I have to blog this now while it is still fresh on my mind. It is one of those days where you wish you had a camera crew following you around just to have it captured permantly!

We left yesterday and went to B'ham and shop at my favorite store, and then on to Nashville where we spent the night with Matt and Cindy. What a great time!

We got up this AM to drive to Cincinnati. We sat in traffic for an hour in Nashville. I had to drive after that as Dan's back was in really bad shape. Andrew didn't get a birthday party this year. We have been gone so much, i couldn't get it together, so we told him we would do something special instead of a party. He agreed, but I can't say I think he was happy about it! Anyway we told him we were going to the Great Wolf Lodge and King's Island, but that really didn't mean anything to him! When we got here, you could see King's Island from the road, so he said he just wanted to go there today. We told him tomorrow, today we had to go to the hotel. When Dan was checking in, Anna said can we swim in the pool. I asked her how she knew they had a pool, and she said because everyone is walking around in bathing suits. Such an observant one! As we were going down the hall Andrew kept saying it is just like the Wilderness Lodge. When we got to the room with the cave with bunk beds and their own tv, they were freaking out! We them showed them out the balcony and you could see the outdoor pool area, they were beside themselves. We went down to the indoor water park, and they were pumped. Andrew said this was better than Disney and a way better surprised than he thought, and it was worth not having a party!!! They both had to build up some confidence, but once they did, they loved the water slides! We came up to eat dinner, play in the arcade, and the interactive scavenger hunt. Anna and I watched the clock show. The boys are still down doing the Scavenger Hunt while we are in bed in our pjs watching TV. Hopefully we can sleep soon. Anna told me she didn't want a party either for a birthday, but a trip instead!!! My most favorite thing in the world is vaca with the fam! Dan said his favorite thing is to go downstairs at the resort and get a good meal!!!

10 Years and Counting...

Dan (Danny for those of you who complain about the new name, you know who you are) and I celebrated our 10 year Anniversary this year (well, we have been married 10 years this year, I am still waiting on the trip, presents, etc. to celebrate!). Anyway, we had pictures taken a couple of weeks ago that are a great representation of our life now. It amazes me how quickly the time has gone and how much has changed! God has blessed me more than I could dream, and I am so grateful for this life he has given me! Ten years from now, we will be 43, Andrew will be 16 and Anna will be 14. Will there be anymore kids??? I can't believe how the time flies. Thanks baby for everything!

Here are the pictures if you are interested in seeing them. And if you need a photographer in the area, they are great!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ffocus.lenzus.com%2Fcgi%2Falbum%3F89610554%2B85601476%2B0%2B94174800&h=9cf6e5016d806842260819a670ed3e28

Interview with Andrew, almost 7 years old

Ask your child(ren) to answer the questions and type their answers in.
Tag other moms or dads with kids who might have fun with this. :)

An interview with Andrew (almost 7)

1. What is something mommy always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes mommy happy?
when I do good things.

3. What makes mommy sad?
when I disobey

4. What does mommy do to make you laugh?
tickle me

5. What was your mommy like as a child?
very sensitive girl

6. How old is your mommy?
33

7. How tall is your mommy?
4 feet

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
play on the computer, on facebook

9. What does your mommy do when you're not around?
work on the computer

10. If your mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
cause your special

11. What is your mommy really good at?
playing

12. What is your mommy not very good at?
video game cheats

13. What does your mommy do for her job?
works at VBS

14. What is your mommy's favorite food?
pickles

15. What makes you proud of your mommy?
you're funny

16. If your mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Princess Lea

17. What do you and your mommy do together?
not much

18. How are you and your mommy the same?
we both like pickles

19. How are you and your mommy different?
your a girl and I'm a boy

20. How do you know your mommy loves you?
cause she always says it

21. What does your mommy like most about your dad?
that he cares about you

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
a fancy restauant

Summer this far

ice cream in Chattanooga


Children's Museum in Chattanooga. My kids talk about this all year long. They love it!
Emily and Andrew at Family birthday party.



After a week of VBS with sweet Megan, and many old and new friends, and the end-of-the year baseball party, we headed to out for the Family birthday party. After the cake, we got to go swimming. When we returned from the beach, we bought one of those big blow up pools. My kids are finally like little fishies! We love the pool!
We then wrapped up VBS at our church, headed to Jackson, and then on to Tennessee. I have done a terrible job at taking pictures this summer.

Beach Portraits

Anna's dress is made from a pillowcase that belonged to her great, great grandmother, the first Ruth West.

Beach trip, day four

We stayed at the beach ALL day. That evening, we went to take beach portraits.

Beach trip, day three

On our way to Foley. We stayed 6 hours. Dan and I bought lots, and Anna got a pair of flip flops and Andrew heeleys. Right before we left, we let them play at the playground and ran into Taylor. Such a treat!

We built a big hole. I have never done that before. Quite interesting!

Dan loved to boogie board. I use to, but someone had to sit with the kids.

Andrew and Anna loved playing in the sand.

I thought she was trying to skimboard, but, no, that was her stage, and she was dancing!

Beach trip, day two

Off to the beach, first thing. That afternoon, we went shopping in Foley. The kids did great. Dan and I bought lots, and they got nothing!

Beach trip, day one

We had so much fun on the beach. Our only vacation just the four of us except for Disney. So wonderful. And a special thanks to good friends for being so understanding of this. You know who you are.

Any way, we head out at 7:00 Monday morning stopped about 30 minutes from home to go to the bathroom and get a gas station snack, then lunch in Mobile, and at the condo by 1:00. We unloaded the car, and went to the grocery store, and FINALLY made it to the beach! The kids LOVED it. Then to the pool. We had to bribe them to put their face in the water.

God created a lazy river on the beach. It was pretty cool.

Both Andrew and Dan wanted to learn to skim board. Really more Dan. They did pretty good. I thought it was scary, and it hurt my back!

As you can tell, from the look on her face, she loved her dance recital!

She wanted purple flowers!

Anna made two very good friends this year at dance, Marissa and Anna Dale.

Anna's first Dance Recital

I don't even have the words for how cute this was. You would have to see the video. I will show it to anyone who will watch!