Happy 14th Anniversary to US.....

Blessed be the Lord God Almighty we just celebrated 14 years of marriage. The Lord has brought us so far from where started. We are blessed above and beyond God's promises. I pray that we as a couple continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My honey brought me 14 roses on our happy day.

Lord willing we'll be celebrating our ann. in Baltimore for a few days this week.

It's The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year. Moms face is a glowing her heart is exploding with gladness and cheer because this is the beginning of a new school year. The children are waiting their hearts anticipitaping as the school bus draws near. Oh, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

Yes, this is song I was singing the first day of school. Yea, I know, I used to pride myself in the fact that I was not one of THOSE moms that enjoyed seeing their kids off to school. Well, somewhere along the line that changed. I've never been this ready for a school year to begin. It helps that for the most part the kids were excited too. We've had a VERY busy summer and due to that I was ready for life to kind of get back into a routine.

Weston started Kindegarten this year. So far, he is LOVING school. He's doing a great job getting up and at'em in the mornings. It's amazing how much he's changed and matured just this summer. I hope this good trend continues!

Photo Contest at 5 Minutes for mom

Our daughter (see photo below) was inspired one day this summer to construct a tire swing. Her daddy (my husband) noticed her carrying a smaller tire with a short string attached to it. He asked her what she was going to do with the tire and string. She informed him that she was going to hang the tire from a pole. In her mind it was a great plan. To make a long story short, her daddy went and brought out a bigger tire with a long rope and hung it HIGH in the branches of an old massive tree in their play yard. That is an impressive and impossible feat in the eyes of little ones. This of course, thrilled her heart and embedded memories in her being that she will not soon forget about her daddy. Our daughter enjoying the tire swing after a BIG push from daddy.

You can join the contest too. Click on this link for more info http://www.5minutesformom.com/

The winner will receive $500.00. That would add even more fun to school shopping. We could even buy the personalized backpacks from L.L. Bean the girls wanted. They would love that!

Our First Camp Out

We've been talking about taking the kids camping all summer. So, we made a last minute decision and decided to go this past week. We camped for 3 fun days and 3 restless nights. The weather cooperated to a T. The nights were cool and the days perfectly warm. We had a great time and thankfully no mishaps. This was our campsite. It was right next to the lake and had elec. hookups.

Weston wanted to go fishing one morning immediately after he woke up. I think he had to sit a while longer to finish waking up. He didn't want to bait his hook so, Mel helped him.


Weston was instructing her on how to bait the hook how "daddy said".
The campground had a playground. Which they all enjoyed.

I think this tire swing was their favorite. I could hear them screaming all the to our campsite when Mike was twisting them.Mike starting the fire for breakfast.
Mike cooked us two yummy breakfasts. Biscuits, homade hamburger gravy, scrambled eggs and bacon.
Breakfast closeup.....We had a blast on the paddle boats. We took them out two different days.The girls made some new friends while were there. They had a lot of fun playing with them.
I couldn't resist taking this super sweet picture of Grace. She looked so cozy asleep on the tent floor.

Jordan-Long Time No See

This past week has been extra special for us! My nephew Jordan flew in from Arizona. Unfortunately, he could only stay for five days. He has year round schooling and he has to go back this coming Monday the 21st. Here's some pictures from his visit.Mamaw and Cherish made this welcome sign for us to hold up at the airport. Papaw and Jordan coming out to meet us.
WOW! Jordan has GROWN a bunch since any of us had last seen him! He is 5 ft. 6 in. and weighs almost as much as his papaw. And he won't be 13 til Oct.....
After we picked him up at the airport we took him out to eat and then went Magic Mountain. He won a 100 tickets at this game. He was sweet and used his tickests on his little cousins.
Mamaw watching Jordan palying a racing game.
Mel and Weston playing around.
Cherish and Jordan being silly.

Jordan couldn't wait to ride the quad. The downside, they rode them so much the dust got unbearable.
On Tues, we went to Tecumsah. It's an outdoor drama and it contains Ohio history.
CHEESE!!!

Lake Erie

We took a few days and went to Lake Erie with some friends. We had a good time and thankfully, a safe trip. Here's a few pictures from our trip. Weston caught a sheeps head, bottom fishing.

Weston on the carousel.
Put-In-Bay Park
Weston and Megan at the Butterfly House
Grace fell asleep on Mel's lap

Even Grace caught a fish, she was thrilled!

Our four and Aaron and Lisa's three girls.
Our Family Put-In-Bay Park
Cherish on the carousel.
Grace on the carousel.
Melody on the carousel. Cherish, Grace and Allyssa
Cherish and Allyssa

Weston and Cherish riding a camel. Cherish is really ok! Just a little
excited.
Melody taking a pony ride.
One of our fishing ventures! :)

WE DROVE THROUGH A SAFARI PARK. WE SEEN SOME STRANGE LOOKING ANIMALS AND SOME CUTE ONES TOO!