Speaking of birthdays…

My oldest niece, Cora Jane, also recently celebrated a birthday! Cora Jane’s birthday is EXACTLY two months after her sister’s and Labor Day weekend she had a big, blow out of a party too with all things Pound Puppies. Unfortunately we were scheduled to be at the beach that weekend and couldn’t attend. Fortunately for us though we got to spend part of her actual birthday (August 26th) with her.

A couple of years ago, Grandma & Da started a birthday tradition of treating everyone to Dairy Queen after school. The kids love it and it’s wonderful getting to spend some of their birthday time in a smaller, more intimate setting. And the party atmosphere is complete with ice cream & balloons!!!

View Full Album

Luckily, DQ is usually fairly empty when we are there because these kids get silly & rambunctious when they are together!

View Full Album

Jesse, Vera Kate, Whitman, Trey, & Cora Jane

View Full Album

Cora Jane is a very special young lady who is also very giving. She wanted her sister, Lila Rae, to be part of her special day so when we went outside to load up in the cars, she sent her balloons up to heaven so that Lila Rae could enjoy them.

View Full Album

Happy Birthday, Cora Jane!!!
We love you very much!!!

After the bouncing…

…we headed to Grandma & Da’s to swim, open more presents, & celebrate Grandma’s birthday with ice cream cake!!!

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

Happy Birthday Vera Kate, Whit, AND Grandma!

Happy Birthday Vera Kate & Whit!!!

View Full Album

June 26th arrived and with it Vera Kate’s 5th birthday! Sweet little girl that she is, she happily shared her birthday with Whit (whose actual second birthday was the week before) and they had a big blow out of a party at And Bounce in Blackshear.

View Full Album

It was a fantastic day & everybody came out to help celebrate!

View Full Album

Even poor Jesse who had spent most the past week battling a terrible stomach virus! He was finally on the mend, but he was still very weak & not eating much. Thankfully though, he was feeling well enough to attend the big party!

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

After bouncing for over an hour it was time for pizza, cupcakes, ice cream, & presents!!!

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

What a great time we had celebrating Vera Kate & Whit!!! And it wasn’t over yet…

Pioneer Harvest Festival

This past weekend was a busy one for us.   Friday afternoon we attended Trey’s belt ceremony & Sunday we attended a family reunion.  And Saturday.  Saturday we attended the Pioneer Harvest Festival at General Coffee State Park and our church picnic.  Boy, was it HOT!!!  But we had a fabulous time sawing logs, playing games, hiking trails, feeding the animals, swinging from the monkey bars, flying into the sky on the tire swing, and enjoying the fellowship.

View Full Album

Aunt Lindsey and Uncle Chris were off celebrating their anniversary so Hinson came to the picnic with Papa & Ah-ee!  The boys were super-duper excited!!!  They fought over who would push his stroller, wanted to stay right by his side, and were heart-broken when it was time for him to go home and take his nap.

View Full Album

Both boys got the chance to saw a log and bring their sawed off piece home.  They were very excited.  Mama was not as excited.  I got more of a workout than I was planning on!

View Full Album

Some of mine and my boys best friends are our church friends and we always love it when we get to spend time together outside of church!

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

My good friend Lora put it best when she said, “The dirty rings in Jesse's neck are my favorite.  That means he had a good time.”  And she is absolutely right.  When we left we were all tired, hot, sweaty, & very dirty, but we had the best time spending the day in the company of friends!

 
Two are better than one,  because they have a good return for their work:  If one falls down, his friend can help him up.  But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up!
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

After the belt test…

While the hubs and I took Trey to his belt test, Jesse stayed at Papa & Ah-ee’s. But what he really wanted to do was go with us. When I reminded him of how bored he had been last time he told me, “I wasn’t bored, I was just having fun sitting there PRETENDING to be bored.” Hmmmmm, the logic of a four year old! I managed to convince him to stay with the promise of swimming with Hinson! These days the promise of doing ANYTHING with Hinson is like THE magic bullet of getting Jesse to cooperate! So after the belt test, we headed to Papa & Ah-ee’s to swim & fry fish.


Both boys LOVE it when Uncle Chris swims with them! I mean, he’s just SO. MUCH. FUN.

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

Good food, good company, good times…we are truly a blessed family!

Gold Belt

Two weeks ago (September 11, 2010) Trey went for his second belt test in his martial arts training. He had to do his basics and his forms, break a board with a punch and another one with a kick, and spar! I thought he performed very well and he broke both the boards. In fact, he broke the board with his punch so fast that I didn’t even have time to get my camera out (but luckily another Mama did)! But we had to wait two whole weeks to find out if he’d passed and become a GOLD BELT.

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

View Full Album

Yesterday, at the beginning of class, Master Perkins held the belt ceremony. And. TREY PASSED!!! We are all so very proud of him! And Jesse. Well, he can’t wait to get started in martial arts too! Once class started yesterday, Jesse stood in the back of the room and imitated EVERYTHING that the students were doing. He’s going to be my second karate kid one day soon!

View Full Album

After the belt ceremony, we hung out for a little while and watched a little bit of his class.

View Full Album

View Full Album

I just can’t get enough…

View Full Album

of watching this precious boy sleep!

Our favorite summer pastime is…

SWIMMING!!!

View Full Album

Madison & Trey, June 11, 20010

View Full Album

And we were blessed to spend a lot of time swimming with some of our favorite people this past summer!

View Full Album

June 22, 2010

Father’s Day 2010

Father's Day 2010 arrived and with it the children's choirs annual performance for the Dads. Jesse was being fussy, whiny, clingy and absolutely refused to go on stage. And I was keeping the nursery so I missed the live performance. But I know it was fabulous as always!

How Great is Our God

My Great Dad


One True God


And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

VBS: Saddle Ridge Ranch

Roundin' Up Questions & Drivin' Home Answers

Not only did Jesse take swimming lessons while Trey was at camp, but he also attended VBS at his cousins' church. And since he was so whiny and clingy and pretty much wouldn't do anything unless he was sitting in Mama's lap or holding Mama's hand the week before at our VBS I decided to try something new. I dropped him off and left him to experience VBS all by himself!!! Oh my goodness was this hard for me! Although he wasn't entirely alone, he did have Grandma Gwen, Aunt Janie, Cora Jane, & Vera Kate with him, I just about couldn't bear to leave him. However, I knew that he would enjoy himself much more if he wasn't busy hanging onto me & I was right! He had a fabulous time! I heard that he really enjoyed the singing & dancing & stories & especially the bucking bull. However since I dropped him off and didn't see him again until Daddy brought him home I have no photos of his fun times! Of course, Mama & Daddy were on hand for the big finale and I had my video camera ready. And what did my little stinker do...whine, and cry, and want to cling to Mama and NOT stand on stage and sing any of the songs! So while he's in the videos, right in the middle of the stage, if you look closely you will see that he is NOT a happy camper! Vera Kate and Cora Jane were a whole other story. They enjoyed every minute of the finale and sang and danced their hearts out. The songs were so cute & the kids did an excellent job! So enjoy the videos and feel free to sing along! I especially like the last one...Don't Be a Tumbleweed!



Cast My Cares

I Am Who HE Says I Am

Don't Be a Tumbleweed

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5

One tired boy...

View Full Album

You may think that Jesse would be bored, fussy, and irritable with Trey gone to camp all week. But you’d be wrong! Jesse is one busy little boy with all sorts of things to keep him occupied and by the time he got home each night he was all tuckered out and ready for a good night of sleep.

View Full Album

In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You, Lord, alone make me dwell in safety and confident trust.
Psalm 4:8