Summer Fun

NOTE: there will be lots of pictures in this post... if that doesn't interest you, don't read any futher!

Yesterday was the grand opening celebration of a new park in the little town next to us. For a small town thing, they threw a great little shin-dig! It was a blast!

We had a bit of lunch, then on to the games... we got tickets so Luke could jump on the inflatable bouncy things... but since I didn't take any socks and it was about 100 degrees out, he didn't want to jump on any of them, but they did have this baseball one that had a place where the air was blowing out and the ball hovered over it, and the kids hit it with the bat. So cute. David took some great pictures.

Waiting in line

Avery waiting for her brother

A swing...

and a hit...(notice the tounge)

My favorite picture

Then it was off to the playground, here Avery got to have some fun too!

And then there was the dog race. Boy was this fun to watch! It's the simple things that are the most fun! After watching how these folks had their dogs trained, I asked David if he thought they could work some of their magic on Jane?!?! Luke sure had a good time trying to beat the dog when it was his turn!

At the Park

We’ve been having some beautiful spring weather here the last week or so, and we’ve been lovin’ it! My little people LOVE to be outside! And I cannot blame them… I like it too! So we’ve been spending a good bit of time outside soaking in the nice sunshine and the warmer weather. The other day we called our friends Coen and Clayton and asked them to meet us at the local park for some good ol’ playground fun! Here are just a few pictures of the good times!

Coen

Luke

Avery Girl

Ate (Clayton, but Avery calles him Ate)

Putting Coen and Avery in the swing together seemed like a good idea...

Love this...

Ate and Avery

Swingin'

Petting the puppy - Ben

Memorial Day Food

Memorial Day weekend! Yippee! It’s a long weekend for most people… my hubby included DOUBLE yippee!!! And to make it even better my folks are coming in on Sunday afternoon!

Growing up my family got together every Memorial Day for a picnic – we got together often for picnics – some very happy memories from those days! So I’m really looking forward to having my parents here for Memorial Day and our friends, the Lowe’s will be joining us for the fun and food as well! We’ll be grilling and eat outside! LOVE that too friends, family, food and good times! I just love for everyone to be outside and laughing and enjoying each other’s company around the grill!

This isn’t a deep post or one where I intended to share some big happy memory… I was just gonna share the menu for the evening. Cause I love parties, and the planning and the food! Oh joy! So here’s our not too complicated Memorial Day grillin’ out menu!

Hamburgers/cheeseburgers/hot dogs
Chili, slaw and all other fixings for the burgers and dogs
Layered salad (made by Leslie)
Mac & cheese (homemade)
Grilled veggies
Chips
Tea, soda, water

Dessert:
Ice cream
Cream cheese and fruit thingy (first time making it!)

So that’s it and I’m excited!

If any of you other loyal readers are around and have nothing else to do on Sunday evening and would like to join us we would LOVE to have you!! Let me know so I can make enough food!

Avery at 18 months!

It’s hard to believe that my baby girl is 18 months old. Time seems to fly when I look back, but just like every other mother in the world knows, sometimes the days drag on! Anyway, I’m really enjoying this stage that Avery is in, I think more so than when Luke was going thru it… I’m not sure why that is, except that I know she’s my last one and I want to get as much out of it as I can…

Anyway, she’s doing all sorts of new things…

- Crawling up on the couch (and EVERYTHING else she can climb on)

- Saying “Uv u!” awwww… this is so wonderful to hear – finally!!

- Actually helping me put her cloths on! She’s so independent

She is also trying to do EVERYTHING her brother is doing… everything! Unfortunately for her there are some things she cannot do yet simply due to her size/age! But I have no doubt she’ll get there!

I am also enjoying choosing an outfit for her each day! Having a girl to dress is so much fun. I love consignment sales!!! It’s the best, most affordable way to dress kids! I’m already looking forward to the fall sales!

Love my girl in red!



Cute consignment sale find


Smile for the camera

Is It Well?

In doing my devotions this morning I was reminded of how good God is, how He's good all the time, in the bad times and in the good. He's good when we don't see it and when we wonder what in the world is going on here? Truly my faith is the cornerstone of my relationship with Jesus Christ.

The author of this morning’s devotions referenced the old hymn (David, I put the words up just for you!) It Is Well . This is one of my favorite hymns. I'm not a big hymn girl (unlike my hubby who loves them!) but this has to be one of my very favorites. They writer of the hymn lost EVERYTHING he had... his 4 daughters and all his earthly wealth - if after that he can look to the Lord and say, it is well - then by golly, I can too!

Be encouraged by these words today. Read them all - each one - let the Lord touch your heart and encourage it as He has done mine this morning!


It Is Well

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

But, Lord, ‘tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
Oh trump of the angel! Oh voice of the Lord!
Blessèd hope, blessèd rest of my soul!

Refrain

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

Words: Horatio G. Spafford, 1873.

Like Mother Like Daughter

Avery doesn’t sit still for much – mostly nothing – except to get her toe nails polished! Yup – she’ll sit perfectly still while you’re polishing them. Mind you she gets up and rubs them on things before they are dry, but she loves to sit and have them done. It’s too cute! I love it and I love doing it for her.

I managed to get her to sit long enough to get these few pictures while we were outside the other day. They aren't great shots, but you get the idea.

Right now we’re sporting a light pink… nothing too dark for my baby girl. It’s a good summer color!

It’s too fun having a girl!

Holly's Berries

Few words are needed...

Redneck Pool?

Have I been in living in the South too long? I'm just trying to keep daily life fun for my kids!

Yes, that's a cooler. What, the pools not open yet?!?!



Sibling love!

Avery loves the water... and it was pretty cold!

Jane hangin outside with us!

Splashing fun

that's my girl - check out those curls!

I'm sure our neighbors love us playing in our driveway in a cooler full of water, but it was a good time, and the pool will open soon!!

A Slice of Heaven

OK - that might be a slight exaggeration, but only slight - my dinner tonight was AWESOME!

Today was "Strawberry Day" at the Piedmont Triad Farmers Market. It's usually a fun excuse to go and walk around and get free strawberry ice cream - plus get the freshest local strawberries you can get! Today, but the time I arrived with my friend Crystal - the ice cream was gone total bummer! But, I still got some strawberries - and let me just tell you they are YUM-MY!

I also purchased some tomatoes.... I love tomatoes! I "suffer" all winter long eating red things that are forced in some plant somewhere and then they sell them as tomatoes, but today I got the REAL DEAL! I bought some from a local grower (which always makes me feel like I'm helpin’ out the local economy!) and for dinner tonight I had a tomatoes sandwich! DOUBLE YUM-MY!! Now, I like mine on just plain ol' bread, some mayo (not that low fat stuff either), salt and pepper. Every now and then I'll throw on a slice of cheese.... but tonight - just yummy goodness of the 'mater, mayo, salt and pepper! IT WAS HEAVEN! The best sandwich I've had since last summer for sure!

And for course, strawberries for desert! I love summertime!

Me and the Kiddos

In one of the new blogs I've found, they've been talking about taking pictures. Now, most of us who are moms take lots of pictures - of our kids! We as moms aren't hardly ever in the pictures, cause we're the ones taking the pictures. So the challenge is to be in more pictures with the kids. I'm just like every other mother out there - I don't like to be in the picture. I'm more comfortable behind the camera - but the point is that one day it'll be more important to be in the pictures with the kids than to not be in them at all.

So the other day while waiting for David to get home from work so we could go out for pizza - I got out the camera to see what I could come up with! Basically it boiled down to Luke and me laughing a lot and a lot of pictures with only body parts of Avery in them. Even our camera's not fast enough to catch her! She's fast alright! We did get a few good ones, and I had a blast doing it! I've also decided that lying down isn't a bad way to have my picture taken!

Hope this inspires you to take some pictures with your kids. Ask your hubby, friend, mom, mom in law, or a complete stranger to help you out! It’ll mean a lot to your kids in the years to come!


Our first try - you notice Avery rolled away before the picture took!
















This is the only one with all three of us in it - while lying on the floor - and I look a bit bug-eyed... but oh well... I'm in the picture, that's the point!
















A rare moment, Avery was still long enough to be in the picture! And it's so cute!
















Luke and Mommy laughing!

You gotta Check this out...

As I mentioned in an earlier post, we visited a new church on Sunday. Before the preaching, this neat lady (who happened to be the speaker at WHWC's ladies retreat 2 years ago) did this neat skit. This is her blog... Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Funny Conversation

Yesterday during "rest" time - Avery still naps, but Luke never does anymore, but for my own sanity he has to have some rest time in his room. I usually take about an hour to decompress, eat lunch, and watch a bit of DVRed TV.

Yesterday I had a ton to do, so after eating a quick lunch I set up the ironing board and iron. Well it was at about the 45 minute mark and Luke came out of his room asking if he could get up. I told him not yet, he went back in, came out about 10 minutes later asking again to get up. I told him to get dressed and come down.

I was almost finished watching CSI:NY there were only about 3 minutes left in the show and one of the girls on the show was having a baby! I didn't realize Luke was standing at the top of the steps watching. So this is how the conversation went:

Luke: "Mom, why is she yelling?"

Me: "she's having a baby."

Luke: "Does it hurt when you have a baby?"

Me: "Yes, it does."

Luke: "Did it hurt you when you had me?"

**** rather than going into a whole different discussion I simply said...

Me: "Yup." "But I would do it all over again to have a wonderful little boy like you!"

Luke: "Mommy, are you gonna have another baby?!?!?!"

Me: "Nope."

Rainy Day Thoughts

It started out a crappy day. I know that sounds like complaining… and maybe it is… but if you’ll hang with me, I think it’ll get better.

Woke up early this morning – Luke was in our room at 6:30 wanting David to turn the TV on for him. Then Av was up unusually early – 7:00, so it was time to get going! But things took a downhill turn fast and due to bad attitudes and general crankiness time outs, loss of TV and a spanking had all been given by 7:45AM! Not a good start to the morning.

I went thru the rest of the day just kinda down (mostly weather related with a bit of hormones thrown in there! Or maybe it’s the other way around, I’m not really sure!) and really inadequate. Parenting some days is more than I think I can do. It’s the same stuff over and over and over, and I begin to wonder, “Does anyone hear me?” “What is wrong with my voice?” “Am I speaking Swahili?” And then on top of all that, yesterdays sermon by Pastor Don Miller at Westover, you can listen to it here, was amazing and very challenging so that’s been on my mind as well.

This afternoon at about 4PM I had a minute to sit down and do some internet surfin’. One of the things in yesterday’s service was a little chat between the pastor and the wife of the senior high youth pastor – her name is Emily. Well it turns out she has a blog… so I looked that up today. It’s really good (one of my first thoughts after reading her blog was, why on earth do I have a blog – I cannot write worth a crap – that just added to the feelings of inadequacy). Since I was new to the blog, I went back a few days – apparently she does this thing on Tuesdays about unwrapping life. It’s looking for the good and small in among the busy. So I read hers and then stared to read some of the links people had posted along with hers. In minutes I was crying (which I’d felt like doing most of the day)! Here were all these ladies of all ages dealing with things WORSE than hormones and disobedient 4 year olds. I was humbled and honestly kinda ashamed of the way I was feeling. I really and truly have it good – I’m blessed – beyond words – and yesterday was THE BEST Mother’s Day I’ve had since becoming a mom! So guilty was also something I was feeling. I hate guilt and often I work very hard to not feel guilty, because it’s an emotion you can do nothing about and nothing with unless you’re willing to actually DO something about whatever makes you feel guilty. But normally I don’t struggle with guilt. I have about 942 other issues, but guilt would usually be 943 on my list. Not today.

Here is what I think the Lord is trying to show me in all this – I need to, have to, am actually desperate to spend more time in the Word. I have no idea what I’m doing here – as a mom (and really as a wife) – I make it up day by day and that’s not good. I cannot see into the future, but I know one is coming and I need to be raising my kids so they know where they should go in the future. Proverbs is full of advice and guidelines for women – mothers, wives, and even friends.

I was getting up every morning at 6:15 to do my Beth Moore study, but when that was finished I got into the habit of sleeping in again. So I’m going to try and get back on track with getting up and getting into the Word. It’s a scary world out there, but I know that in the Bible there are promises that I can count on, I don’t have to “go it alone” God’s Word has everything in it I need! The communication and His willingness to help are only as far away as I put them.

Mother's Day

I know I'm not his mother, but David did very well today by getting me 2 dozen roses! He was so sweet to thing about me and get me a gift from him and the kids!




The flowers are beautiful and the fact that he took the time to do that is even nicer! We will be having lunch with my mother in law at the High Point Women's Club on Sunday afternoon!! YUMMY! I'm looking forward to it.

I hate that my own mom is so far away, but I was able to find and send a gift to her that she actually received today and she was thrilled with is, so I'm really glad about that!

Happy Mother's Day to all my mom friends and please know that I love you and appreciate you all! Mothering is a hard, hard job!

Some Reception pics

Again - these are just a few of the pictures we took at the reception! Enjoy!

Matron of Honor's toast























Bride and Groom during toast


















Wedding Cake
















First Dance
















Joe and Bets gettin' down!
















Having fun!