I took trees for granted

We have special visitors and I'm really not sure who was more excited to have them - the kids or myself! Pop & Nana are here. With the luck of school scheduling they are in for an action-packed vacation with us!

Friday they were able to make it to Ella Grace's "wedding". Yesterday morning we made a stop at the library. I had put several (okay maybe like twenty) books on hold and several were ready for pick up. The several ended up being about 12 and then I let the kids pick out about five books each - we were quite loaded down when we left! Then, we drove over to visit Nana's cousin Mr. Gary and his wife Mrs. Patty in Port Orange.

My babes had an absolute ball playing in their yard! Looking for tadpoles in the water, swinging, running around and climbing a tree. I miss our yard in our first house. I totally took them, and our yard, for granted.

 

My precious daughter wore a dress yesterday AND she left me put her hair up. (It was a miracle - and for both to happen on the same day...the stars must have aligned just right!) In her dress, with her hair up, (and with Nana's help) she climbed a tree. Then she asked for a book.

 

(This was completely a candid shot.promise.)

And read two books sitting in the tree. She read Amelia Bedelia. At first she told me she didn't like Amelia Bedelia (I loved her as a child). But, when I handed her the book she said, "Now, which one is she?" When she asked for the second Amelia Bedelia, I knew she was hooked!

Ella Grace with her second book

Meanwhile, brother was doing the brother thing.

Mrs. Patty found Major a lizard and then tied a thread around the lizard.

 

The thread was then attached to a stick; this ended up being Major's pet named "Alligator" on a leash. He was dragging that poor (ugly) thing around all over the place, through the air, on the table, trying to let it crawl on his hand.

Before we left for dinner they stuck the stick in the ground so he couldn't get away. (This morning, Alligator had kicked the bucket. Major was heartbroken - tears and all. It wasn't long before he realized he could use Alligator for bait and stuck him in the water to try to catch a minnow.)

We got up early this morning and attended a sunrise service at 7:00 oceanside. Oh.my.words! i had none. all taken away.

 

Afterwards we had the most important meal of the day at Pat's on the River.

 Cute, huh?

I had a pancake. Yes, I said "a". Thought it would be a measly one, so I ordered a side of bacon, too.

I ate one piece of bacon. Maybe a bite off of another piece before my kids took the rest. smile. I ate pancake. or some of it.

 

I was stuffed. 

Pop seemed to enjoy his meal, too. He didn't have to sit by the bacon-thieves.

 

See, here's one of them. And she has evidence.

Here's the other one, but he is a little more sneaky.

 

 WE were all exhausted when we got home. The babes watched some cartoons on my bed, while I dozed off a time or two. maybe. Major was in and out. Ella Grace climbed on my back and after finally getting her off of my ponytail. I felt an occassional twitch. I took my phone and reached around me to take a picture. My suspicions were correct.

 I called Nana (really, like on my phone) and she came in with a laugh.

Some of us lived our day to the fullest.

And we got to Skype with Lori and MeeMaw, and that just topped off our day perfectly!

Well, hello there!

After Jeremy's brother departed on Wednesday, the kids & I had church Wednesday night. These nights are really tough because we typically do not get home until close to 9:00. True, Ella Grace doesn't have to be at school until after 8 and Major not until 9, it is very hard on my babies.

BUT, we had company to look forward to on Thursday evening!

Here's the story:
Jeremy went to school at Cumberland University in Lebanon, TN. During one of his summers there he lived with his biology professor and his family (Jeff, Dianna & Grant). Grant was just a small guy when Jeremy was there. They are such a sweet, sweet family! I suppose the last time we saw them was Ella Grace's first Christmas - December 2006. The three of us visited them in Tennessee and saw the Christmas lights at the Opryland Hotel (which were so neat!).

Anyway, we were finally able to introduce them to our Major last week! ha! The kids fell in love with Grant. They ran all over the place - it was really funny!

We were so excited to see them. I could not believe how tall Grant was...not sure what I was expecting after not seeing him for 4 1/2 years.

Major and Ella Grace with Jeff, Grant and Dianna

Major was showing off his new toy gun to Mr. Jeff and Grant

So glad they came! Hopefully our next visits will be a little closer together.

Isn't it great to have good friends?!

Welcomed Company!

Last weekend (10/8), Jeremy's older brother David and his family came for a visit. We were so excited to see them. I think between both sets of kids we heard tons of "Are we there yet"/"Are they here yet?", "When will we/they be there/here?" and other similar questions!

(bunking in Mom & Dad's room! - What a treat!)

In the midst of the rain on Saturday, they arrived. The kids immediately paired off by gender and off they went. From baby dolls, cars/trucks/trains, Paper Jamz, they had a ball!


And speaking of ball, we did watch the Alabama game (after having dinner out - in the rain). All four kids dressed in their red & white!


After two days of rain, they were able to make it to Disney for two fun days. I think they had some fun!

The morning they departed - M-I-C (see you real soon!), K-E-Y (why? because we like you!)!







M-O-U-S-E!