I love this picture

 I really like this picture. We went to the beach one night this summer and Patrick got in the water and Jonathan grabbed him for this shot. I love these guys!

Goodbye, Summer

This has been an amazing summer. I really, really don't want it to end.

I asked Maggie to tell me about this summer. She summed it up in one word: TRIPS.

We took some amazing trips this summer. I love to travel, so it was perfect. I don't know that it was so much fun for Patrick. He likes his routine, like most 2 year olds do, but he did fairly well.

I really am having a hard time even remembering all of the trips that we took.

We went to the Grand Canyon with the Monroes. That was an amazing time. I hope we continue to travel with them and let our kids have fun together. Steven and his guys are going back next summer to hike the Grand Canyon for his 40th birthday.

Then, we went to Ashland, Ohio for National Conference. It was really a great growing time and confirming that the ministry we are doing here is what we are supposed to be doing. This year, the kids got to go with us and had a blast too.

From there, we went to Destin to meet my family at the beach. WHoo hoo! I loved it. We went to the beach and swam every day. Maggie taught herself how to swim this summer. She is a determined little girl. We went on an amazing yacht and had a great time just hanging out.

Steven went on two trips during the past two weeks that we didn't go on, but we had fun at home. Maggie went to the zoo with Memaw and Nah Nah. And we went to the Jelly Belly factory with some of Steven's college friends.

So, school starts tomorrow.

I am going to miss our ability to go on a whim. But, Maggie is beyond excited about school starting. She is with her BFF and has the same teacher that she had last year.

Next summer, maybe we should stay home and relax.

Nah....we have more places to see.

My kids' reactions to seeing the grand canyon

When we stepped up to the Grand Canyon, it was unreal. Such a beautiful sight.

Maggie was not ready to be impressed. She told Miss Lori on the phone that "we were gonna go see a big hole" that morning.

She walked up to the edge and said, "it doesn't look real. Are you sure it's not just a green screen?".

Patrick looked over the edge and said, "ca chow ca chow". I'm thinking that this had something to do with the cars looking over the canyon in the movie. Or maybe it's just his favorite word right now.

Rachel can drive?

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Our good friend and Maggie's mentor, Rachel, is getting her driver's license this summer. She wanted to drive us to Newnan on Saturday to go shopping. ENJOY!

Dinner to celebrate

We went to dinner on Friday night to celebrate my mom's last day of school. We went to a great seafood place in Opelika. There's a big front porch where you can feed the ducks and turtles. It was so fun and the food was amazing!

Lake Alpine (continued)

Owen, Maggie and Jessica being so silly. As soon as the picture was taken, they all ran to see the picture on the back of the camera. It's so funny that they all know that you should immediately see a picture!



Willie hiding behind a tree. I guess he was being incognito? He had so much fun on the trip! He loved the jeep the most. He laid in the snow and attempted to get in the water. He was so tired when he got home.








Daddy and Maggie fishing. They had some deep talks about important subjects like ear piercing and when she can get a cell phone!