Our morning out

Lily giving a "cheese" for Daddy (I try to take as many pictures possible of our days..so Jed can see what we do each day while he is at work) ♥

Here I am with just a few seconds to spare...today is the first day this week that it hasn't been overcast and looking as if the clouds would pour down on us.

So, we went to the park with the bikes...we didn't last long as the heat chased us back to the AC filled house. But it was a fun, active 20 minutes. The kids road their bikes around the park, and then played on the playground...Lily even went down the twisty slide all by herself.


I really need to get to cleaning and more laundry (that stuff breeds if you leave it unsupervised)...so here are a few pictures of our morning out. EnJoy.

I will do vacation post #3 as I get time...so check back soon.

Dakota with hands outstretched to catch his Lily Lu

He's getting better at doing it all by himself...on another note...the sky is such a pretty blue today

Dakota having fun on the slide

Way Back When-esday: Backyard Fun

This week, I am going to post some backyard fun for Way Back When-esday. Here is Lilyann, playing in the backyard one early evening...April of 2009. Barefoot, as always...It's hard to keep shoes on Miss Lily....and check our her peach fuzz..I can't believe her hair has grown that much in just over a year. WOW!

And here is Lily with Dakota yesterday evening (July 2010)...playing and having fun. I even got both kids--who have an aversion to bugs--to try and catch grasshoppers and crickets last night. Jed was mowing the backyard (as you can see in the background of this picture) and creating quite a stir with the bugs. And...do you notice anything similar about Lily??? no shoes...yet again...and same for Dakota. Yesterday evening was the 1st time that I saw Lily go down the slide all by herself...My Little Lily is growing up.

*Playing along with Cheryl from Twinfatuation for Way Back When-esday*

Vacation Post #2

The 4th of July was spent in Downtown Greenville....we were invited by my cousin's fiance to watch the fireworks show from her office building...she had a bird's eye view of the Downtown Greenville...and the fireworks seemed so close you could touch them.This was also a fun evening of getting to know the newest cousin and her family.

Lily "wearing" her name tag

Lily...after the fireworks show...and after having some chocolate dessert...here with my sister, Lydia

My cousin, Kenny and his soon-to-be bride, Hannah.

The next 2 days were spent exploring downtown Greenville...very pretty area might I add...and attending the wedding of Kenny and Hannah. And what could make all of these happenings fun??? spending it with family!!

Lauren and Lily...6 months difference in age

Dakota with his cousins, Jason and Mason

Running down the hill at downtown Greenville

I captured this moment of my dad with Evan (my nephew)...they were playing the piano

Way Back When-esday: The cousins

July 2010

we are up to 9 cousins now..and there is one on the way

March 2007

The cousins at the time

It was fun spending time with family...and letting all the cousins play together. Dakota was 15 months old the last time we got pictures of everyone together..and now, Dakota is 4 1/2 yrs old. The kids grow so fast.

Playing along with Cheryl from Twinfatuation

Vacation Post #1

All our about vacation will come post by post...and as the kids will allow.

the kids slept pretty well on the drive to Georgia (an almost 12 hour drive)

So here is post #1 about our vacation....we left out on Friday evening (July 2nd)...and headed towards Georgia. We arrived in Georgia at 8am after driving through the night...it was a successful trip...the kids slept most of the way (that's successful in my book...lol) We spent Saturday with my Aunt Glory (my dad's youngest sister) and Uncle Steve. We went on a few "adventures" as my Aunt called them...We visited the Botanical Gardens, a walk through zoo...very nice, and saw the University of Georgia football Stadium...we rounded out our adventures by eating at Peruvian restaurant. ♥Super Yummy Food♥

Lily at the Botanical Gardens with my Aunt Glory

Having a sit down

The cute bear cubs...found out they are siblings...go figure!

Dakota at the University of Georgia Stadium

A visitor to my Aunt Glory's bird feeder

Dakota and Lily enjoyed throwing the football around with Uncle Steve

We had a fantastic time at my Aunt Glory and Uncle Steve's house. Catching up and spending time with family helps make vacation fun. We were at my aunt and uncle's house for about 24 hours and then we traveled on to South Carolina...and made it just in time for the 2nd hour of church. My cousin's daughter sang a solo for the 4th of July service. She did amazingly.

Nattie singing in church

The music was a tremendous blessing at my cousin's church...I didn't realize this until we got there...but my cousin goes to the same church as Patch the Pirate (Ron Hamilton)
He has written music and produced many stories on cassettes and now CDs all about life and morals. I listened to his stories as a child and now my kids listen to them.

You can visit his website here and read about how he became Patch the Pirate.

Check back soon for more about our vacation...we were gone for 15 days...and I am only 3 days into it.

Home

WE ARE HOME!!

I know, I was counting down the day to vacation almost 4 months ago....but the best part of vacation is coming home...being able to kick up your feet on your own coffee table...sit around and do nothing...It's just...HOME!!

The unpacking has started and for the most part, I am finished. All of the kids' stuff has been put away...laundry has been started....luggage shoved into the far back of the closet.

Now, just the folding and putting away of the clean laundry.

And a trip to the grocery store to restock the fridge. Jed, thoughtfully, cleaned out the fridge before he flew to Florida to meet up with us...so it's empty in there except for condiments and shredded cheese (what can I say?? they had a great sale on shredded cheese about a month ago...with kids, you gotta stock up!)

2nd generation of friends in FL

The 2nd generation of friends

Another quick update...

We are having fun here in Florida. I was able to meet up with some friends from high school today. And what is super cool is that we all have girls who are close in age....all are 2 yrs old or turn 2 yrs old in a few weeks. Lily is the oldest of all the girls.

This afternoon, I had fun spending time with a good friend from school, Zobeyda. She has 2 kids, the little girl in the white shirt and then a baby boy. We went to the mall today and let the kids visit the Disney store and ride the escalators...Which was fun for my kiddos since we don't have escalators at our Mall.

From the beach

Just dropping in for a quick vacation update...all is going well...Jed is flying in tonight...I can't wait!!

The kids and I went to the beach this evening...we had lots of fun.

It's on...

My countdown shows that I have 16 hours til Summer Vacation starts...Woohoo!! that is actually until tomorrow starts. We are planning on leaving tomorrow evening....and driving through the night. In my opinion, an easier trip for us all..because the kids will sleep (I hope, or at least that is what I am planning on) We have a little over a 12 hour drive to our first stop...My Aunt's house in Georgia.
And then the next day, I will meet up family....my brother and his wife and son...2 more of my sisters, and then more aunts, uncles, and cousins....and all in time to celebrate America!!

I love fireworks, and I am eager to attempt to capture some truly inspiring pictures...whether they be of fireworks, or just the awe and inspiration in the eyes of my children.
I LOVE AMERICA!!

Also, I am happy to announce that I.......................................................finished the 3,000 Sit ups Challenge for the month of June! I am truly proud of myself and I feel that I have every right to be. This was an enduring task...and some days, I didn't want to do them...but I still did. I think I might even continue with the Sit ups through out the summer...maybe not every day...especially with vacation starting tomorrow...but almost everyday. It will help me get a jump on the winter slump.

Lilyann with her Boo...this was taken Sunday while waiting on the cookies to finish baking
Boo makes some of the best Chocolate chip cookies in the world...The kids ate both bags that she sent home with us. They love Boo's cookies!!