone you haven't seen since preschool.  In fact, you can even become locker partners!

- It isn't the end of the world if you aren't in class with friends from elementary school.

- Playing an instrument is harder than it looks.

- Golf is harder than it looks.

- There are "bad kids" who cuss and sag (now used as a verb for wearing your pants low).

- You don't dance at middle school dances.

- It is possible to be friends with the cool kids, the smart kids, the band kids, the athletic kids, the not-so athletic kids...and yes, even girls.

Here are a few things that I've discovered:

- There are a TON of great families at Bearden - families just like ours who love their kids and want the best for their school.

- Middle schoolers love to be together.  That is why Bruinaroo was such a success!

- Parker decided this was the year to come out of his shell and start talking in class...apparently a lot.

- The teachers at Bearden really want to teach middle schoolers...which is a definite calling!

- Bearden is a picture of the "real world"...rich, poor, educated, not educated, religious, not religious, special needs, different colored skin, different languages...and it is embraced.  

- Communication is the key to a parent feeling engaged in middle school.  Thanks to Virginia Babb, the BMS teachers and administration, I have a very good idea of what is happening at BMS.

So, for those families with second-graders zoned for Bearden, do not fear!  When someone asks you where your child will go to middle school, you can proudly say, "Bearden!"  It's a great place.

MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013

MILE 5

CAMI

For a girl with short hair, there is no one nearly as important as her stylist.  Cami Fogarty at Bella Salon has been cutting and styling my hair for the past five and a half years.  

For my first few years in town, I shopped around - visiting walk-in salons and fancy salons.  But no stylist quite "hit the mark."

In 2008, I was chairing the silent auction of the Rocky Hill Rampage.  Cami had a third grader at Rocky Hill, saw that we were looking for items to auction and made a call to donate five cuts.  Since I was still in the market for a stylist, I decided to "bid" on her cuts.  I won the auction and that marked the beginning of our friendship.

I always tell people that I am a part of the "Hair of the Month Club."  My hair is always changing...long, short, a little longer, really short...highlights, no highlights...flip, tapered...I'm never 100% satisfied.  Fortunately, Cami goes with it!

During my visits to her salon every month, we talk a lot about our children since they go to the same schools (Rocky Hill and Bearden).  We talk about vacations, news around town, illnesses, church (she is a PK), camps...and on and on.  We are friends.

Thank you Cami for five great years of cuts and chats!  My stylist in Tallahassee will have big scissors to fill!