Summer's End

This summer has truly flown by!  It's hard to believe that everyone will be back in school soon.  To be honest, we haven't gotten all of our adventures in this time.  However, we have made the most of every opportunity. We are heading to Meridian next weekend for another cousin visit.  We are all excited about that!  Fall sports are starting soon, and we will once again be in the road.  I'm ready after our summer break. 

Reed has been here for a few days while his sisters were at the Motion Conference.  JS and Jack spent a couple of days with us, and fun was had by all!  I love how they love each other.

Pop and Reed got in a few very productive fishing trips.  They caught several bass in a pond we rarely ever fish in!  Obviously, we are going to have to change that.  They were almost jumping in the boat!

They moved to another pond, and didn’t have quite the same luck, but these pictures are beautiful. 

We had planned a fun day at the water park, but rain made us head in a different direction.  Upsurge for the win! I don't have pictures of the really fun stuff-swimming, building forts, playing police and pirates, and so much more!  

Rainy Day - Fun Day!!

As hard as it is to believe, this sweet girl is headed to Junior High and JV sports!  Look out volleyball, here we come!

Hayes, one of Reed's very best friends, is battling leukemia.  Several of his friends joined together to shave their heads in support.  We are praying for a speedy recovery for Hayes and strength for him and his family.  

I couldn't love this more.  We are very proud of him, as he shows his love and support for his special friend.  

While Reed was getting his head shaved, the girls and I enjoyed a meal at a Japanese steakhouse.

The little ones and I met Jenna and Mattie Jo at the Children's Museum in Meridian.  What a wonderful place!  We had a ball.

Cutest four year old ever cooked us up a great meal!

This six year old is pretty adorable too!!

Last but not least, these cuties enjoyed a little trip to the beach! I have a couple of late season trips coming up, too!  I can't wait to have my toes in the sand.

More to come!

Family Time

 Our weekend was filled making more wonderful family memories.  There is nothing I love more than  hosting my sweet family. Even though several were not able to be here this time, we had a great time!  Please know that you were missed if you weren't here.  A stomach bug in one family and pneumonia in another were just no fun!

Cutest bunch ever! Next time, we will add Harrison, London, John Michael and hopefully Landry and Millie James to the picture.

Mattie Jo took a little tumble but got up smiling!

Tyson has moved slightly ahead of Maddie, but she's hot on his heels!

Love my people so!! Josh was our photographer.

The water slide was once again a big hit!

Lots of good food and even better fellowship!

Love these guys!

Our group message of who was bringing what was hilarious, but all's well that ends well! The food was delicious!

Lots of pool time was enjoyed.

The day began with Lillian and Pop cooking breakfast outdoors.  Pop is enjoying his new griddle. The biscuits look a little overdone, but they weren't.  They were cooked on the griddle and were awesome.

The little ones enjoyed some extra pool time after everyone left.  Jack is now officially a little fish!

The day before our gathering, Belle discovered this guy under the cherry tree.  That's the tree where the little ones love to play. And while he may have been a harmless rat snake, we discovered he was the reason we weren't getting any chicken eggs.  I thought it was just too hot for the girls.  Turns out, this guy had been helping himself.  He had just eaten 3!

More to come!

Fourth, Family Fun & a Birthday

 Even though I have no pictures of everyone, we enjoyed a wonderful Fourth of July together.  Friday we had a quick but fun trip to the river. (We got out just before a storm hit).  Saturday we gathered to celebrate Caleb's 35th birthday. How could my baby possibly be 35? Lillian and Reed stayed for a couple of extra days, and we enjoyed a little fishing and pool time. Maddie is working as a Counselor in Training at Camp ASCCA (Alabama's Special Camp for Children and Adults).  We missed her, but are so proud of her for doing this. I promise Pop manned the grill and ribs, chicken and more were cooked.  Lindsey and Josh, as well as Taylor were here.  I just didn't get any pictures of them, and only got Caleb's back in the 4th pictures!  

Happy Birthday to you!

Thirty five looks good on you!  So proud of the wonderful man you are!

Is it wrong that he cooked his own birthday meal?

Ready to party!

So much fun with these guys at the river! I think we are going to have to get a bigger tube!

Go Lillian go!

Reed and John Sawyer both love to knee board.

Reed had a ball!

Maddie gave John Sawyer a helping hand, and then he was off!

Shouldn't she still be about 5?  She didn't ski, because she was afraid she'd be too tired for camp.

Zooming by a barge is always fun!

Nothing is more exciting than a backyard ballgame!

Lots of pool time helped on this extremely hot 4th!

Up, Up and away!  JS loved doing flips in the air!

Chicken fight!  Jack may be little, but he's tough!  He almost always wins.

Go girls!

Way to go Reed!

I have been promising these guys a trip to see ole Chuck E. Cheese.  It's usually not my favorite place.

However, this time all of the games worked, and they actually had a few new ones. Most importantly, these two loved it!

This cutie is just precious!  I know that he has to grow up, but I am sure going to miss this stage.  He is a joy!!

JS was so excited that his feet finally reached the peddles on this ride.

Last but not least, Pop and Reed had a couple of great fishing trips.

Did I mention that this one is the greatest frog catcher of all time?  He has caught almost 100 frogs in our backyard.  We have relocated them.  The sad part is that the goldfish pond is filled with tadpoles and baby frogs!

More to come.  We are so excited to be hosting my family next weekend. I can't wait to share about our time together.