12 hours

What the clock does not say is AM...hence the Mountain dew and combos sprawled on the floor...Once a year we take the 12 hour drive to see Dan's borther's family.

How is this for safety? Yes that is my two and a half year old riding backwards.... and my 5 year old half buckeled~Hey 12 hours in a car you get desperate! Don't judge lol!

So that long ride is well worth the time we can spend as a family! Love this one of all of us sprawled out eating our fabulous lunch! Dan's brother Aaron works for Castaway younglife camp and one of the benefits of coming to the camp is so we can stay on camp and not cook!

Lastly a great family photo ----sucess!

Another fun weekend (yes I said weekend ...we really do travel 12 hours to stay two nights and drive back home for 12 hours!!!).

Malachi and one of his 9 cousins splashing around in the 50 person hot tub!

I know the kids always enjoy the time they get with their cousins. On the way home Dan and I were able to get a hotel and spend the night as a family enjoying one another. Love making memories with these little people!

all good thing come to an end

Wishing our days of summer were not coming to an end!

wordless wednesday

A rock n good time

My other sister is expectng a little boy in just a little less than six weeks (but who is counting?) This past week we threw her a rock n roll baby shower. We had a rock n good time and I think they are ready to welcome Tatum into the world.

My sister in law made the cake since usually that is Angie's duty...I think she did great!

BBQ, chips, pasta salad, and fruit were served! Premade CDs containing songs with the word baby in them were party favors and everyone went home with one after they were asked to write down as many songs as they could containing the word baby......they couldn't come up with many, you?

Milestone I am not ready for

Malachi and I ventured out last week to do some school shopping and spend a little one on one time together. We were very sucessful in finding all he needed .... given the list is short for a young fiver!

Anyway preparing to send him to school brings on a whole realm of emotions for me.

Is he ready for this big step...or more importantly am I? I have spent countless hours playing with this little guy, reading to him, holding him, feeding him, taking care of him, but I still don't feel it is enough! I am not ready to loss him even if it is for a few short hours a day!

Then come the emotions - he is still my baby.... How will he find his way into school? Who will tie his shoes? Who will help him? What if they pick on him?

Or the emotions of: Where is our freedom? We have to be home when? How will we get anything done on such a tight schedule? What about going to lunch? What about daddy visits? What about last minute play dates?

As many emotions go through my heart and head....I pray for protection over my sensitive boy. I pray for guidance over his heart. I pray for Christian teachers (thanking God for Mrs. Z right now). I pray for wisdom. I pray for peace for me as we take this next step. I pray for God to shine through in all that Malachi does. I pray that we did just enough to help him make the right choices and decisions. I pray for thanksgiving that I was blessed with 5 wonderful years to love on someone so loveable!

Greeting the next stage with an emotion of excitement!

a day at the zoo

We spent last Wednesday exploring the local zoo. Malachi said, "it was the best place he has ever been to."...ok? Not quite sure what the monkeys were doing here, but thought I would take a picture anyway!

Camel ride with grandma!

To say the least it was "bear"y fun!

a few words for wednesday

Focused so intently on coloring the wings for her coffee filter butterfly. I loves how this captures all her sweet little features and her determination!

Sandy Pines

Sandy Pines is a kid's paradise. From swimming to golfing these kids were busy this past week! Emmaline came to visit for the night. The kids all slept on the same bed. They were so excited!

Golf cart rides are the best especially with Uncle Andy and Aunt Janelle.

My little fishes! Chi has been learning how to swim this summer. ... he is gaining confidence.

Of course we couldn't camp with-out a few fishing adventures. What a fun week and nice getaway!