Grandma

Today when Daddy got home we went to visit Grandma. She is actually the kids great grandma but they call her "our grandma". Whenever we are in Cleburne near her house they ask "Are we going to our grandma's house?". When we arrived they greeted her with hugs and told her about all kinds of things going on with them and we had a very nice visit. She seemed just as happy to see them as they were to see her. Again, sorry for the quality of picture...still no flash. I guess I am going to see if it can be fixed.

Dates

Sorry, I don't have any pictures to go with this one... wish I did! Last night Daddy and Mandy had a date for the Rangers game with the other Daddies and their daughters! From what I understand they had a great time and she ate a lot! I can't get many details since she says it is a secret between them...hmmm. While they were at the game Aunt Kelly, Mrs. Christy and I took the boys out for dinner at Chick fil-a and went shopping for school clothes. It was a great little outing and the boys did extremely well considering boys don't get into the shopping thing quite like girls do! All in all two fantastic dates last night...love spending time with our kiddos!

French Braids

I have never been able to master this! While in St Simons, Aunt Lynn tried to teach me. This is Monday...not bad for my first try! I figure by the time she can sit still for me I will be able to make it tight enough to last all day...this one didn't survive nap time! Please forgive the darkness of the pictures...my flash isn't working!

Last stop!

We stopped to sleep at Aunt Kelli and Uncle Steven's house after a LONG time in the truck you can see the kids were getting a little loopy! The next morning we had some good visit time while Daddy slept in. Then we loaded up his deer feeder, had lunch and headed home! Thanks for letting us invade and I really enjoyed the brief visit! Love you guys!

Derek, Sally and Cole

While talking to PawPaw on our road trip we discovered that we were also going to pass through Eufala, Alabama...the new home of my cousin Derek, his wife Sally and their baby boy (that I hadn't met yet)! Yep, BIG coincidences on this new route! thankfully Aunt Carol and Uncle Jay were there helping them move things into their new home so I got to see the crew! See Aunt Carol, not Thanksgiving 2010! :) love you! It was really nice to see Derek, Sally and meet Cole. They have a beautiful new home with a huge back yard! I was thankful to see some more of my family and the kids were so well behaved thanks to the time out of the truck! Sorry we missed you Nana, Buddy and Uncle KC.

Jessica

On our trip home we had lunch with Jessica, a friend of mine from WAY back. The picture of my first day of Kindergarden was with her and one other girl! We were two of a crew of girls that were BFFs at about Mandy and Kyler's age through 2nd grade. It has been about 27 years since we had seen each other and when I saw the sign to her town and that we were going to drive through at lunch time (we tried a new route) i just had to call! Thanks to being friends on Facebook I had a current number and we got together. I got to meet her husband and georgeous daughter about 6 months younger than Mandy too. Excuse the way i look in the picture...lots of time in the car!

St.Simons Island

Then we were off again! Headed to St Simons Island, GA. I don't even know where to begin here. We played at the pier, on playground, went to the beach (alot!), Daddy tried paddle surfing, Kyler boogie boarded, swam in the salt water pool (Kyler has become a REALLY good swimmer), had a picnic, caught fiddler crabs, visited the Georgia Sea Turtle Center on Jekyll Island, got ice cream, went out on Aunt Lynn and Uncle Mark's boat (caught and lost a shark AND saw about 40 dolphins!), the kids had a sleepover with Aunt Lynn and Uncle Mark while Daddy and I packed and cleaned to get ready to head home, they made chocolate chip cookies (a tradition with Aunt Lynn), played really hard with Uncle Mark and Banchee (sorry if I misspelled her name) the dog. The list could go on and on. A great visit to Aunt Lynn and Uncle Mark's house and in a neat little condo of their friends'. Thanks Aunt Lynn and Uncle Mark we really enjoy our time with you!

Minin' Fer Gold and Gems

After visiting the indian village we headed out to pan for gold etc before Uncle Todd had to head back to Atlanta for work that night. Now this was a TRIP! Kyler and Daddy got a lot in their little baggie...Mandy, Uncle Todd and I not so much. Mandy only wanted to keep the stones that had purple in them and the rest...well, the went floating down the trough to the people at the end. All that mattered to me was that she had fun and BOY did she!!

Cherokee Indian Village

Our second field trip was with Uncle Todd to a little indian village to show how the Native Americans lived years ago. The kids thought it was all pretty neat, including how they made arrowheads but really liked the indian dances they saw. I think the biggest kick they got was out of messing with the snake we saw in the ditch walking up to the village from the car. Most of all we all enjoyed hanging out with Uncle Todd. Every time we see him the kids talk about him daily for weeks and weeks!

Great Smokey Mountain Railway

One of our field trips while visiting Granny and Graddy was to ride the train from Bryson City to the Nantahala Gorge via the Great Smokey Mountain Railway in an OPEN car! It was SOOOOO beautiful! Thank you Graddy for treating us to this fabulous experience! The morning temperatures in the mountains was in the 50's/60's with a high of 75! Can you believe it? Beautiful weather, beautiful scenery, beautiful family...who could ask for more? Thank you Lord!

Granny and Graddy

Next stop...North Carolina! We had a fantastic visit with Granny and Graddy. We had some quality time and went on a couple of field trips to give them a break from us crazy kids for a little while too! Kyler had the best time following or pulling Graddy all over the place and got the biggest kick from the earth worms. Mandy and Granny were attached at the hip and loving evey minute of it! The pictures below were just beautiful so I am throwing them in too! I wish I had the green thumb of my grandparents...I am lucky to keep an ivy living!!

Yes, i know half of Mandy's head is cut off but she moved at the last second...I still think it is beautiful.

Kent Family Reunion

We started our vacation at Big Ridge State Park in Mainardsville, TN for the Kent family reunion. There was a pretty good showing and still so many couldn't make it. We had a good visit and a beautiful day! Thanks to Granny and Graddy for putting that together. We got to visit with family that doesn't get to see each other very often, the kids played on the playground and in the swimming area of the lake, and we all ate wonderful food!

Trickery...

 

So, I know this is NOT the best photo but from where I was it was the best I could get. Last night Daddy and I decided to get tricky with our tricky little girl. She has taken us on some wild rides over swim lessons and so this is what we found to work...
If Mama isn't there to watch...she stretches, swims, giggles and is a great little swimming student. If mama is there no go! I am talking any degree of drama from simple refusal to meltdown fits! It could go either way. We discovered the cue Friday when Mrs. Jennifer took the girls to swimming and then a sleepover. Both girls got in, participated and had a great time! So last night, Kyler and I dropped Daddy and Mandy off at swimming with Mrs. Jennifer and Livy while we went to get some gas. Daddy was told he had to stay outside the gazebo while Mrs. Jennifer took them until she was in the water...By the time Kyler and I got back, they were in and going strong. Apparantly my daughter is going through a late in toddlerhood spearation anxiety! Atleast we have figured parts of this out and she is learning to swim!

Wild Hair...

One of my goals for the summer was to paint the bathrooms. Yesterday I got my wild hair and painted the kids bathroom. We compromised on color and did green (Kyler wanted orange) which Daddy hates! But Mandy and Kyler LOVE it! That is all that matters to me. Excuse the towel hanging, Mandy started swim lessons yesterday (did great!!) and I was too lazy to move the towel for the pic. All in all I think it turned out well considering I did it all by myself! The kids did help some too...

Life in the fast lane.

This was in a newsletter that I received today and it speaks to the way I live my life at times. I want to keep these words close to my heart and put up in a place I can see daily...

Slow me down, Lord.
Ease the pounding of my heart by the quieting of my mind.
Steady my hurried pace with a vision of the eternal reach of time.
Give me, amid the confusion of the day, the calmness of everlasting hills.
Break the tensions of my nerves and muscles with the soothing music of the singing streams that live in my memory.
Teach me the art of taking minute vacations - of slowing down to look at a flower, to chat with a friend, to pat a dog, to smile at a child, to read a few lines from a good book.
Slow me down, Lord, and inspire me to send my roots deep into the soul of life's enduring values, that I may grow toward my greater destiny.
Remind me each day that the race is not always to the swift; that there is more to life than increasing its speed.
Let me look upward to the towering oak and know htat it grew great and strong because it grew slowly and well.
- Jim Burns

Fourth of July Weekend

Ok folks, be ready....this is going to be a long one. We have been busy and just not able to blog as I go for all the celebrating! So, here it all is. Uncle KC came in to visit, he got here Thursday night and played with the kiddos...even bought them ice cream from the ice cream truck cruising the neighborhood. He definitely made fast friends will all 5 little people. Daddy decided the football teams were not fairly matched so he joined in on Alex and Gage's team...look out boys!

Friday Uncle KC went to visit PawPaw and Grandma Sarah while we were off for a day at the pool with Uncle Shawn, Aunt Kelly and crew. The kids had a blast (as did we). They are all trying to "practice" swimming independently (meaning to us). Even Mandy got brave and took off "swimming" to me...without warning! Thank God I was paying attention.

It has been SOOO hot that we finally talked Kyler into a hair cut while we were doing Daddy's. He even did a lot of it himself. He wasn't happy about it until it was done then he was thrilled to look like Daddy. Friday night after soccer Austin wanted his done the same way (Surprise!) so with Aunt Kelly's permission I did his that way too. They are too funny talking about how they are twins and how funny it would be if they switched houses and went home with the other's parents, they crack me up!


Saturday we were all off to a day at the lake and the fireworks show. It was HOT but we had a breeze up until it was time for fireworks so it turned out wonderfully. We all swam, cooked out and played. There was quite a crew and at one point when the ice cream cart rolled by they all got excited and ofcourse all parents were like not gonna happen! Mandy said "Look Mama! Look behind you!" as if I hadn't been a part of the prior conversation. So...clever mama...said,"Look Mandy! Look behind you! There are grandparents here!" I did apologize to Daddy (PawPaw) for the set up but he was more than happy to take them over there for ice cream, he even let them get the "good stuff" (meaning the ice cream in the shape of their favorite Nikelodeon stars), the kind we are all to cheap to buy them so it was a REAL treat!! Thanks Pawpaw! Thank GOD for grandparents! Grandma Sarah even took a few runs to the potty for us mom's to get a break...much appreciated...love grandparents! Thanks!

Then there was the fireworks show. I brought Oreos for everyone to share while we watched and PawPaw got the kids to do a cheer for Oreos...when he said stand up and holler...Mandy was UP! So funny. The kids all got red or blue star shaped bubble necklaces, flags and glow in the dark necklaces and bracelets for during the show and loved playing with them. Everyone liked the show and we were all exhausted by the time we left but over all it was a great day.

Boys play day

Kyler got his turn at having a friend over to play today and they had a blast! Harrison didn't want to leave, Kyler and Mandy fell out on the couch as soon as they quit moving and Jamie and I had a great visit too! We got so hot playing in and outdoors that we decided to throw the pool out and cool off...great fun! Mandy did a great job of having fun and holding her own with the boys...having Harrison's baby sister here didn't hurt!