Toomer's Corner...What a Sad Week for Auburn Fans!!!

Below is an article copied from CBS Sports.  It was written February 16, 2011.  Such a sad day for Auburn fans.  A tradition that Jackson will never get to see or experience with the same trees his daddy and I walked past as well as his Papa.

AUBURN, Ala. -- Auburn University says someone deliberately poisoned trees at Toomer's Corner, where fans have long celebrated big wins and hundreds gathered after the Tigers won the football national championship on Jan. 10.
The university said in a statement Wednesday that a herbicide commonly used to kill trees was applied "in lethal amounts" to the soil around the two trees, and that they likely can't be saved.
Auburn discovered the poisoning after taking soil samples on Jan. 28, a day after a man called a syndicated radio show based in Birmingham saying he had used the herbicide on the trees.
"The weekend after the Iron Bowl, I went to Auburn, Ala., because I live 30 miles away, and I poisoned the Toomer's trees," the caller told The Paul Finebaum Radio Show, saying he was at the Iron Bowl.  Calling himself "Al from Dadeville," he said he used Spike 80DF, also known as tebuthiuron, and the trees "definitely will die." The caller signed off with, "Roll ****Tide."




 Auburn fans traditionally celebrate by using toilet paper to roll the Toomer's Corner trees, which are estimated to be more than 130 years old.
"We will take every step we can to save the Toomer's oaks, which have been the home of countless celebrations and a symbol of the Auburn spirit for generations of Auburn students, fans, alumni and the community," university President Jay Gogue said in a statement.
City police are investigating the incident. The use of Spike 80DF is also governed by state agricultural laws and the Environmental Protection Agency. The university said it doesn't use the herbicide.
"We are assessing the extent of the damage and proceeding as if we have a chance to save the trees," said Gary Keever, an Auburn University professor of horticulture and a member of Auburn's Tree Preservation Committee. "We are also focused on protecting the other trees and shrubs in Samford Park. At this level the impact could be much greater than just the oaks on the corner, as Spike moves through the soil to a wide area."
A small group gathered and rolled the trees Wednesday afternoon.
The soil samples were tested at Mississippi State.
The amount of herbicide detected in four samples ranged from 0.78 parts per million -- described by Auburn as "a very lethal dose" -- to 51 parts per million.
"This herbicide is extremely active and persistent," Keever said. "It's very likely to be in the soil for three to five years."

A Good Week!

 It has been a beautiful week.  We have been getting a preview of spring and it is so nice.  Jackson has been able to spend a great deal of time outside.  He has also learned to pull himself up in his bed so we had to lower his mattress.  We have been strolling through the neighborhood in the wagon in the afternoons/evenings.  His hair is out of control.  We celebrated his first Valentine's day and Queenie's 8th birthday.  Jackson got a race car toy and a set of keys.  Queenie got 2 toys a several packages of treats.  His second tooth has broken through.

Valentines Day:

Playing and Pulling Up:

Crazy Hair:

Pulling Up!

Jackson pulled up on his own for the first time yesterday.  He was sitting in the floor and I was sitting in the chair with my legs stuck out in front of me.  He grabbed my leg and pulled up from a sitting to a standing position.  He has been getting so practice standing next to the couch and playing.  He also took a couple of steps us holding his hands.  We are making progress.

9 Months Old

Jackson turned 9 months old this past Friday.  He had quite an adventure last week.  Last week he spent the week over in Trussville with our friend, Donna.  Donna was the designated babysitter for the week (When Donna was a teenager, she kept mom when she was younger too).  After picking Jackson up from Donna's we headed over to see Dr. B for the 9 month check-up.  The doctor said that he was doing great.

A few 9 month facts about Jackson - He is 24 lbs. and 31 inches long.  He is scooting across the floor to get to where he wants to go.  He isn't exactly crawling by what the textbook definition would describe but he is crawling using the Jackson method.  It basically involves scooting using his elbow and wiggling around.  He is saying Mamamamamamama.  He has some understanding of what "No!" means.  He is pulling up from a seated position with a little help.  He enjoys standing in front of the couch and playing with various toys.  His favorite toy is anything he can toss over his shoulder or to the side.  He is wearing a size 18 month and size 3 diapers.  He doesn't like a sippy cup, in fact he wants nothing to do with it.  He doesn't try to put much of anything in his mouth so he isn't interested in feeding himself any type of finger food.  He is very ticklish, especially on his sides.  I love to hear him laugh!

Here are some 9 month old photos:

Where's Jackson? There He Is!

It has been several weeks since I last had the opportunity to blog.  It has been quite busy around our house.  The last time I blogged it was several days following Auburn's big win and the snow that kept us out of school for two days. 

Since that time, Jackson has visited Mary Kay in the hospital (and we are so glad she is home and getting better - he misses his Nanny Toot!), his MeeMee came to stay with him for a week, his Nana came and stayed with him for two days, mommy took vacation time to be at home with him for three days, he traveled to South Alabama for a couple of days and got to hang out with his Papa while mommy and Nana went shopping, he got to visit and show out for Great Mee Maw and Great Paw Paw, he spent an afternoon with Aunt Katie while we went to Aunt Sara's funeral in Fairhope, and lots of other adventures.  This week Jackson is staying with Aunt Katie's daughter, Donna (who also kept Mommy when she was younger).

Jackson's new favorite activity is exploring the house in his walker.  He is hysterical!  He puts one hand on the front of the walker and "drives" throughout the house.  He has so much fun exploring every room...so needless to say the "childproofing" has begun.  His favorite place to hang out in his walker is between the bed and dresser in our room on mommy's side of the bed.  If I miss him, I just check the bedroom and he is sitting there playing with the bedspread or flipping the handles on the dresser drawers.  When he went to visit Mary Kay this past Saturday (which was an absolutely beautiful, sunny day), he played in the walker over and raced all over her deck chasing after the dogs.  He would also get a running start and pick up his feet until the walker stopped and start going again.  Mary Kay loaned him her hat when he was out in the walker - he was quite a sight!!!

I have included a few pictures from the two or three weeks.

War Eagle - 2010 BCS National Champions!!!

Last night, Auburn played Oregon in Glendale, Arizona.  They won the game 22-19.  It was an awesome game.  I was so excited about their win.  The state of Alabama should be proud - 2 consecutive national championship teams and Heisman trophy winners.  Also, the SEC should be proud because we have had 5 consecutive years of national champions among the teams.

Before the championship game started, I got Jackson ready for bed.  He sat in the floor during the first few possessions of the game (as he did for all their games this season).  I had to put him to bed about an hour after the game started so when they won the championship I could not run around the house screaming for fear of waking him.  Here is Jackson at the start of the game:

Little Jack Frost

When we arrived home from staying at Glyn and Rex's, I took some pictures of the snow at our house.  Then I took Jackson out to make his picture.  It was so cold that I didn't stay out very long with him but I managed to get a few pictures.

Snowed In

It was predicted that snow would arrive on Sunday night and last until Monday.  Jackson and mom headed over to Aunt Glyn and Uncle Rex's on Sunday night because we were afraid that the power would go out and we would be cold since we are an all electric house.  We stayed overnight and ended up staying until Tuesday morning because of road conditions.  While there, Jackson had a great time explorer the house in his walker.  He was all over the place and into everything he could get his hands on.  He enjoyed having so many people interested in his every move.  He is quite a character.  Pictures from Glyn and Rex's yard:

Saturday Afternoon at Home

No need to miss a photo opportunity on a Saturday afternoon.  Jackson received a number of toys for Christmas.  He was particularly interested in the one that plays music and sings songs.

Arrival of First Tooth

Jackson has been teething for the past couple of weeks.  His first tooth finally broke through on Thursday, January 6.  I wonder when the next tooth will decide to make an appearance!