Memphis in May

Every year Memphis has a huge fesitval in May appropriately called "Memphis in May." Each weekend of the month there is some kind of event with a specific theme. The first weekend is the "Beale Street Music Festival" where over 60 artists perform on four large stages. They get some pretty big names each year. This year some of the performers included Jason Mraz, Train, Three 6 Mafia, Blues Traveler, Jerry Lee Lewis, BB King, and for all you 80's fans out there, Bryan Adams and Huey Lewis & The News. It's 3 days of all different kinds of music and all different kinds of people.

The second week of "Memphis in May" is an international festival and each year they feature a different country. This year is Costa Rica. The week includes different performances and exhibits from the country all around town at schools, museums and parks.

The third weekend of "Memphis in May" is the World Championship BBQ Cooking Contest, also known as the "SuperBowl of Swine." This is a truly amazing event. There are hundreds of different teams that come, set up their tents, and compete to become the World Champions of BBQ. All the contestants have a team name and some of those names are very clever. Here are some of the best ones - The Best Little Boar House in Memphis, The Church of Swinetology, Gettin' Piggy With It, Here for the Beer, Serial Grillers, Resevoir Hogs, and my personal favorite, Slab Yo' Mama. All the teams have a large tent where they cook their food and serve it up to friends. The festival is open to the public, but you can only get into a tent to eat their food and consume their beverages by invitation only. It's all about who you know. And since we are quite the popular people on the Memphis social circuit, we were invited by the "PorkStars" into their tent. Jeremy works with the lead cooker of this team so we were able to sample their ribs. Very delicious. This festival is the largest BBQ contest in the world so it attracts a lot of attention from all over. Before we moved to Memphis, we had seen specials about it on the Travel Channel and the Food Network. There were teams from over 12 different countries competing. It was a lot of fun and we hope to go again next year.

The final weekend in May is the Sunset Symphony. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra performs in the park for the afternoon until sundown. The public can come, bring a picnic, listen to beautiful music, and watch the sunset over the Mississippi River. We have not yet attended the Sunset Symphony since we have been in Memphis, but we hope to one of these years. It seems like a wonderful way to close out spring and welcome summer.

So, there you have it. A run down on the activities happening here in Memphis during the month of May. We would love to have you visit and join us next year for some of these events!

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all you mother's out there! I had a very lovely day. It started by getting up (late, of course) for church and rushing around to get ready on time. Elise woke up with a very running nose and snot dried all over her face. Wonderful. After the whirlwind (that's what Jeremy calls me when I am getting ready to go somewhere) came through, it was off to church. When church was over, we enjoyed a nice lunch out at the local deli. Jeremy and Elise surprised me with a picture of Elise and me in a cute "I Love My Mommy" frame and homemade card. It was very sweet. After the gift, it was time to try to get Elise to take a nap which did not go very well. The past several days she has been off her nap schedule and is WAY over-tired. She screamed on and off for a good hour plus and then Jeremy took her for a walk in her stroller which put her to sleep for a little while. Needless to say, early bedtime tonight for someone. Despite Elise's cold and lack of sleep, I very much enjoyed my 2nd Mother's Day!

18 Months!!!

How time flies!

Gross

If you had to change a baby's dirty diaper while you were out in public, wouldn't you go find a bathroom with a changing station? Or a bathroom with a countertop? Or at the very least find a dark corner where no one could see you? I would. But, as you can probably guess, I encountered someone who didn't. I was at the mall the other day with my friend and as we were walking past JC Penney's, a woman was changing her child's diaper right there on the nice white public bench in front of the store. I didn't get a great look because I didn't want to gawk as I passed by, but I'm almost certain it was a dirty one because there was all kinds of wiping action going on. I was a little disgusted by this. This is the same bench that I have sat on before to wait for a friend. The same bench that someone sits to enjoy a cup of coffee. The exact spot a tired shopper sits to rest with his packages. And there this lady is, using this spot as her personal changing table. Maybe I'm being too sensitive, but I thought she could have at least had the courtesy to walk the 50 feet into the department store and use their restrooms. Next time I go to sit on a bench, I will take a good look before I sit down.

It's Official!

I am here to announce that Elise is officially walking! For several weeks now, she has been taking a few steps (I like to call them "limps" since it was more of her dragging her feet forward than lifting them off the ground) here and there, but never walking any real significant distance and always choosing to drop to all fours and crawl where she needed to go. After her cousins came for a visit, she regressed and quit taking those few steps all together. Fast forward a few weeks after they left and she finally got brave enough to start taking those 3 steps again, but still choosing to crawl over the difficult task of walking.

Well, it officially happened Monday afternoon. Elise and I were outside playing with the little girl who lives down the street and is about the same age as Elise (Not really playing, but starring at each other and both pointing and saying "baby.") They were both riding their "bikes" (Elise had a little car that she sits and scoots on and the other little girl had a Barbie Big Wheel). Elise decided she liked the looks of the Barbie Big Wheel and got off her car and walked about 10-12 feet to try to get on the Big Wheel. I couldn't have been more proud! Not only was she walking, but she was trying to steal someone else's toy. What more could a mother ask for?! :)

Yesterday, she walked even more while we were again playing outside, this time to play with the neighbor's dog. And while we were inside, she took a few steps to get to a toy, fell on her bottom, and then stood back up and continued walking until she reached the toy. I tell you all this to show that I have officially declared her walking. It will take a little while for her to be doing it on a regular basis and steadily, but she is on her way! Now, if we can just get her to clean up after herself...