Time with Family, The Howell's

Happy 4th of July!!

Paw and Maw with Joanna

My kiddos enjoyed every second at Paw and Maw's

Who is that?

Guess Who!?

Lovely....I think!? :)

Too cute.....but who is it?

The BIG fisherman!

Isaac went fishing with Paw

I think we wore them out!!!

We arrived at my mom and dad's last Saturday. Bryan ate supper with us and then he had to head back home, but the kids and I had plans on staying at my parents til Thursday! We enjoyed being with them soooo much! My dad was off work that week with it being the 4th and my mother had taken off so we really got to enjoy being with them. On Tuesday afternoon we went swimming at the Thrasher's. They are a very dear couple to our family. The Thrasher's were at West Park Heights when we were there. Wayne and Bryan would go visiting together and became really close. Mrs. Nancy was Isaac's Sunday school teacher when we left and she is one of the sweetest ladies. Our family has many memories of our realtionship with Wayne and Nancy and the many ways they have been a blessing to us! Thank you so very much Mr. Wayne and Mrs. Nancy for letting us come over and go swimming. We enjoyed getting to see you two and visiting with you. On Tuesday and Wednesday my dad took Isaac fishing and Isaac LOVED it! Wednesday Isaac caught a stripe and he was so excited! On Wednesday morning my mom, the other kiddos and I went and ran a few errands. We also realized why the kids and I don't go many places, when Joanna is ready for her nap she LOVES to be in her bed (or play pen). She cried the majority of the time we were gone that day (just a few hours). Wednesday night the kids and I went to church at West Park Heights and was so glad to see some of the others that are very dear to us. Mrs. Pat was right there to help me get the kids out of the van and to their classes and then she also helped us get back in the van. Mrs. Pat and Mr. Jim are another couple that was always a blessing and encouragement to us. Sarah had a special relationship with them, matter of fact they were her Sunday school teachers when we left. Thank you Mrs. Pat for helping out on Wednesday night! It was so good to see you and Mr. Jim. We saw many others and it was such a sweet time of fellowship. Sarah was glad to see two of her friends from WPH, Hannah and Lauren. I was also just as glad to get to visit with their mom. Sharon has always been a source of encouragement to me as a homeschooling mother and wife. Thanks Sharon for the time you took to spend a few moments with me. Much love to our friends at WPH!! WOW! We had a great time with my parents and the others we got to see. And the funny glasses, we found them at my mom's and I just had to get pictures of some of us in them. The kids thought they were so funny and the pictures I took....even funnier! :)

Time with Family, The Roughton's

The children

This month Leah and Sarah will celebrate birthdays!

Ella and Sarah had the best time together! Reminds Dodey and I of when we were little girls!

Shooting Fireworks!

So thankful for Dodey!

These little ones were real good about putting on "shows" for the rest of us!

Dodey and I with our kiddos!

One of the main reasons we went to Alabama was for us to get to visit with my cousin and her family. Dodey lives in Montgomery so we don't get to see each other often. She has never seen Joanna so we decided to meet at our Nanny's and my parents. Bryan, the kids and I arrived at my parents house late Saturday afternoon and had a wonderful time being together with family. The sweetest thing was when we pulled up Sarah and Ella (Dodey's oldest daughter) went running to each other for a big hug and that was so much like Dodey and I when we were little girls and we would see each other....brought back so many memories! :) We got to spend Sunday and half day on Monday with them before they had to head back to their home. It was such a great time for the kids to be together and enjoy playing with each other. Those girls could have spent every minute together! I loved being able to spend some time with Dodey, Charles and their girls. So glad we got to get pictures of the kids together. We are already looking forward to getting together again....hopefully sooner than later!

Time with Family, The Camp's

A fun game of match!

Isaac and Sarah love reading Gigi's books!

Sarah took this picture of me and Joanna.

Isaac and Sarah swam so much in Pop and Gigi's pool.

Sarah and Isaac played in the pool all day on Friday! I think they were in the pool by 9 a.m.

Bryan and Timothy taking a break from the water and sun!

Elijah liked the water but not near as much as the two big kids!

So glad these two have each other to play with! I so desire for them to be close now and always.

We love homemade ice cream and Gigi makes the best!

Elijah helped Gigi make the ice cream so he thought he could have the most and he did!

Her ice cream is like a frosty!!

ALL my kids loved being outside and enjoying Gigi's ice cream.

Bryan thought that Joanna needed a bite of ice cream too.

These two are so funny!

We got to Bryan's mom and dad's on Thursday (June 30th) night and the kids got in the pool not long after we arrived. Then we got to spend all day Friday there and half a day on Saturday. Bryan's mom fixed some wonderful meals and desserts....yummy! We also got to see Bryan's brothers and their families. Bryan's baby brother has a new baby and we got to meet him for the first time, so sweet! We were so thankful to get to visit and spend time with Bryan's family. I loved being able to get in the pool and swim with the kids, we had so much fun!

Remember when...

we had the flu right after Joanna was born? Well I found this card the other day that Sarah had made for me and Joanna that week. I just wanted to share it and it was so sweet. I really thought that week would never end, but it did and we are trucking right along!!

This is Joanna in her bouncy seat!! Yes, I am putting it up because she no longer wants to lay in it, all she does is sit up in it. She is the cutest little thing....I am so blessed!! :) Hope you all have a great 4th of July weekend!! "...and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you FREE!!!" John 8:32 Our freedom is found in Jesus Christ and Him alone!!

Cookout

Timothy thought we had to work for our food! LOL! :)

Cooling off with a drink in the shade!

Such a beautiful girl!

I think he wanted to play with the "big boys".

A ride in the wagon is so much fun!

The guys always enjoy a round of corn hole.

The little guy is waiting to play the next round.

Not quite sure who won....

the guy in the orange has such a good arm....and is pretty nice looking! (He is MY hubby) :)

So nice to sit and enjoy some fellowship

The ladies had just as much fun as the guys!

Saturday evening we went to a cookout with some of the couples from the church. We all had a great time and the food was delicious. It is always such sweet fellowship when we are with other families from our church. Lots of FUN!! Thanks to Chris and Lindsey for having all of us in your home (and yard). I tried to take pictures of everyone but I know there was a few people that I didn't get. One of those being Sarah, she had already left to go to the play and another little girl who was in the play and her mom had already left too.

Adventures of Peter Cottontail

Sarah (aka: Happy Jack Squirrel)

Lily (aka: Spotty the Turtle)

Emily (aka: The Mink)

Kenzie (aka: Jenny the Skunk)

We presented our "Actress" with a bouquet of flowers. She was so excited!!

Maw and Sarah

Elijah and Bryan

Isaac and Paw

Elijah and Joanna

Me and Timothy

What a weekend! Sarah had her play on Friday and Saturday night and then Sunday afternoon. She did really well and was so cute! I have included pictures of the others in the play that we go to church with. They all did a great job! My parents came to see Sarah in the play and we had a fun time with them. We took my dad out to eat for a belated Father's Day. We took him to Bell Buckle Cafe and it was so yummy!! It was real nice to have my parents here and they were, as always, a huge help! :)

Youth Camp Week

Haley and Joanna

Sarah waiting her time to bat.

Elijah, Isaac, Timothy and Will loved playing ball together.

Last week Bryan was at Youth Camp all week. That means I was a single mom with 5 kiddos and on three of those days there was 7 kiddos. NO I am not crazy, we had a good time but missed daddy very much!! One of our staff members at church went to Youth Camp a few days and his two youngest children stayed with us while the mom was at work. Haley and Will were so good to have here with us! We played board games, played on the Wii and even enjoyed some outside time. Haley was a big help and did really well with playing with the little boys, holding Joanna and being Sarah's buddy. Will enjoyed playing with the little boys as much as playing with Isaac. So I do believe it worked out really well the days they were here. Then on Friday we had some more friends to come over and spend time with us. What a busy week but it was fun and made the time go by fast!