watcha been doin lately?

VBS - Melissa Smith and I taught one of the 3-5yr old story tents with the help of Leanne Paris and my mom. If you look closely, Mitchell is in the orange shirt in the tent and then coloring a project in the next picture. Mark is helping us stuff and sew pillows for one of the crafts. He looks helpful doesn't he?



Dinner with the Pearmans - Josh Pearman and I have been firends since birth, and Neil and Josh became friends in High School. Josh married Sara who we are friends with too! So Josh, Sara, Troy, and Travis came over for dinner and some outdoor activities!


Baseball with the Sawyers - Phylliese called one night and invited us to the game that same night, so we packed up and went to watch the Redhawks! I am not sure if we really got to see any baseball, but Joy and Mitchell loved tapdancing on the steps (it was Mitchell's idea I am sad to say)! I really enjoyed the Dippin Dots that Tom bought for Mitchell! Thanks for the fun night yall!


Gettin Dirty and Clean with Sebastian - Sebastian is the son of my best friend from Middle School, Sara's son. They came over today and played and bathed! It was great fun and the boys are going to be great friends like we are!

sew. . . what did you do while your kids were gone?

I completed my first home decoration project while the boys were gone! I will show you the before and afters!

Ahh, the pink room! This is the previous owners decor scheme. Pretty, but very floral!

This is my take on the room!

Not so floral! Personally, I like it better!

The roman shade actually works - raises and lowers! I am pretty sure the pillows work too! They weren't as hard to construct!

Visit to Grandparents

The boys spent their first few days away from home this week! They have been at Mom mom and Grandad's house from Sunday afternoon to Wednesday afternoon! I have been sewing and shopping and enjoying some free time! The boys have had fun going to a birthday party and playing outside. We were all there 2 weeks ago and they boys got to play in the sprinklers with their cousins. They had a blast!

the fourth

Our family fourth of July picture!

I was taking a picture of Neil and the boys at the parade and a lady near us asked us if she could take the picture so we could have a picture of the whole family! I gladly responded, "yes! I never get to be in any of the pictures. I would love that!" After much fussing with trying to get just the right shot, she took the picture. I didn't check it. Later that evening Neil asked me if I looked at the pic. I said no, because it was so awkward I did not want her to have to take another; just one picture of all of us on the 4th would be fine. We were on the way home at 10:30 after the fireworks and I was checking the pictures and this is what I found! It is a really great picture of our family. I am glad I am in it!

the other parade picture! Swimming with the boys at the Dacus party

Mitchell's first sparkler! Once it was lit he quickly handed it to me and in near panic exclaimed, "Its fire!" He would not have any part of it! That is as close as he got!

We watched the fireworks at the church parking lot with the Burkett family. I stayed too long at my family party and we missed the Saywers viewing party! ("So that's where you were") Mark had been crying and coughing and very miserable, so when he fell asleep in the car we did not want to wake him. Neil was upset about missing the Sawyers party because he likes to play volleyball! I nicely asked if we could drive somewhere and watch the fireworks from the car while Mark slept. We ended up at church and were chatting with the Burketts when the show began. Neil woke up Mark so he would not be scared in the car. Mark really likes fireworks. It is one of the few times he would sit still in our laps. Mitchell joined in the family tradition of yelling, "That's my favorite!" at the fireworks! He was a natural! We had a good time despite the change of plans! Sorry, Tom, that we missed your party!