4th of July Fun

We had a great 4th of July!  We started off the day at the beach with family and friends!  McKinley and Ethan enjoyed spending the day playing with their cousins Paxton and Peyton! 

Ethan made this in the sand!  Isn't he creative?

McKinley and Mallaree

That afternoon we went over to my Aunt Martha and Uncle Steve's beach house.  We joined the rest of our family for a cookout.  The kids were able to see some of their cousins that they hadn't seen in a while.  This is always a time that the family from my grandpa's side of the family all gather together!  We always enjoy talking and catching up on what has happened over the past year. 

My cousin, Sarah, and her husband, Dennis with baby Kyle!

Martha and Steve hosted the cook-out!



Ethan with Granddaddy!



A golf-cart full!

McKinley with Grandma!

My cousin Derek's wife is expecting her third child in two weeks.  Her belly is perfectly round and READY!  Her two sons are ready to meet their little sister, Mallory Ann.  Brice is Peyton's age and Kyle is Paxton's age. 

Julie's READY!

Later that evening we headed over to the beach to watch the fireworks!!  We do this every year!!  This was Paxton's first time and he LOVED the fireworks!  He couldn't take is eyes off of them! 

Peyton and Brice

Paxton says, "WOW!"

Peyton and Maggie

Happy Birthday America!

We are so blessed to have such a wonderful extended family and to live in a country where we are FREE!  May God bless each and every one of you!

Freedom Celebration

Today at our church we had our annual Freedom Celebration!  We have this every year right before the 4th.  Our choir did a choral arrangement called "Freedom Isn't Free!"  It was a success!  We are so blessed to live in a country where we have freedom especially freedom to worship our Almighty God! 

After the service we had a cook out.  Ethan and McKinley were both in the dunking booth and had so much fun doing this!  Looking forward to a great day with the kids tomorrow!  We will spend the day with friends on the beach after McKinley's dance competition of course!

MB Blogger Meet-Up

Last night I had the opportunity to hang out with some blogger friends of mine.  My friend, Anna, got me interesting in blogging about 6 months ago!  Very soon after starting my blog Amanda and Kristin started blogging as well.  I look forward to reading each of their blogs each day. I have also connected with several friends from high school through blogging!  I met Sara for the first time at this blogger meet.  She is so much fun and I enjoyed listening to her stories.  Of course I was the oldest of the group, but you are only as old as you feel, right!

We went to have ice cream at the Cold Stone Creamery and it was delicious!  Nothing like ice cream for dinner!  I had a hot apple pie with french vanilla ice cream with caramel and nuts on top! Mmm good! 

Anna, Kristin, Me, Sara and Amanda

Had to have something cold to drink after eating our ice cream!

Just hanging out!

We talked for several hours but the time seemed to fly by.  McKinley sent me several texts from her ipod: Mom, where are you? When r u coming home?  They just can't stand it when mommy's away.  I took them to see Cars 2 today and we had popcorn for lunch!  Nothing like summertime!!!

5 Things Friday

Ok first of all I think I may begin Tina's Taxi service.  I feel like I could have made a lot of money this week with all the miles traveled dropping and picking up McKinley from a Scholars Camp she went to this week.  SO glad that I got to stay home and sleep in today!

1.  McKinley and her friend Ana participated in  From Drab to Drama at the Scholars Academy this week.  They had their production yesterday of the fable that they chose to act out The Stag at the Pond.  The costumes were great and you could tell that a lot of thought went into them.  They even had very detailed make-up!  She had a great time at this camp and wants to go back next year!!!

My Little Cheetah!!

Best Buddies!

2.  I have really been enjoying getting up each morning and starting my day with my new bible study Faithful, Abundant, and True.  I love to dig deeper into God's word.  It is amazing how He speaks to so many in different ways through studying His word!  It doesn't matter what situation or circumstance that I am faced with His word always has the answers if I remain FAITHFUL and TRUE!  Can't wait for this week's study!

3.  I have really enjoyed working on my scrapbook this week.  I have done a total of 18 pages this week!  I hope to rock out a few more this afternoon!  Hopefully Ethan's birthday and Father's Day!!




Mother's Day pages for each child!  Kept it simple and used the same paper!

 4.  I really enjoyed seeing all my teacher friends this week!  A group of us from work went to see BAD teacher!  I have to say she was a really BAD teacher!  I just couldn't imagine being a teacher and not loving what you do!  I mean what other career do you get to start over a new each August!  Looking forward to a new beginning!!!!




GOOD TEACHERS!!!

 5.  I am so glad that the kids have been able to swim with their friends this week!  They each had friends over and they enjoyed playing for hours!  My back yard was filled with laughter and I loved it!  I only hope that as they get older they will continue to want to hang out at home!  They enjoyed swimming as well as golf cart rides!!  The girls even had the boys doing line dances!

Water Balloon Fight!



Teach me how to Dougie!



The boys doing the "Cupid Shuffle"