Thursday, August 7, 2014

Summer 2014

I posted about our beach trip but I haven't really said much about what else we've been up to this summer.  It flew by!

Kate and Caroline

VBS at WBC in June.  They had such a fun time that week!  

Dinner at Claire and Charlotte's and another dress-up session!  Sweet sweet friends.  I love this age!  

Giggling with sweet baby Hayes 

After church one Sunday morning

Kate did soccer camp at our church this summer with Will.  She was excited about her pink shin guards :)  If they hadn't been pink, I'm not sure we would have gotten them on her ;)  This was really a fun week for them, too!  

Last day of soccer camp :)

This was a funny night.  We went to Red Robin to eat dinner, ordered our food and waited about 10 minutes before the power went out in the whole place due to a car accident involving a converter box outside the restaurant.  The boys could not figure out the power going out at Red Robin.  We left there (with empty bellies) and went to grab some quick food at Rhineheart's...this pic is Joe trying to explain to Matthew (obviously in deep thought) why the power went out, and how it will at some point come back on.  Even now, two months later, whenever we ride by Red Robin, they ask if the power is still out! lol 

The following pics are from July 4.  We spent a lot of time on the water that week, and we also had a family reunion with many of the Tennessee crew.  Fun weekend!

Kelly and sweet Caroline

Grandmama and her sis Celia.  I had to snap this shot.  These two women have a problem.  This was a cookout lunch at the lake on July 4 in about 90 degree heat.  And they brought the portable coffee pot.  

Will

Kate and sweet Samantha

Joshua diggin' in the dirt



Gettin' dirty


Even at the lake one must take care of business


Resting up for fireworks



Yay for snacks at sunset!

Lakin' it

Glow sticks!

A pool-ful at Bobby and Margaret's the next day

Sweet girls



"Baby flips, please"

Grandmama and two of her sweet sisters.  I hope Kelly and I have a pic like this in 50 years!


Precious Mary Harper turned one this summer!  She had the sweetest first birthday party!

Being silly after church

The boys are really into golf these days.  They love to go up to the putting green in the evenings and "practice" after the golfers have gone home.



John has NEVER loved going to the carwash.  This day was no exception.  Matthew and Kate love it, but John not so much.  When he realized I was pulling into the carwash he started fussing saying, "Mommy please I don't want to go to the carwash!" So sad!  I normally try to go when he's not with me but this day my car was in horrible shape and really needed it.  I hated to do it, but we had to go through.  I tried to comfort him and wasn't having much luck, when all of a sudden Matthew said to him, "John, close your eyes and cover your ears."  John said, "Ok!" and did just what he said.  He rode like this all the way through the carwash and didn't make a peep.  Sweet boy.  It was so sweet I had to snap a pic.  He rode through the carwash with Joe the other day, and apparently it was life changing...he now loves the carwash :)

Fun day at Hoppy Feet with Hadley and Hayes

Addi's princess party!

Fun night at Greer and Mary Harper's house!

Fishing at sunset

It has been a busy summer!  We also had the boys' 3rd birthday party mixed in there too...will post about that next...
As I'm typing this we are wrapping up the kids' first day of school for this year.  They had such a great day and we are so so proud of them.  Will share more about that later.  I am trying to get caught up on everything from the summer before fall sets in. 

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Nine Years!


Sometimes it feels like this JUST happened...and I cannot believe it has really and truly been NINE whole years.  Craziness.  So much has happened!  Tonight we let the kids stay up late and we put in our wedding video and let them watch...we all laughed and laughed.  I can't even tell you the last time we put that thing in and watched it!  So funny to look back at our friends, families, and ourselves and think about where all we've been since then, where we are now, and where we're headed in the future.  We were tucking Kate into bed and she said, "Daddy I want to marry you and ride in that car with you."  Thank you, Lord, for the gift of these past nine years!  Wouldn't change a thing.  


Thursday, July 17, 2014

Beachin'

We spent a long weekend in St. Simons this June and had a fantastic time.  We had not visited the island in quite a while, and I had almost forgotten how completely charming it is there.  We relaxed, spent some good quality family time, ate some delicious food, and just enjoyed having no agenda at all for a few days.  We definitely have three little beach babies on our hands.  They could've spent hours upon hours in that sand!  

Kate is swimming like a little fish this summer



  
This was the first time we have every tried to put all 3 in one room together.  It was quite entertaining every night hearing them "chat" themselves to sleep.  The first night we were there, I woke up about 3:30am to Joe shoving my side, saying, "Look.." pointing toward the door.  I opened my eyes and all three of them were standing in the doorway to our room...Kate appeared to be the "ring leader"...and said, "We're ready!"  lol!!!  I got up and walked them back to their room/beds (much to their disappointment...poor things.  They really and truly believed it was time to get up) and they went back to sleep thankfully.  We forgot to tell them no getting up until it's light outside...oops ;)

Each evening we'd come in from the beach and shower while Joe ran out to get us some yummy take-out.  After we ate dinner in, we headed out for ice cream down on the pier.

The boys were not feeling the elevator this trip.  And we were on the 3rd floor :(  One of us did the stairs with them every time.  




Digging the "lake"  



Sitting in the "lake" 

Beach babies


It was fun watching the ships come in and out of the harbor all week



God's promises...beautiful



















Can we go back now?