Other Summer Trips

We also went to Lake Martin a couple of times, always a good time bringing nothing but swimsuits and pjs!  Our days there begin with me making a big breakfast, usually being the first one up.  Followed by packing lunches and loading coolers for the day and getting the kids ready. Paul and Benson usually have at least one project to do, fixing something on the boat, dock, going to get gas, ect... we usually end up swimming in the am then out on the boat around lunchtime until dusk.  Island hoping is our favorite, but has been harder this year with all the rain, most of the islands are under water. This is one of the first years we let the kids try tubing in the cul da sac, and they didn't like going above "sinking" speed. Paul had to ride on the back of the tube just to keep them afloat!  Kiley fell off at one point due to the slow speed and sinking, that was it for her and me, since I panicked not seeing her for a second.  Days end with late dinners, lasagna, grilled ck or hamburgers are usually the stables. Night finished off with smores by the campfire, can life get any better?!

Paul had a convention at the beach the end of July, and as usual it was a great trip with great friends. Started the first night in Mobile, and the kids and I swam in the pool while Paul had some business meetings. We had a nice family dinner on the bay, 3 hours but the kids did great. Luckily there was a sandy area for them to play in while we waited. Headed to Pensacola Beach the next am and enjoyed 4 times splitting our days between the pool and beach. The kids still prefer the pools, not big fans of getting all sandy or the seaweed in the ocean.  The weather was nice, and not near as crowded as Sandestin. We had nice dinners out while the kids rotated babysitters of friends kids that are now early teens. Time flies!

Other highlights of summer include VBS at two different churches, Cason cutting his hair and now has a spiky haircut, me learning to french braid, our first time alone in our house without kids for more than one night, kids spending several days in Atlanta with Nana and Pops, Roswell Live in Atlanta with SP, many trips to the zoo, a rainy but still fun forth of July (watching fireworks from the car with windshield wipers on), several family movies, a fun weekend at Ross Bridge with cousins, and becoming great swimmers!

  Only 15 days until school starts and new phase of life for all of us, with them in school 5 days and different classrooms. We will enjoy these next few weeks at a slower pace.

Kansas Summer Trip

Our big trip this year was the last week of June. I took the kids back to Kansas with my parents. It went perfect, and couldn't have hoped for a better trip. We stayed with the Drumrights, my very first best friend from the 1st grade. Kids all got along great, and Kiley had a big crush on Carter by the time we left. Highlights of the trip include:

-Cason reading the safety guide the whole plane ride from Birmingham to Atlanta, when telling him to read one of his books, he said "mommy, don't you want us to be safe? I have to study this."
- Eating at the pizza place and leaving in a hurry due to storm coming, I had forgotten how different Kansas storms can be.
-Swimming, playing in Drumrights BIG backyard, catching fireflies, watching fireworks, late night ice cream and pop cycles, staying up way past bed time (kids and me!), driving through Valley Center, showing kids the house I grew up in, Kiley falling down slide at pool and me hurting my back, catching up with my oldest friend and getting to see the kids interact, so fun.
-Haven: showing the kids everything at the farm, Craig giving them lessons on wheat and harvest, Cason following his every move around the farm, fixing the tractor, combine, and anything else he could help with.  Harvest!  Getting to drive and ride the combine, testing the fields to see if they were dry enough, driving the wheat truck to the coop, visiting with they girls from Yodar. Picking up GiGi and spending time with her at the farm, watching her eyes light up during Harvest, having mom and dad there too, exploring the farm with the kids, them playing in the wheat truck, riding the old pedal tractors up and down sidewalk, picking up sticks, grandma's attic. So many great memories.

Hard week for buddy!

We were keeping Ollie last week as my parents were still in Kansas. We got home late Sunday and Cason reached down when Ollie was eating and got bit!  Luckily it was on his hand, but still landed us a trip to the ER.  3 days later I found him in the garage with a strange look on his face, he started crying and saying "mommy I didn't listen to you" after comforting him he told me "I got electrocuted." Trying not to laugh I said you mean you got shocked?  He said he was plugging in his truck after getting wet from the rain (not a good combo!).  Saturday afternoon we spent cleaning out the basement and garage, and within 10 minutes of me commenting to Paul how good the kids were being, I got a look at Cason.  He decided he needed a haircut! 

 

Tonight when I was tucking Kiley in she said mommy when I grow up and have to work will you babysit my baby?  I said of course! I hope we live close enough that I can!  She said well the house by Nene's had been on sale (not for sale) forever, so I will buy it when I get big. Or maybe I will just live with you forever. So cute.

Father's Day Weekend 2013

Just put the kids to bed Sunday night after a great Father's Day weekend!

We started out the weekend by traveling to Medicamp on Lake Martin for Jena's work outing on Friday afternoon.  After a short 2 hour drive, we arrived ready to hit the lake.  We checked in our room at the nearby lodge and changed into our suits.

The kids and I played in the shallow water, along with another set of 8 yr old twins - Sam and Kelly, who belonged to one of Jena's coworkers.  I took turns throwing and spinning all of them for an hour or so, while Jena chatted on the shoreline.  Cason and Kiley sure have changed since the days of floaties, and total dependence on you.  All of the kids got along great and helped entertain each other.  We all had a great time swimming and playing in the beautiful, clear lake.  The water and air temperature were perfect after some recent rainstorms.

It was soon time to change out of our wet clothes and get ready for dinner.  We had a buffet style dinner in the grand barn overlooking the lake.  Boiled shrimp, baked beans, corn on the cob, and grilled chicken.  All of the food was delicious as we listed to Jena's doctor and associates present their new building plans and upcoming mission trips.  The kids played great with some of the other kids there (especially little resident Emily), playing duck-duck goose and other fun games.  The time slipped away on us and it was soon 10:00 - way past bedtime for the twins!

The twins and I must have overdone the fun, as we slept in Saturday morning until 9:30.  I awoke to Cason looking for Mommy.  She'd slipped downstairs to get breakfast and he was mildly concerned about this fact.  We drove back over to the camp for swimming and kayaking.  It was soon time for a barbecue lunch (also delicious) and to say our Thanks and goodbyes.

Back in Birmingham we met up with Greg, Carrie, Hadden, Spencer, and little Nash over at Linden and Gene's.  I personally was greeted by Mr. Nash at the door.  I asked him for a hug and he didn't object as I picked him up and gave him a kiss on the cheek.  He stared me down the whole time but I considered it a winning encounter.

The twins truly love playing with their cousins, especially when they get to follow Hadden around and hang on his every word.  Meanwhile, Greg and I shared a post-Lake (me), pre-Beach (him), round of celebratory toasts in the basement, as is customary in these situations.  Sufficiently fortified, we soon enjoyed juicy steaks, sweet and baked potatoes, corn on the cob (can you really get enough?), spinach salad, garlic bread, and Linden's famous chocolate cake.

We woke up early the next morning to attend the 8:00 AM service at Church of the Highlands.  Jena woke me up with "Happy Father's Day!", and the kids also Chris Hodges returned to deliver the morning message.  We really missed hearing him our pastor the past few Sundays while he was on vacation.  He spoke about fractured relationships with our earthly and heavenly Fathers, and that God has a solution to every problem.  Sunday morning is always an important time for personal reflection and a time to count my blessings.

Jena worked the 9:30 kids church with Kiley, while Cason and I shopped for the week's groceries at Publix.  At the grocery, Cason was a big helper and listed to all of my instructions.  He pushed the cart and helped me load each of our items.  He asks questions about what we're buying, why, and his personal opinion on a few things.  I really enjoy "Daddy/Son time" with my buddy.

We soon picked up the girls and headed home to unload the groceries and eat lunch (Pizza and Strawberries!).  After lunch we met at the YMCA to work out and swim with the kids.  Papa even came up to swim!  We all headed home and ate an early dinner of leftovers from Sat night - still delicious, while I watched the end of the US Open (not again Phil Mickelson!).  After dinner the kids gave me special Father's Day presents and hand drawn cards Jena helped them with.

Below was the content of one of my presents...

Let me tell you about my Daddy.  If I had $100, I would buy Daddy (a new golf club - Cason; a new coffee cup - Kiley).  When I am at school, my Daddy (is at work - Cason; picks me up - Kiley).  His favorite food is (green bean casserole - Cason; chicken - Kiley).  His favorite drink is (Coke - Kiley).  My Daddy is the best Daddy because (he helps me with stuff - Cason; helps me with everything - Kiley).  My Daddy is happy when (I help him and he says "excellent, good job Cason"; when he gets home and I help him drive the car - Kiley).  My favorite thing to do with him (Daddy and Son time - doesn't matter what we do - Cason; when he tucks me in at night - Kiley).  If I could go anywhere with Daddy (swim at Ross Bridge pool - Cason; Auburn game - Kiley).

It was hard keeping it together - what a special gift!

I sit here tonight with the realization that my life is very, very good, right now (perhaps even GREAT?), and I am truly a blessed Dad after a perfect weekend on this Father's Day.