Home Time

Just about the time that we were growing a little road-weary from the summer travel, school started back and we settled back into our fall home routine...it has been nice! With the kiddos getting older, we are starting more family-time traditions and doing more at church. We're also having fun at Daddy's football games, helping with FCA, playing (and coaching!) tball and loving watching college football on Saturdays together. Busy, but not crazy hectic. We are trying so hard to keep from letting life turn into a rat race for our family!! Being home almost every weekend the last couple of months has helped us catch up some at home and feel more relaxed. I love that there are different "seasons" of going and being home. So nice to have both.

One of our favorite "home" activities is being with the Links. We missed them a lot this summer as both of our families traveled a good bit and we missed out on our daily playtime. It's been nice to get back into that! (One of the things Greer says the most these days is "I want Jenn's house!" :))

Greer & Madi trying on some new clothes.

Madi is so patient and easy-going with Greer climbing and hugging all over her. They have their own understanding about it and think it is really fun!

I love these girls!

The Gs love to play and ride bikes outside!

And Greer...well, she just always, ALWAYS, finds a way to get very dirty...and usually wet. Good thing she is a 2nd child. I am much more relaxed about seeing her like this than I would've been if she had been 1st!

Fun playtime with friends, Pierces & Links...beautiful Princesses Fin, Greer & Mads.

One of many (I'm sure) dates for Beckett and Greer. :)

The big kids...

Just hanging out, looking at a toy magazine. "I want..."

And we love outdoor family fun! For the past few years, we have gone to an annual local arts festival. This time, it was especially fun since Gehrig is old enough to really enjoy arts & crafts. He thought making this clay pot was super cool.

They had areas set-up representing different countries. In Peru, G got to hold a snake! :)

Greer didn't have quite the attention span to make it through all the crafts herself. So, she just took turns loving on Mommy & Daddy.

In the sidewalk chalk area...hot.

Finishing out our day going to "China" for lunch...

Blessed and grateful.

The Rest of the (Weekend) Story

Sunday afternoon, we enjoyed some good lake time while the babies slept (for hours!). Gehrig was a little nervous at first, but watching Clay jump and swim and cannonball into the water helped him get a little more comfortable.

Being silly on the dock...

Emily & I enjoyed an afternoon swing. :)

Gehrig finally jumped in to B!

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The boys also did some fishing. Here is one of the fish Gehrig caught (right before he dropped it in my lap. Yuck!).

And B's catch...haha! We aren't sure how this even happened!

Tubing time! Gehrig loved this. He kept saying, "This is awesome! I'm having SOoo much fun, Mama!"

The daddies and boys rode next. Check out the gorgeous sky, mountains and lake. Wow, Lord!

Silly billies on the boat.

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That evening, Bo & Greer joined us. They loved just hanging out in the tube tied to the dock.

Least they feel left out, we had to give them a turn to ride the tube. They went back and forth between squealing with delight and screaming in terror!

On Monday, Emily & I ran in a 5k benefitting FCA. Afterwards, they had a kids 1k fun run that Clay and Gehrig ran in. It was so cute!

For lunch, we took full advantage of Chickfila's Labor Day offer of free chicken sandwiches with the Coopers, Owens & Carpenters. So, so good to be together!

Here are the cute big kids...Katelyn, Gehrig, Clay & Caroline.

And the little ones...Grant, Bo & Greer. (Cole was enjoying some lunch in his high chair.)

Altogether now! The lady sitting behind them did NOT enjoy her time there. I felt kind of bad, but was really just glad they were at least hemmed into one booth instead of running all over the restaurant! (And yes, I learned from this situation that we need some 'Bama gear for our kids!!!)

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Yay for Chickfila! (Brian A., don't you want to use this last pic in some kind of report on how things went with the Labor Day promotion?! :))

Finally, on our way home, we stopped with the Coops for some ice cream at Brusters. I can't think of many things I enjoy more than ice cream...just wish they had the Rocky Road variety more often! Yum.

The best part of the stop there was what we found on the camera afterwards. Gehrig & Clay decided to take pics of each other. Enjoy the hilarity!

I just love those boys!

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Hope your Labor Day was fun and relaxing and involved no laboring a'tall! :)

The Weekend...Part Duex

Saturday morning, we left early to head to Chattanooga to celebrate #4 with Gehrig's girl, Katelyn. It was great to share her big day with her and see so many friends! Both of our kids love the blow-up jumping places, so they had a blast while we caught up with the grownups.

The birthday girl...

We stayed with the Coopers for the weekend. Gehrig and Clay never get tired of playing together! I'm not sure that Gehrig said more than a few words to B and me all 3 days...he is thoroughly entertained with his buddy. :)

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Emily with the big boys.

We so enjoyed catching up with everyone who lives in that area. We miss them all so much!

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Jenny, me, Emily & Kelli...and a nice yellow wall. :)

While the guys golfed and the girls watched some college football that afternoon, Greer & Bo climbed into the TV cabinet. Silly kiddos...

Saturday night, we got a babysitter to go out for dinner. This was what the sweet sitter walked into! :)

Meanwhile, we enjoyed a great evening with the Owens & Coopers. Notice the varieties of ruffle-tanks that the girls wore! Haha!

After dinner, we got dessert and went back to the Coopers to watch the Alabama game. Roll Tide!! All in all, a great full day!

The Weekend...Part One

It has been really nice to get back into the routine of school and family time at home and football games on Friday nights. We've enjoyed being home more on weekends and being at church every week. We miss it when we're gone so much in the summer! Typically, B's work keeps us close by on Labor Day weekends. However, the fortunate scheduling of this week's bye week meant that he was off Sat-Mon. So, off we went...

Before leaving Saturday (early!) morning, we went to B's game on Friday night. Though our team did not do well on the football field, it was a meaningful night with the Virginia Tech band, cheerleaders and Hokie mascot coming to honor one of the VT victims who was from this area. I have never heard a more powerful arrangement of Amazing Grace! The thousands were silent and it was impossible to be unmoved. I was so impressed with how genuine everyone from VT seemed about being there. It had to be a lot of work for them and they were precious. It had to mean the world to his family. I was glad it wasn't the band playing my Alabama on Saturday, because it would have been hard to pull against them!

Even these cute rugrats were quiet during the performances... otherwise, not so much! :)

More on the weekend to come...

School Picnic

Gehrig's class had a "teddy bear picnic" this week, where they all brought their favorite stuffed animal and had a picnic outside with them. The weather was gorgeous and the kids loved it! So far, it seems like he has a really sweet class this year...they are so cute!

Fall

Fall is in the air! Wow, it didn't take long for it to feel like September. Traditionally, I don't really enjoy this transition. (I know, who doesn't love fall?) I just love summer and warm weather and long days and more time with friends & family. But, I have pulled out the hoodie and am trying to stay positive...oh yeh, and focus on the fact that college football is here!! And besides, I'm sure there are at least one or two more warm days left before winter, right?

Enjoy August pics and bundle up!!! :)

Friday Night Lights

Football Fridays are so much fun! A stormy afternoon turned into a nice night for the first game of the season. B's team won and we got to visit with great family and SS friends. I am especially grateful for our aunt & uncle, Clark & Chris, for playing with the kiddos so much! We always love spending time with them!

Waving to Daddy up top.

Greer pointed to every picture in the football program and asked Chris who each one was. :)

Clark and Greer had some sweet bonding time!

After the game...at about, oh, 10:30pm! (Sure, G, you can have some chips, why not?!)

Fam shot after...