a merry soot mess and other delightful capers...

Hope you all had a blessed Christmas! We certainly did and we're looking forward to getting together with family this friday. A few days before Christmas, my brother and I decided it would be cool if we could open up the chiming in my room and have a fire. By the way, it hadn't been opened in probably 20+ years. Anyways, if you've ever seen the newer version of A Little Princess you'll be able to imagine what my room looked like when we were done. : )  Soot was everywhere and it took a few days to get it all cleaned up!

what are we doing? Don't ask! :P

We found some used rollerblades for Haydon earlier this month and when he came for a visit we brought them out for him.

Christmas eve was spent at my great-Grandmommie's home

Her place is so peaceful.

Grandmommie's wreath on the garage.

LOL. I love this picture. Samuel (5), Matthew (7) and Adrian (2)

A December sunset.

In Jesus,

July 2, 2011

My cousins Julie, Marianah and Dylan came over for a little while earlier this month. We always enjoy having them over.  Mr. Willis offered us his river cabin for the weekend and we couldn't wait to get down there! Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Ben and Winnie came down to join us for dinner at the cabin. (And Uncle Ben brought fireworks!!!)

I love this picture of Dylan and Grandpa.

What are muddy river water pools, except for little boys to play in?

 Marianah couldn't believe how many frogs there were along the path to the river.

There were, at the very least, 30 frogs in that cup....

Ben took Julie and Mari to his favorite fishing spot.

"It's a... it's a...it's a....

piece of bark." Better luck next time Mars. ; )

My beautiful cousin, Julie.

As the sun began setting we went back to the cabin and enjoyed some amazing food.

And then.... fireworks!

Julie and I simultaneously burst into uncontrollable laughter when we saw Dylan and Mari's faces...

Daisy the dog, Uncle Ben and Benjamin.

It's official. I have the most amazing, loving, wonderful, crazy, goofy family in the world.

the end

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The next morning, the girls and I watched the sun rise.

Beauty was everywhere we looked. God's handiwork was evident.

early mornin' fishing.

More river fun. 

See you all again soon!

Blessings,

An Overdue Update

Hope ya'll are having a simply wonderful summer! We lost our thingy that downloads our pictures on the computer so today, my mom and I finally got another one! Sooo... without further ado, here's the 'fun event' as promised! And what my family and I have been up to these last few months!

We went to a Jerusalem Market, set in the time of Jesus!!!

My mom and I picked up cousin Haydon.

{Haydon's many faces : )}

They had a rock climbing wall.

And all the little "David's" tried to kill Goliath.

"He's too far away!"

:: My Favorite Part ::

WE ROAD A CAMEL!!! (how cool is that!?)

The whole ride, Haydon was in awe and kept saying, "Wow, this is so cool!"

One of the smug ol' camels. I love that face he's making. ; )

There was a small booth with goats and huge chickens.

And this guy. Does anyone know what kind of animal it is??? I'd love to know!

There was a skit played by these men.

As you can tell, it was pretty funny. : )

"Hail Caesar!" 

After we took this picture, the Roman Guard went over to a tax collector and I heard him proudly say "We get new recruits all the time."

There were crafts.

A little lone boy...

eating a chicken leg...

in a crowded market place in Jerusalem.

The End.

And here's where we've been this summer:

At the Lake!

Adrian and I.

Cousin Dylan and Benjamin.

Dylan loves swimming.

Adrian wasn't so sure. : )

Isn't this place beautiful?

And then we went camping up in the North GA mountains.

Dad, Benjamin and Dylan went looking for a river which was suppose to be near the cabin. They did find it, but got hopelessly lost in the process.

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN

 It took a long time for them to find their way home but....

Soaking wet, battered and bruised they returned.

We went whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River.

It was the first time Dylan had been rafting and he loved every minute of it.

Blessings!