Our Trip to Stone Mountain

It has been mentioned lately that I need to update our blog :) So - first off - the reason I'm so behind is that I GOT A JOB!! yay!!! I am a receptionist and have now completed a week and a half and am doing well :) I won't bore you with the details, but I like the office and the people I work with / for. I'm going to learn alot and hopefully will be an asset to the company :)


Ok, now, I still haven't posted our Stone Mountain trip yet so that's what this blog will be :) I'll let the photos do most of the talking -


I can tell my mom and dad really were ready to spend some time with their boys... We all needed some family time, I think, and this trip was just the ticket! We had a blast!

 
This is us on the balcony of our hotel - it was overlooking a lake, but the bright sun makes that hard to see in this picture -

Hitching a ride on the Scenic Railroad was a fun way to spend one morning :)

Later we rode up the sky lift and landed on the very top of the mountain! It was beautiful to say the least!

Dad, Brad, and I thought we'd hike down rather than hopping back on the sky lift... Mom, Kim, Wes, and Connor rode down and then hung out and waited for us - This photo is right before we walked down the steep slope...

This was on our first day there so we had to document it all with a fun smile :)

Here, Daddy is modeling the new line of granite blocks. This one is over 6 feet tall :)

The plantation on the property was beautiful! Can you imagine what life was like?!

Oh, yeah, the actual Stone Mountain was lovely too :)

My happy little family :) What a wonderful trip we had :) I'm so thankful that we were able to go and I know we made memories that the boys will never forget :)

VBS Week

It's only been 17 days since my last post, but it feels like it was SO long ago that we were in SC!!

This week, we are having our VBS - and, as you can imagine, I'm working in the Craft Room :) The theme is The Boomerang Express So we are heading Down Under to discover the vastness of God's love and that no matter where we go It All Comes Back To Jesus!
Wes is really enjoying his week and I've enjoyed getting to know a few more friends at church. So, without further ado, I present our VBS in pictures :)

First, the craft room as seen BEFORE the kids arrived! We are located at the Crafts Crossing along the Boomerang Express:
Here are most of the craft crew - as you can see the week has worn some of us out!

I snagged Wes long enough to pose for a few pictures in the cool decor :)

Here, Wes is making his Billy Can which is what the Australians travelling in the outback would use to cook over the campfire - or to boil the water to make tea... The ones we're making this week aren't necessarily food-safe though :)

While the kids work, the song "Waltzing Matilda" has been playing and in the lyrics it mentions that he's waiting for his Billy to Boil...




Here is Wes getting ready for the Worship Rally in the sanctuary - He's all smiles because he already knows the songs and motions - He learned them in Brookhaven last week! :)

Wes made a really cool suncatcher with a boomerang motif that he drew himself!





Here are Wes's 3 projects: The Billy Can, the Suncatcher and the Sand Art
  

To give you an idea of JUST how many kids we have and how WILD they are - I took a short video of the kids in the worship rally - this was on the first day and the numbers have steadily climbed each day:

Now, for the Garden Updates :)

My delphinium finally popped up and I'm in LOVE - They are super bright and super purple! I will be planting these probably every year!

We also have a couple new daylilies and they're definitely beautiful!



My "cannas" bloomed and they look like nothing I've ever seen before- are these even cannas??



The rose bushes continue to bloom beautfiully and I have thoroughly enjoyed them!



These fun little flowers popped up in the front garden and I have no idea what they are - Zinnias? Anyone know?






We've harvested and eaten our first zucchini and a handful of cucumbers - We are actually in the process of tracking down pickling supplies too :)

The yellow pear tomatoes are flourishing and will be harvested in no time :

Today, after VBS, Wes and I joined our neighbors and headed to the Collinsville Waterpark - I know you must think I'm kidding, but we DO have a water park and it's really, actually, pretty cool! Check it out!

Wes and Makagan are good buds when they aren't sick of each other! Isn't that how it is with all kids though? :)

Next time I post, I'll be putting up photos of ORANGE BEACH! We're heading there tomorrow night! Woohoo!
We also made (everyone's favorite) Sand Art:

Macy's First Birthday :)

This past weekend, we had two birthdays to celebrate: Jenn's Birthday and MACY'S First Birthday!!

God gave us beautiful weather for the whole weekend so Captain Herb flew us over to South Carolina on Friday morning and we arrived just in time for lunch - just in time for me to form a small addiction to Rush's



After lunch, it was time for us to get down to some serious play time :) Jenn and Doug were still at work so it was just the MS crew and we had Macy all to ourselves -




Even though he tried, Uncle Brad couldn't resist playing with Sweet Macy:




Later, when Macy needed a nap, I thought a few snuggles with a good book might be in order:



Once Doug and Jenn were home, we opted for Macy to open the presents from us and I think Grandmom scored a huge hit with the bouncy ball:

After Macy's presents, we let Jenn have her turn and we showered her with gifts -

I think Doug blew us all out of the water though, with his surprise: a jogging stroller! Brad was quick to help Jenn check out all the bells and whistles:

The rest of the evening was spent catching up and then crashing! Besides, we needed our rest to prepare us for...

SATURDAY -

Macy woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and before we knew it we were off to the park for her birthday party!


I would put all the fun party pictures here, but Brad took Doug and Jenn's camera and I took my video camera.... So, I don't have any fun party pictures :(

But I do have the sweet before and after pictures...

BEFORE the party:

AFTER:



Needless to say, it was a really wonderfully fun-filled weekend! I enjoyed my time with Doug and Jenn and of course, Macy! As is always the case, the weekend went by too quickly and before we knew it, it was time to leave! (Lucky for Cheryl, SHE got to stay behind and spend more time with everyone) I can't wait for another chance to go visit my South Carolina Family!